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Conservation, Protection-CHAPTER-10 PDF
Conservation, Protection-CHAPTER-10 PDF
Conservation, Protection-CHAPTER-10 PDF
10 Conservation,
Protection &
Rehabilitation of
the Environment
& Natural
Resources
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 303
Conservation, Protection
& Rehabilitation of the Environment
& Natural Resources
The country is widely acknowledged as having an outstanding endowment of natural
resources, which could provide essential ecosystem services to the population.
Demands arising from development and utilization activities, population expansion,
poor environmental protection, and external factors such as climate change,
however, have placed the countrys environment and natural resources under grave
threat. For the medium-term, an environment that is healthy, ecologically balanced,
sustainably productive, climate change resilient, and one that provides for present
and future generations of Filipinos is envisioned. This vision will be pursued through
an integrated and community-based ecosystems approach to environment and
natural resources management, precautionary approach to environment and natural
resources, sound environmental impact assessment (EIA) and cost-benefit analysis
(CBA). These, then, are all anchored on the principles of shared responsibility,
good governance, participation, social and environmental justice, intergenerational
space and gender equity, with people at the core of conservation, protection and
rehabilitation, and developmental initiatives.
1
SB-areas regularly used by the public for bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc.
2
European Commission (EC), Country Environmental Profile, 2005.
3
DENR, National State of Brown Environment, 2009.
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 305
Figure 10.1 Philippine Forest Cover, 1934-2003
4
ADB, Country Environmental Analysis: Philippines, 2009
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 307
coastal and marine resources Bay in Luzon, Palawan, Cuyo Islands,
are under threat the Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor area,
Zamboanga, and Davao. About half of
The Philippines has one of the worlds the countrys seagrass beds have been
longest coastlines, a total of 36,289 lost due to coastline development and
kilometers. The countrys marine blast fishing. The mapping of seagrass
jurisdiction extends up to 200 nautical bed distribution remains limited, and
miles from the baseline (Exclusive the management of seagrass resources
Economic Zone) and up to the limits of has not received priority.
the continental margin where it extends
beyond 200 miles (Extended Continental Mangroves protect the coast from
Shelf ). Located within the Coral waves, tidal currents, and typhoons
Triangle, at the center of high marine and provide habitats, shelter, breeding
diversity, the countrys vast, rich and sites, and food sources to various
diverse coastal and marine resources are groups of fish and other coastal
composed of coral reefs, sea grass beds, wildlife. The ecological functions
mangrove and beach forests, fisheries, of mangroves as land builder and
invertebrates, seaweeds, marine mammals coastline stabilizer are also widely
and many others. About 60 percent of the known. Mangrove cover, however, has
total Philippine population live in the declined from 450,000 hectares in
coastal zones and depend on these coastal 1918 to only about 140,000 hectares in
resources for livelihoods. 2008.11 The development of mangrove
swamps into aquaculture ponds, salt
Some unsustainable human activities, beds, reclamation areas and other
however, cause great stress to coastal and agricultural activities has extensively
marine resources. Coastal development degraded this resource. A total of
and climate change impacts such as 62,834 hectares of mangrove forest
sea-level rise and increasing sea-surface area were issued Fishpond Lease
temperature add to the stress on these Agreements (FLAs) between 1973
resources. Sedimentation in coastal areas and 2002. Logging concessionaires
due to unsustainable land use in upland generally have not left behind mother
areas continues to threaten coastal trees to replenish the area, and several
ecosystems. The productivity of the cases of illegal logging cutting occur
countrys coral reefs, mangrove forests, even in protected reserves.
sea grass, and algal beds and fisheries
is declining at an alarming rate. Of the mineral resource
27,000 sq km. of coral reef, over 70 development is delivering
percent are of poor or fair quality and only mixed results
five percent are in excellent condition.9
The Philippine reefs may already be in a The mining industry in the
steady state of decline from 5 percent to Philippines has rebounded due to
3 percent to less than 1 percent (Nanola the promotion and revitalization of
et. al., 2004). The countrys coral reefs responsible mining and recognition of
are considered to be one of the highly the industrys possible contribution in
threatened reef areas in the world.10 inducing economic growth, attracting
investments and reducing poverty in
Major distributions of seagrass beds in the countryside. Challenges remain
the Philippines are found in Bolinao on the emerging framework of
9
Gomez et. al., 1994.
