The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has warned the public against falling prey to individuals trying to extort money in exchange for supposed exemption from the ongoing operation to clear Laguna de Bay of fish pens and other illegal structures.
This came about when Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Joey Medina reported that his office has received information that scammers who identify themselves as being well connected can provide exemptions from the dismantling operation for a fee.
DENR Undersecretary Arturo Valdez, who is also the head of the National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (NAECTF) in charge of the dismantling operation, said the DENR does not provide any exemption to owners or operators of fish pens and cages in Laguna Lake.
"No one is untouchable," Valdez said, “as everyone has to go to enable the lake to have breathing spell to rejuvenate”.
Last Thursday, the DENR, together with the Laguna Lake Development Authority, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine Army and the Philippine Coast Guard, began a massive operation to demolish fish pens, fish cages and other illegal structures in Laguna Lake.
The dismantling operation is in line with President Duterte's directive in his first State of the Nation Address last July to dismantle big fish pens and cages in Laguna Lake to allow small fishermen to gain access to traditional fishing grounds.
Valdez, meanwhile, urged the public to report to the DENR if ever they receive calls or approached by said extortionists so the agency could respond accordingly.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assures the mining sector and the general public that "due process was meticulously observed" in the audit of all existing metallic mines in the country, the results of which will be known on February 2.
"We assure the industry and the general public that due process was meticulously observed in the mining audit conducted by the agency and that the results would really promote the common good and social justice," the DENR said in a statement.
The DENR made the assurance a week before releasing the final results of the industry-wide audit, particularly on the 30 mining companies that failed the initial audit conducted by the agency last year.
DENR Secretary Gina Lopez is scheduled to announce on February 2 the final report and recommendations of the audit team created to review the compliance of mining firms to environmental laws and regulations.
It was Lopez who initiated the mining audit, taking a cue from President Rodrigo Duterte, who in his first State of the Nation Address last July ordered a review of all permits granted to mining, logging and other similarly environmentally sensitive activities to ensure compliance with government standards.
The President also said that if warranted, the DENR may amend, suspend or revoke those permits.
A staunch advocate of responsible mining, Lopez has made it clear that the common good and the protection of the environment would be her paramount concern, not money.
"There is a need for evaluation to see if these companies are complying with the laws. Responsible mining means people should not suffer," Lopez said as soon as she assumed the DENR post in July 2016.
Barely a week at the DENR, Lopez ordered an industry-wide audit to look into the adequacy and efficiency of environmental protection measures taken by the mining companies, determine gaps in those measures and identify the appropriate penalties for violations of mining and environmental laws.
Of the total 41 metallic miners reviewed by the DENR, only 11 of them "passed" the initial audit while the remaining 30 were either suspended or recommended for suspension for failing to meet environmental safety standards.
The mining audit focused on safety and health, mine environmental management, social development, mining tenement, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, hazardous waste, and solid waste.
Among the major findings of the team were violations of the terms and conditions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2010-21, or the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and DAO 200-98, which refers to Mine Safety and Health Standard. ###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday began a massive operation to clear the Laguna de Bay of illegal structures, barely two weeks after the agency issued a final notice to operators of fish pens and cages within the lake to conduct self-demolition.
The DENR's National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (NAECTF), together with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD), the Philippine Army and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted the dismantling operation.
In its first salvo, the demolition team was able to tear down two huge fish pens occupying around 100 hectares in Binangonan, Rizal.
"The DENR-NAECTF will see to it that Laguna Lake is cleared of fish pens before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July," DENR Undersecretary and NAECTF head Art Valdez said.
The dismantling operation is in line with President Duterte's directive in his first SONA to dismantle big fish pens and cages in Laguna Lake to allow small fishermen to gain access to traditional fishing grounds.
LLDA General Manager Joey Medina said his office is set to clear 2,000 hectares of fish pens by June this year.
Valdez, lawyer Cesar Eric Nuqui of the NBI Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) and PCG Chief Commodore Joel Garcia were joined by some 150 coast guard personnel, 14 NBI agents, 5 PA contingents and PNP officers at Talim Island detachment, for the operation.
The PCG also deployed 15 aluminum speedboats, three rubber boats, and two skipper vessels.
DENR Secretary Gina Lopez plans to convert the Laguna Lake into a vibrant eco-tourism area and bring it back to its old glory.
The lake is among the 29 priority areas included in the DENR’s Sustainable Integrated Area Development, an area development approach that aims to provide alternative sources of livelihood that promote the protection of the environment and the sustainable development of natural resources. ###
The fate of 30 mining companies that failed the initial audit conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last year will be known on February 2.
DENR Secretary Gina Lopez is set to announce on February 2 the final results and recommendations of an audit team formed to look into violations of environmental safeguards by mining operators nationwide.
