Water Pollution Control and Enforcement

Status and Challenges in the Philippines

Ms. Leza A. Cuevas

Supervising Environmental Management Specialist

Environmental Management Bureau,

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Ms. Leza A. Cuevas Supervising Environmental Management Specialist

Environmental Management Bureau, the Philippines

• Registered Resource Person of the Environmental

Impact Assessment and Management Division,

Registration No. RPCO-006, Environmental

Management Bureau

• Coordinator, JICA-supported Capacity Development

Project on Water Quality Management (2006-2010)

• Coordinator, Development of the Implementing

Rules and Regulations of the Philippine Clean Water

Act of 2004

www.aecen.org Strategies and Practices for Water Pollution Enforcement Workshop, November 8-10, Taipei 1

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) was created under EO 192 and became a line Bureau by virtue of Sec. 34 of Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999. It is mandated to implement on a nationwide scale the said Act and other environmental laws to wit:

PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement System of 1978)

RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Control Act of 1990)

RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999)

RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000)

RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004)

RA 9512 (Environmental Awareness Act of 2008)

EMB MANDATE

EMB is also mandated to provide research and laboratory services; and serve as secretariat in the adjudication of pollution cases.

Sources of Pollution - National

Industrial 27%

Other Sources

11%

Domestic

Sources 33%Agricultural

29%

RA 9275

THE CLEAN WATER ACT IS A MILESTONE

LEGISLATION THAT CAN DELIVER THE MUCH

NEEDED SUPPORT IN OUR EFFORT TO ADDRESS

WATER CONCERNS. THIS LAW CALLS FOR AN

INTEGRATED, HOLISTIC , DECENTRALIZED AND

PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO ABATING, PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING WATER

POLLUTION.

Sec. 2. Sustainable Development Framework

Holistic National Program

Operate under an Integrated WQ Framework Self-regulation among industries thru MBIs Focus on pollution prevention With a system of accountability Streamline procedures and processes Mobilize/Encourage participation of Civil society and other sectors through education and access to information

Declaration of Principles

and Policies

Conceptual Framework Designation of Water Quality

Management Areas (WQMA) Non-Attainment Areas (NAA) Natl. Sewerage and Septage

Management Program Classification/

Reclassification of water bodies

Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping

Water Quality Guidelines Effluent Standards Categorization of Industry Wastewater Charge System Discharge Permits Financial Liability Programmatic EIA Incentives and Rewards Prohibitions/Sanctions/

Actions

Integrated Water Quality Management Framework

Industries Households Other Non-Point Sources

Water Quality Mgt. Action Plan (WQMAP)

A policy guideline that will integrate existing frameworks and regulations prepared by other government agencies pertaining to water quality management

CHAPTER 2

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 5. Water Quality Management Area. - The

Department, in coordination with national water

resources board (NWRB), shall designate certain

areas as water quality management areas using

appropriate physiographic units such as watershed,

river basins or water resources regions.

Sec. 7. National Sewerage and Septage

Management Program (NSSMP)

NSSMP is a framework plan that will address issues on sanitation, treatment and disposal of wastewater with institutional and financial mechanisms as well as monitoring and evaluation system

Agencies Involved and Roles – DPWH, DENR, DOH, , CHED, DepEd, PIA, League of Municipalities/Cities/ Provinces, LGUs

Role of LGUs – appropriation of land for construction of STP, imposition of service fee system, submission of priority listing of projects to DPWH

SECTION 13, RA 9275. WASTEWATER CHARGE SYSTEM

• DENR shall implement a wastewater charge system (WWCS) in all management areas including the Laguna Lake Region and Regional Industrial Centers through the collection of wastewater charges/fees

• WWCS shall be established on the basis of payment to the government for discharging wastewater into the water bodies

SECTION 14, RA 9275. DISCHARGE PERMITS

• DENR shall require owners or operators of facilities that discharge regulated effluents pursuant to this Act to secure a permit to discharge

• The Discharge Permit shall:

– Be the legal authorization granted by DENR to discharge wastewater

– Specify among others, the quantity and quality of effluent that said facilities are allowed to discharge into a particular water body, compliance schedule and monitoring requirement

SECTION 14, RA 9275. DISCHARGE PERMITS

• As part of the permitting procedure, DENR shall encourage the adoption of waste minimization and waste treatment technologies when such technologies are deemed cost effective.

