SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)

Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Grade Level: 7 Quarter: 3 Week: 1

MELC: Describe the current situations of the Philippine Competency Code: N/A
environment

Name ______________________________ Section ________ Date __________

School ______________________________ District __________________________

A. Readings/Discussions
The Philippine State of the Environment and Natural Resources
The Philippines hotspot is identified as one of the world’s biologically richest countries.
With 7,107 islands that fall within its borders, the country’s terrestrial and marine habitats
contain some of the richest biodiversity of flora and fauna. Despite being ecologically rich, the
Philippines still ranks among the top ten countries with the largest number of species
threatened with extinction (CI, 2013).
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), our
environment is indeed in a critical state. The following are some realities of the state of our
environment and biodiversity in the 21st century.
Major urban centers are polluted. With regard to water pollution, waterways in major
urban centers, especially esteros, are unfit for human activity, despite recent clean-up efforts.
The Supreme Court in December 2008 issued a continuing mandamus for the government to
clean up the waterways, especially those emptying into Manila Bay, in order to improve the
water quality in the bay. Currently, under the recent governance of President Duterte,
rehabilitation improvements of water bodies such as Manila Bay and Boracay have been made
but still major repair needs to be done in the entire country.

Meanwhile, air pollution is getting more severe especially in Metro Manila. The region
is not only the worst traffic on earth as the navigational app Waze once said and the most
congested, it is also among the world’s cities with poorest air quality. The Philippines ranks
third among countries with the highest incidence of deaths related to outdoor air pollution,
65% of which is due to mobile sources.

Solid waste remains a major source of pollutants. Uncontrolled dumping of raw

sewage in coastal areas, particularly those that are thickly populated or used heavily by
tourists, contributes to dangerous water contamination levels. The Philippines generates
30,000 tons of garbage per day. Metro Manila alone produces 8,000 tons per day, of which
only 70 percent is collected. Uncollected garbage ends up mostly in rivers, esteros, and other
water bodies, clogging the drainage system and leading to floods and the pollution of major

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water bodies.

Water is becoming scarcer. The country is endowed with abundant water resources. It
experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,400 mm. and has 421 river basins, of which 20 are
major river basins ranging from 990 to 25,000 sq. km. The country’s watersheds and aquifers,
if fully functional, could supply 146 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water annually for
domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. Total water availability is estimated at 126 BCM per
year from surface water such as rivers or streams, and an estimated 20 BCM per year
groundwater potential (NWRB 1998). Although water is still abundant in certain areas, the
country faces the threat of emerging water scarcity. Lack of urban planning, indiscriminate
urban development, lack of investment in water, problems of water resource management, and
the impact of climate change threaten water security and sustainability. Deforestation and lack
of effective management of forest and freshwater ecosystems have led to the further
deterioration of watersheds, limiting aquifer recharge and increases water runoff and soil
erosion. Around 267 watersheds with a total area of 10.6 million hectares have been identified
as needing immediate rehabilitation.

Quality of farm land is deteriorating and forested lands are shrinking. The quality
of land resources has deteriorated steadily because of erosion, pollution and land conversion.
Logging, mining, corporate plantations, and other extractive activities have eaten at the forest
cover of the Philippines, which has diminished to just 7 million hectares as of 2015, or just
23.3% of the country’s land area.  According to environment scientists, this is ecologically
unhealthy and critical given the country’s geography and terrain, which should sustain a 54%
forest cover. Twenty-one percent of the country’s agricultural lands and 36 percent of
nonagricultural lands are moderately or severely eroded. Soil erosion has affected the
productivity of land, limited the rehabilitation or restoration of degraded lands, lowered the
quality of surface water, and modified hydrologic conditions by changing land resources and
land management. Moreover, the changing weather patterns have brought about prolonged
droughts and excessive rains. Farmers have to endure lower yields and lower income from
farming. Of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares, 47 percent (14 million
hectares) has been classified as alienable and disposable lands while 15.9 million hectares
(52%) are classified as forestlands. An analysis of satellite-based maps elaborated by the EU’s
Joint Research Centre ( JRC) in 2007 revealed that possibly, only 19% of the country’s land
area remains forested. The main threats to Philippine forests come from the collection of fuel
wood, settlements in forestlands, conversion to agricultural uses, kaingin and forest fires, and
illegal logging. There are approximately 20 million people living in upland watershed areas,
half of whom are dependent on shifting cultivation for their livelihood . Inequitable land
distribution, insecure tenure and rural poverty are often cited as causes of deforestation and
forest degradation in the Philippines, linked to increases in rural populations both as a result of
high fertility and in-migration. Deforestation has made many poor communities more
vulnerable to natural calamities such as of typhoons, flash floods and landslides.

