EIA and the State of the

Philippine Environment
John Warner M. Carag
History of Environmental Impact Assessment in the
Philippines
State of the Philippine Environment through the
years
Can be traced back from issuance of 1969 NEPA of
US
1972 UN Conference in Stockholm urged
countries to integrate environmental
considerations in socio-economic development and
decision-making
[Philippine Environmental Policy]
[Environmental Impact Statement System]
Presidential Decree 1151 (1977)
Presidential Decree 1586 (1978)
a) The environmental impact of the proposed action;
project or undertaking
b) Any adverse environmental effect which cannot be
avoided should the proposal be implemented
c) Alternative to the proposed action
d) A determination that the short-term uses of the
resources of the environment are considered with
the maintenance and enhancement of long-term
productivity of the same; and
e) Whenever a proposal involve the use of depletable or
non-renewable resources, a finding must be made
that such use and commitment are warranted
The official EIA system of the Philippines
IRR-PD 1586
Implementing Rules and Regulations
Define the parameters for EIS; established penalty
structures for non-compliance; created EIA review
committee set the procedures for implementing the
EIS system; provided exemptions, and established
procedures public hearing related to an EIS
PD 1586 June 11,
1978
Establishing the Environmental Impact Statement System including other
Environmental Management and Related Measures
Office Circular No. 3 Nov 7,
1983
Technical Definitions and Scope of the Environmentally Critical Projects
and Areas Enumerated in Proc. 2146
Council Res. No.4 Dec 11,
1984
Revised Rules and Regulations Implementing PD 1586
DAO 92 -21 1992 Devolution of the EIS to the EMPAS (EMB Regional Offices)
AO 300
(Malacanang
Administrative
Order)
Nov 4,
1996
Further Strengthen the Philippine EIA System and Clarifying Authority to
Grant/Deny ECC
DAO 96-37 Dec 2,
1996
Revising DAO 21 and Further Stregthen the EIS System
DAO 99-37 Aug 23,
1999
Operationalization of the Environmental Revolving Fund (ERF)
DAO 2000-05 Jan 6,
2000
Programmatic Compliance
DAO 2000-37 Apr 10,
2000
Standard Costs and Fees Relative to the Implementation of the EIS System
MC 2001-01 Apr 5,
2001
Guidance on the Implementation of DAO 2000-05, Scope of the EIS
Programmatic Compliance Policy
AO 42 (Malacanang
Administrative
Order)
Nov 2,
2002
Rationalizing the Implementation of the EIS System and Granting Authority
to the EMB Director and Regional Directors
MC-2002-15 Nov
25,2002
Scope and Guidelines for the Imposition of Fines and Penalties under the
Philippine EIS System
EO 190
(Malacanang
Executive Order)
Mar 31,
2003
Abolishing the GCCDC and Transferring its Powers and Functions to the
DENR
MC No. 2003-004 Jun 6,
2003
Amendment to the Limits of Piggery Heads that would require an ECC
DAO 2003-30 Jun 30,
2003
IRR of the Philippine EIS System
MC 2003-21 part1,
part2
Sep 30,
2003
Guidelines on the Availment of the Reduction of Penalties for Projects
Operating Without ECC
MC 2004-001 April 23, 2004 Non-requirement of Barangay and/or local government unit
Endorsement and Locational Clearances for CNC
Applications
MC 2004-002 Aug 30, 2004 Certificate of Non Coverage (CNC) for Barangay Micro
Business Enterprises (BMBEs)
MC 2004-04 Oct 05, 2004 IEE Checklist for Economic Zone Enterprises
DAO 2004-61 Oct 07, 2004 Delegation of Authority to the General Manager of the
Laguna Lake Development Authority to Grant or Deny the
Issuance of ECC/CNC for Projects located in Environmentally
Critical Areas (ECAS) within the Laguna De Bay Region
MC 2005-01 Jan 5, 2005 Procedural Manual for DENR Administrative Order No. 30
Series of 2003 (DAO 03-30)
Memorandum Sept 08, 2005 Clarification on the Provisions of Section 11 of the Procedural
Manual for DAO 2003-30 "Fines, Penalties and Sanctions."
