Chapter 5

The Marine Pollution Decree of 1976

When the Earth was created by some being far greater than all man
everything big or small that was incorporated in it has purpose. The vast oceans
and sea that comprises 70 % of the earths surface has been designed in order to
portray a role in the ecosystem. People need air to breathe, water to drink, food to
eat, new medicines, a climate we can live in, beauty, inspiration and recreation. We
need to know we belong to something bigger than ourselves. We want a better
future for those we care about. The oceans or marine water are the largest
ecosystems on Earth, they are the Earths largest life support systems. To survive
and prosper, we all need healthy oceans or marine water. Our oceans generate half
of the oxygen people breathe. At any given moment, more than 97% of the worlds
water resides in oceans. Oceans provide a sixth of the animal protein people
eat. Theyre the most promising source of new medicines to combat cancer, pain
and bacterial diseases. Living oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
and reduce the impact of climate change.
It is most unfortunate however, that people could not help but abuse the use
of the natural wealth they have been blessed by with through marine pollution.
Marine Pollution per United Nation definition is said to be 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. The USLegal on the other hand defined Marine Pollution
as the entry of chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste,
noise, or the spread of invasive organisms, into the ocean.
Brief History
Although marine pollution has a long history, significant international laws
to counter it were only enacted in the twentieth century. Marine pollution was a
concern during several United Nations Conferences on the Law of the
Sea beginning in the 1950s. Most scientists believed that the oceans were so vast
that they had unlimited ability to dilute, and thus render pollution harmless.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were several controversies about
dumping radioactive waste off the coasts of the United States by companies
licensed by the Atomic Energy Commission, into the Irish Sea from the British
reprocessing facility at Windscale, and into the Mediterranean Sea by the
French Commissariat l'Energie Atomique. After the Mediterranean Sea
controversy, for example,Jacques Cousteau became a worldwide figure in the
campaign to stop marine pollution. Marine pollution made further international
headlines after the 1967 crash of the oil tanker Torrey Canyon, and after the
1969 Santa Barbara oil spill off the coast of California.
Marine pollution was a major area of discussion during the 1972 United
Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm. That year also
saw the signing of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by
Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, sometimes called the London Convention.
The London Convention did not ban marine pollution, but it established black and
gray lists for substances to be banned (black) or regulated by national authorities
(gray). Cyanide and high-level radioactive waste, for example, were put on the
black list. The London Convention applied only to waste dumped from ships, and
thus did nothing to regulate waste discharged as liquids from pipelines.
Major Sources of Pollution
In the study conducted by the Greentumble in the Philippines the most
common sources of marine pollution are as follows:
1. Untreated Raw Sewage - Due to a lack of sufficient and effective
sewage treatment infrastructure, only about 10% of the sewage in the Philippines is
properly treated. Much of this waste is directly discarded into waterways,
particularly in low income urban areas that lack sufficient infrastructure to support
proper treatment of this waste. Such waste can spread disease-causing organisms
and can cause waterborne diseases, such as gastroenteritis, diarrhea, typhoid,
cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis. An estimated 58% of the groundwater in the
Philippines has been contaminated with coliform bacteria and should be treated.
2. Industrial Wastewaters which are dumped directly into bodies of
water on a daily basis varies by each industry. However, the most common
industrial pollutants include chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury and cyanide.
3. Agricultural Wastewater pollutants that come from the line of
agriculture can include dead plants, manure, dead animals, soil erosion runoff,
herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
4. Domestic Wastewater which contains disease-causing organisms or
toxic chemicals.
5. Non-Point Sources which include runoff from rain and groundwater
and landfills, as well as solid wastes. This type of pollution can contain some of the
same toxic chemicals that industrial wastewater contains.
6. Other Sources like spills from oil and other chemicals, abandoned
mines, and the dumping of wastes near or directly into water bodies.
7. Sedimentation or the natural process by which materials like stones
and sand are carried in the bottom of a body of water or marine water and later
form solid layer.
 Major contributor to marine pollutions are dangerous metal wastes like
mercury, lead and copper when introduced to marine waters enters the food chain.
Mercury and lead once ingested in to the body cause brain damage and behavioural
disturbances in children. Copper which is used in marine anti-fouling paints is
dangerous o marine organisms. Fuel combustion, electric utilities, steel and iron
manufacturing, fuel oils, fuel additives and incineration of urban refuse or garbage
cause oceanic and atmospheric contamination. Contaminated land runoff, rain of
pollutants from the air, and fallout from shipwrecks pollute the ocean with
dangerous metals. Even human activities release 5 times as much mercury and 17
times as much lead as is derived from natural sources.
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.
Biological pollutant is another major source of contaminant of marine water.
Biological pollutants cause cholera, toxic algae and R, G and BTides.
Note that each type of pollutant can have different toxic and negative effects
which can hurt human health and the environment, resulting in high economic
costs for both the population and government entities. There are an estimated 2.2
million metric tons of organic water pollution that occur in the Philippines each
year. Marine water across the world is deluge with 10 billion tonnes of blast water
with invasive, an estimated of 10,000 million gallons of sewage and 3.25 million
metric tonnes of oil annually plus millions of tonnes of solid waste. One could just
imagine how much the marine water had to assimilate and still maintain to be a
source of fresh marine produce and safe water to navigate or cross.