10
Burke et al., 2002
11
WB, 2009
12
DENR-MGB, Mining Industry Statistics, 2011
13
DENR, Assessment of the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project, 2006.
14
EU, Commission Country Environment Profile, 2005
15
EU, Commission Country Environment Profile, 2005
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 309
Currently, there is no standard resource earthquakes with Magnitude 6 or
and environment valuation. There is a more and when the associated ground
need to have a cost-benefit analysis and shaking is at Intensity 6 or higher. The
standard parameters that will consider country has 300 volcanoes, of which
The countrys vulnerability all relevant values (including nonmarket 22 are active.
to natural hazards cost the values).
government an average of The country also lies along the
PhP15 billion annually in direct Extreme vulnerability to typhoon belt of the Western North
damages, or more than 0.5 environmental hazards and Pacific where 66 percent of tropical
percent of GDP. The indirect climate-related risks cyclones originate. About 20 tropical
and secondary impact of cyclones enter the Philippine Area of
disasters further increases this Owing to its location and natural Responsibility (PAR) every year, of
cost. attributes, the country is prone or which seven to nine make a landfall.
vulnerable to natural hazards such as Tropical cyclone season is from
tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes May to December; peak months are
and volcanic eruptions. Active faults and July to September with an average
trenches line the country (Figure 10.2). of three or more occurrences. Their
The longest of these, the Philippine Fault, movements follow a northwesterly
is one of the major active faults in the direction, frequently hitting northern
world. On the average, the Philippine Luzon and provinces in the eastern
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology seaboard (Figure 10.3). Mindanao is
(PHIVOLCS) records 20 earthquake usually spared from being directly hit
occurrences every day, but damage by majority of the typhoons that cross
is normally caused by shallow-focus the country.
Figure 10.2 Distribution of Active Faults Figure 10.3 Frequency of Tropical Cyclones in the
and Trenches Philippines, 1948-2006
Source: DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), 2010. Source: DENR-MGB, 2011
Data from the DENR-Mines and and communities, disasters have also
Geosciences Bureau (MGB) show that derailed social and economic development.
in eight provinces, at least 30 percent A WB 2005 study reported that the
of provincial land area are susceptible countrys vulnerability to natural hazards
to floods (Table 10.1). The same report cost the government an average of PhP15
shows 68 provinces are more susceptible billion annually in direct damages, or more
to rain-induced landslides, affecting at than 0.5 percent of GDP.16 The indirect and
least one-third of the total land area of secondary impact of disasters has further
each province (Table 10.1). increased this cost. This was surpassed in
2009 when typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng
Aside from the direct impact of natural inflicted damage equivalent to 2.7 percent
disasters on human lives, their properties, of GDP.17
16
WB, Natural Disaster Risk Management in the Philippines: Enhancing Poverty Alleviation through Disaster
Reduction, 2005.
17
WB, Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, 2009.
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 311
Table 10.3 Hazard Susceptibility of Selected Provinces by Poverty Incidence
18
OCD-NDCC, Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction of the Philippines: Strategic National Action Plan
(2009-2019)
19
MDGF-1656, PAGASA GCM Scenarios, 2010
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 313
equipment and technical expertise to Mines in Western Samar included the
deal with these wastes, although steps are implementation of interim structural
being taken to define the regulatory and measures, phytoremediation and
enforcement responsibilities of various revegetation of disturbed areas. Rapid
government agencies. risk assessment of other abandoned
and inactive mines has also been
With respect to mining, several conducted by the following companies:
environmental safeguards and social Basay Mining Corp (Negros Oriental);
development programs have been Thanksgiving Mine-Benguet
installed in mining projects, including Exploration, Inc. (Benguet); Black
the 97 Environmental Protection and Mountain (Benguet); Consolidated
Enhancement Program (EPEP), 23 Mines, Inc. (Marinduque); Palawan
Final Mine Rehabilitation and/or Quicksilver Mines (Palawan); Western
Decommissioning Program (FMR/DP), Mine Corp (Benguet); and Dizon
387 Social Development Management Mines (Zambales).
Program (SDMP) and IEC Campaigns.
