Technological Institute of the Philippines

Quiapo, Manila
Chemical Engineering Department

Chemical Engineering
Laws and Ethics
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS

Submitted by:
PASAG, Joseph M

Submitted to:
Engr. Robert Delfin

Date Submitted:
March 7, 2012

R.A. 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

Republic Act No. 9003 or the Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides
the legal framework for the countrys systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management
program that shall ensure protection of public health and the environment. It emphasizes the need to create
the necessary mechanisms and incentives to pursue an effective solid waste management at the local
government levels.
One of its important features is the creation of the National Solid Waste Management Commission
(NSWMC), the National Ecology Center (NEC), and the Solid Waste Management Board in every province,
city and municipality in the country. The NSWMC shall be responsible in the formulation of the National
Solid Waste Management Framework (NSWMF) and other policies on solid waste, in overseeing the
implementation of solid waste management plans and the management of the solid waste management
fund. The NEC, on the other hand, shall be responsible for consulting, information, training and networking
services relative to the implementation of R.A.No. 9003. The Solid Waste Management Board of provinces,
cities, and municipalities shall be responsible for the development of their respective solid waste
management plans. Included also in its features are the formulation of the NSWMF: 10-year solid
management plans by local government units, mandatory segregation of solid waste to be conducted
primarily at the source such as household, institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources,
setting of minimum requirements to ensure systematic collection and transport of wastes and the proper
protection of garbage collectors' health, establishment of reclamation programs and buy-back centers for
recyclable and toxic materials, promotion of eco-labeling in local products and services, prohibition on nonenvironmentally acceptable products and packaging, establishment of Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in
every barangay or cluster of barangays, prohibition against the use of open dumps, setting of
guidelines/criteria for the establishment of controlled dumps and sanitary landfills, provision of rewards,
incentives both monetary and non-monetary, financial assistance, grants and the like to encourage LGUs
and the general public to undertake effective solid waste management and promotion of research on solid
waste management and environmental education in the formal and non-formal sectors.
Based on what I read, R.A. 9003 is quite an efficient way of handling municipal and other types of
waste accumulated on our country. They conducted seminars and other related types of activities on
different LGUs to help promote waste management in the country. As promising as it looks, I cant say that
this Republic Act is neither a success nor a failure. I cant say that its a failure because there are

municipalities and barangays who practice waste management. I cant say that its also a success because
as for our barangay, this kind of program was never implemented. I dont know whos at fault here, because
according to what I researched about it, the person/s involved in this program did their best, or at least it
was their best to disseminate this information to the sectors of the government, especially the smaller ones.
As Ive said before they conducted different seminars and other related programs to LGUs to at least help
them be knowledgeable of what R.A. 9003 is all about. I also saw their sample PPTs used in the different
seminars that they conducted. Maybe the dissemination of the information was not enough to reach smaller
sectors of government including our barangay and other barangays who does not practice waste
management. Maybe the fault is at the people who attended the said seminars also. Although they
attended the seminar, they didnt pay much attention to the topic at hand. Strict implementation and proper
relay of information is the key for this programs success. Lets take for example the municipality of Makati.
Yes, it is given that they are one of the cleanest and wealthy cities in the country, but they were also one of
the most industrialized. My point is that, if they can do it, other cities can do it too, especially Manila. I was
quite disappointed at how solid wastes were handled in our city. Everywhere I look, I can see trash and
garbage on the streets and other public places. Yes, most people in our city are stubborn but strict
implementations of laws may solve this problem. This is the problem in our country; the rich are getting
richer while the poor are getting poorer. If budgets for this kind of programs are properly allocated and
used, then maybe, just maybe, there is still hope.
All in all, R.A. 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is a good provision in
helping our country has a systematic and comprehensive waste segregation. If only strict implementations
of laws and good promulgation of information were done, then this kind of republic act may be a complete
success.