DENR AO 2016-08

WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES AND

GENERAL EFFLUENT STANDARDS To provide guidelines for the classification of water bodies in

the country;

Determination of time trends and the evaluation of stages of deterioration/enhancement in water quality;

Evaluation of the need for taking actions in preventing, controlling, or abating water pollution; and

Designation of water quality management areas (WQMA).

To set the General Effluent Standards (GES).

The GES applies to all point sources of pollution, regardless of volume, that discharge to receiving body of water or land.

The GES shall be used regardless of the industry category.

COMPLIANCE MONITORING OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

SMR is a facility-based documentation with focus on the activities and environmental performance at individual facilities. Thus, a complex or combination of production and processing units including its support system located in a geographically contiguous area shall accomplish one complete/integrated SMR.

1. It allows firms or establishments to demonstrate their compliance with environmental regulations (e.g., P.D. 984, P.D. 1586, R.A.6969, R.A. 8749), and

2. It allows EMB to confirm or validate that firms or establishments comply with environmental regulations or requirements.

The firm shall submit the SMR on a quarterly basis.

DAO 2014-02 Appointment/Accreditation of

Pollution Control Officer

This Order shall cover the accreditation of PCOs of establishments that discharge solid, liquid, or gaseous wastes to the environment or whose activities, products, or services are actual and/or potential sources of land, water, or air pollution.

This Order shall likewise apply to local government units (LGUs), development authorities, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other public establishments.

RA 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

Chapter 5, Section 27(n) has penal provisions on the refusal or failure to designate Pollution Control Officers whenever required by DENR

THE PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT 2004 (REPUBLIC ACT NO, 9275)

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AIMS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGH FOCUSED INTERVENTIONS

OR ACTIONS TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS OF THE AREA

Designation of Water Quality Mgt.

Management Area (WQMA)

(Section 5, RA 9275)

Governed by a Governing Board: - composed of reps. of mayors, governors of member

LGUs, relevant national govt. agencies, NGOs, water utility & business sectors (commercial and industrial establishments)

- formulate strategies to coordinate policies necessary for the effective implementation of RA 9275 and monitor the compliance with the Action Plan

With Technical Secretariat to support the GB Multi-sectoral Group to establish and effect WQ

surveillance and monitoring network

Formalized the designation of the WQMA - GB - Technical Secretariat - TWG, MSG

Prepared the

10-year

Action Plan

- Created and operationalized the Governing Board - Drafted Governing Rules - Functional MSG

Supported by various stakeholders

Identified priority concerns

WQMA DESIGNATION

AND PREPARATION OF ACTION PLANS

Concepcion Creek, J.Molina St., Marikina City

BEFORE AFTER

ADOPT-AN ESTERO/WATER BODY PROGRAM

BEACH ECOWATCH

EMB MC 2015-006

RECREATIONAL WATERS

MONITORING PROGRAM

Monitoring of DOT’s frequently visited beaches by local and foreign tourists

INDUSTRIAL ECOWATCH PROGRAM

A public disclosure program where the industrial and commercial establishments/firms will be rated with corresponding color in accordance with their environmental performance

• Gold – Outstanding

• Silver – Excellent

• Green – Very Good

• Blue – Good

• Red – Bad

• Black – Very Bad

Promote compliance by providing assistance to establishments in cooperation with an organized industry association

Give recognition to establishments that have undergone improvements even beyond the requirement of the law. (DENR Seal of Approval)

Build partnership with the industry that is built on trust and commitment.

WAY FORWARD WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Strengthen partnership with LGUs and industries on water quality

management;

Provide technical support to WQMA Governing Boards and LGUs for

a more effective implementation of the Philippine Clean Water Act (RA

9275);

Encourage investments in sewage and wastewater treatment through

the use of incentives mechanism;

Sustain the provision of incentives for well performing establishments

in terms of water quality management;

Encourage active participation of LGUs, civil society and other

stakeholders through sustained information and education campaign;

Improve capability of EMB personnel on compliance monitoring

through capacity building.

Thank you for your

attention!