Module 6

Environmental Awareness and Protection in the New Normal

Environment is no one’s property to destroy; it’s everyone’s responsibility to

protect. – Mohith Agadi Picture Not Mine. Credits to the owner.

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Within the session series, the NSTP students will be able to:

1. recognize the present environmental conditions and challenges in both local

and global context;

2. discuss the roles of institutions, communities and individuals in Environmental

Protection and Management (EPM) to achieve balance in serving humanity and

protecting the environment; and to

3. identify best practices and eco-friendly activities that can be personally and practically

applied at home, prioritizing the proper waste segregation and composting contributory to

EPM and sustainable development.

Prepare:

How We Can Make The World A Better Place By 2030

Topic 1: Republic Act No. 9512

Republic Act No. 9512

Signed on December 12, 2008

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Metro Manila

Fourteenth Congress

Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eight day of July, two thousand eight.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9512

December 12, 2008

AN ACT TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008“.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – Consistent with the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and in recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation building and the role of education to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development, the state shall promote national awareness on the role of natural resources in economic growth and the importance of environmental conservation and ecological balance towards sustained national development.

Section 3. Scope of Environmental Education. – The Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other relevant agencies, shall integrate environmental education in its school curricula at all levels, whether public or private, including in barangay daycare, preschool, non-formal, technical vocational, professional level, indigenous learning and out-of-school youth courses or programs. Environmental education shall encompass environmental concepts and principles, environmental laws, the state of international and local environment, local environmental best practices, the threats of environmental degradation and its impact on human well-being, the responsibility of the citizenry to the environment and the value of conservation, protection and rehabilitation of natural resources and the environment in the context of sustainable development. It shall cover both theoretical and practicum modules comprising activities, projects, programs including, but not limited to, tree planting; waste minimization, segregation, recycling and composting; freshwater and marine conservation; forest management and conservation; relevant livelihood opportunities and economic benefits and other such programs and undertakings to aid the implementation of the different environmental protection law.

Section 4. Environmental Education and Activities as Part of National Service Training Program. – The CHED and the TESDA shall include environmental education and awareness programs and activities in the National Service Training Program under Republic Act No. 9163, as part of the Civic Welfare Training Service component required for all baccalaureate degree courses and vocational courses with a curriculum of at least two (2) years.

Section 5. Declaration of Environmental Awareness Month. – Pursuant to the policy set forth in this Act, the month of November of every year shall be known as the “Environmental Awareness Month” throughout the Philippines.

Section 6. Interagency and Multi-sectoral Effort. – The DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DENR, DOST and other relevant agencies, in consultation with experts on the environment and the academe, shall lead in the implementation of public education and awareness programs on environmental protection and conservation through collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral effort at all levels.

The DENR shall have the primary responsibility of periodically informing all agencies concerned on current environmental updates, including identifying priority environmental education issues for national action and providing strategic advice on the environmental education activities. The DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DENR, DOST, DSWD and barangay units shall ensure that the information is disseminated to the subject students.

The DOST is mandated to create programs that will ensure that students receive science-based quality information on environmental issues to encourage the development of environment-friendly solutions, devices, equipment and facilities.

Section 7. Capacity-Building. – The DepEd, CHED and TESDA, in coordination with the DENR and other relevant agencies, shall undertake capacity-building programs nationwide such as trainings, seminars, workshops on environmental education, development and production of environmental education materials, and teacher-education courses and related livelihood programs.

Section 8. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. – All other acts, laws, executive orders, presidential issuances, rules and regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(SGD.) MANNY VILLAR

President of the Senate

(SGD.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES

Speaker of the House of Representative

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1699 and House Bill No. 4381 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on October 8, 2008.

Sgd. MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary General

House of Representatives Sgd. EMMA LIRIO-REYES

Secretary of the Senate

Approved: December 12, 2008

SGD. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines

Topic 2: Other Major Environmental Laws

A. REPUBLIC ACT 9003 ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

In partnership with stakeholders, the law aims to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that shall ensure the protection of public health and environment. The law ensures proper segregation, collection, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adaptation of best eco-waste products.

Link

B. REPUBLIC ACT 9275 PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004

The law 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 comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.

Link

C. REPUBLIC ACT 8749 PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999

The law aims to achieve and maintain clean air that meets the National Air Quality guideline values for criteria pollutants, throughout the Philippines, while minimizing the possible associated impacts to the economy.

Link

D. REPUBLIC ACT 6969 TOXIC SUBSTANCES, HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTE CONTROL ACT OF 1990

The law aims to regulate restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures the present unreasonable risk to human health. It likewise prohibits the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals.

Link

E. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1586 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) STATEMENT OF 1978

The Environment Impact Assessment System was formally established in 1978 with the enactment of Presidential Decree no. 1586 to facilitate the attainment and maintenance of rational and orderly balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection. EIA is a planning and management tool that will help government, decision makers, the proponents and the affected community address the negative consequences or risks on the environment. The process assures implementation of environment-friendly projects.

Link