Amhed V.

Manuel
BSCE - 5B

Water Quality Management

I.

Salient Provisions
Listed below are some laws pertaining to water quality management
in the Philippines. Not all portions of the law were copied only those
important ones are enumerated.
a. Republic Act No. 9003 , Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000

Section2. Declaration of Policies -- It is hereby declared the policy of

the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid
waste management program which shall:
(c) Set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume
reduction through 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;
(d) Ensure the 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;
(g) Retain primary enforcement and responsibility of solid waste
management with local government units while establishing a cooperative
effort among the national government, other local government units, nongovernment organizations, and the private sector;
(j) Strengthen the integration of ecological solid waste management and
resource conservation and recovery topics into the academic curricula of
formal and non-formal education in order to promote environmental
awareness and action among the citizenry.
b. Republic Act No. 9275, Clean Water Act
The State shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a manner consistent
with the protection, preservation and revival of a quality of our fresh,
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brackish and marine waters. . To achieve this end, the framework for
sustainable development shall be pursued. As such, it shall be the policy
of the State to:

Streamline processes and procedures in the prevention, control and

abatement of pollution of the countrys water resources;
Promote environmental strategies, use of appropriate economic
instruments and of control mechanisms for the protection of water
resources;
Formulate a holistic national program of water quality management
that recognizes that water quality management issue cannot be
separated from concerns about water sources and ecological
protection , water supply, public health and quality of life;
Formulate an integrated water quality management framework
through proper delegation and effective coordination of functions
and activities;
Promote commercial and industrial processes and products that are
environment friendly and energy- efficient;
Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizen and
industries through the application of incentives market-based
instruments and to promote the role of private industrial enterprises
in shaping its regulatory profile within the acceptable boundaries of
public health and environment;
Provide for a comprehensive management program for water
pollution focusing on pollution prevention;
Promote public information and education to encourage the
participation of an informed and active public in water quality
management and monitoring; and
Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long
term adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity.
Encourage civil society and other sectors, particularly labor, the
academe and business undertaking environment-related activities
in their efforts to organize, eradicate and motivate the people in
addressing pertinent environmental issue and problems at the local
and national levels.
c. Commonwealth Act 383, Anti Dumping Law (1983)
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 383 - AN ACT TO PUNISH THE
DUMPING INTO ANY RIVER OF REFUSE, WASTE MATTER OR
SUBSTANCES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER THAT MAY BRING
ABOUT THE RISE OR FILLING IN OF RIVER BEDS OR CAUSE
ARTIFICIAL ALLUVIAL FORMATIONS
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Section1. The dumping into any river of refuse, waste matter or

substances of any kind whatsoever that may cause an elevation in the
level of river beds, or block the course of a stream, is prohibited.
Section2. To cause alluvial formations by whatever means or device that
may give rise for river banks to expand or by any similar process to
reclaim a strip of land through accession, except with the authority of the
Secretary of Public Works and Communications, which shall be granted if
and when any such works were absolutely necessary for the protection of
private property against the destructive action of water, and not
otherwise harmful to other parties, is likewise prohibited.
Section3. Any person who shall be found transgressing the provisions
hereof shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than six months, or
by a fine not to exceed two hundred pesos, or by both such fine and
imprisonment,
at
the
discretion
of
the
court.
Section4. This

Act

shall

take

effect

on

its

approval.

Approved: September 5, 1938.

d. Presidential Decree No. 984, Pollution Control Law
(1976)
PROVIDING FOR THE REVISION OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3931,
COMMONLY
KNOWN AS THE POLLUTION CONTROL LAW, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
SECTION8. Prohibitions.
No person shall throw, run, drain, or otherwise dispose into any of the
water, air and/or land resources of the Philippines, or cause, permit, suffer
to be thrown, run, drain, allow to seep or otherwise dispose thereto any
organic or inorganic matter or any substance in gaseous or liquid form
that shall cause pollution thereof.
No person shall perform any of the following activities without first
securing a permit from the Commission for the discharge of all industrial
wastes and other wastes which could cause pollution:
(1) the construction, installation, modification or operation of any
sewage works or any extension or addition thereto;
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(2) the increase in volume or strength of any wastes in excess of the

permissive discharge specified under any existing permit;
(3) the construction, installation or operation of any industrial or
commercial establishments or any extension or modification thereof
or addition thereto, the operation of which would cause an increase
in the discharge of waste directly into the water, air and/or land
resources of the Philippines or would otherwise alter their physical,
chemical or biological properties in any manner not already lawfully
authorized.