Effects of Marine Pollution

1. Effect of Toxic Wastes on Marine Animals: Oil spill is dangerous to marine
life in several ways. The oil spilled in the ocean could get on to the gills and
feathers of marine animals, which makes it difficult for them to move or fly
properly or feed their children. The long term effect on marine life can include
cancer, failure in the reproductive system, behavioral changes, and even death.

2. Disruption to the Cycle of Coral Reefs: Oil spill floats on the surface of water
and prevents sunlight from reaching to marine plants and affects in the process of
photosynthesis. Skin irritation, eye irritation, lung and liver problems can impact
marine life over long period of time.

3. Depletes Oxygen Content in Water: Most of the debris in the ocean does not
decompose and remain in the ocean for years. It uses oxygen as it degrades. As a
result of this, oxygen levels go down. When oxygen levels go down, the chances of
survival of marine animals like whales, turtles, sharks, dolphins, penguins for long
time also goes down.

4. Failure in the Reproductive System of Sea Animals: Industrial and

agricultural wastes include various poisonous chemicals that are considered
hazardous for marine life. Chemicals from pesticides can accumulate in the fatty
tissue of animals, leading to failure in their reproductive system.
5. Effect on Food Chain: Chemicals used in industries and agriculture get washed
into the rivers and from there are carried into the oceans. These chemicals do not
get dissolved and sink at the bottom of the ocean. Small animals ingest these
chemicals and are later eaten by large animals, which then affects the whole food
chain. (Conserve Energy Future)

The Need to Protect the Philippine Marine Water

The Philippine archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean. It is composed of
more than 7,100 islands with a coastline stretching over 36,289 km. The country
has one the most populous and diverse aquatic ecosystems in the world. The
marine waters of the Philippines contain significant marine habitats coral reefs,
seagrass beds, mangrove forests and the deep seas. These habitats are estimated to
host at least 2,000 species of fish, 5,000 species of clams and other mollusks and
crustaceans, 22 species of whales and dolphins, more than 900 species of seaweed,
and more than 400 species of corals. Because of this rich diversity in marine life,
some experts have acknowledged the Philippines as the center of global marine
biodiversity.
More than 30 million Filipinos depend on these marine resources for
survival. The Philippines as a nation is reliant on the health of marine waters and
oceans surrounding the country for national development. On a national scale,
80% of Filipinos rely on marine products as a daily source of protein. Fishing is a
major industry in the Philippines, contributing about 4% of the countrys GNP.
With an annual production volume of 2.4 million metric tons of fish, fishing
directly provides livelihood and employment to over one million Filipinos.

