NATURAL RESOURCES and ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Syllabus
Atty. Gene R. Abot
College of Law
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Part 1: Constitutional Provisions

Relevant Provisions of the 1987 Constitution

I. Preamble.

II. National Territory:

A. Territorial sea
B. Seabed
C. The subsoil
D. Insular
E. Other submarine areas

Prof. Merlin Magallona, et al. vs. Hon. Eduardo Ermita, et al., G.R
No. 187167, July 16, 2011.

Republic Act No. 9522

III. Declaration of Principles and State Policies:

Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of
the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people
to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony
of nature.

Oposa vs. Factoran 224 SCRA 792

V. Bill of Rights Article III

PP vs. Andre Marti, G.R. No. 81561, Jannuary 18, 1991.

Ang Ladlad LGBT Party List vs. Comelec, G.R. No. 190582, April 8,
2010.

IV. National Economy and Patrimony – Article XII

A. Efficient Use of Resources. Section 1.

B. State Ownership of Natural Resources Section 2.

Oh Cho v. Director of Lands, 75 Phil. 890

Director of Lands vs. CA, G.R. No. 112567, February 7, 2000

REGALIAN DOCTRINE

Republic vs. dela Paz, G.R. No. 171631, November 15, 2010
Republic vs. CA, G.R. No. L-43938, April 15, 1988
 C. Public Domain and Land Classification

1. Section 3. Lands of the public domain are classified into

agricultural, forest or timber, mineral lands and national
parks.

Valiao vs. Republic, G.R. No. 170757, Nov. 28, 2011.

2. Section 4. Limits of Forest Lands.

LBP vs. Republic, G.R. No. 150824, February 4, 2008

3. Ancestral Domains (RA 8371) Ancestral Lands

Tanenglian vs. Lorenzo et al., G.R. No. 173415, March 28, 2008.

D. Indigenous Cultural Communities

Section 5.

Aurellano Agnes, et al. vs. Republic, G.R.No. 156022, July 16,

2015.
Unduran, et al. vs. Aberasturi, et al., G.R. No. 181284, Oct. 20,
2015.

E. Social Function of Property

Section 6. The use of property bears a social function, and all

economic agents shall contribute to the common good. Individuals and
private groups, including corporations, cooperatives, and similar
collective organizations, shall have the right to own establish, and
operate economic enterprises, subject to the duty of the State to promote
distributive justice and to intervene when the common good so demands.

F. Exclusivity for Filipino Citizens

Section 10.

Gamboa vs. Sec. Teves, G.R. No. 176579, June 28, 2011.

VI. Social Justice and Human Rights – Article XIII

A. Ecological Considerations in Agrarian Reform

Section 4.

Hacienda Luisita Inc., vs. PARC, G.R. No. 171101,Nov. 22, 2011.

B. Preferential Use of Marine Resources for Subsistence Fishermen

Section 7.

Tano vs. Socrates, G.R. No. 110249, August 21, 1997.

 C. Health Care and Regulation

Section 11.

Tondo Medical Center Employees Association, et al. vs. CA, G.R. No.
167324, July 17, 2007.

Philippine Health Care Providers, Inc., vs. CIR, G.R. No. 167330,
Sept. 18, 2009.

D. Rights of Women

Section 14.

Del Monte Phil. vs. Austria-Martinez,G.R. NO. 15347, March 6, 2007.

E. Role and Rights of People’s Organization

Section 15.
Section 16.

Anak Mindanao Party-list vs. Ermita, G.R. No. 166052, Aug. 29,
2007.

Frivaldo vs. Comelec, G.R. No. 120295, June 28, 1995. J. Puno,
concurring opinion.

VII. Local Autonomy – Article X

Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.

Pimentel vs. Aguirre, G.R. No. 132988. July 19, 2000.

Part 2. General Environmental Laws

1. National Environmental Protection Council (PD 1121)

2. Philippine Environmental Policy (PD 1151)
3. Philippine Environmental Code (PD 1152)

MMDA, et al. vs. Concerned residents of Manila Bay, G.R. Nos.

171947-48, Dec. 18, 2008.

4. P.D. 1586 Environmental Impact Assessment

Boracay Foundation, Inc. vs. The Province of Aklan, et al. G.R.
No. 196870, June 26, 2012.

5. Reorganization Act of the DENR (E.O. 192[1987]

G.R. Nos. 162243, 164516. 171875, Secretary of DENR vs. PICOP, Nov.
29, 2006.
6. REPUBLIC ACT No. 3931 - AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL WATER AND AIR
POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION.

As revised by the Pollution Control Law (PD 984)

Section 6 - Powers and Functions of the Commission

Section 8 – Prohibitions

7. Civil Code Provisions on the Environment

8. Provisions in C.A. No. 141, The Public Land Act;

9. R.A. No. 6657, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988;

10. R.A. No. 7160, Local Government Code of 1990

Part 3. Specific Environmental Laws

(a) Act No. 3572, Prohibition Against Cutting of Tindalo, Akli, and
Molave Trees;
(b) P.D. No. 705, Revised Forestry Code;
(c) P.D. No. 856, Sanitation Code;
(d) P.D. No. 979, Marine Pollution Decree;
(e) P.D. No. 1067, Water Code;
(f) P.D. No. 1433, Plant Quarantine Law of 1978;
(g) P.D. No. 1586, Establishing an Environmental Impact Statement System
Including Other Environmental Management Related Measures and for Other
Purposes;
(h) R.A. No. 3571, Prohibition Against the Cutting, Destroying or
Injuring of Planted or Growing Trees, Flowering Plants and Shrubs or
Plants of Scenic Value along Public Roads, in Plazas, Parks, School
Premises or in any Other Public Ground;
(i) R.A. No. 4850, Laguna Lake Development Authority Act;
(j) R.A. No. 6969, Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Act;
(k) R.A. No. 7076, People’s Small-Scale Mining Act;
(l) R.A. No. 7586, National Integrated Protected Areas System Act
including all laws, decrees, orders, proclamations and issuances
establishing protected areas;
(m) R.A. No. 7611, Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act;
(n) R.A. No. 7942, Philippine Mining Act;
(o) R.A. No. 8371, Indigenous Peoples Rights Act;
(p) R.A. No. 8550, Philippine Fisheries Code;
(q) R.A. No. 8749, Clean Air Act;
(r) R.A. No. 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act;
(s) R.A. No. 9072, National Caves and Cave Resource Management Act;
(t) R.A. No. 9147, Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act;
(u) R.A. No. 9175, Chainsaw Act;
(v) R.A. No. 9275, Clean Water Act;
(w) R.A. No. 9483, Oil Spill Compensation Act of 2007;
(x) R.A. No. 9729, Climate Change Act of 2009; and
(y) R.A. No. 10121. NDRRMC
(z) Sanitation Code of the Philippines
Part 4. Dispute Settlement for Environmental Cases

I. Rules of Procedures under domestic laws

A. Civil Procedure
B. Criminal Procedure
C. Precautionary Principle
D. Strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP)
E. Writ of Kalikasan
F. Administrative Remedies

Dolot vs. DENR, et al., G.R. No. 199199, August 27, 2013.

II. International dispute mechanisms for environmental cases.