Environmental Protection

Week 7: Common Module

• At the end of this chapter, the student is expected to:
•
• Determine various environmental laws, concepts, and
principles related to environmental protection and
management;
•
• Create an action plan that will address environmental
concerns particularly in their home, school, and the
community;
•
• Participate and contribute in the vertical
gardening/planting activity;
•
• Do an actual cleaning of esteros, corridors and the like.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AND MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AND MANAGEMENT
The study of environmental problems and their
solutions has never been more important.

1. Modern society in 2009 is hooked on oil.

2. Production has decreased while demand has

increased, and the population of the world has been
increasing by more than 70 million each year.

3. The emerging energy crisis is producing an economic

crisis as everything produced from oil increases in price
beyond what some people can pay. Energy and
economic problems come as a time of unprecedented
environmental concerns from the local to global level.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AND MANAGEMENT

The study of environmental

problems and their solutions
has never been more
important.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT

Impact of Population

• World population = 7.8

Billion

• PH Population as of today =
109,581,078 people
Importance of Tree

Trees are as
important as
our lives.
 PHILIPPINE AGENDA 21
THE KEY TO PHILIPPINES’ ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
1. Philippine Agenda 21 (PA 21) is a
program of action into the 21st century for
bringing the Earth into a sustainable
future.
2. It was adopted by the participating
governments of the world in the United
Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), otherwise known
as the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in June 1992.
 PHILIPPINE AGENDA 21
THE KEY TO PHILIPPINES’ ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
3. PA 21 is the Philippines’ commitment to the
UNCED. It also lays down the mix of strategies
that integrate areas (or Action Agenda), from the
national to the regional level, with the
corresponding implementing platforms and plans.

It is basically made up of:

1. The Principles of Unity;
2. The Action Agenda; and
3. The Implementation Strategies.
 THE VISION OF PHILIPPINE AGENDA 21
PA 21 envisions a better quality of life
for all through the development of a just,
moral, creative, spiritual, economically-
vibrant, caring, diverse yet cohesive society
characterized by appropriate productivity,
participatory and democratic process and
living in harmony within the limits of the
carrying capacity of nature and the integrity
of creation.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development as
defined in the PA 21 (1996) is
“harmonious integration of a
sound and viable economy,
responsible governance, social
cohesion and ecological integrity,
to ensure that development is a
life-sustaining process.”
 WHAT IS THE ENHANCED PA 21?
Ten years after the UNCED, world
leaders gathered in Johannesburg,
South Africa for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) to
reinvigorate global commitment to
sustainable development. In line with
the Johannesburg Summit, the PA 21
was updated into the Enhanced PA
21, particularly noting that:
 WHAT IS THE ENHANCED PA 21?
1. The rise of globalization and the creation of an
external environment of finance, markets, and
technology did not seem conducive to
sustainable development.
2. The civil society needs to specify its
commitments and contributions to achieving
sustainability in the updated document.
3. Government departments need to be imbued
with the sustainable development perspective
with which to handle issues property (“The
Philippine Agenda 21”, 2014)
 THE GOAL ELEMENTS OF THE ENHANCED PA 21

The Enhanced PA 21 has five goal elements, as

follows:

1. Poverty Reduction. Poverty is a central concern of

sustainable development. Consistent with this, the various
consultations for the updating of PA 21have yielded
poverty reduction agenda that includes measures to
create an enabling economic environment for sustained
and broad-based growth; improve employment,
productivity and income; and attain food security.
 THE GOAL ELEMENTS OF THE ENHANCED PA 21

The Enhanced PA 21 has five goal elements, as

follows:
2. Social Equity. Social equity should mean
allocation of resources on the bases of
efficiency and equity to achieve balanced
development. Efficiency and equity mean
the channeling of resources to developing
areas where greater economic benefits
accumulate and where there is greater
need, distribution being dependent on the
practicality and urgency of needs.
 THE GOAL ELEMENTS OF THE ENHANCED PA 21

The Enhanced PA 21 has five goal elements, as

follows:

3. Empowerment and Good Governance.

Empowerment is a precondition of informal choices.
Good governance is a necessary precondition of
empowerment, as empowerment is to good
governance. These two are a defining element of
each other.
 THE GOAL ELEMENTS OF THE ENHANCED PA 21

The Enhanced PA 21 has five goal elements, as

follows:

4. Peace and Solidarity. The cycle of poverty and

conflict goes on as the costs of war escalate in
terms of various kinds of destruction while
withholding funds for basic services, resulting in
more poverty and underdevelopment.
 THE GOAL ELEMENTS OF THE ENHANCED PA 21
The Enhanced PA 21 has five goal elements, as
follows:

5. Ecological Integrity. In general, the path towards

enhancing the integrity of the country’s ecological
domain will have to involve heightened and
sustained implementation of environmental laws, as
well as the continued pursuit of resource
conservation, and environmental
restoration/enhancement programs.
THE PHILIPPINE COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT (PCSD)

The Philippine Council for Sustainable

Development (PCSD) is a multi-
sectoral body formed to coordinate
and monitor the fulfillment of the
commitments of the Philippine to the
UNCED, and later, the WSSD. It has
spearheaded the formulation of PA 21.
 THE KEY ACTORS IN SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT WORK
Philippine Agenda 21 recognizes three key
actors in sustainable development, and their
roles in the different realms of society.

