Frontiers in Social Thoughts and Humanity

Open Access Peer Review International
Open Access

The Landscape of Environmental Crime in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Literature Review

4 Department of Sociology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
4 School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

Abstract

Environmental crime poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, natural resources, and sustainable development. In the Philippines, an archipelago renowned for its rich biodiversity but also highly vulnerable to environmental degradation, these illicit activities are rampant and multifaceted. This article presents a comprehensive literature review examining the various forms, drivers, impacts, and challenges associated with environmental crime across the Philippine islands. Drawing upon academic studies, government reports, and news archives, it synthesizes findings on illegal logging, mining, fishing, wildlife trade, and waste management violations. The review highlights critical issues such as weak law enforcement, socio-economic pressures, and insufficient public awareness as key perpetuating factors. By adopting an IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) framework, this study aims to consolidate existing knowledge, identify persistent gaps, and underscore the urgent need for integrated and robust interventions to safeguard the Philippines' ecological heritage and foster sustainable development.

How to Cite

Anna P. Ramirez, & Michael T. Reyes. (2025). The Landscape of Environmental Crime in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Frontiers in Social Thoughts and Humanity, 2(07), 1–8. Retrieved from https://irjernet.com/index.php/fsth/article/view/131

References

📄 beach resort personnel in Zambales arrested for violating environmental laws. (2020). Manila Bulletin. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/4-beach-resortpersonnel-zambales-arrested/docview/2414681167/se-2
📄 Ahadzie, V. A. M. (2023). Exploring How Geographical Location, Trust Among Neighbors, and Trust in Police Impact the Fear of Crime in Ghana: A Test of the Social Disorganization Theory. https://www.proquest.com/dissertationstheses/exploring-how-geographical-location-trust-among/docview/2808179457/se-2
📄 Araza, A., Castillo, G., Buduan, E., Hein, L., Herold, M., Reiche, J., Yaqing, G., Villaluz, M. G., & Razal, R. (2021). Intra-Annual Identification of Local Deforestation Hotspots in the Philippines Using Earth Observation Products. Forests, 12(8), 1008. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12081008
📄 Atkinson, C. (2016). National and Regional Environmental Governance: The Philippines Experience with ASEAN. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4000796
📄 Barit, J., Choi, K., & Ko, D. (2022). Modelling the Risk of Illegal Forest Activity and Its Distribution in the Southeastern Region of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines. Iforest, 15, 63-70. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor3937-014
📄 Barreda, A. (2022). Assessment On the Level of Implementation of Environmental Laws in the Philippines. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 7(6). https://www.ijisrt.com/assets/upload/files/ijisrt22jun841.pdf
📄 Boyd, R. C. (2020). Beyond Social Disorganization Theory: The Influence of Multiple Structural Determinants of Crime on an Urban Community. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/beyond-social-disorganization-theoryinfluence/docview/2420614066/se-2
📄 Brandis, K. J., Meagher, P., Schoppe, S., Zawada, K., Widmann, I., Widmann, P., Dolorosa, R. G., & Francis, R. (2023). Determining the Provenance of Traded Wildlife in the Philippines. Animals, 13(13), 2165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132165
📄 Brantingham, P., & Brantingham, P. (2021). Crime Pattern Theory. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology. https://oxfordre.com/criminology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.001.0001/ac refore-9780190264079-e-8
📄 Calimon, J. L. (2024). Case study: Environmental crime in Tuy, Batangas: Illegal chemical dumping. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4764909
📄 Caliwan, C. L. (2023). Puerto Princesa dubbed “Green Justice Zone” vs. environmental crimes. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213769
📄 Cariaga, C., Carmen, J.V., Nicolas, W. & Posadas, M. (2024). Awareness And Violation of Brown Laws Among Criminology Students in Cabanatuan City. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 250–253. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra18701
📄 Casiw, G. M. (2020). Revisiting The Ecological Solid Waste Management Program in The Slum Areas of Manila. International Journal of Advanced Research, 8(10), 694– 701. https://doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/11892
📄 Ceccato, V. (2022). Rational Choice, Routine Activity and Situational Crime Prevention. Cambridge University Press; Bristol University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/encyclopedia-of-rural-crime/rationalchoice-routine-activity-and-situational-crime-prevention/DE172784E5A7BBDBF455C4AE4379A888
📄 Celeste, B.L. (2021). Bantay Gubat’s Challenges in Protecting Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary, Davao Oriental, Philippines. Journal of Academic Research. Volume 6. 11-24. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358116636_Bantay_Gubat%27s_Challenges_in_Protecting_Mt_Hamiguitan_Wildlife_Sanctuary_Davao_Oriental_Philippines
