UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION

“WASTE MINIMIZATION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION: LEGAL MANDATES”

A written report under the study of ChE Elective 3

Submitted by:

JOSHUA R. PAGAY

Submitted to:

ENGR. JAYVEE DY
INSTRUCTOR

A.Y 2017-2018
 To ensure that waste in the environment is effectively minimized, and pollution in the air
is being prevented, the government has set laws and standards in able to obtain such
environmental conditions stated above. Thus the following mandates are being practiced in the
country for the advantage of everyone, as well as to the benefit of the nature:

1. RA 9003 - “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”

It is an act providing for an ecological solid waste management program, creating the
necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited and
providing penalties, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes. This mandate ensures
the protection of public health through setting guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance
and volume reduction by source reduction and waste minimization measures, including
composing, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before collection,
treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management
facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles. It also ensures
proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through
the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practices in ecological waste
management excluding incineration.

2. RA 6969 – “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of
1990”

It is an act to control toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes, providing penalties
for violations thereof, and for other purposes. Its main goal is 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. This Act shall cover the importation, manufacture,
processing, handling, storage, transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of all
unregulated chemical substances and mixtures in the Philippines, including the entry, even in
transit as well as the keeping or storage and disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the
country for whatever purpose.

3. RA 8749 – “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”

It is an act providing for a comprehensive air pollution control policy and for other purposes. The
state shall pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection through
formulating a holistic national program of air pollution management that shall be implemented
by the government through proper delegation and effective coordination of functions and
activities; focusing primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a
comprehensive management program for air pollution; and enforce a system of accountability for
short and long-term adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity which
includes setting up of a funding or guarantee mechanism for clean-up and environmental
rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages.
 4. 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-
sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders. Management will be localized.
Multi-sectoral governing boards will be established to manage water quality issues within their
jurisdiction. This act prohibits the following:
a) Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water body, or such which will
impede natural flow in the water body
b) Discharging, injecting or allowing to enter into the soil, anything that would pollute
groundwater
c) Operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without the valid
required permits
d) Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by vessels
e) Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage sludge or solid waste.
f) Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances or pollutants
listed under Toxic Chemicals, Hazardous and Nuclear
g) Wastes Control Act (Republic Act No. 6969)
h) Discharging regulated water pollutants without the valid required discharge permit
pursuant to this Act
i) Noncompliance of the LGU with the Water Quality Framework and Management
Area Action Plan
j) Refusal to allow entry, inspection and monitoring as well as access to reports and
records by the DENR in accordance with this Act
k) Refusal or failure to submit reports and/or designate pollution control officers
whenever required by the DENR in accordance with this Act
l) 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
m) 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.
n) Undertake activities or development and expansion of projects, or operating
wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities in violation of P.D.1586 and its IRR.

5. RA 9512 – “National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008”

It is an act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education and for

other purposes. It is the duty of the government to promote national awareness on the role of
natural resources in economic growth and the importance of environmental conservation and
ecological balance towards sustained national development through education in accordance with
the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and in recognition of the vital role of
the youth in nation building and the role of education to foster patriotism and nationalism. The
departments involve in implementing this law are the Department of Education (DepEd), the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in
coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other relevant agencies. These agencies
shall integrate environmental education in its school curricula at all levels, whether public or
private, including in barangay daycare, preschool, non-formal, technical vocational, professional
level, indigenous learning and out-of-school youth courses or programs.

6. RA 7160 – “Local Government Code of 1991”

It is an act providing for a local government code of 1991. It is hereby declared the policy of the
State that the territorial and political subdivisions of the State shall enjoy genuine and
meaningful local autonomy to enable them to attain their fullest development as self-reliant
communities and make them more effective partners in the attainment of national goals. Toward
this end, the State shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local government
structure instituted through a system of decentralization whereby local government units shall be
given more powers, authority, responsibilities, and resources. The process of decentralization
shall proceed from the national government to the local government units.

