Earth Day: Phl environment poor, but...

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has the second lowest forest coverage in Southeast Asia and 40 percent of its coral area is in poor condition, a senior official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) admitted yesterday.

In a “State of the Philippine Environment Address” delivered during the Earth Day activities in Quezon City, DENR undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio outlined some of the most pressing environment problems in the country.

Ignacio said that next to Singapore, the Philippines has the second lowest forest coverage area in Southeast Asia, with only 24 percent.

He also said that the country’s “coastal and marine areas are problematic,” noting that around 40 percent of the total coral area is in poor condition.

The DENR official added that while Philippine biodiversity is considered as one of the richest in the world, it is also one of the most threatened.

The environment problems in the country, he noted, reflect the neglect and abuse over  many years.

While these could not be reversed overnight, the country is “on the road to recovering the environment that we have lost” with the enactment of landmark environment policies of the Aquino administration.

Ignacio cited President Aquino’s order imposing a total log ban in all natural forests nationwide. He said the intensified campaign against illegal loggers resulted in the filing of hundreds of cases and conviction of 72 people.

Since 2010, the DENR also confiscated 22 million board feet of illegally cut trees. These were donated to the Department of Education for the construction of school chairs and furniture.

Ignacio also cited the government’s National Greening Program, which seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide by 2016. Currently, 166 million trees have been planted around the country.

“Eventually, all these trees will contribute to food security, expand our habitat, and provide additional sources of food and water for Filipinos,” Ignacio said, adding that the Philippines has the third fastest growing forest in Asia.

Ignacio also outlined partnerships with private groups and local government units in cleaning bodies of water across the country as well as the collaboration among government agencies to clean the air.

He said that while Metro Manila remains polluted, the amount of air pollution in the metropolis has decreased by 30 percent based on the latest data gathered by DENR.

Ignacio also bared that “cleaning” also happens among their ranks, citing cases of employees removed from their posts for failure to effectively implement DENR’s programs.

Ignacio urged Filipinos to work with the government in ensuring the protection and rehabilitation of the environment.

This call was echoed by Roberto Guevara of the Earth Day Network Philippines. He said that the passage of legislation and programs for the environment are not enough if these will not be thoroughly implemented across the country.

During the program, Ignacio turned over to Guevara tree seedlings to symbolize the partnership of the government and civil society groups in protecting the environment. They also signed a memorandum of agreement for the joint implementation of the National Greening Program.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista outlined the local government’s environment projects during the Earth Day celebration.

In his welcome address, Bautista noted the passage of landmark ordinances involving the regulation of the use of plastic bags and the prohibition of plastic propaganda and advertisement materials in the city. He also cited partnerships with several agencies to clean Quezon City’s waterways.

“We declare that in Quezon City, ‘Earth Day is Every Day, Everywhere for Everyone’,” Bautista said, quoting this year’s theme for the Earth Day celebration.

The celebration also featured a 2.5-kilometer walk Lakad Para sa Kalikasan and an ecumenical service officiated by representatives of major religious organizations. – With Mike Frialde, Delon Porcalla