CRUSADE FOR ENVIRONMENT IN FULL SWING

Seven government agencies joined forced to intensify its oath to ensure full and strict implementation of vital laws and regulation on environmental protection and go after large-scale environmental offenders.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is joined by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of National Defense (DND), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez led the MOA signing held August 8, 2016 at the DENR Central office in Quezon City. Other government officials present were Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, PNP Chief Director General Ronal “Bato” M. dela Rosa, PCG Commandant William Melad, DND Undersecretary Eduardo del Rosario and Chief of Staff for the DND Secretary Peter Galvez and BGen. Restituto Padilla, representing AFP Chief Gen. Ricardo Visayas.

The MOA includes a Declaration of Cooperation in which the agencies agree to immediately respond to verified reports of large-scale environmental violations referred by the task force.

“The MOA calls for the creation of a National Anti-Environmental Crimes Task Force, which will be chaired by the agency,” Lopez said.

Under the MOA, the Task force shall assess law enforcement needs and operations, form a multisectoral law enforcement teams as needed and conduct monthly action planning to address major environmental issues or deal with intractable violators.

It will provide quick response to urgent calls from the DENR Secretary; keep operations and investigations approved by the authorized officers confidential; and set up checkpoints, camps or stations to be manned by multisectoral teams in flashpoints and transit points of illegally harvested or hunted natural resources.

The task force will also comply to enhance implementation of environmental laws from deterrence, investigation, arrest, searches, prosecution and enforcement of judgments against illegal natural resources extraction and degradation and for the protection of environmental quality. Each party shall have specific obligations in accordance with their mandate.

DENR Secretary Gina Lopez promised that the DILG with the help of other government agencies will pursue both enforcement and development within the environment and natural resources sector.