Environmental Laws (International

Agreement, Treaties, and Protocols)

LEGMANAGERS NOTES
WEEK 1

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL d) Natural Resources Development

RESOURCES (DENR)
The DENR is the national government agency which
primarily deals with the environment and the prime
agency responsible for the conservation,
management, development and proper use of the
country’s environment and natural resources.
DENR MAJOR FUNCTIONS
1. The formulation and implementation of policies,
guidelines, rules and regulations relating to
environmental management pollution prevention and
control.
2. The formulation, implementation and supervision
of the government’s policies, plans and programs
pertaining to the management, conservation,
development, use and replenishment of the country’s
natural resources and ecological diversity;AND
3. The promulgation and implementation of the rules
and regulations governing the exploration,
development, extraction, disposition, and use of the
forests, lands, minerals, wildlife and other natural
resources.
AGENCIES ATTACHED TO DENR
a) Laguna Lake Development Authority
(LLDA)- responsible for the preservation,
development, and sustainability of Laguna de
Bay (Laguna Lake) and its 21 major tributary
rivers;
b) National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA) - mandated
to provide the public with mapmaking
services and to act as the central mapping
agency, depository, and distribution facility
for natural resources data in the form of
maps, charts, texts, and statistics;
c) National Water Resources Board (NWRB) -
the government agency that is responsible
for all the water resources in the Philippines.
It coordinates and regulates all water-related
activities in the country that has impact on
the physical environment and the economy;
Corporation (NRDC) - a government owned
and controlled corporation attached to the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. It is mandated to promote natural
resource development and conservation
through direct involvement in pioneering but
potentially viable projects using
new/innovative technologies and
investments in natural resource based
industries by providing financial, technical
and management assistance;
e) Palawan Council for Sustainable
Development (PCSD) - serves as the regular
professional staff of the Palawan Council for
Sustainable Development (PCSD) and
provides the machinery to coordinate the
policy and functions, implement programs,
and organize services as required by the
Council in the governance, implementation,
and policy direction of the Strategic
Environmental Plan for Palawan. Based on
the mandates, the PCSD is a policy making,
monitoring, coordinating, and implementing
body; AND
f) Philippine Mining Development
Corporation (PMDC) - Under the Presidential
Memorandum dated April 9, 2003, the PMDC
is primarily tasked to conduct and carry on
the business of exploring, developing,
mining, smelting, and producing,
transporting, storing, distributing,
exchanging, selling, disposing, importing,
exporting, trading and promotion of gold,
silver, copper, iron, and all kinds of mineral
deposits and substances.
P.D. 1067 WATER CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
(SALIENT FEATURES)
SECTION 13. Except as otherwise herein provided,
no person, including government instrumentalities or
government-owned or controlled corporations, shall
appropriate water without a water right, which shall
be evidenced by a document known as a water
permit.

LEGMANAGERS NOTES 1
 Environmental Law: Week 1
WATERS, as used in this Code, refers to water under
the grounds, water above the ground, water in the
atmosphere and the waters of the sea within the
territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines. - (Article 4
of PD 1067)
ARTICLE 16 OF PD 1067
In determining whether to grant or deny an
application for water permit, the Council shall
consider the following: protests filed, if any; prior
permits granted; the availability of water; the water
supply needed for beneficial use; possible adverse
effects; land-use economics; and other relevant
factors.
Article 20 Beneficial use of water is the utilization
of water in the right amount during the period that
the water is needed for producing the benefits for
which the water is appropriated.
ARTICLE 10: WATER MAY BE APPROPRIATED FOR
THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES
DOMESTIC purposes is the utilization of water for
drinking, washing, bathing, cooking or other household
needs, home gardens, and watering of lawns or
domestic animals.
MUNICIPAL purposes is the utilization of water for
supplying the water requirements of the community.
IRRIGATION is the utilization of water for producing
agricultural crops.
POWER GENERATION is the utilization of water for
producing electrical or mechanical power.
FISHERIES is the utilization of water for the
propagation and culture of fish as a commercial
enterprise.
LIVESTOCK RAISING is the utilization of water for
large herds or flocks of animals raised as a commercial
enterprise.
INDUSTRIAL purposes is the utilization of water in
factories, industrial plants and mines, including the
use of water as an ingredient of a finished product.
RECREATIONAL purposes is the utilization of water for
swimming pools, bath houses, boating, water skiing,
golf courses and other similar facilities in resorts and
other places.
LEGMANAGERS NOTES
Can a person use rainwater without securing a
water permit?
YES!! Article 6 of PD 1067
Article 6. The following waters found on private lands
belong to the State:
(a) Continuous or intermittent waters rising on
such lands;
(b) Lakes and lagoons naturally occuring on
such lands;
(c) Rain water falling on such lands;
(d) Subterranean or ground waters; and,
(e) Water in swamps and marshes.
The owner of the land where the water is found may
use the same for domestic purposes without securing a
permit, provided that such use shall be registered,
when required by the Council. The Council, however,
may regulate such when there is wastage, or in times
of emergency
Can a person drink water from a nearby river
without securing a water permit?
YES!! Article 14 of PD 1067
Subject to the provisions of this Code concerning the
control, protection, conservation, and regulation of
the appropriation and use of waters, any person may
appropriate or use natural bodies of water without
securing a water permit for any of the following:
(a) Appropriation of water by means of hand
carried receptacles; and
(b) Bathing or washing, watering or dipping of
domestic or farm animals, and navigation of
watercrafts or transportation of logs and other
objects by flotation.
ARTICLE 28 WATER PERMIT MAY BE
SUSPENDED ON GROUNDS OF:
non-compliance with approved plans and
specifications or schedules of water
distribution;
use of water for a purpose other than that
for which it was granted;
non-payment of water charges;
wastage;
failure to keep records of water diversion,
when required;
violation of any term or condition of any
permit or of rules and regulations
promulgated by the Council
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 Environmental Law: Week 1

ARTICLE 29 WATER PERMIT MAYBE REVOKED,

AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING, ON
GROUNDS OF:

non-use;
gross violation of the conditions imposed in
the permit;
unauthorized sale of water;
willful failure or refusal to comply with rules
and regulations or any lawful order;
pollution, public nuisance or acts detrimental
to public health and safety;
when the appropriator is found to be
disqualified under the law to exploit and
develop natural resources of the Philippines;
when, in the case of irrigation, the land is
converted to non-agricultural purposes; and
other similar grounds.

NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BOARD

(NWRB)

The NWRB is the government agency which manages

and regulates all water resources and services in the
Philippines. It integrates and coordinates all water
related activities that have social, environmental and
economic impacts in the country.

Created under Presidential Decree No. 424,

otherwise known as the “Integrated Reorganization
Plan”.

National Water Resources Council was subsequently

renamed as NWRB pursuant to Executive Order No.
124-A.

LEGMANAGERS NOTES 3