Module 5: Environmental Protection

Learning Outcomes:
After completion of the module, the students will be able to:
1. Define environmental protection, global warming and climate change.
2. Identify the effects of global warming.
3. Identify and generalize the principles of environment.
4. Develop an action plan on how to address environmental protection,
global warming and climate change.

Introduction:

Nature, since the beginning of time, is always providing foods, water,

fuel, medicines, building materials and other necessities for man’s everyday
life. With man’s progress and development, nature is often on his side. But
because of these human advances (e.g. science and technology), the
environment is exploited.
Philippines is well-known for having a vast and outstanding natural
resources which, as stated in the Philippine Development Plan of 2011-2016
“could provide essential ecosystem services to the population but because of
the demands arising from development and utilization activities, population
expansion, poor environmental protection, and being highly vulnerable to
disasters and effects of climate variability, however, have placed the country’s
environment and natural resources under grave threat.”
Our environment and natural resources offers convenience, pleasure
and relaxation, but it also requires responsibility from all of us so that the future
generations will also be able to enjoy it.
In this topic, you will learn the condition and circumstances of the
environment brought about by some negative changes. You will also learn
some measures and policies for the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded
natural resources while simultaneously protecting the fragile ecosystems and
improving the lives and welfare of resource-dependent communities which
plays an important and crucial role.

Lesson Proper:

Lesson 1. Global Warming and Climate Change

Global warming as defined by NASA (National Aeronautics
and Space Administration) is the long-term heating of Earth’s
climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between
1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning,
which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s
atmosphere. The term is frequently used interchangeably with the
term climate change, though the latter refers to both human- and
naturally produced warming and the effects it has on our planet.
 It is most commonly measured as the average increase in Earth’s global
surface temperature.
Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have
increased Earth’s global average temperature by about 1 degree Celsius (1.8
degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by 0.2 degrees
Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. Most of the current warming
trend is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) the result of
human activity since the 1950s and is proceeding at an unprecedented rate
over decades to millennia.

i. Effects of Global Warming

Increase in average temperatures and temperature extremes

One of the most immediate and obvious effects of global warming is the
increase in temperatures around the world. The average global temperature
has increased by about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius) over
the past 100 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).

Extreme weather events

Another effect of global warming is extreme weather, other than cold and
heat extremes.
For example, hurricane formations will change.
Additionally, scientists are confident that hurricanes will become more intense
due to climate change." This is because hurricanes get their energy from the
temperature difference between the warm tropical ocean and the cold upper
atmosphere. Global warming increases that temperature difference.
NOAA established the U.S. Climate Extremes Index (CEI) in 1996 to track
extreme weather events. The number of extreme weather events that are
among the most unusual in the historical record, according to the CEI, has
been rising over the last four decades.
Scientists project that extreme weather events, such as heat waves,
droughts, blizzards and rainstorms will continue to occur more often and with
greater intensity due to global warming, according to Climate Central. Climate
models forecast that global warming will cause climate patterns worldwide to
experience significant changes. These changes will likely include major shifts
in wind patterns, annual precipitation and seasonal temperatures variations.
In addition, because high levels of greenhouse gases are likely to remain
in the atmosphere for many years, these changes are expected to last for
several decades or longer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).

Ice melt
One of the primary manifestations of climate change so far is melt. North
America, Europe and Asia have all seen a trend toward less snow cover
between 1960 and 2015, according to 2016 research published in the journal
Current Climate Change Reports. According to the National Snow and Ice
Data Center, there is now 10 percent less permafrost, or permanently frozen
ground, in the Northern Hemisphere than there was in the early 1900s. The
thawing of permafrost can cause landslides and other sudden land collapses.
It can also release long-buried microbes, as in a 2016 case when a cache of
buried reindeer carcasses thawed and caused an outbreak of anthrax.
One of the most dramatic effects of global warming is the reduction in
Arctic sea ice. Sea ice hit record-low extents in both the fall and winter of
2015 and 2016, meaning that at the time when the ice is supposed to be at its
peak, it was lagging. The melt means there is less thick sea ice that persists
for multiple years. That means less heat is reflected back into the atmosphere
by the shiny surface of the ice and more is absorbed by the comparatively
darker ocean, creating a feedback loop that causes even more
melt, according to NASA's Operation Ice Bridge.
Glacial retreat, too, is an obvious effect of global warming. Only 25
glaciers bigger than 25 acres are now found in Montana's Glacier National
Park, where about 150 glaciers were once found, according to the U.S.
Geological Survey. A similar trend is seen in glacial areas worldwide.
According to a 2016 study in the journal Nature Geoscience, there is a 99
percent likelihood that this rapid retreat is due to human-caused climate
change. Some glaciers retreated up to 15 times as much as they would have
without global warming, those researchers found.

Sea levels and ocean acidification

Increased ocean temperatures are melting glaciers and ice caps all over
the world. Melted ice increases the volume of water in our oceans. Warmer
temperatures also result in the expansion of the water's mass, which causes
sea levels to rise, threatening low-lying islands and coastal cities.
In general, as ice melts, sea levels rise. In 2014, the World Meteorological
Organization reported that sea-level rise accelerated 0.12 inches (3
millimeters) per year on average worldwide. This is around double the
average annual rise of 0.07 in. (1.6 mm) in the 20th century.
 The oceans have absorbed most of extra heat and carbon dioxide (CO 2)
so far – more than the air – making the seas both warmer and more acidic.
Warming waters are bleaching coral reefs and driving stronger storms. Rising
ocean acidity threatens shellfish, including the tiny crustaceans without which
marine food chains would collapse.
Sadly, the poorest and most vulnerable nations, and the people who have
contributed least to the problem, will be among the hardest hit by global
warming. Some of the country’s most at risk are those located at the Pacific
and Southeast Asia, including Kiribati, Tuvalu, Vietnam and the Philippines.
In the next several decades, storm surges and high tides could combine
with sea level rise and land subsidence to further increase flooding in many
regions. Sea level rise will continue past 2100 because the oceans take a
very long time to respond to warmer conditions at the Earth’s surface. Ocean
waters will therefore continue to warm and sea level will continue to rise for
many centuries at rates equal to or higher than those of the current century.

