UNEP/SCS/National Report 5 - Philippines National Report of Philippines on the Formulation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Preliminary Framework of a Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea NATIONAL REPORT FOR THE FORMULATION OF A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the South China Sea PHILIPPINES 2 CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 AIM OF THE NATIONAL REPORT..................................................................................... 1 1.2 MAJOR WATER-RELATED ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS ................................................... 1 1.3 COUNTRY BACKGROUND ............................................................................................... 2 1.4 GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS USED IN THE ANALYSIS .......................................................... 3 2.0 DETAILED ANALYSIS OF MAJOR WATER-RELATED CONCERNS AND PRINCIPAL ISSUES............................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 POLLUTION...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Sources of pollution..................................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Pollution hot spots..................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Sensitive and high risk areas...................................................................................... 11 2.2 FRESHWATER SHORTAGE AND THE DEGRADATION OF ITS QUALITY ........................... 11 2.2.1 Surface water............................................................................................................ 11 2.2.2 Groundwater.............................................................................................................. 16 2.3 EXPLOITATION OF LIVING AQUATIC RESOURCES .............................................................. 21 2.3.1 Living freshwater resources ........................................................................................ 21 2.3.2 Living marine resources ............................................................................................. 22 2.4 MODIFICATIONS OF AQUATIC HABITATS........................................................................ 34 2.4.1 Freshwater................................................................................................................ 34 2.4.2 Marine habitats and resources .................................................................................... 34 2.4.3 Critical habitats, ecosystems and species of transboundary importance......................... 46 3.0 NATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF THE IDENTIFIED WATER-RELATED PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ............................................... 58 3.1 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF POLLUTION ........................................................... 59 3.2 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF WATER SHORTAGE AND DEGRADATION OF ITS QUALITY ........................................................................................................................ 60 3.3 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF OVER-EXPLOITATION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES . 61 3.4 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF HABITAT CHANGES................................................................. 62 4.0 ANALYSES OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE IDENTIFIED WATER-RELATED ISSUES ......... 62 4.1 ROOT CAUSES OF POLLUTION...................................................................................... 63 4.1.1 Domestic and solid wastes ......................................................................................... 63 4.1.2 Agrochemical loading................................................................................................. 64 4.1.3 Siltation/sedimentation............................................................................................... 64 4.1.4 Organic pollution in terms of biological oxygen demand (BOD)....................................... 64 4.1.5 Toxic and hazardous waste [THW] including heavy metals and mine tailings................... 64 4.1.6 Oil pollution............................................................................................................... 65 4.1.7 Harmful algal bloom (HAB)......................................................................................... 65 4.2 ROOT CAUSES OF WATER SHORTAGES AND QUALITY DEGRADATION ........................ 66 4.2.1 Surface water quantity and quality............................................................................... 66 4.2.2 Groundwater quantity and quality................................................................................. 66 4.2.3 Hydrological alterations .............................................................................................. 66 4.2.4 Freshwater issues related to global changes (for example, El Ni effects)..................... 66 4.2.5 Maritime transport environment ................................................................................... 67 4.3 ROOT CAUSES OF OVER-EXPLOITATION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES ................................. 67 4.3.1 Unclear access arrangements (for example, overlapping roles of stakeholders)............... 67 4.3.2 Overpopulation, allocation and insufficient preferential access rights (for example, integrated fisheries management)............................................................................................... 67 4.3.3 Absence of coastal zoning programmes ...................................................................... 68 4.3.4 Poor policies and weak law enforcement...................................................................... 68 4.3.5 Others ...................................................................................................................... 69 4.4 ROOT CAUSES OF THE DEGRADATION OF HABITATS AND THEIR MODIFICATION ........ 69 4.5 NON-MARKET OPERATIONAL ALLOCATIONS AND MARKETING BASED INTERVENTION .............................................................................................................. 70 iii 5.0 ONGOING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES RELEVANT TO THE IDENTIFIED WATER-RELATED PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENT ISSUES ................................................................................ 70 5.1 ONGOING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR POLLUTION ABATEMENT............................. 71 5.2 ONGOING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO MITIGATE WATER SHORTAGES ..................... 72 5.3 ONGOING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO REGULATE OVER-EXPLOITATION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES............................................................................................ 73 5.4 ONGOING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR APPROPRIATE LAND AND COASTAL ZONING.......................................................................................................................... 78 6.0 CONSTRAINTS TO ACTION............................................................................................... 78 6.1 POLLUTION ABATEMENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT .................................................. 79 6.1.1 Information, scientific uncertainties and public awareness............................................. 79 6.1.2 Financial and economic ............................................................................................. 80 6.1.3 Legal, institutional and managerial .............................................................................. 80 6.2 WATER SHORTAGE AND DEGRADATION OF WATER QUALITY ...................................... 80 6.2.1 Information, scientific uncertainties and public awareness............................................. 80 6.2.2 Financial and economic ............................................................................................. 81 6.2.3 Legal, institutional and managerial .............................................................................. 81 6.3 OVER-EXPLOITATION OF FRESHWATER AND MARINE RESOURCES............................. 81 6.3.1 Information, scientific uncertainties and public awareness............................................. 81 6.3.2 Financial and economic ............................................................................................. 81 6.3.3 Legal, institutional and managerial .............................................................................. 82 6.4 HABITAT MODIFICATION................................................................................................. 82 6.4.1 Information, scientific uncertainties and public awareness............................................. 82 6.4.2 Financial and economic ............................................................................................. 82 6.4.3 Legal, institutional and managerial .............................................................................. 82 7.0 SPECIFIC ACTION PROPOSED FROM IDENTIFIED ISSUES AND PROBLEMS.................... 83 7.1 POLLUTION (POLLUTION ABATEMENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME)...... 83 7.1.1 The legal and institutional framework ........................................................................... 83 7.1.2 Policy initiatives and indicative guidelines .................................................................... 84 7.1.3 Public education and participation (especially in pollution control and abatement and waste minimization) ...........................................................................................................