NSTP-CWTS 1 – National Service Training Program – Civic Welfare Training Service

1
Module 6 – Principles and Laws of Environment
This module
covers the seven principles of the environment and
the different Philippine Environmental Laws; it also
LEARNING discusses some of the government’s initiatives to
OBJECTIVES protect the environment.

After studying this module, you as a future graduate

should be able to:

a. reflect on the seven principles of

environment in relation to the recent global
pandemic COVID-19
b. identify the different Philippine
Environmental Laws; and
c. show your methods or ways to protect the
environment

TOPIC
OUTLINE

1. Seven Environmental Principles

2. Philippine Environmental Laws:
a. R.A. 9003 Ecological Waste
Management This photo is by Keith Hunt. Retrieved from
[Link]
-agplz
b. R.A. 8794 Clean Air Act
c. R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act
d. R.A. 6969 Toxic Substances And
Hazardous And Nuclear Wastes Control
Act
e. R.A. 9147 Wildlife Resources
Conservation And Protection Act
f. R.A. 7942 Philippine Mining Act This photo is by Raphael Hofmann 2015. Retrieved from
[Link]

OVERVIEW
In the previous module, you learned the overview of
the Environmental Protection, you determined your
role in protecting our environment, and you applied
the best practices that contribute to environmental
protection.

This time, join me further in protecting nature

through deeply understanding its principles and
learning the laws in our country that support
environmental protection.

This photo is by Huskarl 2010. Retrieved from [Link]

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 ACTIVATING One natural process that needs serious attention is
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE nutrient cycling. In nature, nutrients pass from the
environment to the organisms and back to the
Before we proceed, I would like you to write your environment. Any disruption in the cycle can bring
thoughts about the following phrases in 1-2
about imbalance.
sentences:
For example, the burning of farm wastes instead of
allowing them to decompose naturally disrupts the
Nature knows best
cycle. In burning, most of the organic compounds
are lost. The combustion products bring greater
havoc as in the case of carbon dioxide build-up,
Everything changes which results in the warming-up of the earth, or the
so-called "greenhouse" effect

2. All Forms of Life Are Important

All forms of life are important
Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature.
Since such occupational or functional position,
otherwise known as a niche, cannot be
simultaneously occupied by more than one species,
it is apparent that all living things must be
SEVEN considered as invaluable in the maintenance of
ENVIRONMENTAL homeostasis in the ecosystem.
PRINCIPLES
It is easy to
“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of
appreciate the
compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature
and it's beauty.”― Albert Einstein
beautiful
butterflies,
The first step to truly protecting the environment is especially
to deeply understand it. This section highlights the knowing their
principles behind how nature works and the important role in
importance of its existence to all life forms. pollination. The This photo is by Collage user:MathKnight-at-TAU
+19 others. Retrieved from
[Link]

giant beasts –
1. Nature Knows Best
the elephants, the whales, the alligators – are
This principle is the most basic and in fact, objects of awe, and the products they yield – ivory,
encompasses all the others. Humans have to oil, leather, respectively – are highly prized. But when
understand nature and have to abide by the rules it comes to unlovely, wriggly, and troublesome
nature dictates. In essence, one must not go against creatures, this principle is unusually overlooked.
the natural processes if one would like to ensure a
3. Everything is connected to everything else
continuous and
steady supply of This principle is best exemplified by the concept of
resources. the ecosystem. In an ecosystem, all biotic and
amniotic components interact with each other to
ensure that the system is perpetuated. Any outside

