THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking a slightly lower budget of P24.17 billion for 2019 to bankroll numerous environmental programs, mainly on forest rehabilitation and protection and biodiversity conservation.
The agency’s 2019 budget proposal, which is P740 million less than its current allocation of P25.72 billion, represents only 0.64 percent of the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for next year.
Despite a lower budget, Secretary Roy Cimatu assured the public that the agency could “still be able to effectively carry out its mandate of protecting the environment and rich natural resources in the country.”
“The DENR does not need a bigger budget to carry out its mandate. All we need is to be prudent and judicious in spending our budget and make sure that every single centavo is spent efficiently for programs promoting environmental protection,” she said.
The agency is asking Congress almost P6 billion to finance the government’s reforestation and forest protection projects for 2019 with the enhanced national greening program getting the lion’s share among its programs.
Of the total P5.96 billion allocated for reforestation and forest protection, P5.15 billion goes to ENGP, while P809.4 million will be used for the forest protection program and anti-illegal logging program.
As this developed, senior deputy minority leader and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza took to task the DENR for its reported failure to clean up Manila Bay, Pasig River and Laguna de Bay despite the huge budget given to it for the purpose.
Atienza said DENR officials failed to answer questions on the budget to clean up the three bodies of water.
Atienza threatened to seek an audience with the President on the matter even as he said he will ask Congress to give the DENR a P1 budget a year for not doing its job.
“I will bring this matter to the President and I will move to reduce their budget to P1, practically abolishing the department,” Atienza said.
At the same time, the lawmaker assailed the department for its alleged failure to force water-concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water to comply with their contractual obligations to put up waste-water treatment facilities.
“What has the DENR done to clean up Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay? Cleaning up these three water bodies would not only provide a safe environment to our residents, but could also spell an upsurge in the country’s economy,” Atienza said.
“A clean Manila Bay could really offer Filipinos an ideal place for recreation and other purposes as envisioned by renowned architect Daniel Burnham upon entering Manila Bay in the early 1900s– ‘This city could become one of the most beautiful in the world,” he added.
Another important question which he raised during the department’ budget deliberations, is what has the DENR done to compel Maynilad and Manila Water to fulfill their obligation to put up water-treatment facilities which they have failed to do so since their contract started in 1997.
“Due to the absence of waste water treatment facilities, household waste and sewage from Metro Manila and surrounding provinces have continually been discharged into the Pasig River and subsequently into Manila Bay, virtually killing the Bay and rendering it as one giant pozo negro.
“Technically, all household wastewater should be cleaned as part of the service to be provided by Maynilad and Manila Water. But instead of doing so, consumers are even charged for a service, which is about 20 percent of our water bills, that is not being rendered to them,” he said.
Atienza said he was saddened by the fact that the DENR could not give an answer to questions as to when the waste-water treatment facilities would be completed, except to say that it will be completed around 2037.
Atienza said during his term as Environment Secretary, the DENR sued Maynilad and Manila Water for failing to comply with the terms of their contracts, such as providing waste water treatment facilities—something which they have yet to fully accomplish but have been charging consumers from the start.
As a result, they were fined P200,000 per day for non-compliance, Atienza said, adding that the fines have reached P674.4 million as of Tuesday.
Atienza also asked the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on the status of their efforts to clean up Laguna De Bay.
“What happened to the President’s order during his first SONA for the removal of fishpens and fish cages from Laguna Lake by December, 2016?” he asked.
“All we have seen the LLDA do is piece meal dismantling of structures and endless praise releases….And if they cannot show that they are doing something aggressive and proactive about these very serious problems,” Atienza said.