MODULE 6: REPUBLIC ACT 9512

Environmental Awareness and Protection

Climate Change - Includes both the global warming driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases, and the
resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns.

*** The world today is not the same simple world that our forefathers have lived. With the advancement of
transportation, communication, technology and all others contribute to the rising of global temperature which affected
the land more than ocean areas. The average rate of warming, reports say, has nearly doubled since the last
century. It was anticipated that further warming and changes in the global climate system would be on the rise if
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and all other elements contributory to global warming will not be arrested.

Some evidences of climate change include:

1. Increased rainfall that caused flooding
2. Intense and longer droughts as experienced in norther parts of the world
3. Rising sea level, erasing the normal beaches of Brgy. Alaska in Aringay La Union, etc.
4. Decreasing snow cover
5. Melting glaciers; and
6. Artic warming that also contribute to sea level rise

Some of these activities are geared towards helping mother earth breathe again normally:
1. Emission test for vehicles, a requirement prior to renewal of registration
2. Production of earth-friendly vehicles that run more on electric than fuel
3. Production of cfc-free refrigerators and other environment-friendly gadgets
4. Making dynamite and cyanide fishing a criminal activity
5. Banning of tree cutting
6. Prohibition of burning the garbage
7. Compulsory tree planting activity to all government employees and even students
8. Propagation of mangroves, or even
9. Simple waste segregation in the house and community levels

Climate change in the Philippines:

The Philippines, lying along the western rim of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and major
earthquake faults, and the Pacific typhoon belt, is vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. As a natural
disaster-prone country, we are prone to high incidence of typhoons, floods, landslides, droughts, volcanoes, and
earthquakes. Continuing to ignore climate change surely affects our lives if not the quality of our existence.

In Baguio City, we are starting to experience temperature spikes brought about by climate change. We no
longer have regular fogs that describe the city’s climate, a bit longer summer days and the temperature’s getting high
than we normally expect.
Studies show that warming is experienced mostly in the northern and southern regions of the country, while
Metro Manila has warmed less than most parts. In addition, the regions that have warmed the most (Northern Luzon,
Mindanao) have also dried the most. Largest rainfall trends are about 10 percent during the 20th century, evidenced
by both typhoonOndoy, Peping, Santi, etc., recently.
 Hot days and hot nights have become more frequent. Extreme weather events have also occurred more
frequently, like occasional flooding in a usually typhoon-free Mindanao, damaging typhoons in the Western Visayas
region, deadly floods in an area in Bicol, landslides in the Cordilleras, severe El Niño and La Niña events in some other
parts of the country, longer droughts, and even forest fires.

Adversely affected sectors include agriculture that paralyses the normal supply of food, fresh water that affected
fishermen in some areas like the fish kill in Pangasinan and Laguna, coastal areas like the denudation of mangroves,
coral reefs, marine resources like overfishing or use of illegal methods such as cyanide and dynamite, and health
issues

Environmental Laws
These are the laws that assure the citizens that the State provided nets for our safety and convenience:
1. R.A. 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act – It provides for a systematic, comprehensive
and ecological waste management program to ensure the protection of public health and the
environment.
2. R.A. 8749 or Comprehensive Air Pollution Control Policy - A comprehensive air quality management
policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos. It is also called as
The Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999 which outlines the government's measures to reduce air pollution
and incorporate environmental protection into its development plans. Comprehensive Air Pollution
Control Policy.
3. R.A. 9275 or the Comprehensive Water Quality Management Act - Aims to protect the country's
water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments,
agriculture and community/household activities).
4. R.A. 9367 which established the Biofuel Program – The Act introduces mandatory use of biofuels in
the fuel mix, as follows: a minimum 5% of bioethanol in the gasoline mix sold and distributed within 2
years; a minimum of 10% within 4 years is required. There is priority for locally produced bioethanol,
and only in the case of shortage may it be imported. The Act also requires a minimum of 1% of biodiesel
in the diesel mix within 1 year, and a minimum of 2% within 2 years.
5. R.A. 9729 which established the framework strategy and program on Climate Change, creating
the Climate Change Commission, and the landmark - Otherwise known as the Climate Change Act
of 2009 was built upon. RA 9729 allowed mainstreaming of climate change into government formulation
of programs and projects, plans and strategies, and policies, creation of Climate Change Commission,
and establishment of Framework Strategy and Program for climate change.
6. Clean Air Act 2020 - In 2020, the Clean Air Act Amendments will prevent over 230,000 early deaths.
Most of the economic benefits (about 85 percent) are attributable to reductions in premature mortality
associated with reductions in ambient particulate matter. The Clean Air Act gives the Environmental
Protection Agency the necessary tools to protect our families from a number of harmful pollutants that
can cause asthma and lung disease – especially in children. Weakening these standards would allow
more pollution in the air we breathe and threaten our children's health.

