The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is asking lawmakers to pass a law authorizing forest protection officers, or forest rangers, to bear firearms to protect themselves against “armed and dangerous” environmental criminals.
This, even as the DENR mourns the killing of four DENR forest rangers and informants whom Cimatu said, “bravely put their lives on the line to protect our forests.”
He said despite the killings, the DENR remains steadfast in its campaign against illegal logging and other environmental crimes in the forests.
“It is during these times that we want you to join us in our call to protect our hardworking DENR workers. Help us inform every Filipino that the DENR will not be cowed,” he said in his message read by DENR Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda during a year-end performance assessment at the conference hall on Monday.
In Palawan, the DENR in Mimaropa region had completed the necessary training in preparation for the arming of forest protection officers and forest rangers patrolling the region’s thick forests.
Arming forest protection officers and forest rangers, hopefully, will deter illegal logging activities in various parts of the country. Illegal logging syndicates are usually armed with long firearms and would often target forest protection officers, or forest rangers who stand in their way.
According to Cimatu, the DENR will continue to pursue the creation of an enforcement bureau that will protect the DENR’s forest protection officers and forest rangers who should be hailed as “environmental heroes” for their sacrifices to protect the environment.
In his year-end assessment of the agency’s performance, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the year 2019 was a good year for the DENR as he highlighted the effort to rehabilitate Manila Bay, which started on January 26 this year with the launching of “Battle for Manila Bay.”
The historic event, which kicked off with a unity walk in support of the rehabilitation of the historic bay in Manila, triggered the start of a non-stop cleaning effort by the DENR and various government agencies around the Manila Bay Area.
“Our efforts include not only the removal of solid wastes from rivers and esteros through our hardworking volunteers, estero rangers and partner government and private agencies, but also the resettlement of illegal settler families along the rivers and creeks and the closure of erring establishments around the Manila Bay Area,” he said.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes