Amid the brunt of the climate crisis, mounting pollution, and suffering biodiversity, the pressure is mounting on the country’s environmental vanguards to deliver and ensure the country’s ecosystems are taken care of.
At the forefront of this responsibility is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), “the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources.” Or so its mandate expects them to do.
But when the bureau expected to be at the frontline becomes a hindrance to their goal, what then becomes at stake for the environment? Whether through out-of-hand circumstances or conscious lapses in execution, recent events make one thing clear: many deficiencies are waiting to be settled that must be addressed before our environmental concerns can even be laid out.
Wrong people, inadequate people
In President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent Cabinet shakeup, DENR Secretary Toni Loyzaga was replaced, reportedly due to her “underperformance” and criticisms of being a “jet-setter secretary.” Loyzaga’s replacement, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, has also been criticized for promoting the continued use of fossil fuels, positions on nuclear energy, and the weakening of a previously established moratorium on the building of new coal plants. These have raised concerns over the brand of leadership he will bring to the department.
Beyond signs of incompetence at the executive level, the DENR is also mired in issues concerning manpower. Early into her tenure as secretary, Loyzaga admitted that inadequate financial and human resources were needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the country. Assistant Secretary Rochelle Gamboa echoed the same sentiments, citing “limited manpower” in the agency’s oversight of mining operations.
The archaic corruption across Philippine government agencies appears to extend into the DENR as well. During a budget hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo divulged allegations of DENR personnel soliciting commissions in its Land Management Bureau’s Cadastral Survey Program, which is supposed to delineate landowner claims and political boundaries.
While some of these issues can undoubtedly be resolved through legal reforms and greater budget allotments, the obvious dilemma remains to be no question. Responsibility and accountability are severely inadequate along the entire line of, as they put it, “limited number” of individuals that run the DENR, from its executives down to its personnel. This points to a deeper, more systemic rot.
Seeding incompetence
Structural dysfunction and corruption within the DENR undermine its operations. The DENR has frequently failed to implement its programs or enforce laws and regulations designed to protect the environment. Take the well-intentioned tree-replanting and mangrove reforestation programs, where they planted an incorrect species of mangrove in the wetlands of Bohol and Negros Occidental. This became the tip of the iceberg for mishandled DENR projects.
Even when DENR publicly acknowledges environmental risks—as it did with reclamation projects in Manila Bay—they have done little to stop their construction, let alone ensure there are more environmentally friendly benefits to them. Another display of inaction by the DENR over illegal mining and construction in Palawan has also led to a writ of Kalikasan—a legal remedy that protects the constitutional right to a healthy environment—being filed against them in 2023.
Significant national media exposure was required before the construction of an illegal resort in Bohol’s Chocolate Hills was scrutinized. This begs the question: How much more such violations fall under the radar in supposedly protected areas? A media circus should not be needed to compel the DENR to act.
When DENR laws are routinely bypassed by private corporations and violations are often met with mere slaps on the wrist, the agency also falls short of its goals or intended purpose, revealing that something is amiss within the DENR’s institutions.
These problems within the DENR’s institutions seep into its operations, and since they lack the resources, capacity, or competence to function properly, one cannot expect it to effectively enforce its mandates and protect the environment.
For the sake of the environment
The DENR’s mission is to mobilize the citizenry in the protection, conservation, and management of the country’s environment and natural resources, both for present and future generations. Its vision is one of a nation enjoying and sustaining its natural resources, with a clean and healthy environment. Yet for decades, the dire state of the country’s environment has continued to degrade. Should the status quo remain, the DENR’s vision may remain out of reach so long as its execution continues to fall short.
To begin with, the DENR must take accountability and responsibility for its deficiencies. From there, the DENR can identify weaknesses among its institutions and personnel, helping it work towards rectifying the agency and making the department more effective.
The national government also needs to recognize the importance of the DENR for protecting our environment and support them by granting them the necessary resources. These measures can give the DENR what it needs to empower its institutions and properly enforce environmental laws.
As part of its mission, the DENR must also amplify the voices of indigenous communities and environmental organizations. They must stand against uncontrolled development that disrupts not just the environment but also the people living in these areas. Furthermore, the DENR can also learn from non-governmental organizations to streamline its operations and deliver better results.
Despite the issues that surround the DENR, there have been efforts to improve the department. The establishment of the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau under the DENR in 2020 is a step forward in helping the DENR enforce environmental laws. The adoption of new technologies, such as the deployment of artificial intelligence to help combat illegal wildlife trade, has also helped improve the DENR’s capabilities.
There is undoubtedly room for the DENR to improve. The question is whether the DENR has the resolve to take the necessary steps to do so. Reforming the DENR into a competent organization is necessary for the sake of our environment, our future, and the succeeding generations to come.
