ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Major Environmental IssuesIllegal LoggingAir PollutionWater PollutionDiminishing mangrove swampsDepletion of water resourcesDestruction of coral reefsDiminishing natural habitat and loss of biodiversity

Other factors that add to these problems:Location of the Philippines1.a. Because we are near the typhoon belt, we experience more or less than 15 typhoons as well as 5 6 cyclones annually; soil erosion is common

1.b. The country is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire that is why we experience earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONThe Philippines signed some world treaties. These agreements are geared towards environmental protection.Example:Biodiversity Climate ChangeEndangered SpeciesHazardous Wastes

Law of the SeaMarine DumpingNuclear Test BanOzone Layer ProtectionTropical Timber 83Tropical Timber 94

Government Agencies Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)Department of Health (DOH)Philippine Sustainable Development Network Foundation Environment Management BureauProtected Areas and Wildlife Bureau

Non-Governmental OrganizationsEcological Society of the PhilippinesFoundation for the Philippine EnvironmentFund for Nature of the PhilippinesHaribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources Inc.NGOs for Integrated Protected Areas

Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)Philippine Institute of Alternative Futures (PIAF)Foundation for Sustainable Society (FSS)Foundation for the Philippine Environment (EPE)

Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN)

WHAT ARE NGOS?These are non-profit organizations composed of individuals whose aim is to render their expertise and help one particular sector of society

There are also Peoples Organizations (POs)These are organizations composed of indigenous people who are directly affected and are deeply concerned about a particular issue

POs geared towards Environmental ProtectionKatipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas (KAMP) the national federation of allo indigenous movements in the countryAng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Kostal ng Balayan (ANAK BALAYAN)Buklod ng Magsasaka Nagkaugat sa Kalikasan (BUKID)

Luntiang Alyansa sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB)

Note: Attempts made by the NGOs and POs for environmental protection will only succeed if all of us will have a proper and respectable attitude towards the environment.

EARTH SUMMIT It was held in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilThe Philippines was one of the more than 160 countries who promised to promote sustainable development based on Agenda 21.

What is the Agenda 21?The agenda was an attempt to balance development and the rapid integration of countries with the world economy and its implication to the society and environment.

What was the impact of the Earth Summit?The Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was formed under the Ramos administration, which authored the Philippine Agenda 21

Through the Memorandum Order 399 dated September 26, 1996, Pres. Ramos ordered all government agencies to reexamine their policies and programs and realign them with the goals of PA21 in order to promote economic development without sacrificing social and environmental welfare.

PROBLEM OF ANCESTRAL LANDAncestral Lands are residential lands, owned and used by individuals, families and clans who belong to indigenous cultural communities from the very beginningThe ancestral lands are lands inherited by individuals, families, and clans from their ancestors

What is the main reason for the loss of ancestral lands?

The governments program regarding industrialization through land conversion of lands into subdivisions, golf courses and malls. Improper mining in the mountains also serves

Other reason.Improper mining

The Philippines has more than 10 million indigenous people living in the mountainsThe rights of the indigenous people were first recognizes in the 1987 Constitution created after the downfall of President Ferdinand Marcos

Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997The law signed by President Fidel RamosThis law states that the rights of indigenous cultural communities or the indigenous people would be recognized, protected and promoted

It also authorized the creation of the National Commission for the Indigenous People, the establishment of mechanisms in implementing the law and the allocation of a certain budget for this

The law recognizes the right to self-determination of the indigenous people. Their human rights, and more importantly, their rights to ancestral landsSelf-determination the freedom to decide for themselves and for their future

WHAT IS THE CERTIFICATE OF ANCESTRAL LAND TITLE?A land title given by the government to recognize legal ownership of ancestral lands

WHAT IS THE NCIP?NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE the government agency that is assigned to draft and implement policies, plans and programs for the recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of the indigenous people

PROPER USE OF NATURAL RESOURCESWe did not inherit the environment from our ancestors. We are just borrowing it from future generations.

As responsible citizens, we can practice the 3R as a system of environmental protection3R stands for Reduce use of a limited amount of natural resources so that will dispose only a limited amount of trashRe-use means the products can be used again after repairing themRecycle means looking for other uses for products

REDUCE!Purchase of stable and long-term products, as well as the search for products and wrappers that contain no poisonous or hazardous elementManufacture products using a small amount of raw materials, has a long term durability or can be used again after its first use.

RE-USE!Give away old clothes, toys and books to charitySell old stuffs to lessen trash CASH FROM TRASH!!!!

RECYCLE!Materials like glass, metal. Plastic and paper can be collected, separated and sent to facilities that could process them into new materials