SECTION9. Penalties.
(a) Any person found violating or failing to comply with any order,
decision or regulation of the Commission for the control or abatement of
pollution shall pay a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos per day for
every day during which such violation or default continues; and the
Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to impose the fine after
due notice and hearing.
The fines so imposed shall be paid to the Government of the Philippines
through the Commission, and failure to pay the fine in any case within the
time specified in the above-mentioned Order or Decision shall be
sufficient ground for the Commission to order the closure or the stoppage
in the operation of the establishment being operated and/or managed by
said person or persons until payment of the fines shall have been made.
The Commission shall have the power and authority to issue
corresponding writs of execution directing the City or Provincial Sheriff or
other peace officers whom it may appoint to enforce the fine or the order
of closure or stoppage of operations.
Payment of fines may also be enforced by appropriate action in a court of
competent jurisdiction. The remedies provided in this sub-section shall not
be a bar to nor shall affect any other remedies provided for in this Decree
but shall be cumulative and additional to such remedies.
(b) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of Section
Eight of this Decree or its implementing rules and regulations, or
any Order or Decision of the Commission, shall be liable to a penalty
of not to exceed one thousand pesos for each day during which the
violation continues, or by imprisonment of from two years to six
years, or by both fine and imprisonment, and in addition such
person may be required or enjoined from continuing such violation
as hereinafter provided.
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(c) Any person who shall refuse, obstruct, or hamper the entry of
the duly authorized representatives of the Commission into any
property of the public domain or private property devoted to
industrial manufacturing, processing or commercial use during
reasonable hours for the purpose of inspecting or investigating the
conditions therein relating to pollution or possible or imminent
pollution, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos
or imprisonment of not exceeding one month, or both.
(d) Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or fails to
perform any duty imposed by this Decree or its implementing rules
and regulations or by Order or Decision of the Commission
promulgated pursuant to this Decree hereby causing the death of
fish or other aquatic life, shall in addition to the penalty above
prescribed, be liable to pay the government for damages for fish or
aquatic life destroyed.
(e) In case the violator is a juridical person, the penalty shall be
imposed on the managing head responsible for the violation.
e. DENR Administration Act No. 94-26A, Philippine
National Standards for Drinking Water
DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
NO. 26-A
Series 1994
Subject: PHILIPPINE STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER 1993
UNDER THE PROVISION OF CHAPTER II, SECTION 9 OF PD 856,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CODE ON SANITATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
To implement the provisions of section 9, otherwise known as the
Prescribed Standards and Procedures of Chapter ll of the Code on
Sanitation of the Philippines, PD 856, this Philippine National Standards for
Drinking Water 1993 hereby revises and updates the 1978 National
Standards for Drinking Water.
The Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 1993 (PNSDW 1993)
is designed to guide the Waterworks Officials, Developers and Operators
of Water Supply Systems both Government and Private entities, health
and sanitation authorities and the general public and all other concerned.
The new standards cover requirements for the acceptable values of the
determined parameters in measuring water quality. These parameters
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include microbiological, physical, chemical and radiological compositions

of the water. The standard also delineates values established in
conforming to the medical and health implication of the parameters as
opposed to values established purely to satisfy aesthetic requirements.