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 The country’s unique biodiversity is under severe pressure. The Philippines is rich
in biological and genetic resources or biodiversity and is one of the 18 megadiverse countries
in the world. The majority of plant and animal species in the country are unique and cannot be
found anywhere else. Biodiversity in the Philippines, however, is also among the most
endangered in the world. As of 2008, 221 species of fauna and 526 species of flora have been
included in the list of threatened species. The continually increasing demands for food, energy,
and other goods, coupled with the pressures exerted by rapid development and economic
growth, have put much stress on the country’s natural environment resulting in the
destabilization of ecosystems, destruction of natural habitats and an alarming rate of
biodiversity loss. The introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) has threatened biodiversity
and destabilized ecosystems.

Coastal and marine resources are under threat. The Philippines has one of the
world’s longest coastlines, a total of 36,289 kilometers. The country’s marine jurisdiction
extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline (Exclusive Economic Zone) and up to the
limits of the continental margin where it extends beyond 200 miles (Extended Continental
Shelf ). Located within the Coral Triangle, at the center of high marine diversity, the country’s
vast, rich and diverse coastal and marine resources are composed of coral reefs, sea grass beds,
mangrove and beach forests, fisheries, invertebrates, seaweeds, marine mammals and many
others. About 60 percent of the total Philippine population live in the coastal zones and depend
on these coastal resources for livelihoods. Some unsustainable human activities, however,
cause great stress to coastal and marine resources. Coastal development and climate change
impacts such as sea-level rise and increasing sea-surface temperature add to the stress on these
resources. The productivity of the country’s coral reefs, mangrove forests, sea grass, and algal
beds and fisheries is declining at an alarming rate. Of the 27,000 sq km. of coral reef, over 70
percent are of poor or fair quality and only 5% are in excellent condition. The Philippine reefs
may already be in a steady state of decline from 5 percent to 3 percent to less than 1 percent
(Nanola et. al., 2004).

The country’s coral reefs are considered to be one of the highly threatened reef areas in
the world. Major distributions of seagrass beds in the Philippines are found in Bolinao Bay in
Luzon, Palawan, Cuyo Islands, the Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor area, Zamboanga, and Davao. About
half of the country’s seagrass beds have been lost due to coastline development and blast
fishing. The mapping of seagrass bed distribution remains limited, and the management of
seagrass resources has not received priority. Mangroves protect the coast from waves, tidal
currents, and typhoons and provide habitats, shelter, breeding sites, and food sources to
various groups of fish and other coastal wildlife. The ecological functions of mangroves as
land builder and coastline stabilizer are also widely known. Mangrove cover, however, has
declined from 450,000 hectares in 1918 to only about 140,000 hectares in 2008. The
development of mangrove swamps into aquaculture ponds, salt beds, reclamation areas and
other agricultural activities has extensively degraded this resource. A total of 62,834 hectares

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of mangrove forest area were issued Fishpond Lease Agreements (FLAs) between 1973 and
2002. Logging concessionaires generally have not left behind mother trees to replenish the
area, and several cases of illegal logging cutting occur even in protected reserves.

Mineral resource development is delivering mixed results. The mining industry in

the Philippines has rebounded due to the promotion and revitalization of responsible mining
and recognition of the industry’s possible contribution in inducing economic growth, attracting
investments and reducing poverty in the countryside. Challenges remain on the emerging
framework of responsible mining specifically on corporate accountability, voluntary
compliance among companies and giving of due recognition to local autonomy and indigenous
peoples’ rights. Of the country’s 30 million hectares of land area, 9 million hectares (30%) is
considered as having high mineral potential. Only 2.7 percent of this high-potential area is
covered by mining permits or contracts and only 0.32 percent is in the development or
operating stage. Investments in priority mineral exploration, development and processing
projects from 2006-2009 have reached US$2.2 billion, and the production of gold, copper, and
nickel has also increased. Nickel production increased by 651 percent, buoyed by favorable
prices, while copper production rose by 141 percent in the same period.

