THE CONDITION OF THE PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.• The Philippines is endowed with vast natural resources from which a substantial portion of its

income is derived.• 1.Forest-based resources now include only 6 million hectares of forested areas, with less than

a million hectares of primary growth forests remaining. The primary and secondary wood-based industries contributed significantly to the GDP and to our export earnings.• 2. The country has a coastline of approximately 18,000 kilometers. Marine fishing production

contributed to 62% of the total fish output in 1987. A decline in fish Production was recorded and attributed to destructive fishing methods and the depletion of fishery resources.• 3. The Philippines mangrove forests originally estimated to be over 500,000 hectares in 1918

has declined only 139,725 hectares.

• 4. The country is highly mineralized with estimated metallic and non-metallic ore reserves of 31.65 billion metric tons in 1988. The mining industry has constantly played a key role in economic development.• 5. The urban environment, air pollution and water pollution are

among the most visible signs of environmental deterioration. Studies show that concentrations of total suspended particles now exceed by 200% making Manila’s airmass one of the most polluted in the world.• 6. The quality of inlad and coastal waters in most urban centers has

been largely affected by untreated domestic wastes that are dumped into the same bodies of water. Improper disposal of solid wasted clogs waterways and other draining systems thereby causing the perennial flooding problem of Metro Manila.

KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS

• 7. Urban Population growth and lack of family planning framework have led to incompatible and inappropriate land use that cause environmental problems

• 1.Debt Relief• At the end of 2007, the country’s foreign debt stood at 54.9

billion dollars, a large portion of which is owned to commercial bank. A Substantial portion of the government;s budget goes to debt servicing, making even the most modest economic growth difficult to achieve. To ensure debt relief we have to make our resources available for the more pressing needs of the country, especially for our export trade.

POVERTY AND POPULATION

POVERTY HAS BEEN A CAUSE AND CONSENQUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. RAPID POPULATION GROWTH IN THE UPLAND WILL ALMOST COVER DISPOSABLE PUBLIC LANDS OF ABOUT 3.34 MILLION HECTARES.

RESOURCES DESTRUCTION

• The massive deforestation poses many threats to the environment . Destruction of vegetation in the upland areas has resulted in the sedimentation of rivers and water bodies,decreased productivity of agricultural lands,destructive floods,prolonged droughts,frequent outbreaks of diseases and pests,occurrence of storms and tornadoes in some areas, and loss off biodiversity

RAPID URBANIZATION OF AREAS

• Rapid urbanization of n Manila and other rural centers and regions has created serious environmental problems with respect to inadequate urban infrastructure fo basic services, accumulation or garbage,flooding, water pollution from domestic and industrial sources,contamination of ground water resources by salt water intrusion,continued expansion of squatters settlement and water and air pollution.• These problems pose major health risks to the populace

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND DISASTERS• Natural disasters such as droughts, floods, tropical cyclones

and earthquakes create a lot of damage to life and property thus affecting our economic growth.• The eruption of Mount Pinatubo claimed many lives and

withered agricultural lands, making them unfit for cultivation.

CLIMATE CHANGE

•The Philippines experiences climate changes which are relatively abrupt. Changes in rainfall patterns, typhoon frequency and period of occurrence are so noticeable today.

HAZARDOUS WASTES

• It has beome the priority concern of the country to properly manage its toxic wastes

PHILIPPINE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINBALE DEVELOPMENT DENR PROGRAM AND PROJECTS.

• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources initiated in 1987 the process of formulating a Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development (PSSD). Through a series of consultations with the different sectors of society, the concept took form and substance. In a national workshop held on June 6, 1988, a formal resolution urging the President and the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines to adopt and implement a Philippine strategy for Sustainable Developments was passed. Following the national workshop, the draft PSSD framework went through a series of regional and sectoral consultations. On June 22, 1989 it was presented to the Cabinet Assistance System (CAS) Plenary for comments. CAS-CRD was then tasked to input PSSD principles into the formulation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development in the Rural Sector. A consensus was made to adopt the PSSD concept in a joint meeting of the CAS-CRD and the Cabinet Cluster A on Rural Development on August 3, 1989. On November 29, 1989, the Cabinet passed Cabinet Resolution No. 37 approving the Conceptual Framework of the PSSD subject to the following approved modifications:

• The Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development shall address specifically the adverse impact of growth and development such as but not limited to po11ution from factories an(l pesticide build up from agriculture; and the depletion and degradation of natural resources due mainly to misuse and over exploitation.• It shall consist of a set of general strategies to resolve and

reconcile the diverse and sometimes conflicting environmental, demographic, economic and natural resource use issues arising from the country's development efforts; and sectoral strategies identified after a review of the current efforts being undertaken in each of the identified sectors.

• The general strategies shall include the • A.integration of environmental considerations in decision

making, • B.proper resource pricing,• C. property rights reform, • D.conservation of biodiversity, • E. rehabilitation of degraded ecosystem, • F.strengthening of residual management (pollution control), • G.control of population growth and human resources

development, • H.inducing growth in rural areas,• I. promotion of environmental education • J.strengthening of citizens participation.

• Goal• Sustainable development stresses the need to view

environmental protection and economic growth as mutually compatible. This implies that growth objectives should be compatible not only to the needs of society but also to the natural dynamics and carrying capacities of ecosystems. The goal of the PSSD is to achieve economic growth with adequate protection of the country's biological resources and its diversity, vital ecosystem functions, and over-all environmental quality.• Objectives• The following objectives have been identified toward the

attainment of the PSSD goal.

• To ensure the sustainable utilization of the country's natural resources such as forests, croplands, marine, and freshwater ecosystems.• To promote social and intergenerational equity in the utilization of

the country's natural resources.• To develop management programs to preserve the country's

heritage of biological diversity.• To promote the technologies of sustainable lowland agriculture and

upland agroforestry through the encouragement of research and development (R and D) and demonstration projects.• To achieve and maintain an acceptable quality of air and water.• To promote and encourage an exploration program for economically

important minerals.

• To promote R and D in environmentally-sound and economically-efficient processing of the country's mineral and energy resources.• To enhance the foundation for scientific decision-making

through the promotion and support of education and research in ecosystems.• To promote and support the integration of population concern

including migration variables and family welfare considerations in development programs with special emphasis in ecologically critical areas.• To expand sustantially the family planning programs and

responsible parenthood program.

ONGOING OR COMPLETED DENR AND PROJECTS