By Nimfa Estrellado PMFEPC meets quarterly on February 20, 2024 at Max Restaurant in Isabang Tayabas City to address pressing issues affecti...
 |
| PMFEPC meets quarterly on February 20, 2024 at Max Restaurant in Isabang Tayabas City to address pressing issues affecting the province's natural resources. (Photo from Jay Lim) |
TAYABAS CITY, Quezon - The Provincial Multi-Sectoral Forest and Environmental Protection Council (PMFEPC) convened yesterday, February 20, 2024, in an urgent meeting highlighting the dire state of the province's natural resources.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led the meeting and emphasized the need for immediate collaborative action against threats to protected areas. Representatives from various government agencies, including DENR, PNP, PCG, AFP, DPWH, DTI, NBI, BFAR, SLSU , Camp Nakar Press Corps, and Tanim Kalikasan, a civil society organization, were also present to discuss strategies for addressing the escalating environmental threats facing the province.
Council chairman PENRO Cyril Coliflores opened the urgent meeting and stressed the importance of immediate action. Reports from representatives revealed a shocking level of environmental destruction, including rampant poaching, unchecked development, and destructive fishing practices. Despite mounting evidence, the meeting concluded with only vague plans for future action.
The Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape is under threat from widespread poaching, according to Dr. Francisco Beltran of SLSU, who warns that severe funding cuts have severely compromised their effectiveness. An urgent investigation by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) is warranted given that this crisis coincides with a concerning surge in wild boars, a prime target for poachers.
The SLSU Forest Protection Project, previously supported by one million pesos in annual provincial funding, is now suspended. This has led to a surge in poaching activity, despite a slight decrease in trap seizures this quarter. Dr. Beltran highlights the vulnerability this creates, with fewer rangers, reduced patrols, and heightened risk.
Science Research Specialist Allan Peña of the ERDB echoes this alarm, expressing interest in investigating the reported wild boar increase. Prompted by Tanim Kalikasan and the Camp Nakar Press Corps, this has led to a resolution for further study.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) discussed infrastructure projects, including those with Environmental Compliance Certificates and those pending. CENRO Ramil Gutierez of Tayabas stressed the critical need to resolve land disputes prior to issuing tree-cutting permits, highlighting how these conflicts endanger conservation efforts.
In positive developments, the DPWH will divert the TR4 road away from the Tayabas City cave complex. In Mayao Lucena, PENRO Coliflores emphasized the non-negotiable need for strict mangrove protection, including mandatory earth-balling for any impacted areas.
Tanim Kalikasan Report Exposes Shocking Environmental Crimes
Tanim Kalikasan's investigation reveals blatant disregard for environmental laws, including unauthorized mountaineering trails near Dolores, rampant illegal quarrying in Atimonan, and destructive fishing practices such as giant clam harvesting, illegal logging, and cyanide use in the Polillo Group of Islands. These crimes demand immediate enforcement and swift legal consequences for those responsible.
The scale of the violations is staggering. In Atimonan, quarrying operators blatantly trespass beyond their permitted area, destroying the river opposite Balogohin. In the Polillo Group of Islands, illegal logging and the harvesting of endangered giant clams threaten the fragile ecosystem. The use of cyanide and explosives on fish poisons the waters and devastates marine life.
According to PMFEPC, these are not just environmental concerns; they are crimes against the future of Quezon Province. The meeting concluded with a review of planned activities for the upcoming months. However, the urgency of the situation demands more than plans. The members agreed to prioritize monitoring and enforcement efforts in high-risk areas to prevent further environmental degradation.
No comments