ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Prepared by Prof. Charie Braa-Hernandez

I. OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE
The only solution that has worked in other countries is a combination of education and
determined law enforcement. Environmental education should be given emphasis in view of
sustained assaults on the environment and the potential threat thus posed to mankind. It should
be aimed at making every citizen environment conscious and appreciative of the frightening
mismanagement, thus encouraging students to strive to introduce remedial measures.
II. LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
The 1987 Philippine Constitution expressly provides that all lands of the public domain,
water, fisheries, timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the
state. Also, the exploration, development and utilization of natural resources shall be under the
full control and supervision of the State. ( Article XII , Section 2)
Pursuant to Executive order No. 192, Series of 1987, the DENR has been mandated as
the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management and proper use
of the countrys environment and natural resources. Such a mandate includes the responsibility
to ensure the equitable sharing of benefits derived from these resources for the welfare of
present and future generations of Filipinos. By virtue of said mandate, the DENR is empowered
to issue rules and regulations on water quality criteria, water classification, and effluent
standards. Additionally, the DENR Secretary serves as the Chairperson of the Pollution
Adjudication Board (PAB), which exercises adjudicatory powers over pollution cases in the
country.
III. BASIC ECOLOGY PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS
1. ECOLOGY

the term coined by Earnest Haeckel in 1869

came from the Greek word olkos meaning house or place to live (Cole 1962 :
243)
the study of the relationship of man and animals to its environment
(Haeckel,1866)
the study of symbiotic relationships and the resulting spatial patterning of human
institutions in the community sociological ecology - (Cuber 1962 : 243)
the study of man in relation to his physical environment - ecological processes Our examination of the different ecological processes may permit us to
understand how a community changes and grows and adapts to changing
conditions of its environment. ( Horton and Hunt ,1984).
The branch of science concerned with how organisms are interrelated with one
another and with the environment - The main tenet of ecology is all things are
interrelated.

2. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
An ecologically sustainable world within which a generation must use our resources in such a
way that there is something left for the next generation.
3. SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
The use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a
better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as
the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle so as not to jeopardize the needs of
future generation.

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4. ENVIRONMENT
The term environment embraces all things extrinsic to the organism that, in any way,
impinge upon it ; it includes not only light, temperature, rainfall, humidity, and topography, but
also parasites, predators, mates, and competitors (Keeton 1969 : 398).
5. POPULATION
As ecologically defined refers to a group of individuals belonging to the same species
occupying a given area. (Keeton 1969: 557).
6. COMMUNITY
The term community designates a much higher level of organization than the
population in the sense that, it is a unit composed of all the individuals living in a given area or
the population of all species that occupy a habitat.
7. ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM
Ecosystem for short, is the sum total of the physical features and organisms occurring
in a given area (Keeton 1969: 551). It is a much higher organization than the community; we
may speak of the ecosystem of the forest, ecosystem of the river, or ecosystem of a desert. The
eco part of the word relates to the environment while the system part of the word implies a
collection of related parts that function as a unit.
Other definitions of ecosystem as given by different authors:

It is a community of organism functioning together and interacting with the physical

environment through flow of energy and cycling of materials.
The interaction of the community and non-living environment
Life support system
A community and its physical and chemical environment

8. RESOURCE
A resource is anything needed by organism, population, or ecosystem which, by its
increasing availability up to an optimal or sufficient level, allows an increasing rate of energy
conversion (Watt 1973 :20). The conceptual categories of resources are : energy, matter, time,
space, and diversity. However, resources may be those found in the environment such as in the
forest, rivers, lakes, including minerals, among others. The development of science and
technology plays vital role in the discovery and the processing of the available resources of the
immediate environments of the communities.
Crude oil for instance, is an important resource; as an economic commodity, its value is
equivalent to gold. It is an important source of energy of many nations.
9. ENERGY
It is the capacity to do work when properly directed or released in the given environment
or an organism. Moreover, energy use varies in terms of culture and means of subsistence of
numerous groups of people or societies. In urban communities, greater amount of energy is
expanded daily in commercial, industrial, and other sectors. Just to keep people, vehicles, and
economic goods moving, enormous amount of energy is needed in those communities.
10. BIOCHEMICAL CYCLE
The biochemical cycles are the natural cycles that facilitate the self-regulating process of
an ecosystem. They provide fresh air and transform dead organic matter in the form that can be
taken back the metabolic system of plants. They help retain necessary nutrients in usable form
for the living components of the ecosystem and maintain the biological balance in the
environment.

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IV. IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGY
1. Ecology is so important at this particular time because humanity is entering a critical
era in which the knowledge that comes from different science should really be integrated and
treated on the holistic way characteristic of ecology.
2. The study of ecology increases mans understanding of the world and all its
creatures. This is vital because mans survival and well being depend on relationship that exist
on a worldwide basis .Changes in distant parts of the world, even in outer parts, affect our
environment and us.
3. Ecology makes people aware of the problems of pollution, over population and
degraded environments, global warming, deterioration of the ozone layer, acid rain,
deforestation, toxic waste and garbage.
V. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS
Man is faced with an ecological crisis. This crisis developed as a consequence of an
increasing mismanagement of the worlds environment and unrestrained growth of human
populations. Warning signs of this crisis appears in specific problems such as the imbalance of
food production and human population growth, the reduction in productivity of major areas of
land and water due to pollution and mismanagement, the gradual change of regional and global
climates resulting from urban activities and agricultural practice, the destruction of wildlife
species and disturbance of natural biotic communities, and the increase in numbers of pest and
disease organisms.
The Philippines is not spared from these environmental problems. A number of
environmental problems have plagued the Philippines in recent years. This includes: urban
congestion, water scarcity, depletion of forest resources, degradation of coastal and marine
resources, loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction, land-use conversion, water disposal,
and water and air pollution.
The most important point in the environment crisis that we are now experiencing lies on
the imbalance between mans activities and the nature processes. Suddenly we come to realize
that the riches of the earth are not inexhaustible. That there will come a time, that man will fight
for food and space because of over population, that we cannot fight nature and win in the long
run, that we must learn to cooperate with her and live in balance with the other creatures that
share out earthly home.
Mans activities such as agricultural clearing, excessive deforestation and use of fossil
fuel, undoubtedly have disastrous effect on the biogeochemical cycle.
1. Population Growth.
One of the hardest things is to ensure a sustainable life for the six billion people on
earth. If we can control birth rates, scientist predict that our numbers will reach about 9 billion
by 2050. If unchecked, world population could rise to 27 billion. At present consumption rates,
this world put our worlds resources under enormous pressure.
2. Pollution
One of the best definition of pollution was reported in 1965. It defined environmental
pollution as the unfavorable alteration of our surroundings, wholly or largely as a by-product
of mans actions, through direct or indirect effects of changes in energy patterns, radiation lines,
chemical and physical constitution and the abundance of organisms. ) Southwick 1976:14.
The undesirable environment effects cause by human societies have taken many forms,
and among them are the following (Easton 1975:57):
1. The improper disposal of human and animal wastes;
2. Destructive agricultural and mining activities that destroy the usefulness of land; and
3. In more recent times as a huge bulk of industrial, household, and transportation
wastes are improperly disposed of related to the increasingly sophisticated character of civilized
activities.

