Philippine Environmental Laws

Gender Mainstreaming

• A strategy to integrate women's and men's concerns and experiences in policy design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure equal benefits and no perpetuation of inequality.
• A process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies, or programs.

Climate Change

• "Global Warming" refers to the increase in the Earth's average temperature associated with the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• "Greenhouse effect" is the process by which the atmosphere warms the Earth through infrared radiation absorption.
• "Greenhouse gases (GHG)" include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

Environmental Laws

• RA 8550: "The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998" for the development, management, and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources.
• RA 7586: "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992" for the establishment and management of national integrated protected areas.
• RA 11038: "Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018" amending RA 7586.
• RA 9147: "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act" for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats.
• RA 9729: "Climate Change Act of 2009".

Environmental Concepts

• "Sea level rise" refers to an increase in sea level influenced by global warming and local factors.
• "Chemical substance" means any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity.
• "Chemical mixture" means a combination of two or more chemical substances.
• "Importation" means the entry of products or substances into the Philippines for direct consumption, merchandising, or further processing.
• "Manufacture" means the mechanical or chemical transformation of substances into new products.

Hazardous Substances

• "Short-term acute hazards" include acute toxicity, corrosivity, fire or explosion risks.
• "Long-term environmental hazards" include chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, and pollution of underground or surface waters.

Waste Management

• "Controlled dump" refers to a disposal site where solid waste is deposited in accordance with minimum prescribed standards.
• "Protected landscapes/seascapes" are areas of national significance characterized by harmonious interaction between humans and the land.
• "Resource reserve" is an extensive and isolated area designated to protect natural resources for future use and prevent development activities.

Bioprospecting and Wildlife

• "Bioprospecting" refers to the research, collection, and utilization of biological and genetic resources for commercial purposes.
• "By-products or derivatives" refers to parts taken or substances extracted from wildlife, in raw or processed form.
• "Collecting" refers to the act of gathering or harvesting wildlife and its by-products or derivatives.

Solid Waste Management

• "Disposal site" refers to a site where solid waste is finally discharged and deposited.
• "Ecological solid waste management" refers to the systematic administration of activities that provide for segregation, transportation, storage, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste.
• "Leachate" refers to the contaminated liquid produced when waste undergoes decomposition and water percolates through solid waste.
• "Open dump" refers to a disposal area where solid wastes are indiscriminately thrown or disposed of without planning or consideration for environmental and health standards.
• "Sanitary landfill" refers to a waste disposal site designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to exert engineering control over potential environmental impacts.

Air Pollution

• "Air pollutant" means any matter in the atmosphere detrimental to health or the environment, including smoke, dust, soot, cinders, fly ash, solid particles, gases, fumes, chemical mists, steam, and radioactive substances.