National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 (RA 9512) - This environmental law was signed on
December 12, 2008. Its primary aim is to promote awareness through Environmental Education. Its coverage has
widened because it has to be integrated in school curricula at all levels, in both in public or private institutions.
***It tasked DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DENR, DOST and other relevant government agencies to lead in its
implementation through collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral effort at all levels. It also declares November as
the Environmental Awareness Month in the Philippines.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. 9003) – It provides a systematic, comprehensive, and
ecological solid waste management program in the country.

*** Year of Enactment: Enacted in 2000

***Year of Implementation: Implemented 2003
***Control Area: Nationwide

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
1. The editorial of Baguio Midland Courier’s September 4, 2011 issue compared the thrash slide in Baguio’s Irisan
dump facility during the height of Typhoon Mina on August 27 to that of the 2000 Payatas tragedy. It was a
mismatch since that of Baguio was not as fatal as that of the mountainous thrash coming from Metro Manila. But
one significant turning point for the 10-year old Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act was it exposed its
flaws in terms of implementation.
It was ironic that after about 14 years, when the City of Baguio hit the National headlines as it entered Hall of Fame
for the Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City of the country, the City again hit the National headlines not
on the same accolade, but for an event exactly opposite of it – a tragedy that claimed lives and destroyed properties
brought about by garbage.

2. There are a lot of initiatives, both from government and especially private entities, which look for alternatives to 92
help mother earth. One is this community in Laguna which uses an ingenious way to solve their electric bill problem
through solar-powered light bulbs made from an empty plastic soda bottle, water, and bleach. This community is
just one among the many communities assisted through the very noble project called IsangLitrongLiwanag being
initiated by Mr. Illac Diaz (and the Rotary Club) which aims to bring “light” to communities nationwide through the
Solar Bottle Bulb developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
(http://greenphils.com/2011/07/23/solar-bottle-bulb/).

3. The Municipality of Teresa, Rizal creates bricks from residuals. What the residents do is crush the residuals at
their Materials Recovery Facility, put them in cement mixer then comes the bricks. These ‘trashy’ bricks are not
only cheaper, but are also sturdier than the ‘clean’ ones. The park along Pasig River (where the ferry station’s at)
is lined with these bricks to showcase the technology (http://greenphils.com/2012/06/09/from-trash-to-bricks/).

4. The University of Baguio, from the administrators to the faculty members, non-teaching personnel, student
organizations in coordination with the various GO’s and NGO’s, regularly conduct environmental-related activities,
such as tree planting in the assigned watersheds. NSTP students on the other hand, visit the areas and conduct
tree-guarding and tree-weeding activities.

Managing our Solid Wastes

Let’s manage our solid waste smartly by adopting the 3Rs of Ecological Waste Management: REDUCE, REUSE, and
RECYCLE.

Here are some practical tips:

 1. Segregate, segregate, segregate, segregate, segregate, segregate.
2. Do not throw litters or garbage in bodies of water such as canals, creeks, rivers or seas.
3. Avoid littering, throwing, dumping of waste materials in public places like roads, open lots, sidewalks,
parks and establishments.
4. Avoid burning of solid waste.
5. Do NOT squat in open dump sites and landfills.
6. As much as possible, use biodegradable materials. Plastics and styrofoam take thousands of years if
not forever before they’re gone.
7. Plant trees and ensure that they survive. Put tree guards on them and regularly remove weeds for
them to survive.
8. At home or in office, turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
9. Once your cell phone is charged, unplug it from the charger; Unplug seldom used appliances.
10. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
11. Use cold water instead of warm or hot water when possible.
12. Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
13. Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers; Minimize pesticide use.
14. Turn off computers and other appliances when not in use.
15. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
16. Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
17. Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
18. Use recycled paper.
19. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
20. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving or riding taxi, whenever possible; Join carpool to get to work.
21. Check and fix any water leaks.
22. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
23. Don’t wash dishes with the water running continuously.
24. For parties, use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
25. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and wrap.
26. Shop with a basket or buri bags instead of using paper and plastic bags.
27. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.

