PHILIPPINE

ECOLOGICAL SOLID
WASTE
MANAGEMENT
ACT AND OTHER
RELEVANT LAWS
ROMEL LEO B. ALOJADO
JOSHUA JED DAVID GADIAN
RACHELLE MAE TUMINEZ
THE PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
(1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION)
Executive Order No. 192 designated the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR)
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is specifically tasked to implement,
recommend, and provide technical assistance for their implementation and monitoring

RA 9003
This Act shall be known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000."
What is RA 9003?
An Act providing for an ecological solid waste management program, creating the
necessary institutional mechanisms, declaring certain prohibited acts.
Salient Features of RA 9003
1. Creation of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, National
Ecological Center and LGU Solid Waste Management Boards
2. Creation of multi-purpose Environmental Cooperatives or Associations in every
LGU
3. Waste segregation, waste reduction and recycling programs
4. Construction of Material Recovery Facilities/Systems
5. Conversion of open dumpsites to sanitary landfills
6. Integration of Ecological Waste Management concepts in academic curricula for
formal and non-formal education
Major Provisions of RA 9003
1. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) provides the
legal framework for the systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste
management program of the Philippines, which shall ensure protection of public
health and the environment.
2. It emphasizes the need to create the necessary institutional mechanisms and
incentives, and imposes penalties for acts in violation of any of its provisions
3. The Republic Act 9003 specifically mandates all, especially the local government
units, to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste
management program which shall ensure protection of public health and
environment
4. Utilize environmentally sound methods; set targets and guidelines for solid waste
avoidance and reduction; ensure proper segregation, collection, transport and
storage of solid waste
 5. Promote national research and development programs for improved SWM;
encourage greater sector participation; retain primary enforcement and
responsibility of SWM with local government units
6. Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among waste generators;
institutionalize public participation; and strengthen the integration of ecological
solid waste management, resource conservation and recovery topics into the
academic curricula.
Government sectors involve in RA 9003
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
• Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
• Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
• Department of Health (DOH)
Private Sectors
1. A representative from non-government organizations (NGOs) whose principal
purpose is to promote recycling and the protection of air and water quality.
2. A representative from the recycling industry.
3. A representative from the manufacturing or packaging industry

Contents of the Reports Presented by the Government and Private Sectors

• Inventory of existing solid waste facilities
• Projection of waste generation
• Systems and techniques of waste reduction, re-use and recycling
• Available markets for recyclable materials
• Estimated cost of collecting, storing, transporting, marketing and disposal of
wastes and recyclable materials
Vital factors Considered in the implementation of Solid Waste Practice
1. The quality of surface and groundwater from leachate contamination.
2. The quality of surface waters from surface run-off contamination.
3. Ambient air quality.
PD 825
PROVIDING PENALTY FOR IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER
FORMS OF UNCLEANLINESS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHO: President Ferdinand E. Marcos
WHEN: November 7, 1975
WHY: To make our own surroundings clean

PROVISIONS
1. All establishments of any kinds, shall undertake the cleaning of their own
surroundings, their yards and gardens, as well as the canals, roads or streets in
their immediate premises.
2. All garbages, filth and other waste matters, shall be placed in the proper
receptacles for the disposition thereof by garbage collectors.
3. Any person, who shall litter or throw garbage, filth, or other waste matters in
public places, such as roads, canals esteros or parks, shall suffer an imprisonment
of not less than 5 days nor more than one year or a fine of not less than P100 nor
more than P2,000.00 or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the
Court or tribunal, without prejudice to the imposition of a higher penalty under
any other law or decree.
4. If the violator is a corporation, firm, or other corporate entities, the maximum
penalty shall be imposed upon the president, manager, director or persons
responsible for its operation.
5. The Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, with the
assistance of health officials and local governments concerned, shall supervise
the implementation of this Decree.