DAO 2005-02 Feb 8, 2005 Exemptions of Projects located in PEZA from securing ECC
from LLDA
MC 2005-07 Nov 14, 2005 Environmenatl Performance Report and Management Plan
(EPRMP) Checklist for Economic Zone Enterprises
Memorandum Jan 18, 2005
PEZA Seeking Clarification on EIA Policy
DAO 2005-06 Apr 6, 2005
Guidelines for the Institution of the System of MEIC
MO 2005-21 Dec 21, 2005
Supplemental Guidelines to MEIC
MO 2006-01 Feb 21, 2006
Suspension on the Implementation of the MEIC
MC 2006-003 Sept 19, 2006
IEE Checklist for Wind Energy Projects
MC 005 Dec 19, 2006 Clarificatory Guidelines in the implementation of DENR
Administrative Order No. 30 Series of 2003, IRR for the PEIS
MC 2007-001 March
09, 2007
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Review Manual
DMC 2007-08 Jul 13, 2007
Simplifying the requirements for Environmental Compliance
Certificate or Certificate of Non-Coverage Applications
Retrieved from www.emb.gov.ph
Defined and dentified:
ECAs environmentally critical areas
ECPs environmentally critical projects
To identify the different Environmental Critical Projects,
refer to the projects that have been given an ECC. These
can be categorized in the following classes:
heavy industry;
extractive resource;
infrastructure project;
golf course
Retrieved from: http://www.cookbook.hlurb.gov.ph/4-08-08-environmental-
management-environmentally-critical-areas-project
[National Environmental Protection Council]
[National Pollution Control Commission]
[Environmental Monitoring Bureau]
ECC applications for Non-Environmentally Critical Projects in
Environmentally Critical Areas was devolved to Regional DENR offices
Decentralized certain EIA functions to DENR
regional offices; defined the need for public
hearings, established the concept of multi-sectoral
monitoring team and Environmental Guarantee
Fund
Assigned to LGUs the functions of issuing ECCs and
adjudicating cases involving environmental
complaints against small projects and businesses
DENR EMB released the Revised Procedural Manual
containing more detailed guidelines and procedures in
implementing the Philippine EIS System
STATE OF THE
PHILIPPINE
ENVIRONMENT
PREPARED BY
Forests
25th of 196 countries in total
number of terrestrial species
6,091 out of 9,253 (65.8%) total
are endemic plant species
102out of 167 (61.1%) total are
endemic mammal species
25Mpeople live and directly
depend on forests for livelihood
Retrieved from:
http://www.investphilippines.info/arangkada/climat
e/environment-and-natural-disasters/
http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/af349e/af349e0o.
htm
We have the 4TH most threatened forest species in
Asia-Pacific. Only 6.6% of forest cover remains. 1.4%
rate of forest loss highest in East and Southeast Asia.
Deforestation Drivers
75% of forests allocated for
production, only 23% left for
conservation and protection
325,310 ha of Timber
License Agreements still operating
1.1M ha of forest lands
privately owned, only 2% owned by
communities
Our topsoil suffers from land degradation with 5.2M
Ha already eroded. An annual average of 2,227 Ha
of irrigated rice lands are converted to housing and
industrial plants annually. Only 14.5% of cropland
are irrigated.
Minerals
9M Ha or 30%of total land
area has metallic mineral deposits
5th most mineralized country in
the world, 3rd in gold, 4th in
copper 5th in nickel
Php47 trillion estimated
worth of our mineral resources,
10x of GDP and 14-17x of foreign
debt
Only 0.6% contribution to employment, 1.2% GDP
contribution. 58 KBAs or key biodiversity sites covered
by mining permits. At least 25 tailing dams failures in the
past 25 years.
Freshwater
18 major river basins, 59
natural lakes
119 proclaimed
watersheds
Estimated water resource
potential is 145,900
million cubic meters/year
Only 2 out of 5 of Philippine households have access
to potable water. 50 out 421 rivers are biologically
dead. 58% of groundwater sources have been
depleted.
