MODULE 8 ENVIRONMENT Overview Greetings once more dear NSTP Students! Online classes and distance learning have been challenging lately, right? Now that we have adjusted somehow to the new normal and have set up a routine for studying and complying with course requirements, it is time to further our learning and relate it to our daily lives. As the last module for this semester, your trainors would assume that the learning activities from the previous module have gradually encouraged and equipped you to become the role of the youth in nation-building. 1|Page “Environment”, this word has a great importance in our life. The simple definition of environment is the “surrounding”. It is what surrounds a thing. We can also define it as “environment is the combination of all of physical and organic factors that act on living being, residents, or ecological society and power its endurance and growth. In this module entitled Environment, we will be talking about key concepts in republic acts in relation to sustainable management of the environment and natural resources. As illustrated, an ecosystem if managed well can provide foundation for sustained inclusive growth, food security and poverty reduction. As we have known, the world‟s ecosystems regulate the air, water and soil on which we all depend, and form a unique and cost-effective buffer against extreme weather events and climate change. Are you excited? Now buckle up, hold on to your seats, prepare your pens and paper to take down notes, and let us study our environment. Intended Learning Outcomes Identify the 7R‟s of Waste Management. Evaluate the implementation of solid waste management (RA 9003) in their own barangay. Identify environmental problems and concerns in the country. Which describes the level of your information, please encircle: 1. Climate Change 2. RA 9003 3. Global Warming 4. Greenhouse effect TOPIC 1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Before we start our discussion, click the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ipUKpELRcw link and watch the video presentation: Sustainable development is the organizing principle for meeting human development goals while simultaneously sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The desired result is a state of society where living conditions and resources are used to continue to meet human needs without undermining the integrity 2|Page and stability of the natural system. Sustainable development can be defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability goals address the global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. While the modern concept of sustainable development is yet derived mostly from the 1987 Brundtland Report, it is also rooted in earlier ideas about sustainable forest management and twentieth-century environmental concerns. As the concept of sustainable development developed, it has shifted its focus more towards the economic development, social development and environmental protection for future generations. It has been suggested that the term 'sustainability' should be viewed as humanity's target goal of human-ecosystem equilibrium, while 'sustainable development' refers to the holistic approach and temporal processes that lead us to the endpoint of sustainability". Modern economies are endeavoring to reconcile ambitious economic development and obligations of preserving natural resources and ecosystems, as the two are usually seen as of conflicting nature. Instead of holding climate change commitments and other sustainability measures as a remedy to economic development, turning and leveraging them into market opportunities will do greater good. The economic development brought by such organized principles and practices in an economy is called Managed Sustainable Development (MSD). Coastal and island communities in the Philippines have very high exposure to climate and disaster risks. Isolation, combined with limited access and communication systems, compounds the situation. Through accessing Funds from Cordaid‟s private donor base in the Netherlands, Cordaid Philippines has been able to invest in capacity building in vulnerable communities. They have empowered local actors and community members, and in turn, influenced government stakeholders. Dependence on fishing, both for food and income, is the norm in the islands of North Palawan. But unpredictable weather patterns mean there are many days when they are unable to go to sea. In addition, over- exploitation of the seas and forests further decreases food and water resources and this results in more poverty and malnutrition. Pandan Weaving The Tagbanwa tribe is one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Philippines and pandan weaving is the most important traditional Tagbanwa craft. Cordaid collaborated with local government stakeholders (Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Commission for Indigenous Peoples and Coron Local Government Unit) to strengthen these indigenous communities and develop their weaving as a sustainable ecosystem-based enterprise. From traditional weaving, women in North Palawan are now able to make many more products to be sold in a nearby town. Photo: Juan Miguel Torres Mylene Latube is a native Tagbanwa weaver in Barangay Malawig, Coron Palawan. At a very young age, she mastered the skill of mat weaving, as she needed to help her mother make pandan mats to support the needs of their family. Improve Quality and Profitability The weaving initiatives and the newly formed weavers‟ association have helped Mylene and other women in the villages. They can exchange their skills of producing 3|Page various handicrafts and improve quality and profitability. Mylene is now one of the most productive members of Sékéd Pandan Weavers Association. Sustainable Production Plan Mylene and other women weavers have started to establish common planting areas aside from their individual plantations. The weavers‟ group has also developed a resilient and sustainable production plan, based on a climate risk assessment for all stages of the production chain. Sékéd is their brand name. This is a Tagbanwa term for „tying or linking‟. It represents the role of indigenous women