Philippine Environmental Policy

Presidential Decree No. 1151 (06 June 1977): In the pursuit of advancing both the
productive and harmonious relationship of nature and the Filipino people of today and
the future, the Philippine Environmental Policy mandates an intensive and integrated
national environmental protection program mainly by requiring environmental impact
assessments and statements.

Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System

Presidential Decree No. 1586 (11 June 1978): This policy established the Philippine
Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS) as the framework for all
environmental impact assessment activities nationwide. In consonance with the
Philippine Environmental Policy (PD 1151), the PEISS includes the classification of every
development project as either environmentally critical or environmentally non-critical.
All projects that can potentially cause any form of significant impact to the
environment are regarded as environmentally critical and are therefore required
to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act of 1992

Republic Act No. 7611: The Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) is “a comprehensive
framework for the sustainable development of Palawan.” All projects of government
agencies, from planning to implementation, in the province should be coordinated and
aligned to this framework. The main strategy here is to establish an “Environmentally
Critical Areas Network” or ECAN which is a graded system of protective control over all
terrestrial and marine natural resources, as well as the tribal ancestral lands in Palawan.
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was created pursuant to this
policy.

Climate Change Act of 2009

Republic Act No. 9729: In light of the climate vulnerability of the Philippines and its
people, the Climate Change Act of 2009 integrates climate change adaptation and
mitigation strategies into policy formulation and development activities of all
government agencies. It also created the Climate Change Commission, chaired by the
President of the Republic of the Philippines, as the central entity for all climate
change-related plans and programs in the country.

Writ of Kalikasan
Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC, 29 April 2010): The
Writ of Kalikasan (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC Rule 7) is one of the two (2) special civil actions
that any person or entity can avail of whenever their constitutional right to a balanced
and healthy environment is violated or threatened. The other civil action that can be
availed of is the Writ for Continuing Mandamus (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC Rule 8) which
applies when a government agency or officer violates an environmental policy.

Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010

Republic Act No. 10121: Making the then National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
into what we know today as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) to serve as the lead agency for disaster-related programs in the
Philippines such as but not limited to the development of the comprehensive guides
for DRR efforts nationwide (referred to as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Framework [NDRRMF] and National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan [NDRRMP]).

Here is the NDRRMP for 2011 to 20 Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010
28. Pursuant to this Act, regional, provincial, city, and municipal Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management (DRRM) councils and barangay DRRM committees were
also created. Among other provisions, RA 10121 also mandated DRRM Education in
secondary and tertiary education as well as in the Sangguniang Kabataan along with
the Mandatory DRRM training for public sector employees (Section 14).

Philippine Sanitation Code

Presidential Decree No. 856 (23 December 1975): The Philippine Sanitation Code sets sanitary
standards for drinking water, food and other business establishments, industrial hygiene, schools,
health services, markets, slaughterhouses, transport vehicles, terminals and other service stations,
and lodging areas and infrastructures among many others. It regulates nuisances (anything that
injures health, endangers life, offends senses, or produces discomfort to the community), and
activities concerning dead persons, their funeral, and remains. Importantly, it regulates other
forms of pollution not covered in the above-mentioned places like that caused by certain
substances, radiation, noise, and biological pollutants among others. It also sets the requirements
for the collection of sewage, operation of sewerage works and sewage treatment plants,
construction of septic tanks, and disposal of septic tank effluents (Chapter XVII).
GreenDev has worked on a Sewage Treatment Plant project with Boracay Water and on the
proposed Septage Management System in Tagum River, Iloilo City.

If you are looking for professionals to work with on similar projects, we’ll be glad to collaborate!
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Marine Pollution Decree of 1976
Presidential Decree No. 979 (18 August 1976): Pursuant to this policy, dumping of wastes and
other hazardous matter into the ocean and inland waters of the Philippines is considered unlawful
unless due to unavoidable accidents or otherwise prescribed by the National Pollution Control
Commission or the Philippine Coast Guard.

Water Code of the Philippines

Presidential Decree No. 1067 (31 December 1976): The Water Code of the Philippines governs
the ownership, allocation, utilization, control, conservation, and the overall administration of all
waters and water resources in the country through the National Water Resources Board. Filipinos
of legal age and entities, including government agencies, must acquire a water permit (the
written evidence of having a water right) in order to be able to appropriate and use water. Any
activities affecting water resources shall likewise acquire a permit first.

The water permit specifies among others the

(1) maximum amount and rate as well as the schedule of water diversion or withdrawal,

(2) location of wells,

(3) place of use, and

(4) purpose/s of water use

The streambank easement zones of three (3) meters for urban areas, twenty (20) meters for
agricultural areas, and forty (40) meters for forest areas along the entire length of the rivers and
streams are also mandated under Article 51 of this Code.

Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990
Republic Act No. 6969: Importation, manufacturing, processing, sale, distribution, use, and
disposal of substances that pose an unreasonable risk and/or injury to the health of the people and
the environment are prohibited under this Act. All chemicals being presently imported,
manufactured, or used in the country are listed in an inventory with full details and any new
substances must undergo pre-manufacturing or pre-importation regulations. To get to know more
about hazardous waste management in the Philippines, check out our definitive guide on this
topic here.

Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

Republic Act No. 8749: One of the salient features of this Act is the establishment of a multi-
sectoral Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework and Air Quality Control Action Plan
which will serve as the primary guide for air pollution management and control in the country.
Adopting a multi-sectoral or participatory approach (also called “partnership approach to healthy
air” or “people-driven approach”) means that ideas and comments should be gathered from all
stakeholders, and information is largely disclosed to the public. Alongside many other regulatory
measures, all sources of air pollutant emissions are also mandated by this Act to secure a permit
to operate apart from the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). Importantly, this Act
sets the emission limits for various types of pollutants both stationary and mobile, including
smoking, fuel and fuel additives, ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gases, and organic
pollutants among many others.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

Republic Act No. 9003: Aimed at establishing a nationwide ecological solid waste management
program, this Act provides for the furtherance of proper segregation, collection and transport,
recycling, and composting of wastes in the Philippines. Article 6 of RA 9003 promulgates the
guidelines for a comprehensive waste management strategy including but not limited to:
Prohibition of open dumps, Requiring a permit for solid waste management facility construction
and expansion, Guidelines for controlled dumps, and Criteria for siting, establishment, and
operations of sanitary landfills in the country.

We wrote about solid waste management planning, requirements for solid waste management
operations  and the different guidelines for waste management facilities as mandated by this
Act in this complete guide.

Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

Republic Act No. 9275: The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 is the comprehensive strategy
for the protection and conservation of the country’s water resources, both freshwater and marine.
This Act requires the acquisition of water pollution permits through the “Wastewater Charge
System” which ensures that there are no unauthorized, undocumented, and unregulated
discharges in any water body in the Philippines. Project and program proponents are also
required to establish an environmental guarantee fund (EGF) in order to finance the preservation
and/or rehabilitation of the health of the affected ecosystems, especially that of the watersheds
and aquifers among others. All persons or organizations that cause pollution are likewise
required to clean-up any pollution they have caused at their own expense.