6 Environmental Policy

• Environmental policy includes policies, practices, and laws designed to protect human health and well- being, natural resources, and environmental quality
• Theoretically, in a democratic system, these policies are established through negotiation and compromise.
• Open debate allows all voices to be heard, and policy decisions promote collective well-being
• Elected representatives defend policies they think will benefit their constituents
• What drives policy making?

  -Economic interest groups, industry associations, and powerful individuals often have disproportionate access to lawmakers.
• What drives policy making?

  -Public interest groups work to gain similar access by developing broad support, by bringing citizens together to write letters or meet with legislators, and by drawing attention to a cause or an issue, in hopes that voters contact their legislators.
• What drives policy making?

  -Citizen movements for environmental quality often have had -far-reaching effects

  -Globally, support for environmental protection is widespread.
• Power and influence inevitably control much of our policy making
• Anti-mining advocates and environmental groups join the Salakyag ng mga Sangnilikha, which aims to empower communities to talk about  environmental issues. (June 2018)
•  Salakyag - Sakay, Lakad, Layag
• Policy creation is ongoing and cyclic

  -A problem is identified, usually by concerned groups of citizens or interest groups. Plans to resolve the problem are developed through discussion, and new rules are proposed.
• Policy creation is ongoing and cyclic

  -Popular support is built to gather votes for the new rule. If the rule is agreed to, then it is implemented. Evaluation then leads to identification of flaws in the rule, and the cycle starts again. Building support is central to policy development.
• Philippine Environment Code

  P.D. 1152. PEC (June 6, 1977) establishes public oversight The cornerstone of the Philippine environmental policy is the Presidential  Decree No. 1152, series of 1977 or the Philippine Environment Code (PEC) it serves as a framework in the launching of a comprehensive program of environmental protection and management. Enacted on June 6, 1977 by Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
• Philippine Environment Code

  -the achievement and maintenance of such levels of air quality as to protect public health

  -the prevention of the greatest extent practicable, injury and/or damage to plant and animal life and property, and promote the social and economic development of the country.
• Environmental Impact Statement enacted by Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (EIS)


  June 11, 1978
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)


  Seeks to balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection
• Environment Impact Assessment System

  1. Formally established in 1978 with the enactment of Presidential Decree no. 1586

  2. To facilitate the attainment and maintenance of rational and orderly balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection
• R.A. 8749. The Clean Air Act signed into law by Joseph Estrada on June 23, 1999

  Regulates air emissions. The law aims to achieve and maintain clean air that meets the National Air Quality guideline values for criteria pollutants, throughout the Philippines while minimizing the possible associated impacts to the economy.
• EIA


  A planning and management tool that will help government, decision makers, the proponents and the affected community address the negative consequences or risks on the environment
• R.A. 9275. The Clean Water Act signed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (March 22, 2004)

  Protects surface water. 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 a comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi[1]sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders
• The EIA process assures implementation of environment-friendly projects
• R.A. 9147. The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act signed into law by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo


  July 30, 2001
• R.A. 6969. Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act signed by Corazon Aquino(October 26, 1990)

  Addresses hazardous sites. The law aims to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures which present unreasonable risk to human health. It likewise prohibits the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals
• R.A. 9147. The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act

  • Protects wildlife
  • Conserves and protects the country's wildlife resources and their habitats
  • Appropriates funds to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity
  • Regulates the collection and trade of wildlife
  • Pursues the Philippine commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats
  • Initiates or supports scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity
• This law aims to conserve and protect the country's wildlife resources and their habitats, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity
• It focuses on the regulation of the collection and trade of wildlife
• It also strives to pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats
• Some Important National Treaties

  Ramsar: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat Year Held: 1971 Year Enacted: 1975
• It also initiates or supports scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity
• Some Important National Treaties

  Heritage: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

  Year Held: 1972 Year Enacted: 1975
• Some Important National Treaties

  CITES: Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora / Washington Convention

  Year Held: 1973 Year Enacted: 1987
• Some Important National Treaties

  CMS: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

  Year Held: 1979 Year Enacted: 1983
• Some Important National Treaties

  Ozone: Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

  Year Held: 1985 Year Enacted: 1988
• Some Important National Treaties

  Basel: Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

  Year Held: 1989 Year Enacted: 1992
• Some Important National Treaties

  CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity

  Year Held: 1992 Year Enacted: 1993
• Some Important National Treaties

  UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

  Year Held: 1992 Year Enacted: 1994
• Some Important National Treaties

  CCD: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa

  Year Held: 1994 Year Enacted: 1996
• The Ramsar Convention (formally, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed in 1971
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a designated Ramsar Site in the Philippines
• The World Heritage Convention, created the World Heritage Sites, with the primary goals of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties. The convention, a signed document of international agreement, guides the work of the World Heritage Committee.