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Policies for Conservation
Policies for Conservation
Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992) and
Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018)
Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992) and
Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018)
These acts provide the legal basis for declaring and managing terrestrial and marine protected areas to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.
2 Protected Areas
2 Protected Areas
Hundred Islands National Park
1940 — Presidential Proclamation No. 667: First declared as a National Park by President Manuel L. Quezon
Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape
1934 — Proclamation No. 571: First declared as a Forest Reserve by President Manuel L. Quezon
Both areas were reclassified as a Protected Landscape under the NIPAS Act, and later granted full legislative protected status through the ENIPAS Act of 2018.
31 Marine Protected Areas
31 Marine Protected Areas
MPAs are located within Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, and Lingayen. The Fisheries Code of 1998 (RA 10654) complements this by regulating fishing activities and addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing within these MPAs.
1962 — Republic Act No. 3655: Created the Hundred Islands Conservation and Development Authority (HICDA) to conserve and protect the Hundred Islands National Park.
1982 — Hundred Islands Marine Reserve
2023 — Mangrove Conservation Area Ordinance No. 12-2023: in Sual MPA
Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act)
Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act)
This act establishes the government's obligation to conserve and protect wildlife resources by regulating their collection/trade, and upholding international commitments to biodiversity conservation. It also allows for the designation of "critical habitats” for protection.
93 endangered and 6 critically endangered species
93 endangered and 6 critically endangered species
RA9147 prohibits the killing, trade, and exploitation of wildlife, especially threatened species, unless permitted under strict conditions. This sets a precedent for conservation, as several pressures directly place wildlife at risk. Policies in the management and conservation approach for areas such as Hundred Islands National Park, where monitoring is most active, are guided by this law, which is enforced through joint efforts of DENR, BFAR, local governments, and the Philippine Navy.
Additional Conservation Strategy Policies
Additional Conservation Strategy Policies
Republic Act 9512: National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008
Republic Act 9512: National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008
This act mandates that environmental education be integrated at all levels of education to foster public responsibility for environment protection. Implementation is done via multi‑sectoral collaboration, including national agencies such as Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and local government units.
Ordinance No. 2017-04: 2017 Tourism Code of the Municipality of Bolinao
Ordinance No. 2017-04: 2017 Tourism Code of the Municipality of Bolinao
Among its provisions is a ₱40 environmental user’s fee collected from tourists entering public tourism areas, trying to align economic benefit with environmental stewardship. This revenue incentivizes the local government to preserve natural resources.
Additionally, the ordinance enforces regulations on tourism establishments, creating a financial and regulatory incentive for businesses to comply with environmental standards.
Republic Act 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
Republic Act 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
This act created the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the lead policy-making body tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating climate programs across national agencies and local government units. All LGUs are required to prepare Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs) that integrate climate risks into development planning, land use, and disaster preparedness.
Policies to Regulate Production
Policies to Regulate Production
Republic Act 7942: Philippine Mining Act of 1995
Republic Act 7942: Philippine Mining Act of 1995
This law requires environmental safeguards, permits, and government oversight for the exploration and utilization of the country’s mineral resources. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) administers mineral lands and issues or revokes permits.
In Pangasinan, it is applied mainly through the regulation of quarrying and small-scale mining, with the provincial government enforcing fees and compliance rules. In 2024, Pangasinan reportedly collected over ₱235 million from quarry product taxes.
2022 — Provincial Tax Ordinance No. 1‑2022: Mineral extraction fees increased to ₱50 per cubic meter. 40% of the taxes collected go to the host barangay, 30% go to the town or city, and 30% to the province.
Republic Act 8550: Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
Republic Act 8550: Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
This law establishes the management and sustainable use of fisheries and aquatic resources through zoning, regulation, and taxation of municipal fisheries.
In Pangasinan, it is applied through local ordinances that regulate fishing zones, especially in Lingayen Gulf and the Agno River system. These are enforced through BFAR and LGU patrols, the establishment of marine protected areas, and programs that support habitat rehabilitation and fisherfolk co-management.
2023 — Municipal Ordinance No. 02‑2023: Regulating municipal fishers and fishing vessels in Anda
2024 — Municipal Ordinance No. 2024‑04: Regulating Sea Cucumber Fisheries in Bolinao
Municipal Ordinance No. 5‑S‑2024: Establishment of a mariculture
park and fishery privileges for operating fish cages in San Fabian
What does this mean for stakeholders?
What does this mean for stakeholders?
