Negros Daily Bulletin
By Gigi M. Campos
A funny thing happened as we ushered in the year of the Ox. On January 26, 2009 the Philippine Star reported that Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, who was named Environment Secretary on July 18, 2007 declared 2009, the year of the Ox as Law Enforcement Year. It sounds like a veiled admission that nothing much was accomplished for the environment these past two years that he was head of DENR. With the proclamation of 2009 as Law Enforcement Year from the big boss himself, can we expect the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to step-up a campaign to protect the country’s environment and natural resources?
Atienza said. “For the rest of the year, we will give more dedication and seriousness in efforts to protect the environment, including land, air, water and forests, against environmental violators whom we will pursue, guided by our environmental laws.”
Dedication and seriousness is exactly what is needed and long overdue because money and power seem to be more important nowadays than matters like cool, fresh clean water. We must make sure that Secretary Atienza is called to task to finally put the environment violators behind bars.
Why? Because our water has been polluted and trees cut down in an endless quest for lumber, all in the name of development. Precious topsoil that took millennia to grow, erode and clog our creeks and waterways. Our once fertile soil is replaced by poisons and toxic wastes to which we should never have been exposed. The crisp, clean air we once used to enjoy is filled with smog, filth and fumes. Plants and animals that have evolved in patient process, are now subjected to genetic engineering often across species all in the name of profit. In short, in our quest for total control over the environment, we did not foresee the potentially disastrous effects.
Already, there are many signs of the horrors that lie ahead if we do not do something soon to stop this destructive trend. Landslides resulting from dramatic changes in the topography of the land; floods caused by disappearing waterways and improper garbage disposal; awful viruses such as Ebola and AIDS emerge from the rain forests that are slowly being obliterated. Those that can stop this and have the power seem not to listen nor to care because to do so would mean an end to the carefree, money-grabbing life they have gotten so used to. Politicians and corporate executives would have to forego their wasteful lifestyles and it seems they are not about to let that happen.
We are rapidly approaching the point of no return. Soon, water, vital for life, will be more and more polluted and undrinkable; new diseases will launch upon society and more people will be stricken with the horrific illness that come as a direct result of the over use of chemicals in agriculture, food production and in so many industrial processes.
Early this year, Sec. Atienza reshuffled the DENR regional executive directors nationwide, warning them that they are accountable for whatever environmental violations that may happen in their respective regions, provinces and municipalities.
Sec. Atienza said that the reorganization in the DENR is a continuing process, at the same time admonishing the officials on the “one-strike” policy the department is implementing. This means that only one verified report of any environmental violation, such as illegal logging or illegal mining happening and the like in their respective areas is enough ground for the officials’ suspension.
“I will ensure that the full force of the law will be meted out against anyone who will violate environmental laws because the certainty of punishment is the best deterrent to the commission of a crime,” Atienza said.
“I am confident that year 2009 can make the difference. Aside from the fact that we have 42 environmental laws that give us more teeth in our fight against environmental violators, the judiciary is also taking a more active role in protecting Nature and the country’s environment,” Atienza said. Judging from Sec. Atienza’s track record, can we believe this?
Atienza himself admitted that to date 900 local government units have not complied with RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act, inspite of its passage into law in 2001. There should be no more excuses. Our local government officials have the power, mandate and resources to do what needs to be done. Let us truly hope that in 2009, the DENR Secretary will make good his word and decisively run after the environmental violators.
Each and every one of us must take a degree of responsibility for the threat under which we now live. We are all consumers and it is to satisfy our oftentimes insatiable appetites that many of these environmental disasters occur. Of course, some of us do try to live a lifestyle that pays heed to the environment but thanks to the marketing men, too many take the easy way and help exacerbate an already critical situation. However, for many of us in the BAHA Alliance, we saw lifestyles and attitudes change.
So what can we do to stop and, ultimately reverse the trend? Surprisingly, quite a lot and without making too much additional effort. Most of the extra effort will go into stopping to think before making buying decisions or before throwing things away.
This may be just one of the easy-to-do things that, individually, are small but, collectively will have a major impact and make a big difference. This is not just an exercise in simple conservation. It is an attempt to save the world from extinction and render it safe and welcoming for our children, our children’s children and generations yet to come.
