Three categories of Philippine Environmental law

1. Law which regulates the exploitation, development and utilization of natural resources
2. Law which regulates the protection, preservation and conservation of natural resources involving
flora and fauna
3. Laws that deals with pollution and environmental management

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.cralaw

Section 16. 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.cralaw

Section 21. The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform.cralaw

Section 22. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the
framework of national unity and development.cralaw

ARTICLE XII
NATIONAL ECONOMY AND PATRIMONY

Section 2. All lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces
of potential energy, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are
owned by the State. With the exception of agricultural lands, all other natural resources shall not be
alienated. The exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control
and supervision of the State. The State may directly undertake such activities, or it may enter into co-
production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or corporations or
associations at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens. Such agreements may be
for a period not exceeding twenty-five years, renewable for not more than twenty-five years, and under
such terms and conditions as may be provided by law. In cases of water rights for irrigation, water supply
fisheries, or industrial uses other than the development of water power, beneficial use may be the measure
and limit of the grant.cralaw
The State shall protect the nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and
exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.cralaw
The Congress may, by law, allow small-scale utilization of natural resources by Filipino citizens, as
well as cooperative fish farming, with priority to subsistence fishermen and fish- workers in rivers, lakes,
bays, and lagoons.cralaw
The President may enter into agreements with foreign-owned corporations involving either
technical or financial assistance for large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of minerals,
petroleum, and other mineral oils according to the general terms and conditions provided by law, based
on real contributions to the economic growth and general welfare of the country. In such agreements, the
State shall promote the development and use of local scientific and technical resources.cralaw
The President shall notify the Congress of every contract entered into in accordance with this provision,
within thirty days from its execution.cralaw

The Concept of Jure Regalia (Regalian Doctrine)

This principle means that all natural wealth - agricultural,forest or
t i m b e r , a n d m i n e r a l l a n d s o f t h e p u b l i c d o m a i n a n d a l l o t h e r natural resources belong
to the State.
Thus, even if the private person owns the property where minerals are discovered, his ownership
for such does not give him the right to extract or utilize said minerals without permission from the
state to which suchminerals belong.
The abovementioned provision provides that except for agricultural lands for public domain
which alone may be alienated,forest or timber, and mineral lands, as well as all other natural
r e s o u r c e s m u s t r e m a i n w i t h t h e S t a t e , t h e e x p l o r a t i o n , developmen
t and utilization of which shall be subject to its full
control and supervision albeit allowing it to enter into
coproduction, joint venture or production-sharing agreements, ori n t o a g r e e m e n t s w i t h f o r e i g n -
owned corporations involving technical or financial assistance for large-
s c a l e e x p l o r a t i o n , development, and utilization.

Regalian Doctrine
is enshrined in Article XII,Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution which provides that alllands of public
domain, including its natural resources, belong to the state. All lands not appearing to be of public
domainpresumptively belong to the state.

Section 3. Lands of the public domain are classified into agricultural, forest or timber, mineral lands and
national parks. Agricultural lands of the public domain may be further classified by law according to the
uses to which they may be devoted. Alienable lands of the public domain shall be limited to agricultural
lands. Private corporations or associations may not hold such alienable lands of the public domain except
by lease, for a period not exceeding twenty-five years, renewable for not more than twenty-five years, and
not to exceed one thousand hectares in area. Citizens of the Philippines may lease not more than five
hundred hectares, or acquire not more than twelve hectares thereof, by purchase, homestead, or
grant.cralaw
Taking into account the requirements of conservation, ecology, and development, and subject to
the requirements of agrarian reform, the Congress shall determine, by law, the size of lands of the public
domain which may be acquired, developed, held, or leased and the conditions therefor.cralaw

Section 4. The Congress shall, as soon as possible, determine, by law, the specific limits of forest lands and
national parks, marking clearly their boundaries on the ground. Thereafter, such forest lands and national
parks shall be conserved and may not be increased nor diminished, except by law. The Congress shall
provide for such period as it may determine, measures to prohibit logging in endangered forests and
watershed areas.cralaw
Section 5. The State, subject to the provisions of this Constitution and national development policies and
programs, shall protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to their ancestral lands to ensure
their economic, social, and cultural well-being.cralaw
The Congress may provide for the applicability of customary laws governing property rights or relations in
determining the ownership and extent of ancestral domain.cralaw

Section 6. The use of property bears a social function, and all economic agents shall contribute to the
common good. Individuals and private groups, including corporations, cooperatives, and similar collective
organizations, shall have the right to own, establish, and operate economic enterprises, subject to the duty
of the State to promote distributive justice and to intervene when the common good so demands.cralaw

Section 7. Save in cases of hereditary succession, no private lands shall be transferred or conveyed except
to individuals, corporations, or associations qualified to acquire or hold lands of the public domain.cralaw

Section 8. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7 of this Article, a natural-born citizen of the
Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship may be a transferee of private lands, subject to limitations
provided by law.cralaw

Section 9. The Congress may establish an independent economic and planning agency headed by the
President, which shall, after consultations with the appropriate public agencies, various private sectors, and
local government units, recommend to Congress, and implement continuing integrated and coordinated
programs and policies for national development.cralaw
Until the Congress provides otherwise, the National Economic and Development Authority shall function
as the independent planning agency of the government.cralaw