II. Major Issues of Water Quality Management in Zamboanga city

Unsanitary toilets at Campo Islam-seaside community

One of the current problems in the society is the presence of
informal settlers. Informal settlers tend to live in places that
have been given to them base on tradition or as what they
believed from their ancestors without any solid proof. They are
scattered around the city now. One is the community of
Campo Islam Seaside, currently, the communities who live
nearby the sea do not have sanitary toilets which mean they
directly throw or dispose their feces into the body of water.
This activity will not only affect human but also those living
creatures under the sea. Coral reefs under the sea will be
destroyed due to the toxic that the wastes can brought. A
single reef can support as many as 3,000 species of marine
life. As fishing grounds, they are thought to be 10 to 100
times as productive per unit area as the open sea. In the
Philippines, an estimated 10-15 per cent of the total fisheries
come from coral reefs and not only coral reefs serve as home
to marine fish species, they also supply compounds for
medicines as stated by Henrylito D. Tacio in his article Coral
Reefs in the Philippines, Slowly Dying.

Dumping of household wastes at Tumaga River

According to Zamboanga.net, Zamboanga City relies mainly
on the surface water from the Tumaga River for the water
supply. Only 48% o the total population is being service by the
Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) and 38% is from
accounted water. Tumaga River is still a scenic beauty spot
which fascinates the people who visit the place. It is a
waterway which originated from the 10, 560 hectares
Pasonanca watershed. It follows in a north-westerly directions
and covers out to empty in Arena Blanco with a stream flow of
6.1260 cubic meters per second. It is about 12.8 kilometers in
length and 30 meters wide in the upper portion. The river is
sandy and with gravel, with big boulders in some of its
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portions. It traverses thru centers of populated areas such as

Pasonanca, Sta. Maria, Tumaga, Guiwan, Tetuan and
Tugbungan and almost all Barangays of Zamboanga City.
( City Government of Zamboanga 2015)

Groundwater contamination at Lumbangan dumpsite

According to ZC Public Service Office, it is estimated that
around 350 to 450 cubic meter per day of solid wastes
generated by the city and around 70 to 72% are collected
every day and disposed at Lumbangan dumpsite. In the past
years, a study was conducted in the area by the Bureau of
Soils and it was revealed that there was a high infiltration rate
of leachate that caused the groundwater to be contaminated.
Occurrence of Diarrhea and Gastro-Intestinal cases to the
local residents of Barangay Lumbangan and some nearby
Barangay since most of the community greatly depend on
deep well as their source of drinking water.
III.

Implications to Sustainable Development

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts:
the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the
world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and

the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and

social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and
future needs."

( International Institute for Sustainable Development 2013)

Environmental implications
From the first two issues in Zamboanga City, the Dumping of household
wastes at Tumaga River and Direct disposal of human wastes at the sea at
Campo Islam seaside community. It can clearly be assessed that these
activities will greatly affect the environment in the manner where it will
destroy the living creatures and coral reefs under the sea and soon it will
slowly be deteriorated. In an article written by Henrylito D. Tacio in
Renaissance Universal Magazine entitled Coral Reefs In The Philippines
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"Slowly Dying, it was pointed out that coral reefs are important
economic assets, contributing more than US$1 billion annually to the
economy. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP), reported that 97 percent of reefs in
the Philippines are under threat from destructive fishing techniques,
including cyanide poisoning, over-fishing, or from deforestation and
urbanization that result in harmful sediment spilling into the sea.
Social implications
The most feared effects that water contamination can bring up is the
occurrence of Diarrhea and Gastro-Intestinal cases in the community
living near the dumpsite and especially those in the local residents of the
dumpsite due to high infiltration rate of leachate in the groundwater.
According to United Nations, more people die due to unsafe water than
wars each year and along with poor sanitation it is the worlds second
children killer. The Department of Health stressed out that Diarrhea is
the second leading cause of death in the country were around 6,000
Filipinos die prematurely due to the disease annually. Base on these
circumstances there is great call for water quality control in the city. If
issues are not

IV.

Recommendations

As a student and concerned citizen of the Philippines, it is our job to

protect and preserved our natural resources today and in the near future
to be passed on the following generations.
Water Quality Management or Water Quality Control refers to the
chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics of water. It
is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one
or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. [2] It is most
frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which
compliance can be assessed. The most common standards used to assess
water quality relate to health of ecosystems, safety of human contact
and drinking water. (Wikipedia n.d.)

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