With the growing threats of global warming amidst the modernization of our society, the state aims to promote

national awareness on the role of natural resources in economic growth and environmental conservation and ecological balance for national development. This is embodied in RA 9512 or the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008, which also provides that November of every year is the Environmental Awareness Month. The Lecture on Philippine Environmental Laws given by Atty. Romeo Mijares, the former Chief of Legal Division of DENR-Iloilo, gave us an overview of the different Philippines laws on forrestry, mining, land distribution, among others. The oldest law enacted was ACT NO. 3572 or the act prohibitng the cutting of tindalo, akle or molave trees, though its purpose has become irrelevant in the present because of the rare or non existence of such trees. Moreover, Atty. Mijares mentioned RA 3571, in relation to election season when candidates post their posters on trees in public highways. This law prohibtits the cutting, destroying or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises or in any other public ground. According to Atty. Mijares, the primary reason why trees are important is because of timber, and secondly because of its pharmaceutical value. Thus, the significance of PD 705 or the Revised Forrestry Code of the Philippines. It emphasizes on the utilitization, protection, rehabilitation and development of forest lands, in order to ensure the continuity of their productive condition. This is relative to the constitutional provision on silviculture (Art. 12, Section 4). Silviculture is the practice of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values. One of the more recent statutes on Environmental Law is EO 26 or the National Greening Program, which was signed by President Aquino as proof of his efforts on building the path of Tuwid na Daan. This is by far the widest and most sustained reforestation venture ever embarked on a national scale combining the resources and manpower of almost all national line agencies, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje. The goal is to consolidate and harmonize all greening efforts by the many government agencies, for a more effective result. Its enactment is consistent with the growing challenges brought about by climate change. Possibly one of the most familiar Philippine environmental laws to many Filipinos, RA 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program may well be one of the most important also. CARP is the fifth land reform law in fifty years. This law aims to promote and ensure the welfare of landless farmers, as well as the elevation of social justice and equity through equitable land ownership. It meant to distribute lands to farmers in a span of 10 years, but was extended by the 11th Congress due to delays in land distribution and lack of budget allocation. However, there is a common loophole with which landlords are able to deter relinquishing their lands through land reclassification. Lands classified by local zoning ordinances as residential, commercial and industrial lands are excluded from CARP. The enactment and study of the various philippine environmental laws is important inorder to attain sustainable development. As provided for in the Brundtland Report of the United Nations, sustainable development is defined as that development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The role of environmental law is to regulate and

control the use of natural resources, while providing for anticipatory mechanisms to avoid harmful impact of developmental policies and programmes. According to Richard St. Barbe Baker, You can gauge a country's wealth, its real wealth, by its tree cover.