Mining companies have committed While some case studies20 present
A cost-benefit analysis is to inculcate the following in their examples of economic valuation of the
required that considers all environmental and social programs: environment and natural resources,
relevant (including nonmarket) other sectors contest the validity of the
values pertinent to the project. a. the implementation of some 400 parameters used. Issues of transparency
While some case studies approved five-year SDMPs for the have also cropped up, with some
present examples of economic host and neighboring communities sectors and support groups pointing to
valuation of the environment amounting to PhP1.89 billion difficulties in accessing information on
and natural resources, other benefitting over 700 barangays mining contracts.
sectors contest the validity of nationwide;
the parameters used. As for forest lands, approximately
b. the implementation of environmental 78,000 hectares were reforested during
management and protection activities the period 2004-2010 although this
through the EPEP amounting to only 60 percent of the total target of
PhP25 billion and for mine closure 130,000 hectares. More than 14 million
through the FMR/DP worth PhP600 hectares of untenured forestlands have
million; been protected. As of end of 2009, 41
of the 78 target provinces for forest
c. a mining forest program with 79 boundary delineation21 have completed
participating companies reforesting boundary surveys. Seventeen of these
or afforesting 10,319 hectares of mine are ready for legislation. A total of
affected and nonmining disturbed areas 336 municipalities were also covered
with 9.3 million seedlings; and by public land survey (partial cadastre
only) while 770,835 hectares were
d. payment of royalties to indigenous covered by patents issued from 2004
peoples of at least PhP330 million to 2010. As of 2010, both government
between 2007-2009. and nongovernment sectors reforested
a total of 1,958,928 hectares22. The
The assessment and rehabilitation of government, through projects of
abandoned or inactive mines have also the DENR, contributed a total of
been started. The rehabilitation of Bagacay 1,368,645 hectares or 70 percent,
20
Galang, Angelina P., The Philippine Environment in the Ecozoic Age, 2009.
21
The delineation of forestland boundary is the first and an important step in the management of the countrys forest
areas. Section 4, Article 12 of the Constitution provides that the congress, shall, as soon as possible, determine by law
the specific limits of forest lands and national parks marking clearly their boundaries on the ground.
22
DENR-Forest and Management Bureau
23
Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and
United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Citizens Roadmap for Poverty REduction and Achieving the
MDGs, Recommendations for the 2010-2016 MTPDP, and Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment.
Philippine Environmental Situation 2001-2009.
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 315
Box 10.1 Women and the Environment and Natural Resources
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 317
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction
Box 10.2 Environmental Education and Management Act of 2010.
In 2008, the Philippines enacted RA 9512 or the National Environmental The National Disaster Risk
Awareness and Education Act of 2008. This legislation concretized Reduction and Management Council
the countrys support to the United Nations Decade of Education for (formerly NDCC) has been given
Sustainable Development (2005-2014) and the ASEAN Environmental the mandate to protect the wellbeing
Education Action Plan for Sustainable Development (2008-2012). This of people and safeguard the national
law has reiterated the policy of the State to protect and advance the economy and environment through
right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with more concrete financial investment
the rhythm and harmony of nature. The law has further recognized in DRR. This paradigm shift is also
the vital role of the youth in nation building, and the role of education in consonance with the countrys
to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress and international commitment to the
provide total human liberation and development. Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)
of 2005, which seeks to build the
In the DENR, the Environmental Education and Information Division resilience of nations and communities
(EEID) and the 16 Regional Environmental Education and Information in the face of disasters. The National
Sections of the EMB has been the agencys lead arm in creating DRRM Framework and Plan
environmental awareness. It has spearheaded year-round environmental utilizes the multihazard approach in
events from World Water Day (March 22) and Philippine Water Week managing the impact of natural and
(third week of March), International Earth Day (April 22), Philippine human-induced disasters. It calls for
Earth Month (April), World Environment Day (June 5), Philippine building the disaster resilience of
Environment Month (June), National Clean Up Month, and National communities and institutionalizing
Ozone Protection (September), International Ozone Day (September arrangements and measures for
16), International Coastal Clean Up Weekend (third weekend of reducing disaster risks, and enhancing
September), National Clean Air Month, and National Environmental disaster-preparedness and response
Awareness Month (November), Global Warming and Climate Change capabilities at all levels. Since DRR
Consciousness Week (November 19-24). is closely linked to poverty alleviation
and development, it is necessary to
EEIDs activities which include distribution of IEC materials, recyclables link it firmly to development planning
collection, tree planting and environmental exhibits have contributed to at all levels.
