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ENVIRONMENT Secretary Lito Atienza on Wednesday vowed to
replicate his “Buhayin ang Maynila” program with
“Buhayin ang Kalikasan, Buhayin ang Pilipinas” as he
accepted what he described as an “overwhelming
challenge” of being the chief steward of the country’s
environment and natural resources.
Atienza
said that as secretary of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR), he will make sure that
laws are enforced strictly, particularly in the areas of
mining, logging, fish-pen operation and solid-waste
management.
The
former Manila mayor, who was sworn into office by
President Arroyo on Tuesday, is the 16th DENR secretary.
He is the sixth under the Arroyo administration.
Atienza
received a warm welcome from employees and officials of
the department during the turnover ceremony on Tuesday,
during which he vowed to be “pro-life” in both
protecting the environment and exploring the country’s
natural resources.
Undersecretary Mario Gerochi described him as a
“seasoned and able leader” most welcomed to replace
former secretary Angelo Reyes, who is now secretary of
the Department of Energy.
“That’s
my marching order from the President. Kung binuhay mo
ang Maynila noon, buhayin mo ang kalikasan ngayon.
Kasama na lahat doon,” he said.
According to Atienza, the challenge as mayor of Manila
and the challenge as DENR secretary requires the same
political will which he has shown, although he said that
he will continue to reach out to those who he displeased
in performing his job.
Atienza,
a known pro-life advocate, has won international
recognition for his program that promote life, such as
the ban on the promotion of artificial birth-control
methods.
“What’s
the use of saving the lion, the tiger and whale when you
kill a baby,” he said, referring to the practice of
abortion in some countries.
He vowed
to promote life for the future of the Filipino children.
Atienza
said that he will need the cooperation of the DENR
personnel, as well as the local government officials
down to the barangay level.
“I
cannot do this alone. This job needs the participation
of everybody,” he said.
Atienza
said he will lead the DENR in enforcing environmental
laws, particularly in mining, by striking a
well-balanced condition in allowing foreign investments
to come in.
“I would
like to make sure…to see to it the industry and the
money flowing in are benefiting the people,” he said.
Atienza
said the Philippines is not “an open country” as far as
mining is concerned, saying mining companies must see to
it that their operations conform with the law,
emphasizing their inherent corporate social and legal
responsibility to the people.
Logging,
he said, will also be monitored during his watch at the
DENR, saying those operating without permits and destroy
the environment will be sanctioned accordingly.
He also
vowed to free the open bay areas, and review the manner
by which permits to build fish cages and fish pens are
issued by DENR personnel.
“I’ll
make this my personal crusade. We will review the
permits and make sure our lakes, bay areas and rivers
will be cleared of illegal fishpens,” he said.
He
expressed his sympathy to small municipal fishermen who
depend on municipal waters, lakes and rivers for their
livelihood.
“We will
not do this overnight. But definitely, we will keep our
bay areas open,” he said. |