The Related Laws on Marine Pollution

 December 9, 1974 Presidential Decree No. 600 known as Marine Pollution
Decree of 1974 was enacted by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. On the same
date Presidential Decree No. 602 was likewise enacted by President Marcos and it
was known as National Oil Pollution Operation Center Decree. More or less than
two (2) years thereafter on August 18, 1976 Presidential Decree No. 600 was
amended by Presidential Decree No. 979 or otherwise known as the Marine
Pollution Decree of 1976. All the foregoing laws took effect immediately.
PD No. 602 or the National Oil Pollution Operation Decree was
implemented essentially because the Philippine Administration realized the danger
of a future major oil spills due to the increasing number of oil tankers traversing
the waters close to the country and knowing that the Philippines is not yet prepared
to handle such major oil spills that may possibly happen. Under this decree the
National Oil Pollution Center is authorized to call upon personnel and other
resources from any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the
government. For this purpose the Philippine Coast Guard is allowed to directly
negotiate with local companies equipped with containment and facilities in order to
combat oil pollution. Finally, it provides that the National Oil Pollution Center
serves as the contact point of similar national operation centers of ASEAN member
countries and when necessary shall cause the immediate call for assistance from
such countries to help contain oil pollution.

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.1
1 Sec. 2 of PD No. 979 otherwise known as the Marine Pollution Decree of 1976
The National Pollution Control Commission
It shall be the primary responsibility of the National Pollution Control Commission
to promulgate national rules and policies governing marine pollution, including but
not limited to the discharge of effluents from any outfall structure, industrial and
manufacturing establishments or mill of any kind to the extent that it is regulated
under the provisions of Republic Act No. 3931, and to issue the appropriate rules
and regulations upon consultation with the Philippine Coast Guard.2
The Philippine Coast Guard shall promulgate its own rules and regulations in
accordance with the national rules and policies set by the National Pollution
Control Commission upon consultation with the latter, for the effective
implementation and enforcement of this decree and other applicable laws, rules
and regulations promulgated by the government.3
The rules and regulations issued by the National Pollution Control Commission or
the Philippine Coast Guard shall not include deposit of oyster, shells, or other
materials when such deposit is made for the purpose of developing, maintaining or
harvesting fisheries resources and is otherwise regulated by law or occurs pursuant
to an authorized government program: Provided, That the Philippine Coast Guard,
whenever in its judgment navigation will not be injured thereby and upon
consultation with and concurrence of the National Pollution Control Commission,
may permit the deposit of any of the materials above-mentioned in navigable
waters, and whenever any permit is so granted, the conditions thereof shall be
strictly complied with.4
2 Sec. 5 of PD No. 979 otherwise known as the Marine Pollution Decree of 1976

3 Ibid.

4 Sec. 5 of PD No. 979 otherwise known as the Marine Pollution Decree of 1976
Prohibited Acts Under PD 979
Except in cases of emergency imperiling life or property, or unavoidable accident,
collision, or stranding or in any cases which constitute danger to human life or
property or a real threat to vessels, aircraft, platforms, or other man-made structure,
or if damping appears to be the only way of averting the threat and if there is
probability that the damage consequent upon such dumping will be lees than would
otherwise occur, and except as otherwise permitted by regulations prescribed by
the National Pollution Control Commission or the Philippine Coast Guard, it shall
be unlawful for any person to:
(a) discharge, dump or suffer, permit the discharge of oil, noxious gaseous and
liquid substances and other harmful substances 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;
(b) 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 of 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; and
(c) 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 increased the level of pollution of such water.5

Enforcement and Implementation of the Law

The Philippine Coast Guard shall have the primary responsibility of enforcing the
laws, rules and regulations governing marine pollution. However, it shall be the
joint responsibility of the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Pollution
Control Commission to coordinate and cooperate with each other in the
enforcement of the provisions of this decree and its implementing rules and
regulations, and may call upon any other government office, instrumentality or
agency to extend every assistance in this respect.6