Importance of Trees
TREES are important in converting carbon dioxide to oxygen and in lowering air temperature in the urban areas (such
as Baguio) especially during the summer months.

According to Life Magazine (1990), in one year, an average tree inhales 26 pounds of carbon dioxide - the amount
emitted by an automobile during an 11,300 mile trip and exhales enough oxygen to keep a family of four breathing for
a year.

It is also estimated that 10 trees can offset the pollution caused by a car while hundred trees should be planted for
every truck (Panorama 1988).
An average 50-year old tree in the city provides about p 2,000.00 worth of air conditioning - P2,000.00 worth of
erosion and storm water control; P1,900.00 worth of wildlife shelter; and P1,400.00 in air pollution control in a year.
Such a tree is worth over P2 million (PDI, March 15, 1998).

Statutes on Trees
1. P.D. 705 - Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines
2. C.O. No. 54-87 – No Tree Cutting Ordinance / Replacement Planting
3. C.O. No. 88-88 – No Pasturing /Astray Animals Ordinance
4. C.O. No. 05-90 – No Nailing, Bolting, in any part of a Tree
5. C.O. No. 01-2006 – Tree Festival Ordinance
6. C.O. No. 03-2006 – Green Patch Ordinance
7. City Res. No. 147-2006 – Research Work on various Exotic Tree Species adaptable in the City.

Facts about Trees:

1. Each healthy tree has the cooling power of 10 air conditioners (Panorama 1988).
2. TREES may contribute up to 25% of the value of unimproved land suitable for housing development and
up to 12% of the value of half-acre properties with houses (Driver and Rosenthel, 1978).
3. TREES can mask noise by creating their own sounds or by enabling accompanying wildlife to do so, they
can create a feeling of solitude by their use in breaking up large spaces into smaller ones we are more
comfortable (Grey and Deneke, 1986).
4. TREES can reduce the heat of the summer's day, quiet the highways noise, feed the hungry, provide
shelter from the wind and warmth in the winter. The forests are the sanctuaries not only of wildlife but
also of the human spirit (President Bush, 1989).
5. TREES have been called nature's “air conditioner”. Visitors often joke that Baguio has a centralized air-
conditioning unit - thanks to its remaining trees. A single isolated tree may transpire approximately 400
95
liters of water per day to which are comfortable to 50 air conditioners with a capacity of 2,500 km/hr
running 20 hours a day.
6. Wood of mature trees can be used for house construction, furniture and other wood uses.
7. Greening activities can generate/enhance job opportunities for landscape architects, urban foresters,
horticulturists, engineers, etc.
8. The demand for trees, ornamentals and other plants generates livelihood opportunities for the growing
and selling of such plants;
9. The aesthetic environment will enhance local and foreign tourism that generates added income to the
country.

Pollution: It Is Everyone's Problem

These are some things that everyone can do to help clean up and prevent pollution:

1. Litter means trash, such as paper, cans, and bottles that is left lying in an open or public place.
***Litter may start with the simple carelessness of a person throwing out that one little candy wrapper, soft
drink can or cigarette butt.
2. Water Pollution occurs when harmful substances, often chemicals or microorganisms, it contaminate a
stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to
humans or the environment.
***Spills, like of a septic tank, and all other daily activities that entail the use of water pollute the water too.
 3. Air Pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions, chemicals from factories,
dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles. Ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in
cities. When ozone forms air pollution, it's also called smog.
***Everyone contributes to air pollution; cars, smoking and many others choke Mother Nature.
4. Light Pollution - Extended exposure brings a breakdown of melatonin in the body. The energy it takes to
produce that light wastes precious energy.
***Brightening of the night sky caused by street lights and other man-made sources, which has a disruptive
effect on natural cycles and inhibits the observation of stars and planets. For many astronomers light
pollution has been a disaster.

Planting Method: Dibbling – It is a tree planting guide as shared from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. First, Plunge bar at above angle, then push forward to upright position, place seedling against flat
side of planting hole, plunge bar again into ground three inches from seedlings, then push handle of bar
forward to pack soil at top roots.