BRUNO, CHARINA JOY P.
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
1. PD 1586: Philippine Environment Import Statement System
In the Philippines, we have Environmental Impact Statement System under
Presidential Decree 1586 which was ratified on June 11, 1978. The main objective of this
law is to maintain the balance between the environment and the socio-economic
development of the country. It aims to protect the environment despite the increasing
demand of natural resources and development to attain sustainability.
2. RA 8749: Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1999
The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain sustainable
development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal
with environmental problems. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people
to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
3. RA 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
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-sectorial and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
4. RA 6969: Philippine Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Act
It is the policy of the State to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation,
manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and
mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the environment; to
prohibit 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.
5. RA 9003: Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (PESWA) of 2000
RA 9003 describes solid waste management as a discipline associated with the
control of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal
of solid wastes. The manner by which these activities are conducted shall be in accord with
the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, other
environmental considerations, and public attitudes. The Act provides for a comprehensive
ecological solid waste management program by creating the necessary institutional
mechanisms and incentives, appropriating funds, declaring certain acts prohibited, and
providing penalties.
6. RA 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
R.A. 9729 calls for the State to integrate the concept of climate change in various
phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies, and other
government development tools and techniques. This is to ensure that government plans and
actions are founded upon sound environmental considerations and sustainable
development principles. Aside from that, the government shall take into consideration
gender-sensitive, pro-children, and pro-poor perspective as an input to its climate change
efforts, plans, and programs. Likewise, the government shall encourage the participation
of the national and local government, businesses, non-government organizations (NGOs),
and local communities and public to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. This is
to align initiatives on climate change into a collective approach (e.g. the disaster and risk
reduction measures integrated to climate change programs and initiatives).