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 Two Hundred Pesos nor
more than Ten Thousand Pesos or by imprisonment of not less than thirty days nor
more than one year or both such fine and imprisonment, for each offense, without
prejudice to the civil liability of the offender in accordance with existing laws.7
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.8

5 Sec. 4 of PD No. 979 otherwise known as the Marine Pollution Decree of 1976

6 Sec. 6 of PD No. 979 ibid.

7 Sec. 7 of PD No. 979 otherwise known as the Marine Pollution Decree of 1976
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.9

The Case of Marine Pollution in the Philippines

According to Pia Ranada of Rappler, irresponsible garbage hauling companies and
the presence of open dump sites near rivers are two reasons why the Philippines is
among the world's top ocean polluters, according to a new study. The Philippines
has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia yet it's the world's
3rd biggest source of plastic leaking into the ocean. A new report on plastic
pollution by international group Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for
Business and Environment looks into this alarming discrepancy. The study,
released to media on October 1, looked at 5 of the worlds biggest contributors of
plastic pollution in the worlds oceans. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand,
and Vietnam contribute over half of all plastics that end up in the seas, according to
the study. What do these 5 countries have in common? They are all benefiting from
economic growth, reduced poverty, and improved quality of life.10
The Philippines was ranked the 3rd top source of plastic leaking into oceans in a
February 2015 study. The country generates 2.7 million metric tons of plastic
garbage each year, 20% or 521,000 tons of which ends up in the ocean. Yet the

8 Sec. 7 of PD No. 979 ibid.

9 Ibid.

10 Why PH is worlds 3rd biggest dumper of plastics in the ocean? by Pia Ranada of
Rappler. Published on October 06, 2015.
country reported one of the highest garbage collection rates in the region with a
national average of 85% and nearly 90% in some dense urban areas.11
The study found that 74% of the plastics leaking into the ocean from the
Philippines comes from garbage that has already been collected by haulers and
garbage trucks. This amounts to 386,000 tons of plastic trash. Only 26% or
135,000 tons of plastics in seas actually comes from garbage that is not collected.
The study attributed the leakage of collected garbage to two factors: illegal
dumping by garbage-hauling companies, and open dump sites located near
waterways. Based on interviews with local government officials and environmental
groups, the study found that waste leakage in the Philippines often happens while
the garbage is transported from the collection site (households, village material
recovery facilities) to the dump sites. Some private garbage hauling companies
unload their trucks on their way to disposal sites in order to cut costs. Waste is
usually dumped at the roadside, at informal deposit sites, or directly into
waterways in locations where it is convenient to do so, reads the report. This
saves the haulers time and money. The reduced garbage load can even reduce fuel
consumption.12
The second major source of leaked garbage after collection are open dump sites
which are typically near waterways. The fact that the Philippines is an archipelagic
country and with an elaborate network of rivers does not help matters, says the
study. The study specifically names as an example the open dump of Dagupan City
in Pangasinan which is located right on the coastline. The decision by local
governments to put dump sites near waterways is often due to financial
11 Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean by the
international group Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and
Environment.

12 Ibid.
considerations. Land adjacent to rivers tends to be cheaper than in other parts of
the country, and waste will intermittently be carried away by heavy rains or
currents, refreshing the capacity of the dump site to receive more waste, reads the
study.13
Open dump sites are illegal in the country under the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000. But there are still around 600 of them in the country.
Sanitary landfills, the only type of disposal site allowed by the law, number only
around 70. Sanitary landfills are a type of disposal site in which garbage is isolated
from the environment, usually by being buried in a large hole lined with thick
plastic or a layer of clay. It also often involves a network of pipes to prevent liquids
generated by the garbage from leaking into the ground. But sanitary landfills are
costly to construct. Local governments in the Philippines often lack either political
will or the budget to construct such facilities. Waste management is technical and
very expensive. We have no land, no money, and a sanitary landfill is hard to run,
Dagupan City mayor Belen Fernandez to Rappler. The National Solid Waste
Management Commission, the agency tasked with overseeing waste management
in the country, also lacks funding. All we can do is remind all mayors to close
open dump sites. Then if they dont comply, we tell the Ombudsman, said the
agencys executive director, Eli Ildefonso.