This photo is from pickpik,com. Retrieved from

[Link]
wth-33485
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interference may result in an imbalance and the to a problematic extent. Although mutation is a
deterioration of the system. natural change, pesticides have induced insect
mutations, which are not matched by natural checks
In a lake and balances.
ecosystem, the
organisms are 5. Everything must go somewhere
linked to one
When a piece of paper is thrown away, it disappears
another through
This photo is by Abhishek Singh. Retrieved from from sight but it does not cease to exist. It ends up
their feeding [Link]
_askmeaks.jpg
elsewhere. Gases released in smokestacks may
habit/level and are
disperse but it will end up a component of the
also dependent on other physico-chemical factors in
atmosphere or brought down by rains. What a
the lake (e.g. amount of nutrients, amounts, and
particular type of waste does to the earth's
types of gases, temperature, PH, etc.). At the same
repository should be of concern to us. It may be a
time, the Physico-chemical factors in the lake are
pollutant or a resource depending on certain factors.
influenced by the terrestrial environment that
surrounds it. The fertilizers that reach the lake cause Since wastes are not lost to oblivion, and even goes
a faster growth of phytoplankton, which may lead to back to one's own backyard in some other forms,
an algae bloom, red tide, or other such phenomena. one becomes aware of the different types of wastes
Whatever happens to one country may affect other – whether they are hazardous or not. Classification
countries. of wastes facilitates their proper disposal and
minimizes, if not prevents, the entry of toxic wastes
4. Everything Changes
in vital ecosystems and ensures
It is said that the only permanent thing is change. As
6. Ours is a finite earth
a general classification, change may be linear,
cyclical, or random. An example of linear change is The earth’s resources can be classified as either
the evolution of species, which has brought about renewable or non-
higher and more complex types of organisms. renewable.
Cyclical change may be exemplified by seasons and Renewable
the rhythms in floral and faunal life stages that go resources are those
with the seasons. An example of random change is that can easily be
the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, which brought about a replenished by
great upheaval in many parts of Luzon and changes natural cycles (e.g.
in the topography of the land. water, air, plants,
This photo is from [Link]. Retrieved from
[Link]

and animals) while non-renewable resources are

those that cannot be replenished through natural
cycles (e.g. ores of various metals, oil, coal).
Although renewable resources can be replenished, it
This photo is from [Link]. Retrieved from
[Link]
is important to note that these are renewable only as
long as they are not overused nor destroyed from
such factors such as pollution.
The environment is constantly changing. Organisms
To ensure that these resources will be continually
also evolve through time. However, man’s
replenished, it is essential to know how much of a
technology has affected these natural changes often
resource can be consumed at a given time to

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balance the rate of exploitation with the rate of For further information about Corona Virus Disease, open these links:
[Link]
replenishment. Unless the factors of population [Link]

growth, lifestyles, and polluting technologies are

checked, the collapse of the earth might be
(Write your answer here)
inevitable.

7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's

creation

Among all creatures, humans are the only ones

made in God's image and have been given the right
to have dominion over all His creations. Being the
most intelligent and gifted with reason, humans are
capable of manipulating creation to their own
advantage. Yet, creation exists not to be ravaged or
abused but to be taken care of. Humans cannot
exist without nature. They are co-natural with the
environment they live in.

PAUSE & REFLECT

Reflection on the Principles of Environment

When a Global Pandemic like COVID-19 (Corona Virus

Disease 2019) happens, for you, what Principle/s of
Environment was/were violated? Explain your answer.

PHILIPPINE
ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS
It is interesting to note that natural resources had
been stored virtually untouched in the Earth for
millions of years. But since the start of industrial
evolution vast amounts of these resources had been
exploited within a period of just a couple of
hundreds of years at unimaginable rates, with all the
waste from this exploitation going straight in the
environment (air, land, water) and seriously
damaging its natural processes. That is why the
government made its effort to prevent the rapid
destruction of the environment. In the Philippines,

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there are numerous environmental laws that have
been passed. Some of them are the following:

1. R.A. 9003 – ECOLOGICAL SOLID

WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF
2000

Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act Of 2000 is an act
providing for an ecological solid waste management
program, creating the necessary institutional
mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts
prohibited and providing penalties, appropriating
funds therefor, and for other purposes. This
describes solid waste management as a discipline
associated with the control of generation, storage,
collection, transfer and transport, processing and
disposal of solid wastes