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When does pollution occur? It occurs when waste increases to the point where the
ecosystem can no longer readily break it down and absorb it (Brown et.al., 1976:18) As further
noted by Brown and other authors, the complex web of plants and animal life, what is waste for
some organisms is sustenance for others. Plants need the carbon dioxide which human beings
as well as animals emit; oxygen from the plants is, in turn, needed by human beings and
animals.
Pollution occurs in these varied forms:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Air pollution;
Water pollution;
Noise pollution; and
Land or terrestrial pollution.

a) Air Pollution
The undesirable changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the air. It
endangers the health of the people and other living things. The main source of this kind of
pollution are therefore industrial plants and motor vehicles. According to the National Pollution
Control Commission, pollution caused by emissions from motor vehicles accounts for about
60% of all pollutions in the air. Pollutants like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides,
aldehydes and organic acids cause serious and harmful effects on man. Carbon monoxide is
the killer gas. Inhalations of this gas paralyses mans nervous system, impairs vision, causes
headache and strains the heart. Particulates of the pollutants are small bits of solid or liquid
materials light enough to float ion the air. They can be in the form of dust, smoke, soot, fly ash
or fumes mists or sprays. These particulates, when inhaled, caused the pores of the lungs to
clog and can cause bronchitis, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema, cancer and other chest and
heart disorder. Pesticides and fertilizers release gases and particles into the air which poison
people and kill animals.
Types of Air Pollutants:
1. Gas category (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane)
2. Particulate matters any material, except uncombined water that exists as a solid or
liquid in the atmosphere or in a gas steam at standard conditions- ( dust, aerosols, fly ash, fog,
fume, mist particles, smoke, soot, sprays, lead, halogenated hydrocarbons, asbestos, arsenic)
3. Organic Pollutants (organic solvents, organo-halogen compounds, dioxin)
4. Inorganic pollutants (halides)
5. Oxidizing substances (ozone and sulfur oxides)
b) Water Pollution
Water becomes polluted when it contains more harmful substances such as bacteria and
poisonous chemicals than it can naturally get rid off. What cause water pollution? They are
careless practices of people such as indiscriminate throwing of garbage, expelling of motor fuel
and improper use of chemicals. Other source of water pollution especially in the urban areas are
domestic sewage, the increasing use of synthetic detergents and liquid wastes from factories,
industrial firms and motor vehicle stations.
Almost all living things need water to live, yet humans pollute and waste it recklessly.
More than a fifth of the worlds population doesnt have enough water; it is likely people will to
war over water. Some areas have far too much water and suffer from floods like Bangladesh
and the flood plains in Mississippi in the United States. Other areas, lie Africa and West Asia,
suffer several droughts. The problem of water availability is most serious in Africa and West
Asia. If water consumption continues at its present rate, by 2025 two out of three people will not
have enough water for their basic needs.
Mining and industry pollute rivers with deadly chemicals. Farmers spray crops with
pesticides and fertilizers which are washed into rivers and lakes. In many parts of the world,
people use rivers as open sewers and garbage dumps. Near costs, when too much water is
taken from aquifiers ( big underground reservoirs of fresh water), sea water seeps in and makes
the water salty and undrinkable. In West Asia, North Africa, China, In India, Russia and the USA
we run huge annual water overdrafts. This combined with the discharged of untreated industrial
waste and sewage into water systems makes water shortage one of the most critical
environmental issues.

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Worldwide, polluted water affects the health of 1.2 billion people and contributes to the
death of 15 million of children under five every year. For example in Asia, one in three people
do not have the access to safe drinking water and one in two have no access to hygienic
sanitation.
Here in the Philippines evidence have emerged of the tremendous burden of pollutants
in effecting the health and integrity of our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. Well-known Filipino
ecologists have reported that the Pasig River, Agno River, Abra River, the Amburayan River and
a roster of other rivers and oceans contain excessive nutrients (called euthrophication which
means well nourished) such as nitrates and phosphates originating from domestic sewage, runoff from agricultural fertilizer , waste materials from animal feeds. These nutrients cause
pollution because they stimulate the growth of micro-organisms which increase the biological
oxygen demands of the waters and reduced the amount of dissolved oxygen available for fish
and higher animals. In the Philippines industrial pollution is the primary cause of destruction of
our lake bio-system.
c) Land Pollution
This kind of pollution takes place when harmful substances are introduced to the soil
so that it is unable to sustain life. Soil pollution is the result of the excessive use of DOT,
insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers and other toxic chemicals. It may also be due to soil erosion,
atomic fallout, mine tailing and garbage. Garbage dumps and other trash scattered on the land
becomes the breeding ground for flies, rats and other carriers of diseases like typhoid, el tor,
gastro enteritis, dysentery and diarrhea.
d) Noise Pollution
This is the presence of sound so loud or so sudden or unpleasant that it becomes an
assault on the body, causing mental and physical harm. Sound is measured in terms of
decibels. One decibel is the faintest audible sound to the human ear. An average human ear
can tolerate noise of 50 decibels and beyond 50 decibels, it is already considered dangerous to
health. Prolonged exposure to noise beyond 50 decibels can cause permanent ear damage,
can raise blood pressure, increase blood cholesterol level, interfere with sleep, cause ulcers and
can trigger a heart attack. But the most serious consequence of noise is that it can cause
mental derangement and even death.
WAYS AND MEANS OF MINIMIZING THE EFFECTS OF

POLLUTION

1) Recycling industrial and domestic wastes

In areas with livestock projects, ponds and lagoons, which may serve the purpose of
storing valuable water for future use , may be constructed to control livestock pollution.
2) Use of plants to fight air pollution.
Twelve common plants are tested as anti-pollution agents : Mahogany, San Francisco,
Gumamela, Maluko, Ipil-ipil, Castor Bean , Narra, Acacia, Santol, Alibangbang, Anchoan, Dilaw,
and Chichirica. The tested plants were used as alternative anti-pollution devices or green
pollution-level indicators.
3) Legal or legislative means to combat the dangers from environmental pollution were devised
and implemented.
Constant technological innovations go with the production of chemical fertilizers.
Improved fertilizers with radioisotopes such as phosphorus-32, or with the stable isotopes such
as nitrogen-15 which provides means for determining how much of the fertilizer is taken up by
the plant and how much is lost to the environment, limited tillage method of farming and
constant technological innovation is now being adopted in the country.
In another instance, the limited tillage method of farming may help in minimizing pollution
and soil erosion; it is an effective method in preserving the natural fertility of the soil and
increasing the yields of certain farm crops.