📄 Celestial, R. G. (2018). E-Waste Management in the Philippines. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17965.74728
📄 China/Philippines: 5 Chinese nationals, 13 Filipinos face illegal mining raps in CDO. (2023). Asia News Monitor. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/chinaphilippines-5-chinese-nationals-13/docview/2814468987/se-2
📄 Conde, C. (2024). Philippines Worst in Asia for Killings of Environmental Defenders. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/12/philippines-worst-asiakillings-environmental-defenders
📄 Coracero, E. E., Gallego, R. J., Frago, K. J. M., & Gonzales, R. J. R. (2021). A Long-Standing Problem: A Review on the Solid Waste Management in the Philippines. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI), 2(3), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.47540/ijsei.v2i3.144
📄 Cubos, A. S. (2023). A case study of environmental violations in Boracay Island. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4656769
📄 De Robles, C. J., De Leon, J. R., & Manapat, C. (2021). Economic Growth at the Expense of Environmental Degradation: Evidence from the Philippines. Journal of Economics, Finance and Accounting Studies, 3(2), 269–287. https://doi.org/10.32996/jefas.2021.3.2.25
📄 Dela Cruz, D., Acuna, G., Aguinaldo, D.C., Aquino, A.M., Jimenez, J., Padua, D.A., Quiroz, R.V., Coronel, C.J., & Tongol, J.V. (2023). International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, 6. https://ijsred.com/volume6/issue4/IJSRED-V6I4P39.pdf
📄 DENR Nabs 14 Suspects for Illegal Quarry Operation in Davao City. (2022). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/denr-nabs-14suspects-illegal-quarry-operation/docview/2616181110/se-2
📄 Domingo, J. P. T., Jenkin, G. R., Quick, L., Williams, R. D., Hudson-Edwards, K. A., Tortajada, C., Byrne, P., Coulthard, T. J., Padrones, J. T., Crane, R., Gibaga, C. R. L., Vasilopoulos, G., Tungpalan, K., Samaniego, J. O., Biles, E., Tanciongco, A. M., Chambers, J. E., Quimado, M. O., Bautista, A. T., Arcilla, C. A. (2024). Sustainable mining in tropical, biodiverse landscapes: Environmental challenges and opportunities in the archipelagic Philippines. Journal of Cleaner Production, 468, 143114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143114
📄 Domingo, S. N., & Manejar, A. J. A. (2019). Forest Protection in the Philippines: Policy Evolution and Sector Outcomes. Research Paper Series (Philippine Institute for Development Studies), (3), 1-55,57-61, I, III, V-VI, IX. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/forest-protection-philippines-policyevolution/docview/2335163761/se-2
📄 Go, M. R. (2023). A Case Study of Illegal Mining in Mt. Mantalingahan, Palawan, Philippines. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4650193
📄 Illegal logging in 'protected areas' persists during ECQ. (2020a). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/illegal-logging-protected-areas-persistsduring/docview/2407762498/se-2
📄 Ibañez, R. J., Velza, J. F. P., Amit, D. S., & Mahawan, A. M. (2023a). Assessing Environmental Law Awareness Among Bachelor of Elementary Education Students: A Study on Knowledge and Attitudes. International Journal Of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 4(10), 3507–3515. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.04.10.06
📄 Govt execs face charges for marine plastic pollution. (2021). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/govt-execs-face-charges-marine-plasticpollution/docview/2546050761/se-2
📄 Israel, K. P. R., Gabriel, M. J. C., Hintural, W. P., & Baldonado, M. M. M. (2024). Deforestation and Forest Degradation Analysis of Southern Sierra Madre, Philippines Using Google Earth Engine and Community Mapping. Copernicus GmbH. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlviii-4-w8-2023-313-2024
📄 Labutap-Noble, A., & B. Vicente, J. (2023). The Implementation of Anti-Illegal Logging Law in Eastern Visayas: An Assessment. International Multidisciplinary Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.54476/ioer-imrj/798897
📄 Luczon, A., Ong, P., Quilang, J., & Fontanilla, I. K. (2016). Determining species identity from confiscated pangolin remains using DNA barcoding. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources, 1(1), 763-766. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2016.1238752
📄 Macalisang, J., Balangao, J. K., & Logronio, F. (2024). Environmental Assessment in Panguil and Iligan Bay, Philippines: Review and Future Perspectives. Journal of Environmental Nanotechnology, 13(3)(:188-196). https://doi.org/10.13074/Jent.2024.09.243888.fsab
📄 Maglucot, E. (2021). Awareness, Enforcement and Violation of Environmental Crimes Among the College Students of Cebu City. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 9, 2320–2882. https://ijcrt.org/papers/ijcrt2103055.pdf
📄 Maloku, A., Maliqi, R., & Gabela, O. (2024). Application of the Theory of Routine Activities in Criminology to the General Crime Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pakistan Journal of Criminology, 16(02), 669–686. https://www.pjcriminology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/45-Application-of-thetheory-of-routine.pdf
📄 Ngilay, J. L. & Flores, L. V. (2024). Environmental And Socioeconomic Impact Analysis of Quarry Operations in General Santos City on Its Host Communities. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2(8), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2024.0251
📄 Online Illegal Wildlife Trade Threatens Endemic Hornbills. (2023). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/online-illegal-wildlife-trade-threatensendemic/docview/2860032459/se-2