Negative effect on humans health and wellness

Allergies, asthma, and infectious disease outbreaks will become more
common due to increased growth of pollen-producing ragweed, higher levels
of air pollution, and the spread of conditions favourable to pathogens and
mosquitoes.

ii. Climate Change

Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns

that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. These
changes have a broad range of observed effects that are synonymous with
the term.
Climate change is one of the most complex issues facing us today. It
involves many dimensions – science, economics, society, politics and moral
and ethical questions – and is a global problem, felt on local scales, that will
be around for decades and centuries to come. Carbon dioxide, the heat-
trapping greenhouse gas that has driven recent global warming, lingers in the
atmosphere for hundreds of years, and the planet (especially the oceans)
takes a while to respond to warming. So even if we stopped emitting all
greenhouse gases today, global warming and climate change will continue to
affect future generations. In this way, humanity is “committed” to some level
of climate change.
With this commitment, responding to climate change involves a three-point
approach:
1. Adaptation – adapting to life in a changing climate already in the pipeline –
involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate. Botkin et al. (1979)
distinguished anticipatory learning from adaptive learning, with adaptation
being a reactive adjustment to change (or external pressure).
The goal is to reduce our vulnerability to the harmful effects of
climate change (like sea-level encroachment, more intense extreme
weather events or food insecurity). It also encompasses making the most
of any potential beneficial opportunities associated with climate change
(for example, longer growing seasons or increased yields in some
regions).
Throughout history, people and societies have adjusted to and
coped with changes in climate and extremes with varying degrees of
success. Climate change (drought in particular) has been at least partly
responsible for the rise and fall of civilizations. Earth’s climate has been
relatively stable for the past 12,000 years and this stability has been
crucial for the development of our modern civilization and life as we know
it. Modern life is tailored to the stable climate we have become
accustomed to. As our climate changes, we will have to learn to adapt.
The faster the climate changes, the harder it could be.
While climate change is a global issue, it is felt on a local scale.
Cities and municipalities are therefore at the frontline of adaptation. In the
absence of national or international climate policy direction, cities and
local communities around the world have been focusing on solving their
own climate problems.

2. Mitigation – reducing climate change – involves reducing the flow of heat-

trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by
reducing sources of these gases (for example, the burning of fossil fuels
for electricity, heat or transport) or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate
and store these gases (such as the oceans, forests and soil). The goal of
mitigation is to avoid significant human interference with the climate
system, and “stabilize greenhouse gas levels in a timeframe sufficient to
allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, ensure that food
production is not threatened and to enable economic development to
proceed in a sustainable manner” (from the 2014 report on Mitigation of
Climate Change from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC).
3. Anticipation – is a critical component for building resilience (Boyd et al.
2015). By being proactive, anticipation focuses more on foresight drawn
from predictive capabilities, knowledge, experience, and skills (Nuttall
 2010) and implying preparation for possible contingencies and
consideration of long-term alternatives.
Climate change adaptation, mitigation and anticipation in the Philippines
The Philippines is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,
including sea level rise, increased frequency of extreme weather events,
rising temperatures and extreme rainfall. This is due to its high exposure to
natural hazards (cyclones, landslides, floods, droughts), dependence on
climate-sensitive natural resources, and vast coastlines where all major cities
and the majority of the population reside. The urban poor, many of whom live
in temporary shelters, are most at risk, lacking the resources to prevent or
mitigate the threat of coastal inundation and storm surge. Consisting of 7,107
islands divided into three island groups (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), the
Philippines lies in the world’s most cyclone-prone region, averaging 19–20
cyclones each year, of which 7–9 make landfall. Sea levels in the Philippines
are rising faster than the global average, increasing the hazard posed by
storm surges and threatening permanent inundation of low-lying areas.
The National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) 2010-
2022 recommends an integrated ecosystem-based management approach to
address the country’s multiple vulnerabilities to climate change. For river
basin management, the objective is to manage watershed ecosystems and
multi-polar environments through the River Basin Management (RBM)
approach based on these strategies: (i) rehabilitate and develop watershed
resources through resource use and governance improvement; (ii) enhance
vulnerability and adaptation assessments; (iii) enhance ecosystem services to
control droughts, floods, and landslides; (iv) institute a comprehensive RBM
governance strategy; (v) establish appropriate and participatory institutional
arrangements with LGUs, private sector, and civil society organizations; and
(vi) reduce climate change risks and vulnerability of watershed ecosystems
and biodiversity through ecosystem-based management approaches,
conservation efforts, and sustainable environment and natural resources-
based economic endeavours such as ecotourism (Climate Change
Commission [CCC], 2010).
Sound management of natural ecosystems could also lead to climate
change mitigation as explained in more detail in Working Group 3’s
Contribution to the 2018 Philippine Climate Change Assessment on Mitigation
of Climate Change. For example, protection of existing forests by reducing
deforestation and forest degradation will prevent the release of CO2 to the
atmosphere. New plantings such as being done in the National Greening
Program will enhance sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere. Thus,
there is a great potential to obtain synergy between adaptation and mitigation
in the management of natural ecosystems.

Lesson 2. Seven Principles of Environment and Environmental Laws

a. Seven Principles of Environment

According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, environment is the

circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded; or the
complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and
living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and
ultimately determine its form and survival.
Therefore it includes: physical components such as air, water, land and
energy; biological components such as plants and animals; and, socio-
economic components such as people, communities, institutions and values.
In his 1971 book “The Closing Circle”, Barry Commoner, an ecologist,
gives a clear and understandable example of what ecology really means,
while being one of the first to sound the alarm on the impending
environmental crisis.
Commoner’s life was devoted to helping people see the benefits of
ecological thinking. He goes on to lay out four basic and inescapable laws of
ecology. The principles describe a beautiful web of life on earth.
While in 2003 Angelina P. Galang, in her book “Seven Lenses (or
Environmental Principles as if Adults Mattered),” expounded Commoner’s
ecological principles. She enumerated seven core messages that explain and
emphasize – in non-technical terms – why, in a nutshell, ecology and the
environment matter. These seven lenses or environmental principles are as
follows:

1. Nature knows best.(Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.

Nature manifests certain processes that enable it to maintain

balance and remain in a state of equilibrium. The nutrient cycling of
nitrogen, carbon, sulfur and phosphorous in the air, water and land
indicates that minerals are utilized within the confines of the earth. The
flow of energy from the sun enables light to be converted into sugar in
plants through photosynthesis, and later for consumer organisms to obtain
energy from plant starch. Food chains and food webs allow transfer of
energy from producers and consumers and provide the means for all living
organisms to acquire nutrition. Population control also occurs naturally
through predator – prey relationships. The equilibrium in the ecosystem is
 maintained, thus if humans intervene, unforeseen negative impacts known
as ecological backlash, may arise. Floods are often times backlashes of
excessive felling of trees. The importation of golden kuhol, that became a
pest, reminds us that biological organisms may not acclimatize in a new
environment or may cause harm to indigenous species.