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The government has launched various anti-pollution programs like the anti-flood
program, anti-smoke belching drive, a thorough dredging of esteros, Operation Clean and
Green, the Green Brigade, Bantay Kalikasan , anti-littering campaign and garbage education in
all levels in the school system. An international group known as Greenpeace is also active in
addressing the anti-pollution of the government.
To safeguard and protect the environment against pollution, the DENR. DOH, DPWH
and the Anti-Pollution Action Committee are tasked to provide a clean environment in rural and
urban areas.
To laudable plan of the government to control pollution is being carried out through the
enforcement of laws which success remains to be seen.
3. Ozone depletion
Scientists discovered the CFCs ( chlorofluorocarbons used as cooling device in freezers
and air conditioners) destroy the ozone layer- the layer that filters ultraviolet radiation from the
sun. Ultraviolet radiation causes eye damage and skin cancer. The Montreal protocol, an
international agreement signed in 1989 has helped stop the production of CFCs. If we keep to
this agreement, ozone-depleting substances will stop being produced and the ozone layer will
begin to repair itself over the next 100 years.
Ozone is a form of oxygen with three instead of two atoms ion each molecule. It is this
added atom which makes ozone poisonous and once inhaled, may prove fatal. Fortunately,
ozone molecules are created and destroyed high above the earths surface, between 20 to 40
km above ground. Up there, ozone acts as a beneficial gas forming a layer, which protects the
earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. However, ozone is not a stable gas and destroyed once in
contact with natural compounds such as nitrogen, hydrogen and chlorine.
4. Global Warming
The world is warming up because carbon dioxide (CO2) from smoke and car exhausts
collects in the atmosphere and traps some of the heat going back to space.CO2 and other
greenhouse gases are expected to raise global temperature by an average of 2 degrees
centigrade by the year 2100 causing the polar caps to melt, sea levels to rise and freak weather
conditions which may cause millions of deaths.
5. Acid Rain
Acid rain is environmentally damaging rainfall that occurs after fossil fuels burn,
releasing nitrogen and sulfur oxides into the atmosphere, Acid rain , simply stated, increases the
acidity level of waterways because these nitrogen and sulfur oxides combine with the airs
normal moisture. The resulting rainfall is far more acidic than normal rainfall. Acid rain is a silent
threat because its effects, although slow, are cumulative.
Most research shows that power plants burning oil or coal are the primary cause of acid
rain. The burnt fuel is not completely expended, and some residue enters the atmosphere.
Although this residue contains several potentially toxic elements, sulfur oxide and, to a lesser
extent, nitrogen oxide are the major problem because they are transformed when they combine
with moisture. This chemical reaction forms sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which undergo a
chemical change as they combine with atmospheric ozone and water vapor. The resulting rain
or snowfall is more acidic than normal precipitation that rain down to earth.
Sulfur and nitrogen oxides could travel great distances before they return to earth as
acid rain. For an average of two to five days after emission, the gases follow the prevailing
winds far from the point of origin. The tendency of stack gases to drift makes acid rain a
widespread menace. More bodies of water are unable to support life because their water has
become so acidic.
Acid rain causes damage wherever it falls. It erodes various types of building rock such
as limestone, marble, and mortar, which are gradually eaten away by the constant bathing in
acid. Damage to building, house, monuments, statues, and cars as widespread. Some priceless
monuments and carvings already have been destroyed, and even trees of some varieties are
dying in large numbers.

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More important, however, is acid rain damage to waterways in the affected areas.
Because of its high acidity, acid rain dramatically lowers the pH in lakes and streams. Although it
effect is not immediate, acid rain eventually can make a waterway so acidic, it dies. The pH
level in an affected waterway drops so slow that some species cease to reproduce. In fact, a
pH level of 5.1 to 5.4 means that fisheries are threatened; once a waterway reaches a pH level
of 4.5, no fish reproduction occurs.
In the northeastern United States and Canada, the acidity problem is so compounded by
the runoff from acid snow. During the cold winter months, acid snow sits with little meting, so
that by spring thaw, the acid released is greatly concentrated. Aluminum and other heavy metals
normally present in soil are also released by acid rain and runoff. This toxic substances leach
into waterways in heavy concentrations, affecting fish in all stages of development.
6. Abused Costal Marine Environment
Oceans are the largest ecosystem on Earth. Seventy-Five (75%) of all sea pollution is
from land-based human activity. People abuse the coastal marine environment by destroying
habitats, by over-fishing and pollution.
More than 37% of the worlds population lives within 100 km of the coast and this
percentage is rising. Land prices are rising too, forcing change in economic activity and forcing
out local villagers.
Most countries use the sea as a sewer. For example, coastal cities in Africa dump
hundreds of millions of liters of sewage and industrial wastes into the sea a year. This will
continue as they cannot afford sewage treatment plants. As sewage, fertilizers and other
nutrients are poured into the sea, see weeds, and algae spread like a horror movie, using up
all the oxygen that fish need to stay alive. In the past, the Soviets dumped nuclear waste in the
shallow seas of the Arctic Circle. As these began to leak, the marine life comes under threat.
7. Disappearing Mangroves
Mangroves are among the few emergent land plants that tolerates the salinity of the
open sea. Red mangroves have an extinctive deposit of mud, silt, and provide surfaces for
attachment of marine organisms. Its seed spout while still on tree, the seedling drop out and
float into the water until they lodge in shallow water where develop roots may take hold to start a
new island, the black mangrove is the zone near the shore. Its roots stick up above forms the
mud like a bunch of asparagus. To observe the full development of the mangrove community,
one need to go further south where growth forms are larger and zoning are more complex. The
penetration of root crop into the anaerobic mud is believed to be important in mineral cycling
necessary for maintaining the high primary productivity exhibited by the mangrove community.
Mangroves are not only important in extending coasts and building islands, but also in
protecting coast from excessive erosion which otherwise produced by pierce tropical storms.
Leaf detritus from mangroves have been found to contribute to major input in fisheries.
Coastal mangrove forests are major breeding grounds for many fish and crustaceans but
they are being wiped out for housing and fish-farming. In Asia - home to 87% of the worlds fish
farms huge areas of mangrove swamps have disappeared and along with them the fish
nurseries and the fish.
8. Extinction of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are among the most biologically productive, taxonomically diverse and
aesthetically celebrated of all the communities. Ecologically, coral reefs are interesting for the
life they support and the ecosystem they represents. Coral reefs are complex ecosystem
involving close relationship between coral and algae. At night coral polyps feed, extending their
tentacles to capture zooplanktons from the water and thus securing phosphorus and other
elements needed by the coral and its symbiotic algae. By altering the carbon dioxide
concentration in the animal tissue, the algae enable the coral to extract Ca CO 3 needed to build
the skeletons. Living on the coral are filamentous algae, which add to the primary production.
Thus, the symbiotic relationship between algae and coral as well as the nutrients recharging by
tidal water that take the coral reef one of the most productive ecosystems. Because of the high
productivity and wide variety of habitats in coral structures there is a great density of life near
coral reefs. There are invertebrates, thousands of highly colored herbivorous fish, large number
of predatory fish and cleaning fish and crustaceans.

