P.D.

979
The Marine Pollution
Decree of 1976

WHAT IS MARINE
POLLUTION?

Marine Pollution
UN. Definition: The introduction by man, directly,
or indirectly, of substances or energy to the
marine environment resulting in deleterious
effects such as: hazards to human health,
hindrance to marine activities, impairment of the
quality of seawater for various uses and reduction
of amenities.
US. legal Definition: Marine Pollution as the entry
of chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and
residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive
organisms, into the ocean.

Causes of Water Pollution

in the Philippines:
1. Untreated Raw Sewage
2. Industrial Wastewater
3. Agricultural Wastewater
4. Non-Point Sources
5. Other Sources
6. Sedimentation

MAJOR MARINE
POLLUTANTS

SOLID WASTE
Another major pollutant to the marine water are solid wastes particularly the large
portion of non-biodegradable plastic that pollutes the maritime waters. Imagine the
dangerous scenario where 46,000 pieces of plastic floating could be found per square
miles of the ocean surface. Sea turtles that has mistaken to believe that the plastic bag
is a jelly fish and died of internal blockage. An estimated number of 100,000 marine
mammals have fall victim and die due to the danger of plastic debris. But other animal
species were not spared hence, 2 million sea birds die annually.

Effects of Marine Pollution

1. Effect of Toxic
Wastes on Marine
Animals
2. Disruption to the
Cycle of Coral Reefs
3. Depletes Oxygen
Content in Water
4. Failure in the
Reproductive System
of Sea Animals
5. Effect on Food Chain

The Related Laws on

Marine Pollution

Presidential Decree No. 979 or otherwise

known as the Marine Pollution Decree of
1976.
Presidential Decree No. 600 known
as Marine Pollution Decree of 1974
Presidential Decree No. 602 known
as National Oil Pollution Operation
Center Decree

Overview of P.D. 979

Enacted and Implemented in August 18, 1976
Control Area covers all Marine Waters
Purpose:
Marine pollution originates from many sources
There is a need to control public and private activities that
cause damage to the marine environment by using the best
practicable means and by developing improved disposal
processes to minimize harmful wastes
There is an urgent need to prevent, mitigate or eliminate the
increasing damages to marine resources as a result of
pollution

P.D. 979
Declaration of State Policy: It is hereby
declared a national policy to prevent and
control the pollution of seas by the dumping of
wastes and other matter which create hazards
to human health, harm living resources and
marine life, damage amenities, or interfere
with the legitimate uses of the sea within the
territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines.
(Section 2)

Features:
National Pollution Control Commission has the primary
responsibility to promulgate national rules and policies
governing marine pollution, and to issue the same upon
consultation with the Philippine Coast Guard.(Section 5)
The Philippine Coast Guard has the primary responsibility
of enforcing the laws, rules and regulations governing marine
pollution.(Section 6)
Violators shall be liable for a fine or imprisonment for
each offense without prejudice to the civil liability of the
offender, clearance from the port of the Philippines of the
vessel from which oil or other harmful substances are
discharged may be withheld until the fine is paid.
(Section 7)

Prohibited Acts
Discharge, dump, or suffer, permit the discharge of oil, noxious gaseous
from or out of any ship, vessel, barge, or any other floating craft, or other
man-made structures at sea, by any method, means or manner, into or upon
the territorial and inland navigable waters of the Philippines
Throw, discharge or deposit, dump, or cause, suffer or procure to be thrown,
discharged, or deposited either from or out of any ship, barge, or other
floating craft or vessel of any kind, or from the shore, wharf, manufacturing
establishment, or mill of any kind, any refuse matter of any kind or
description whatever other than that flowing from streets and sewers and
passing therefrom in a liquid state into tributary of any navigable water from
which the same shall float or be washed into such navigable water
Deposit or cause, suffer or procure to be deposited material of any kind in
any place on the bank of any navigable water, or on the bank of any tributary
of any navigable water, where the same shall be liable to be washed into
such navigable water, either by ordinary or high tides, or by storms or floods,
or otherwise, whereby navigation shall or may be impeded or obstructed or
increase the level of pollution of such water(Section 4.)

Penalties for Violation of the Law:

Any person who violates Section 4 of this Decree or any regulations
prescribed in pursuance thereof, shall be liable for a fine of not less
than 200PHP nor more than 10,000 PHP or by imprisonment of not
less than 30 days nor more than 1 year or both such fine and
imprisonment, for each offense, without prejudice to the civil
liability of the offender in accordance with existing laws.

Any vessel from which oil or other harmful substances are

discharged in violation of Section 4 or any regulation prescribed in
pursuance thereof, shall be liable for the penalty of fine specified in
this section, and clearance of such vessel from the port of the
Philippines may be withheld until the fine is paid.

In addition to the penalties above-prescribed, the Philippine Coast

Guard shall provide in its rules and regulations such reasonable
administrative penalties as may be necessary for the effective
implementation of this decree. (Section 7)

Conclusion
The problem with Marine Pollution is a worldwide issue.
From what we have gathered apparently what pollutes the
marine water comes from various sources. The obvious
effort by the different states, non-government organization,
Local Government Units and concerned citizens to alleviate
the problems of the diverse kinds of pollution that hurts the
earth and all living things existing in it had been undertaken
still the development of problems on marine pollution has no
sign of slowing down. We can only address one problem at a
time and we need more than ever the cooperation of all
sectors in the community for this must be a team effort.