📄 Nolos, R. C., Zamroni, A., & Evina, K. F. P. (2023). Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Palawan, Philippines: An analysis using Social-Ecological Systems (SES) and Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) approaches. Geography Environment Sustainability, 15(4), 44–56. https://doi.org/10.24057/20719388-2022-081
📄 DENR stops illegal small-scale mining ops in Magpet, Cotabato. (2020b). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/denr-stops-illegal-small-scale-miningops-magpet/docview/2469531450/se-2
📄 Fighting environmental crime the DENR way. (2020). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/fighting-environmental-crime-denrway/docview/2442214674/se-2
📄 Hifume, A.K., J., Arias, J.M., Lipoles, O. A, & Gempesao, M. (2024). Tackling Illegal Logging: Problems And Challenges. In American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (Pp. 81–94). https://www.ajhssr.com/wpcontent/uploads/2024/05/k248058194.pdf
📄 Ibañez, R., Velza, J., Mahawan, A., Catimpuhan, J., & Gaylan, R. (2023b). Assessment Of Environmental Law Awareness and Pro-Environmental Behavior Among Debesmscat-Cawayan Campus Agriculture Students. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4918828
📄 Ezaki, A. P., & Vargas, D. (2021). Academic Community Awareness and Compliance with Environmental Laws. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3807135
📄 Overfishing pushes the PHL fish stock to the brink of collapse. (2025). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/overfishing-pushes-phl-fish-stock-brink-collapse/docview/3179980274/se-2
📄 Palanca-Tan, R. (2019). Aquaculture, Poverty and Environment in the Philippines. The Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies, 43(3), 294-315. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/aquaculture-poverty-environmentphilippines/docview/2119862767/se-2
📄 Pinera, J., Pattaui, R., Seguritan, L. C. L., Mazzab, O., Mercado, Ma. T., & Garcia, E. (2023). Knowledge And Compliance with Fishery Laws Among Coastal Communities in Cagayan: A Green Criminology Perspective. International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Bioresearch, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.35410/IJAEB.2023.5825
📄 Poor law enforcement: A driver of biodiversity loss? (2024). Business Mirror. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/poor-law-enforcement-driver-biodiversityloss/docview/3107699495/se-2
📄 Premakumara, D. G. J., Gilby, S., & Kataoka, Y. (2016). Barriers for the implementation of the Philippine National Solid Waste Management Framework in cities. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies., 33. https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/barriersimplementation-philippine-national/en
📄 Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., McGuinnes, L., Stewart, L., Thomas, J., Tricco, A., Welch, V., Whiting, P. Moher, D. The Prisma 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews Bmj 2021; 372: N71 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
📄 Roa, J. (2024). Violation of Environmental Laws: A Case Study of Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in Bohol, Philippines. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380819896_violation_of_environmental_la ws_a_case_study_of_captain
📄 Sangil, A., Dimarucut, K., Dumalus, S. M., Tiglao, E.B., Fabian, L. D., Manansala, J.V., Sagmit, J.P., Lim, C.G., Martin, R.R. (2023). Assessment of the Effectiveness of Solid Waste Management in the Municipality of Santo Tomas, Pampanga. International Journal of Advanced Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology. https://www.ijariit.com/manuscript/assessment-of-effectiveness-of-solidwaste-management-in-the-municipality-of-santo-tomas-pampanga/
📄 Sarino, R., Ong, Butalid, C.I.M., Manilhig, R., Cabilan, W. M. C., & Cuevas, J. F. (2023). Analyzing Five-Year Trends of Environmental Crimes in Misamis Occidental: Basis for Crafting Intervention Plans. Mediterranean Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 07(02), 147–159. https://doi.org/10.46382/mjbas.2023.7217
📄 Tahiluddin, A., & Sarri, J. (2022). An Overview of Destructive Fishing in the Philippines. Acta Natura Et Scientia, 3(2), 116–125. https://doi.org/10.29329/actanatsci.2022.352.04
📄 United Nations. (2023). The Sustainable Development Goals Report Special edition 2023. https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/The-Sustainable-DevelopmentGoals-Report-2023_0.pdf
📄 Uriarte, C. R. M., Fraile, R. Q., & Diquito, T. J. A. (2021). Environmental Regulation Awareness Among Tricycle Drivers in Digos City, Philippines. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(12). https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejes/article/view/4066/6700
📄 Vanguardia, S. (2023). Policy Implementation of RA 9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000: An Examination in Barangay Butong. Dangal Research Refereed Journal, 4(1)(20–42). https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=22942
📄 Guimmayen, S.E., Cerro,P., & Vallespin, M. (2024). Synthesizing the Ecological and Societal Ramifications of Environmental Stressors on Philippine Marine Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Literature Review. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review. 7(5) https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/V7-i5-13
📄 Ibañez, R., Velza, J., Mahawan, A., Catimpuhan, J., & Gaylan, R. (2023b). Assessment Of Environmental Law Awareness and Pro-Environmental Behavior Among Debesmscat-Cawayan Campus Agriculture Students. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4918828.