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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Congress pressed on legislation to enhance enforcement of environmental laws

Congress pressed on legislation to enhance enforcement of environmental laws

Published Jul 23, 2021 12:56 pm

Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

Congress has been asked to pass immediately the proposed legislation on the creation of the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) to strengthen the enforcement of the country’s environmental laws.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said the importance of the legislation was tackled during the 4th National Environmental Law Enforcement Summit held last July 14 to 16.

It said the National Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee - Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources (NALECC-SCENR) and other participating agencies signed Joint Resolution No. 02 Series of 2021.

It pointed out that the resolution tackled the inability of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to properly perform environmental protection and enforcement.

The resolution also stressed that the DENR does not even have its own dedicated bureau to enforce environmental and natural resources laws it is mandated to implement.

Last March 3, a joint hearing of the House Committee on Government Reorganization and Committee on Natural Resources was held for the deliberations of six proposed measures to strengthen environmental laws. Four of the six House Bills (HBs) push for the creation of the EPEB within DENR.

CHR Spokesperson and lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia said that one of the country's most pressing environmental concerns is the increasing number of fallen environmental rights defenders and law enforcers whose lives, liberties, and security were curtailed in the line of duty.

De Guia said that the Philippines has been declared by the independent watchdog group Global Witness as the deadliest country for land and environmental defenders.

She said: "As such, CHR stresses that strengthening institutions to empower environmental rule of law is central to achieving sustainable development. There is a need to integrate environmental needs with the essential elements of the rule of law, and provide the basis for improving environmental governance."

She stressed that the CHR hopes for the Senate and the House of Representatives' expedient certification of the proposed bill as urgent since this will give meat to existing environmental laws.

"This is to also ensure that guarantees and protection will be accorded to environmental frontliners against any attacks, harassments, and retaliation from violators and criminals; and that the legislation will genuinely contribute in mitigating the environmental degradation and biodiversity loss in the Philippines," she added.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu had also expressed hopes for the immediate passage of EPEB bill into a law.

"What we are seeing is a sense of urgency and concerted effort at the House of Representatives and the Senate to reform the implementation of environmental laws of the land and establish a strong institution whose singular task is to be the government’s backbone in running after violators of our environmental laws like illegal loggers and wildlife poachers," Cimatu said.

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