Energy
138Mbarrels in oil
reserves
1,977 MWinstalled
capacity of geothermal
energy
Renewable energy
such as hydro, wind, wave,
biomass, and solar
Pollutive Energy
12 operating coal-fired
power plants, 5 more in next
3 years
7.9% annual growth rate
of carbon emmissions
52%of total generation
capacity owned by only
three groups
Rappler, 2013
Urbanization
23.9Mpopulation that lives in urban
slums
35,000 tons of solid waste
generated daily in addition to lack of
waste storage and recycling
138 mcg/m
3
average total air
particulates compared to 90 micrograms
DENR standard
Civil Rights
23.9Mpopulation that lives in urban
slums
35,000 tons of solid waste
generated daily in addition to lack of waste
storage and recycling
138 mcg/m3 average total air
particulates compared to 90 micrograms
DENR standard
Human rights violations
34 recorded cases of killings of environmental
advocates under Aquino, 70 since 2001
15 SLAPPs against anti-mining leaders in Nueva
Vizcaya
High profile cases: Capion Massacre, Dr. Gerry
Ortega, Leonard Co, Fr. Pops, Willem Geertman,
Capion family, Freay family
Oplan Bayanihan, SCAAs and other
Paramilitaries, SLAPPs
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES: ENDANGERED!
PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE!
Grassroots direct action
Progressive policy advocacy
Participatory research and education
Public information and creative
communication
Integrating legal action
International solidarity
The biologically-dead Balog river
affected by Philex mine spill
Mangrove area affected by spills from
Citinickel operations in Palawan
Silted Didipio River affected by
Oceana Gold in Nueva Vizcaya
IMPACT OF FOREIGN INTERVENTION
Subic Toxic Waste Dumping
Glenn Marine dumped toxic and
human waste in Subic Bay
Toxicity level is 700 times the
allowable limit
Continuing port calls and
maneuverings of US vessels
Grounding of the USS Guardian in
Tubbataha Reef
Damaged reef: More than 2,345 sq.m
cover, 10 m in depth, US$1.4 million PH
government valuation
Chinese poacher Min Yong-Lu followed
with almost 4,000 sq.m destroyed
One year to grow a millimeter of hard
corals, while a complete meter needs
250 years to mature.
IMPACTS OF FOREIGN
INTERVENTION
Manila Bay Reclamation
Critical ecosystem and habitat of species
38 of 100 reclamation projects are
proposed in Manila Bay (Total of 26,234
hectares)
Reclamation might result in flooding,
reduce ecological services, loss of
habitat to marine creatures and bird
species, liquefaction and loss of
livelihood for people and community
THE THREAT OF RECLAMATION
LPPCHEA
Las-Pinas Paranaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area covered by reclamation
175-Ha mangroves and mudflats are last
mangrove expanse in Metro Manila
Sanctuary to average of at least 80 bird
species, including migratory ones
Important to fisheries, ecotourism,
disaster mitigation
THE THREAT OF RECLAMATION
500,000 liters of diesel spilled in
Cavite part of Manila Bay
Cebu maritime disasters spilled 20
tons of diesel and 120 tons of bunker
fuel from sunken ships
Studies show impacts of diesel on
aquatic species loss can last 3-15
months, cost $44-59-M (initial costs:
P6.5-M in mangrove damages in
Cebu)
OIL SPILLS ACROSS PH
CLIMATE CHANGE AND COAL
Extreme Weather Events
Typhoon Pablo: more than 1,000
dead, more than 800 missing, more
than 700,000 families or more than 6
million people affected
Aggravated by disaster
unpreparedness, large-scale mining,
agricultural plantations and poverty
4th on Global Climate Risk Index
2013, most disaster-affected country
in 2012 (PH Disaster Report 2012,
CDRC)
CLIMATE CHANGE AND COAL
Coal expansion from energy
privatization
9 operating coal-fired power plants,
16 more currently approved under
Aquino
Existing plants produce 24.955-M
tons of CO2 per year
Energy privatization due to Electric
Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA)
leads to use of cheap coal for private
profit
Thanks for listening!