PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT LAWS - REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942 - AN ACT INSTITUTING A NEW SYSTEM OF MINERAL RESOURCES EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, UTILIZATION, AND CONSERVATION This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Mining Act of 1995."  

Section 2Declaration of Policy

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. It shall be the responsibility of the State to promote their rational exploration, development, utilization and conservation through the combined efforts of government and the private sector in order to enhance national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and protect the rights of affected communities.  

Section 3Definition of Terms

As used in and for purposes of this Act, the following terms, whether in singular or plural, shall mean: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

a.  Ancestral lands refers to all lands exclusively and actually possessed, occupied, or utilized by indigenous cultural communities by themselves or through their ancestors in accordance with their customs and traditions since time immemorial, and as may be defined and delineated by law. 

b.  Block or meridional block means an area bounded by one-half (1/2) minute of latitude and one-half (1/2) minute of longitude, containing approximately eighty-one hectares (81 has.). 

c.  Bureau means the Mines and Geosciences Bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

d.  Carrying capacity refers to the capacity of natural and human environments to accommodate and absorb change without experiencing conditions of instability and attendant degradation. 

e.  Contiguous zone refers to water, sea bottom and substratum measured twenty-four nautical miles (24 n.m.) seaward from the

base line of the Philippine archipelago. 

f.  Contract area means land or body of water delineated for purposes of exploration, development, or utilization of the minerals found therein. 

g.  Contractor means a qualified person acting alone or in consortium who is a party to a mineral agreement or to a financial or technical assistance agreement. 

h.  Co-production agreement (CA) means an agreement entered into between the Government and one or more contractors in accordance with Section 26(b) hereof. 

i.  Department means the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9175November 7, 2002

AN ACT REGULATING THE OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, SALE, IMPORTATION AND USE OF CHAIN SAWS, PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Chain Saw Act of 2002". chanrobles virtualaw library

Sec. 2. Declaration Policy.  It is the policy of the State consistent with the Constitution, to conserve, develop and protect the forest resources under sustainable management. Toward this end, the State shall pursue an aggressive forest protection program geared towards eliminating illegal logging and other forms of forest destruction which are being facilitated with the use of chain saws. The State shall therefore regulate the ownership, possession, sale, transfer, importation and/or use of chain saws to prevent them from being used in illegal logging or unauthorized clearing of forests. c

hanrobleaw librREPUBLIC ACT NO. 9168June 7, 2002

AN ACT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO NEW PLANT VARIETIES, ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION BOARD AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title.This Act shall be known and cited as the "Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002"

Sec. 2. Statement of Policies.

a) The State recognizes that an effective intellectual property system in general and the development of new plant variety in particular is vital in attaining food security for the country. To this end, it shall protect and secure the exclusive rights of breeders with respect to their new plant variety particularly when beneficial to the people for such periods as provided for in this Act.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147July 30, 2001

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

CHAPTER IGENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Title. This act shall be known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to conserve the country's wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability. In the pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the following objectives:

(a) to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity;cralaw

(b) to regulate the collection and trade of wildlife; cralaw

(c) to pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats; and

(d) to initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity. chanrobles virtualaw library

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9072(National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection

Act)  

AN ACT TO MANAGE AND PROTECT CAVES AND CAVE RESOURCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

   

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act."Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to conserve, protect and manage caves and cave resources as part of the country's natural wealth. Towards this end, the State shall strengthen cooperation and exchange of information between governmental authorities and people who utilize caves and cave resources for scientific, educational, recreational, tourism and other purposes.  

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9003(ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000)

  

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTEMANAGEMENT PROGRAM, CREATING THE NECESSARY

INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS AND INCENTIVES, DECLARING CERTAIN ACTS PROHIBITED AND PROVIDING PENALTIES,

APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

  

CHAPTER IBASIC POLICIES

Article 1General Provisions

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the"Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000."Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program which shall:(a) Ensure the protection of the public health and environment;(b) Utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery;(c) Set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composting, 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;(d) Ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration;(e) Promote national research and development programs for improved solid waste management and resource conservation techniques, more effective institutional arrangement and indigenous and improved methods of waste reduction, collection, separation and recovery;(f) Encourage greater private sector participation in solid waste management;

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8749PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999

Chapter 1General Provisions

Article OneBasic Air Quality Policies

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.”SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles. - 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.The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain sustainable development while   recognizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental problems.The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily area-based.The State also recognizes the principle that “polluters must pay”.Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should, therefore, be   the concern of all.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE

FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES, INTEGRATING ALL LAWS PERTINENT

THERETO, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998" 

CHAPTER IDECLARATION OF POLICY AND DEFINITIONS

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - it is hereby declared the policy of the State:a. to achieve food security as the overriding consideration in the utilization, management, development conservation and protection of fishery resources in order to provide the food needs of the population. A flexible policy towards the attainment of food security shall be adopted in response to changes in demographic trends for fish, emerging trends in the trade of fish and other aquatic products in domestic and international markets, and the law of supply and demand;b. to limit access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the Philippines for the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens;