Protect PH’s ecosystem, biodiversity, DENR urged
SENATOR Cynthia Villar presided over the Finance Subcommittee B hearing on the proposed P23-billion budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Villar noted that the amount covers budget allocations of the Office of the DENR Secretary, Forest Management Bureau, Land Management Bureau, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the National Water Resources Board, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, and DENR field offices in the regions, provinces and in certain cities and municipalities in the country.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, during the hearing, asked the agency to submit a complete list of legal and illegal mining companies and their activities in the country.
Legarda sought the assurance of the department on the protection of the country’s ecosystem and biodiversity.
“It is important to balance livelihood which is generated by sustainable and responsible mining. At the same time, the conservation and preservation of degraded areas so that to the best extent possible through nature-based [solutions], we will be able to restore it in order that the local communities do not suffer from the degradation of extraction from the land which was mined,” Legarda said.
In response, DENR Sec. Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga assured that the department under her leadership will do its best to protect and preserve the environment and natural resources of the country.
For his part, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla asked the DENR if it sees the need to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Padilla lamented that the fines and penalties for violators of RA 7942 are “too low”, with the maximum fine set at only P200,000.
“Do you think it is time to revise our mining law?” Padilla asked in Filipino.
Sec. Yulo-Loyzaga replied there is really a need to review RA 7942 and other related laws that are more than 20 years old for the country’s development.
