In celebration of this year’s World Environment Day yesterday, a number of representatives from non-government groups appealed to President Duterte to resolve the worsening environmental issues that continue to threaten the country.
“As we know, Philippines is very rich in terms of ecological and anthropological diversity. However, there are certain human activities that would threaten its richness,” according to lawyer Ian Gencianeo of Philippine Misereor Philippines, Inc. – Davao Region Cluster (PMPI-DRC) during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday.
Gencianeo appealed to President Duterte to address the issues through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other enforcing agencies of the government,
Top priority should be given to a declaration of moratorium in mining operations, pending .
“The mining moratorium should be declared to protect the remaining pristine forest we have left and save those that have already been damaged.”
He also added that all mining activities should be temporarily stopped pending the assessment of all the requirements provided in the law.
He also called for the strict implementation of Executive Order No. 23 or “Declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force.” According to Gencianeo, illegal logging continues to happen because of lack enforcement.
Another issue given emphasis is regulation and monitoring of monocrop plantations expansion as most monocrop plantations do not follow the provisions provided in their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), particularly the establishment of buffer zones.
“Buffer zones are required to minimize fertilizers and pesticides contamination. If we fail to strictly regulate this, it will pose a higher risk in air and water contamination.”
The last issue was on the regulation of the use of synthetic chemicals and pesticides as farm inputs in line with the Republic Act 10068 or the promotion of organic agriculture in the country, to protect and promote the right to health of the people and to instill health consciousness among them.
PMPI-DRC stressed that the national government should maximize the presence of communities and people’s organization to properly monitor these activities by delegating its authorities to the local government units as mandated by law.
“These are the issues we’d like the government to address, considering that the effects, if ever there’s neglect or lapses in their implementation, will cost great effects not only to the present times but also to the future generation.”
This 2017, with the theme “Connecting people to nature,” will be the 45th year of the celebration of the World Environment Day, since its first in 1972.