the increasing awareness of Filipinos in caring for the environment and
natural resources of the country. Before the passage of RA 10121,
Source: DENR-EMB, 2009 the government already initiated the
development of a long-term master
plan for disaster mitigation known as
the Strategic National Action Plan
such as multisector national plans and on DRR or SNAP. This document
strategies, and special environmental proactively serves as a road map for
management agenda. The Philippines the next 10 years and was formulated
passed the Climate Change Act of through as inclusive participatory
2009 (RA 9729) to incorporate climate process of all stakeholders. SNAP was
change in government policy formulation approved on June 17, 2010 through
and establish the framework strategy EO 888 (Adopting the SNAP on
for climate change. The National DRR). EO 888 explicitly adopts
Framework Strategy on Climate Change the 18 priority programs/projects
was formulated in 2010 to ensure on DRR and identified agencies
and strengthen the adaptation of the with primary responsibility. The
countrys natural ecosystems and human consistency of SNAP with RA 10121
communities to climate change, charting however still has to be reviewed and
a cleaner development path for the reevaluated.
country in the process. This is reinforced
by the enactment of RA 10121, the
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 319
Institutional Issues in the implementation of various laws
such as the Mining Act, NIPAS Act,
Despite government efforts at IPRA and the LGC, among others.
sustainably managing the countrys These conflicts, overlaps, or divergent
environment and natural resources, interpretations have led to the delay
environmental degradation continues. or suspension of some projects.
The plethora of laws and policies, as well
as the established agencies to manage, Government capacity for
protect, and preserve the countrys resource management is
environment and natural resources have wanting
not sufficed or worked effectively enough
to address the threats to ecological Overlapping jurisdictions. Due to
integrity. Institutional issues need to be the large number of players in the
addressed to ensure the sustainability of environment and natural resources
the countrys fragile environment and sector, governance issues are
natural resources. Policies, programs and inevitable. In some instances, conflicts
existing institutional arrangements must arise between national and local
For CCA, putting in place be revisited in order to move forward governments in terms of the protection
adaptation measures also and deliver the promise of sustainable and utilization of natural resources.
requires financial resources. development. This is apparent when LGUs initiate
The Philippines continues to the reversion of abandoned fishponds,
uphold the UNFCCC principle Implementation is confused while it is the DENR who should lead
of common and differentiated by overlapping and conflicting the process, following the Philippine
responsibilities to hold on to policies Fisheries Code of 1998 and several
the agreement that Annex I joint administrative orders. Another
countries will extend financial There is a need to review and harmonize concern is the national-local conflicts
assistance over and above the a number of conflicting and overlapping in mining projects, specifically when
level of development assistance. policies. A case of policy conflict is LGUs pass local legislation rejecting
Developed countries are that between forest protection laws, on or opposing the entry or expansion
required under the Convention the one hand, and the Agriculture and of large-scale mining projects. This
to provide new and additional Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), contravenes the DOJ opinion that
resources, either through on the other. AFMA encourages local ordinances cannot undo a law
bilateral, multilateral or regional agriculture expansion into the uplands and should not run counter to national
funding mechanisms, to meet including forestlands through the policy; DENR memoranda also
the agreed costs of developing creation of Strategic Agriculture and order its regional offices to continue
countries in complying with their Fisheries Development Zone (SAFDZs) implementing their mandate.27
obligations as well. The country, that promote the production of high
however, cannot be dependent value crops such as coconut, pineapple To ensure compliance in incorporating
on these funds. and sugarcane. While there is a need to CCA and DRRM management in
improve the income of upland farmers, the development process, the roles of
the identification of suitable upland agencies and their respective mandates
areas for commercial high-value crop as provided by law must converge and
production should be given priority and synchronize. The Climate Change
closely undertaken together with DENR Act and the Philippine DRRM
to avoid onsite and offsite negative Act of 2010 are significant strides
externalities. The NIPAS Act is also in to include climate change and
conflict with the Fishery Code on the DRR management in the planning
municipal water income of municipalities process. Sectoral plans, including the
within protected areas, as well as the LGC Environment and Natural Resources
on the matter of the jurisdiction of LGUs Framework Plan, must be updated to
within protected areas. Conflicts also exist include these concerns.
