BODIES OF WATER

 The Philippines boast of many different kinds of natural water forms, such as bays, rivers, lakes falls,
gulfs, straits, and swamps. Because it is made up of islands, the country's coastline, if laid end-to-end,
would measure around 17.5 thousand kilometers. The Philippines is blessed with excellent natural harbors
for ports like Manila Bay. Other excellent harbors with port potentials are found in Ilocos, Pangasinan,
Visayas, and Mindanao. The three largest rivers in the country are the Cagayan River in Northern Luzon,
the Rio Grande de Mindanao, and the Agusan River, also in Mindanao.
 Also noteworthy in terms of size are the Agno, Pasig, Angat, Pampanga, and Bicol rivers in Luzon. Most
popular among tourist is the famous underground river in Palawan. Aside from rivers, the country also
abounds with lakes. Easily the most famous is the heart-shaped Laguna de Bay. Other famous lakes are
Taal in Batangas, Sampaloc in Laguna, Buhi and Bulusan in Bicol, Naujan in Mindoro oriental, and Lanao
and Mainit in Mindanao. Generating power for the Nation’s growth are the magnificent waterfalls that serve
as tourist attractions, as well. The biggest waterfalls is the Maria Cristina falls, it can be found in the North
Western part of Lanao province in Mindanao, while the most popular is Pagsanjan falls in Laguna, where
tourist came in droves.

Natural Resources

The Philippines is rich in natural resources. It has fertile, arable lands, diverse flora and fauna, extensive
coastlines, and rich mineral deposits. About 30% of the land area of the country was determined be
geologically prospective by the Philippine Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau. But Only 1.5% of country's land
area is covered with mining permits. Despite the rich natural resources of the Philippines, the government is
restricting its exploitation. A logging ban is imposed on many areas of the country and only in select areas
are "sustainable logging" allowed. However illegal logging and small-scale illegal mining continues is many
areas. In July 2012, President Benigno Aquino III ordered a stop to all mining activities in all (78 areas)
protected and eco-tourism sites. A positive step in the right direction to protect the natural resources of the
Philippines.

LAND

 The Philippines’ primary source of livelihood is its fertile land. Rich, wide plains suitable for farming are
found in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, South western Bicol, Panay, Negros, Davao, Cotabato, Agusan
and Bukidnon. The country ‘s six major crops are rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, abaca and tobacco.
Except for rice and corn, all these products are exported, along with bananas and pineapples.

FOREST

 The Philippines also boasts of wide tracts of lush, green forests. In fact, almost half of the country’s total
land area is forested. Sixty percent of these forests are found in Mindanao.

MINERAL RESOURCES

 Except for petroleum and a number of metals, mineral resources abound in Philippine soil. The country’s
mineral deposits can be classified into metals and non- metals. Our metal deposits are estimated at 21.5
billion metric tons, while non-metal deposits are projected at 19.3 billion metric tons. Nickel ranks first in
terms of deposits and size, it is found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon and Samar. Iron is
found in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte and Cotabato. While copper in Zambales, Batangas,
Mindoro, Panay and Negros. Among non-metal deposits, the most abundant are cement, lime, and marble.
Other non-metals include asbestos, clay, guano, asphalt, feldspar, sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate, and
marble.

Fishery Resources

 With its territorial waters measuring as much as 1.67 million square kilometers and located in the worlds
fishing center, the Philippines is definitely rich in marine resources. Of the 2,400 fish species found in the
country. 65 have good commercial value. Other marine products include corals, pearls, crabs and
seaweeds. Some of the countries best salt water fishing area’s are found in Sintangki Island in Sulu
Estancia in Bohol, Malampaya in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, San Miguel lake in Camarines
Norte, Bantayan Channel in Cebu, and the seas of Quezon and Sorsogon.

 On the other hand, among our biggest fisher water fishing areas are Laguna de Bay, Bombon Lake in
Batangas, Bato Lake in Canmarines Sur, Naujan Lake in Mindoro and Mainit lake in Agusan del Norte.

Environmental problems in the Philippines

1. Overfishing and destructive fishing Fishers in the Philippines are increasingly coming home with
pitiful catches. Of a number of factors which have led to this situation, one stands out: over-fishing in
many areas. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), there has been a drop of 90% in the
quantity of marine organisms that can be trawled in some traditional fishing areas of the Philippines.
This isn’t just a question of declining fish stocks and biodiversity, but also of social impacts and
economic losses. Mismanagement of fisheries resources is estimated to cost US$ 420 million
annually in lost revenues. At the root of the overfishing problem is weak fisheries management,
ineffective policies and poor enforcement of fishery laws.
2. Coastal infrastructure development Coastal zone development has been particularly damaging to
the Philippines’ marine environment, especially to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses. As
populations have increased, so have their needs for construction materials and living space.
Excavation, dredging, and coastal conversion to accommodate coastal development have seen
corals being extracted for reclamation and construction, especially in coastal villages. Mangroves
have particularly suffered from coastal development, notably at the hands of the aquaculture
industry. In the Philippines, aquaculture has reduced mangrove stands to only 36% of 1900 levels.
3. Deforestation After decades of deforestation, which has left about 3% of the original cover, forests
continue to be under threat from agriculture and urbanization, illegal logging and forest fires.
Sustained forest loss in the Philippines is causing severe soil erosion, and is threatening the
country’s rich biodiversity. This is particularly worrying as many of the Philippines’ species, which
depend on these forests, are endemic (they cannot be found anywhere else in the world). For
example, of 180 native terrestrial mammal species here, about 61% are endemic. Inconsistent laws,
inadequate regulations, weak enforcement and lack of funding are making forest conservation a
major challenge.
4. Pollution Only about 10% of sewage in the Philippines is treated or disposed of in an
environmentally sound manner. The rest goes back to nature – usually the sea. In this context of
 poor waste treatment and high population growth, water pollution is a growing problem for the
country’s groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Polluting industrial material is also found in
abandoned mining areas, with mercury pollution affecting water bodies in these areas.

Environmental Protection and Conservation

1. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147 July 30, 2001  AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND
PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

2. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 79 INSTITUTIONALIZING AND IMPLEMENTING REFORMS IN THE

PHILIPPINE MINING SECTOR PROVIDING POLICIES AND GUIDELINES TO ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND RESPONSIBLE MINING IN THE UTILIZATION OF MINERAL
RESOURCES

3. Chain Saw Act of 2002 Republic Act No. 9175

4. Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002 Republic Act No. 9168

5. Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park (MKNP) Act of 2001 Republic Act No. 9154

6. Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act Republic Act No. 9147

7. National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act Republic Act No. 9072

8. Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 Republic Act No. 9003

9. Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 Republic Act No. 8749

10. Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 Republic Act No. 8550

11. Animal Welfare Act of 1998 Republic Act No. 8485

Quiz
1. (1-5) List down some of the Natural Resources found in the Philippines
2. (6-9) List down some of the Environmental Problems that the Philippines is facing today
3. (10) How can you protect and conserve our Natural Resources? 5 points