(SALUTATIONS)

GOOD MORNING TO ALL OUR FRIENDS FROM MEDIA! MALIGAYANG PASKO SA INYONG LAHAT!

ISANG KARANGALAN SA AKIN ANG MAKITA KAYONG LAHAT DITO DAHIL MALAKING BAHAGI KAYO NG TAGUMPAY NG DENR NGAYONG 2019.

WHILE YOU HELPED US INFORM THE PUBLIC THROUGH PRINT, BROADCAST, ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, YOU ALSO KEPT US ON OUR TOES WHENEVER YOU POINTED OUT OUR LAPSES AND SHORTCOMINGS.

FOR BOTH, WE ARE THANKFUL AND WE SHARE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS WITH ALL OF YOU.

THE YEAR 2019 WAS A GOOD ONE FOR THE DENR. WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE BATTLE FOR MANILA BAY IN JANUARY WHERE MORE THAN 5,000 VOLUNTEERS JOINED OUR UNITY WALK IN SUPPORT OF THE REHABILITATION OF THE BAY.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING NON-STOP TO CLEAN ALL WATERWAYS AROUND THE MANILA BAY AREA, FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, REGION 3 – CENTRAL LUZON AND REGION 4A – CALABARZON.

OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE REMOVAL OF SOLID WASTES FROM RIVERS AND ESTEROS THROUGH OUR HARDWORKING VOLUNTEERS, ESTERO RANGERSAND PARTNER GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE AGENCIES BUT ALSO THE RESETTLEMENT OF ILLEGAL SETTLER FAMILIES ALONG THE RIVERS AND CREEKS, AND THE CLOSURE OF ERRING ESTABLISHMENTS AROUND THE MANILA BAY AREA.

RECENTLY, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF UNDERSECRETARY BENNY ANTIPORDA AS MY ALTER EGO AT THE NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, WE FILED A CASE AT THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AGAINST A LOCAL OFFICIAL OF LIMAY, BATAAN FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF AN OPEN DUMPSITE IN VIOLATION OF REPUBLIC ACT 9003 OR THE ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000.

BEYOND MANILA BAY, WE FILED A SIMILAR CASE ALSO AGAINST A LOCAL OFFICIAL IN TABACO CITY IN ALBAY PROVINCE.CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS WERE ALSO ISSUED AGAINST THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BACOLOR AND PORAC.

THESE ONLY MEAN THAT WE ARE SERIOUS IN RUNNING AFTER VIOLATORS OF THE SAID LAW.

IN BORACAY, WHICH WE CONSIDER OUR AMAZING TURNAROUND SUCCESS STORY, WE ARE LIKEWISE DOING WELL WITH THE CONTINUED GOOD WATER QUALITY IN THE WHITE BEACH. ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU IN REGION 6, THE LATEST COLIFORM COUNT IN THE AREA RANGES FROM LESS THAN 1 TO 11.9 MOST PROBABLE NUMBER PER 100 ML.

PRIOR TO THE CLOSURE OF THE ISLAND, COLIFORM LEVEL READINGS IN OUR OUTFALLS REACHED MILLIONS.

WE HAVE DEMOLISHED ESTABLISHMENTS IN BULABOG BEACH THAT VIOLATE THE 25+5 EASEMENT RULE AND THOSE ALONG THE MAIN ROAD OR DRAMATIC ROAD THAT HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH THE 12-METER ROAD EASEMENT.

OTHER TOURIST DESTINATIONS ARE LIKEWISE BEING CONTINUOUSLY REHABILITATED LIKE PUERTO GALERA IN MINDORO ORIENTAL AND CORON IN PALAWAN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ALSO MADE A MILESTONE WHEN WE SIGNED THE WILDLIFE LOAN AGREEEMENT WITH SINGAPORE FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE, OUR NATIONAL BIRD AND CROWN JEWEL OF BIODIVERSITY.

WE SENT OFF GEOTHERMICA,THE MALE EAGLE, AND SAMBISIG, THE FEMALE EAGLE, TO SINGAPORE,TO PROTECT THESE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM BECOMING EXTINCT.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM WITH THE PLANTING OF BAMBOO SEEDLINGS. BAMBOO HAS A 95% SURVIVAL RATE AS COMPARED WITH OTHER TREESPECIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE MOURNED THE KILLING OF 4 OF OUR DENR COLLEAGUES – OUR FOREST RANGERS AND INFORMANTS – WHO HAVE BRAVELY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT OUR FORESTS. DESPITE THESE, WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL LOGGING.

IT IS DURING THESE TIMES THAT WE WANT YOU TO JOIN US IN OUR CALL TO PROTECT OUR HARDWORKING DENR WORKERS. TULUNGAN NINYO KAMING IPAALAM SA BAWA’T PILIPINO NA HINDI KAYANG TAKUTIN NG DAHAS ANG DENR!

WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE CREATION OF AN ENFORCEMENT BUREAU THAT WILL PROTECT THEM, WHOM WE CALL OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ALREADY ASKED CONGRESS TO COME UP WITH A LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING FOREST RANGERS TO CARRY FIREARMS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST ILLEGAL LOGGING SYNDICATES AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMINALS.

SA LAHAT NG MGA GINAGAWANG PAGPUPUNYAGI NG DENR UPANG MAPANGALAGAAN ANG KAPALIGIRAN AT LIKAS NA YAMAN NG BANSA, PALAGI KAYONG NANDYAN AT TUMUTULONG SA AMIN UPANG MAPARATING ANG MGA BALITANG ITO SA TAONG-BAYAN.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYO! WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER FRUITFUL AND VICTORIOUS PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU IN 2020.

MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MASAGANANG BAGONG TAON SA INYONG LAHAT! GOD BLESS US ALL! ###