2. All forms of life are equally important. (Ang lahat na may buhay ay
mahalaga).

All organisms have a role in the ecosystem (niche) All living

organisms were created for a purpose in relation to humans, other species
on earth and global ecosystem in general. Thus, when a species becomes
extinct, it is like removing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle from the web of life.
The variety of life forms, manifested by the different levels of biological
diversity – community, species and genes – contributes to the stability of
the environment. Food webs, food chains and ecological relationships link
plants and animals together in the web of life. Even bacteria, insects,
snakes and rats have ecological functions even though humans perceive
them as parasites or pests.
Many different organisms mean there is more biodiversity. This
adds to the aesthetic value and available genetic material in the
environment. Having fewer species and lesser biodiversity takes away
from the aesthetics of the environment and reduces the amount of genetic
material needed for the future agricultural or medical discoveries.
To maintain ecological balance, therefore, the conservation of
genes, species and ecosystems becomes essential to keep life together.
Biodiversity conservation strategies commence with the protection of both
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Land uses, such as protected areas,
ensure that the natural state of these habitats continue to exist in
designated areas. Community-based approaches in conservation
maximize citizens’ participation in protected areas. Integrity of natural
ecosystems can likewise be guarded through the preservation of
indigenous species.

3. Everything is connected to everything else. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay

magkakaugnay).

It reflects the existence of the elaborate network of interconnections in

the ecosphere: among different living organisms, and between
 populations, species, and individual organisms and their physicochemical
surroundings.
The single fact that an ecosystem consists of multiple interconnected
parts, which act on one another, has some surprising consequences. The
living component of the ecosystem affects and is affected by the abiotic
components, such as air, temperature, land. Inter-specific relationships
create a dependency with each other so that they both have to co-exist to
live. All these relationships provide dependencies, check and balances
that compose the details of our life-support systems.
Human interaction with nature oftentimes alters the ecosystems. The
waste we improperly dispose of brings about the deterioration of land and
water quality. This may in turn reduce their capacity to provide life for
other organisms. Deforestation causes soil erosion and the earth
deposited on the water bodies covers the coral reefs resulting to fishery
loss. Suspended particulates from vehicular and stationary sources may
cause lung problems among city residents. War causes destruction of
wildlife and habitats. There is a cause and effect chain, even when it is
neither always visible nor observable.

4. Everything changes.(Ang lahat ay nagbabago).

Changes in the biophysical world occur naturally. As they say, there

is nothing more permanent in this world than change. Consider the
following examples. Metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies illustrates
morphological changes that occur in living forms. The increase of
vegetation on earth augmented the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere
through time. Seasons are cyclic changes that contribute to the diversity of
flowers, fruits, vegetables and other crops during the year. Random
changes manifested by natural catastrophe such as typhoons destroy
forests, coral reefs and mangroves. Volcanic eruptions annihilate surface
flora and submerge rivers. Human-induced alteration such as climate
change may cause more massive repercussions. Land use change – from
forests to agricultural land to human settlements – change the composition
of vegetation and animals.
Human-induced changes can be managed so that the negative
impacts are minimized and positive changes accentuated. Environmental
impact assessment (EIA) provides a tool for the projection, planning and
management of change brought about by industrialization and human
settlement expansion. Effluents can be managed through policy and
 pollution control techniques by both industry and government to achieve
clean air and water.
Sustainable development presents a paradigm of change for the
21st Century. Sustainable development promotes ecological integrity,
equitable sharing of resources and people empowerment as pillars of
growth. Biodiversity conservation contributes to ecological integrity,
through both in-situ and ex-situ techniques. Biodiversity conservation
becomes successful only if coupled with poverty alleviation, improving
equity of access to resources and instituting social change. Environmental
education facilitates social transformation by modifying attitudes and
behavior of people towards an ecological ethic.

5. Everything must go somewhere.(Ang lahat ng bagay ay may

patutunguhan).

Applied to ecology, the law emphasizes that in nature there is no

such thing as “waste.” In every natural system, what is excreted by one
organism as waste is taken up by another as food. Animals release
carbon dioxide as a respiratory waste; this is an essential nutrient for
green plants. Plants excrete oxygen, which is used by animals. Animal
organic wastes nourish the bacteria of decay. Their wastes, inorganic
materials such as nitrate, phosphate, and carbon dioxide, become algal
nutrients.
A persistent effort to answer the question “Where does it go?” can
yield a surprising amount of valuable information about an ecosystem.
Consider, for example, the fate of a household item which contains
mercury—a substance with serious environmental effects that have just
recently surfaced. A dry-cell battery containing mercury is purchased,
used to the point of exhaustion, and then “thrown out.” But where does it
really go? First it is placed in a container of rubbish; this is collected and
taken to an incinerator. Here the mercury is heated; this produces mercury
vapor which is emitted by the incinerator stack, and mercury vapor is toxic.
Mercury vapor is carried by the wind, eventually brought to earth in rain or
snow. Entering a mountain lake, let us say, the mercury condenses and
sinks to the bottom. Here it is acted on by bacteria which convert it to
methyl mercury. This is soluble and taken up by fish; since it is not
metabolized, the mercury accumulates in the organs and flesh of the fish.
The fish is caught and eaten by a man and the mercury becomes
deposited in his organs, where it might be harmful. And so on.
 This is an effective way to trace out an ecological path. It is also an
excellent way to counteract the prevalent notion that something which is
regarded as useless simply “goes away” when it is discarded. Nothing
“goes away”; it is simply transferred from place to place, converted from
one molecular form to another, acting on the life processes of any
organism in which it becomes, for a time, lodged. One of the chief reasons
for the present environmental crisis is that great amounts of materials
have been extracted from the earth, converted into new forms, and
discharged into the environment without taking into account that
“everything has to go somewhere.” The result, too often, is the
accumulation of harmful amounts of material in places where, in nature,
they do not belong.