R.A. 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

Republic Act No. 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 is the law that provides a
comprehensive air pollution control policy. Specifically, this legislative intends to apply air quality
management in all sources in order to implement abatement and control of air pollution. The clear intent of
the Clean Air Act is to bring the citizenry into a national cooperative and self-regulatory effort to clean the
air we now breathe, and to ensure that our children will continue to enjoy the same. The measures to be
adopted are meant to be preventive rather than corrective, with everyone voluntarily cooperating with the
government rather than it coercing the citizenry.
The State shall pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection. To
achieve this end, the framework for sustainable development shall be pursued. As such, it shall be the
policy of the State to formulate a holistic national program of air pollution that shall be implemented by the
government through proper delegation and effective coordination of function and activities, encourage
cooperation and self-regulation among citizen and industries through the application of incentives marketbased instruments, focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a
comprehensive management program on air pollution, promote public information and education to
encourage the participation of an informed and active public in air quality planning and monitoring,
Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long term adverse environmental impact of
a project, program or activity. This shall include setting up of a funding or guarantee mechanism for cleanup and environmental rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages.
It mandates the various government agencies to do the following in support of the Act: Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) act as overall of the lead agency; prepare a National Air
Quality Status Report which shall be used as a basis in formulating the Integrated Air Quality Improvement
Framework; issue rules and regulations in the implementation of the Act. Department of Transportation and
Communication (DOTC) in coordination with the DENR in case of industrial dischargers and the DOTC, in
case of motor vehicles, shall, based on environmental techniques, design, impose on and collect regular
emission fees from all said dischargers as part of the emission permitting system or vehicle registration
renewal system, as the case may be; implement the emission standards for motor vehicles. Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) with the DENR, other agencies, private sector, the academe, nongovernment organizations and peoples organization, shall establish a National Research Development
Program for the prevention and control of air pollution. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DOST

Local Government Units (LGUs) -together with the DENR shall develop an action plan for the control and
management of air pollution from motor vehicles with the Integrated Air Quality Management Framework.
DOTC, DTI and DENR - shall establish the procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles and the testing
of their emissions for the purpose of determining the concentration and/or rate of emission of pollutants
discharged by the said sources. Department of Energy ( DOE) co-chaired with the DENR, in consultation
with the Bureau of Product Standards of DTI, DOST with the fuel and automotive industries, academe and
the consumers shall set specifications for all types of fuel and fuel related products, to improve fuel
composition for increased efficiency and reduced emissions. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) shall regularly monitor meteorological factors affecting
environmental conditions including ozone depletion and greenhouse gases. Philippine Nuclear Research
Institute (PNRI) with the DENR shall regulate all projects which will involve the use of atomic and/or
nuclear energy, and will entail release of radioactive substances into the environment, incident to the
establishment or possession of nuclear energy facilities and radioactive materials, handling, transport ,
production , storage and use of radioactive materials. Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) , Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the Philippine
Information Agency ( PIA) shall encourage participation of government agencies and the private sector
including NGOs, POs, academe, environmental groups and other private entities in a multi-sectoral
campaign.
It is clear from the implementing rules and regulation of R.A. 8749 that air quality standards emitted
by PUVs, other vehicles, manufacturing factories and other related categories should be monitored and
should pass the standard air quality imposed. Different sectors of government are given individual tasks to
ensure that the program was carried out. This program was on-off for me because as we can see, strict
implementation of law related to this was carried out occasionally. The implementation was not continuous
and they will just act if the media will make an account of it, especially on the negative side. Again, strict
implementation and proper information dissemination is the key for this republic act to succeed.

