SEC. 14.Purpose.-It is the purpose of this Title to prescribe management guidelines aimed to protect and improve the quality of Philippine water resources through: a) classification of Philippine waters; b) establishment of water quality standards; c) protection and improvement of the quality of Philippine water resources, and d) responsibilities for surveillance and mitigation of pollution incidents.
SEC. 15 Classification of Philippine Waters.-The National Pollution Control Commission, in coordination with ap[propriate government agencies, shall classify Philippine waters, according to their best usage. In classifying said waters, the National Pollution Control Commission shall take into account, among others, the following: a) the existing quality of the body of water at the time of classification; b) the size, depth, surface area covered, volume, direction, rate of flow, gradient of stream; and c) the most benificialuses of said bodies of water and lands bordering them for residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, navigational, recreational, and aesthetic purposes.
SEC. 16. Reclassification of Waters Based on Intended Beneficial Use.-Where the public interest so requires, the National Pollution Control Commission, in coordination with appropriate government agencies, shall reclassify a body of water based on the intended beneficial use and take such steps as may be necessary to upgrade the quality of said water. Other government agencies may adopt higher standards for a particular body of water, subject to the approval of the National Pollution Control Commission.
SEC. 17. Upgrading of Water Quality.-Where the quality of water has deteriorated to a degree where its state will adversely affect its best usage, the government agencies concerned shall take such measures as may be necessary to upgrade the quality of such water to meet the prescribed water quality standards.
SEC. 18. Water Quality Standards.-The National Pollution Control Commisssion shall prescribe quality and effluent standards consistent with the guidelines set by the National Environmental Protection Council and the classification of waters prescribed in the preceding sections, taking into consideration, among others, the following: a) the standard of water quality or purity may vary according to beneficial uses; and b) the technology relating to water pollution control.
SEC. 19. Enforcememt and Coordination.-The production, utilization , storage and distribution of hazardous, toxic and other substances such as radioactive materials, heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, and oils, and the disposal, discharge and dumping of untreated wastewater, mine tailings and other substances that may pollute any body of water of the Philippine resulting from normal operations of industries, water-borne sources, and other human activities as well as those resulting from accidental spills and discharges shall be regulated by appropriate government agencies pursuant to their respective charters and enabling legislations. In the performance of the above functions, the government agencies concerned shall coordinate with the National Environmental Protection Council and furnished the latter with such information as may be necessary to enable it to attain its objectives under Presidential Decree No. 1121.
SEC. 20. Clean-up Operations.-It shall be the responsibility of the polluter to contain, remove and clean up water pollution incidents at his own expense. In case of his failure to do so, the government agencies concerned shall undertake containment, removal and clean-up operations and expenses incurred in said operations shall be charged against the persons and/or entities responsible for such pollution.
SEC. 21. Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance.-The various government agencies concerned with environmental protection shall establish to the greatest extent practicable a water quality surveillance and monitoring network with sufficient stations and sampling schedules to meet the needs of the country. Said water quality surveillance network shall put to maximum use the capabilities of such government agencies. Each agency involved in such network shall report to the National Environmental Protection Council the results of these monitoring activities as the need arises.
Provisions on this page are reproduced verbatim from official open data. See the attribution line.
Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines — Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).