LAW SCHOOL

JD 227

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

2nd Year

(First Semester)

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NUMBER OF UNITS : 2

NUMBER OF HOURS/WEEK: 2 hours

CLASS DAYS: SAT 9:00-11:00 AM

PROFESSOR: Atty. Dannah Karoline Rivera

E-MAIL ADDRESS: riveradannahkaroline96@gmail.com

CONSULTATION HOURS: Mon-Fri via group chat or private message

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

A course that explores the constitutional provisions and special laws governing the use
and disposition of the natural sources of the country. The study includes existing national
and international laws protecting the environment and the ecosystem and prevailing rules
against despoliation of the environment.
 II. METHODOLOGY

This course will be conducted through a mix of reading assignments, interactive class
discussion, topic presentation, class reports, and graded recitation. Students are required to
follow the court outline, read relevant cases and cross-references.

III. ASSESSMENT and GRADING

Evaluation:
Evaluation is based on the following:
Midterm 40%
Finals 40%
Class Participation 20%
100%

IV. LEARNING MATERIALS

- The 1987 Philippine Constitution

- Text of Key Environmental Laws in the Philippines and the International Protocols and
Conventions on the Environment
- Laws creating the different government agencies tasked to enforce environmental laws
- Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC) and the Supreme Court -
Annotation on the Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases
- Relevant cases assigned
- Any textbook on Environmental Law (latest edition)
Suggested:
Environmental Law books by Justice Oswaldo D. Agcaoili

I. Introduction

 The Philippine environment

o Environmental degradation
o Environmental justice
o International Protocols and Conventions Overview
- 1972 Stockholm Declaration
- The Rio Declaration
- Agenda 21
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
- Montreal Protocol and Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer
- Copenhagen Accord
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Kyoto Protocol
- Basel Convention
- Paris Climate Accord
o Public Land Act
II. Environment and the Philippine Constitution
 Constitutional Provisions: Right to health and environment
o Sec. 15 and 16, Article II, Const.
o Oposa vs. Factoran, G.R. No. 101083 July 30, 1993, 224 SCRA 789
o Ysmael v Deputy Executive Secretary [G.R. No. 79538 October 18, 1990]
o Henares vs. LTFRB, G.R. No. 158290, Oct 23, 2006
o SJS v Atienza G.R. No. 156052, Feb. 13, 2008
o MMDA vs Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay, G.R. No. 171947-48, Dec. 18, 2008
 Constitutional Provisions: Utilization of Natural Resources
 Regalian Doctrine
o Sec. 2, Art. XII, Const.
o Ysmael v Deputy Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 79538 October 18, 1990
o Miners Assoc vs. Factoran, G.R. No. 98332, Jan 16, 1995
o PICOP vs Base Metal Mining, G.R. No. 163509, Dec 6, 2006
o DENR vs. Yap, G.R. No. 167707, Oct 8, 2008
 National Parks
o Secs. 3 and 4, Art. XII, Const.
 Preferential Use of Resources
o Sec 7, Art XIII; par 2&3, Const.
o Sec 2, Art XII; foreign part: par 4, Const.
 Local Government Share
o Sec. 7, Art. X; Local Government Code
 Acess to Information
o Sec 7, Art. III, Const.
 People’s Participation
o Sec 16, Art XIII, Const.
 Constitutional provisions: Indigenous People’s Rights
o Sec. 5, Art. XII, Const.
o Cariño vs. Insular Government, 41 Phil 935 (1909)
o Cruz vs NCIP, G.R. No.135385, Dec 6, 2000; read opinion of Justice Puno

III. Institutional Framework for Natural Resources and the Environment

 The DENR and the other agencies in the executive branch

 The role of Congress
 The Emergence of the Judiciary
 Department of Energy (DOE)
 Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB)
 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
 Other agencies involved in the enforcement of environmental laws

IV. Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas Management

 National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act (R.A. No. 7586)
 Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Law (R.A. 9154)
 Sagay Marine Reserve Law (R.A. 9106)
 Wildlife Conservation Act, RA No. 9147
 Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA; Republic Act No. 8371)
 o Cruz vs. Sec. DENR, supra
 Experiential Learning to a Protected Area in Panay

V. Forestry and Watershed Management

 Revised Forestry Code (Presidential Decree No. 705)

 E.O No. 23
o Case: Oposa vs. Factoran, supra
 Community-Based Forestry Management Program, (DENR DAO 96-29)
o Tenure instrument vs. Private Property Rights
 Water Code of the Philippines (PD No. 1067)

VI. Fisheries and Coastal Resources Management

 Overview
 Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8550) as amended by R.A. 10654
o Sec. 149, Local Government Code of 1991
o Definition and Delineation of Municipal Waters (DENR DAO 01-17)
o Preferential Treatment of Municipal Fishers (Joint Administrative Order No. 3, 1996).
o Hizon vs. Court of Appeals, 265 SCRA 517 (1996)
o MMDA vs. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, supra.
 Aquatic Pollution [Sec. 4 (4), R.A. No. 8550]

VII. Mining and Quarrying

 Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942)
 People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991 (R.A. No. 7076)
 Secs. 289-292, Local Government Code of 1991
o La Bugal B’laan vs. Sec DENR, et al. , GR No. 127882, Jan 27, 2004
o Southeast Mindanao Gold Mining Corp vs. Balite Portal Mining Coop, GR No. 135190,
April 3, 2002
VI. Waste Management/Sanitation/ Pollution Control

 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act No. 9003)

 Code of Sanitation (P.D. No. 856)
 Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Management Act (R.A. 6969)
 Clean Air Act (R.A. No. 8749)
 Clean Water Act (RA No.9275)
 Marine Pollution (RA No. 9483)
o Province of of Rizal vs. Exec. Sec., GR No. 129546 Dec 13, 2005

VII. The Rules of Court for Environmental Cases

1. Overall framework of environmental litigation

2. The Writ of Kalikasan
3. Continuing Mandamus
4. SLAPP cases
5. Precautionary principle as rule of evidence

VIII: Overview of International Environmental Law & Principles

1. Salient Provisions of the International Bill of Rights on Right to a Healthy Environment (UDHR,
ICCPR, ICESCR)
2. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Additional Protocols/ Agreement
3. Convention on Biodiversity (Salient Provisions)
4. UNCLOS
5. Paris Agreement