The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IV-A is burdened with difficult tasks as they try to minimize the environmental harm of urban and economic progress in the region.
However, the question is: “Is it worth it?”
During a Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas hosted by the Philippine Information Agency, DENR IV-A led by its Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director Edgardo Castillo, and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Robert Angelo Metin presented accomplishments and answered questions from the media in Calamba City, Laguna last July 16.
Plant and cut
Most recently, commuters and motorists traveling to the south noticed the road-widening project of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) within the cities of San Pedro, Biñan, and Santa Rosa in Laguna, which resulted in over 8,766 trees being cut down.
Out of these trees permitted by the Laguna Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office to be cut down, 7,237 are planted, mostly by DENR, while 1,529 are naturally grown.
Tamoria said it was the San Miguel Corporation’s SLEX Corp. which requested the cutting of trees covering the expressway’s road right-of-way (RROW).
“Ang SLEX is pribadong lupa, e nagkaroon ng pagpapasya ang operator na talagang palaparin, so ang pasok po natin ay mag-regulate na lang. Pero kapag sa umpisa palang di na natin tinamnan dyan, wala na tayong puputulin,” said Tamoria.
“Dahil din po sa lessons natin dito sa tree cutting, yung tamang lugar ng pagtataniman ay kinoconsider (na), di na po tayo pumapayag magtanim sa road right of way dahil di natin maiiwasan na pag nag-widening ang isang ahensya e sayang lang tinanim natin,” he added.
Tamoria also said that DENR now prescribes appropriate species for roadside planting to avoid big trees impacting the stability of structures that will just end with it being cut down to avoid further damage.
Mining and money
The agency also reported that from 2022, they have approved 44.980.04 hectares of mining tenements equivalent to 3.92 percent of the region’s total land area.
From 2022-2023, out of the P11.65 billion total production of non-metallic minerals, four percent or P466,220,820.43 comprise excise taxes on minerals which they claim were used to fund public infrastructure and social programs.
To compensate for the lands destroyed by mining, DENR had planted more than 500,000 seedlings in more than 936 hectares.
“As stewards for the country’s mineral resources MGB Calabarzon took the helm in the integrity and virtue of mining responsibility. It is one of the vital components of the government's continuing campaign against illegal mining in combating all fly-by-night miners,” said Tamoria.
Meanwhile, Castillo from MGB encourages everyone to report illegal miners to their office so they can evaluate the operation and give a cease and desist order if it is illegal.
Floating projects
Asked about the recent issue of fisherfolk concerned on the impact of floating solar projects in Laguna Lake, DENR says that they are revisiting the guidelines on floating solar farms because of its implications on the environment.
However, recent news shows that investors continue to secure contracts for floating solar projects.
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