Proposal of Solution
To fix the first problem, illegal dumping by waste haulers, the Philippines
should first make the process of procuring garbage hauling services more
transparent. In many cases, contracts are distributed at the sole discretion of local

13 Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean by the

international group Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and
Environment.
government officials, leaving room for corruption. A more transparent procurement
process fosters competition between bidders and is based upon clearly laid-out
performance criteria. Such a system should penalize illegal practices by the
haulers through dumping fines or even cancellation of contracts. The haulers can
be monitored carefully through GPS tracking of garbage trucks to ensure the trucks
complete their designated route with their full load of waste.14
To reduce leaks from open dump sites, the study still recommends full closure or
physical sealing of open dump sites near waterways and the establishment of more
sanitary landfills. But given the cost and difficulty posed by these solutions, the
study also suggests simpler, faster and cheaper solutions for the short term. These
include creating a perimeter around the dump and its access road to help limit the
size of the dump. The perimeter can be made of old tired, concrete rubble, or even
discarded appliances. Using a bulldozer, excavator, or front-end loader, garbage
can also be compacted and periodically covered with soil to form layers that will
not easily escape into waterways. Such equipment, along with one or more dump
trucks, basic fencing, and a small guard house or office can be procured for
$300,000 to 500,000 (P14 million to 23 million) per dump site, depending on the
size of the dump. Just addressing the two major sources of plastic leaks could
reduce the countrys total leakage by 26%.

Other Issues of Marine Pollution in the Philippines

CLIMATE CHANGE. Marine life is also being threatened by climate
change which causes coral bleaching and acidification. Only 5% of the countrys
coral reefs remain in good condition. Of the 450,000 hectares of mangroves