weavers in demonstrating the importance of sustainable pandan handicraft production to protect the ancestral land. Promotion, sales, and demand are so high for the products, new women are encouraged to join the groups. Currently, 120 women are supporting Sékéd production in Tara, Buenavista, and Malawig and in June 2018, the weavers participated in a Trade Promotion Fair in one of the biggest malls in the country. Environment Education: Philippine Context Environmental Education is contextualizing the issues within the physical, biological, social, economic, historical and cultural imperatives of the Philippines. The objective of the Environmental Education can be attained in terms of the learners‟ awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills, and participation in the resolution of environmental problems, issues and concerns. Environmental Education must be: Action Oriented – it should involve finding solutions to real environmental problems and issues; Experimental – it should use variety of approaches and environments; Future Oriented - it must be concerned with the present and future; holistic – it must deal with the natural and man-made aspects of the environment; Interdisciplinary – it must relate to all disciplines; and Issue Oriented – it must deal with the local, regional, national and global perspectives. Seven (7) R‟s of Waste Management 1. Rethink – rethink how you view natural resources. Understanding that natural resources are limited can greatly influence the choices you make in your everyday life. 2. Refuse - Sustainability defines refuse as refusing to accept or support products or companies that harm the environment. One way to do this is to refuse items that are over-packaged or packaged in plastic. While it is difficult to refuse all plastic items, being more conscious can help change your habits. 3. Reduce - Reducing the number of resources used in your everyday life is the next step in the resource management hierarchy. Start with small ways you can reduce your energy usage, water usage along with reducing your garbage, food waste, plastic, and transportation. The room in your home that usually creates the most waste is the kitchen, therefore you can focus on reducing waste here first to make the biggest impact. 4. Reuse - When you purchase an item, say a can of tomato sauce, think about how you are paying for the sauce AND the jar or container it comes in. Look around your home to find the various ways the products you purchase are packaged. Since you are paying for this packaging - why not make the most of it? There are endless ideas online. If you cannot reuse an item, share it with someone else; this is called re-homing. You can donate to a local thrift store or share with your neighbour next door. Below are a few examples of ways to reuse the items right in your home. 4|Page Glass jars make the perfe t vases. c Glass jars make the perfect vases. Reusing glass jars for decorating is awesome. Glass jars as pen holder and used wood from your backyard Reusing glass jars for decorating is awesome 5. Repurpose- Before disposing of an item, consider the ways in which it could be repurposed or repaired. 6. Repair - Repairing items is another way to reduce the consumption of materials and natural resources. By placing value in the item, you have and repairing when needed, you are sustaining the products you own and reducing waste. 7. Recycle - If we can recycle things, we don‟t have to use as many new resources or materials to make new ones. We use recycled materials to help make new cars and we look for ways to recycle components from our vehicles, such as parts from our hybrid powertrains. Recyclability is designed in to all our vehicles. TOPIC 2: ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT The ecological balance and ecosystem stability are duly maintained by the nature itself but the emergence of modern industrial era has disturbed the ecological balance through heavy industrialization, technological revolution, faster growth of means of transportation, rapacious exploitation of resources, unplanned urbanization etc. In other words, the anthropogenic activities of modern „economic and technological‟ man have disturbed the harmonious relationships between the environment and human beings. 5|Page Environmental management is thus, the process to improve the relationship between the human beings and environment which may be achieved through check on destructive activities of man, conservation, protection, regulation and regeneration of nature. The process, environmental management is related to the rational adjustment of man with nature involving judicious exploitation and utilization of natural resources without disturbing the ecosystem balance and ecosystem equilibrium. If the natural resources are overexploited, it will affect socio- economic development of a nation. Thus, environmental management must take into consideration the ecological principles and socioeconomic needs of the society i.e., it involves socio economic developments on one hand and maintenance of environmental quality on other hand. Two Major Aspects: (i) Socio-economic development and (ii) Stability of biosphere in general and stability of individual ecosystems in particular (C.C. Park 1981). Objectives of Environmental Management includes: (i) To identify the environmental problem and to find its solution. (ii) To restrict and regulate the exploitation and utilization of natural resources. (iii) To regenerate degraded environment and to renew natural resources (renewable) (iv)To control environmental pollution and gradation. (v) To reduce the impacts of extreme events and natural disaster. (vi) To make optimum utilization of natural resources. (vii) To assess the impacts of proposed projects and activities on environment. (viii) To review and revise the existing technologies and make them eco-friendly. (ix) To formulate laws for the implementation of environmental protection and conservation programmes. Fundamental Aspects of Environmental Management: 1. Environmental perception and public awareness: (a) Sources of environmental perception and public awareness. (b) Role of environmental perception in environmental planning and management. 