July 8, 2015
DENR’s proposed P10.14B for the reforestation program is an irony – fisherfolk
Manila, Philipines – The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) slammed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for seeking a resounding P10.14 billion for the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) in 2016.
In a statement, the PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Salvador France called the DENR a hypocrite for pretending that they really meant to protect and preserve the environment through their NGP.
“It is funny that while the DENR is seeking a huge amount of money for their so called “reforestation program”, they continue to give permits to the foreign and big mining companies and logging concessionaires. It seems that their programs and activities does not complement with each other.” France said.
As of June 2015, a total of 668 mining permits have been granted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to various big and foreign mining companies.
PAMALAKAYA said the DENR’s utter neglect to the illegal mining and logging in the country shows their inutility and incompetency in protecting our environment.
“The NGP is an epic fail. It failed to preserve and conserve our environment because the department itself, who is in charge in protecting it, is the number one destroyer of our forests and natural resources.” France said.
The PAMALAKAYA urged instead the DENR to use the P10.14 billion, if approved, to rehabilitate and preserve our dying coastal areas which are the source of livelihoods of small fisherfolks. One example is the Laguna Lake which will completely die if the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project (LLEDP) has been started.
“Still, the best way to save and protect our environment is to halt all the foreign funded government projects in our environment instead of misnomer environmental programs like the National Greening Program.” France ended. ###
