LAW 106M

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Atty. Brenda Jay Angeles Mendoza
De La Salle University College of Law
First Semester, Academic Year 2015-2016

1. Course Description and Objectives

This course offers a general understanding of the basic laws and policies governing natural
resources and the environment in the Philippines. It covers a discussion of the constitutional
precepts on environmental rights and resource use in the country. It also includes an overview
of the institutional and policy environment, as well as procedural remedies for protecting and
managing natural resources and the environment. Finally, it examines major issues related to the
development and management of the countrys natural resources and the environment.
The course will be conducted through a mix of classroom learning through lectures, group
dynamics, class reports, and reflection papers, and experiential learning/field visit. By the end of
the semester, the students must be able to:
1. Describe the general concepts and principles relating to environment and natural
resources law and policy;
2. Explain the institutional and policy underpinnings of the law as well as the breadth
and dynamics of its application in concrete cases; and
3. Apply knowledge of law and policy in analyzing specific environment and natural
resources issues.
2. Learning Resources: Course Outline*
A. Introduction
a. Course expectations and overview
b. The state of natural resources and the environment in the Philippines
c. Fundamental principles of environmental law
d. Environmental protection and management approaches
e. Sustainable development framework for natural resources governance
f. Natural resources and ecosystems services
g. Transparency and accountability in natural resources governance

Philippine Medium Term Development Plan 2011-2016, Chapter 10: Conservation,

Protection and Rehabilitation of the Environment & Natural Resources
[http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CHAPTER-10.pdf]
Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development Report, Our
Common Future, 1987, Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development
[http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm#I]
International Institute for Sustainable Development Background Paper,
Sustainable Development: From Brundtlandt to Rio 2012, prepared for the High
Level Panel on Global Sustainability, Sept. 2010.
The Tragedy of the Commons," Garrett Hardin, Science, 162(1968):1243-1248.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/162/3859/1243.full
Encyclical Letter Laudato Si of the Holy Father Francis on Care for our Common
Home https://laudatosi.com/watch
J.B. Ruhl, et.al., The Law and Policy of Ecosystem Services

B. Constitutional and Legal Framework on Environment and Natural Resources

a. Ownership of natural resources
b. Exploration, development, and use of natural resources
c. Right to a healthful and balanced ecology
d. Peoples participation in natural resources use
e. Indigenous peoples rights
f. Other limits on state power over natural resources

1987 Constitution of the Philippines

o Article I
o Article XII, Sections 2-5
o Article XIII, Sections 1, 4-7, 15-16
o Article II, Sections 13-16, 18, 20, 22-23, 25
o Article III, Sections 1, 7, 9
Supreme Court decisions:
o Oposa v. Factoran, G.R. No. 101083, 30 July 1993
o MMDA v. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, G.R. Nos. 171947-48, 18
December 2008 and 15 February 2011
o Carino v. Insular Government, 212 U.S. 449,1909
o Cruz v. NCIP, G.R. No. 135385, December 6, 2000)
o DENR v. Yap, G.R. No. 167707, Oct 8, 2008
o Resident Marine Mammals of Tanon Strait v. Sec. Angelo Reyes, G.R. No.
180771, 21 April 2015

C. Institutional and Policy Framework on Natural Resources

a. National government
i. Executive (DENR, DA, DOE, NCIP, and other agencies )
ii. Legislative (Congress)
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iii. Judiciary (Supreme Court, forestry & environment courts)

b. Local governments and other entities with special jurisdiction
i. LGUs (city, municipal, provincial)
ii. ARMM
iii. LLDA
iv. PCSD (Palawan SEP)
v. PNP and other special forces
c. Quasi-judicial bodies
i. PAB
ii. MAB