WASTE CLASSIFICATION
can be turned into compost
BIODEGRADABLE
or used as fertilizer
WASTE
ex. food waste
can be brought to junk shops
and recycling facilities
RECYCLABLE
ex. paper, carton, bottles,
WASTE
tins, cans, PET bottles,
plastics
cannot be recycled and needs
alternative technology; can be
RESIDUAL WASTE
brought to sanitary landfills
ex. sanitary napkins, diapers
should be brought to the
nearest Material Recovery
SPECIAL WASTE Facility or Treatment Plant
ex. paint, spray canisters,
thinner, electronic waste

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 THE 6 Rs OF SUSTAINABILITY

Rethink/Reinvent: consider and question

consumption habits
Refuse: make the choice to not generate waste
Reduce: make decisions that decrease the
2. R.A. 8794 – PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF
amount of waste produced
Re-Use/Repair: expand the shelf-lives of 1999
products
Republic Act No. 8749 also
Recycle: reclaim the raw materials
Replace/Rebuy: next time consider recycled and known as the "Philippine Clean
green content Air Act of 1999" is an act providing
for a comprehensive air pollution control
For more detailed explanation about 6 Rs of policy and for other purposes. The Clean Air Act
Sustainability, open this link: provides that the state shall:
[Link]
 Protect and advance the right of the people
to a balanced and healthful ecology in
MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITITY
accord with the rhythm and harmony of
According to [Link], a Material Recovery nature;
Facility (MRF) is a building to receive, sort, process,  Promote and protect the global environment
and store recyclable materials to be shipped and while recognizing the primary responsibility
marketed to end-users. A materials recovery facility of local government units to deal with
accepts materials, whether source separated or environmental problems;
mixed, and separates, processes, and stores them  Recognize that the responsibility of cleaning
for later use as raw materials for remanufacturing the habitat and environment is primarily area
and reprocessing. based;
 Recognize that “polluters must pay”;
The main function of the MRF is to maximize the  Recognize that a clean and healthy
quantity of recyclables processed while producing environment is for the good of all and
materials that will generate the highest possible should, therefore, be the concern of all.
revenues in the market. MRFs can also function to
process wastes into a feedstock for biological For more detailed explanation about clean air act,
conversion or into a fuel source for the production of open this link: [Link]
energy. You may also watch:
[Link]
For more detailed explanation about MRF, open this
link:
[Link] 3. R.A. 9275 – PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF
2004

The Philippine Clean Water Act of

2004 aims to protect the country’s
water bodies from pollution from
land-based sources (industries and commercial
establishments, agriculture, and
community/household activities). It provides for a

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comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent This act shall have the following objectives:
and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and
participatory approach involving all the stakeholders. 1. to conserve and protect wildlife species and their
habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance
It is stated that the state shall pursue a policy of biodiversity
economic growth in a manner consistent with the
protection, preservation, and revival of the quality of 2. to regulate the collection and trade of wildlife, to
our fresh, brackish, and marine waters. It shall be the pursue, with due regard to the national interest; and
state policy to streamline processes and procedures
in the prevention , control abatement of pollution of 3. to initiate or support scientific studies on the
the country’s water resources, promote conservation of biological diversity
environmental strategies, use of economic
instruments and control mechanisms for the For further discussion about wildlife resources, you
protection of water resources, and provide for a may watch:
comprehensive management program for water [Link]
pollution focusing on pollution prevention [Link]

Visit [Link] and 6. R.A. – 7942 PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995

[Link] for further information
about ways to reduce water pollution. It is stated that all mineral
resources in public and private
lands within the territory and
4. R.A. 6969 – TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND exclusive economic zone of the
HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTES Republic of the Philippines are
CONTROL ACT OF 1990 owned by the state.

