Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Placing Bets and Paying the Price of Pollution

Author: Maru de Vera

The Presidential Decree 1067 can be read here.

The water code of the Philippines states that ownership and rights to all of the water resources in the country belongs to the government, and therefore they should handle the decision-making process regarding the correct usage of those properties, which includes but not limited to: appropriation, utilization, control, conservation and protection. The article also provides a comprehensive list of rules to proper treatment for both the water resources and the structures controlling them, as well as the different punishments depending on the class of law broken.

On the other hand, the Republic Act 3931 can be read here.

Basically, it is an act creating the national water and air pollution control commission - a set of standards made by the congress which is then assigned to qualified workers. These workers would spearhead the management of water and air pollution in the country.

Upon viewing both of the articles, I personally believe they are mostly appropriate. The prohibitions are well defined and the punishments, I think, are just as well written. I can confidently say I agree with it save for some price adjustments. Charging fifty pesos per day as violation fee does not seem right, because a damage in our ecosystem I am pretty sure is worth more than that. It feels like a small price to pay for something that could potentially affect future generations in very many ways. Most people can afford it too. This means getting caught does not really do anything to them but give a small shot at their wallets. I refuse to believe replacing nature is that cheap.




6 comments:

  1. I think it is a fact that not only charging them for violating the rules, but also should teach the action into the schools, especially elementary, to let them learn and start to have a habit on not harming the environments.-Natasha

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  2. I like your comment Natasha and I also think that our government must teach this to schools, especially elementary students. So while a person is still young, he/she will have a background pertaining to the water code of the Philippines. With that, they can also help our country and be practiced of conserving water while they're still young.

    //Esguerra, Ana Maraiah

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  4. his is a point to ponder upon since the government neglect in educating the citizens on how to follow the said rules. educating the minors or children would be the basic start if we all want these said rules to be followed..

    //Cuan, Johvie Andrae U.

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  5. With regards to the fines, I agree with Maru on that. It just seems so inappropriate nowadays to have that amount of fines. The fines should be contemplating with the current value of our peso. 50 pesos seemed to be too little for the violation of ruining our environment. Unfortunately, Republic Act 3931 had been effective since June 18, 1964. That time, 50 pesos may be equivalent in around 10,000 in this time. We need to be a little serious with our environment, and let our laws be implemented with judgement that damaging our environment pays a lot.


    - Anna Feliz B. Trivino

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  6. With regards to the policies, laws, fine by the government, I have nothing against. In fact, it is good to have such kind of rules but I think the problem is, first, its implementation -- Is there enough monitoring being done by the government? Another thing, I always believe that prevention is better than cure. I think that the government should focus more on programs that will not just give people a fifty-peso-scare but will really discourage them from destroying our water resources.

    - Christopher Anthony A. Castro

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