(SALUTATIONS)

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE SPECIALIZED COURSE ON ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT // OF THE DENR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ACADEMY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, WE ARE AT WAR AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMINALS  TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR PEOPLE.  HOWEVER,  THE SADDEST PART OF OUR BATTLE  IS LOSING PEOPLE IN THE LINE OF DUTY.  THESE ARE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES  WHO WERE MERCILESSLY MURDERED WHILE ON DUTY OR ON THEIR JOB,  SOME WERE GUNNED DOWN,  SOME HACKED TO DEATH.

NO AMOUNT OF MONEY,  AWARDS,  OR RECOGNITIONS OR EVEN PROMOTION  CAN EVER REPLACE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO DIED  DEFENDING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.  A SINGLE LIFE LOST IS ONE TOO MANY  TO MOVE ANYONE TO PURSUE STEPS AND STOP THIS TREND.

THIS IS THE VERY REASON WHY WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR EXISTING MECHANISMS  IN THE FORM OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS,  REGULATIONS,  AND POLICIES  TO ADDRESS THE DANGERS POSED  NOT ONLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT  BUT ALSO TO THOSE WHO PROTECT IT.

WE SHOULD ENFORCE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE DENR TO ENFORCE AS OUR MANDATE.

WHILE WE AWAIT THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL  CREATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT BUREAU, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT  TO SERVE AS OUR ENFORCEMENT ARM  THAT IS PATTERNED AFTER MAINSTREAM LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE AGAINST CRIMINALITY,  ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AGAINST REBELLION AND SUBVERSION.

THIS INTERIM OFFICE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTION SERVICE OR ELEPS,  WILL MAKE US REALIZE OUR VISION  TO CREATE A MORE SYSTEMATIC AND PROFESSIONALIZED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. WE EXPECT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WILL NOW BE MORE ADEQUATELY  AND EFFECTIVELY ENFORCED.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE OBJECTIVES CAN BE ACHIEVED BY TRAINING OUR PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TO BE WELL-EQUIPPED, SKILLED,  AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE LAWS BEING ENFORCED.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES ARE EVOLVING, THUS,  ALSO PRESENTING A CLEAR THREAT TO OUR STATE SECURITY.  OUR ENEMIES CAN NOW CROSS BORDERS WITH EASE,  THEY ARE MORE SOPHISTICATED, SYNDICATED, AND ORGANIZED.  WITH THIS COURSE,  OUR ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS WILL BE MORE COMPETENT ESPECIALLY IN UTILIZING APPROPRIATE MODERN TECHNOLOGIES  TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

THIS COURSE WILL PROVIDE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FRONTLINERS  THE PROPER CONCEPTS,  SKILLS, AND TECHNIQUES IN ENFORCEMENT.