PD 1152
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT CODE

WHO: Ferdinand E. Marcos

WHEN: June 6, 1988
WHY: To ensure the ambient air quality, proper water quality management, and land
use management.
AIR QUALITY
• To achieve and maintain such levels of air quality as to protect public
health.
• To prevent to the greatest extent practicable, injury and/or damage to
plant and animal life and property, and promote the social economic
development of the country
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Aims to protect and improve the quality of Philippine water resources through:
1. Classification of Philippine waters
2. Establishment of water quality standards
3. Protection and improvement of the quality of Philippine water resources
4. Responsibilities for surveillance and mitigation of pollution incidents\
Protection and Improvement of Water Quality
The production, utilization, storage and distribution of hazardous, toxic and other
substances such as radioactive materials, heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, and oils,
and disposal, discharge and dumping of untreated wastewater, mine-tailings and other
substances that may pollute any body of water of the Philippines resulting from normal
operations of industries, water-borne sources, and other human activities, as well as those
resulting from accidental spills and discharges shall be regulated by appropriate government
agencies pursuant to their respective charters and enabling legislations.
Clean Up operations
It shall be the responsibility of the polluter to contain, remove and clean-up water pollution
incidents at his own expense. In case of his failure to do so, the government agencies concerned
shall undertake containment, removal and clean-up operations and expenses incurred in said
operations shall be charged against the persons and/or entities responsible for such pollution.
LAND USE MANAGEMENT
To encourage the prudent use and conservation of land resources in order to prevent an
imbalance between the nation’s needs and such resources.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
To provide the basics on the management and conservation of the country’s natural resources to
obtain the optimum benefits therefrom and to preserve the same for the future generations
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Every waste management program shall include the following:
1. An orderly system of operation consistent with the needs of the area concerned
 2. A provision that the operation will not create pollution of any kind or will constitute
public nuisance
3. A system for safe and sanitary disposal of waste
PD 984
THE POLLUTION CONTROL LAW
WHO: Ferdinand E. Marcos
WHEN: August 18, 1976
WHY: To determine the location, magnitude, extent, severity, causes, effects and other pertinent
information regarding pollution of the water, air and land resources of the country.
Salient features
1. Develop comprehensive multi-year and annual plans for the abatement of existing
pollution and the prevention of new or imminent pollution, the implementation of which
shall be consistent with the national development plan of the country.
2. Issue standards, rules and regulations to govern the approval of plans and specifications
for sewage works and industrial waste disposal systems and the issuance of permits.
Prohibitions
1. The construction, installation, modification or operation of any sewage works or any
extension
2. The increase in volume or strength of any wastes in excess of the permissive discharge
specified under any existing permit
3. The operation of which would cause an increase in the discharge of waste directly into
the water, air and/or land resources of the Philippines
Ra 6969
Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act
WHO: Corazon C. Aquino
WHEN: October 26, 1990
WHY: Provides for the regulation of all chemical substances that may pose threat to public
health and the environment

Provisions
Policy of the State to regulate, restrict or prohibit:
1. 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
 2. Entry (even transit) of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into Philippine
territorial limits
3. To provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals\
Function, Powers and Responsibilities of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources.
1. To require chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk or injury to
health or to the environment to be tested before they are manufactured or imported for
the first time
2. To require chemical substances and mixtures which are presently being manufactured or
processed to be tested if there is a reason to believe that they pose unreasonable risk or
injury to health or the environment
3. To evaluate the characteristics of chemicals that have been tested to determine their
toxicity and the extent of their effects on health and the environment
4. To confiscate or impound chemicals found not falling within said acts cannot be enjoined
except after the chemicals have been impounded
Ra 8749
This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”
WHO: Joseph Ejercito Estrada
WHEN: June 23, 1999
WHY: 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.
PROVISIONS
1. Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution management that shall be
implemented by the government through proper delegation and effective coordination of
functions and activities
2. Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and industries though the
application of market-based instruments
3. Focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a
comprehensive management program for air pollution
Recognition of Rights
1. The right to breathe clean air
2. The right to utilize and enjoy all natural resources according to the principle of
sustainable development
3. The right of access to public records which a citizen may need to exercise his or her rights
effectively under this Act.