This Act stated that it is the The responsibility of the state is to promote their
policy of the state to regulate, rational exploration, development, utilization and
restrict or prohibit the conservation through the combined efforts of the
importation, manufacture, government and private sector in order to enhance
processing, sale, distribution, use, and disposal of growth in a way that effectively safeguards the
chemical substances, and mixtures that present environment and protect the rights of affected
unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the communities.
environment. And to prohibit the entry, even in
transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their The responsibility of the state is to promote their
disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for rational exploration, development, utilization and
whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and conservation through the combined efforts of the
facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals . government and private sector in order to enhance
growth in a way that effectively.
For further discussion, you may watch:
For further discussion about mining, you may watch:
[Link]
[Link]

5. R.A. 9147 – WILDLIFE RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION

This law stated that it shall be the

policy of the state to conserve the
country’s wildlife resources and
their habitats for sustainability.

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 PHILIPPINE COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION

As one of the world’s most vulnerable nations, the

Philippines is strongly committed to addressing the
threat of climate change. It is a party to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change TEST
and a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, which set YOURSELF
targets for the reduction of global greenhouse gas
emissions.
To meet its national development goals and
LEARNING
international commitments, the government ACTIVITY
established crucial legal and institutional
frameworks for climate mitigation and adaptation in Documented Application
the country. Guided by these laws and strategies,
Objective: Show your methods/ways to protect the
climate change mitigation and disaster risk
environment through practical application
reduction measures have been included in the
Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022.
Task: You are tasked to present your ways/methods
For further discussion about Philippines’ initiatives
to help protect the environment at home and your
to climate change, you may visit:
community. Attach photos with description as
[Link]
evidence.
Open these links to watch videos about Climate
Tool: camera
Change and Kyoto Protocol:
[Link] (Use the space of this page)
[Link]

Amidst of the number of environmental laws and

initiatives we have in this country to protect the
source of our living or to protect the environment, at
the end of the day, it is also our responsibility to do
our action to save our environment not just wait for
the mandate of the government because our life
depends on the state of the environment.

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Great job! You can now proceed to the next module.
REFERENCES

Galang AP. 2003. Seven Lenses or Environmental

Principles as if Adults Mattered. Makati City,
SUMMARY
Philippines: The Bookmark, Inc.
Let us see if you can remember the main points Retrieved from: [Link]
raised in this lesson. Below is a summary of these
points: Zafar Salman (2012). Introduction to MRF
Retrieved from: [Link]
Seven Environmental Principles
Alatervo Saara J. (2013) The 6 Rs: Making A
 The seven principles of environment are: Sustainable Impact
1. Nature Knows Best Retrieved from: [Link]
2. All forms of life are important
3. Everything changes Seven Environmental Principles of Nature
Retrieved from: [Link]
4. Everything is connected to everything else
5. Everything must go somewhere
R.A. 9003 Ecological Waste Management
6. Ours is a finite earth Retrieved from: [Link]
7. Nature is beautiful and we are steward of
God’s creation R.A. 8794 Clean Air Act
Retrieved from: [Link]
Philippine Environmental Laws:
R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act
 Major Philippine Environmental Laws: Retrieved from: [Link]
1. R.A. 9003 Ecological Waste Management
2. R.A. 8794 Clean Air Act R.A. 6969 Toxic Substances And Hazardous And
3. R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act Nuclear Wastes Control Act
4. R.A. 6969 Toxic Substances And Retrieved from: [Link]
Hazardous And Nuclear Wastes Control Act
R.A. 9147 Wildlife Resources Conservation And
5. R.A. 9147 Wildlife Resources Conservation
Protection Act
And Protection Act
Retrieved from: [Link]
6. R.A. 7942 Philippine Mining Act
R.A. 7942 Philippine Mining Act
 Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the United Retrieved from: [Link]
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change by committing industrialized countries Climate Laws and Policies
to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) Retrieved from: [Link]
emissions in accordance with agreed individual
targets. [Link]. Kyoto Protocol
 The rising average temperature of Earth's Retrieved from: [Link]
climate system, called global warming, is driving
changes in rainfall patterns, extreme weather, [Link]. Climate change
arrivals of seasons, and more. Collectively, Retrieved from: [Link]
global warming and its effects are known as
climate change.

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Prepared by:

JOLINA D. CASTILLO
Faculty, College Arts and Sciences

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