Senator Cynthia A. Villar sponsored and defended the proposed 2023 P23.13 billion budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies before the Senate plenary session today, Nov. 16.
Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change, said the Office of the Environment Secretary got the lion’s share of the total DENR budget for 2023 with P17.94 billion while P2.328 billion of the DENR budget went to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
The DENR 2023 budget pie was further divided into the following agencies: Mines and Geosciences Bureau (P1.25 billion), National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (P1.378 billion), National Water Resources Board (P142.72 million), and the Palawan Council For Sustainable Development (P87.87 million).
“We are hopeful that this proposed budget, once approved, will be efficiently utilized toward the conservation, management, development, and the proper use of environment and natural resources, which constitute the primary responsibility of the DENR and to fulfill the constitutional duty of the State to protect and advance the rights of the people to a balance and helpful ecology,” Villar said.
In a related development, Senator Raffy Tulfo threw his full support to the proposed 2023 P23.13 billion budget of the DENR.
In his manifestation during the marathon session Wednesday, Tulfo expressed hope that the DENR would utilize public funds to address environmental concerns and not wait on public opinion before taking appropriate action.
"Why should we wait for rallies before we step in to prevent environmental destruction? Do we have to wait for others to call our attention before we act? Isn't it DENR's expertise to take care of the environment?" Tulfo asked.
Tulfo also encouraged the DENR to immediately resolve ongoing security issues at the Masungi Georeserve and the Kaliwa Dam project.