2. Environmental education and training should be given at school, college and University levels by professionals. 3. Resource management: (i) Classification, survey and evaluation of ecological resources (ii) Preservation of resources (iii) Conservation of resources 4. Control of Environmental degradation and pollution: (i) Control of environmental degradation and pollution. (ii) Adopting suitable preventive mechanisms to reduce natural hazards and disaster. (iii) Regeneration of degraded environment. 5. Environmental impact assessment: (i) Appraisal of existing environmental conditions (ii) Appraisal of existing and proposed production methods (iii) Mythologies and procedures (iv) Probable impacts of existing and proposed project. (v) Review of technology and required improvement. 6|Page The Philippines is one of the most exposed countries in the worlds to many “natural hazards”: earthquakes, volcanic, eruptions lahar flows, typhoons, flooding, landslides, and sea level rise. The Philippines may also suffer major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of. There is a long list of environmental issues but in reality, they are intertwined with each other and needs serious attention from all of us. 1. Pollution Pollution, in context, is the introduction of contaminants into the environment causing adverse change. It is present through noise, air and water. As we produce more noise, it can interfere with the behavior of certain animals in the ecosystem. Also, on some studies, the effect of sound waves turns into heat causing a slight change in the temperature of the environment. Air pollution is what we can often see in urban places. Smoke belching vehicles and gases from factories are the culprits in contributing to air pollution. On water pollution, incessant throwing of garbage and inappropriate industrial waste disposal affects our bodies of water, which in turn cause trouble in marine life. 2. Global warming due to emission of greenhouse gases In almost any activity, we emit greenhouse gas such as using our electricity, cooking and driving our cars. As we breathe out, we also produce carbon dioxide. The more people in a certain area, the bigger carbon dioxide is emitted into the environment. As these gases are produce, it generates heat causing a change in the climate. 3. Overpopulation Overpopulation seeds into a lot of problems. With the need for new homes, the development of new buildings, houses and establishments are in order. After which the demand for electricity, food and other greenhouse gases also increases. Scarcity of food can be experienced due to the limited ability of the animals to populate fast. Thus, dishonest people nowadays resort to using chemicals and medications to boost and fake the growth of these animals. Overpopulation also means having more garbage to dispose. 4. Natural resources depletion Mining and quarrying have become rampant over the years and are to be blamed for destroying the beauty of our environment. Among the natural resources that we have, water, oil and forests are the top three on the list. Fresh water, in reality, is only 2.5% of the world‟s total water volume. If the problems affecting our bodies of water continue, the demand for drinking water will increase causing water shortage and worse, famine. Oil, on the other hand, is used every day for transportation of goods and electricity. Lastly, according to statistics, deforestation contributes an estimate of 12% to 17% of greenhouse gas emission per year. Trees emit oxygen and filter the air. But with lesser trees, flash floods are likely to happen. 5. Waste disposal Improper waste disposal creates a hazardous problem to everyone. It may infect people not only physically but through the air and water. Garbage thrown in the rivers and canals may not only block our waterways but it invites rodents to infect the water and soon be transferred to humans. Clogged waterways have a tendency to spill causing flash floods, which is what is happening here in our country. 7|Page Likewise, the lack of enough dumpsites and landfills is also a hindrance in helping to solve our garbage management crisis. Solutions to Environmental Issues Following are some of the most common solutions to the environmental issue: 1. Replace disposal items with reusable items. 2. The use of paper should be avoided 3. Conserve water and electricity. 4. Support environmentally friendly practices. 5. Recycle the waste to conserve natural resources. Environmental issues are a warning of the upcoming disaster. If these issues are not controlled, there will soon be no life on earth. Philippines has worked out to improve its management of solid waste through the enactment of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act that provides for a systematic, comprehensive and ecological waste management program to guarantee the protection of public health and the environment. It mandates the DENR to provide secretariat support to the National Solid Waste Management Commission in the implementation of the solid waste management plans and prescribes policies to achieve the objectives of the National Ecology Center that is in charge of information dissemination, consultation, education and training of various local government units on ecological waste management. The ecological solid waste management program is presumed to assist Local Government Units in implementing RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act particularly in the development of their 10 yr. SWM Plan, closure and rehabilitation of dumpsites, establishment of Materials Recovery Facilities, and an environmentally sound disposal system. Analyses of Solid Waste Management Policies and Issues According to Cantillo et.al (2013), waste generations by residents in the Philippines, especially in the urban areas, have accelerated recently due to intensive industrialization, urbanization and population growth. Since incineration of solid waste is not allowed under Republic Act 9003 for the safety of human health and protection of environment, land filling and the integrated waste management method (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) are the main types