1. Business. It is the key actor in economy,

which is mainly concerned with producing
goods and services for people.

2. Government. It is the key actor in polity, which is

concerned with democratic governance and
security of human rights.
 THE KEY ACTORS IN SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT WORK

4. Civil Society. It is the key actor in

culture, which is concerned with the
development of the social and spiritual
capabilities of human beings. (“The
Philippine Agenda 21”, 2014)
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
These are some guiding principles of environmental
management. These principles are helpful in
environmental decision making.

1. Polluter Pays Principle (PPP):

“In environmental law, the polluter
pays principle is enacted to make the party
responsible for producing pollution
responsible for paying for the damage done
to the natural environment.”
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
2. The User Pays Principle (UPP):

It states that "all

resource users should pay for the full long-term
marginal social cost of the use of a resources and
related services including any associated treatment
cost" (Dommen, 1993,)
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
3. The Precautionary Principle (PP):

The precautionary principle enables

decision-makers to adopt precautionary
measures when scientific evidence about an
environmental or human health hazard is
uncertain and the stakes are high.
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
4. Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency:
It is essential that efficiency of
resources use may also be accomplished
by the use of policy instruments that
create incentive to minimize wasteful use.
It also applies to various issues of
environmental governance by streaming
processes and procedures in order to
minimize environmental costs.
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
4. The Principle of Responsibility:
It is the responsibility of all persons,
corporations and states to maintain the ecological
processes. Further, access to environmental
resources carries attendant responsibilities to use
them in an ecological sustainable economically
efficient and socially fair manner.
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
5. The Principle of Participation:
It is the duty of all the persons to
participate in collectively environmental decision-
making activities. Some participation areas are
related to the use of trees and other plants,
minerals, soils, fish and wildlife for purposes such
as materials and food as well as for consumptive
and non-consumptive recreation.
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
5. The Principle of Participation:
The second issue concerns solid waste i.e.
garbage, construction and demolition materials and
chemically hazardous waste etc. The third issue of
participation is related to pollution generating
activities.
 THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
6. The Principle of Proportionality:
The second issue concerns
solid waste i.e. garbage, construction
and demolition materials and
chemically hazardous waste etc. The
third issue of participation is related to
pollution generating activities.
 THE SEVEN ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
(According to the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc.)

1. Everything is connected to everything else.

2. All forms of life are important (thus, the need
for biodiversity).
3. Everything must go somewhere (thus, too
much can cause pollution)
4. Ours is a finite earth (thus, the need for
conservation).
5. Nature knows best (thus, the need for
ecological technology).
6. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of
God’s creation.
7. Everything changes.
 “National Environmental Awareness and
Education Act of 2008“.
This Act provides for the promotion of
environmental awareness through environmental
education which shall encompass environmental
concepts and principles, environmental laws, the
state of international and local environment, local
environmental best practices, the threats of
environmental degradation and its impact on
human well-being, the responsibility of the citizenry
to the environment and the value of conservation,
protection and rehabilitation of natural resources
and the environment.
 “ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS”

1.Deforestation - is the permanent removal of

trees to make room for something besides forest.
This can include clearing the land for agriculture
or grazing, or using the timber for fuel,
construction or manufacturing. Forests cover
more than 30% of the Earth's land surface,
according to the World Wildlife Fund.
 “ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS”

2. Water Crisis - Water scarcity is the lack

of fresh water resources to meet the standard
water demand. Water scarcity can also be
caused by droughts, lack of rainfall, or
pollution. This was listed in 2019 by the World
Economic Forum as one of the largest global
risks in terms of potential impact over the next
decade.
 POLLUTION
3. Air Pollution - Air pollution occurs
when harmful or excessive quantities
of substances are introduced into
Earth's atmosphere. Sources of air
pollution include gases, particulates,
and biological molecules.
 POLLUTION
TYPES OF POLLUTION

•Water Pollution - Water pollution is the

contamination of water bodies, usually as a
result of human activities. Water bodies
include for example lakes, rivers, oceans,
aquifers and groundwater. Water pollution
results when contaminants are introduced into
the natural environment.
 POLLUTION
TYPES OF POLLUTION

•Thermal Pollution - sometimes called "thermal

enrichment," is the degradation of water quality by
any process that changes ambient water
temperature. A common cause of thermal pollution
is the use of water as a coolant by power plants
and industrial manufacturers. Other causes of
thermal pollution include soil erosion.
 POLLUTION
TYPES OF POLLUTION

•Noise Pollution - also known as environmental

noise or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise
with ranging impacts on the activity of human or
animal life, most of them harmful to a degree. The
source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused
by machines, transport, and propagation systems.
CHANGES IN CLIMATE
 GLOBAL WARMING
Potential Environmental, Ecological, and
Human Effects of Global Warming