We have two simple alternatives. A world that is lush and green, air fresh and life bringing, water clean and sustaining. A land where children are born and grow without the fear of terrible disease or starvation, a place where Man works and lives in harmony with nature. Or a land incapable of sustaining life, mutated and grossly deformed plants, animals and humans and one that is about to drop over the edge to infinite extinction. Which do you want?*
By Gigi M. Campos
A funny thing happened as we ushered in the year of the Ox. On January 26, 2009 the Philippine Star reported that Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, who was named Environment Secretary on July 18, 2007 declared 2009, the year of the Ox as Law Enforcement Year. It sounds like a veiled admission that nothing much was accomplished for the environment these past two years that he was head of DENR. With the proclamation of 2009 as Law Enforcement Year from the big boss himself, can we expect the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to step-up a campaign to protect the country’s environment and natural resources?
Atienza said. “For the rest of the year, we will give more dedication and seriousness in efforts to protect the environment, including land, air, water and forests, against environmental violators whom we will pursue, guided by our environmental laws.”
Dedication and seriousness is exactly what is needed and long overdue because money and power seem to be more important nowadays than matters like cool, fresh clean water. We must make sure that Secretary Atienza is called to task to finally put the environment violators behind bars.
Why? Because our water has been polluted and trees cut down in an endless quest for lumber, all in the name of development. Precious topsoil that took millennia to grow, erode and clog our creeks and waterways. Our once fertile soil is replaced by poisons and toxic wastes to which we should never have been exposed. The crisp, clean air we once used to enjoy is filled with smog, filth and fumes. Plants and animals that have evolved in patient process, are now subjected to genetic engineering often across species all in the name of profit. In short, in our quest for total control over the environment, we did not foresee the potentially disastrous effects.
Already, there are many signs of the horrors that lie ahead if we do not do something soon to stop this destructive trend. Landslides resulting from dramatic changes in the topography of the land; floods caused by disappearing waterways and improper garbage disposal; awful viruses such as Ebola and AIDS emerge from the rain forests that are slowly being obliterated. Those that can stop this and have the power seem not to listen nor to care because to do so would mean an end to the carefree, money-grabbing life they have gotten so used to. Politicians and corporate executives would have to forego their wasteful lifestyles and it seems they are not about to let that happen.
We are rapidly approaching the point of no return. Soon, water, vital for life, will be more and more polluted and undrinkable; new diseases will launch upon society and more people will be stricken with the horrific illness that come as a direct result of the over use of chemicals in agriculture, food production and in so many industrial processes.
Early this year, Sec. Atienza reshuffled the DENR regional executive directors nationwide, warning them that they are accountable for whatever environmental violations that may happen in their respective regions, provinces and municipalities.
Sec. Atienza said that the reorganization in the DENR is a continuing process, at the same time admonishing the officials on the “one-strike” policy the department is implementing. This means that only one verified report of any environmental violation, such as illegal logging or illegal mining happening and the like in their respective areas is enough ground for the officials’ suspension.
“I will ensure that the full force of the law will be meted out against anyone who will violate environmental laws because the certainty of punishment is the best deterrent to the commission of a crime,” Atienza said.
“I am confident that year 2009 can make the difference. Aside from the fact that we have 42 environmental laws that give us more teeth in our fight against environmental violators, the judiciary is also taking a more active role in protecting Nature and the country’s environment,” Atienza said. Judging from Sec. Atienza’s track record, can we believe this?
Atienza himself admitted that to date 900 local government units have not complied with RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act, inspite of its passage into law in 2001. There should be no more excuses. Our local government officials have the power, mandate and resources to do what needs to be done. Let us truly hope that in 2009, the DENR Secretary will make good his word and decisively run after the environmental violators.
Each and every one of us must take a degree of responsibility for the threat under which we now live. We are all consumers and it is to satisfy our oftentimes insatiable appetites that many of these environmental disasters occur. Of course, some of us do try to live a lifestyle that pays heed to the environment but thanks to the marketing men, too many take the easy way and help exacerbate an already critical situation. However, for many of us in the BAHA Alliance, we saw lifestyles and attitudes change.
So what can we do to stop and, ultimately reverse the trend? Surprisingly, quite a lot and without making too much additional effort. Most of the extra effort will go into stopping to think before making buying decisions or before throwing things away.
This may be just one of the easy-to-do things that, individually, are small but, collectively will have a major impact and make a big difference. This is not just an exercise in simple conservation. It is an attempt to save the world from extinction and render it safe and welcoming for our children, our children’s children and generations yet to come.
We have two simple alternatives. A world that is lush and green, air fresh and life bringing, water clean and sustaining. A land where children are born and grow without the fear of terrible disease or starvation, a place where Man works and lives in harmony with nature. Or a land incapable of sustaining life, mutated and grossly deformed plants, animals and humans and one that is about to drop over the edge to infinite extinction. Which do you want?*
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