1. PHILIPPINES:
State of Access to
Environmental Information
& Specific Goals and Action
By: Arvin A. Jo, Esq.
Ateneo School of Government

2. Air Quality in Metro Manila, Philippines

3. Source: Philippine Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-
Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)

4. Source: Philippine Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-
Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)

5. Source: Philippine Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-
Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)

6. Policy Framework for Access
to Information (in General)
• Philippine Constitution
 Art. III Bill of Rights. Section 7. The right of the
people to information on matters of public concern shall
be recognized. Access to official records, and to
documents and papers pertaining to official acts,
transactions, or decisions, as well as to government
research data used as basis for policy development, shall
be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as
may be provided by law.

7. Policy Framework for Access
to Information (in General)
• Landmark Supreme Court Decision
 Legaspi v. Civil Service Commission (G.R. No. 72119 [1987])
“Article III, Sec. 7 is an enforceable right even without an
implementing legislation”
• FOI or POGI Bill (still unlegislated)
 SECTION. 4. Access to Information. – Every person who is a Filipino
citizen has a right to and shall, on request, be given access to any
record under the control of a government agency. Government
agencies shall make available to the public for scrutiny…all
information pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions…
subject to the exceptions enumerated…

8. Access to Information
(in Extractive Industry)
• EITI Philippines
 The Philippines has filed for EITI Candidacy in 2013
 Aims to produce a Report that will compare the revenue that the
government receives from Extractive Industry versus what the
Industry has paid
 Philippine EITI is headed by a Government-appointed Focal Person
and composed of 4 CSO reps, 4 Industry reps, 4 Government reps

9. Access to Information
(re: Pollution Control)
• Establishing a PRTR System
 Greenpeace Philippines Study (w/ A.L. La Vina & G.P. Bueta)
found that
- Performance rating procedure and color-coded rating scheme has
proven to be ineffective
- Obtaining relevant and timely information is difficult and
oftentimes costly

10. Access to Information
(re: Environmental Degradation)
• Creating a Natural Resources Valuation
System
 The Concept of a “Total Economic Value” in assessing potential
economic value of natural resources versus conservation
 Valuation of Ecosystem Services
 Caveat: Process must be inclusive and consultative