Senate bill seeking to protect forest lands refiled

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda has filed Senate Bill 8, calling for the adoption of a priority adaptation strategy to green, rehabilitate and protect forest lands from the provincial to the barangay level to prevent an ecosystem decline, which could aggravate the impact of climate change.

“Large areas of forestlands all over the country have already been converted to mining and marginal upland agriculture. Reforestation must be a continuous effort as a way to prevent disasters and respond to climate change,” she said.

Legarda explained that the Philippines, as an archipelago, is vulnerable to the potential and dangerous consequences of climate change; thus increasing the frequency of droughts, floods and storms.

“Local greening programs should aim to build, develop, and maintain forest parks in provincial, city, municipal and barangay parks; along road sides; in elementary school grounds; and other public open spaces where appropriate,” Legarda said.

She also proposed that the Climate Change Commission be the sole government agency to monitor and synchronize government programs on forestland rehabilitation to ensure harmonization with national policies and actions, and to facilitate the provision of resources.

“The DENR shall be tasked to provide assistance to the LGUs in the identification and allocation of sites for local greening, especially in critical watersheds, natural forests and mangrove areas.”

Legarda also saw the need to launch information drives to promote local greening. The senator also batted for the use of efficient reforestation technologies to protect our remaining natural forests and national parks.