Concept Paper

Concept Paper on the Depletion of Natural Resources in Philippines
Natural resources are material or substances that is created in nature that are used and
usable by humans. A natural resource can be considered to be any natural material that human
use. Natural resources include oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone and sand, sunlight, soil, and
water. There are two types of natural resources the renewable and non-renewable. The
renewable resources are substance that can be replenished or reproduced easily like forests,
wind, water, solar energy, and many more. Some of these, like agricultural crops, take a short
time for renewal and others like water, forests take a comparatively longer time. While the
non-renewable resources are those that can no longer generate if used. One example of this is
the fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are remains of prehistoric organisms which are found in Earth’s crust
that can be burned for energy. It will take millions of years to renew fossil fuels and because of
their origins, fossil fuels have a high carbon content.
A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity existent in various

ecosystems. Natural resources are important for the survival of human, animals, and plants. It
helps to maintain the environmental balance and satisfy the needs to the fullest. This where
they get what they need for their everyday use. Globally, 60 billion tons of natural resources are
used every year to provide us with the products and services that we use, and the average
American uses about 90 kg of natural resources per day. Natural resources can also provide
food and shelter directly to those who need it especially to rural areas. Getting natural
resources in the environment needs work and hardships that is why it is important for low to
middle-income rural areas where they can gain a raise by farming, mining, fishing, and many
more. The importance of natural resources for daily life, the economy, and agriculture has
always been very high. Humans would not be able to survive without natural resources.
It is estimated that the Philippines is home to more than 21.5 billion metric tons (MT) of
metal deposits and 19.3 billion MT of nonmetal mineral deposits. Most of country’s metallic
minerals, including gold, iron, ore, lead, chromite, copper, and zinc, are taken from Luzon and
Mindanao. About 30% of the land area of the country was determined be geologically
prospective by the Philippine Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau. As the country develops for past
decades the need for natural sources increases for the construction of buildings and
manufactures of different products and services. It made the economy better in the present.
However, if natural resources are overused and abused it will lead to poor economy,
agriculture, ang future not only to humans but also to every living thing.
Natural resources depletion has been a problem in the Philippines. The country is
composed of more than 7 thousand islands which means that the country has lush aquatic
natural resources coming from their oceans and land resources in their islands. However, the
Philippines and its aforementioned resources have been at risk because of the effects of
Climate Change due to anthropogenic reasons. These climate change have been destroying
agricultural crops, affects the animals on land and the fish in oceans. However, climate change
is not the only reason why the country is near brink of depletion, the abused of the citizen have
been affecting the land and water. It was discovered that illegal fishing surged in the Philippines
during Covid-19 lockdown. According to aggregated data from Karagatan Patrol, an online
reporting platform that's a collaboration between the nonprofit group Oceana Philippines and
the country's League of Municipalities to counter illegal fishing. Karagatan Patrol tracks ships
through VIIRS (visible infrared imaging radiometer suite), a satellite-based tool that detects the
high-radiance lure lights used by commercial fishing vessels. They used dynamites in order for
them to caught fish. Using dynamite does not only kills small fish but also the corals and
minerals in the body of water. Corals have plays a crucial role to the biodiversity in water
therefore, ruining such corals can endanger not only the other corals but also the fish and sea
creatures.
Illegal mining in South Cotabato still continues even though authorities have been strict
about this event. Despite of all the efforts of the officials, miners have been ignorant from all
the rules and laws. And those people who are in large mining corporations have firmly practiced
their goals of achieving their self-interests forgetting the fact that these are the reasons why
there is an imbalance in the biotic community. It does not only harm our environment because
they used illegal procedures that can harm the health of the citizens living near the area. It can
also become a hazard risks because mining can soften the ground therefore, landslide, erosions,
and sudden sinkholes may happen.
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT LAWS - REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942
An act instituting a new system of mineral resources exploration, development,

utilization, and conservation. It is known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995”. It is stated that
all mineral resources in public and private lands within the territory and exclusive economic
zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the State. It shall be the responsibility of
the State to promote their rational exploration, development, utilization and conservation
through the combined efforts of government and the private sector in order to enhance
national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and protect the rights of
affected communities. The Secretary is authorized to charge fines for late or non-submission of
reports in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. Any person who,
without justifiable cause, prevents or obstructs the holder of any permit, agreement or lease
from undertaking his mining operations shall be punished, upon conviction by the appropriate
court, by a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment not exceeding
one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court. This republic act will protect the natural
resources from all the illegal doings.

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Concept Paper on the Depletion of Natural Resources in Philippines

A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity existent in various

An act instituting a new system of mineral resources exploration, development,

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