6. Ours is a finite Earth. (Ang kalikasan ay may hangganan).

Everything that we need is provided by nature in abundance – food,
water, energy, minerals and air. However, some resources that we
depend upon nowadays are extracted excessively but are slow to replace.
These non-renewable resources experience limits of supply. For instance,
fossil fuels produced over thousands of years may be exhausted in a
hundred years. Some energy sources like water, and wood may be
replaced easier but have become inaccessible due to pollution and
excessive extraction. Diminishing forest cover have resulted from logging,
ineffective reforestation and continued land conversion. However, food
scarcity and poverty may have resulted from failed distribution systems
rather than inability of the land and water bodies to yield food.
It can be argued that increasing population decreases the amount
of resources available to each person. Carrying capacity, or the ability of
the ecosystem to support a number of people, may be influenced by limit
of resources due to an increasing population. Competition increases as
the carrying capacity is reached. Per capita consumption must also be
taken into account because people in Northern countries generally
consume more food, energy and resources than people in the developing
Southern countries. Carrying capacity may be addressed two ways:
increase resources and reduce population growth. Agricultural productivity
for instance may be increased with better availability of water and farm
inputs.
Pollution reduces the absorbing capacity of air and water. Pollution
likewise reduces the availability of land and water to produce food for
human consumption. A river classified a Class IV means that it becomes
fit only for only for navigation and can no longer sustain life forms.
 Likewise, oil spills from accidents or war destroy bays and rivers.
Waterways that have become cesspool of domestic wastes cannot contain
fishes and shells or if they do might transmit toxins and harmful bacteria to
consumers. Several solutions have been suggested to solve this problem:
reduction of consumption, increased use of renewable energy, emissions
trading, and pollution control. The conservation ethic and technological
solutions have become viable strategies to address finiteness of
resources. Biodiversity conservation is anchored on the principle that lost
species are irreplaceable. Thus, extinct species have acquired a greater
value – more effort has to be exerted to protect and save endangered
species. The conservation ethic supports the belief that we should tread
lightly on the earth by using only what we need. The philosophy of “sapat”,
meaning “enough” suggests that we should buy and consume only what
we need and leave some for the less privileged and the next generation.
In ecology, as in economics, the law is intended to warn that every
gain is won at some cost. Because the global ecosystem is a connected
whole, in which nothing can be gained or lost and which is not subject to
over-all improvement, anything extracted from it by human effort must be
replaced. Payment of this price cannot be avoided; it can only be delayed.
The present environmental crisis is a warning that we have delayed nearly
too long.

7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God’s creation. (Ang

kalikasan ay maganda at tayo ang tagapangasiwa ng lahat ng nilikha ng
Diyos.)
Creation presupposes the existence of a Creator. The beautiful
nature around us, perfect by itself, has deteriorated due to the negative
impacts of human use. This principle suggests how a Human-Creator
relationship is translated in our attitude towards creation. Theologians
explain that there are different levels of this relationship. First is a
relationship determined by dominion of humans over creation, that
humans can do as they wish because this was given by God. The book of
Genesis says “have dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the
air…” The second level is one of stewardship, that of a caretaker where
humans are not owners but guardians of the integrity of nature. The third
level promotes a kinship relationship postulated by St. Francis de Assisi in
the famous verse “Bother sun, Sister moon”, where humans are no higher
than the birds and fishes of the sea. Fourth is one of sacrament, where
nature becomes a testimony of God’s love. Fifth is a covenant
 relationship, where protection of the earth is a life mission manifested in
the things that we do and say.
Different religions from Islam to Buddhism to Judeo-Christian to
indigenous people’s animism express the belief of caring for the earth,
including all creatures. Thus it is the goal of environmental education and
biodiversity conservation education to motivate target audiences towards
developing an eco-spirituality that moves them into a more meaningful
relationship with nature and a greater participation in the biophysical
economic processes that make this world a better place to live in.

Based on these tenets, appreciating ecology ultimately means recognizing

that humankind is but a small piece of a larger, more intricate picture. People
may have achieved so much in terms of social structures, knowledge, and
technology throughout generations, yet the planet still holds much more
power – mightily creative and destructive at the same time – over them.
The seven key principles also establish interdependence and equal
importance among all forms of life on Earth, regardless of size, distribution, or
function. Changes that affect even the minuets organisms can create a ripple
effect that could bear tremendous impacts upon greater ecological
interactions, observable or otherwise. In this sense, the call for greater
awareness over “ecological footprints,” especially in this age of advanced
modernization and industrialization resonates louder than ever.
In addition, Earth, despite its abundant and resilient nature and sheer
grandeur, has its limits, and unfortunately, all signs point to human activity
being the primary force behind its premature depletion and degradation.
People have the sentient capacity, and thus a role, to acknowledge nature’s
wonderful abilities and worrisome limitations alike. As conscious stewards –
rather than abusive masters – of nature, humans have the greatest means to
appreciate as well as utilize what it can offer. Awareness and sensitivity to the
present ecological situation, along with an eye keen on the future, is therefore
a daunting responsibility and a humbling privilege at the same time.
By recognition and acceptance of these principles alone, people can
establish a genuine and impassioned foundation for advocacy and action
towards the cause of environmental conservation and sustainability.