It will be recalled that barely one week after she assumed office on July 1, Lopez immediately ordered a review of all 41 operating metallic mines in the country.
Based on the initial results released last Sept. 27, only 11 mining companies "passed" the audit and 30 firms were either ordered suspended or recommended for suspension for failing to meet environmental safety standards.
In DENR Memorandum Order No. 2016-01 she issued on July 8 last year, Lopez ordered an industry-wide audit to look into the adequacy and efficiency of environmental protection measures taken by the mining companies, determine gaps in those measures and identify the appropriate penalties for violations of mining and environmental laws.
"In auditing these mining companies, we will not just look at the technical side but also the social practices – what are effects of these firms on the residents, water, among others,” Lopez said before the start of the mining audit last year.
The audit team is composed of representatives from the DENR central and regional offices, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, Biodiversity Management Bureau, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and civil society organizations.
The mining audit focused on safety and health, mine environmental management, social development, mining tenement, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, hazardous waste, and solid waste.
Among the major findings of the team were violations of the terms and conditions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2010-21, or the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and DAO 200-98, which refers to Mine Safety and Health Standard. ###
Secretary Gina Lopez announced today a nationwide restructuring of 17 regional offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure the success of environmental programs and projects designed to help local communities protect their environment and improve their living conditions.
Lopez said the restructuring is an integral part of her five-year development plan for the DENR, which is anchored on sustainable integrated area development (SIAD) and in line with the "AmBisyonNatin 2040," a 25-year long-term vision that seeks to have a Philippines that is predominantly middle-class society by 2040.
SIAD will serve as the DENR's framework for localizing development, creating social enterprises in the countryside and building "mini economic zones" that can generate employment, livelihood and equitable income-generating activities in communities.
Under the plan, Lopez will designate key DENR field officers as "site managers" for area development management program (ADMP) sites.
According to Lopez, the restructuring will allow more efficient implementation of the SIAD approach in environmental programs and projects, especially those that directly impact the marginalized sector such as the Enhanced National Greening Program, a massive reforestation initiative that doubles as a poverty alleviation measure.
“In area development, the key thing here is people’s access to environment, and if you want to develop an area, you have to develop the people," Lopez told a recent conference attended by all senior officials of the DENR, both in the central and regional offices.
The DENR chief is confident that the restructuring would steer the DENR to carry out its mandate as one of the government's social justice champions.
Named regional directors are Francisco Moreno for Region1; Gil Aromin for Region 2; Francisco Milla, Region 3; Arsenio Tanchuling, Region 4A; Natividad Bernardino, Region 4B; Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, Region 5; Jim Sampulna, Region 6; Emma Melana, Region 7; Leonardo Sibbaluca, Region 8; Felix Mirasol, Region 9; Paquito Melicor, Region 10; Edwin Andot, Region 11; Reynulfo Juan, Region 12; Charlie Fabre, Region13; Ludy Wagan, National Capital Region; Ralph Pablo, Cordillera Administrative Region; and Al Orolfo, Negros Island Region.
Still undergoing evaluation are the positions for the 78 Provincial Environment and Natural Officers (PENROs), and 140 Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (CENROs) . Stressing that “the heart and soul of the Philippine Constitution is social justice,” Lopez said the restructuring “”would position the DENR on a firmer ground“ to promote social justice as the SIAD approach opens up roads to efficient management of the country's natural resources and expanding potentials for social enterprises in these mini-economic zones .
Social enterprises are types of non-profit business activities that earn steady income for community members in financially sustainable ways that do not lead to inequality in the distribution of wealth. These activities could even help solve social and environmental issues in local communities.
Initially, the DENR has designated 29 priority areas: 13 in Luzon, 6 in Visayas, and 10 in Mindanao.
The ADMP areas in Luzon are Chico River and Mt. Pulag in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Zambales; Laur in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija; Sierra Madre in Cagayan; Sierra Madre in Nueva Ecija; Kaliwa Watershed in Marikina and Sierra Madre; Batangas Coastline and Verde Passage; Laguna Lake; Palawan; Sibuyan Island; Romblon; Occidential and Oriental Mindoro; and Sorsogon.
The priority areas in Visayas are the provinces of Guimaras, Antique, Samar, Bohol and Cebu, and the city of Iloilo.
Saranggani, Caraga-Cantilan, South Upi, Marilog, Mt. Hamiguitan/Mati, Talaingog in Davao del Norte, Rajah Buayan, Dinagat Island, Tawi-Tawi, and Lanao del Sur make up the areas in Mindanao.
These areas are evaluated based on available resources, as well as needs and requirements, which will become the basis in determining possible livelihood opportunities similar to those in established ecotourism zones like the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City, and Ugong Rock and Iwahig Firefly Watching in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Following the convergence model, the civil society, academe, business sector, concerned government agencies and the community will be brought together to help build the model ADMP areas. ###