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The Philippines contains in its seas almost all coral species in the world, and these reefs
are known for their beauty, variety, and vastness. Diverse people all over the world go to the
Philippines just to see these corals. In fact, tourism is greatly boosted, bringing those yearned
dollars to countrys economy without the government spending for the resources. In addition, do
you know that the Spaniards have used coral reef resources for building churches and houses.
Highway builders have used coral stones in paving streets and roads. The sanctuaries offered
by coral reefs protect your favorite fish. Other foods you may be missing may not survive
without the corals because its main ingredients, agar and carrageen, are sea weeds which
thrives on reefs. The home we lived in may be stuffed with corals, from the cement used to your
bathroom tiles. Your grandmothers pearls of course came from the oysters, which live among
the corals. Coral reefs serves as tools and even in laboratories in science. Biologist, ecologist,
and fisheries people greatly benefit from coral reefs. They could study the flora and fauna of this
ecosystem and relate them to others, then discovering perhaps breakthroughs in ecology,
biology, and even medical students and even look medical students and even look on coral
reefs as ideal laboratories to study basic biological processes that requires no expensive
equipment.
These benefits from coral reefs may not last long if our ways continue as they are.
Natural causes such as typhoons, El Nio and predation can already greatly reduce the coral
reefs. But with continued careless activities of man, coral reef may be on the verge of extinction.
Some of these activities like extraction of corals for sale to tourists, dynamite fishing can
smother the corals in no time of all. The use of fertilizers and other chemicals in agriculture
which are flowing to the sea, earth moving for construction, waste dumping, factories
wastewater flowing to the seas, all affect the sea water quality. Once it is changed, it may affect
the way sunlight enters the coral polyps. Sunlight is an ingredient in coral formation, and without
it, corals may no longer grow. Silt directly smothers the corals as proven in the Mt. Pinatubo
eruption where great masses of corals were covered by ash and died.
It is not too late. We can still do something to prevent the extinction of corals. Among
them are:
1. Do not collect corals when you go to the beach, Throw them back to the sea
together with sea urchins, small animals, etc.
2. Do not buy fancy jewelry or accessories made from corals. Without demand,
the manufacturers may shift to other resources that are not threatened.
3. When going scuba diving, do not step on or touch the coral animals, no
matter how attractive they look.
4. Do not go spear hunting for fishes , too. Save your fishing to the hook and the
line only.
5. Do not throw waste into the seas or beach when you go out swimming. Put
them in a receptacle or bring them home with you.
6. Do not throw household wastes into rivers and lakes, too. Organize or
coordinate with your local officials on the proper disposal of household waste. There are
enough dead rivers already. Save the remaining ones.
7. Watch out for pollution culprits like factories, ships, construction, etc. report
them to your local office of the department of environment and natural resources.
8. Participate in the education campaign that some NGOs or government
organizations may be doing on the way to save coral reefs.
9. Report to the local DENR any knowledge you may on illegal ways of fishing
like muro-ami, use of small meshed nets, etc. These banned and violations should be
reported. Dont let them get away with it.
10. Write to the newspaper, TV or radio stations, etc. about these violations or if
you see an activity which destroy the natural resources in general. Media coverage
annoys these criminals and your letter could do a great difference.

