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SYLLABUS / COURSE OUTLINE

NATURAL RESOURCES and ENVIRONMENT
Atty. Donna Z. Gasgonia

2nd SEMESTER/2019-2020

ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW / COURSE REQUIREMENT / GRADING

Quizzes/Oral Recitation/Class Participation = 40 %

Midterm Examination = 30% Final Examination = 30 %
Total 100%

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Natural Resources and Environment is a 2-unit subject that introduces laws and policies on
the conservation, exploitation, development and utilization of natural resources that affect
the environment. Basic national and international environmental concepts are discussed. An
integrated and historical analysis of Philippine laws and policies is pursued to provide an
overview of ecosystems and resource management relative to the development of the
national wealth.

COURSE OBJECTIVE/S
To teach the law student about the concepts, laws, jurisprudence and policies on natural
resources and environment; and to encourage the law student to analyze how laws and
policies were formulated and implemented towards national development and poverty
alleviation.

METHOD OF TEACHING
Teaching method includes lecture, seatwork, quiz and student presentation to assess the
student’s comprehension of reading assignments consisting of laws, policies and
jurisprudence. Midterm and final examinations are given to evaluate the student’s
comprehension of several topics.
The syllabus contains the reading materials for the class discussions set for 18 weeks.
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COURSE OUTLINE / SYLLABUS

SYLLABUS – Natural Resources & Environmental Law

Atty. Donna Z. Gasgonia

Week 1

I – BASIC CONCEPTS

LESSON 1: What is environmental law and what are the basic concepts of environmental
law?
1. Basic concepts of international environmental law and Philippine law – Generally
speaking, environmental law covers human health, safety and development that are linked
to natural resources and geophysical factors.

1.1 Exploitation, development and utilization of natural resources

 Sec. 1, Art. XII, 1987 Constitution
 DENR, DA-BFAR, DOE, PCCC

1.2 Human safety and health environment

 P.D. 1151 – Phil. Environmental Policy
 Civil Code on nuisance
 Sec, 16, Art. II, 1987 Constitution
 Cartagena Protocol on biosafety

Week 2

1.3 Sustainable development and intergenerational equity

 Sec. 2, P.D. 1151
 Sec. 25, P.D. 1152 – Phil. Environment Code
 Brundtland Report 1987
 Sustainable development in the Philippines
 Henares v LTFRB and DOTC, G.R. No. 158290 (23 Oct. 2006)

Week 3

LESSON 2: What are the basic concepts that respond to human safety and welfare?

2. Basic concepts on human safety and welfare – The continued development of natural
resources for the benefit of the national economy had to be regulated to address its
negative effects on specific locations.

2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment

 P.D. 2146 – Environmental Impact Statement System
 Sections 26 – 27, R.A. 7160 – Local Government Code

2.2 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

 Hyogo Framework for Action
 R.A. 10121 – National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act
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Week 4

LESSON 3: What are the basic concepts that advocate for global cooperation?

3. Climate change and Biodiversity Conservation – Proof of climate change depend on

scientific data collected over a period of ten years or more.

3.1 Climate Change

 UNFCC
 R.A. 9729 – Climate Change Act
 Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement

3.2 Biodiversity Conservation

 Convention on Biological Diversity
 ISAAA v Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Phil), G.R. No. 209271 (26 July 2016)

3.3 Transboundary Shipment of Wastes

 Basel Convention
 R.A. 6969 – Philippine Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes
Act

Week 5
II – PROPERTY RIGHTS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

LESSON 4: Who owns natural resources in the Philippines?

4. State Ownership of Natural Resources – Before environmental law was considered a

subject in itself, the constitution and several statutes contained provisions on the right to
own and benefit from natural resources.

