(Salutations)
MAGANDANG UMAGA SA LAHAT.
A SPECIAL WARM WELCOME TO OUR PARTNERS FROM THE MASS MEDIA, TO THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY HERE TODAY AND THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US VIA ZOOM.
AS THE OIC-SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE 10 PRIORITY PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE ON TRACK TO COMPLETING THE REHABILITATION OF BORACAY ISLAND. IN REHABILITATING MANILA BAY AND ITS COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, OUR FOCUS IS ON IMPROVING THE BAY’S WATER QUALITY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT COMPLETING THE SECOND PHASE OF THE BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECT WHILE FURTHER REDUCING FECAL COLIFORM LEVELS TO MAKE THE BAY SAFE FOR SWIMMING, BOATING, AND OTHER FORMS OF CONTACT RECREATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THE ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WITH CLOSED DUMPSITES ARE CONDUCTING SAFE CLOSURE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.
WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS THEY BUILD THEIR SANITARY LANDFILLS.
TO INTENSIFY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WE WILL VIGOROUSLY IMPLEMENT OUR CLEAN AIR PROGRAMS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS, AND THE MONITORING OF GENERAL AND ROADSIDE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF PRIORITY RIVERS AND OTHER CRITICAL WATER BODIES.
WE WILL STRENGTHEN REFORESTATION THROUGH OUR ENHANCED NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM WHILE PROTECTING 8.7 MILLION HECTARES OF FORESTS AGAINST FOREST FIRES, ILLEGAL LOGGING, POACHING, AND PESTS AND DISEASES.
WE WILL ALSO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS AND PRESERVE THE BIODIVERSITY OF TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.
WE WILL ALSO ENSURE IMPROVED IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR LAND ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LANDS WILL BE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.
IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTERS, WE WILL CONTINUE CONDUCTING VULNERABILITY AND RISK ASSESSMENTS PERTINENT TO GEO-HAZARDS AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES. AND WE WILL DOUBLY WORK HARD TO ENSURE THAT MINERALS DEVELOPMENT IS DONE RESPONSIBLY.
ON OUR CO-CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE BUILD BACK BETTER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO INITIATE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO POST-DISASTER REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY OF TYPHOON-HIT AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN DISASTER-PRONE REGIONS.
AND INSPIRED BY THE GLOBAL APPROBATION OF OUR SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION OF BORACAY ISLAND, WE AIM TO REPLICATE THAT SUCCESS IN OTHER PRIME ECOTOURISM SITES SUCH AS CORON, EL NIDO, PANGLAO, PUERTO GALERA, AND SIARGAO.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE MASS MEDIA, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ACCELERATE OUR ACTIONS TOWARD THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY’S ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DAHIL IKAW, AKO, TAYO ANG KALIKASAN.
AGAIN, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME!
