Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1506

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Florida P. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Edward Abbey, a famous writer and essayist noted for his advocacy of
environmental issues, once said, "We need wilderness because we are wild animals.
Every man needs a place where he can go to go crazy in peace ... It is not enough to
understand the natural world; the point is to defend and preserve it ... We need the
possibility of escape as surely as we need hope: without it the life of the cities would
drive all men into crime or drugs or psychoanalysis."

Inspired by these lines and being aware of the perils of exploitation of our
environment and natural resources as well as some of the adverse impact of
industrialization and modernization on the planet that we live in, this representation
believes that there is a need to protect those who devote their time and risk their lives
in protecting nature in all its forms. This proposed measure seeks to promote
environmental activism by fostering best practices in environmental management
and awareness campaign while protecting environmental activists or eco-warriors
from threat to their lives as they work towards the protection of environment
through different activities that create awareness.

The mission that many environmental activists undertake to pursue is
arduous and dangerous. As they commit to protect the environment by raising
awareness about the urgency and necessity to conserve and preserve the
environment, they are putting bullets to their heads because many of these
individuals and corporations violating environmental laws are moneyed and
influential. In order to strike a balance between_economic growth and the negative
impact on the environment, environmental activism should be promoted by the State
through the enactment into law of this proposed legislation.


Indeed, our country, being a developing country, is faced with the challenge
of striking the right balance between ensuring maximum growth and inflicting
minimum impact on the environment such as controlling pollution, combating
climate change, conservation of its biodiversity and sustainable development. As
earlier stated, the adverse impact of industrialization on our planet is imminent. As
such, it is about time that we do our share by protecting those fighting against
unchecked exploitation of our environment and have taken positive actions towards
the conservation and protection of the flora and fauna of the country, and rewarding
those corporation who ensure sustainable development using clean technologies. We
need to protect the Erin Brockovich among us.

Hence, the passage of this proposal is highly recommended.

FLORIDA/. ROBES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS,

1506

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Florida P. Robes

AN ACT PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF ECO
WARRIORS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as "Eco-Warriors Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. It is hereby a declared policy of the
State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. The State is also duty-
bound to generate greater awareness and environmental consciousness amongst the
citizens and to ensure that environmental activists or eco-warriors, whether
individuals, group or organization, are afforded legal safeguards as they bring forth
environmental issues and challenges to the fold of society without discrimination or
fear for their lives.

In striving to balance environmental protection and economic development,
the State must safeguard existing environmental laws from proposed amendments
that will only exacerbate environmental problems, genuinely enforce our progressive
environmental policies by intensifying sanctions and increasing penalties for
violators, and craft environmental regulations based on scientific reality, not political
patronage.

SEC. 3. Policy Objective - The main objective of this Act is to promote
environmental activism, to encourage people to become "eco-warriors” or
environmentalists, to generate greater awareness and environmental consciousness
amongst the citizens in order to inspire and engage them to move towards a
sustainable future. In addition, this Act envisions to mainstream a right-based
approach into environmental protection in communities by drawing synergies of
awareness on climate change, mitigation and carbon emissions based on the


promotion of social justice and sustainable development.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

(a) Eco-warrior- refers to individuals who are committed to work towards the
protection of environment by creating awareness about the need to
conserve the environment and participating in environmental protection
activities;

(b) Environmental Activism - refers to the advocacy for or work toward the
natural environment from destruction or pollution.

(c) Environmentalism - refers to concerns for environmental protection and
improvement of the health of the environment and advocacy on lawful
preservation, restoration and/or improvement of the natural
environment.

(d) Environmental Justice - is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement
of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with
respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

(e) Environmental Organization - is an organization coming out of the
conservation or environmental movements that seek to protect, analyze or
monitor the environment against misuse or degradation from human
forces.

Secs. The Rights of Eco-Warriors and Environmental
Organizations As duty bearers of the environment, eco-warriors and
environmental organizations shall be accorded the following rights:

(a) Right to fight for environmental justice with safeguard and protection of
the law;

(b) Right to educate, advocate and empower communities at the local and
national level;

(c) Right to access to information on environmental matters;

(d) Right to help establish accountability mechanisms to hold perpetrators
accountable for ecocide;

(©) Right to empower the community by helping create environmental
committees in the grassroots to hold both state and non-state actors to


account using the local and regional mechanisms available;
(f) Right to lobby for the enforcement of environmental laws and the passage
of more stringent laws to protect the environment and allow for
accountability;
(g) Right to participate in information dissemination and environmental
campaigns;
(h) Right to participate in policy formulations regarding the environment; and
(i Such other rights that may be necessary in protecting the environment.

Sec. 6, Teaching of Environmental Awareness - The Department of
Education and the Commission on Higher and Technical Education shall include or
integrate in the curriculum of both basic and tertiary education a subject on
environmental protection to instill among students and young people the love for the
environment. This is to further encourage the youth to be active in reporting
environmental abuses or violations relevant to them via social media and other
mediums.

Sec. 7. Recognition of Eco-Warriors and Environmental
Organization. - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
in coordination with concerned stakeholders and entities, shall recognize
outstanding individuals, environmental leaders, and organizations that have
exemplified inspiration, vision, innovation, leadership and action for the
environment.

Sec. 8. Participatory Governance and Citizen Engagement. - Citizens
shall participate in a society's decision-making processes, being a fundamental
human right, in order to help deepen their awareness on environmental issues by
promoting initiatives on environment equity and social justice through citizen
reporting and regular public consultations to provide transparency and opportunities
for them to be consulted in the policymaking process in relation to the environment.

Sec. 9. Legal Protection. - In order to provide legal protection and
safeguard to eco-warriors and environmental organizations and encourage citizen
engagement, an Eco-Warrior Legal Defense Fund shall be instituted, through DENR,
to support and assist individuals and organizations who are taking extraordinary
action to defend the environment from degradation and annihilation. Such fund shall
also serve as a safety net for communities protecting the eco-system and an incentive
for putting their lives at risk in defending their environmental habitat.

In addition to legal remedies accorded to individuals or organization in the
exercise of their constitutional right to a healthy environment as provided by all


existing environmental laws, the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases duly
promulgated by the Supreme Court shall be strengthened and other remedies to be
determined by the Department of Justice shall be made available to eco-warriors and
environmental organizations whose lives are threatened due to their environmental
advocacies.

Sec. 10. Non- Discrimination. Eco-warriors shall not be discriminated
against on the grounds of their beliefs on climate change and the environment or
those who espouse environmentalism.

Sec. 11, Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination with the Department of
Justice, Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education as well as
public and private organizations working for environmental protection, shall
formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations ninety (90) days after
the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is found to be
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,