R.A. 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

R.A. No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 is an act providing for a comprehensive
water quality management and for other purposes. The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act
No. 9275) aims to protect the countrys 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-sectoral and
participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
Highlights of the clean water act includes the Management of water quality will either be based on
watershed, river basin or water resources region. Water quality management areas with similar
hydrological, hydrogeological, meteorological or geographic conditions which affect the reaction and
diffusion of pollutants in water bodies are to be designated by the DENR in coordination with the National
Water Resources Board (NWRB). Management will be localized. Multi-sectoral governing boards will be
established to manage water quality issues within their jurisdiction. Governing Boards shall be composed of
representatives of mayors and governors as well as local government units, representatives of relevant
national government agencies, duly registered non-government organizations, the concerned water utility
sector and the business sector. The Governing Boards will formulate strategies to coordinate policies
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. They will create a multi-sectoral group to establish
and affect water quality surveillance and monitoring. All owners or operators of facilities that discharge
wastewater are required to get a permit to discharge from the DENR or the Laguna Lake Development
Authority. Existing industries without any permit are given 12 months from the effectivity of the
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) promulgated pursuant to this Act to secure a permit to discharge.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in coordination with local government units will
prepare a national program on sewage and septage management not later than 12 months from effectivity
of this Act. A priority list will likewise be prepared which will be the basis for the allotment of funds on an
annual basis by the national government for the construction and rehabilitation of required facilities. On the
other hand, LGUs are to provide the land including road right of the way for the construction of sewage
and/or septage treatment facilities and raise funds for the operations and maintenance of said facilities. The
Department of Health (DOH) will formulate guidelines and standards for the collection, treatment and
disposal of sewage as well as the guidelines for the establishment and operation of centralized sewage
treatment system. The MWSS and other agencies mandated to provide water supply and sewerage

facilities are required to connect existing sewage lines, subject to the payment of sewerage service
charges/fees within five years following effectivity of this Act. All sources of sewage and septage are
required to comply with the law. Anyone discharging wastewater into a water body will have to pay a
wastewater charge. This economic instrument which will be developed in consultation with all concerned
stakeholders is expected to encourage investments in cleaner production and pollution control technologies
to reduce the amount of pollutants generated and discharged. Effluent trading per management area will
also be allowed. Rewards will also be given to those whose wastewater discharge is better than the water
quality criteria of the receiving body of water. Fiscal and non-fiscal incentives will also be given to LGUs,
water districts, enterprise, private entities and individuals who develop and undertake outstanding and
innovative projects in water quality management. All possible dischargers are required to put up an
environmental guarantee fund (EGF) as part of their environmental management plan. The EGF will
finance the conservation of watersheds and aquifers, and the needs of emergency response, clean up or
rehabilitation.
Among others, the Act prohibits the following: Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the
water body, or such which will impede natural flow in the water body, discharging, injecting or allowing
entering into the soil, anything that would pollute groundwater, operating facilities that discharge regulated
water pollutants without the valid required permits, disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea
by vessels, unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage sludge or solid waste, transport,
dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances or pollutants listed under Toxic Chemicals,
Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act (Republic. Act No. 6969), discharging regulated water
pollutants without the valid required discharge permit pursuant to this Act, noncompliance of the LGU with
the Water Quality Framework and Management Area Action Plan, refusal to allow entry, inspection and
monitoring as well as access to reports and records by the DENR in accordance with this Act, refusal or
failure to submit reports and/or designate pollution control officers whenever required by the DENR in
accordance with this Act, directly using booster pumps in the distribution system or tampering with the
water supply in such a way to alter or impair the water quality, operate facilities that discharge or allow to
seep, willfully or through grave negligence, prohibited chemicals, substances, or pollutants listed under
R.A. No. 6969, into water bodies, undertake activities or development and expansion of projects, or
operating wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities in violation of P.D.1586 and its IRR.
The DENR is the primary government agency responsible for the implementation and enforcement
of this Act, with the support of other government organizations, local government units, non -government

organizations and the private sector. Towards this end, the DENR will review and set affluent standards,
review and enforce water quality guidelines, classify groundwater sources and prepare a national
groundwater vulnerability map, classify or reclassify water bodies, establish internationally accepted
procedures for sampling and analysis, prepare an integrated water quality management framework and
subsequently prepare 10-year management plans for each water management area.