27
DOJ Opinion No. 8, Series of 2005
28
DILG/ADB, 2005. Local Government Financing and Budget Reform.
29
ADB, Country Environmental Analysis, 2008.
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 321
Contributing to poor enforcement and their obligations as well. The country,
compliance is the lack of knowledge however, cannot be dependent on
of environmental laws, policies, and these funds.
programs among LGUs, specifically in
communities or barangays. There are The National Environmental
still rural communities which depend on Economic and Development Study
resource extraction for their livelihood. (NEEDS) 2010 on the inventory of
Relevant environmental laws, specifically financial flows showed that grants
those regulating the utilization of natural to the environment, agriculture,
resources, e.g., NIPAS, Wildlife Act, etc. biodiversity, energy, CCA, health, and
are poorly implemented. There is a need water supply and sanitation address
to intensify information and advocacy only a given problem or requirement,
campaigns on existing environmental like solid waste management,
laws and policies among communities. resource conservation, production
constraints, biodiversity loss,
Absence of a financing strategy Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions,
for environment and natural institutional capacity, outbreak
In order to improve the resources programs and CCA of infectious diseases, and water
conservation, protection, shortages. The grants received have
and rehabilitation of the Government programs are hobbled by moreover been limited in scope and
countrys natural resources, financial constraints. Funding support geographic coverage. The restricted
the sector shall pursue their for watershed management has been project scale, for instance, could be
sustainable use and integrated insufficient to cover all important seen in an integrated area project
management. Natural resources watersheds. It will take 280 years to covering at most only one or few
management activities shall be reforest given the average budget cities or municipalities, a watershed
directed at enhancing the state allocation of about PhP300 million or ecosystem, or of a nationwide scale
of the different ecosystems and for reforestation in the past 10 years.30 but focused only on a few provinces
the natural resources within Thus, more funds should be allocated, or interregional areas. Limited
them to provide resource- to prioritize watersheds that support geographical coverage result in project
dependent communities with irrigated lands. The implementation benefits being confined to particular
sustainable livelihoods. of National Sewerage and Septage area niches, a project piloting mode
Management Program by the DPWH of introducing change, an inability to
has also been slow due to lack of funds scale up, and turfing among country
to meet the large investment needed for donors and multilateral agencies
infrastructure development. (EMB-DENR, 2010).
As for CCA, putting in place adaptation The NEEDS study concluded the
measures also requires financial resources. budgetary resources set aside by the
The Philippines continues to uphold the Philippine Government for CCA have
UNFCCC principle of common and been inadequate. The larger budgetary
differentiated responsibilities to hold on share of disaster management from
to the agreement that Annex I countries 2003 to 2008 did not represent proactive
will extend financial assistance over and efforts to mitigate the expected damages
above the level of development assistance. and risks from natural disasters but
Developed countries are required under merely reflected the postdisaster relief
the Convention to provide new and and rehabilitation expenditures.