7. RA 9513 – “Renewable Energy Act of 2008”

This is an act promoting the development, utilization and commercialization of renewable energy
resources and for other purposes. Thus, it is hereby declared the policy of the state to accelerate
the exploration and development of renewable energy resources such as, but not limited to,
biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and ocean energy sources, including hybrid systems, to
achieve energy self-reliance, through the adoption of sustainable energy development strategies
to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and thereby minimize the country's exposure
to price fluctuations in the international markets, the effects of which spiral down to almost all
sectors of the economy. This Act shall establish the framework for the accelerated development
and advancement of renewable energy resources, and the development of a strategic program to
increase its utilization.

8. RA 10068 – “Organic Agriculture Act of 2010”

This act provides for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines
and for other purposes. Thus, its main purpose is to promote, propagate, develop further and
implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines that will cumulatively condition
and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of
the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers,
consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs. Towards this end, a
comprehensive program for the promotion of community-based organic agriculture systems
which include, among others, farmer-produced purely organic fertilizers such as compost,
pesticides and other farm inputs, together with a nationwide educational and promotional
campaign for their use and processing as well as adoption of organic agriculture system as a
viable alternative shall be undertaken.

9. PD 856 – “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines”

As its title states, this presidential decree aims to arise and improve the needs for updating
and codifying our scattered sanitary laws to ensure that they are in keeping with modern
standards of sanitation and provide a handy reference and guide for their enforcement. The
Department of Health, commonly known as DOH, plays a vital role in solidifying this order such
as undertaking the promotion and preservation of the health of the people and raise the health
standards of individuals and communities throughout the Philippines, and at the same time
assisting local health agencies in developing public health programs including medical care, and
promote medical and public health research. This decree specifically monitors the sanitation
standards of water supply, food establishment, markets and abattoirs, public laundry, school
sanitation and health services, industrial hygiene, public swimming or bathing places, rest areas,
bus terminals, bus stops, and service stations, camps and picnic grounds, dancing schools, dance
halls and night clubs, tonsorial and beauty establishments, massage clinics and sauna bath
establishments, hotels, motels and apartments, lodging, boarding, or tenement houses, and
condominiums, and other places.

10. PD 1151 – “Philippine Environmental Policy”

The goal of this decree was to create, develop, maintain and improve conditions under which
man and nature can thrive in productive and enjoyable harmony with each other; to fulfill the
social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Filipinos; and to
ensure the attainment of an environmental quality that is conducive to a life of dignity and well-
being. In pursuing this policy, it shall be the responsibility of the Government, in cooperation
with concerned private organizations and entities, to use all practicable means, consistent with
other essential considerations of national policy, in promoting the general welfare to the end that
the Nation may recognize, discharge and fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee
and guardian of the environment for succeeding generations; assure the people of a safe, decent,
healthful, productive and aesthetic environment; encourage the widest exploitation of the
environment without degrading it, or endangering human life, health and safety or creating
conditions adverse to agriculture, commerce and industry; preserve important historic and
cultural aspects of the Philippine heritage; attain a rational and orderly balance between
population and resource use; and improve the utilization of renewable and non-renewable
resources.
 11. PD 1586 – “Environmental Impact Statement System”

It is the goal of this policy that the state should attain and maintain a rational and orderly
balance between socio-economic growth and environmental protection. There is hereby
established a Environmental Impact Statement System founded and based on the
environmental impact statement required, under Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1151,
of all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government
owned or controlled corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and entities for every
proposed project and undertaking which significantly affect the quality of the environment.

12. PD 1160 – “ Vesting Authority In Barangay Captains To Enforce Pollution And

Environmental Control Laws And For Other Purposes”

In order to contain such pollution and ecological imbalance problems and obviate any further
aggravation of the consequent danger to public health, safety, national interest and survival of the
present and future generations, there is need for a more vigorous, coordinated and effective
method of enforcing national and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations that prohibit,
control or regulate activities which create imbalance between man and his natural environment.
Thus it is expedient to involve and mobilize the Barangays in a concerted and sustained national
campaign to minimize, if not totally eradicate, the causes of disharmony between man’s
economic needs and his environmental conditions. Given this situation, the Barangay Captain,
the Barangay Councilman, and the Barangay Zone Chairman are hereby deputized as peace
officers, with authority to effect arrest of violators in accordance with law, for purposes of
enforcing and implementing national and local laws, ordinances and rules and regulations
governing pollution control and other activities which create imbalance in the ecology or
disturbance in environmental conditions.