PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

Course Material No.

8
PHILIPPINE
GEOGRAPHY
JEROME T. DICOLEN, LPT.
Course Instructor
 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

BASIC LAWS ON
NATURAL 8

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Here’s what I will teach you in this course material:

 Demonstrate understanding on the Basic law on Natural Resources
specifically in the following

- Land Utilization
- Fundamental Law on the Natural Resources
- The Public Domain
- Classification of the Natural Resources

RESOURCES NEEDED

For this lesson, you would need the following resources:

 PhilGeo-Module 8
 Reference materials, tools, and equipment
Pre-Assessment

MODULE CONTENTS
Before you start, try answering the
Pre-Assessment
following questions.
3
1. Which Philippine law serves as the general framework
for the management and conservation of natural
resources in the country?

2. True or False: Under Philippine law, ownership of

PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

4 LAND UTILIZATION

FUNDAMENTAL LAWS
10 ON NATURAL
RESOURCES

4 PHILIPPINE LAWS

CLASSIFICATION
6 OF NATURAL
RESOURCES

SUMMARY

10 KEY TERMS
REFERENCES

BASIC LAWS ON NATURAL RESOURCES

The land is used for production so as to maintain or increase its future productivity.

Land utilization

It refers to the various ways in which land is utilized or put to productive use for different purposes, such
as agriculture, forestry, residential areas, industrial zones, infrastructure development, and
conservation. It involves the allocation and management of land resources to meet the economic, social,
and environmental needs of a country or region.
PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

In the Philippines, land utilization is of significant importance due to several reasons:

1. Agriculture and Food Security: The Philippines relies heavily on agriculture as a vital sector of
the economy. Land utilization plays a crucial role in agricultural production, ensuring the
availability of arable land for farming activities. It supports food security, livelihoods, and rural
development.
2. Sustainable Development: Proper land utilization is essential for sustainable development. It
involves careful planning and allocation of land resources to balance economic growth with
environmental protection. This includes identifying suitable areas for urban expansion, industrial
development, and infrastructure projects while preserving ecologically sensitive areas and
maintaining ecosystem services.
3. Housing and Urban Development: Land utilization is crucial in addressing the housing needs of a
growing population and facilitating urban development. It involves zoning and land-use planning
to determine suitable areas for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. Efficient land
utilization promotes well-planned and sustainable urban areas.
4. Natural Resource Management: Land utilization is closely linked to the management of natural
resources such as forests, water bodies, and biodiversity hotspots. It involves designating
protected areas, forest reserves, and conservation zones to safeguard ecosystems, preserve
biodiversity, and maintain ecological balance.
5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation: Land utilization is integral to disaster
risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts. Proper land use planning considers hazard-
prone areas, reduces vulnerability to natural disasters, and incorporates climate-resilient
infrastructure and land management practices.
6. Indigenous and Ancestral Lands: Land utilization is crucial for recognizing and protecting the
rights of indigenous peoples and ensuring the sustainable management of ancestral lands. It
involves securing land titles, implementing Indigenous Peoples' Rights Acts, and respecting
traditional land use practices.
7. Land Tenure and Social Justice: Land utilization plays a significant role in addressing issues of
land tenure and social justice. It aims to provide equitable access to land resources, distribute
land ownership, and empower marginalized communities, farmers, and fisherfolk.

Effective land utilization in the Philippines requires comprehensive land-use planning, sound policies,
participatory decision-making processes, and enforcement of land-use regulations. It serves as a
foundation for balanced economic development, environmental sustainability, social equity, and the
overall well-being of the Filipino people.

