NSTP-CWTS 2 – National Service Training Program – Civic Welfare Training Service

2
Module 2 – Principles and Laws of Environment
This module
covers the
seven principles of the environment and the different
LEARNING Philippine Environmental Laws; it also discusses
OBJECTIVES some of the government’s initiatives to protect the
environment.
After studying this module, you as a future graduate
should be able to:

a. reflect on the seven principles of

environment in relation to the recent global
pandemic COVID-19
b. identify the different Philippine
Environmental Laws; and
c. show your methods or ways to protect the
environment

TOPIC
OUTLINE

1. Seven Environmental Principles

2. Philippine Environmental Laws:
a. R.A. 9003 Ecological Waste
Management
b. R.A. 8794 Clean Air Act This photo is by Keith Hunt. Retrieved from

c. R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act

d. R.A. 6969 Toxic Substances And
Hazardous And Nuclear Wastes Control
Act
e. R.A. 9147 Wildlife Resources
Conservation And Protection Act
f. R.A. 7942 Philippine Mining Act This photo is by Raphael Hofmann 2015. Retrieved from

OVERVIEW
In the previous module, you learned the overview of
the Environmental Protection, you determined your
role in protecting our environment, and you applied
the best practices that contribute to environmental
protection.

This time, join me further in protecting nature

through deeply understanding its principles and
learning the laws in our country that support
environmental protection.

This photo is by Huskarl 2010. Retrieved from

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Module 1 – Issues and Early Approaches to Literary Criticism | Page 2 of 12
 ACTIVATING One natural process that needs serious attention is
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE nutrient cycling. In nature, nutrients pass from the
environment to the organisms and back to the
Before we proceed, I would like you to write your environment. Any disruption in the cycle can bring
thoughts about the following phrases in 1-2
about imbalance.
sentences:
For example, the burning of farm wastes instead of
allowing them to decompose naturally disrupts the
Nature knows best
cycle. In burning, most of the organic compounds
are lost. The combustion products bring greater
havoc as in the case of carbon dioxide build-up,
Everything changes which results in the warming-up of the earth, or the
so-called "greenhouse" effect

2. All Forms of Life Are Important

All forms of life are important
Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature.
Since such occupational or functional position,
otherwise known as a niche, cannot be
simultaneously occupied by more than one species,
it is apparent that all living things must be
SEVEN considered as invaluable in the maintenance of
ENVIRONMENTAL homeostasis in the ecosystem.
PRINCIPLES
It is easy to
“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of
appreciate the
compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of
nature and it's beauty.”― Albert Einstein
beautiful
butterflies,
The first step to truly protecting the environment is especially
to deeply understand it. This section highlights the knowing their
principles behind how nature works and the important role in
importance of its existence to all life forms. pollination. The This photo is by Collage user:MathKnight-at-TAU
+19 others. Retrieved from

giant beasts –
1. Nature Knows Best
the elephants,
This principle is the most basic and in fact, the whales, the alligators – are objects of awe, and
encompasses all the others. Humans have to the products they yield – ivory, oil, leather,
understand nature and have to abide by the rules respectively – are highly prized. But when it comes
nature dictates. In essence, one must not go against to unlovely, wriggly, and troublesome creatures, this
the natural processes if one would like to ensure a principle is unusually overlooked.
continuous and
3. Everything is connected to everything else
steady supply of
resources. This principle is best exemplified by the concept of
the ecosystem. In an ecosystem, all biotic and
amniotic components interact with each other to
ensure that the system is perpetuated. Any outside

