The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is eyeing an amendment of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act in order to add more teeth against importation of animals that are harmful to local species as well as destruction of natural habitats of animals endemic in the Philippines.
In urging lawmakers to strengthen the law, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said they have already presented a 10-point agenda on how the Republic Act (RA) 9147 would be strengthened.
RA 9147 provides the necessary environmental policy enabling the government to comprehensively manage and conserve the wildlife resources of the country.
“It is high time to address the threats to biodiversity such as the proliferation of invasive alien species, destruction of natural habitats, unsustainable utilization of resources, illegal wildlife trade and environmental pollution," said Loyzaga.
"It is also time to consider in our plans and policies the sustainability and life time value of our country’s wildlife resources along with the ecosystem services that they yield not only to the nation but to the overall health of our planet,” she added.
Loyzaga said the 10-point amendments to the law includes proposal to make a wildlife crime as a transnational offense.
Others are increasing fines and penalties for wildlife violations, expanding the role of other national government agencies and local government units to have more teeth in enforcing the wildlife law, and mandating government agencies to control and manage invasive alien species.
She said the support of the lawmakers in the amendment of RA 9147 is indispensable to advance our efforts and initiatives to sustainably manage our wildlife resources.
“Indeed, sophisticated crimes need a sophisticated, robust, and science-based counter approach. Strengthening RA 9147 is a necessary step to further protect and conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitats,” Loyzaga said.