DENR taps deputies to enforce environment laws

CEBU CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Visayas will deputize people in the communities to help enforce environmental laws especially those pertaining to clean and sustainable water and solid waste management.

As part of efforts to upgrade the water quality of 10 rivers in Central Visayas, provincial environment officers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor have entered the waterways into the Rivers for Life 2019 awards that would advance community and stakeholder empowerment.

DENR Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales said the Rivers for Life awards is a regional and national competition among 10 rivers in Central Visayas.

The rivers are Batuanon River in Mandaue, Bulacao River in Bulacao and Luyang River in Luyang Carmen,

in Cebu, Abatan River in Cortes, Wahig River in Inabanga, and Manaba River in Garcia Hernandez in Bohol, Banica River in Valencia, Panam-angan River in Bais and Sicopong River in Santa Catalina in Negros Oriental as well as Señora River in Siqiijor.

The goal is for the stakeholders to help improve the water quality of the rivers in six months to make them safe for swimming, Bohol provincial environment officer Charlie Fabre said.

“All barangays along these rivers will be trained and deputized to enforce all environmental laws, or those which are applicable to the river,” Gonzales said.

Cleaning up the rivers will be a lot easier when communities help to manage solid waste, regulate the control of effluent discharge, put up the necessary and appropriate treatment of household sewage and using fertilizers that are less destructive, he said.

Gonzales has earlier announced the deputization of local government officials as Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs) to help protect wildlife species in the region.

Gonzales said DENR sent invitations to the aviation police and seaports officials for WEO deputations to keep an eye out on commonly traded wildlife in airports and seaports.

“We’ve noted a decrease in illegal wildlife trading in 2018 to date,” he said.

DENR Regional Ecosystem Management Specialist Rainier Manlegro said DENR provides training on how to handle and identify commonly traded species and strengthening the IEC and social media presence, specifically on Facebook.

Manlegro told Manila Bulletin said it is particularly difficult to apprehend Facebook wildlife trading because those involved use multiple personal accounts.

According to Manlegro, the ports in Cebu was chosen as pilot training areas for illegal wildlife trading as a transnational boundary crime. (With reports from Brandon Ormega, USC intern)