14 Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean by the

international group Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and
Environment.
recorded in 1914, only around 100,000 hectares remain. Climate change, caused by
burning fossil fuels, is increasing sea water temperatures and acidity, melting
glaciers, raising sea levels, and changing ocean currents. The effects are already
beginning to be felt. Whole species of marine animals and fish are at risk due to
temperature risethey simply cannot survive the changed conditions. Increased
water temperatures are responsible for massive episodes of coral bleaching where
corals turn white and eventually die. In 1998, 16% of the worlds corals including
those in the country were severely damaged by coral bleaching. The bases of the
marine food supply, plankton and krill, are also already being adversely affected by
climate change and acidification, a process which is akin to pulling the rug out
from under the entire food chain. There are over 34,000 square kilometers of coral
reefs in the country, some of which have grown since the Ice Age. Over a third of
the 2,300 known fish species in the Philippines are reef-associated. But coral
bleaching events in Southeast Asia and the Pacific are set to increase in frequency
and intensity if greenhouse gas emissions increase unabated. In 1998, a massive
bleaching event was reported to have killed up to 30 to 70 percent of hard corals in
major reefs in the country. Important fragile marine ecosystems around the country
are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Bleaching events triggered by warming
temperatures would obviously translate to significant economic losses for the
Philippines not only the industry of fishing but more particularly in the tourism
industry.
UNACCEPTABLE OCEAN DUMPING. Another significant impact of
human activity on the marine environment is pollution. Almost half of the pollution
found at sea comes from the land. Aside from oil spills, pollution comes in the
form of domestic sewage, industrial Ocean Defender Tour of Southeast Asia 2013
Indonesia Thailand Philippines May-July 2013 discharges, urban and industrial
run-off, accidents, spillage, explosions, sea dumping operations, mining,
agricultural run-offs and pesticides, waste heat sources and radioactive discharges.
Toxic chemical pollution from industries, human sewage and plastic garbage from
cities suffocate what were once pristine waters. Plastics and other solid wastes also
often end up floating in our seas. It can take up to 1,000 years for plastic to break
down in the water and it is often found embedded in the skin or stomachs of birds,
fish, turtles and marine mammals. Even a tiny cigarette can take two years to break
down. In the Philippines plastics are common visible wastes that pollute our seas.
In August 2012 for example, in Manila Bay, the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) reported they collected as much as 1,800 tons of trash
mostly plastic bags and wrapperswashed ashore by heavy rains. Waste audits
conducted by Greenpeace and EcoWaste Coalition in 2006 and 2010 showed that
more than 70% of Manila Bay rubbish consists of plastic bags and packaging.
OIL AND TOXIC SPILLS. The countrys coastlines are also under threat by
harmful chemicals such as oil spills and toxic mine spills. One of the biggest toxic
mine spills was the 1995 Marcopper mine spill in Marinduque which killed the
provinces rivers and polluted its coastal waters. Heavy metal poisons from the
spill ruined the health of nearby communities and caused deaths. In 2006, the
Philippine seas were dealt a double blow with the Rapu Rapu mine tailings spill,
and the Guimaras oil slick disaster which came at the high cost of community
health and livelihood. Coal spills are also a threat. In 2008, a massive coal spill
occurred off the coasts of Bolinao, Pangasinan, an important fishing town. The
environmental damage it inflicted was estimated at PHP 55 million. Along with a
broad range of stakeholders, Greenpeace is called on the Aquino administration to
immediately act against the twin crises of overfishing and marine ecosystem
degradation by ensuring that the protection, rehabilitation, and conservation of our
seas are a national priority.
Solution to Pollution
There are a number of suggested ways and means to resolve the problem of
pollutionstricter government regulations on industry and manufacturing,
renewable energy sources so off-shore drilling no longer needed, limit agricultural
pesticides, proper sewage treatment, cut down on waste and contain landfills,
changes to make at home by carry a reusable shopping bag instead of plastic bags,
store food in reusable containers instead of those you throw away, avoid products
that come with excess packaging, don't litter, recycle, volunteer your time to clean
up a beach if you live nearby, visit the beach, tourism improves coastal
communities, lobby your politicians on environmental issues, donate to an
organization that protects the ocean.
All these could be summed-up to two main methods. The first is correction
which is costly and time intensive and the second is prevention which requires
attitude changes because the problem sought to be remedied requires concerted
efforts of every nation, people and race moving forward towards a single goal, to
address pollution of all types. Even Coastal Scientists believe that latter solution is
better than cure since the effects of marine pollution may be irreversible and we
may therefore be creating everlasting damage to the marine ecosystem. Remember
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Conclusion and Recommendation

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.
Search was made in various internet sites, books, forum and media but efforts
proved futile for no case filed against violator of the Marin Pollution Law could be found.
Perhaps it is because the imposable penalty of the governing law PD 979 is much too
light thus it is quite easy for the offenders to satisfy and then forget as if they have been
charged of it at all. No need for appeal to the higher Court. Remember those that end-up
in the SCRA are those the Honorable Supreme Court had decided with finality. Soon the
same offender would again commit the same violation knowing his transgression will
only be met with puny punishment. Maybe the penalty could be increased and
imprisonment should not be scaled from one month to one year instead let the penalty be
an indivisible period of not more than one year and as part of their penalty violators be
commissioned to participate in the water clean-up both the inland and marine water
within the duration of his imprisonment. In this way he would come face to face with the
effects of his wrong doing and those like him. Maybe if the fine and imprisonment could
not deter him the experience of picking-up the tons of filthy refuse of other people could
help enlighten him.
The Philippine Coast Guard who is supposed to patrol the sea is seldom found in
action for reason only known to it. The want for vigilance and commitment to uphold the
mandate of the law by the Philippine Coast Guard has long been waiting to be fulfilled.
Coast Guards may be visible on the ports or pier but not on the sea. The culprits
(referring to the people watercrafts, vessels man-made structure in marine water) are in
the marine waters but the Coast Guard are on the shore in the comfort of their cushioned
seats and air-conditioned office. From where they are the Coast Guard could hardly
govern the sea. The laws are only as good as those who implement it. The true essence
of the laws is best appreciated when applied.