UNIT

6
[ENVIRONMENTALLY
CRITICAL AREAS]

ARCH. NAOMI B. TOLENTINO

Professor
KIMBERLY N. QUIRAY
BS Architecture 2-B

ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREAS

Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA) are those areas ranging from national parks to
areas frequently exposed to hazards or areas that are historically interesting. These
areas are identified in Presidential Proclamation 2146. The wide range in the
classification might at first seem overwhelming, however, most data to this dataset
will already be found in datasets that have probably been prepared already.
Environmentally Critical Projects (ECP) are projects or industries that have critical
environmental impacts and therefore need to undergo environmental impact
assessments and need to acquire Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) prior
to implementation. Even though the LGU may not play a significant role in the
environmental impact assessment system it is important to monitor these projects
in order to plan for the appropriate location of these projects vis--vis residential
and other land uses.
The CLUP must reflect these areas and projects. Some ECA may need to be
surrounded by buffer zones so that the adjacent land will be free from intensive land
use and thus protecting the ECAs. In the same way, buffer zones around ECPs can
be used to prevent residential or agricultural land use in the vicinities of these
projects.
The objective of this IP is to present an inventory as complete as possible regardless
of what has already been analyzed in other IPs.
The table below indicates from which CLUP table(s) the data can be reflected,
copied or acquired.
ECA Classification (source)
ECA Class

CLUP Table(s)

A Area declared by law as a national park,

watershed, reserve, wildlife preserves or sanctuary

LM05 Nipas

B area set aside as aesthetic, potential tourist spot

C area which constitutes the habitat for any

endangered or threatened species of indigenous
Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna)

LM05 Nipas,
LM06 Non-Nipas

D area of unique historic, archeological, geological

or scientific interest

LM09 Cultural Heritage

E area which is traditionally occupied by cultural

community or tribe

LM08 Ancestral domain,

LM09 Cultural Heritage

F area frequently visited and/or hard-hit by natural

calamities (geologic hazards, floods, typhoons,
volcanic activity, etc.)

EM03
EM05
EM06
EM07
EM08
EM09

G area with critical slope

EM02 Slope

H area classified as prime agricultural land

LM08 SAFDZ

Flood, EM04 Erosion,

Faultline,
Volcanic Hazard,
Tsunami,
Landslide,
Subsidence

I recharged area of aquifers

J waterbody

From basemap

K mangrove area

LM05 Nipas,
LM06 Non-Nipas
LM07 SAFDZ

L coral reef

To identify the different Environmental Critical Projects, refer to the projects that
have been given an ECC. These can be categorized in the following classes:

heavy industry;

extractive resource;

infrastructure project;

golf course

LAW CONCERNING THIS ISSUE:

Proclamation No. 2146
[December 14, 1981]
PROCLAIMING CERTAIN AREAS AND TYPES OF PROJECTS AS
ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL
AND WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1586.
PROCLAIMING CERTAIN AREAS AND TYPES OF PROJECTS AS ENVIRONMENTALLY
CRITICAL AND WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
SYSTEM ESTABLISHED UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1586.
WHEREAS, it is the national policy to attain and maintain a rational and orderly
balance between socio-economic growth and environmental conservation and
protection;
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to bring about an intensive, integrated program
of environmental protection through a requirement of environmental impact
assessments and statements;
WHEREAS, the environmental impact statement system established under
Presidential Decree No. 1586 calls for the proper management of environmentally
critical area,
WHEREAS, the pursuit of a comprehensive and integrated environmental protection
program necessitates the establishment and institutionalization of a system
whereby the exigencies of socio-economic undertakings can be reconciled with the
requirements of environmental protection and conservation;

WHEREAS, the national leadership mandates the establishment of such a system to

regulate and minimize the environmental impacts of projects and undertakings
which may significantly affect the quality of the environment in Presidential Decree
No. 1586, and
WHEREAS, in the effective implementation of such a system, there arises the need
to identify and declare certain projects determined to be environmentally critical.
The following are areas and types of projects as environmentally critical and within
the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement System:
A. Environmentally Critical Projects
I. Heavy Industries
a.Non-ferrous metal industries
b. Iron and steel mills
c.Petroleum and petro-chemical industries including oil and gas
d. Smelting plants
II. Resource Extractive Industries
a.Major mining and quarrying projects
b. Forestry projects
1. Logging
2. Major wood processing projects
3. Introduction of fauna (exotic-animals) in public/private forests
4. Forest occupancy
5.Extraction of mangrove products
6. Grazing
c. Fishery Projects
1. Dikes for fishpond development projects
III. Infrastructure Projects
a. Major dams
b. Major power plants (fossil-fueled, nuclear fueled, hydroelectric or
geothermal)
c. Major reclamation projects
d. Major roads and bridges.
B. Environmentally Critical Areas

1. All areas declared by law as national parks, watershed reserves, wildlife

preserves and sanctuaries;
2. Areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots;
3. Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened
species of indigenous Philippine Wildlife (flora and fauna);
4. Areas of unique historic, archaeological, or scientific interests;
5. Areas which are traditionally occupied by cultural communities or tribes;
6. Areas frequently visited and/or hard-hit by natural calamities geologic
hazards, floods, typhoons, volcanic activity, etc.
7. Areas with critical slopes;
8. Areas classified as prime agricultural lands;
9. Recharged areas of aquifers;
10. Water bodies characterized by one or any combination of the following
conditions;;
a. tapped for domestic purposes;;
b. within the controlled and/or protected areas declared by appropriate
authorities;
c. which support wildlife and fishery activities.
11. Mangrove areas characterized by one or any combination or the following
conditions:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
a. with primary pristine and dense young growth;
b. adjoining mouth of major river systems;
c. near or adjacent to traditional productive fry or fishing grounds;
d. which act as natural buffers against shore erosion, strong winds and
storm floods;
e. on which people are dependent for their livelihood.
12. Coral reef characterized by one or any combination of the following
a. with 50% and above live coralline cover;
b. Spawning and nursery grounds for fish;
c. Which act as natural breakwater of coastlines.