Updates on Water Environment
Management in the Philippines

Vicente B. Tuddao, Jr., Ph.D.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Erlinda Gonzales
Environmental Management Bureau

Outline of Presentation• Background• Modification of Old Regulation (DENR* AdministrativeOrder1990-35)• Repeal of Old DENR* Administrative Order 1990-34• Status of Implementation of those New Standards• Status of effluent emission load from municipal waste
water in Metro Manila• Status of coordination with the plans to develop waste
water treatment system• Issues and challenges of the water environment
legislation*DENR- Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Philippine Archipelago
18 Major River Basins in the Philippines
421 Principal River Basins,72 lakes and extensive Groundwater aquifers

Status of Effluent Emission Load from
Municipal WasteWater

Water Pollution Sources in Metro Manila

Modification of DENR Administrative Order 1990-35
and Repealing of DENR Administrative Order 1990-34
Department Administrative Order 2016-08-WQG (WaterQuality Guidelines) and General Effluent Standards (GES)
was approved on May 24, 2016 and took effect on June 15,
2016
The old Rules and Regulations of the National Pollution
Control Commission (1978), 1982 Effluent Regulations andthe DENR Administrative Order 1990–34 were repealed,
while DENR Administrative Order 1990–35 was modified
accordingly.

DAO No.1990-35 (Old Regulation) and DAO 2016-08 (New Regulation)
Parameter

DAO No. 1990-35 (for DAO 2016 – 08 (for class C)class C)
(Old)
(New)

BOD

50 mg/L

50 mg/L

COD

100 mg/L

100 mg/L

TSS

70 mg/L

100 mg/L

Oil and grease

5 mg/L

5 mg/LColor

150 NTU

150 NTU

Total Coliform

10.000 MPN/100mL

10.000 MPN/100mL

Fecal Coliform

None

400 MPN/100mL

Ammonia as NHɜ - N

None

0.5 mg/L

Nitrate as NOɜ - N

None

14 mg/L

PhosphateNone

1 mg/L

Surfactants (MBAS)

7 mg/L15 mg/LWater Quality Guidelines andEffluent Standards and its
Implementation in the PhilippinesDENR Administrative Order (DAO)
2016‐08
Modification of the Implementing Rules andRegulations of the Clean Water Act of the Philippines

General Effluent Standards and Water Quality
GuidelinesSection 1. Basic Policy
The Basic Policy – IT is the policy of the state topursue a policy of economic growth in a mannerconsistent with the protection, preservation andrevival of the quality of fresh, brackish and marinewaters.

Section 3. Scope and Coverage of the WQG and GES
Water Quality Guidelines (WQG)• The WQG applies to all water bodies in the country(freshwaters, marine waters, and ground water)• Shall be used for classifying water bodies• Shall be used for determining trends• Evaluation of stages of deterioration or enhancement inwater quality• used as basis for taking positive actions in preventing,controlling or abating water pollution• Shall be used in the Designation of Water Quality
Management Area (WQMA)

Section 3 ‐ Scope and Coverage ofthe GES• GES applies to all point sources of pollution, regardless ofvolume, that discharge to receiving body of water or landand be used regardless of the industry category.
• However, Effluent used for irrigation and agricultural
purposes shall conform to the guideline set by theDepartment of Agriculture for the safe re – use ofwastewater for the purposes of irrigation and otheragricultural Uses.

General Effluent Standards (GES)
Coverage and Scope• The GES established the Significant Effluent Quality
Parameters per sector (industries shall only berequired to monitor effluent quality parameters
determined significant to them) for the purpose of
streamlining compliance and enforcement of the GES.
• In consideration for establishments with influent BOD
greater than or equal to 3000 mg/l, separate effluent
standards were set but applicable only forestablishments discharging to Class S, Class D, ClassSC and Class SD water bodies.

Section 5- Classification of Water Bodies. For purposes of maintaining water
quality according to its intended beneficial usage, the followingclassification of water bodies shall be adopted
Water Body Classification and Usage of Freshwater
ClassificationIntended Beneficial use

Class AA

Public Water Supply Class I. Intended primarily for waters having watersheds, which
are uninhabited and/or otherwise declared as protected areas, and which require onlyapproved disinfection to meet the latest PNSDWClass A

Public Water Supply Class II. Intended as sources of water supply requiring
conventional treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection) inorder to meet the PNSDW.

Class B

Recreational water Class I. Intended for primary contact recreation(bathing, swimming, etc.)

Class C1) Fishery water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources;
2) Recreational Water Class II‐ For boating, fishing or similar activities
3) For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock watering

Class D

Navigable Waters (Waters of the Philippines, including the territorial
area and inland waters suitable for water transport)

Water body Classification and Usage of Marine Waters
Classification

Intended Beneficial useClass SA

1) Protected Waters – Waters designated as national or local
marine parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and other areas
established by law (presidentialProclamation 1801 andother existing laws) and/or declared as such by appropriategovernment agency, LGUs, etc.
2) Fishery Water Class I – Suitable for shellfish harvesting for
direct human consumption.