b. Important Environmental Laws

i. R.A. 9003 – Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

In partnership with stakeholders, the law aims to adopt a
systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management
 program that shall ensure the protection of public health and
environment. The law ensures proper segregation, collection,
storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the
formulation and adaptation of best eco-waste products.
ii. R.A. 9275 – Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
The law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution
from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments,
agriculture and community/household activities). It provides for
comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach
involving all the stakeholders.
iii. R.A. 6969 – Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste
Control Act of 1990
The law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution
from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments,
agriculture and community/household activities). It provides for
comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multisectoral and participatory approach involving
all the stakeholders.
iv. R.A. 8435 – Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997
It establishes that the Department of Agriculture, together with other
appropriate agencies, should take into account climate change,
weather disturbances and annual productivity cycles in forecasting
and formulating appropriate agricultural and fisheries programs.
v. R.A. 8749 – Clean Air Act of 1999
This moves for an effective air quality management program that
will mitigate the worsening problem of air pollution in the country.
vi. R.A. 9512 – National Environmental Awareness and Education Act
of 2008
This promotes national awareness on the role of natural resources
in economic growth and the importance of environmental
conservation and ecological balance towards sustained national
development.
vii. R.A. 9513 – Renewable Energy Act of 2008
It promotes the development, utilization and commercialization of
renewable energy resources.
 Lesson 3. Forest Protection, Conservation and Development

Forests are indispensable to society. Their various ecosystems are vital to

human survival and stability of cultures, supporting and regulating environmental
processes including the maintenance and regeneration of biodiversity, soil formation
and nutrient cycling, crop pollination, infiltration of water, and enhancement of
microclimate. Nevertheless, neglectful societies have caused the destruction and
degradation of forests worldwide. In the Philippines, forest cover has declined
continuously from the estimated 27.5 million hectares (ha) at the time of Spanish
colonization five centuries ago, 20.9 million ha towards the end of Spanish colonization
(late-1800s), 17.8 million ha towards the end of American colonization (1940s), up to the
modern-era estimates of 10.9 million ha in 1970 and 6.7 million ha in 1990. The most
recent figure of 7.1 million ha in 2003 seems to indicate that the decline has been
arrested and that forest cover has even increased overall.

National programmes for conservation and management of forest genetic

resources

Tree improvement and genetic resource conservation activities in the

Philippines take place under national reforestation programmes, but are not clearly
defined. Breeding of forest trees has historically been underemphasized, owing to a
preference for natural regeneration methods such as seed trees for pines and
selective logging for dipterocarps. Changes in environmental and socio-economic
conditions, however, have promoted more intensive plantation approaches that
require specific tree improvement and genetic resource conservation efforts.

In situ conservation

As early as 1930, legislation was passed to prevent logging of four

leguminous timber tree species; namely, supa (Sindora supa), akle (Albizia acle),
tindalo (Afzelia rhomboidea) and ipil (Intsia bijuga), as well as a non-legume, Vitex
parviflora. Harvesting of an indigenous legume, narra (Pterocarpus indicus), and of
any dipterocarp species from virgin forest for log export, have also been regulated.
The plant genetic resources of a country are assets that should be protected by
clear national policies on their conservation and use. The sustainable use of each
production forest or management unit in the Philippines varies according to size,
shape, species composition, concentration of endemic species and so on. The
conservation value of any given area is reflected in its management objectives and
the quality of management. Because the conservation of forest genetic resources is
fundamental to the sustainable and productive management of forest ecosystems, in
situ conservation efforts should be reinforced.
Integrated protected area systems

The main strategy for protecting and conserving biodiversity in the Philippines
is the establishment of an integrated protected area system (IPAS). The IPAS was
set up to protect and preserve a representative sample of all ecosystems and habitat
types in the country, as well as their plant and animal species. Executive Order 192
created the Parks and Wildlife Bureau to consolidate government efforts to conserve
biological diversity in the protected area system.
In June 1992, Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated
Protected Area Systems (NIPAS) Law, was passed. The law, which is being
implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
has the following special features:
● It requires the designation of a buffer zone to stabilize protected areas whenever
and wherever applicable;
● It recognizes ancestral rights and includes community interests with concern for
socioeconomic development;
● It requires the development of standard planning for site-specific management;
● It establishes the Integrated Protected Areas Fund (IPAF), a trust fund which will
form the basis of a sustained financing system; and
● It adopts a decentralized system of protected area management.

By 1999, 76 protected areas had been established under the NIPAS Law.
The regional offices of DENR, its Community Environment and Natural Resources
Offices, and provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices have also
identified 25 old-growth and mossy forests for inclusion in the IPAS.

Plus tree selection

Plus trees are being selected continuously across the Philippine archipelago.
The criteria for selection are based on morphology and resistance to pests and
diseases, but there have been few attempts to propagate the selected trees in
nurseries. In 1991, plus trees from 23 species in eight administrative regions of the
country were selected. Thirty-eight seed production areas (SPA) have been
identified and documented. The Forest Management Bureau (FMB) has also
identified 61 seed production areas for 19 tree species. Plans to improve the genetic
composition of these SPAs are under development. Although seed is being collected
from selected plus trees and SPAs, a system to monitor the transfer of germplasm
and its performance after planting is not yet in place.
Ex situ conservation

