2010 Development Agenda: Environmental Management

A number of environmental problems have plagued the Philippines for decades. Theseinclude urban congestion, water shortage, depletion of forest resources, degradation of coastaland marine resources, loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction, land-use conversion, wastedisposal, and water and air pollution. Among these problems, the country faces four broadenvironmental challenges: degradation of forest and marine resources; urban water, airpollution and the declining quality and availability of water resources; solid waste generation;and government capacity to enforce environmental policies.

In turn, a rapidly disintegratingenvironment increases pollution, threatens public health and food security, and widens thegap between rich and poor.

Recent tragedies brought about by natural disasters have alsobeen blamed on lack of disaster risk preparedness on the part of the government, crisismitigation and deforestation.This paper aims to present the major environmental problems in the Philippines witha focus on how they affect human welfare and sustainability. It will also try to identifyopportunities for ecological reform and intervention.

Degradation of Forest and Marine Resources

Deforestation.

As with other countries in the Asia Pacific Region, the Philippines is alsofacing severe environmental degradation. In the last 50 years, the Philippines has become aseriously deforested country and the people have increasingly suffered the consequences.Twenty-four percent (24%) – or about 7,162,000 hectares – of the Philippines is forested.

Of this area, 11.6% – or roughly 829,000 hectares – is classified as primary forest, the mostbiodiverse form of forest. Records from the Department of Environment and NaturalResources (DENR) show that in the 1950s, three-fourths of the country was covered withforest. Since then, the Philippines has lost one-third of its forest cover, a 20% drop fromthe rate of the 1990s.

In a 2007 World Bank report, the rate of deforestation from 1990–2005 was about 2.2% per year, on the basis of Food and Agriculture Organization data.

Social Costs.

The loss of forests and other critical habitats is threatening not only therich biodiversity in the Philippines but also human lives. The 1991 Ormoc tragedy, whichwas blamed on massive deforestation that caused serious soil erosion, killed close to 5,000

World Bank. Country Environmental Analysis Philippines 2009

Asian Development Bank Report, 2004.

Internet accessed. <http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Philippines.htm> internet accessed January 21, 2010.

By Henrylito D. Tacio, 'Rate of Deforestation in Philippines Erodes Topsoil, Kills Wildlife’, 20 August 2009

http://www.gaiadiscovery.com/latest-planet/rate-of-deforestation-in-philippines-erodes-topsoil-kills-wi.html>accessed January 18, 2010.

Ibid.

people.

This calamity has recurred many times since then, in Quezon, Aurora, NuevaEcija, Mindoro and Leyte.

Thus, deforestation has become the focus of social awarenessefforts pressuring the government for effective rehabilitation and conservation measures.

Although the number of protected areas has grown on paper, so has the rate of destructionand habitat conversion within them. Reforestation efforts by the government have beenerratic, with low tree survival rates. Marine resources are heavily stressed by exploitationand pollution. Deforestation issues have acquired broader dimension in the accumulationof wealth on the part of a few commercial loggers at tremendous social costs. The sharpedges of conflict between the affected private sectors and the government are at timesmoderated by advocacy of a total log ban policy on the part of some government.2.

Coastal and Marine Resources.

The importance of marine resources cannot be overlyemphasized. Philippine waters cover an area ten times bigger than the total terrestrialenvironment, making it a potential major base for development. Ecosystems present inthe coastal zone include the coral reefs, identified as the most biologically productiveenvironment second only to a tropical rain forests, mangrove areas, sea grass beds, and softbottom communities.The ruin of coastal and marine systems costs the Philippines about Php 5.7 billion a year,or about one-quarter of the estimated net economic benefits.

The broad distribution of environmental costs is instructive – almost half is due to unsustainable fishing, largelyfrom overfishing (for example, driving down economic rents from fishing), with a muchsmaller share attributable to habitat degradation and conversion (pollution and theconversion of mangroves). Among the major issues that need to be addressed are (1)sectoral/fragmented approach to coastal resources management; (2) lack of capacity amonglocal government to manage coastal resource; (3) poverty and other social problems of coastal communities; and (4) loss of or damage to productive coastal ecosystems (e.g.,mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs).

Deteriorating Urban Environment

Outdoor Air Pollution.

Air pollution kills 2,000 Filipinos a year and costs $1.5 billion inlost wages and medical treatment in most major cities of Metro Manila, and the cities of Cebu, Davao and Baguio (P79.5 billion) – a figure equivalent to two percent of thecountry’s annual gross domestic product.

The problem is also felt in other cities whereurbanization has led to a rise in the construction of factories, an increase in populationdensity as well as in vehicular volume, all of which ultimately add up to the worsening airpollution problem.

Marites Danguilan-Vitug. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Power From the Forest

Inquirer news report published 28 December 2004: Recurring tragedies

Magallona Meerlin and Malayang Ben S. III, ‘Environmental Governance in the Philippines’

Ibid.

World Bank. Country Environmental Analysis Philippines 2009.

Air pollution levels in Metro Manila and other cities exceed national air quality standardsand impose a serious economic burden on society.

Health records show that deaths dueto various forms of respiratory diseases run into scores of thousands a year, includingthose in far-flung barrios thought to be unaffected by air pollution.

Causes of the highmortality and morbidity rates due to respiratory illnesses like bronchitis were also tracedto "the very high fine particulate emissions generated by diesel engines, emissions fromfactories and power plants and solid waste burning."

Jeepney drivers are the leadingvictims of air pollution in the Philippines in 2002; about 32.5 percent of jeepney driversare affected.

A major step in curbing this problem was addressed by Republic Act No. 8749,

otherwise known as Philippine Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1999. It set the provisions andguidelines to mitigate and reduce emission levels from stationary and mobile sources. Thispaved the way for the elimination of leaded gasoline in Metro Manila in April 2000,followed by a nationwide phase-out in January 2001. Preliminary estimates forimplementing parts of CAA indicate that the country will need to spend at least PhP 25billion (US$ 500 million) between 2000 and 2010 but the benefits are likely to far exceedthese costs.

Water Pollution, Sanitation, and Hygiene.

Increasing water pollution is destroying thecountry’s groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, and the quality of half of thecountry’s rivers falls below water quality norms. The annual economic cost of waterpollution is estimated at US$1.3 billion, including health costs, losses in fisheriesproduction, and impact on tourism.

Community and civil society-led recyclingprograms have become popular, but hazardous and toxic waste disposal has emerged as amajor environmental challenge.

Domestic Wastewater and Sanitation.

In the Philippines, household wastewatercontributes to 48% of water pollution. Often, household septic tanks are not emptied of waste matter until they overflow, and when emptied, its non-treatment causes waterbornediseases. While the country’s 2004 Clean Water Act mandates that urban communities beconnected to a sewerage system within 5 years, a staggering 94% of urban areas has no

Philippine Star, 20 January 2003: Air pollution and Clean Air Act

University of the Philippines’ College of Public Health study, 2003.

World Bank Philippines. Environment Monitor 2002 report.

Ibid.

Clean Air Act: Its key features include the following: (1) identification and characterization of all airsheds inthe country and establishment of multi-sectoral AQM Boards for each airshed; (2)development of a national airquality management framework, and a fund to be earmarked for air quality management activities (4) impositionof air quality management charges; (5) improvement in quality of gasoline and diesel and promotion of alternative, cleaner fuels

World Bank. The Philippines Environmental Monitor 2002. (Pasig City, Philippines: World Bank, November2002).