Climate change also known as global warming is one of the world’s

environmental issues that is in need of immediate response, it is the change in the

weather patterns that occurs because of the increase in earth’s temperature. Climate
change causes extreme disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tropical
cyclones and drought. Apparently, according to the Global Peace Index 2019,
Philippines is one of the most affected by climate change, it lies in the world’s most
cyclone-prone region, with an average of 19-20 typhoons each year. Causes of climate
change is divided into two aspects, man-made causes and natural causes. Man-made
causes include fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive farming, waste disposal, mining, and
overconsumption while natural causes consist of volcanic eruptions, ocean currents,
and solar variation. Moreover, climate change has effects on biodiversity, with
disappearance of many species, on oceans, with the rise of sea levels, on humans,
because of limited resources, and floods, and a huge impact on the weather, by
existence of droughts and heatwaves. However, there are ways to reduce global
warming. Some of these are switching to renewable energies such as solar, wind,
biomass and geothermal energies instead of using fossil fuels, additionally, we can
reduce energy and water consumption by using more efficient devices like LED light
bulbs, and innovative shower systems to produce clean energy. Republic Act No. 9729
or the Climate Change Act of 2009 aims to mainstream climate change into government
policy formulations, establishes the framework strategy and program on climate change
and creates the Climate Change Commission. It is the policy of the State to afford full
protection and the advancement of the right of the people to a healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature (Republic Act No. 9729 Section 2).
 Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, an act
providing for a comprehensive water quality management and for other purposes aims
to protect the country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries
and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities).

Contamination or the drowning in chemicals, waste, plastic and other pollutants

of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater as a result of
human activities is called water pollution. It is one of the main environmental issues that
we are facing today nationwide and globally. Water is essential for life to exist; humans,
animals, plants need water to survive, without water, life cannot be sustained yet we
pollute it. Water Pollution is jeopardizing our health, it kills 55 Filipinos every day.
Human’s irresponsible trash disposal, chemicals from agricultural such as fertilizers,
pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides running off in the water, oil and gasoline that
drips from millions of cars and trucks, factories every day causes water pollution that
consequently leads to lacking of drinkable waters and shortage for sanitation,
agriculture and other purposes, also, it causes a lot of diseases like cholera, giardia,
skin infection and typhoid from drinking contaminated water. Just like in climate change,
there are ways to fight water pollution, one of those is keeping our surroundings
clean/not littering, furthermore, one must avoid irresponsible water usage to prevent
water supply shortage, another is properly disposing chemical cleaning, and non-
biodegradable items to keep them from ending up down the drain, and many more.

Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),

Philippine Information Agency, Department of Agriculture (DoA), Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are
government agencies responsible for the implementation of the R.A 9275 or the Clean
Water Act of 2004. Clean Water Act of 2002 prohibits operating facilities that discharge
regulated water pollutants without valid required permits, Disposal of potentially
infectious medical waste into seas water by vessels, and many more.
 World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2018 indicates that there were
around 45.3 deaths per 100,000 individuals and ranks third highest cases of death due
to air pollution. In the Asia Pacific region, Philippines ranks second in indoor air
pollution. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) records show that
the current rate of air quality in the Philippines doesn’t meet its Clean Air Act standards.

Breathing a clean air is our rights but unfortunately, we pollute the air that
contains oxygen which is essential component for life on earth. As what we have
discussed above with regards to climate change and water pollution, air pollution also
has its causes, effects and ways to prevent it. Causes of air pollution comprise burning
of toxic waste, fires, smokes, carbon emissions from the manufacturing and agricultural
sectors, burning of fossil fuels that releases gases and chemicals into the air, and other
acts similar to these. With that, air pollution causes deaths through diseases such as
lung cancer, stroke, pulmonary disease and acute respiratory infections such as
pneumonia, short-term problems like sneezing and coughing, irritation, headaches, and
dizziness, memory problems and Alzheimer’s like brain declines, and such. The things
we can do to avoid this is to plant more trees to clean the air we inhale, reduce usage of
vehicles not powered by electricity coming from solar and wind and through
campaigning to more renewable energy and replacing gasoline-fueled cars with zero
emissions vehicles such as electric ones.
The act providing for a comprehensive air pollution control policy and other
purposes known as PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999 or the Republic Act No.
8749 aims to protect and advance the right of the people to a balance and healthful
ecology. Moreover, it promotes and protects the global environment while recognizing
the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental problems
and recognizes the right of the people to breathe clean air and that “polluter must pay”.