Section 10. The Congress shall, upon recommendation of the economic and planning agency, when the
national interest dictates, reserve to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations at least
sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens, or such higher percentage as Congress may
prescribe, certain areas of investments. The Congress shall enact measures that will encourage the
formation and operation of enterprises whose capital is wholly owned by Filipinos.cralaw
In the grant of rights, privileges, and concessions covering the national economy and patrimony, the State
shall give preference to qualified Filipinos.cralaw
The State shall regulate and exercise authority over foreign investments within its national jurisdiction and
in accordance with its national goals and priorities.cralaw

Section 11. No franchise, certificate, or any other form of authorization for the operation of a public utility
shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations organized under the
laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens; nor shall such
franchise, certificate, or authorization be exclusive in character or for a longer period than fifty years.
Neither shall any such franchise or right be granted except under the condition that it shall be subject to
amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress when the common good so requires. The State shall
encourage equity participation in public utilities by the general public. The participation of foreign investors
in the governing body of any public utility enterprise shall be limited to their proportionate share in its
capital, and all the executive and managing officers of such corporation or association must be citizens of
the Philippines.cralaw

Section 12. The State shall promote the preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials and locally
produced goods, and adopt measures that help make them competitive.cralaw
 MALACAÑANG
Manila

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1586

ESTABLISHING AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING OTHER

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT RELATED MEASURES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the pursuit of a comprehensive and integrated environment 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 quality;

WHEREAS, the regulatory requirements of environmental Impact Statements and Assessments

instituted in pursuit of this national environmental protection program have to be worked into their full
regulatory and procedural details in a manner consistent with the goals of the program.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the

powers vested in me by the Constitution do hereby order and declare:

Section 1. Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to attain and maintain a rational and
orderly balance between socio-economic growth and environmental protection.

Section 2. Environmental Impact Statement System. There is hereby established an Environmental

Impact Statement System founded and based on the environmental impact statement required,
under Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1151, of all agencies and instrumentalities of the national
government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, as well as private corporations,
firms and entities, for every proposed project and undertaking which significantly affect the quality of
the environment.

Section 3. Determination of Lead Agency. The Minister of Human Settlements or his designated
representative is hereby authorized to name the lead agencies referred to in Section 4 of
Presidential Decree No. 1151 which shall have jurisdiction to undertake the preparation of the
necessary environmental impact statements on declared environmentally critical projects and areas.
All Environmental Impact Statements shall be submitted to the National Environmental Protection
Council for review and evaluation.

Section 4. Presidential Proclamation of Environmentally Critical Areas and Projects. The President
of the Philippines may, on his own initiative or upon recommendation of the National Environmental
Protection Council, by proclamation declare certain projects, undertakings or areas in the country as
environmentally critical. No person, partnership or corporation shall undertake or operate any such
declared environmentally critical project or area without first securing an Environmental Compliance
Certificate issued by the President or his duly authorized representative. For the proper
management of said critical project or area, the President may by his proclamation reorganize such
government offices, agencies, institutions, corporations or instrumentalities including the re-
alignment of government personnel, and their specific functions and responsibilities.

For the same purpose as above, the Ministry of Human Settlements shall: (a) prepare the proper
land or water use pattern for said critical project(s) or area (s); (b) establish ambient environmental
quality standards; (c) develop a program of environmental enhancement or protective measures
against calamituous factors such as earthquake, floods, water erosion and others, and (d) perform
such other functions as may be directed by the President from time to time.
Section 5. Environmentally Non-Critical Projects. All other projects, undertakings and areas not
declared by the President as environmentally critical shall be considered as non-critical and shall not
be required to submit an environmental impact statement. The National Environmental Protection
Council, thru the Ministry of Human Settlements may however require non-critical projects and
undertakings to provide additional environmental safeguards as it may deem necessary.

Section 6. Secretariat. The National Environmental Protection Council is hereby authorized to

constitute the necessary secretariat which will administer the Environmental Impact Statement
System and undertake the processing and evaluation of environmental impact statements.

Section 7. Management and Financial Assistance. The Ministry of Human Settlements is hereby
authorized to provide management and financial support to government offices and instrumentalities
placed under its supervision pursuant to this Decree financed from its existing appropriation or from
budgetary augmentation as the Minister of Human Settlements may deem necessary.

Section 8. Rules and Regulations. The National Environmental Protection Council shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Decree. For this purpose, the National Pollution
Control Commission may be availed of as one of its implementing arms, consistent with the powers
and responsibilities of the National Pollution Control Commission as provided in P.D. No. 984.

Section 9. Penalty for Violation. Any person, corporation or partnership found violating Section 4 of
this Decree, or the terms and conditions in the issuance of the Environmental Compliance
Certificate, or of the standards, rules and regulations issued by the National Environmental
Protection Council pursuant to this Decree shall be punished by the suspension or cancellation of
his/its certificate or and/or a fine in an amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) for
every violation thereof, at the discretion of the National Environmental Protection Council.

Section 10. Environmental Revolving Fund. Proceeds from the penalties prescribed in the preceding
Section 9 and other penalties imposed by the National Pollution Control Commission as authorized
in P.D. 984, shall be automatically appropriated into an Environment Revolving Fund hereby created
as an exemption to P.D. 711 and P.D. 1234. The fund shall be used exclusively for the operation of
the National Environmental Protection Council and the National Pollution Control Commission in the
implementation of this Decree. The rules and regulations for the utilization of this fund shall be
formulated by the Ministry of Human Settlements and submitted to the President for approval.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. The Inter-Agency Advisory Council of the National Pollution Control
Commission created under Section 4 of P.D. 984 is hereby abolished and its powers and
responsibilities are forthwith delegated and transferred to the Control of the National Environmental
Protection Council.

All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity Clause. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-eight.