Class SB

1) Fishery Water Class II – Water suitable for commercial
propagation of shellfish and intended as spawning areas for
milkfish (Chanos chanos) and similar species
2) Tourism Zones – For ecotourism and recreational activities
3) Recreational Water Class I – Intended for primary contact
recreation (bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc)

Continuation:
Classification
Class SCClass SD

Intended Beneficial use
1) Fishery Water Class III ‐ For the propagation andgrowth of fish and other aquatic resources andintended for Commercial and sustenance fishing2) Recreational water Class II‐ For boating. Fishing,or similar activities
3) Marshy and /or mangrove areas declared as fish
and wildlife sanctuaries
Navigable Waters (Waters of the Philippines,
including the territorial area and inland
waters suitable for water transport)

Water Quality Guidelines. This Rules and Regulations was established to maintainand preserve the quality of all bodies of water based on their intended beneficial
usage to prevent and abate pollution to protect public health, aquatic resourcesand other living organisms.

Water Quality Guidelines for Secondary Parameters

Water Quality Guidelines for Secondary ParametersSection 7 ‐ General Effluent Standards Discharges from any point source shall at all
times meet the effluent standards based on their intended beneficial usage.

Effluent Standards

Effluent Standards

Modification of WQG and GES• Modification can be requested as long as a clear andscientifically valid evidence to demonstrate that suchmodification is consistent with
RA 9275 and
Implementing Rules and Regulations.
• WQG value of a water segment shall not result in a
modification of the designated use of the water segment.
Significant Effluent Water Quality Parameters per Sector
and GES Values

Grace Period• Consistent with the Clean Water Act, a grace period of not
more than five (5) years is provided in cases wherein:
1. Values for GES have become stringent compared to thevalues in DAO 1990 – 35 (the amended effluentstandards). In such cases DAO 1990 – 35 shall apply
during the grace period.
2. Grace period can only be given to establishments that
submit Compliance Action Plan and periodic status ofimplementation to the DENR on the steps taken for theestablishments compliance schedule within theprescribed grace period.

Fines, Damages and Penalties
1. Fines of 10,000 to 200,000 Philippine Peso for every
day of violation; upon PAB recommendation (rates tobe increased 10% every 2 years);
2. Closure, suspension of development or construction or
cessation of operations, upon PAB recommendation;
3. 2 to 4 yr imprisonment for failure to clean up & 50,000
to 100,000 for every day of violation;

Updates on the implementation of Clean Water Act(Republic Act No. 9275) and its implementing rulesand regulations (DAO 1990 -34 and DAO 1990 -35)••••••

Classification of water bodies
Water quality Monitoring and assessment to determine
trends and stages of deterioration of water quality
Industrial/Commercial compliance monitoring
Issuance of Discharge Permit
Issuance of Notice of Violations and CDO to facilities found in
violation of RA 9275
Designation of Water quality management area

Classification of Water Bodies
RegionPrincipalRiver

Other Rivers

MarineWaters

Lakes

Total

114101025226230049

316

4340634A2629

12584B

30251617252923746363125

15071

719141004382327

9160

91727

3047

1012291143

1117154036

1214266248

CAR

11280

140

CARAGA

19116

137

NCR

23

10

6

Total

306

358

8413761

Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
From 2006 to present the Environmental Management
Bureau monitored 164 water bodies, comprisingprincipal rivers, minor rivers, lakes and marine waters
based on the set beneficial use.

Water Quality Monitoring••••

Monitoring of Bathing
Beaches of Manila Bay
Nineteen (19) bathing beaches inManila Bay were monitored for Total
and Fecal Coliform, DO, pH and TSS
Out of the nineteen (19) stations
monitored only two stations passed
the SB criteria of 1000 mpn/100 ml
for total coliform
For fecal coliform, only one (1)station passed the criteria of 200
mpn/100 ml
Ten (10) stations passed the criteriaof 5 mg/L for DO while fourteen (14)stations for pH and ten (10) stations
passed the water quality criteria forTSS.
Figure 1. Bathing Beaches Monitoring
Stations

Water Quality Monitoring
Baywide Monitoring(Offshore)•••Nine (9) stations baywide inManila Bay were monitored forDO, pH, Salinity, Temperature,Conductivity, Phosphate andHeavy Metals.
A decreasing trend of Dissolve
Oxygen (DO) from top tobottom was observed in allstations.
Surface DO conformed with thecriteria of 5mg/L in all stations
while only 8 stations conformedat mid – depth and only 1station passed the DO criteria
at the bottom.

•For TSS and Phosphate, all stations passed the criteria.

•High levels of pH ranging from
8.94 to 9.56 were observed inthe bay.
Figure 2. Offshore Monitoring Stations

Water Quality MonitoringRiver Water
Quality Monitoring
Selected river systems inthe Manila Bay Region(Region 4 – A, NCR andRegion 3) discharging into
Manila Bay were monitored
todetermine
theircompliance with the water
quality criteria.
Figure 3. Map showing theselected river system draining into
Manila Bay

Pasig River Unified Monitoring System
Fourteen (14) stations in Pasig river
were monitored for DO and BOD.
Out of the 14 stations monitored
only one (1) stations passed theDO criteria of 5 mg/L for Class Cwaters.
All stations failed the BOD criteriaof 7 mg/L .

