The environment department will file cases against local government officials who will be leaving their posts this year but have been remiss in implementing environmental laws during their incumbency.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda has also noted that stepping down from office will not save local government execs from environmental accountability.
“Stepping down from office would not free them from environmental accountability.”
“They’re not off the hook,” Antiporda said.
He urged local officials to implement environmental laws or face cases for failing to do so.
Among the incumbent local officials now facing possible legal action are those in Palawan province’s El Nido municipality, one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
Antiporda said this month, DENR had issued cease and desist orders on 10 hotels and restaurants for violating RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004) by polluting Bacuit Bay in El Nido.
The DENR expects local officials there to act on the matter so they can save Bacuit Bay from further pollution, Antiporda said.
Government is rehabilitating El Nido and other tourist areas in the country to address environmental degradation.
Antiporda hopes local officials in such areas will cooperate in the rehabilitation work so this undertaking can conclude by 2022 when the present administration’s term ends.
“We only have three years left to do the best for cleaning up the tourist areas,” he stressed.
“We only have three years left.”