ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES

and LAWS
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Discuss the importance, targets, sources

and structural overview of environmental
law
• Interpret the regulatory objectives of
environmental law
• Differentiate the various principles used in
the enforcement of environmental law
• Apply the laws by strict implementation
SUBJECT EXPECTATIONS:
• You will learn to use the law
• You will not become a lawyer in this
class
• You will be able to research and
understand the laws and the
processes that make the laws
• FINALLY, you must be able to
apprehend and strictly enforce
environmental laws
WHAT IS
ENVIRONMENT?
ENVIRONMENT

• the external conditions, resources, stimuli,

etc., with which an organism interacts.

or:
• the totality of circumstances surrounding an
organism or group of organisms, especially:
the combination of external physical
conditions that affect and influence the
growth, development and survival of
organisms.
THE 7 ENVIRONMENTAL
PRINCIPLES
ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE
IMPORTANT
Diversity and Stability

• All living organisms were created by God

to serve a purpose. These functions should
be respected as they are part of the web
of life. Disruption of these functions may
lead to instability or imbalance.

NOTE:
• Maintenance of biological diversity results to
food security, possible medicine for cancer,
AIDS, colds and other incurable diseases.
•We have:

• 400 of the 500

known coral
species
• 16 or 17 of the
known 50
seagrass species
• 2 of 24 mangrove
species endemic
on the country
• 2,177 marine fish
species
• 5 of the 8 known
marine turtles
Status of Biological • largest number of
giant clams
Diversity in the
Philippines
NATURE KNOWS BEST
Balance of Nature

• In the environment, there are

natural processes or cycles that
maintain ecological balance, thus,
any disruption in these processes
affects the environment.

NOTE:
Excessive cutting of trees without
replacement disrupts the Carbon dioxide-
Oxygen cycle, since trees are considered
as the “lungs of the Earth” because they
absorb carbon dioxide.
EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED
TO EVERYTHING ELSE
Interdependence

• This is exemplified by the

ecosystem which is a unit of the
biosphere in which living and
non-living things interact such
as interaction between non-
living factors, between living
factors and between living and
non-living factors.
An Ecosystem
Example of
Interdependence

•Conversion of agricultural lands into

industrial/ commercial areas results
to smaller hectarage for food
production which leads to lower
quantity, thus prices of these
commodities would be higher.
Further, agricultural lands converted
to urban and other uses account for
the growing loss of the country’s
best soil.
EVERYTHING CHANGES
Change

Since the Earth began, it has been

undergoing change. Changes maybe in
linear form, cyclical or random. Human
activities have impacted on natural systems
in several ways such as accelerated siltation
due to erosion, corroding of metals due to
pollution and development of cancer cells
because of modern chemicals.
EVERYTHING MUST GO
SOMEWHERE
Pollution

There is always a “sink” for everything.

When a piece of paper is thrown away,
it disappears from sight but it does not
cease to exist. It ends up elsewhere.
Gases released from smokestacks may
disperse but will end up as a component
of the atmosphere or brought down by
rains.

This principle opens up one’s eyes to the

need to turn back from attitudes
inherent in a “throw away” society.
OURS IS A FINITE EARTH
Finiteness of
Resources

Our ancestors studied the environment

and cooperated with it in order to
survive. Today, we have to re-establish
that attachment to the Earth as a
closed system which means that all
matter essential to life come from within
it and must be recycled over and over
for life to continue.
“THE EARTH IS ONE, BUT THE WORLD IS
NOT”
-Brundtland Commission,
1989
NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE
ARE STEWARDS OF GOD’S
CREATION
Stewardship

Among all creatures, humans are the only

ones made in God’s image and has been
given the right to have dominion over all
His creation. Being the most intelligent and
gifted with reason, humans are capable of
manipulating creation to their own
advantage. Yet creation exists not to be
ravaged or abused but to be taken care
of. Humans can not exist without nature.
MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS
STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW OF
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Environmental Law vs International
Environmental Law

Environmental Law
• Body of laws and treaties that broadly define what
is acceptable environmental behavior

International Environmental Law

• The body of legal rules, norms, and standards that
define an acceptable environmental behavior
applied between sovereign states and other
entities that are legally recognized as international
actors
The Public Trust
Doctrine

-It positions the government

as a trustee of resources for
the benefit of the general
public. It limits disposition of
trust property and
abdication of sovereignty
over those resources.
Types of Environmental Laws
• Compliance – Clean Air Act, Ecological
Solid Waste Management, EIA
• Conservation – National Integrated
Protection Area System (NIPAS) Act; Wildlife
Protection Act
• Cleanup – Clean Air Act; Ecological Solid
Waste Mgt.
• Pollution Prevention – Clean Air Act;
Ecological Solid Waste Mgt.
• Health and Safety – Clean Air Act
• Administrative – Data Privacy Act
Sources of Environmental Law
• Legislation (state/country, local)
• Regulations (state/country, local)
• Court decisions (interpreting statutes and
regulations)
• Common law
• Constitutions (Republic of the Philippines)
• International treaties
• Foreign regulations
The Policy Life Cycle
Targets of Environmental
Laws
Who or what gets regulated?

• Products
• Pollutants
• Industrial Facilities
• Government Agencies
• Individuals
• Land uses
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Republic Act No. 6969
An Act to Control Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear
Wastes, Providing Penalties For Violations Thereof, and for other
Purposes
It stated that 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
territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and
facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals.
Republic Act No. 8749

“Philippine clean air act of 1999”

This act stated that the state shall protect and advance the right of the
people to balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature, promote and protect the global environment
to attain sustainable development while recognizing the primary
responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental
problems.

To recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and

environment is primarily area-based. Finally, the state recognizes that a
clean and healthy environment is good of all should, therefore, be the
concern all.
Republic Act No. 9003

“Ecological Solid Waste Management Act

of 2000”

This describes solid waste management as a discipline associated with the

control of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport,
processing, and disposal of solid wastes.
This 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.
This 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.
Republic Act No. 9275

“Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004”

It stated that the state shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a

manner consistent with the protection, preservation and revival of
the quality of our fresh, brackish and marine waters.

It shall be the state policy to streamline processes and procedures in

the prevention, control and abatement of pollution of the country’s
water resources, promote environmental strategies, use of
appropriate economic instruments and of control mechanisms for
the protection of water resources, and provide for a comprehensive
management program for water pollution focusing on pollution
prevention.
Republic Act No. 9147

“Wildlife Resources Conservation and

Protection Act”

This law stated that it shall be the policy of the state to conserve the
country’s wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability.
This act shall have the following objectives:

1. To conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to

promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity.
2. To regulate the collection and trade of wildlife, to pursue, with
due regard to the national interest.
3. Protection of wildlife and their habitats.
4. To initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of
biological diversity.
Republic Act No. 7942
“Philippine Mining Act of 1995”

It stated that all mineral resources in public and private lands within
the territory and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the
Philippines are owned by the state.

The responsibility of the state is to promote their rational exploration,

development, utilization and conservation through the combined
efforts of government and the private sector in order to enhance
growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and
protect the rights of affected communities.
SEVEN ENVIRONMENTAL SINS
Air pollution
Waste
Food Consumption
Development
Resources
Water use
Overpopulation
QUESTIONS?
Thank you
and God
Bless