MANILA, March 8 – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has instituted environmental protection as a policy for initiatives that directly or indirectly helped boost implementation of her 10-point BEAT THE ODDS agenda for sustainable development nationwide.
The Chief Executive did so believing that development must be undertaken without sacrificing the environment and natural resources. "Protecting the environment is one of our top priorities," she said.
"We must build up our environment as a reflection of our commitment to our quality of life," she added.
The President's bid to promote sustainable development nationwide further gained significance as experts confirmed global onslaught of climate change due to increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide.
These experts already warned that island-nations and archipelagos like the Philippines are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise, increasingly violent weather disturbances and other climate change repercussions.
"The Philippines is a victim of climate change, not a culprit," Mrs. Arroyo noted.
In 2006, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded the implementation of the Green Philippines project which involves planting over 500,000 seedlings and saplings along all major thoroughfares from Luzon to Mindanao.
Such landmark project aims to increase the country's forest cover and to improve air quality nationwide.
Pres. Arroyo ordered all public agencies to support this project. "Green Philippines is a blueprint for mapping our environment and economic policies that will allow for sustainable development that doesn't fall on the backs of the poor or erode our environment," she said.
”There is a cost to make Green Philippines come to life," she acknowledged. And "the cost is greater without the plan and investment in our people and the environment," she added.
Mrs. Arroyo believes in the need for environmental protection particularly as experts already identified the Philippines to be among the world's most biodiversity-rich sites.
"We must be careful stewards of our natural environment," she said. "Our environment is God-given. We must not abuse what God has created."
In 2004, the President signed into law RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act which provides for comprehensive water quality management nationwide.
"This is a landmark legislation which made the Philippines a leader in water policy among Asia-Pacific nations," said Dr. Vicente Tuddao Jr., Executive Director of River Basin Control Office which coordinates the country's water-related initiatives.
Also in 2004, the President issued EO 270 covering the national policy agenda on revitalizing mining in the country.
Latest available data show government's mining revitalization program generated between 2004 and 2009 almost US$ 2.50 billion in mining investments nationwide.
Over the years, Pres. Arroyo issued orders that enabled the government to identify and implement environment-friendly initiatives which contributed to realizing targets under her development agenda.
These measures include promoting industries' shift to green production processes. However, the government is prioritizing implementation of measures that will help the country adapt to climate change repercussions.
"Our response to this grave challenge may sound humorous but our intent is deadly serious: we must work together to solve this problem," President Arroyo said in February 2008.
Last year, she led in Copenhagen, Denmark the Philippines' call for developed nations to reduce respective GHG emissions and to support developing nations' efforts on climate change adaptation.
She also signed in October 2009 Republic Act 9729 which mainstreams climate change into government policy formulation.
This move made the Philippines one of the first countries to have such kind of legislation.
Before RA 9729's enactment, however, Mrs. Arroyo created the presidential task force on climate change which she tasked with addressing such global scourge.
On Feb. 26, 2009, she issued EO 785 mandating this task force to develop the national climate change framework.
EO 785 also directed the presidential adviser on climate change to review government's programs and official development assistance projects on the matter. (PNA) vcs/CJT/utb