New DENR chief unfazed by Pimentel’s threat

Newly-appointed Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez is unfazed by the threat of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to block his confirmation at the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Pimentel had publicly announced he would block Alvarez’s confirmation purportedly because Alvarez had supported a selective logging ban in opposition to Pimentel’s position on a total logging ban.

Alvarez did not attempt to explain Pimentel’s apparent animosity against him except to say that their differences were based on "principles" and went back 14 years.

"My position has remained and I fully agree that what we need in the country is selective logging known today as sustainable forest management development," Alvarez said.

He said he would clarify his views on the government’s logging policy at the CA when his appointment comes up for confirmation.

Alvarez also said Pimentel may be against him because he has been mistakenly thought to be a relative of suspected illegal logger Pepito Alvarez.

"(But) Pepito is now engaged in hiring out an airplane," Alvarez explained, noting that they were not related.

In an apparent move to appease Pimentel, Alvarez vowed to implement a major revamp at the DENR to weed out corruption and launch a campaign against anti-environment activities, including illegal logging.

"More heads will roll in the DENR especially those who are involved in various anomalies in the past administrations," Alvarez said in an interview with a radio station.

"I will ask them to resign to avoid being charged, but the others whose involvement in anomalies are so deep will be automatically dismissed from the service," Alvarez vowed.

He said he would intensify the DENR reforestation campaign and tap non-government organizations in the drive.

"I will work for the rehabilitation of the five million (hectares of) denuded forest in our country and we could effectively do this through the cooperation of the community," he said.

He also said he would ask for an increase in the DENR’s P4-billion budget allocation and hoped that he would be allowed to hire two more undersecretaries in addition to the present two.

On his first day at the DENR, Alvarez had already drafted an executive order creating a comprehensive protection and development plan for Lake Lanao in Mindanao.

He also presided over a meeting of the Lake Lanao Watershed Protection and Development Council (LLWPDC) at the Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau office in Quezon City where he met with DENR officials.

"Lake Lanao is the life of the people of Lanao del Sur, supplying livelihood and power to the people," he said.

"At present, there are logging operations allegedly done on watershed areas within the lake’s peripherals. We are now trying to work out a win-win solution for all parties which will be beneficial to the lake, the people and the government," he added.