EO 192 (1997), RA 7160 (1991), RA 7638 (1992), RA 8371 (1997), RA 7611 (1992)
Supreme Court decisions:
o LLDA v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 110120, 16 March 1994; Loney v.
People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 152644, 10 February 2006; LLDA v. SM
Prime Holdings, Inc. G.R. No. 170599, 22 September 2010; Pacific Steam
Laundry v. LLDA, G.R. No. 165299, 18 December 2009; The Alexandra
Condominium Corp. V. LLDA, G.R. No. 169228, 11 September 2009
o Republic v. Marcopper Mining, G.R. No. 137174. July 10, 2000
o MMDA v. Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, G.R. Nos. 171947-48, 18
December 2008 and 15 February 2011
o Province of Rizal v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 129546, 13 December
2005
o Boracay Foundation v. Province of Aklan, G.R. No. 196870, 26 June 2012
o Dolot v. Paje, et.al, G.R. No. 199199, 27 August 2013

D. Environmental Impact Assessment

a. Concept and rationale
b. Philippine EIS system
c. EIA in relation to government permits and licenses
d. Public participation in EIA

PD 1151 (1977), PD 1586 (1978), Proc. No. 2146 (1981), DENR DAO 2003-30
Supreme Court decisions:
o Republic v. City of Davao, G.R. No. 148622, 12 September 2002
o Bangus Fry Fisherfolk v. Hon. Lanzanas, G.R. No. 131442, 10 July 2003
o Otadan, et.al. v. Rio Tuba Nickel Mining, G.R. No. 161436, 23 June 2004
o Boracay Foundation v. Province of Aklan, G.R. No. 196870, 26 June 2012
o Paje v. Casio, G.R. No. 207257; Redondo Peninsula Energy v. Casio, G.R.
No. 207276; Delos Reyes v. Paje, G.R. No. 207282; and SBMA v. Casio,
G.R. No. 207366, 3 February 2015

E. Forest Resources and Watershed Management Laws

a. State of Philippine forests
b. Forest management approaches and tenure Instruments
c. Combating forest crimes, deforestation, and watershed degradation

PD 705 (1975), as amended by EO 277 (1987), RA 7161, PD 1755, BP 83

EO 263 (1995), EO 23 (2011), EO 26 (2011)
PD 1067
Supreme Court decisions:
o Director of Forestry, et al. v. Muoz, et al., G.R. L-24796, 28 June 1968
(Phil.).
o Pinagcamaligan Indo-Agro Development Corporation, Inc. v. Peralta,
et.al., G.R. L-25459, 28 June 1968 (Phil.)
o Tan v. Director of Forestry, G.R. No. L-24548, 27 October 1983
o Ysmael v. the Deputy Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 79538, 18 October
1990 , (Phil)
o Oposa v. Factoran, G.R. No. 101083, 30 July 1993
o Mustang Lumber, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, et.al., G.R. Nos. 104988,
106424 & 123784, 18 June 1996
o Paat, et al. v. Court of Appeals, et al., G.R. No. 111107, 10 January 1997
o Province of Rizal v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 129546, 13 December
2005
o Alvarez v. Picop Resources, Inc. G.R. Nos. 162243, 164516, and 171875,
29 November 2009

F. Protected Areas, Wildlife, and Biodiversity Laws

a. State of protected areas, wildlife, and biodiversity in the Philippines
b. Integrated protected areas system; protection and management
c. Conservation and protection of wildlife species and their habitats
d. Bioprospecting and biosafety
e. International commitments on biodiversity and species conservation

RA 7586 (1992), RA 9147 (2001), EO 247

Court of Appeals decision:
o Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines) v. EMB of DENR, G.R. No.
201390, 2 May 2012

G. Fisheries, Coastal, and Marine Resources Laws

a. State of Philippine fisheries, coastal, and marine resources
b. Legal framework for fisheries, coastal, and marine resources

RA 8550 (1998), RA 8435 (1997)

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Supreme Court decisions:

o Tano v. Socrates, G.R. No. 110249, 21 August 1997
o People v. Vergara, G.R. No. 110826, 2 April 1997
o Hizon v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 119619, 13 December 1996
o Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. v. Jalos et. al., GR No. 179918, 8
September 2010
o Boracay Foundation v. Province of Aklan, G.R. No. 196870, 26 June 2012

H. Mineral Resources Use and Development Laws

a. State of mineral resources in the Philippines
b. Legal framework for mineral resources exploration, development, and use
c. Social and environmental issues in mining

I.