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9. Deforestation
The destruction as well as the rapid disappearance of certain types of forests
have been described as alarming by experts. And the economic and ecological
importance of forests cannot be ignored. For example, the tropical rain forests which
profoundly influence global climates, agriculture cropping practices, and other life
supporting activities are rapidly disappearing. Forest experts are studying the possibility
of regenerating tropical rain forests.
The principal causes of deforestation are illegal logging, conversion of forested
areas into farmlands, grazing lands, industrial sites, and human settlements. Another
chronic source of deforestation is the Kaingin system ( slash-burn type of land
cultivation) that dates back to the Spanish times. Previous coercive and punitive policies
failed to eliminate kaingin practices. The kaingero has his own culture, socio-economic
constraints and will power. He is, or strives to be, his own master, and his contempt for
laws which threaten his very existence is absolute. Policy makers responsible for
protecting the Philippine environment now appreciate that upland forest conservation
depends on the success of introducing socio-economic modifications. Vital is the
development of cropping practices and patterns and agro-forestry techniques which will
not only be socially acceptable and economically rewarding to the kaingero, but will also
encourage him to remain permanently in the same place, not expand his kaingin into the
public forest and indirectly stem accelerated run-off and soil erosion.
Today , the problem of illegal logging has been pointed out as devastating to our
forests. It has already done so much damage to the economy in terms of losses
amounting to millions of pesos and the destruction of tens of thousands of hectares of
land which are left denuded. The wanton destruction of forests has proceeded at the rate
of 170,000 hectares a year, one of the fastest rates of denudation in the world. At this
alarming rate of destruction, the Philippines could become deforested within the few
decades.
Planting of trees is resorted to as means to control soil erosion brought about by
the construction of settlements, highways, and other infrastructures. In some countries,
like Japan, ornamental plants have served the purpose of controlling soil erosion and
reducing environmental pollution. Through siltation ( a result of erosion) tens of
thousands of cubic yards of sediment are deposited in reservoirs, displacing the water
needed by people. Siltation is caused by upstream erosion, as in the erosion of old and
newly cut highway embankments. And this type of soil is controlled by planting crops
which serve also the ornamental aim.
Desertification affects millions of people in the world and about of these are living
in Asia and the Pacific. It is the result of rapid degradation of the soil due to aridity,
overgrazing, over-cropping, water-logging and large scale deforestation. According to
the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) desertification process can be controlled by
planting trees in areas extremely denuded, terracing steep lands, planting shelter belts
and windbreaks and regenerating grasslands and grazing lands.
10. Endangered Wildlife Species
There are wildlife species that need protection because of their endangered
status. These include the Monkey Eating Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Giant Sops Owl,
Mindoro Imperial Pigeon, Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Cebu Black Shama, Ashy
Ground Thrash, Eastern Sarus Crane, Kocks Pita, Rufous Hornbill, Mouse-Deer
(Pilandut), Tamaraw, Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius) , Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys
imbricata) , Olive-back Loggerhead (Chelonia japonica), Leatherback Turtle
(Dermochelys schlegelli), Sea Cow (Dugong), Finblack whale or Balyena
( Balaenoptera), calamian deer, Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus Philippinensis ) , Bluenaped Parrot, Water Buffalo ( Carabao), tamaraw ( Bubalus mindorensis), dwarf pygmy
(Pandaka Pygmea), and Sinarapan or tabyos ( Mistichthyes luzonensis) .
Varied conservation activities are underway to save them from extinction as a
result of the destruction of their regues and unscrupulous hunting. It involves the
protection and wise management of such animals and their environment. Although
some species of animals may have been killed off by natural causes, man is by far the
greatest danger to wildlife. If man ignores the need for wildlife conservation, todays
endangered species may face extinction. The threatened species and all other wildlife-

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have four main values for man: beauty, economic value, scientific value and survival
value.
The method used to protect wildlife depends on the source of the danger to the
threatened species. In many cases, wildlife can be helped by ensuring that their
environment provides enough food, water and shelter. This is what we call habitat
management which involves such action as soil conservation, good forestry practices,
and water management.
Many species of wildlife have been threatened by wildlife destruction of their
habitat. For example, poor farming practices may destroy land or the spread of cities and
industries pave over former wildlife habitats. Pollution may poison these animals in their
habitat. To save wildlife habitats, man must plan to set aside areas in which wild animals
and plants can survive.
If species can no longer survive in its natural environment, it may be raised in
captivity and then released into a protected area. However, this method could be
adapted on selected basis.
The success of wildlife conservation depends on a knowledge of the ecology of
species. This requires an understanding of the way in which a species lives and how it
relates to everything, both living and non-living in its environment.
11. Transport and Traffic Problems
Poor transportation and traffic congestion has almost become unmanageable
particularly during busy hours. Many man hours are lost each day in community
because of the traffic jams on main roads of every city and town. Besides, an enormous
amount of energy is expended daily in transporting people, economic goods, among
others, back and forth from places of residence and elsewhere. The traffic situation is
worsened by the rapid increase of population and unplanned urban settlement.
Various technological developments that have contributed to ease traffic
problems are Light Railroad Transport System, the Skyway, Underpass/Overpass and
Flyovers , and Color Scheme introduced by the Metro Manila Development Authority.
12. Fisheries problems
Over-fishing and illegal methods of fishing are two important factors responsible
for the depletion of our fishery resources. The construction of illegal fishponds, dikes
and river enclosures has caused destructive floods and has affected the small fishermen
.
13. Floods
Floods occur when soil and vegetation cannot absorb all the water from natural
ponds and constructed reservoirs held behind dams. River Floods occur from
heavy rains causes the rivers to overflow their banks. Flash floods usually result
from intense rainfall over a relatively small area and coastal floods are caused by
high tides induced by severe winds over ocean surfaces, or by tidal waves caused
by undersea earthquakes.
The government has embarked on various programs and projects to control
floods through different strategies, e.g. reforestation and construction of dams,
reservoirs and flood ways, dredging of rivers and esteros, proper disposal of
garbage, relocasting squatters along esteros and cleaning regularly clogged
gutters along the streets.. The DPWH has constructed the megadike and other
infrastructures in Pampanga to help solve flooding.
The DENR has ordered a stop to all sand and quarry operation. It has also
intensified its campaign against illegal loggers.

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VI. AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Department of Environment and Natural Resources the DENR, through its field offices
(Regional, Provincial, and City/Municipal, Environmental Offices) and its Environmental
Management Bureau performs regulatory as well as monitoring and enforcement functions with
regard to environmental and anti-pollution laws. The DENR also promulgates rules and
regulations necessary for environmental protection, as the standards for air, water and land
Department of Health - the DOH , through its local health offices, implements the
provisions of PD No. 552 and 856, section of PD 856 (code on Sanitation) regulates the storage
of refuse in food establishments with respect to construction, maintenance, and replacement of
storage containers within the premises. Section 832 of the Code states that cities and
municipalities shall provide adequate and efficient systems of collecting, transporting and
disposing of refuse in their areas of jurisdiction in a manner approved by local health authorities.
Department of Public Works and Highways - The Secretary of the Public Works, with
the assistance of the officials of the DOPH and concerned local government units, shall
supervise the implementation of PD825 which provides penalties for improper disposal of
garbage and other forms of un-cleanliness.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES
Haribon Foundation -- Established in 1972, the Haribon Foundation is today regarded as
a pioneer of the environmental movement and one of the most active environmental
organizations in the Philippines. In 1984, it was registered as a science and research foundation
conducting floral and faunal studies and is accredited by the Department of Science and
Technology. It is also accredited with the DENR and the USAID as private voluntary
organization. Known as Haribon for short, the name refers to the endangered Philippine Eagle
and the organization has its roots as a birdwatching society. The name has been retained
despite the broadening of the mission, because the critical status of the Philippine Eagle
symbolizes the environmental state of the country.
In the pursuit of conservation through community-based resource management, Haribon
adopts an integrated, multi- disciplinary approach that is participatory and scientifically sound.
Its programs include science and research, community-based resource management,
environmental defense and membership development.
Haribon is a member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and collaborates with
international organizations such as Greenpeace, the Wild Bird Society of Japan, Ocean Voice
International, World Wide Fund for Nature and BirdLife International. It maintains a strong
network with local environmental groups such as the Green Forum and is a member of the
Board of Trustees of the NGOs for Protected Areas (NIPA).
Ongoing or Recently Completed Projects