of SWM in the country. The law also requires the mandatory segregation at source of solid waste into containers labeled as: compostable, recyclable, non-recyclable, or special use. Waste collection in the country is done by the Department of Public Service, city administrator and engineering office or private haulers. Informal waste sector are also involved in the waste collection and storage in the country. They are the itinerant waste buyers, jumpers at collection trucks, garbage crew, and small and illegal junkshops. About 35,580 tons of garbage is generated every day in the Philippines. On the average, each person in the country produces about 0.5 kg and 0.3 kg of garbage every day in the urban and rural areas, respectively. For MetroManila, it is estimated that 8,636 tons of garbage is generated per day, i.e., 0.7 kg per person per day due to its more modernized lifestyle. The household is the major source of waste in the Philippines at 74%. Moreover, of the total solid waste generated from households, 95% can still be reused 8|Page or recycled (43%), or turned into compost (52%). Only 5% is made up of residuals (4%) and special/hazardous waste (1%) that are no longer usable or biodegradable (JICA Waste Characterization Study, 1997). Only 40-85% of the waste generated is collected nationwide, implying that 15-60% is improperly disposed of or littered. The maximum collection rate of 85% is recorded in Metro Manila. The uncollected garbage is, unfortunately, burned or dumped anywhere onto open areas, called open dumps, adding to the now polluted air shed and water body, and global warming in the country. While recycling through the establishment of Municipal Recovery Facilities (MRF), that includes waste transfer station, and composting and recycling facilities, is mandated under RA 9003, most Local Government Units (LGUs) do not comply with this mandate. Even though the law requires the establishment of an MRF in every barangay or cluster of barangays, only about 21% or 8,843 barangays are being serviced by MRFs in the country. The low compliance of LGUs to establish sanitary landfills were being attributed to the high cost needed to close dumpsites, and limited financial and technical assistance to implement the law. Hence, some LGUs are still using common sanitary landfills. Of the 946 open and controlled dumps, 68 of these are being rehabilitated for closure. Metro Manila LGUs are now using sanitary landfills. Sanitary landfills being used by Metro Manila LGUs are: Navotas SLF, Rizal Provincial SLF and the Pilotage SLF. This apparent use of unlined unsanitary landfills and open dumps places the Philippines in a precarious condition, since such pitiful state implies a condition that permit the mixture of precipitation with degradable organic matter from MSW to form leachate percolation into the soil that may eventually contaminate surface and groundwater in the country. TOPIC 5: PROMOTING CLEAN AIR Republic Act No. 8749 PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999 What is R.A. 8749? • Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, is a comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos. The Clean Air Act provides that the state shall: •Protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature; •Recognize that: a) the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily area-based; b) “polluters must pay”; c) a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be the concern of all. What can you do to help clean the air? At home: • Use low watt bulbs or energy saving lights • Limit the use of air conditioning units and keep the temperature a few degrees higher • Don‟t burn garbage 9|Page • Avoid usingaerosols • Properly dispose of refrigerant, refrigeration equipment and used coolant FOR EVERYONE: • Report smoke belchers to LTO, MMDA and/or appropriate local government units. • Walk or ride your bike to places • Work with residential association to stop burning of garbage • Spread the word about the ban of smoking in public places. • Plant trees TOPIC 6: GREENING THE PHILIPPINES EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 579 ENCOURAGING THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN PHILIPPINES PROGRAMS THROUGH THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) The NSTP shall endeavor to build a new quality of life that will keep the nation young and beautiful. In order to ensure its realization, all students under NSTP shall be involved in Green Philippines Activities which include among others: a) Taking back our forests and replenishing fallen trees with new, protected forests; b) Beautifying our barangay and cities; c) Building more urban parks and recreation areas; d) Purifying our water; e) Cleaning up industrial sites; The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Local Government Units (LGUs) shall assist the schools in identifying the areas where the Green Philippines Activities of the NSTP shall be implemented. Activity No. 2 Direction: Complete the table below. ( 2points each) Identify 5 environmental issues that our country is currently dealing with. Provide possible solutions to these problems. Environmental Issue Solution 1. 6. 2. 7. 10 | P a g e 3. 8. 4. 9. 5, 10. References Book: Websites: 11 | P a g e NSTP - CWTS 1, Ang, Mary Jean, et al Copyright 2013 actrav-courses.itcilo.org Country Report on Climate Change Policies, Green Jobs and ... https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment/overview#1 https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1999/ra_8749_1999.html https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2006/11/30/executive-order-no-579-s-2006/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ipUKpELRcw https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2001/01/26/republic-act-no-9003-s2001/?fbclid=IwAR3tqt78EhFR2mF9NRBgYoPJ61e15NgVfgzhWyqaazdd3B0J41luCuULB5I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/weaving-as-a-sustainable-enterprise-for-philippinetribe/?gclid=CjwKCAiA_KzBRAJEiwAhJNY74pvs5Vp9lbrsQcpulgh9oj0JveU4OsRyMN3uzhk7bZax8w1jDPPhoCdqwQAvD_BwE https://www.dunedingov.com/live-work-play/dunedin-green-scene/the-7-r-s-refuse-reducerepurpose- reuse-recycle-rot-rethink