Energy Laws
a. State of energy resources in the Philippines
b. Legal framework for energy resource exploration, development, and use

J.

RA 7942 (1995), RA 7076 (1991), EO 79 (2012)

Supreme Court decisions:
o Republic v. Marcopper Mining Corp., G.R. No. 137174. July 10, 2000
o La Bugal Blaan Tribal Association v. Ramos, G.R. No. 127882, 1 December
2004
o Southeast Mindanao Gold Mining Corp v. Balite Portal Mining Coop, G.R.
No. 135190, April 3, 2002
o Didipio Earth-Savers Multi-Purpose Association, et.al. v. Gozun G.R. No.
157882, 30 March 2006
o Dolot v. Paje, et.al, G.R. No. 199199, 27 August 2013

PD 87 (1972), PD 1174 (1976), RA 9593 (2008), RA 9637 (2006), RA 7638 (1992)

Supreme Court decisions:
o Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. v. Jalos et. al., G.R. No. 179918, 8 September
2010
o Paje v. Casio, G.R. No. 207257; Redondo Peninsula Energy v. Casio, G.R. No.
207276; Delos Reyes v. Paje, G.R. No. 207282; and SBMA v. Casio, G.R. No.
207366, 3 February 2015

Anti-Pollution and Waste Management Laws

a. Air pollution
b. Water and marine pollution
c. Solid waste management
d. Toxic substances and hazardous waste management

RA 8749 (1990), Rep. Act No. 9275 (2004), Rep. Act. No. 9483 (2007), RA 4850, RA
9003 (2000), RA 6969 (1990)
Supreme Court decisions:
o MMDA v. JANCOM Environmental Corporation, G.R. No. 14746, 30
January 2002
o Henares v. LTFRB, G.R. No. 158290, 23 October 2006
o Loney v. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 152644, 10 February 2006;
Public Hearing Authority of the LLDA v. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. G.R.
No. 170599, 22 September 2010; Pacific Steam Laundry v. LLDA, G.R.
No. 165299, 18 December 2009; The Alexandra Condominium Corp.
V. LLDA, G.R. No. 169228, 11 September 2009
o Metro Manila Development Authority v. Concerned Residents of
Manila Bay, G.R. Nos. 171947-48 (2008) and (2011)
o Province of Rizal v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 129546, 13
December 2005

K. Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases

a. Overall framework for resolving environmental cases
b. Scope and objectives of the rules
c. Innovative provisions and remedies (standing, writ of kalikasan, continuing
mandamus, SLAPP suits, precautionary principle)
d. Writ of kalikasan: environmental adjudication in practice

Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases, A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC

Supreme Court decisions:
o Paje v. Casio, G.R. No. 207257; Redondo Peninsula Energy v. Casio, G.R. No.
207276; Delos Reyes v. Paje, G.R. No. 207282; and SBMA v. Casio, G.R. No.
207366, 3 February 2015
Court of Appeals decisions:
o Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines) v. EMB of DENR, GR No. 201390, 2
May 2012
o Agham Party List v. Paje, GR No. 199970, February 7, 2012; CA-G.R. SP-00007,
June 29, 2012
o Agham Party List v. LNL Archipelago Minerals, CA-G.R. SP-00012, November
23, 2012; September 13, 2013

L. Overview of International Legal Instruments Governing Environment and Natural Resources

3. References
La Vina, Antonio G.M., Philippine Law and Ecology vols. 1 and 2, U.P. Law Centennial Textbook
Project, UP College of Law (2012)
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Oposa, Antonio A., A Legal Arsenal for the Philippine Environment (2003)
Laws, Rules, and Issuances for Environmental Cases: A Publication of the Philippine Judicial
Academy, Supreme Court of the Philippines
Access to Environmental Justice: A Sourcebook on Environmental Rights and Legal Remedies: A
Publication of the Philippine Judicial Academy and Program Management Office, Supreme Court
of the Philippines

*Modified version of the initial course outline developed with Dr. Antonio G.M. La Vina and Atty. Maria
Aleta C. Nunez for the De La Salle University College of Law (SY 2013-2014).