Philippines
Last Updated : 07 February 2023.

The Philippines is an archipelagic country with a tropical and monsoon climate endowed with coastal bays, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. It has abundant water resources with water availability of 5,302 m3/year/capita, which varies according to topography and season. River basins are classified according to size, by the National Water Resources Board. Owing to their significance for water sources for industry, agriculture and domestic uses, and ecological stability, the government considers protection and conservation of water resources a high priority for overall socio-economic development and sustainability.
State of water environment
Legal framework
- The Philippine Environmental Policy (Presidential Decree No.1151) (Outside source)
- The Water Code of The Philippines (Outside source)
- The Philippine Clean Water Act (Republic Act No. 9275) (Outside source)
The Act aims to protect the country‘s water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture, and community/household activities). The Act applies to water quality management in all water bodies, abatement and control
of pollution from land-based sources, and enforcement of water quality standards, regulations and penalties. - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act No. 9003 of 2000 (Outside source)
- The Environmental Impact Statement System (Presidential Decree No. 1586) (Outside source)