Community-Based Resource Management

1. Mt. Isarog National Park Conservation Project .
The Mt. Isarog National Park, with an area of approx. 10,000 hectares, is noted
for its rich biological diversity and high endemism, there being 150 species of birds, 33
species of mammals, and 1,163 species of plants. As a watershed, it also provides a
constant supply of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use for the city of Naga
and the surrounding municipalities
Threats to the biodiversity in the park include deforestation due to logging, slash
and burn farming, expansion of agricultural land, and encroachment from settlers. After
five years of community organizing and education conducted in four of the twenty three
barangays situated around the park, the threats from illegal logging and encroachment
had been contained due to a large extent, through the vigilance and efforts of local
organizations in the area.

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The locally formed federation, Anduyog Isarog, is actively involved in supporting local
community organizations through information and education campaigns, an agroforestry
project and micro- credit which seeks to provide ecologically compatible economic
livelihood to local communities.

1. Marine Conservation Project for San Salvador Island, Zambales

The fishing community of San Salvador faces the same problems and challenges
typical to similar communities in other parts of the Philippines: rampant use of
destructive fishing methods, declining fish yields, and disappearing corals. The condition
of the coral reef of San Salvador correlates with an assessment of the Lingayen Gulf
coral reefs. Gomez and Yap (1982) indicated that out of 12 reef sample stations in the
province of Zambales, two were in good condition (50-75%) living coral cover, three in
fair condition (25-49.9%) and seven in poor condition (0-24.9%). Included in the last was
San Salvador's coral reef status.
The main accomplishment of this project is the establishment of a 127-hectare
sanctuary which has significantly increased the population of marine organisms as well
as the catch of the fishers in the area. The sanctuary was also seeded with Tridacna sp.,
a species of clams which was originally found but overharvested in the area. Using the
community organizing strategy, a people's organization called the Samahang
Pangkaunlaran ng San Salvador was established which, together with the local
government unit, is managing the sanctuary. Another people's organization called the
Cabangun Aquarium Fish Gathering Association (CAFGA) was also formed as a result of
the net training activities done in the area.
Other training provided to the beneficiaries were on artificial reefs and
environmental education. The provision of alternative livelihood to the villagers was a
major consideration, hence, linkages with the Department of Trade and Industry and the
Department of Science and Technology were established.

3. Community-Based Coastal Resource Management in Bolinao, Pangasinan

Bolinao, which is one of the municipalities of Pangasinan, has one of the largest
fringing reef areas in Northwestern Philippines covering about 200 sq. km. of coral reef
(McManus et al 1992) which makes it a vital source of genetic stock to the 24
municipalities in the Lingayen Gulf. With the alarming and continued decline of marine
resources, a community-based coastal resource management program for four
barangays in the municipality was conceptualized.
The key components include research, community organizing and livelihood
development utilizing the expertise and experience of the Marine Science Institute,
Haribon, and the College of Social Work and Community Development. Training
activities were conducted in zoning, ordinance formulation, enforcement and regular
review of legal instruments in coastal resource management. Educational materials such
as posters, slides, comics and videos were prepared and disseminated while
educational activities were directed to sectoral groups such as women, LGUs,
fishermen, and NGOs including exposure trips to Batangas and Zambales.

4. Community-Based Coastal Resource Management in Anilao, Batangas.

Well known among divers for its soft corals and diverse marine life, Anilao in
Mabini, Batangas is visited by hordes of tourists every year providing livelihoods and
substantial income to the communities from tourism. However, the coral reefs of Anilao
are threatened from pollution, dynamite fishing, indiscriminate mooring of boats and
sedimentation from land-based development, all of which contribute to the loss of
tourism value and fish productivity. After three years of community organizing and

13
environmental education given to boatmen, resort owners, and fishermen, three (3)
sanctuaries and marine reserves were established to rehabilitate and regenerate the
reef resources in the area. Hardware support such as mooring buoys, patrol boats, radio
sets and a training center were provided as well as seed capital for a local cooperative
managed by a local organization called Samahang Pangkaunlaran ng San
Teodoro(SPST).

Researches
Conservation Status of Philippine Birds .
In partnership with Birdlife International, a UK-based global conservation
organization working for the protection of birds and their habitat, the Haribon Foundation
is implementing a research project to document the conservation status of Philippine
birds and publish the Red Data Book of Philippines Birds in 1997. As indicators of
biodiversity, birds provide important information on the faunal diversity of an area. The
succeeding research will focus on the important bird areas in the Philippines where an
inventory of endemic bird areas will provide policy-makers and planners the needed
information for conservation management. (Birdlife International, Wild Bird Society of
Japan, UK Embassy)
Sea Horse Biology and Conservation Status
The trade in seahorses for traditional Chinese medicine and the aquarium
ornamental market has caused severe depletion of the seahorse stock in many areas in
the Philippines. In the next five years, if the rate of depletion continues, the seahorse
population is expected to collapse in the Philippines.
In 1995, with support from the Darwin Initiative, the Haribon Foundation
collaborated with Oxford University's Dr. Amanda Vincent to study the biology of
seahorses and its conservation status. The project established a seahorse sanctuary in
the Getafe municipality of Bohol where locals voluntarily allow pregnant seahorses to
hatch before being harvested and sold. Livelihood opportunities such as seahorse
ranching and eco-tourism together with expanding the educational and organizing
activities to neighboring areas are targeted in the next phase of the project.

