Next admin to face challenges on effects of climate change, calamities — DENR exec

A Department of Environment and Natural Resources official on Friday said the next administration will face challenges on the effects of climate change and calamities, proposing to continue programs of the current administration and strictly implement environmental laws.

DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones called to continue the Task Force Build Back Better, a task force that will streamline and expedite post-disaster efforts.

“Marami tayong ginagawa sa DENR ngayon, ang challenge natin yung epekto ng climate change, marami tayong mga nae-expect na bagyo mga calamity, landslides,” he said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(We were doing a lot in the DENR, the challenge for the current administration is the effects of climate change and we expected many typhoons, calamities, and landslides will occur.)

“Kaya sa panahon ngayon ng ating Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte mayroon tayong Task Force Build Back Better so tayo yung pagkatapos ng mga sakuna calamity yung mga ahensya, full government approach nagtutulong tulong para marestore yung mga lugar na nasalanta ng bagyo so ito yung dapat natin maipropose sa susunod na administrasyon na dapat ituloy,” he furthered.

(President Duterte created Task Force Build Back Better so that after calamities, the government agencies will have full approach and help together to restore affected areas of the typhoon. This should be continued by the next administration.)

Last November 2020, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 120 creating the Task Force Build Back Better to ensure post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery efforts of typhoon-hit areas.

He also urged the next administration to strictly implement environmental laws to alleviate the problems in proper waste disposal in some local government units.

“Aming ahensya kasi mandated to protect the environment and conserve the natural resources so Ito dapat yung pagtuunan namin ng pansin maisabi natin na iimplement strictly yung mga batas kagaya ng Clean Water Act at Solid Waste Management Act,” he said.

(Our agency is mandated to protect the environment and conserve natural resources, so it should strictly enforce laws including the Clean Water Act and Solid Waste Management Act.)

“So ito yung ang problema ng ating mga lalo na yung mga local na pamahalaan lalo na yung basura so ito dapat yung matutukan at bigyan ng pansin,” he added.

(The problem of our local government units is  the proper waste disposal, it should be resolved and monitored.)

Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), proclaimed Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the winner of the presidential race in Eleksyon 2022.

The NBOC also proclaimed Marcos’ running mate and the President’s daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as the new vice president. — RSJ GMA News