Destructive Exploitation

All lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of
potential energy, fisheries, forests, or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources
are owned by the State. With the exception of agricultural lands, all other utilization of natural
resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State. The State may directly
undertake such activities, or it may enter the co-production, joint venture, or production sharing
agreement with Filipino citizens or corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of whose
capital is owned by such citizens. Such agreements may for a period not more than twenty-five
years, and under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law. In cases of water rights for
irrigation, water supply, fisheries, or industrial uses other than the development of water power,
beneficial use may the measure and limit of the grant.
PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

Land of the Philippine laws on natural resources are designed to manage and protect the country's
diverse and valuable natural wealth, including land, minerals, forests, water, and wildlife. These laws
aim to balance economic development with sustainable use and conservation to ensure the long-
term availability and benefits of natural resources for the Filipino people. Here is a brief summary of
key Philippine laws related to natural resources:

 Philippine Environmental Code (Presidential Decree No. 1152): Serves as the general
framework for environmental protection and natural resources management in the
country. It covers various aspects such as environmental impact assessments, pollution
control, and natural resource conservation.
 Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942): Regulates the exploration,
development, and utilization of mineral resources. It outlines the process for granting
mining rights, establishes environmental protection measures, and defines revenue-
sharing arrangements.
 Philippine Forestry Code (Presidential Decree No. 705): Governs the conservation,
protection, and sustainable management of forests and forest resources. It includes
provisions on timber harvesting, reforestation, protected areas, and forest land
classification.
 Fisheries Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 10654): Regulates and promotes the
conservation, management, and sustainable use of fisheries and aquatic resources. It
addresses various aspects such as fishing rights, marine sanctuaries, fishery
management areas, and protection of endangered species.
 Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147): Protects
and conserves wildlife species and their habitats. It prohibits the hunting, capturing, and
trade of endangered wildlife, and establishes protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries.
 Water Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1067): Governs the exploration,
development, and utilization of water resources. It provides guidelines for water rights
allocation, water quality management, and protection of water sources.

These laws, along with other related regulations and administrative issuances, set the legal
framework for the sustainable management and protection of natural resources in the Philippines.
They aim to promote responsible resource extraction, biodiversity conservation, and the equitable
sharing of benefits among stakeholders, while ensuring the preservation of ecological integrity for
future generations. The public domain are classified into agricultural, forest or timber, mineral lands,
and national parks. Agricultural lands of the public domain may be further classified by law
according to the uses to which they may by devoted. Alienable lands of the public domain shall be
limited to agricultural lands. Private corporations or associations may not hold such alienable lands
of the public domain except by lease, for a period not exceeding twenty-five years, renewable for
not more than twenty-five years, and not to exceed one thousand hectares in area. Citizens of the
Philippines may lease not more then five hundred hectares, or acquire not more than twelve
hectares thereof by purchase, homestead or grant.

The congress shall as soon as possible determine by law the specific limits of forest lands and
national park, marking clearly their boundaries on the ground. Thereafter, such forest lands and
national parks shall be conserved and shall not be increased or diminished except by law. Congress
shall provide, for such period as it may determine, measures to prohibit logging in endangered
forest and watershed areas.
PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

The state, subject to the provision of this constitution and national development policies and
programs, shall protect the right of indigenous cultural communities to their ancestral lands to
ensure their economic, social and cultural well-being.

The use of property bears a social function and all economic agents shall contribute to the common
good. Individuals and private groups, including corporations, cooperatives, and similar collective
organizations, shall have the right to own, establish, and operate economic enterprises, subject to
the duty of the State to promote distributive justice and to intervene when the common good so
demands.

Save in cases of hereditary succession, no private lands shall be conveyed or transferred except to
individuals, corporations, or associations qualified to acquire or hold lands of the public domain.

Notwithstanding the provision of Sec. 7 of this Article, a natural born citizen of the Philippines who
has lost his Filipino citizenship may be a transferee of private lands, subject to limitations provided
by Law.

Classification of Natural Resources

In the Philippines, natural resources are classified into different categories based on their
characteristics and uses. The classifications of natural resources in the Philippines include the
following:

1. Biological Resources: This classification includes living organisms found in the country's
ecosystems, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. It encompasses both terrestrial and
aquatic biodiversity and plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting
ecosystems, and providing various ecosystem services.

