The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is not yet off the hook when it comes to the controversial Manila Bay white sand dumping issue, but this didn’t stop the agency to renew its call for the creation of a permanent bureau meant to fight environmental crimes. In a statement, DENR said that instead of creating task forces that are temporary in nature, the agency will be more effective in protecting the environment if it has its own permanent bureau dedicated to enforcing environmental laws and regulations. Such statement came more than a month after the Global Witness report declared the Philippines as the world’s second deadliest country for land and environment defenders, only next to Colombia. Reacting to the report, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda told Business Bulletin is now asking the country’s lawmakers to pass a law that will strengthen the legal mandate of the agency for the enforcement of environmental laws. “The DENR is asking for the understanding of the legislative body to come up with a law creating the enforcement bureau for the DENR,” Antiporda said. “We need that legal mandate for stronger enforcement of environmental laws.” Antiporda said that right now, with limited resources […]
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