According to the Letric Law Library, mandate means a judicial command or precept

issued by a court or magitrate, directing the proper officer to enforce a judgment, sentence or

decree. To ensure that waste in the environment is effectively minimized, and pollution in the

air is being prevented, the government has set laws and standards in able to obtain such

environmental conditions stated above. Thus, the following mandates are being practiced in

the country for the advantage of everyone, as well as to the benefit of the nature:

RA 9003 - “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is an act providing for an

ecological solid waste management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanisms

and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited and providing penalties, appropriating funds

therefore, and for other purposes.

This mandate ensures the protection of public health through setting guidelines and

targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction by source reduction and waste

minimization measures, including composing, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal

process, and others, before collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and

environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically

sustainable development principles.

It also ensures proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal

of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practices in

ecological waste management excluding incineration.

RA 6969 – “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990”

The Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990 is an

act to control toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes, providing penalties for

violations thereof, and for other purposes.

Its main goal is to regulate, restrict or prohibit 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; to prohibit the entry, even in

transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits

for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic

chemicals.

This act shall cover the importation, manufacture, processing, handling, storage,

transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of all unregulated chemical substances and

mixtures in the Philippines, including the entry, even in transit as well as the keeping or storage

and disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the country for whatever purpose.

RA 8749 – “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”

The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 is an act providing for a comprehensive air

pollution control policy and for other purposes. The state shall pursue a policy of balancing

development and environmental protection through formulating 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; focusing primarily on

pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive management

program for air pollution; and enforce a system of accountability for short and long-term
adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity which includes setting up of a

funding or guarantee mechanism for clean-up and environmental rehabilitation and

compensation for personal damages.

RA 9275 – “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004”

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the

country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial

establishments, agriculture and community/household activities). It provides for a

comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-

sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders. Management will be

localized. Multi-sectoral governing boards will be established to manage water quality issues

within their jurisdiction. This act prohibits the following:

a) Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water body, or such which will

impede natural flow in the water body

b) Discharging, injecting or allowing to enter into the soil, anything that would pollute

groundwater

c) Operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without the valid

required permits

d) Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by vessels

e) Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage sludge or solid waste.

f) Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances or pollutants

listed under Toxic Chemicals, Hazardous and Nuclear

g) Wastes Control Act (Republic Act No. 6969)

h) Discharging regulated water pollutants without the valid required discharge permit

pursuant to this Act

 i) Noncompliance of the LGU with the Water Quality Framework and Management

Area Action Plan

j) Refusal to allow entry, inspection and monitoring as well as access to reports and

records by the DENR in accordance with this Act

k) Refusal or failure to submit reports and/or designate pollution control officers

whenever required by the DENR in accordance with this Act

l) Directly using booster pumps in the distribution system or tampering with the water

supply in such a way to alter or impair the water quality

m) Operate facilities that discharge or allow to seep, willfully or through grave

negligence, prohibited chemicals, substances, or pollutants listed under R.A. No.

6969, into water bodies.

n) Undertake activities or development and expansion of projects, or operating

wastewater treatment/sewerage facilities in violation of P.D.1586 and its IRR.

RA 9512 – “National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008”

The National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 is an act to promote

environmental awareness through environmental education and for other purposes. It is the

duty of the government to promote national awareness on the role of natural resources in

economic growth and the importance of environmental conservation and ecological balance

towards sustained national development through education in accordance with the policy of the

state to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord

with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and in recognition of the vital role of the youth in

nation building and the role of education to foster patriotism and nationalism.
 The departments involve in implementing this law are the Department of Education

(DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD), in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other relevant agencies.

These agencies shall integrate environmental education in its school curricula at all levels,

whether public or private, including in barangay daycare, preschool, non-formal, technical

vocational, professional level, indigenous learning and out-of-school youth courses or

programs.

RA 7160 – “Local Government Code of 1991”

It is hereby declared that the territorial and political subdivisions of the state shall enjoy

genuine and meaningful local autonomy to enable them to attain their fullest development as

self-reliant communities and make them more effective partners in the attainment of national

goals. Toward this end, the State shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local

government structure instituted through a system of decentralization whereby local government

units shall be given more powers, authority, responsibilities, and resources. The process of

decentralization shall proceed from the national government to the local government units.

REFERENCES
 Chan Robles; Virtual Law Library September 18, 2018 retrieved from

http://www.chanrobles.com/philippinecleanairact.htm#.W6EmW2puaU

 The Letric Law Library. September 18, 2018 retrieved from

https://www.lectlaw.com/def2/m080.htm

 The LAWPHiL Project; Arellano Law Foundation; Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence

Databank September 18, 2018 retrieved from

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2001/ra_9003_2001.html

 The LAWPHiL Project; Arellano Law Foundation; Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence

Databank September 18, 2018 retrieved from

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6969_1990.html

 The LAWPHiL Project; Arellano Law Foundation; Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence

Databank September 18, 2018 retrieved from

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9275_2004.html

 The LAWPHiL Project; Arellano Law Foundation; Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence

Databank September 18, 2018 retrieved from

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2008/ra_9512_2008.html

 The LAWPHiL Project; Arellano Law Foundation; Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence

Databank September 18, 2018 retrieved from

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html