MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called for stronger enforcement of environmental laws and greater cooperation between lawmen and other government officials under the Environmental Law Enforcement Task Force.
In a memorandum circular issued last October, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje directed law authorities to pool their resources and intelligence in pursuit of environment law violators.
He called for a team of government lawyers dedicated to pursuing charges against violators of green laws, noting that the DENR and the Office of the Solicitor General could forge a memorandum of agreement on such matter.
“[The] task force shall employ integrated approach in the enforcement of environmental laws from investigation to arrest, seizure and confiscation to prosecution,” Paje said in his three-page order.
It “shall mobilize quickly the investigative, technical and legal staff and resources of many diverse agencies in the investigation of a serious environmental violation or concern,” he said.
Paje called on members of the task force to share intelligence and resources. A database of environmental crimes and its perpetrators should also be established, he said.
The secretary asked the National Bureau of Investigation’s environment desk and the Office of the Ombudsman to institutionalize cooperation mechanisms between them.
“The task force shall establish mechanism for facilitating the pooling and exchange of resources and intelligence between different law enforcement and regulatory entities,” he said.
Paje’s order also passed the duty of heading the task force to a DENR official, the undersecretary for field operations, from the police.
The task force, which was created in 2009 by then Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, was headed by former Manila police chief Pedro Bulaong to strengthen the campaign against environmental law violations.
The agency is also responsible for crafting mechanisms to deter environmental crimes. –Kristine L. Alave, Philippine Daily Inquirer
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
