"[The Department of Environment and Natural Resources] has many laws to implement, but we are lacking when it comes to enforcement. While we are waiting for the passage of EPEB, our secretary has allowed to craft this order to install an enforcement service for the effective protection of our forests and other natural resources.”
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu has signed an administrative order for the establishment of the Environmental Law Enforcement and Protection Service (ELEPS).
In a press release, Cimatu said the creation of ELEPS was spearheaded and the successor of the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF) under the direction of the Secretary.
The new office will serve as an interim service while the DENR awaits the approval of the proposed Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) bill that was filed in the Senate and House of Representatives.
"We have a growing number of fallen environmental heroes.This is how serious we do our jobs here at DENR, but I hope and pray that no more lives will be lost because of defending our environment," Cimatu said during the DENR's 34th founding anniversary celebration on June 10.
"Our department has many laws to implement, but we are lacking when it comes to enforcement.While we are waiting for the passage of EPEB, our secretary has allowed to craft this order to install an enforcement service for the effective protection of our forests and other natural resources," said DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones.
Under the DENR administrative order, ELEPS will cover all environmental laws as enumerated in the Supreme Court Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases involving enforcement or violations of environmental and natural resources laws, rules and regulations," such as Terrestrial Laws, Coastal, Marine, and Aquatic Resources Laws, Aerial Law, and other Environment and Natural Resources Laws.
ELEPS was created as a defined authority that will promote effective and strong enforcement of environmental laws, establish coordinative mechanisms, utilize science and technology, and develop highly competent manpower that will encompass existing enforcement units, such as the EPETF, Philippine Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife (POGI), and other enforcement task forces of the agency.
DENR's bureaus and attached agencies will also maintain close coordination with ELEPS in networking with national and international organizations that address environmental crimes.
ELEPS’ lead team will be from DENR’s Central Office to complement its daily operations.
Among its several functions, ELEPS has end-to-end duties--from the enforcement, stoppage of ongoing violations, arrest, management of confiscated items, investigation, preparation for prosecution of environmental criminals until execution of decisions by the court.
The new service plans to equip enforcement officers with agency-issued firearms and self-protective gears and provide capacity building to effectively perform their official functions. (SC)
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