There have been several ex situ conservation projects and programmes in

the Philippines. Seed orchards of various species have been established in several
parts of the country under both private and government initiatives. In most cases,
however, these orchards have been abandoned because of a lack of funds or
trained personnel. Financial and technical needs for rehabilitating these orchards are
being studied.
A resurgence of efforts to establish more seed orchards has followed
implementation of the National Forestation Programme. Nine seed orchards for 12
species were established in 1991 alone. For example, a 1.25ha seed orchard
of Eucalyptus deglupta was established in 1991, with 500 grafted trees planted at a
spacing of 5m x 5m.
Species and provenance trials have also been used for ex situ conservation
purposes in the Philippines. Some provenance and species trials have been
conducted by DENR for Pinus, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Gmelina and other
multipurpose tree genera. PICOP Resources Inc. (formerly the Paper Industries
Corporation of the Philippines) and Provident Tree Farms Inc. have conducted
provenance trials of industrial plantation species such as moluccan sau
(Paraserianthes falcataria), Gmelina arborea and Endospermum peltatum.
The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) has also
recently begun provenance trials for
several Gmelina, Acacia and Eucalyptus species in Cavite province. In Luzon and
Mindanao, superior species have been identified and provenance trials established
through joint efforts by DENR and the New Zealand government, for example the
ASEAN-New Zealand Afforestation Project and Bukidnon Forest Industries.
Introduced species such as mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and P.
falcataria are now considered naturalized exotics. P. falcataria plantations have
been established from a single seed source and have a narrow genetic base. Except
for the work of PICOP Resources, no efforts have been made to broaden the genetic
base of Paraserianthes or Swietenia. The outbreak of gall rust disease in Mindanao
that devastated the Bukidnon plantations and infected other plantations in Luzon can
be attributed to the narrow genetic base of these plantations.
Clonal propagation plays an important role in the preservation of genotypes.
Several methods have been used including macropropagation (e.g. air layering,
grafting, rooting of cuttings) and tissue culture. Macropropagation is commonly used
for species with recalcitrant seeds, such as dipterocarps. Siarot (1991) and Umali-
Garcia and Melegrito (1995) established a macropropagation protocol for inter-
specific hybrids of Acacia and Eucalyptus. Umali-Garcia (1990a) established the
protocols for rooting of Gmelina shoot tips and nodal cuttings. Oporto and Umali-
Garcia (1998) successfully propagated several endangered species,
including Diospyros philippinensis, Dracontomelum dao,
Tectona philippinensis and Agathis dammara.
The protocols for rooting of stem cuttings have been established in a number
of species, for example Dipterocarpaceae (Pollisco 1995; De la Cruz 1995; Oporto &
Umali-Garcia 1998), P. falcataria (Budelman 1989), Eucalyptus hybrid (Siarot
1991), S. macrophylla, V. parviflora (Umali-Garcia 1995), Pittosporum
pentandrum (Umali-Garcia 1998), Pinus merkusii (Umali-Garcia 1996) and A.
dammara and T. philippinensis (Oporto 1999).
Successful tissue culture protocols have been developed for P.
indicus (Calinawan & Halos 1984), Acacia mangium (Lapitan 1990), P.
falcataria (Umali-Garcia 1990b), E. peltatum (Quimado & Umali-Garcia
1997), Eucalyptus sp. (Halos 1985), Pinus caribaea (Halos 1992)
and Cratoxylon sumatranum (Quimado 1991). A variety of commercially important
indigenous and endemic species, as well as those reported to be rare, threatened or
endangered, require special attention for ex situ and in situ conservation. A forest
biotechnology programme at the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the
University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB) focuses on tissue culture of
selected industrial plantation species.
Nine botanical gardens exist in the Philippines with 16,000 taxa under
cultivation (Fernando 1998). The first to be established was Makiling Botanic
Gardens (MBG) in 1968. MBG maintains both ex situ and in situ conservation stands
of various timber species, for example S. macrophylla, P. falcataria, V. parviflora and
several species of dipterocarps. A problem with these stands, however, is the lack of
documentation on the origin of the introduced species.
Seed banks, clone banks, plant museums and in vitro banks are other ex
situ approaches, but none has been used for timber species in the Philippines. The
Institute of Plant Breeding at UPLB maintains a genebank for agroforestry species
such as Gliricidia sepium, and a collection of fruit and endemic tree species. The
Institute also has a genebank that can store seeds and tissues for an indefinite
period of time. It is currently storing specimens of cereals and horticultural and
ornamental species, but not timber species. Nevertheless, the Institute is planning to
start a programme of conservation of indigenous palms and selected forest species.
The ERDB has also established a genebank for rattan and bamboo in Mt. Makiling
Forest Reserve.
Institutional framework for conservation of forest genetic resources

Government programmes of tree breeding and propagation are spearheaded

by DENR with support from the Forest Management Bureau and ERDB. DENR has
prime responsibility for promoting the well-being of the Filipino people through
sustainable development of the country's forest resources, optimal use of forest
lands, social equity and effective forest management. Various state universities and
colleges also support DENR through research and training (both academic and
practical) of government personnel. In this regard, the main contributor is UPLB,
specifically its College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Institute of Plant Breeding
and Institute of Biotechnology Research. Other contributing state universities include
the Don Mariano Marcos State University, the Central Luzon State University, the
Central Mindanao University and the Visayas State College of Agriculture.
The Philippines has promulgated several laws and policies dealing with
conservation, protection and sustainable use of natural resources. Several laws
directly or indirectly related to protecting and conserving forest genetic resources are
detailed below.
The Philippine constitution has the following provisions relating to the
conservation of tree species:
● Support and protection by the State for the right of all Filipino people to a
balanced and healthy ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of
nature (Sec. 16, Art. II); framework of national unity and development (Sec. 22,
Art. II).
● State ownership of all natural resources, except for agricultural lands (Sec. 2, Art.
XII).
● Full control and supervision by the State of exploration, development and use of
natural resources either by directly undertaking such activities or by entering into
co-production, joint ventures or production-sharing agreements with Filipino
citizens or Filipino-owned or controlled corporations or associations (Sec. 2, Art.
XII).
● Small-scale utilization of natural resources (Sec. 2, Art. XIII).
● Determination by Congress of the specific limits of forest lands by marking their
boundaries on the ground (Sec. 4, Art. XIII).
● State protection of the rights of indigenous cultural communities to their ancestral
lands to ensure their economic, social and cultural well-being (Sec. 5, Art. XII).
The Philippines is committed to protecting and conserving its biological
resources through the Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development (PSSD).
This was endorsed by former President Corazon Aquino and subsequently approved
by the Cabinet in 1989 as a response to the global call for well-balanced resource
development. One of the ten major strategies of the PSSD is biodiversity
conservation. A sub-committee on biodiversity has been created by the Philippine
Council for Sustainable Development and is chaired by DENR's Protected Areas and
Wildlife Bureau. In 1994, the sub-committee formulated the Philippine Strategy for
the Conservation of Biological Diversity (PSBD), which subsequently provided a
basis for a 1995 biodiversity study supported by UNEP. This study transformed the
PSBD into a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for the Philippines
(NBSAP), which was approved in June 1997. The signing of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) by the Philippines in 1992 increased appreciation and
interest in biodiversity conservation.

