NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OF:

PHILIPPINES

HARI SRINIVASROOM: I -312 / 079 -565-7406

International Environmental Policy

Philippines snapshot

Local Tribe

sSpain US

Independent

Nation ~ 15th century 15th-19th century 19th-20th century 21st century

The Philippines is an archipelago that consist 7,107 islands with a total land area of 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi). The 11 largest islands contain 94% of the total land area.

• Fragile and vulnerable to disasters

• Dependence on ocean for food• Climate change and sea level

raise

Small Islands

Major Environmental Issues

Illegal loggingAir pollutionWater pollutionDiminishing mangrove

swampsDepletion of water

resourcesDestruction of coral reefsDiminishing natural

habitat and biodiversity loss

Other influencing factors

Location of Philippines: Typhoon belt – 5-6

typhoons every year Ring of Fire –

earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions

Forest Management

• Philippine forest at 7.2 M ha or 24% of country’s land area

• 8 M ha of forestlands degraded (26% of land area)

• Total log ban in natural forests to conserve & protect (E.O. 23)

• Created National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force

Clean Air

• Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) in Metro Manila is 166 micrograms/normal cubic meters (μg/Ncm) in 1st half of 2010

84% beyond standard of 90 μg/Ncm (WHO)

Other polluted cities: San Fernando, Calapan, Cebu, Zamboanga, Davao

Situation – Major urban centers are polluted

Clean Air

• 80% of pollution due to vehicular emissions

• According to the World Bank, 18 million Filipinos exposed to air pollution, with health cost & loss of income of P 7.6 B/year

Clean Air

Government Actions:

More stringent air emission standards for Compression & Spark-Ignition Engines (motorcycles & tricycles)

• Strengthened enforcement & regulations

Agreement with Earth Day Network to make EDSA “Linis Hangin Zone.” (cellphone to catch smoke-belchers)

Clean Air

DENR, LTO, MMDA, etc. worked to reduce traffic & ensure compliance with emission testing to reduce vehicular emissions

Government Actions:

• Strengthened enforcement of regulations

Clean Air

• Strengthened enforcement of regulations

Developed program with ADB to provide credit for conversion of tricycle engines to electric

Government Actions:

Clean Air

Government Actions:

• As of June 2011, pollution reduced by 32% from 166 to 113 μg/Ncm.

1st Sem 2010 2nd Sem 2010 1st Sem 20118090

100110120130140150160170180

166

133.5

113

90

Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) Level

ActualStandard

TSp

leve

l (ug

/Ncm

)

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), or demand for oxygen in water, for 19 major rivers in 2010 at 27 milligrams/liter, 4x the standard at 7 mg/L

Situation – Waterways/esteros in major urban centers unfit for human activity

Clean Water

Pasig River, ManilaThe Pasig River connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay.

Stretching for 25 kilometres, it is lined by Metro Manila on both sides.The Pasig River used to be an important transport route in Spanish Manila. Due to negligence and industrial development, the river has become very polluted and is considered dead (unable to sustain life) by ecologists.

Reasons for Pasig River being “dead”:

• Negligence• Industrialization• Municipal wastes• Sewage and run-off• Deforestation and soil

erosion

Clean Water

Government Actions:

Initiated “Adopt an Estero Program”

Before After

Estero de Paco, Manila (ABS-CBN Foundation)

Clean Water

Before

After

Estero de Paco, Manila

Adopt an Estero Program

Government Actions:

Clean Water

Before

After

Estero de Paco, Manila

Government Actions:

Adopt an Estero Program

Clean Water

226 Major companies have adopted waterways

nationwide (Examples: Jollibee, San

Miguel Foundation, Toyota, Masinloc Power Corp.)

Government Actions :Adopt an Estero Program

Clean Water

• Reduced solid wastes

Required Philippine Plastic Industry to develop program for retrieval/collection/ recycling of plastics

Launched “Reusable Bag Campaign for Greener Environment” with major malls & supermarkets

Government Actions:

Clean Water

• Reduced solid wastes

Agreement with 11 Metro Manila LGUs for solid waste management systems in subdivisions/ condominiums. Initially, 4,717 homeowners associations identified

Government Actions:

Clean Water

Geohazards

• Philippines is prone to natural disasters due to geographical location & geological attributes: landslides, flooding, earthquakes, tsunami, etc.

Situation:

Geohazards – Disaster Risks

Climate

Change

Global Warming

Sea Level Raise

Typhoons

Volcanos

Earthquakes

Forest Fires

Flooding

Landslides

Tsunamis

…

Geohazards – Disaster Risks

Man-made Disaster

Risks

Population growth Loss of agricultural landsDeforestationSoil ErosionAir/Water PollutionWaste DisposalLoss of Coral ReefsCoastal managementOverfishingMangroves distruction

Geohazards

• Completed geo-hazard mapping of all provinces/ cities/municipalities at 1:50,000 scale

• Distributed 65,000 map sheets to all LGUs

• More detailed mapping started for 88 landslide-prone cities/municipalities (scale of 1:10,000)

Government Actions:

• Conducted coastal geohazard assessment of 46 coastal municipalities

All government agencies to

realign policies towards

sustainable development

Philippines Council for Sustainable Development

(PCSD)

PhilippinesAgenda 21

Document:Agenda 21

Agenda 21

Earth Summi

t

19

92

Environmental Protection

Philippines has signed a number of multilateral environmental agreements: Climate Change Biodiversity Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Nuclear Test Ban Ozone Layer Protection Tropical Timber Agreement

Government Agencies

1. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

2. Department of Health (DoH)3. Philippines Sustainable

Development Network Foundation

4. Environmental Management Bureau

5. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau

Non-Governmental Organizations

Ecological Society of the Philippines

Foundation for the Philippines Environment

Fund for Nature of the Philippines

Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources Inc.

NGOs for Integrated Protected Areas

“NGOs”?

These are non-profit organizations composed of

individuals whose aim is to render their

expertise and help different sectors of

the society

Non-Governmental Organizations

Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)

Philippines Institute of Alternative Futures (PIAF)

Foundation for Sustainable Society (FSS)

Foundation for the Philippines Environment (FPE)

Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN)

Besides NGOs, a number of “People’s

Organizations” (composed of local

and indigenous groups who are

directly affect by an issue) also work on

environmental issues

Environment Framework

“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.”

SECTION 16 ARTICLE II, 1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

Philippine Development Plan: 2011-2016

1. Improved conservation, protection and rehabilitation of natural resources

2. Improved environmental quality for a cleaner and healthier environment

3. Enhanced resilience of natural systems and improved adaptive capacities of human communities to cope with environmental hazards including climate related risks

Current Challenges

Clear public demand for development Clear public concerns with environment Highly sectoralized development and

environmental policies Unclear policy prescriptions on linking

population, environment, and development Unclear policy on prioritizing national

interests on environment and development

DENR Policy Framework

Sectoral policies

(Forestry, water, wsate, air etc.)

Ecosystem Approach

(Provisioning, Regulating,

Cultural Supporting)

DENR Policy Framework

Missing Elements?!

Environmental Policy

Informal Economic Enterpris

es

Corruption and Fraud

Poverty and lifestyle choices

Access to financial resources

Low Awareness

and differing priorities

Low Income

Households

Contact me …

Prof. Hari SrinivasRoom: I-312

Tel: 079-565-7406Email: hari.srinivas@kwansei.ac.jp

Class website:

http://www.gdrc.info/iep