2. Mineral Resources: Mineral resources refer to naturally occurring inorganic substances found
in the earth's crust. The Philippines is rich in mineral deposits, including metallic minerals (such
as gold, copper, nickel, and chromite) and non-metallic minerals (such as limestone, marble,
clay, and silica). These resources are important for various industries, including mining,
construction, and manufacturing.

3. Energy Resources: Energy resources consist of both conventional and renewable sources used
for power generation and fuel. Conventional energy resources in the Philippines include fossil
fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. The country is also blessed with renewable energy resources,
such as hydropower, geothermal energy, wind power, solar energy, and biomass.

4. Water Resources: Water resources encompass both surface water and groundwater. They
include rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs, and aquifers. Water resources are vital for various
purposes, including drinking water supply, agriculture, irrigation, hydroelectric power
generation, fisheries, and industrial processes.

5. Land Resources: Land resources refer to the country's land surface and its attributes. This
includes agricultural land, forests, grasslands, wetlands, urban areas, and other land types. Land
PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

resources support various activities, including agriculture, forestry, urban development,

infrastructure, and conservation efforts.

6. Coastal and Marine Resources: The Philippines is an archipelago with extensive coastal and
marine resources. This classification includes coastal areas, coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass
beds, fishery resources, and other marine ecosystems. Coastal and marine resources support
livelihoods, provide food security, and contribute to tourism and biodiversity conservation.

Proper management and sustainable utilization of these classified natural resources are essential to
ensure their long-term availability, economic benefits, and environmental conservation. The
government, through various laws, regulations, and agencies, implements measures to protect and
manage these resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

SUMMARY
Philippine laws on natural resources are designed to manage and protect the country's diverse and
valuable natural wealth, including land, minerals, forests, water, and wildlife. These laws aim to balance
economic development with sustainable use and conservation to ensure the long-term availability and
benefits of natural resources for the Filipino people. Here is a brief summary of key Philippine laws
related to natural resources:

1. Philippine Environmental Code (Presidential Decree No. 1152): Serves as the general framework
for environmental protection and natural resources management in the country. It covers
various aspects such as environmental impact assessments, pollution control, and natural
resource conservation.
PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

2. Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942): Regulates the exploration, development,
and utilization of mineral resources. It outlines the process for granting mining rights,
establishes environmental protection measures, and defines revenue-sharing arrangements.
3. Philippine Forestry Code (Presidential Decree No. 705): Governs the conservation, protection,
and sustainable management of forests and forest resources. It includes provisions on timber
harvesting, reforestation, protected areas, and forest land classification.
4. Fisheries Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 10654): Regulates and promotes the
conservation, management, and sustainable use of fisheries and aquatic resources. It addresses
various aspects such as fishing rights, marine sanctuaries, fishery management areas, and
protection of endangered species.
5. Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147): Protects and
conserves wildlife species and their habitats. It prohibits the hunting, capturing, and trade of
endangered wildlife, and establishes protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries.
6. Water Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1067): Governs the exploration,
development, and utilization of water resources. It provides guidelines for water rights
allocation, water quality management, and protection of water sources.

These laws, along with other related regulations and administrative issuances, set the legal framework
for the sustainable management and protection of natural resources in the Philippines. They aim to
promote responsible resource extraction, biodiversity conservation, and the equitable sharing of
benefits among stakeholders, while ensuring the preservation of ecological integrity for future
generations.

KEY TERMS

Conservation and Protection Protected Areas Biodiversity

Wildlife Ecosystem Indigenous People

Environmental Compliance Certificate Sustainable Development Preservation

REFERENCES

https://www.slideshare.net/SMT13/law-in-natural-resources

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

Page 3 :What I know;

PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO SHS | PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY

1. Philippine Environmental Code or Presidential Decree No. 1152

2. True
3. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
4. True
5. Philippine Mining Act of 1995 or Republic Act No. 7942
6. 25 years, renewable for another 25 years
7. False (up to 40% foreign equity participation allowed)
8. Philippine Forestry Code or Presidential Decree No. 705
9. 25 years, renewable for another 25 years
10. Forestry Code of the Philippines or Presidential Decree No. 705