For President Aquino, environmental security is the highest form of national security.
This was disclosed today by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje, saying that the marching order given to the DENR and the other agencies comprising the Cabinet cluster on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation was to “prioritize the welfare of the poor and future generations”.
“Ang hangarin ng pamahalaan Aquino ay isang malinis na kapaligiran, mayabong na likas na yaman, at isang matatag na lipunan na kayang harapin ang epekto ng climate change,” Paje stressed.
Paje chairs the Climate Change cluster, whose membership includes 11 government agencies, including the National Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Metro Manila Development Authority, with the Climate Change Commission as the secretariat. Based on Executive Order (EO) No. 43 issued by President Aquino in May 2010, the cluster shall take the lead in pursuing measures to adapt to, and mitigate the effects of, climate change in the country.
Paje said that government’s environmental programs are designed with multi-faceted objectives, namely, to combat climate change, to improve the socio-economic condition of communities in the rural and upland areas, and to ensure food and water supply security.
Towards this end, he explained that the inclusion of fruit-bearing trees in the reforestation efforts under the National Greening Program (NGP) was intended to also provide alternative source of livelihood to farmers and lessen their dependence on standing forest trees.
Paje explained: “Kapag ang tingin ng ating mga upland farmers sa punong-kahoy ay panggamot kung may sakit ang kanilang kapamilya o pagkain kapag po nagugutom, hindi po matitigil ang illegal logging. Kaya dito sa National Greening Program hindi po lamang ito pagtatanim ng punong kahoy sa mga kagubatan, kami po ay nagtutulungan ng Department of Agriculture at ng Agrarian Reform sa pagtatanim ng mga fruit-bearing trees tulad ng mangga, coffee, cacao, at iba pang pananim, at i-turnover natin ang mga ito sa mga komunidad. Ang plantasyong ito ang magiging source of livelihood nila upang ‘di nila titingnan yong gubat na source ng kanilang pagkain o panggamot.”
The DENR chief also appealed to Filipinos to stop doubting the government in implementing programs for the environment and the poor, but instead urged them to support these to ensure their success. “Kung lahat magtutulong-tulong, walang programang di matutupad,” he stressed.
He illustrated the importance of such partnerships in providing impetus to present programs, particularly those on clean air and water, which were two of the President’s environmental priorities upon taking office in June 2010. “Ang paghinga ng malinis na hangin at pag-inom ng malinis na tubig ay karapatan ng bawat mamamayan, mayaman man o mahirap, dapat patas lang,” said Paje.
He cited the marked improvement in Metro Manila’s air quality since 2010, measured by the level of total suspended particulates (TSP), and which he attributed to programs initiated with civil society and other government agencies especially in the enforcement of clean air laws.
The environment chief admitted, however, the need for additional measures since “administrative reforms can only do so much”. He expressed support to the proposal of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to reduce the volume of vehicles on the road to address traffic jams that contribute to air pollution and global warming.
Paje also noted the “high response” of the private sector to the DENR’s “Adopt-an-Estero” program. According to him, there are now 182 private companies nationwide that have partnered with the DENR to clean up waterways. Ayda Zoleta, PAO-DENR