Capability-Building
Alternative Technology to Cyanide Use in Aquarium Fishing.
One of the more serious threat to marine biodiversity is the use of sodium
cyanide to catch food fish and tropical aquarium fishes. Sodium cyanide is used by
fishermen to stun the fish for the live fish trade but destroys the corals in the process.
After decades of misuse, the corals of the Philippines have been transformed into vast
swathes of underwater deserts thereby reducing its productivity over the years.
In 1989, with the support of IDRC of Canada, the Haribon Foundation has
developed and implemented training courses for aquarium fish collectors in the use of
barrier nets instead of cyanide in fish gathering. Educational materials produced include
a coral reef manual (English and Tagalog versions) and a video entitled "Divers Say No
to Cyanide".
So far, the 800 trainee-graduates coming from four provinces in Central Luzon
have federated into a national organization advocating a stop to the use of sodium
cyanide in aquarium fish collection. They have initiated training activities to disseminate
the net method of fish collection to other fishermen and to teach them the basic skills in
safety diving and proper fish handling. Seed money for local cooperatives were
disbursed in the 4 provinces. To encourage and sustain their graduates in the use of
nets, the federation embarked into direct exports to obtain better prices for net-caught
fishes. These forward linkages are seen to expand further and venture into eco-labelling
schemes that will require the involvement and the cooperation of hobbyists, pet groups,
fish dealers, NGO groups, exporters and collectors.

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National Course on Integrated Coastal Management

The marine waters of the Philippines is five times more in area than the land it
covers. The territorial waters of the country total 220 million hectares of which 26.6
million hectares is considered coastal, 18.5 million hectares is shelf area and the rest is
oceanic. Coastal resources/area/zone management is therefore an important function for
the country's sustainable development. Up until now, the management of this area is still
fragmented and no one government agency has jurisdiction over coastal management. It
has in fact become more complicated today because of the enactment of the Local
Government Code. To leapfrog the conservation of our coastal areas, it is important to
create a critical mass of individuals all over the country who have similar framework for
action and the necessary skills to pursue coastal management. And in order to do this,
developing a broad-based curriculum for coastal management is imperative.
An Organizing Committee headed by Haribon with the Coastal Environment
Program of the DENR, Philippine Council for Marine and Aquatic Resources
Development (PCAMRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA),
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), and the International Center for
Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) is implementing this project, the longterm objective of which is to develop a constituent of local cadres for coastal
zone/area/resources management in the Philippines from local government, DENR,
academe, NGOs and POs both at the national and local levels. The short-term
objectives are the following: a) to bring together Filipino practitioners in CRM/CZM/CAM
to share lessons and develop a common framework for action; b) to develop a
curriculum/module for CRM/CZM/CAM training; c) to conduct 3 pre-test training for
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; d) to conduct 12 regional training and train at least 240300 Filipinos; and e) to begin regional networking for CRM/CZM/CAM.
The project is divided into two phases. The first phase involves an analysis of the
training needs and the various local CRM initiatives, program designing and curriculum
development and pre-test of training program for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The
second phase includes local regional training, post-training documentation,
implementation and evaluation, and Southeast Asia regional networking
Capability-building for NGOs in Protected Area Management
The Haribon Foundation has developed and piloted a 12-day training module on
protected area management for NGOs implementing biodiversity conservation projects
in their respective sites. Supported by the Foundation for Philippine Environment, the
training course aims to impart to participants the basic principles and concepts in
protected area management and the basic techniques in management plan preparation,
implementation and evaluation. The course adopts the case method of instruction where
theories and actual experiences of the participants are combined to create an analytical
and empirical basis for discussion.
Environmental Laws
Tanggol-Kalikasan.
A big component of Tanggol-Kalikasan is paralegal training. As of 1994, a total of
34 paralegal training were given to almost 1,000 people nationwide. A tangible result of
these training is the organization of environmental paralegal teams composed of those
who underwent training. A total of 10 paralegal teams have been formed in Regions 3, 4,
and 5. Lectures, numbering 48, on environmental laws mostly delivered in state public
schools upon the initiation of the deans and other officials were also given. Direct
assistance to communities was also provided through resource management sessions.

15
As part of its information and education activity, a total of 18 factsheets which are
one-page statements on topics which are worthy of the public's attention and concrete
positive governmental action have been written and disseminated. Publications such as
the Environmental Law Handbook, Local Government Code Primer, Citizen's Primer on
Air Pollution, and a Training Manual on Environmental Law for POs, NGOs, and LGUs
have been published.
Technical assistance to NGOs is also provided. Tanggol-Kalikasan has also
joined several investigation and/or apprehension operations conducted under the joint
efforts of EIIB, local PNP and DENR. It is also currently handling litigation of several
cases, all of which concern violations of environmental laws.
ENDEFENSE Program
The ENDEFENSE Fund is a fund set up to finance litigation on behalf of the
environment and in defense of environmental activists and enforcers. It is administered
by Tanggol-Kalikasan, Haribon's legal program and governed by an Endefense Council
composed of alternative lawyers from Luzon and Visayas. Apart from litigation, the fund
also supports other legal empowerment mechanisms such as training and publication.
Science & Litigation
Recognizing the lack of technical capacity among lawyers engaged in
environmental litigation, Tanggol- Kalikasan invited Dr. Mark Chernaik, a lawyerbiochemist from the U.S. Office of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide. Strategies
for technical evidence gathering and community-based monitoring of technical
parameters were explored in a series of workshops attended by NGOs and lawyers'
groups. As a result of this project, a database of Philippine technical experts and a
primer for community monitoring of major environmental parameters were drafted.

Advocacy
Renewable Energy Options Study in the Philippines.
The Philippines has long been dependent on fossil fuel to power its needs. Since
fossil fuel is non-renewable, alternatives should be considered. Thus, baseline studies
on renewable energy options such as solar, thermal, photovoltaic system (PVS) were
prepared. Included in the study is a critique of the Philippine Energy Plan (1996- 2005)
but efforts were focused on reviewing and facilitating the Department of Energy project
called Pro-Solar in a community in Polillo Island, Quezon. Initial review and assessment
of existing solar projects in Batangas, Bulacan, and Zambales were also conducted.
Specific recommendations to further promote renewable energy in the country is the
highlight of the project report which will be published in December 1995.
Framework Laws and Provisions
The Philippine Constitution declares that it is the duty of the State to protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology. This duty had earlier
been codified in the Philippine Environmental Policy, which is the national blueprint for
environmental protection.
The Philippine Environment Code, in turn, contains general principles dealing
with the major environmental and natural resource concerns of the Philippines. These
two documents are very broad and general, and contain few substantive provisions.
Taken together, the Policy and the Code can best be described as forming the very basic
framework laws on the environment in the Philippines.
Due to the generality of the Policy and the Code, various other laws have been
enacted to address specific environmental concerns, notably Presidential Decree No.