The NBSAP has the following goals and objectives:

● Conservation of diversity through improved knowledge, management systems,
research and development, information and institutional support;
● Sustainable use of biodiversity;
● Equitable sharing of the benefits derived from biodiversity;
● Collaborative approaches to conservation strategies and management activities;
● Formulation of policies for the conservation, sustainable use, and equitable
sharing of biodiversity benefits;
● Integration of biodiversity conservation strategies into development planning;
● Practice of conservation ethics for using biodiversity;
● Multi-sectoral participation in biodiversity conservation; and
● Fulfilment of the country's obligations to various international agreements on
biodiversity conservation.
The following strategies and actions have been proposed to implement the
above-mentioned objectives:
● Expanding and improving knowledge of the extent, characteristics, uses and
economic values of biodiversity;
● Enhancing existing and planned biodiversity conservation efforts, and identifying
potential actions, consolidating research and development, and setting up a
network of conservation centres;
● Formulating policies and laws on biodiversity conservation that emphasize
sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits;
● Integrating biodiversity conservation into all levels of government and non-
government planning, and strengthening human resources capability for
biodiversity conservation;
● Mobilizing and integrating information, education and communication on
biodiversity systems; and
● Advocating stronger international cooperation in biodiversity conservation.
Apart from the NIPAS Law (see above), eight other decrees, orders or
proclamations curb activities that may adversely impact biological diversity. Of these,
the following relate to conserving forest genetic resources:
● Presidential Decree No. 1151. The Philippine Environment Policy of 1978
established the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System. This
law stipulates environmental impact assessments for all activities or projects that
may significantly affect the quality of the environment.
● Proclamation No. 2146. This identifies protected areas as environmentally
critical and therefore within the purview of the EIA system provided for under
Presidential Decree 1586. It is supported and strengthened by DENR
Administrative Order (DAO) No. 21, which decentralizes the issuing of
environmental compliance certificates for projects within environmentally critical
areas.
● DAO No. 90 series of 1988. This sets quotas for certain animal and plant
species collected under a permit for commercial purposes.
● DENR Memorandum Order No. 97-17. This protects the habitats of endemic,
rare, vulnerable and endangered wetland species.
● CITES. The Philippines joined the Convention on the International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1981.
● Executive Order No. 247. This was issued in 1995. It emphasizes "prescribing
guidelines and establishing a regulatory framework for prospecting biological and
genetic resources, their by-products and derivatives for scientific, commercial
and other purposes". The rules and regulations of implementation are in DAO
No. 96-2.
● DAO No. 95-9. This pronounced that "the basic policy of the government is to
establish well-adapted populations of forest trees which provide a sustained
supply of forest tree seed and other planting stock for the country's reforestation
programme". The production, procurement, collection, distribution and use of
planting materials were placed under monitoring and regulation by DENR.

National priorities in conservation

These are as follows:

● Coordination of all government agencies and non-governmental organizations
involved in tree breeding and propagation. The mandate of DENR will include the
proper management of the country's forest genetic resources. This will be
supported by formulating and enforcing policies on seed certification and
monitoring.
● Strengthening of government units directly involved in forest management, in line
with sustained implementation of long-term tree improvement research and
development programmes. A substantial number of nurseries are being planned
in the provinces. These are designed to increase the supply of planting stock to
meet provincial and national requirements.
 ● A campaign to promote investment in the seed production industry by
nongovernmental organizations, particularly to reinforce programmes for
producing genetically improved seed.
● Increasing the production of genetically superior seed and planting stock by
establishing and maintaining additional improved seed-production areas (i.e.
seed and clonal orchards), and species and provenance trials of indigenous and
exotic sources. This includes that assessment and rehabilitation, if necessary, of
all previously established species, provenance and progeny trials, and seed
orchards.
● Continued research and development of superior forest plantations. Possible
areas for research include site-specific adaptability testing, increasing seed
production by orchards, development of propagation techniques, pollination,
hybridization and recurrent selection techniques.
● Conservation of important germplasm produced by current research activities in
selection and hybridization.

Lesson 4. Water Sanitation and Conservation

As early as 1996, monitoring of the country’s rivers showed that only 51% of
the classified rivers still met the standards for their most beneficial use. The rest
were already polluted from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources.
Most studies point to the fact that domestic wastewater is the principal cause
of organic pollution (at 48%) of our water bodies. Yet, only 3% of investments in
water supply and sanitation were going to sanitation and sewage treatment.
A recent World Bank report pointed out that Metro Manila was second to the
lowest in sewer connections among major cities in Asia and less than 7% compared
to 20% for Katmandu, Nepal and 30% for Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the country are attributed to
polluted waters. Clearly, to ensure access to clean water for all Filipinos, it was
imperative that government put together a comprehensive strategy to protect water
quality.

● What is the Clean Water Act?

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to
protect the country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries
and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities). It
provides for a comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all the
stakeholders.

Highlights of the Clean Water Act

● How will water quality be managed?

Management of water quality will either be based on watershed, river
basin or water resources region. Water quality management areas with
similar hydrological, hydrogeological, meteorological or geographic
conditions which affect the reaction and diffusion of pollutants in water
bodies are to be designated by the DENR in coordination with the National
Water Resources Board (NWRB).

● Who will manage these areas?

Management will be localized. Multi-sectoral governing boards will be
established to manage water quality issues within their jurisdiction.

● Who are the members of the Governing Boards?

Governing Boards shall be composed of representatives of mayors and
governors as well as local government units, representatives of relevant
national government agencies, duly registered non-government
organizations, the concerned water utility sector and the business sector.

● What are the functions of the Governing Boards?

The Governing Boards will formulate strategies to coordinate policies
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. They will create a
multi-sectoral group to establish and effect water quality surveillance
and monitoring.

● How will discharges of wastewater be controlled?

All owners or operators of facilities that discharge wastewater are
required to get a permit to discharge from the DENR or the Laguna Lake
Development Authority. Existing industries without any permit are given 12
months from the effectivity of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)
promulgated pursuant to this Act to secure a permit to discharge.

● How will domestic wastewater be addressed?

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in coordination

with local government units will prepare a national program on sewage and
septage management not later than 12 months from effectivity of this Act. A
priority list will likewise be prepared which will be the basis for the allotment
of funds on an annual basis by the national government for the construction
and rehabilitation of required facilities.
On the other hand, LGUs are to provide the land including road right of
the way for the construction of sewage and/or septage treatment facilities
and raise funds for the operations and maintenance of said facilities.
The Department of Health (DOH) will formulate guidelines and standards
for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage as well as the guidelines
for the establishment and operation of centralized sewage treatment system.
The MWSS and other agencies mandated to provide water supply and
sewerage facilities are required to connect existing sewage lines, subject to
the payment of sewerage service charges/fees within five years following
effectivity of this Act.
All sources of sewage and septage are required to comply with the law.