Data show that the share of mining in GDP and employment is increasing and there are
considerable potentials. However, target investments and excise tax from mining in 2004-2010
have not been fully achieved due to the financial crisis, among others. In addition, an
assessment report of a mining project has indicated that the fair share of the government from
mining has not been achieved due to the existing incentive mechanism. Issues have been also
raised on sharing of the mining industry with regard to foreign companies as well as the
undesirable environmental conditions which the Filipino communities will have to deal with.
In separate researches, it was found that mining permits or contracts were within half the
number of titled and claimed ancestral domains. A number of mining projects, however, have
been alleged to have caused environmental degradations, physical displacement of indigenous
peoples, and cultural dislocations. In 2005, a European Union (EU)-commissioned study
reported that legal and illegal mining operations posed serious threat to the forest and to local
rivers because of forest clearing and the release of toxins.

Extreme vulnerability to environmental hazards and climate-related risk. Owing to

its location and natural attributes, the country is prone or vulnerable to natural hazards such as
tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The longest of these, the
Philippine Fault, is one of the major active faults in the world. On the average, the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) records 20 earthquake occurrences
every day, but damage is normally caused by shallow-focus earthquakes with Magnitude 6 or
more and when the associated ground shaking is at Intensity 6 or higher. The country has 300
volcanoes, of which 22 are active. The country also lies along the typhoon belt of the Western
North Pacific where 66 percent of tropical cyclones originate. About 20 tropical cyclones enter
the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) every year, of which seven to nine make a

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landfall. Tropical cyclone season is from May to December; peak months are July to
September with an average of three or more occurrences. Their movements follow a
northwesterly direction, frequently hitting northern Luzon and provinces in the eastern
seaboard. Mindanao is usually spared from being directly hit by majority of the typhoons that
cross the country.

Climate change disasters. The Philippine contribution to the climate crisis is minute if
compared to the accountability of transnational corporations of the industrialized countries.
Yet, the country’s greenhouse gas emissions have also increased from 2007 to 2017 due to its
continued use of oil and increasing reliance on coal. The injustice still lies in the fact that the
Philippines, despite its minor contribution to GHG, is among most vulnerable to climate
disasters. The Philippines is the 5th most affected country by climate disasters from 1998 to
2017, according to the Climate Risk Index 2019.
B. Exercises
Exercise 1: EnviMatch!
Directions: Match the current Philippine environment situations on column B to their
respective illustrations on column A. Write the letter of your answer on the blank.
A B

A. Polluted major urban centers or cities

B. Uncontrollable garbage disposal that

____1. ____6. clogged up water bodies
Image by Dot Earth-New York Times Image by aboutcagayandeoro.com
C. Scarced water supplies

D. Farmlands converted into buildings

____2. ____7. E. Extinction of biodiversities and

Image by CNN Philippines Image by straitstimes.com
species

F. Overharvested coastal and marine

resources
____3. ____8.
Image by Pinterest Image by businessmirror.com.ph G. Bald mountains affected by
increased mining activities

H. Destroyed environment due to

natural calamities and disasters
____4. ____9.
Image by lamudi.com.ph Image by steelguru.com
I. Whole year round land dryness due to
climate change

J. Excessive air pollutions due to gas

emissions

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____5. ____10.
Image by www.efe.com Image by quora.com

Exercsise 2: Tree of Environmental State

Direction: Cite the situations of our current environmental state and the factors causing them
using the given illustration. Write the situations on the circles and the factors on the rectangles.

If these factors continue harming our environment, what do you think will happen to our
biodiversity and natural resources 100 years from now?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____

C. Assessment/Application/Outputs (Please refer to DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2020

Direction: Read the following questions carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. What do you call the department that deals with the management of our environment?

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 A. DPWH B. DENR C. DOA
2. Which of the following causes environmental destruction?
A. Cutting down of trees B. Overharvesting C. Farming
3. What is the state of our environment now according to studies?
A. Critical B. Alarming C. Both A & B
4. Why do you think our environment is recently so much destroyed?
A. This is because of the calamities that happened in our nation.
B. This is because of our human destructive behaviors and negligence.
C. This is because of the climate change that happened worldwide.
5. How much harmed is our forestland according to the data read?
A. Forest cover has diminished to just 7 million hectares.
B. Forestlands has decreased for about 13.3 % of the country’s land area.
C. Forestlands are critical that should sustain 70% of the country’s land.
6. Which of the following is NOT true in the realities of our current environment status?
A. Most major urban cities are very polluted and disposed greater percentage of garbage.
B. Coastal and marine resources are under threat due to overharvesting and development.
C. Philippines is one of the richest countries in natural resources with no extinct species.
7. While mineral mining can greatly add income to our country, it is also a major factor in
destroying our environmental resources. How do you think we could balance this dilemma?
A. Mining companies should be issued with permits and should pay their taxes.
B. Responsible mining should be encouraged among mining companies.
C. Mining should be regulated & registered legally following guidelines from the DENR.
8. Which of the following is considered a natural cause of environment damage?
A. Human activities B. Calamities & disasters C. Climate change
9. What is the main cause of water bodies pollution?
A. Metro Manila’s huge percentage of waste disposal
B. Uncontrollable garbage disposal which are left uncollected
C. Waste from companies and factories being thrown to water bodies
10. As a student, how can you contribute to help save our environment?
A. I will do reuse and recycle as much as possible to save some resources.
B. I will promote environment preservation at home and even online to raise awareness.
C. Both A and B.
11. Which do you think of our practices could greatly worsen global climate change?
A. Dumping garbage to our rivers, bays, and canals
B. Gas emissions from using oil and coal
C. Overharvesting of our fish and coral reefs
12. What would NOT be the result of too much cutting down of trees without replacement?
A. Increased global warming and climate change
B. Occurrence of landslides and flashfloods
C. Increasing supply of paper and wood

