Environment protection alliance organized to protect Davao Gulf

[ Manila Bulletin ] March 28, 2008
By SARAH JANE R. HILOMEN

DAVAO CITY — The Davao Gulf Management Council (DGMC) gathers major stakeholders to strengthen its law enforcement strategies to give stricter implementation of environmental laws and apprehension of violators along the Davao Gulf.

In a press conference yesterday, Councilor Leo Avila III, chairman of the committee on environment, announced the creation of the Davao Gulf Environment Protection Alliance (DGEPA), "a service provider aimed to effectively provide solutions to problems encountered in the Davao Gulf as well as mechanisms for the immediate resolution of fishery and coastal environmental issues in the Gulf."

The Executive Committee members such as the regional offices of the Philippine National Police, with its regional director as chairman, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Justice, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have vowed to actively participate and do their role in implementing environmental laws.

Avila is positive that with law enforcement training among major stakeholders, environmental laws will be effectively implemented. "We must prepare our law enforcement teams to enhance their capability in implementing our environmental laws," he said.

He revealed the various law enforcement trainings to better equip the said teams in implementation. He cited trainings on Police Environment Desk Officers (PEDO) which will be held on April 23-25 and the Bantay Dagat and community-based volunteer groups.

Atty. Antonio Arellano, regional state prosecutor of DoJ 11, expressed concern on the awareness of environmental laws. "There must be training on what the law is all about including what to do when offenses are committed and pieces of evidence are presented for effective prosecution," he said. He also added that the DoJ is reinforcing more comprehensive case tracking considering that only four cases were served for illegal fishing last year.

The PNP 11 also cited 14,779 cases that were filed for violating the environmental act. Police Supt. Lino Calingasan of the PNP 11 is hopeful that violations on illegal and destructive fishing will be lessened. "We have established PEDOs in the region and we are conducting orientation to our designated personnel for them to be accustomed with environmental laws," he said.
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