4.1 Regalian Doctrine

 Sec. 2, Art. XII, 1987 Constitution
 Cruz & Europa v DENR, G.R. No. 135385 (6 Dec. 2000)
 DENR v Yap, G.R. No. 167707 (8 Oct. 2008)

Week 6

4.2 Ancestral Lands and Ancestral Domains

 Sec. 3(b), R.A. 8371 – Indigenous Peoples Rights Act
 Cariño v Insular Government, G.R. No. L-2746 (6 Dec. 1906), 7 Phil 132
 Cariño v Insular Government, G.R. No. L-2746 (23 Feb. 1909), 212 US 449
 Dir. Of Lands v IAC and Acme Plywood and Veneer Co., Inc., G.R. No.
73002 (29 Dec. 1996)
 Spouses Decaleng v Bishop of the Missionary District of the Phil. Islands of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A., G.R. No. 171209 (27 June
2012)

Week 7

LESSON 5: Are there private rights over natural resources?

5. Property of the public domain – Property of the public domain cannot be alienated and
must remain under the control and supervision of the State.
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5.1 Patrimonial and Private Properties

 Art. 420 – 421, Civil Code
 Parity Amendment 1935
 Director Lands Management Bureau v CA and Cario, G.R. No. 112567 (7
Feb. 2000)
 Republic v Lee, G.R. No. L-64818 (13 May 1991) 197 SCRA 13
 CMU v Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 184869 (21 Sept. 2010)

5.2 Easement and nuisance

 Art. 613 – 614, 627, 638, 699, Civil Code
 Ayala de Roxas v City of Manila, G.R. No. L-3144 (19 Nov. 1907) 9 Phil 215
 Timoner v People, G.R. No. L-62050 (25 Nov. 1983) 125 SCRA 830
 Calma v CA and Pleasantville, G.R. No. 78447 (17 Aug. 1989) 176 SCRA
555

Week 8

5.3 Reclamation
 P.D. 3-A – reclamation projects
 P.D. 1084, E.O. 525, E.O. 654 – Public Estates Authority
 P.D. 1085 – Reclamation of Manila Bay
 E.O. 153 – offshore areas
 E.O. 380 – Philippine Reclamation Authority
 E.O. 672, E.O. 798 – DENR and PRA
 E.O. 74 (2019) – Office of the President
 Chavez v PEA-AMARI, G.R. No. 133250 (9 July 2002) 384 SCRA 152
 Chavez v PEA-AMARI, G.R. No. 133250 (11 Nov. 2003) 415 SCRA 404
 Chavez v NHA, G.R. No. 164527 (15 Aug. 2007) 530 SCRA 235

Week 9

MIDTERM EXAM

Week 10

LESSON 6: Do Filipinos have the exclusive right to benefit from the country’s natural
resources?

6. Exploitation of natural resources – Except for agricultural lands, all other natural
resources cannot be alienated and corporate ownership generally requires 60% Filipino
equity.

6.1 Filipino Equity and Privilege

 Articles XII - XIII, 1987 Constitution
 P.D. 705 – Forestry Code
 P.D. 463 (R.A. 7942) – Mining Code
 R.A. 8550 amended by R.A. 10654 – Fisheries Code
 Sea Lion Fishing Corp v People of the Phil, G.R. No. 172678 (23 March
2011)

Week 11
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6.2 Foreign Equity

 FTAA, Sec. 2, Art. XII, 1987 Constitution
 La Bugal B’laan Tribal Association v Ramos, G.R. No.127882 (27 Jan. 2004)
 La Bugal B’laan Tribal Association v Ramos, G.R. No.127882 (1 Dec. 2004)
 Didipio Earth Savers Multi-Purpose Association v Gozun, G.R. No. 157882
(30 March 2006)

Week 12

III – RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

LESSON 7: How are natural resources developed and utilized?

7. Resource Management and Development – The State, representing the Filipino people,
has the exclusive right to manage and develop the country’s natural resources.