This photo is from pickpik,com. Retrieved from

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interference may result in an imbalance and the to a problematic extent. Although mutation is a
deterioration of the system. natural change, pesticides have induced insect
mutations, which are not matched by natural checks
In a lake
and balances.
ecosystem, the
organisms are 5. Everything must go somewhere
linked to one
When a piece of paper is thrown away, it disappears
another through
from sight but it does not cease to exist. It ends up
their feeding
This photo is by Abhishek Singh. Retrieved from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_lake_ecosystem_-_Flickr_-
_askmeaks.jpg
elsewhere. Gases released in smokestacks may
habit/level and are
disperse but it will end up a component of the
also dependent on other physico-chemical factors in
atmosphere or brought down by rains. What a
the lake (e.g. amount of nutrients, amounts, and
particular type of waste does to the earth's
types of gases, temperature, PH, etc.). At the same
repository should be of concern to us. It may be a
time, the Physico-chemical factors in the lake are
pollutant or a resource depending on certain factors.
influenced by the terrestrial environment that
surrounds it. The fertilizers that reach the lake cause Since wastes are not lost to oblivion, and even goes
a faster growth of phytoplankton, which may lead to back to one's own backyard in some other forms,
an algae bloom, red tide, or other such phenomena. one becomes aware of the different types of wastes
Whatever happens to one country may affect other – whether they are hazardous or not. Classification
countries. of wastes facilitates their proper disposal and
minimizes, if not prevents, the entry of toxic wastes
4. Everything Changes
in vital ecosystems and ensures
It is said that the only permanent thing is change. As
6. Ours is a finite earth
a general classification, change may be linear,
cyclical, or random. An example of linear change is The earth’s resources can be classified as either
the evolution of species, which has brought about renewable or non-
higher and more complex types of organisms. renewable.
Cyclical change may be exemplified by seasons and Renewable
the rhythms in floral and faunal life stages that go resources are those
with the seasons. An example of random change is that can easily be
the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, which brought about a replenished by
great upheaval in many parts of Luzon and changes natural cycles (e.g.
in the topography of the land. water, air, plants,
This photo is from pixrepo.com. Retrieved from

and animals) while

non-renewable resources are those that cannot be
replenished through natural cycles (e.g. ores of
various metals, oil, coal). Although renewable
This photo is from pixabay.com. Retrieved from
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/climate-change-global-warming-2063240/ resources can be replenished, it is important to note
that these are renewable only as long as they are not
overused nor destroyed from such factors such as
The environment is constantly changing. Organisms pollution.
also evolve through time. However, man’s
To ensure that these resources will be continually
technology has affected these natural changes often
replenished, it is essential to know how much of a

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resource can be consumed at a given time to For further information about Corona Virus Disease, open these links:
https://tinyurl.com/ldqs675
balance the rate of exploitation with the rate of https://tinyurl.com/ycxk9c83

replenishment. Unless the factors of population

(Write your answer here)
growth, lifestyles, and polluting technologies are
checked, the collapse of the earth might be
inevitable.

7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's

creation

Among all creatures, humans are the only ones

made in God's image and have been given the right
to have dominion over all His creations. Being the
most intelligent and gifted with reason, humans are
capable of manipulating creation to their own
advantage. Yet, creation exists not to be ravaged or
abused but to be taken care of. Humans cannot
exist without nature. They are co-natural with the
environment they live in.

PAUSE & REFLECT

Reflection on the Principles of Environment

When a Global Pandemic like COVID-19 (Corona Virus

Disease 2019) happens, for you, what Principle/s of
Environment was/were violated? Explain your answer.

PHILIPPINE
ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS
It is interesting to note that natural resources had
been stored virtually untouched in the Earth for
millions of years. But since the start of industrial
evolution vast amounts of these resources had been
exploited within a period of just a couple of
hundreds of years at unimaginable rates, with all the
waste from this exploitation going straight in the
environment (air, land, water) and seriously
damaging its natural processes. That is why the
government made its effort to prevent the rapid
destruction of the environment. In the Philippines,

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there are numerous environmental laws that have
been passed. Some of them are the following:

1. R.A. 9003 – ECOLOGICAL SOLID

WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF
2000

Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act Of 2000 is an act
providing for an ecological solid
waste management program, creating the necessary
institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring
certain acts prohibited and providing penalties,
appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes.
This describes solid waste management as a
discipline associated with the control of generation,
storage, collection, transfer and transport,
processing and disposal of solid wastes

WASTE CLASSIFICATION
can be turned into compost
BIODEGRADABLE
or used as fertilizer
WASTE
ex. food waste
can be brought to junk shops
and recycling facilities
RECYCLABLE
ex. paper, carton, bottles,
WASTE
tins, cans, PET bottles,
plastics
cannot be recycled and needs
alternative technology; can be
RESIDUAL WASTE
brought to sanitary landfills
ex. sanitary napkins, diapers
should be brought to the
nearest Material Recovery
SPECIAL WASTE Facility or Treatment Plant
ex. paint, spray canisters,
thinner, electronic waste

