Sy Juco, Michelle E.

Natural Resources and Environmental Laws

2014-0039 Saturday 9:00 am - 12:00 nn

Reaction Paper on Pollution Related Laws

Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

The implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act was based on the principle of the state to
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord
with the rhythm and harmony of nature. In accord of such principle, the act provided
measures for the air quality management, where status or pollution as well as action plans to
address such shall be reported to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). Also, as part of quality management, the act provided for the composition and
sources of air pollutants.

The sources of air pollutants include stationary sources, motor vehicles, and other sources
such as smoking. Stationary sources pertain to fuel-burning equipment or industrial plant
emitting air pollutants. Limit on the emissions from both stationary sources and motor
vehicles are provided in the act. However, no definite action was yet provided for the
emissions sourced from smoking and other sources.

As shared by the reporters, private sector participates in the reduction of emissions in the
atmosphere apart from compliance with set limits for the emissions. A good example
provided was the Boysen paint which is being tested if it will help reduce carbon within the
atmosphere. It is good that the private sector finds its way to contribute to the reduction of
pollution

Philippine Clean Water Act

The Philippine Clean Water Act, in relation to the Philippine Clean Air Act, aimed to control
pollution from land-based sources. To address this objective, a domestic sewage collection,
treatment and disposal facility is required to be established in every establishment, including
but not limited to industrial, commercial and household areas. Absence of such facility
directly affects the water. Good example presented was the condition of Pasig river few
years back.

Pasig river was an almost dead river. In the video presented by the group, it showed that the
river was populated by garbage which mostly was thrown by the residents nearby the river.
Unseen in the video but human wastes were also directly flushed to the river. In the
governments initiative to revive the river, clean-up was regularly done. Status quo, objective
in reviving the river almost met.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act

This act primarily mandates the proper disposal of solid wastes. Each local government unit
(LGU), in coordination with the DENR and other agencies, is tasked to create a program to
manage the disposal of solid wastes. Such may include the establishment of a materials
recovery facility (MRF) and composting. It is also promoted through this act the 3 Rs in
managing solid wastes: reduce, reuse, recycle. Awareness of the program is of great
importance to let the communities cooperate on the matter.
Unfortunately, it is almost evident that most people still do not perform waste management
activities in their own households. This is evident in the condition of the dumpsites in the
country. As mandated by this act, open and controlled dumps shall no longer be allowed five
(5) years following the effectivity of the act. However as presented, only a minimal number
of open and controlled dumps were closed and converted to a sanitary landfill. More likely,
this is attributable to the volume of garbage dumped in the sites where such may not be the
case should each community observe proper waste disposal.

As presented, the reporters visited a MRF in a particular community but the MRF was not
operational. Composting was also discontinued. In effect, such community disposes of its
solid wastes in the old conventional way and that contributes to the mismanagement of the
dumpsites.