7.1 Forest Resources

 Sec. 2, P.D. 705 – Forestry Code
 Ysmael v Deputy Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 79538 (18 Oct. 1990) 190
SCRA 673
 Oposa v Factoran, G.R. No. 101083 (30 July 1993)
 Paat v Baculi, G.R. No. 11107 (10 January 1997)
 Factoran v CA and Dayaw, G.R. 93450 (13 Dec. 1999)
 PICOP Resources Inc. v Base Metals Minerals Corp., G.R. No. 165309 (6
Dec. 2006)
 Alvarez, Gozun, Reyes v PICOP, G.R. No. 162243 (3 Dec. 2009)

Week 13

7.2 Mineral Resources

 R.A. 7942 – Mining Act
 R.A. 7076 – People’s Small-Scale Mining Act
 RP-DENR v Rosemoor Mining and Development Corp., G.R. No. 149927 (30
March 2004) 426 SCRA 517
 APEX Mining Co Inc v Southeast Mindanao Gold Mining Corp, G.R. No.
152613 (20 Nov 2009)

7.3 Protected Area Resources and Wildlife

 R.A. 7586 amended by R.A. 11038 – National Integrated Protected Areas
System (NIPAS)
 R.A. 9147 – Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act

Week 14

7.4 Ancestral Domain Resources

 R.A. 7381 – Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)
 Free and Prior Informed Consent
 Alcantara v DENR, G.R. No. 161881 (31 July 2008)

7.5 Fisheries Resources

 R.A. 8550 as amended by RA 10654 – Fisheries Code
 Tano v Socrates, G.R. No. 110249 (21 Aug 1997)
 Art. 87 – 89, 121, 296, UNCLOS
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 South China Sea Arbitration Tribunal Award, PCA Case No. 2013-19 (12
July 2016), pp. 261 - 318

Week 15

IV – ENFORCEMENT of STANDARDS

LESSON 8: What are the prohibited acts and sanctions in the enforcement of environmental
laws?

8. Pollution when Environmental Standards are breached – Standards on environmental

quality are set, monitored and enforced primarily by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources with the support of other national government agencies; and locally
enforced by local government units.

8.1 Air Pollution – R.A. 8749 Clean Air Act

 MMDA v Jancom Environmental Corp, G.R. No. 147465 (10 April 2002)

8.2 Water Pollution – R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act

 LLDA v SM Prime Holdings Inc., G.R. No. 170599 (22 Sept. 2010)
 Universal Robina Corp v LLDA, G.R. No. 191427 (30 May 2011)

8.3 Marine Pollution – P.D. 979 Marine Pollution Decree

 Shell Philippines Exploration v Jalos, G.R. No. 179918 (8 Sept 2010)

Week 16

8.4 Solid Waste – R.A. 9003 Ecological Solid Waste and Management Act
 Province of Rizal v Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 129546 (13 Dec. 2005)
 People v Julius Vergara, OMB SB-12-crm-0222 (12 Jan. 2018)
 Osmeña v Garganera, G.R. No. 231164 (20 March 2018)

8.5 Nuisance and Illegal Structures/Human Health and Safety

 Santos v Salao, G.R. No. L-45519 (26 April 1939)
 Aquino v Yap, G.R. No. 211536 (29 Sept. 2014) 737 SCRA 145

8.6 Illegal Fishing – R.A. 8550 as amended by R.A. 10654

 Roldan v Arca, G.R. No. L-25434 (25 July 1975)

Week 17

8.7 Illegal Logging – P.D. 705 Revised Forestry Code

 Mustang Lumber v CA and Factoran, G.R. No. 104988 (18 June 1996)
 Republic v Pagadian City Timber, G.R. No. 159308 (16 Sept. 2008)
 Taopa v People of the Phil., G.R. No. 184098 (25 Nov 2008)

8.8 Illegal Mining – R.A. 7942 Mining Act

 Loney v People of the Phil., G.R. No. 152644 (10 Feb. 2006)
 Celestial Nickel Mining Corp. v Macroasia Corp; and Blue Ridge Mineral
Corp. v Reyes, G.R. No. 160980 and 172936 (19 Dec. 2007) 541 SCRA 166

Week 18

FINAL EXAM