Philippine Environment Code

Aims to protect public health and prevent injury or damage to plant, animal life, and property.
Establishes ambient air quality standards defining maximum permissible pollutant concentrations.
Sets national emission standards for stationary and mobile pollution sources, with consideration of industry type, available technology, and pollutant nature.
Community noise standards and equipment noise limits are prescribed to minimize noise pollution.
Government encouraged to study the effects of aircraft emissions and sonic booms, and set standards accordingly.

National Pollution Control Commission (NPCC) leads enforcement of air and noise standards, monitoring air pollutants and managing permits.
Civil Aeronautics Administration enforces noise standards around airports.
Land Transportation Commission enforces vehicular emission standards.
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission regulates radioactive emissions from nuclear facilities.

NPCC coordinates with agencies to establish air quality monitoring networks.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) monitors meteorological factors influencing pollution and supervises weather modification activities.

Seeks to protect and improve the quality of Philippine waters through classification and setting of water quality standards.
Water bodies are classified based on current quality, physical characteristics, and beneficial uses like residential, agricultural, industrial, and recreational.
Waters may be reclassified based on intended beneficial use with the aim to upgrade quality.

Regulation of hazardous substances, radioactive materials, and pollutant discharges to prevent water pollution.
Polluters bear responsibility for cleaning water pollution; government intervenes and charges costs if polluter fails.
Government agencies shall establish water quality monitoring networks and report to the National Environmental Protection Council.

Promotes rational and efficient acquisition, use, and disposition of land to maximize benefits and prevent resource imbalance.
Human Settlements Commission formulates a national land use scheme including land inventory, classification, adaptive uses, and control over development.
Industrial locations must consider environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

Policies for rational exploitation and conservation of fisheries, wildlife, forestry, soil, and minerals.
Emphasis on citizen participation, regulatory review, conservation of threatened species, and sustainable use of resources.
Specialized measures include banning destructive harvesting, enhancing propagation, and research programs.

Soil erosion and flood control programs detailed, including riverbank and shoreline erosion control.
Measures to conserve water, protect fisheries, and conduct research on mitigating natural calamity effects.

Encouragement of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal energy.
Research, training, and pilot plants provisioned.
Safety standards for nuclear and geothermal energy installations mandated.

National Water Resources Council promotes conservation, pollution prevention, and quality improvement.

National government tasked with rational exploitation and efficient use of minerals.
Policies include research enhancement, manpower training, regulation, exploration acceleration, and refining industry development.

Mandatory waste management programs for local governments with operational, sanitary, and pollution control guidelines.
Local governments responsible for waste collection, transport, processing, and disposal, supported by national subsidies.
Approved solid waste disposal methods include sanitary landfill, incineration, composting; strict location and operation rules apply.
Prohibition on dumping wastes into seas and navigable waters except in emergencies under regulated conditions.
Liquid waste must be treated before discharge; rules apply to dumping into water bodies.

Environmental assessment must consider population impacts.
Environmental education integrated into school curricula with public awareness campaigns.
The Council promotes environmental research and monitors international developments.
Incentives include tax exemptions and credits for importation and development of pollution control equipment.
Financial aid may be granted for environmental facility projects.
Local government units and private individuals have responsibilities in environmental protection programs.
Duty to preserve historic and cultural resources.
Government agencies continue environmental functions; the Council may investigate issues.
The Council may conduct public hearings on significant environmental matters.

Key terms defined, including ambient air quality, emission, water quality, clean-up operations, critical environmental areas, and hazardous substances among others.