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 THE 6 Rs OF SUSTAINABILITY
Rethink/Reinvent: consider and question
consumption habits
Refuse: make the choice to not generate waste
Reduce: make decisions that decrease the
amount of waste produced
Re-Use/Repair: expand the shelf-lives of
products
Recycle: reclaim the raw materials
Replace/Rebuy: next time consider recycled and
green content
For more detailed explanation about 6 Rs of
Sustainability, open this link:
https://tinyurl.com/y4mbcbnt
MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITITY
According to ecomena.org, a Material Recovery
Facility (MRF) is a building to receive, sort, process,
and store recyclable materials to be shipped and
marketed to end-users. A materials recovery facility
accepts materials, whether source separated or
mixed, and separates, processes, and stores them
for later use as raw materials for remanufacturing
and reprocessing.
The main function of the MRF is to maximize the
quantity of recyclables processed while producing
materials that will generate the highest possible
revenues in the market. MRFs can also function to
process wastes into a feedstock for biological
conversion or into a fuel source for the production of
energy.
For more detailed explanation about MRF, open this
link:
https://tinyurl.com/y2ygu3uu
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2. R.A. 8794 – PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF
1999
Republic Act No. 8749 also
known as the "Philippine Clean
Air Act of 1999" is an act
providing for a comprehensive air
pollution control policy and for other purposes. The
Clean Air Act provides that 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;
 Promote and protect the global environment
while recognizing the primary responsibility
of local government units to deal with
environmental problems;
 Recognize that the responsibility of cleaning
the habitat and environment is primarily area
based;
 Recognize that “polluters must pay”;
 Recognize that a clean and healthy
environment is for the good of all and
should, therefore, be the concern of all.
For more detailed explanation about clean air act,
open this link: https://tinyurl.com/y62wqcfj
You may also watch:
https://tinyurl.com/yxkt55aw
3. R.A. 9275 – PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF
2004
The Philippine Clean Water Act of
2004 aims to protect the country’s
water bodies from pollution from
land-based sources (industries and
commercial establishments, agriculture, and
community/household activities). It provides for a
comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent
and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and
participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
It is stated that the state shall pursue a policy of
economic growth in a manner consistent with the
protection, preservation, and revival of the quality of
our fresh, brackish, and marine waters. It shall be the
state policy to streamline processes and procedures
in the prevention , control abatement of pollution of
the country’s water resources, promote
environmental strategies, use of economic
instruments and control mechanisms for the
protection of water resources, and provide for a
comprehensive management program for water
pollution focusing on pollution prevention
Visit https://tinyurl.com/y623uhe8 and
https://tinyurl.com/yxkt55aw for further information
about ways to reduce water pollution.
country’s wildlife resources and their habitats for
sustainability.
This act shall have the following objectives:
1. to conserve and protect wildlife species and their
habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance
biodiversity
2. to regulate the collection and trade of wildlife, to
pursue, with due regard to the national interest; and
3. to initiate or support scientific studies on the
conservation of biological diversity
For further discussion about wildlife resources, you
may watch:
https://tinyurl.com/y9dgu9ul
https://tinyurl.com/y68m8tpe
6. R.A. – 7942 PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995

4. R.A. 6969 – TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND

It is stated that all mineral
HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTES resources in public and private
CONTROL ACT OF 1990 lands within the territory and
exclusive economic zone of the
This Act stated that it is the Republic of the Philippines are
policy of the state to regulate, owned by the state.
restrict or prohibit the
importation, manufacture, The responsibility of the state is to promote their
processing, sale, distribution, use, rational exploration, development, utilization and
and disposal of chemical substances, and conservation through the combined efforts of the
mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or government and private sector in order to enhance
injury to health or the environment. And to prohibit growth in a way that effectively safeguards the
the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear environment and protect the rights of affected
wastes and their disposal into the Philippine communities.
territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide
advancement and facilitate research and studies on The responsibility of the state is to promote their
toxic chemicals. rational exploration, development, utilization and
conservation through the combined efforts of the
For further discussion, you may watch: government and private sector in order to enhance
https://tinyurl.com/y9dgu9ul growth in a way that effectively.
For further discussion about mining, you may watch:
5. R.A. 9147 – WILDLIFE RESOURCES
https://tinyurl.com/y2uyf7fa
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION