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13. As of 2008, how many species of flora and fauna had been in the list of threatened species?
A. 221 species of fauna and 526 species of flora
B. 526 species of fauna and 122 species of flora
C. 122 species of fauna and 256 species of flora
14. What is NOT a result of more people choosing to live in urban cities?
A. High rate of diseases and malnutrition
B. More job opportunities for people
C. Increased pollution and contamination
15. What could be the worst result of the diminishing farmlands of our country?
A. More people will opt to work in industries
B. Very low nation’s supply of rice and other farm products
C. Farmers’ families going hungry and starved

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 D. Suggested Enrichment/Reinforcement Activity/ies
Directions: To keep oneself updated with the state of the Philippine environment especially in
this time of pandemic, watch the webinar episode conducted by the Center for Environmental
Concerns Philippines dated April 22, 2020. Visit their recorded webinar through this link
https://youtube/6CjHLd06DD0 and make a reaction paper on it.

Category Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs

(5) (4) (3) Improvement
(2)
Relevance The ideas The ideas The ideas The ideas
presernted are presernted presernted are presernted are not
correct and are relevant not so relevant relevant to the
relevant to the to the to the task/question.
task/question. task/question task/question.
.
Organization The ideas are Good attempt Some Lack of
of Ideas coherently and at inconsistencies organization with
logically organization in organization very unclear
organized with a with a clear and a lack of concept.
clear concept. concept. sustained
focus.

Grammar/ 100% to 90% of 89% to 80% 79% to 70% of Less than 70% of
Mechanics the grammar is of the the grammar is the grammar is
accurate. Proper grammar is accurate. accurate. Proper
spelling is accurate. Proper spelling spelling is not
observed. Proper is not well observed.
spelling is observed.
observed.

References
https://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-13-02-02-11/mgb-news/856-denr-goes-all-digital-for-philippine-
environment-month-2020-celebration (Date retrieved: October 19, 2020)
https://www.ibon.org/a-glimpse-at-the-critical-state-of-the-philippine-environment/
state-of-the-philippine-environment.html (Date retrieved: October 19, 2020)

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https://www.usfca.edu/sites/default/files/arts_and_sciences/center_for_asia_pacific_studies/4-
avancena-philippine-environment.pdf (Date retrieved: October 19, 2020)
https://www.denr.gov.ph/images/The_State_of_the_Philippine_Environment_-_Final.pdf (Date
retrieved: October 19, 2020)
https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CHAPTER-10.pdf (Date retrieved:
October 19, 2020)

Prepared by: Edited by:

ALITA J. LUMBAB JESUSA P. RAMIREZ

Teacher 1 Teacher 3
Buanoy National High School San Remigio National High School

RACHEL PERL C. CAINILA

Teacher 3
San Remigio National High School

CHARRY MAE M. PESTANO

Teacher 1
San Remigio National High School

MARIA TRESICA C. SILVEDERIO

Teacher 1
Consolacion National High School

JEAN A. MORALES
Teacher 2
Minglanilla National High School

Reviewed by:

JUVIMAR E. MONTOLO
EPS - Science
Division of Cebu Province
GUIDE

For the Teacher

This self-learning home task was designed to provide you a tool for facilitating learning
towards the students. Activities and exercises written may be adjusted as deemed necessary to
meet the learning level and pace of the learners.

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For the Learner

This self-learning home task was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

For the Parent/Home Tutor

This self-learning home task was designed to provide your child with brief and concise
learning tool for independent learning at his/her own pace and time. Your supervision, support,
and coordination with the teacher are needed for effective learning to happen.

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