Figure 4. Pasig
Monitoring SystemRiverUnified

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MONITORING (Manila Bay Region)
Industrial/Commercial Establishments monitored in compliance with the effluent
standards ( with Discharge Permit ) from 2011-2015

Regions

Universe /Baseline
9,600

Total number
establishment
monitored

Total number of
establishment with
discharge permit% Establishments
Monitored inCompliance withthe Effluent
Standards

NCR

3,800

3354

1372

40.9%

R3

3,800

3041

1517

49.88%

R4A

2,000

2394

1103

49.06%

Total

9,600

8791

3992

45.41%

Designation of Water Quality Management Area••••As of 2016, EMB has designated 31 water quality management area
all over the country.
Water quality Management Area is defined as an area designatedusing appropriate physiographic units (watershed, river basin or
water resources regions) sharing common interest or face similar
development programs, prospect or problems.
Designation of WQMA empowered the local stakeholders to institutemeasures and identify programs to effectively manage the water
bodies in their respective area.
Governing Board (GB) was created to develop strategies tocoordinate policies, regulations and local legislation necessary forthe effective implementation of the Clean Water Act

Adopt Estero / Water Bodies Program•

Adopt Esteros /Water Bodies is a collaborative program between
and among the DENR, the community, Local Government Units,Donor Partners and other Government
Agencies aim at
institutionalizing public – private community partner inenvironmental and sanitation improvement.

•Donor Partners may be a business establishments, industry
associations, NGOs, Academe or any other groups that volunteers.

• Program activities includes river/estero clean-up, dredging of rivers,
river bank stabilization, tree planting, IEC, Community development,etc.

Philippine Environmental Partnership Program (PEPP)INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM• The PEPP , pursuant to DENR ADMINISTRATIVE Order 2003 – 14
is a DENR Partnership Program with Industries, in cooperation withother environment – related agencies that aims to encourage andsupport establishments to adopt self-regulation forimproved
environmental performance through the provision of regulatory
assistance and other incentives

Program Categories Or Tracks under thePhilippine Environmental Partnership Program (PEPP)

There are 2 tracks or categories of Companies participatingin the PEPP. These are:• Track 1 – Large Companies with proven or demonstrated
superior environmental performance that go beyond
compliance and are driven by competitiveness, image, andsupply chain requirements to improve performance. ( i.e.,large companies)• Track 2 – Companies that are currently unable to comply withregulations and are driven by survival needs (mostly smalland medium business enterprise).

Benefits of the Government from PEPP AWARDEES• Provide technical assistance to the other industry partner, particularly in the preparationand implementation of the sectors Environmental Management Plan•

Assist the industry partner in raising awareness on environment concerns.

• Assist in the development of industry – specific effluent standards, if the need arises.
• Assist in developing a practicable technology that could be used by industry partners tocomply with prescribed effluent levels.
• Sharing of their best practices

Status of Coordination with the Plans to
Develop Wastewater Treatment System• The DENR as the lead agency in the implementation of the Clean
Water Act and the Supreme Court Order to Clean Manila Bay, regularly
call meetings with concerned agencies for the successful
implementation of the said Act and the Operational Plan for theManila bay Coastal Strategy specifically on pollution reduction issues• The meetings / workshops discussed:• MWSS – Status of accomplishment in terms of sewerage andsanitation management and the Road Map for completion of waste
water treatment facilities in Metro Manila.
• LWUA – Status of sewerage and sanitation management outside
Metro manila and the plan of LGUs and Water District to construct
Septage Treatment Facilities

Status of Coordination with the Plans toDevelop Wastewater Treatment System• LGUs – Projects identified for inclusion in the sewerage andseptage and management program for submission to DPWH.
Inventory of household and with septic tanks. Preparation ofordinance for all LGUs to have sewerage and sanitation facilities• DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways)- Status ofNSSMP and DPWH-World Bank project on the provision ofWTF in 17 Major cities• NEDA-ADB – on the preparation of feasibility studies onsewerage and sanitation management for 34 municipality.
• EMB – provision of assistance to LGUs in the preparation offeasibility studies on sewerage and sanitation management intheir municipality.

Issues and Challenges on the Water
Environment Legislation•••••

Inadequate logistical support to strictly enforce the cleanwater act and related laws (financial and technical)
Inadequate capacity of the law implementers especially at thelocal level.
Low awareness of the stakeholders on the existing law, rules
and regulations on wastewater management
Weak cooperation among different government agencies andLocal Government Units, hence derail law enforcement
Big investment on the part of industrial establishments to putup WTF as a results of the inclusion of additional parametersin the new effluent standard (NO3, PO4)

Thank you!