The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) joined in the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on July 4, 2018.
The event was highlighted by the speech of President Rodrigo Duterte as the guest of honor. It was attended by several politicians and government officials including Quezon City Representatives Sonny Belmonte, Bingbong Crisologo, and Winston Castelo; and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine “Nene” Ramirez-Sato. Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Head Eduardo Del Rosario, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, former DENR Secretaries Horacio C. Ramos and Gina Lopez, DENR Directors and Regional Directors, and DENR personnel also graced the occasion.
The celebration was held at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Diliman, Quezon City with the theme “Ikaw, Ako, Tayo ang Kalikasan,” reminding everyone that people are part of the environment, and protecting it is everyone’s responsibility.
In his speech, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu pointed out that environmental protection is not the government’s responsibility alone because everyone has a part to play in protecting the environment from damage. He also acknowledged the people who helped the Department in achieving its goals and gave updates on the Department’s activities.
Sec. Cimatu confirmed that the results of the mine audit conducted by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) and the DENR will be disclosed this month and that the DENR will be coming up with a proposed policy “reinventing mining” without compromising the environment and the natural resources of the country.
“We will be coming out with the proposed policy reinventing mining; we will spread the benefits to the people without compromising the environment and natural resources of the country,” Cimatu said. He also acknowledged the National Economic and Development Authority, and the Development Academy of the Philippines for participating in the review.
To recall, the DENR and the MICC conducted the audit of the 26 mining companies ordered either closed or suspended by former DENR Sec. Gina Lopez in 2017. Currently, the DENR is “harmonizing” its own findings with the MICC mine audit results to come up with a definite decision in terms of findings, recommendations and penalties. Cimatu previously stated that the results of this review will be final and executory.
Sec. Cimatu also thanked President Duterte for signing into law Republic Act 11038, or the “Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 2018,” which added 94 protected areas in the country.
“Thank you Mr. President for signing RA 11038 into law, to ensure better conservation and protection measures of the protected areas,” Cimatu said. RA 11038 will be implemented by the DENR through the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB).
In his speech, Sec. Cimatu also acknowledged several politicians and government agencies for their help in making several DENR projects successful: Senator Loren Legarda for her help in environmental preservation and management projects; Rep. Josephine “Nene” Ramirez-Sato for pursuing the passage of RA 11038; Senator Cynthia Villar for funding the plastic recycling facilities that convert plastic wastes into gene for school chairs; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for cleaning up rivers and esteros within the city; Laguna Lake Development Authority along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Taguig City government for the shutdown of two construction companies which illegally dumped waste materials in a waterbody in Taguig.
The Secretary assured that the DENR is on track in its rehabilitation activities in Boracay and that he is confident that Boracay Island will be brought back to its former glory. He added that the Department is also keen to make the same efforts with the other beaches in Panglao Island in Bohol, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, El Nido and Coron in Palawan, and Siargao in Surigao del Norte.
The Secretary also asserted that the Department is now “more aggressive in enforcing environmental laws, rules and regulations within the bounds of the Constitution.”
Other activities during the event included the awarding of land titles to 75 qualified beneficiaries in Metro Manila under the DENR’s “Handog Titulo” Program, signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the rehabilitation of Marawi Province in Mindanao, “Milenyal ng Kalikasan” pageant, and raffle draws for DENR employees.
By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publications Division
DENR Secretary Cimatu delivering his speech at the DENR 31st Anniversary. Among those on stage were President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and HUDCC Head Eduardo del Rosario.
President Duterte and DENR Secretary Cimatu awarding the land title to one of the 75 qualified beneficiaries.
MGB representative in the “Milenyal ng Kalikasan” pageant