16
1586 of 1978, which established the environmental impact statement (EIS) system, the
Fisheries Code of 1998, the Revised Forestry Code of 1975, the Mining Act of 1995, the
Pollution Control Decree of 1976, the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear
Wastes Control Act of 1990, the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)
Act of 1992 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997. Hence, there is no singular
framework or "umbrella" legislation which binds together the numerous environmental
concerns in a comprehensive manner. To better appreciate the legal regulation of the
environment in the Philippines, one must delve into the whole plethora of laws and
regulations which exists in relation to discrete environmental issues.
That being said, it must be noted that the Philippines has arguably the most
progressive, albeit piecemeal, environmental legislation in place of any Southeast Asian
country. The Philippines has the only specific legislation relating to the prospecting of
biological and genetic resources, as well as the most advanced EIA, mining, fisheries,
protection of ancestral domain and protected areas legislation in the region. Altogether,
these legislation recognize that the central theme of environmental protection in the
country is the regulation of land and marine use rights and the reconciliation of these
with the principle of sustainable development. The challenge remains, of course, to
effectively implement the legislation which exists on paper.
The main legislation mentioned above have been supplemented in varying
degrees by subsidiary legislation, primarily in the form of DENR Department
Administrative Orders (commonly known as DAOs). In December 1996, DAO 37/1996
was issued by the Secretary for the Environment to streamline the EIA system. In the
same month, DAO 40/1996, revising the implementing rules and regulations of the
Philippine Mining Act of 1995, was issued, in part to reinforce the environmental
protection provisions of the Mining Act. Pursuant to the constitutional provisions calling
for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, DAO 2/1993 was promulgated,
providing for the rules and regulations for the identification, delineation and recognition
of ancestral land and domain claims. In late 1997, the landmark Republic Act 8371 - the
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 was promulgated to govern the issue of
indigenous communities rights.

Framework Laws
Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines - various provisions
PD 1151, Philippine Environmental Policy (6 June 1977)
PD 1152, Philippine Environmental Code - Natural Resource Management and
Conservation (6 June 1977)
PD 1067, Water Code of the Philippines
Commonwealth Act No. 141, The Public Land Act (An Act to Amend and Compile the
Laws relative to Lands of the Public Domain)
Executive Order No. 192, the Reorganization Act of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (1987)
RA 6657, The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 (10 June 1988)
EO 15/1992, Creating the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD)
DAO 30/1992, Providing Guidelines for the Transfer and Implementation of DENR
Functions to the Local Government Units
DAO 36/1992, Assignment and Supervision of the DENR-Non Governmental/Peoples
Organisation (NG/PO) Desk
DAO 32/1994, Creation of an Office to Coordinate DENR Commitments to Inter-Agency
Committees, Commissions, Task Forces and Special Projects
DAO 35/1994, Guidelines Governing the Implementation and Monitoring of the DENR
National Crime Reporting System
EO 291, Creating Environmental Units in National Government Agencies (1996)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Legislation
PD 1586, Establishing an Environmental Impact Statement System, Including Other
Environmental Management Related Research and for Other Purposes (11 June 1978)
Proclamation 2146, Proclaiming Certain Areas and Types of Projects as Environmentally
Critical and Within the Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement System
Established under PD 1586
DENR Office Circular No. 3, Series of 1983, Technical Definitions and Scope of the
Environmentally Critical Projects and Areas Enumerated in Proclamation 2146

17

EO 291, Improving the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System (12 January
1996)
DAO 37/1996, Revising DAO 21/1992 to Further Strengthen the Implementation of the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System
EO 342, Declaring Golf Courses as Environmentally Critical Projects and Creating the
Golf Course Committee for Environmental Protection Programs (1996)
Golf Course Committee Resolution 1 of 1997, Rules and Standards in Reviewing
Proposed Golf Course Projects
Pollution Control and Hazardous Substances
PD 984, National Pollution Control Decree, Providing for the Revision of RA 3931
Commonly Known as the Pollution Control Law and for Other Purposes
PD 1181, Providing for the Prevention, Control and Abatement of Air Pollution from
Motor Vehicles and for Other Purposes (Anti Smoke-Belching Law of 1977)
DAO 12/1996, Prescribing Organisational and Management Arrangement of the Pasig
River Rehabilitation Program
Laguna Lake Development Authority Resolution No. 33 of 1996, Prescribing Use of
Environmental User Fees for Facilities under the Jurisdiction of the Laguna Lake
Development Authority
RA 6969, Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990

Protected Areas and Wildlife

RA 7586, National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (NIPAS)
DAO 25/1992, National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Implementing Rules
and Regulations (29 June 1992)

Forestry
PD 705, Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines (Revising PD 389) (19 May 1975)
DENR Memorandum Circular No. 1/1994, Guidelines for the Prosecution of Illegal
Logging and Related Cases

Prospecting of Biological and Genetic Resources

EO 247, Prescribing Guidelines and Establishing a Regulatory Framework for the
Prospecting of Biological and Genetic Resources, Their By-Products and Derivatives, for
Scientific and Commercial Purposes, and for Other Purposes
DAO 20/1996, Implementing Rules and Regulations on the Prospecting of Biological and
Genetic Resources
Marine Environment
PD 979, Marine Pollution Decree, Amending PD 600 Providing for Prevention and
Control of Marine Pollution
PD 1219, Providing for the Exploration, Exploitation, Utilisation and Conservation of
Coral Resources (Coral Resources Development and Conservation Decree) (14 October
1977), amended by PD 1698 (22 May 1990)
HPCG Memorandum Circular No. 3/1994, Prevention, Containment, Abatement and
Control of Marine Pollution (16 August 1994)
Fisheries
RA 8550, The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
DAO 3/1998, Implementing Rules and Regulations Pursuant to RA 8550
RA 8435, Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997
Ancestral Domain and Indigenous Peoples Rights
DENR Memorandum Circular No. 26/1994, Flagship Program for the Indigenous Cultural
Communities under the Social Reform Agenda
RA 6734, Providing for an Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
RA 8371, Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 1997 (29 October 1997)
Mining
RA 7942, Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (3 March 1995)
DAO 40/1996, Revising the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Mining Act of
1995 (20 December 1996)

18

Mines Adjudication Board Rules on Pleading, Practice and Procedure before the Panel
of Arbitrators and the Mines Adjudication Board (12 August 1997)
RA 7076, Peoples Small-scale Mining Act of 1991 (27 June 1991)
DAO 34/1992, Rules and Regulations to Implement RA 7076 (6 August 1992)

Everybody must be instructed to generate

a blueprint for mending the earth.