This law stated that it shall be the

policy of the state to conserve the

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 PHILIPPINE COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION
As one of the world’s most vulnerable nations, the
Philippines is strongly committed to addressing the
threat of climate change. It is a party to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
and a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, which set
targets for the reduction of global greenhouse gas
emissions.
To meet its national development goals and
international commitments, the government
established crucial legal and institutional
frameworks for climate mitigation and adaptation in
the country. Guided by these laws and strategies,
climate change mitigation and disaster risk
reduction measures have been included in the
Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022.
For further discussion about Philippines’ initiatives
to climate change, you may visit:
https://tinyurl.com/yxf27g8w
Open these links to watch videos about Climate
Change and Kyoto Protocol:
https://tinyurl.com/rwhpdv5
https://tinyurl.com/y3nhgavd
Amidst of the number of environmental laws and
initiatives we have in this country to protect the
source of our living or to protect the environment, at
the end of the day, it is also our responsibility to do
our action to save our environment not just wait for
the mandate of the government because our life
depends on the state of the environment.
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TEST
YOURSELF
Short quiz on Philippine Environmental Laws
Directions: Identify the Environmental Law
described. Write your answers on the space
provided.
1. This Act provides for a comprehensive strategy to
address the degradation of our waterbodies. It
mandates the Bureau to formulate and implement
policies and strengthen partnerships with
stakeholders to improve water quality in all parts of
the country. _______________________________
2. It includes the activities and actions required to
manage waste from its inception to its final
disposal. This includes the collection, transport,
treatment and disposal of waste, together with
monitoring and regulation of the waste management
process. _______________________________
3. Reduce use of air conditioning and ensure that
rooms are sealed. Make sure that lights are energy-
efficient. Use company vehicles wisely and make
sure that they are well-maintained. Use natural
lighting by opening window curtains at daytime.
_______________________________
4. In order to face environmental challenges, the
mining industry must prioritize biodiversity
conservation and work closely with communities
that are dependent on local resources to tackle
challenges together. _______________________________
5. This law focuses on protecting populations of
some of the world's most ecologically, economically,
and culturally important species.
_______________________________
6. This Act stated that it is the policy of the state to
regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation,
manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use, and
disposal of chemical substances, and mixtures that
present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or
the environment. _______________________________
 LEARNING
ACTIVITY
Documented Application

Objective: Show your methods/ways to protect the

environment through practical application

Task: You are tasked to present your ways/methods

to help protect the environment at home and your
community. Attach photos with description as
evidence.

Tool: camera

(Use the space of this page)

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Great job! You can now proceed to the next module.
SUMMARY
Let us see if you can remember the main points
raised in this lesson. Below is a summary of these
points:
Seven Environmental Principles
 The seven principles of environment are:
1. Nature Knows Best
2. All forms of life are important
3. Everything changes
4. Everything is connected to everything else
5. Everything must go somewhere
6. Ours is a finite earth
7. Nature is beautiful and we are steward of
God’s creation
Philippine Environmental Laws:
 Major Philippine Environmental Laws:
1. R.A. 9003 Ecological Waste Management
2. R.A. 8794 Clean Air Act
3. R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act
4. R.A. 6969 Toxic Substances And
Hazardous And Nuclear Wastes Control Act
5. R.A. 9147 Wildlife Resources Conservation
And Protection Act
6. R.A. 7942 Philippine Mining Act
 Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change by committing industrialized countries
to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG)
emissions in accordance with agreed individual
targets.
 The rising average temperature of Earth's
climate system, called global warming, is driving
changes in rainfall patterns, extreme weather,
arrivals of seasons, and more. Collectively,
global warming and its effects are known as
climate change.
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REFERENCES
Galang AP. 2003. Seven Lenses or Environmental
Principles as if Adults Mattered. Makati City,
Philippines: The Bookmark, Inc.
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/yxayew4j
Zafar Salman (2012). Introduction to MRF
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/y2ha6dfh
Alatervo Saara J. (2013) The 6 Rs: Making A
Sustainable Impact
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/y4mbcbnt
Seven Environmental Principles of Nature
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/y49lhsbm
R.A. 9003 Ecological Waste Management
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/y27y4ze2
R.A. 8794 Clean Air Act
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/yy2jyfjn
R.A. 9275 Clean Water Act
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/yyxa5m46
R.A. 6969 Toxic Substances And Hazardous And
Nuclear Wastes Control Act
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/yxgdmrfj
R.A. 9147 Wildlife Resources Conservation And
Protection Act
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/tt5vk9r
R.A. 7942 Philippine Mining Act
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/y65jkz39
Climate Laws and Policies
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/yxf27g8w
Wikipedia.org. Kyoto Protocol
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/clgs486
Wikipedia.org. Climate change
Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/cu6b866
Prepared by:

JOLINA D. CASTILLO
Faculty, College Arts and Sciences

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