Resource information
This Act makes provision for the protection of the environment of a broad sense. Its provisions are divided into Titles, the major part of them dealing with specific aspects of environment protection.Title I makes provision with respect to air and noise pollution.Purpose Title II to prescribe management guidelines aimed to protect and improve the quality of Philippine water resources. The National Pollution Control Commission, in coordination with appropriate government agencies, shall classify Philippine waters, taking into account the existing quality of the body of water at the time of classification; the size, depth, surface area covered, volume, direction, rate of flow, gradient of stream; and the most beneficial uses of said bodies of water and lands bordering them for residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, navigational, recreational, and aesthetic purposes (sect. 15). The National Pollution Control Commission shall prescribe quality and effluent standards consistent with the guidelines set by the National Environmental Protection Council and the classification of waters (sect. 18). Appropriate government agencies shall regulate waste water discharge in consultation with National Environmental Protection Council (sect. 19).Title III makes provision with respect to land management. The Human Settlements Commission, in coordination with the appropriate agencies of the government, shall formulate and recommend to the National Environmental Protection Council a land use scheme consistent with the purpose of this Title (sect. 23).The purpose of Title IV is 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. Its provisions are divided into 7 Chapters: Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (I); Wildlife (II); Forestry and Soil Conservation Chapter (III); Flood Control and Natural Calamities Chapter (IV); Energy Development Chapter (V); Conservation and Utilisation of Surface groundwaters Chapter (VI); Mineral Resources. The first three chapters contain provisions outlining the policy with respect to and measures for the rational exploitations of fisheries, forestry, and wildlife resources. Principal management and conservation authority shall be the Department of Natural Resources. Section 34 outlines the contents of a Flood Control Program. The national government through the National Water Resources Council in coordination with other appropriate government agencies, shall prescribe measures for the conservation and improvement of the quality of Philippine water resources and provide for the prevention, control and abatement of water pollution (sect. 39).Remaining provisions deal with waste management and provide for miscellaneous matters including public hearings, environmental monitoring and incentives.
