Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. declared that the environment protection and preservation is part of his priority program, citing the need for policy reforms and programs to create a peaceful balance between the environment and economic development.
Nature has rights that must be protected. It should be allowed to flourish, reproduce and attain its abundance side by side with human civilization in perfect balance and harmony with our growing communities, he said during a recent sidelines interview while on a provincial sortie.
This is necessary if we are to protect the most vulnerable members our society from the ravages of natural calamities.
His programs include the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. He draws inspiration from FEMA as a model of disaster resilience that incorporates many agencies.
It should be integrated into agencies like DOST [Department of Science and Technology]LGUs are available for forecasting the weather [local government units]DSWD is a way to ensure preparedness [Department of Social Welfare and Development]Neda for a response [National Economic and Development Authority]Marcos explained that rehabilitation can be done by others.
His administration will also prioritize reforestation and pushing stricter anti-illegal logging laws. He will also push to establish industrial forest plantations in order to meet the market demand for wood.
Marcos is a keen advocate for mining and seeks to establish a partnership with all stakeholders in order to prevent abuse. He also wants to make the sector part of the recovery efforts from the Covid-19 pandemic.
He will also push for the establishment of a Department of Water and Resources Management in order to ensure that every Filipino has access to clean, potable water.
Marcos stated that he will also be focusing on solid waste management, including programs to convert waste into energy, which will be an income-generating initiative for his administration.
On the other side, the presidential frontrunner stated that he envisions an ecology based Disaster Risk Reduction program, which will be addressed from the perspective of environmental degradation, especially in coastal and marine areas, and drylands.
The country is blessed by abundant natural resources, such as minerals, forests, agricultural lands, water, and fisheries, the former senator noted. He said that the nation should use these resources to speed up economic recovery.
He added that the Philippines is recognized as one the top nickel producers in the world. This is a huge advantage for exports.
Credits for the image: Roy Domingo