additional resources, either through
bilateral, multilateral or regional funding The budget for DRR, particularly those
mechanisms, to meet the agreed costs of appropriated as Calamity Fund in the
developing countries in complying with GAA, still reflects the response-oriented
30
DENR-FMB
31
WB, 2009
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 323
Sustainably manage forests and and implementation among
watersheds DENR, LGUs and other
watershed stakeholders towards
Targeting to have 15 million hectares of responsible forest management;
forested land, 50 percent of which may and
be production forest, the following will
be implemented to increase forest cover Develop a portfolio approach
by 600,000 hectares by 2016; for forest investment in
collaboration with the LGUs
a. Continue and enhance the and the National Commission
protection of forest and reforested on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP),
areas (especially in critical watersheds) which shall jointly prepare a
and sustain the productivity of forest land use plan identifying
agroforestry areas: areas for protection and areas
for investment and provide the
Manage, protect, and develop necessary permits and clearances
natural forest, established prior to development;
PES is a mechanism in plantation, and economically
environment and natural important nontimber forest c. Improve baseline information,
resources management that products and species; and conduct valuation and
corrects the flaw in current accounting of forest resources:
economic system whereby the Encourage communities to
users of ecosystem/environment enhance protection and sustain Conduct monitoring and
services are made to pay the productivity of reforestation areas evaluation using common
managers. and upland areas for livelihood and criteria and indicators, third-
poverty alleviation; party monitoring, and forest
certification, among others; and
Transform open, denuded and
degraded areas into protection Strengthen the decision-
forests and/or economically- support system through an
productive assets; and inventory of forest resources,
baseline data generation and
Encourage communities to GIS mapping, and forest
develop multipurpose forests in valuation and natural resource
open, denuded and degraded areas; accounting;
32
REDD is an acronym for Reducing Emissions from Degradation and Deforestation.
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 325
the countrys commitment to the waters, archipelagic waters,
Convention on Wetlands or Ramsar territorial sea and exclusive
Convention. economic zone;
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 327
mineral reserves, indicating specific implement transparency and
locations, types and values of the accountability among mining
minerals to be potentially extracted; companies operating in the
country;
Strictly implement the use-
it-or-lose-it policy to cleanse Ensure the timely and
inactive mining applications and accurate release of the legitimate
nonperforming mining contracts; share of local governments in the
extraction of national wealth;
Determine untapped offshore
mineral resources by actively Improve the government
pursuing characterization and share in taxes; and
assessment surveys; and
Rationalize the incentives
Pursue new mining technology granted by the government to
and research and development mining companies.
of mining techniques in mining
planning, scheduling, and design to Develop and implement
raise the level of mine productivity environment-friendly enterprise
and make the local mining industry and livelihood opportunities.
globally competitive. This should be
supported by capability-building The development of environment-
programs and the establishment friendly enterprise and livelihood
of laboratory facilities with opportunities for local communities
state-of-the art equipment. is envisioned to address the prevailing
poverty of resource-dependent
d. Guarantee the equitable distribution communities.
of benefits from minerals through
good governance in the mining sector: This will also motivate communities
to protect natural habitat and wildlife.
Protect public investments This includes among others:
through government oversight
over mining companies to ensure a. Well-regulated ecotourism
transparency and accountability, areas;
stimulating more investment as a
result; b. Livelihood activities (income
and food-based) designed for
Review, monitor and evaluate women; and
existing large-scale mining
contracts with respect to their c. Development and intensification
compliance with existing rules and of markets for products out of
regulations; waste such as organic composts
and reusable items.
Reaffirm ordinances and
resolutions issued by LGUs to The DA-DAR-DENR National
protect their environment to the Convergence Initiative (NCI)
extent these are consistent with intends to help provide more jobs and
national laws and policies; livelihood in identified convergence
sites for productive management and
Sign on to the Extractive sustainable utilization of forestlands.
Industry Transparency Initiative The programs of the three agencies
(EITI) in order to practice and will be integrated to promote
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 329
f. Include other priority rivers for j. Promote private sector research,
clean-up, including Laguna de Bay, development and manufacture
Boracay, and Pasig Rivers, with funds of nonmercury-based devices
collected from identified polluters. and technologies used in health
facilities and for health care; and
Reduce wastes generated and
improve waste disposal k. Encourage the development
and manufacture of local waste-
a. Ensure compliance with RA treatment technology and ensure
9003 or Ecological Solid Waste their availability in the market.