•Change in River Flow

•Rise in Sea Level
•Human Health Effects
 THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect is the

process by which radiation from a
planet's atmosphere warms the
planet's surface to a temperature
above what it would be without this
atmosphere. Radiatively active
gases in a planet's atmosphere
radiate energy in all directions.
 EL NIÑO AND CLIMATE

An irregularly recurring flow of

unusually warm surface waters
from the Pacific Ocean toward
and along the western coast of
South America
 Ozone Depletion and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Ozone depletion is a major

environmental problem
because it increases the
amount of ultraviolet (UV)
radiation that reaches Earth's
surface, which increases the
rate of skin cancer, eye
cataracts, and genetic and
immune system damage.
 THE CLEAN AIR ACT
1. Polluter’s must pay. This is the principle behind the Republic
Act 8749 otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Air of
1999.”
2. The State has the paramount duty to protect and advance the
right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

3. It should also promote and protect the global environment to

attain sustainable development while recognizing the primary
responsibility of local government units to dealt with
environmental problems.

4. Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy

environment is for the good of all and should, therefore, be the
concern of all the people.
THE STATE POLICIES IN BALANCING DEVELOPMENT AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
1. Formulate a holistic national program for air pollution
management that shall be implemented by the
government through proper delegation and effective
coordination of functions and activities.

2. Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizens

and industries through the application of market-based
instruments.

3. Focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on

control and provide for a comprehensive management
program for air pollution.
THE STATE POLICIES IN BALANCING DEVELOPMENT AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

4. Promote public information and education and to

encourage the participation of an informed and achieve public
in air quality planning and monitoring.

5. Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short

and long-term adverse environmental impact of a project,
program or activity. This shall include the setting up of a
funding or guarantee mechanism for cleanup and
environmental rehabilitation and compensation for personal
damages.
 WATER SANITATION AND CONSERVATION
(USES OF WATER)
1. Agriculture Use. Improved irrigation could reduce
agricultural withdrawals by 20 to 30%. Because
agriculture is the biggest water user, this would be a
tremendous savings.

2. Domestic Use. Domestic use of water accounts for only

about 10% of total national water withdrawals. However,
because domestic water use is concentrated in urban
areas, it may pose major local problems in areas where
water is periodically or often in short supply. Most water in
homes is used in the bathroom and for washing clothing
and dishes.
 WATER SAVING AND CONSERVATION TIPS
1. Use more efficient bathroom fixtures, such as
low flow toilets that use one gallon or less
flush rather than the standard five gallons and
low-flow shower heads that deliver less but
sufficient water.

2. Turn off water when not absolutely needed for

washing, brushing teeth, shaving, and so on.

3. Flush the toilet only when really necessary.

 WATER SAVING AND CONSERVATION TIPS
4. Fix all leaks quickly. Dripping pipes, faucets,
toilets, or garden hoses waste water. A small drip
can waste several liters per day, multiply this by
millions of homes with a leak, and a large volume of
water is lost.

5. Purchase dishwashers and washing machines

that minimize water consumption.

6. Take a long bath rather than a long shower.

 WATER SAVING AND CONSERVATION TIPS
7. Don’t wash sidewalks and driveways with water.

8. Consider using gray water (from showers,

bathtubs, sinks, and washing machines) to water
vegetation. The gray water from washing machines
is easiest to use as it can be easily diverted before
entering a drain.

9. Water lawns and plants in the early morning, late

afternoon, or at night to reduce evaporation.
 WATER SAVING AND CONSERVATION TIPS
10. Use drip irrigation and place water-holding
mulch around garden plants.

11. Plant drought-resistant vegetation that

requires less water.

12. Learn how to read the water meter to monitor

for unobserved leaks and record your
conservation successes.

13. Use reclaimed water.

 WASTE DISPOSAL

Waste management include the

activities and actions required to
manage waste from its inception to its
final disposal. This includes the
collection, transport, treatment and
disposal of waste, together with
monitoring and regulation of the waste
management process.
 RECYCLING HUMAN WASTE

- is the process of
converting waste
materials into new
materials and objects
 THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
MANAGEMENT

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS IN ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

1. The right to breathe clean air.

2. The right to utilize and enjoy all-natural resources

according to the principles of sustainable development.

3. The right to participate in the formulation, planning,

implementation and monitoring of environmental
policies and programs and in the decision-making
process.
 THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
MANAGEMENT

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS IN ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

4. The right to participate in the decision-making

process concerning development policies, plans
and programs projects or activities that may have
adverse impact on the environment and public
health.
 THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
MANAGEMENT

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

5. The right to be informed of the nature and extent of the

potential hazard of any activity, undertaking or project and to
be served timely notice of any significant rise in the level of
pollution and the accidental or deliberate release into the
atmosphere of harmful or hazardous substances.

6. The right of access to public records which a certain citizen

may need to exercise his or her rights effectively.
 THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
MANAGEMENT

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS IN ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

7. The right to bring action in court or quasi-judicial bodies to

enjoin all activities in violation of environmental laws and
regulations, to compel the rehabilitation and cleanup of
affected area, and to seek the imposition of penal sanctions
against violators of environmental laws.

8. The right to bring action in court for compensation of

personal damages resulting from the adverse environmental
and public health impact of a project or activity (Republic Act
8749).