● How will the discharge of wastewater be discouraged?

Anyone discharging wastewater into a water body will have to pay a
wastewater charge. This economic instrument which will be developed in
consultation with all concerned stakeholders is expected to encourage
investments in cleaner production and pollution control technologies to
reduce the amount of pollutants generated and discharged.
Effluent trading per management area will also be allowed.
Rewards will also be given to those whose wastewater discharge is better
than the water quality criteria of the receiving body of water. Fiscal and non-
fiscal incentives will also be given to LGUs, water districts, enterprise, private
entities and individuals who develop and undertake outstanding and
innovative projects in water quality management.

● What safeguards are provided for?

All possible dischargers are required to put up an environmental
guarantee fund (EGF) as part of their environmental management plan. The
EGF will finance the conservation of watersheds and aquifers, and the needs
of emergency response, clean up or rehabilitation.

● What are the prohibited acts under R.A.

9275? Among others, the Act prohibits the
following:
1. Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water body, or
such which will impede natural flow in the water body
2. Discharging, injecting or allowing to enter into the soil, anything
that would pollute groundwater
3. Operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without
the valid required permits
4. Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by vessels
5. Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage sludge or
solid waste.
6. Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances
or pollutants listed under Toxic Chemicals, Hazardous and Nuclear
7. Wastes Control Act (Republic.Act No. 6969)
8. Discharging regulated water pollutants without the valid
required discharge permit pursuant to this Act
9. Noncompliance of the LGU with the Water Quality Framework
and Management Area Action Plan
10. Refusal to allow entry, inspection and monitoring as well as access
to reports and records by the DENR in accordance with this Act
11. Refusal or failure to submit reports and/or designate pollution
control officers whenever required by the DENR in accordance with this
Act
12. Directly using booster pumps in the distribution system or tampering with
the water supply in such a way to alter or impair the water quality
13. Operate facilities that discharge or allow to seep, willfully or through
grave negligence, prohibited chemicals, substances, or pollutantslisted
under
R.A. No. 6969, into water bodies.
14. Undertake activities or development and expansion of projects, or
operating wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities in violation of
P.D.1586 and its IRR.
15.
● What are the fines and penalties imposed on polluters?
The following are among the fines and penalties for violators of this Act
and its IRR:
Upon the recommendation of the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB),
anyone who commits prohibited acts such as discharging untreated
wastewater into any water body will be fined for every day of violation, the
amount of not less than Php 10,000 but not more than Php 200,000.
Failure to undertake clean-up operations willfully shall be punished by
imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than four years. This
also includes a fine of not less than Php 50,000 and not more than Php
100,000 per day of violation. Failure or refusal to clean up which results in
serious injury or loss of life or lead to irreversible water contamination of
surface, ground, coastal and marine water shall be punished with
imprisonment of not less than 6 years and 1 day and not more than 12 years
and a fine of Php 500,000/day for each day the contamination or omission
continues.
In cases of gross violation, a fine of not less than Php 500,000 but not
more than Php 3,000,000 will be imposed for each day of violation. Criminal
charges may also be filed.

● Who should implement the Clean Water Act?

The DENR is the primary government agency responsible for the
implementation and enforcement of this Act, with the support of other
government organizations, local government units, non -government
organizations and the private sector.
Towards this end, the DENR will review and set affluent standards,
review and enforce water quality guidelines, classify groundwater sources
and prepare a national groundwater vulnerability map, classify or reclassify
water bodies, establish internationally accepted procedures for sampling and
analysis, prepare an integrated water quality management framework and
subsequently prepare 10-year management plans for each water
management area.

The roles of other key government agencies are:

• The Philippine Coast Guard shall enforce water quality standards in marine
waters, specifically from offshore sources.
• The Department of Public Works and Highways through its attached
agencies shall provide sewerage and sanitation facilities, and the efficient
and safe collection, treatment and disposal of sewage within their area of
jurisdiction.
• The Department of Agriculture shall formulate guidelines for the re-use of
wastewater for irrigation and other agricultural uses and for the prevention,
control and abatement of pollution from agricultural and aquaculture
activities.
• The Department of Health shall set, revise and enforce drinking water
quality standards.
• The Department of Science and Technology shall evaluate, verify, develop
and disseminate pollution prevention and cleaner production technologies.
• The Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education,
Department of Department of Interior and Local Government, and the
Philippine Information Agency shall prepare and implement a comprehensive
and continuing public education and Interior and Local Government, and the
 Philippine Information Agency shall prepare and implement a comprehensive
and continuing public education and information program.

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to
protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries
and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities).

Lesson 5. The Role of the Youth in Environmental Protection and Management

The world is currently facing a crisis in the environment such as depletion of

resources, biodiversity loss, and long-lived radioactive wastes. Young people
can play a vital role in protecting and improving the environment as they
constitute a large part of the world’s population. They can change their
lifestyle and how it affects the environment, youth has a vital role to address
the said crisis. They can make their homes, schools and youth organizations
more environmentally friendly by adopting environmentally friendly practices
like recycling of different materials as well as preserving resources such as
water and electricity. Engaging youth in environmental protection not only
creates direct impact on changing their behaviours, beliefs and attitudes, but
they can possibly influence their parents, relatives and families. Youth are
back bone of the nation. They can change the future of the society with their
well-being and courageous behaviour.
And that is what Executive Order 579 is stated – A Law Encouraging the
Formulation and Implementation of Green Philippines Programs
Through the National Service Training Program (NSTP).
Indicated therein that it is time for the younger generation to be actively
involved in civic life, and be responsible for their own future.
Specified under Section 1 of the said Executive Order that: The National
Service Training Program (NSTP) shall endeavor to build a new quality of life
that will keep the nation young and beautiful. In order to ensure its realization,
all students under NSTP, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Literacy
Training Service (LTS), and Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), shall be
involved in Green Philippines Activities which include among others:
a. Taking back our forests and replenishing fallen trees with new,
protected forests;
b. Beautifying our barangay and cities;
c. Building more urban parks and recreation areas;
d. Purifying our water; and,
e. Cleaning up industrial sites.