Management Act of 2000, the overall
principle of which is that all waste Specific strategies, programs and
should be brought to where they can projects as well as activities on the hard
be converted into resources; components of waste management
are discussed in detail in Chapter
b. Reduce land-based pollution by 4, Accelerating Infrastructure
cutting back on waste generation; Development.
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 331
Improve adaptive capacities of Crosscutting Strategies
communities
In order to achieve the three goals
a. Conduct geohazard mapping, and to realize an environment that
vulnerability and risk assessments is healthy, ecologically-balanced,
especially for highly susceptible sustainably productive, climate-
communities and areas for the change resilient, the following
formulation and implementation crosscutting strategies will be pursued:
of disaster risk reduction and
management plans; Effective environmental
governance
b. Integrate CCA and DRRM in all
education levels and in specialized a. Encourage multistakeholder
technical training and research partnership through enabling
programs; mechanisms that encourage
greater stakeholders participation
c. Raise public awareness of DRR and commitments, including:
and mitigating the impacts of natural
disasters through the formulation and Community-based natural
implementation of a communication resources management efforts
plan for DRR and CCA; in forestry, biodiversity
conservation, protected area
d. Conduct gendered vulnerability management, coastal resource
assessment, recognizing the differing management and integrating
vulnerabilities and capacities of poor resilience especially among
women and men across economic vulnerable groups (women,
sectors and geographic locations; children, elderly, etc);
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 333
d. Support womens enhanced roles Develop resource-based
in ENR through policy development, management technologies;
capacity-building and strengthening
of gender mainstreaming mechanisms. Provide clear guidelines
to minimize environmental
Research, Development, Extension impacts of existing technologies
and Knowledge Management (e.g., incinerators) and new
technologies (GMOs, e-waste,
a. Pursue research, development and nano technology, etc.);
extension to:
Develop and propagate
Demonstrate, develop and low-cost noncombustion
replicate low-cost technologies to technologies for infectious and
optimize the recycling, reuse, and hazardous wastes;
recovery of solid waste, including
the conversion of residual organic Develop risk and vulnerability
materials into clean renewable assessments using gendered
energy; tools and generating gender-
disaggregated data; and
Establish valuation of resources
and develop a system of natural Assess metallic and
resources accounting; nonmetallic minerals, both
onshore and offshore;
Determine the values and
potential benefits of the natural b. Make available timely, accurate
resources. and updated science-based
information on the environment
Conduct gender-aware resource- though an effective knowledge
use studies to recognize roles, management system:
impacts and opportunities among
women in ENR ecological profiling; Establish the National Spatial
Data Infrastructure (NSDI);
Develop DRR and CCA
technologies; Establishment of baseline
information on the environment
Develop clean and energy and natural resources through
efficient technologies; ecosystem profiling;
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 335
6. Permanent Forestline Bills
Legislative Agenda to provide the specific boundaries
limits of forestlands per province
In order to push forward sustainable delineating areas in which no other
management of the countrys land use may prevail;
environment and natural resources, the
passage of the following pieces of priority 7. Bills on Enactment of Priority
legislation should be pursued: Protected Areas to cover
areas that are among the Key
1. National Land Use Bill to provide Biodiversity Areas in the country
a rationalized land use planning in the which are globally significant and
country and put in order the national considered as actually manageable
laws on land uses (such as agrarian for biodiversity conservation;
reform, protected areas, ancestral
domain, fisheries, forestry, agriculture 8. Integrated Coastal
agricultural modernization, mining Management Bill
and housing) that are sector specific to institutionalize the
and do not address the cross cutting Integrated Coastal Management
land use issues; in the Philippines as a national
strategy to ensure the sustainable
2. A Sustainable Forestry Bill - development of the countrys
to provide the clear policy for the coastal and marine environment
sustainable management of the and resources and establishing
countrys forest resources; supporting mechanisms for its
implementation;
3. Land Administration Reform Bill
to address the pervading multi titling 9. Improvement and enhancement
problems through the rationalization of Small-Scale Mining Law
of the various agencies responsible to make it more responsive to
in land titling and related activities present and emerging needs on
and address this concern through the environmental, safe-time health
adoption of the one stop concept; and social concerns;
Conservation, Protection & Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources 337