For governments, these laws provide authority to regulate resource use, issue permits, collect revenues, and enforce environmental safeguards. Mining and fishing companies gain legal access to resources but must comply with strict requirements such as environmental protection measures, proper licensing, and adherence to zoning and conservation rules. Local communities benefit from rights to consultation, priority access to fisheries, livelihood support, and protection from harmful or exploitative practices, though they may also face risks if regulations are weakly enforced.
Ultimately, all sectors are posed to benefit from the implementation of these laws, as their success determines whether long-term ecological balance is maintained.
Policies to Manage Waste
Policies to Manage Waste
Republic Act 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
Republic Act 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
This act establishes a national program to protect and improve air quality by regulating emissions from industries, vehicles, and other pollution sources. It mandates the creation of geographically defined management areas or "airsheds" so that air quality strategies may be tailored to local conditions.
Implementation involves coordinated action from the DENR, LGUs, and sectoral industries, including mandatory emission testing, designation of non-attainment areas, and public access to air quality data.
Republic Act 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
Republic Act 9003: Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
This act requires LGUs to develop and enforce 10-year Solid Waste Management Plans while establishing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in every barangay or barangay cluster. Programs should be aimed at waste segregation at source, recycling, composting, and significantly reducing open dumping. National bodies like the National Solid Waste Management Commission guide policy harmonization, while local governments implement collection, diversion, and community education programs.
Republic Act 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
Republic Act 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
This act provides an integrated strategy for protecting the country's water bodies from pollution caused by domestic sewage, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff. It establishes Water Quality Management Areas (WQMAs) such as the Sinocalan-Dagupan River System for local science-based monitoring, requiring the installation of wastewater treatment facilities for establishments and LGUs.
Implementation involves cooperation from the DENR, LLDA, LGUs, and water utilities to enforce effluent standards, rehabilitate degraded water bodies, and prevent contamination.
Republic Act 11898: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022
Republic Act 11898: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022
The EPR act mandates large enterprises to take responsibility for the plastic packaging they release into the market, covering items such as sachets, bottles, single-use plastics, and shipping materials. Companies must establish programs for plastic recovery, recycling, reuse, or diversion, and are required to annually report their plastic footprint and recovery targets to the DENR.
Recommendations
Recommendations
The most significant weaknesses lie in enforcement, governance, and monitoring.
The most significant weaknesses lie in enforcement, governance, and monitoring.
Despite clear legal frameworks, local units often face resource constraints and limited technical capacity, making it difficult to fully enforce regulations. Governance challenges, including overlapping responsibilities between national and local authorities and inconsistent policy implementation across municipalities, further weaken compliance and coordination. Additionally, monitoring systems are frequently underdeveloped or irregular, preventing timely detection of violations and hindering adaptive management.
As a result, the goals of sustainable resource use, biodiversity protection, and conservation are compromised, underscoring the need for stronger institutional capacity, clear mechanisms of accountability, and systematic, consistent data collection to improve policy outcomes.
References
References
Pangasinan Provincial Planning and Development Office. (2020). Infrastructure / Utilities / Facilities. In Provincial Ecological Profile 2020. https://ppdo.pangasinan.gov.ph/planners-and-researchers-kiosk/provincial-ecological-profile-2020/infrastructure-utilities-facilities/
Rayat, R. F. (2025, January 24). Pangasinan collected unprecedented gross tax from quarry products in 2024, pushes provincial revenues to record PhP6 B plus. Province of Pangasinan. https://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/pangasinan-collected-unprecedented-gross-tax-from-quarry-products-in-2024-pushes-provincial-revenues-to-record-php6-b-plus/
IOC‑WESTPAC. (n.d.). Training on Coral Larval Reseeding. https://ioc-westpac.org/event/training-on-coral-larval-reseeding/
BusinessMirror. (2025, January 1). SC reso allowing big fishers in municipal waters scored. BusinessMirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/01/sc-reso-allowing-big-fishers-in-municipal-waters-scored/
Republic Act No. 7586. (1992). National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 11038. (2018). Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9147. (2001). Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9512. (2008). National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008. Philippines.
Municipality of Bolinao. (2017). Tourism Code of the Municipality of Bolinao (Ordinance No. 2017-04). Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9729. (2009). Climate Change Act of 2009. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 7942. (1995). Philippine Mining Act of 1995. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 8550. (1998). Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 8749. (1999). Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9003. (2000). Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9275. (2004). Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004. Philippines.
Republic Act No. 11898. (2022). Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022. Philippines.
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