Duterte gets failing mark in environment issues

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has failed to address various environmental issues as no clear policy agenda and concrete actions have been implemented a year into his term, a network of green groups said.

The Green Thumb Coalition, a network of more than 40 organizations, earlier this week gave Duterte a failing grade for not delivering on his green commitments made during the campaign.

The assessment of the group covered various environmental aspects including energy, climate justice, waste, biodiversity, land use, mining, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture, human rights and people-centered sustainable development.

Duterte received a failing mark in all sub-sectors, the group said.

“The President’s pronouncements on environment and social justice were not backed up by clear policy agenda and concrete actions to address crucial issues such as destructive mining, climate change, disaster risk reduction and energy, among others,” Green Thumb said.

“The lack of genuine and significant actions outweighs the gains made by the administration. There is a gaping gap and large inaction on energy process review, rescinding permits for new coal-fired power plants, and certifying as urgent the National Land Use Act,” it added.

Furthermore, the rejection of former environment chief Gina Lopez also contributed to the President’s dismal first year.

“Lopez’s appointment was the shining light of the administration but it was a brief bout of optimism. She did not get sufficient backing from Malacañang in her bid to reform the agency and also to discipline and exact accountability of mining companies,” the coalition said.

The group added that Duterte failed in repealing the waste-to-energy policy, banning single-use plastic and plastic micro-beads, re-exporting all illegal garbage shipments from Canada, implementing fiscal reforms in mineral extraction and putting in place a comprehensive people’s food policy.

Despite the failure, the coalition also recognized initial gains of the administration including ratification of the Paris Agreement. The coalition expressed optimism in the passage of green bills and implementation of ecological agriculture programs that address poverty and food insecurity among Filipinos.

The group lauded the higher budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources this year, as well as the Philippine Development Plan approved last February.

The coalition is also hoping that legislative measures will be tackled with urgency including the bills on forest resources, expanded national integrated and protection area systems, alternative minerals management and forest delineation.