DENR exec urged to resign

MANILA, Philippines — Saying he is not fit for the job, a student organization at the University of the Philippines yesterday called on Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda to resign from his post.

“The DENR needs a spokesman who, instead of antagonizing homegrown scientists, articulately expresses and explains the department’s goals and policies,” the Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines said in an open letter to Antiporda.

“This country deserves a DENR undersecretary who is credible, responsive and committed to protecting, conserving and managing our environment and natural resources,” the group added.

The student organization issued the statement after Antiporda called the UP Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) “bayaran” or paid hacks after it offered recommendations on how to rehabilitate Manila Bay.

The group said Antiporda’s behavior was unacceptable for a government official.

Antiporda apologized yesterday to the UPMSI, saying it was just an “outburst of emotion.”

“I would like to apologize to the UP as a whole. It is not intended to destroy the good name of the university itself. But this is just to send the message to UPMSI that we are partners here,” Antiporda said in an interview on ANC.

He said he got “carried away by emotions” after the UPMSI criticized the Manila Bay nourishment project, which involves overlaying of artificial white sand made of crushed dolomite rocks along Roxas Boulevard’s baywalk.

Antiporda said the UPMSI could have communicated first with the DENR before releasing its findings on the white sand project to the media.

Based on the UPMSI study posted on its website, UP scientists said the dolomite overlay project would not solve the environmental problems in Manila Bay and might pose health risks and threaten the marine ecosystem.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he disagrees with Antiporda, adding that UP scientists are not paid hacks.

The fishers’ group Pamalakaya urged Antiporda to stop “making a fool of himself” by defending the project. – Elizabeth Marcelo, Christina Mendez, Michelle Zoleta