Planting Trees in Mindanao, Philippines
Deeply concerned regarding the series of calamities that brought flood waters and landslides, the Aquino administration, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), stepped up the government’s environment preservation and forest protection without any preservation, and also pushed the “greening” program in Mindanao.
In his directive to all regional directors, city, and provincial environment and natural resources officers, DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, said “environment preservation and forest protection must be redoubled and all violators must be put to jail”.
Paje reiterated again Sunday his appeal to all local government officials to revisit the geohazard maps distributed by the agency and institute mitigating measures to shield communities from danger.
He also asked the local officials to cease from further issuing small-scale mining (SSM) permits as the DENR no longer issues environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for SSM.
Paje sounded off the appeal in the wake of the Pantukan landslide, which has already reportedly claimed 30 lives as of press time while many are still missing.