Senator Erwin Tulfo has castigated the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for supposedly not performing its mandate--that is, to prevent the destruction of the environment.

“They’re not doing their job. They cannot even answer the questions raised before their agency. Why will we fund an agency, P27 billion, when they cannot even do their jobs? They’re using the agency as a milking cow, ever since, Mr. President. Why?” an incensed Tulfo said during the recent Senate plenary deliberations of the DENR’s proposed 2026 budget.

Senator Loren Legarda, who was defending the agency’s budget, shared her frustration over the DENR’s lack of action and proactiveness.

“I cannot defend and answer that, and I hope I am the one asking questions because this is difficult to defend. I have no answers; I will not invent answers. I am even more frustrated than you,” said Legarda.

During his interpellations, Tulfo raised several environmental issues across the country that demonstrate the government's negligence in preventing harmful activities such as logging, mining, and the construction of illegal infrastructure in protected areas.

The neophyte senator corroborated his claims with videos and photos of the actual sites of destroyed natural resources in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur; Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan; Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte; the Sierra Madre mountain ranges; among others.

When these issues were raised, the DENR remained silent or failed to provide the Senator with clear answers.

It can be recalled that, as soon as the Senate sessions resumed after the onslaught of recent typhoons, Tulfo delivered a privilege speech calling out the agency for accountability and seeking protection of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

“The Sierra Madre has saved Luzon countless times — from Typhoon Yolanda, Rolly, Paeng, and now Uwan. But who will save the Sierra Madre? It cannot speak for itself. It cannot march to this hall. It cannot plead for mercy against bulldozers and chainsaws. It relies on us — the people’s representatives — to give it voice and legal protection,” he declared in his speech.

Concluding his interpellation on the 2026 DENR Budget, Tulfo urged: “I hope, Mr. President, dear colleagues, it is not too late. Compassion is what we need to save this nation, to save our environment.”

The proposed 2026 outlay for the entire government is worth P6.793 trillion, the biggest in the country’s history.