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List of Nationally and Internationally-significant Environmental Events/Celebrations

Enclosure No. 2 to DepEd Memorandum No. 18, s. 2016

Date CelebratedLegal BasisBrief Description of the Event or Celebration
JanuaryPresidential Proclamation No. 760, Series of 2014

Republic Act No. 9003 - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 promotes environmental awareness and action among the citizenry and institutionalizes public participation in the development of national and local integrated, comprehensive and ecological waste management programs.
February 2Ramsar Convention on WetlandsThis is an annual celebration of the vital importance of international wetlands to ecological and human health. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Government agencies, non-government organizations and community groups have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands. These activities include seminars, nature walks, festivals, launches of new policies, announcement of new Ramsar sites, newspaper articles, radio interviews and wetland rehabilitation.
March 3United Nations General Assembly dated December 20, 2013In its resolution, the General Assembly reaffirmed the intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic, to sustainable development and human well-being, and recognized the important role of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the species' survival.
March 21United Nations General Assembly dated February 14, 2013The occasion is intended to be one of the world's leading global platforms for people with an interest in forests and climate change to share their views and work together to ensure forests are suitably incorporated into any future climate change mitigation and adaption strategies.
March 22/ 4th Week of March1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de JaneiroThis world day for water was observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.

States were invited to devote the Day to implement the UN recommendations and set up concrete activities as deemed appropriate in the national context.
April 22/ AprilPresidential Proclamation Nos. 1481 and 1482Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. Our campaign and programs are predicated on the belief that an educated, energized population will take action to secure a healthy future for itself and its children. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.
MayPresidential Proclamation No. 57, series of 1999Proclamation No. 57 dated January 9, 1999 declares the Month of May as the Month of the Ocean in the Philippines.
May 22Convention on Biological DiversityThe United Nations proclaimed May 22 as International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
June 5/ JunePresidential Proclamation No. 237World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
June 4-10Proclamation No. 79Said Proclamation aims specifically i) to strengthen public awareness on the significant role of the Philippine Eagle in the forest ecosystem, and its importance as a national symbol and unique heritage, among others; ii)to generate unified and concerted efforts among all sectors of the society to ensure the protection and perpetuation of the species; and iii)to encourage non-government organizations, private companies or corporations, people's organization, academic and scientific organizations and all another interested parties to participate in the annual celebration of the Philippine Eagle Week.
June 171994 United Nations Convention to Combat DesertificationIn 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17 the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to promote public awareness of the issue, and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa.
June 25Proclamation No. 643 that amended Proclamation No. 396 of June 2, 2003The "active participation of all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society groups and the citizenry in tree planting activity.
JulyExecutive Order No. 137 dated August 10, 1999National Disaster Consciousness Month aimed to increase awareness of every Filipino to the ever threatening disasters for a better appreciation of the government's disaster preparedness program.
September/3rd Weekend of SeptemberPresidential Proclamation No. 244 - National Clean-Up Month Presidential Proclamation No. 470 - International Coastal Clean-Up WeekendThis event was just the beginning of a movement for cleaner beaches and marine habitats. In a few years, what had been a local clean-up grew to encompass the 25 U.S. states and territories. In 1989, the Clean-Up the World weekend, officially became an international event, with the involvement of responsible citizens of Canada and Mexico. Today, half a million citizens from almost 100 countries participate in the Clean-Up, and it has grown into an annual event, motivating people the world over to get outside and do something for their coastal environment.
September / September 16DepEd Memo No. 358, s. 2007, Montreal ProtocolThe Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer came into force on 1 January 1989 when it had been ratified by 29 countries and the European Economy Community (EEC).

As of February 2007, 191 countries have ratified the Protocol, representing an international effort to safeguard the ozone layer through controls on production, consumption and use of ozone-depletinq substances (ODS).
OctoberPresidential Proclamation No. 273Under said Proclamation, all government offices, agencies and instrumentalities in the whole Island of Mindoro are urged to implement activities geared toward the conservation of the Tamaraw and its habitats at least during the month of October.
October 20-262012 International Conference on Chemicals ManagementThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) were invited to establish a global partnership to promote phasing out the use of lead in paints, ie, the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP). The Alliance aims to catalyze efforts to prevent children's exposure to lead from paints and to minimize occupational exposures to lead paint.
NovemberPresidential Proclamation No. 1109, s. 1997 -Clean Air Month

Republic Act No. 8749 - Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
A continuing air quality information and education campaign shall promoted by the Department, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Consistent with Sec. 7 of this Act, such campaign shall encourage the participation of other government agencies and the private sector including nongovernment organizations, peoples organizations, the academe, environmental groups and other private entities in a multi-sectoral information campaign.
NovemberRepublic Act No. 9512 - National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008Pursuant to the policy set forth in this Act, the month of November of every year shall be known as the Environmental Awareness Month throughout the Philippines.
November 19-25
Presidential Proclamation No. 1667 - Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week

Republic Act No. 9729 - Climate Chanqe Act of 2009
The Philippines has declared and confirmed its commitment to the goals of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention.
November 25Presidential Proclamation No. 1160, s. 2015 -National Day for Youth in Climate ActionThe National Youth Commission and the Climate Change Commission, in cooperation with other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international partners, have launched the #NowPH (Not on our Watch) campaign, a comprehensive advocacy on climate action, which aims to empower the youth in raising public consciousness on the science of climate change and on ways to lead a climate-resilient and climate-smart lifestyle.
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