Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to suspend or scrap its memorandum issued in October that she said has paved the way for mangroves to be earth-balled and relocated for flagship infrastructure projects.
De Lima said that if the survival rate of mangroves is very low or zero after being moved to another location, the process would be no different from cutting them down, which is prohibited by law.
She pointed out that mangroves provide protection from storm surges, floods, landslides, and other destructive effects of climate change.
They also serve as home to various marine species that provide livelihood to fisherfolk, she said.
“We expect DENR to protect our mangroves, not enable their destruction,” she said.
De Lima raised the issue at the recent hearing for the DENR budget, asking why the memorandum was issued before consultations, a scientific study, or the creation of a technical working group to study its effect.
She noted that the TWG was only recently created regarding the earth-balling of mangroves.
“What exactly is the survival rate? All of these things should have been confirmed first or verified first before allowing the issuance of this memorandum,” she said.
She said that while the memorandum described the guidelines as “interim,” she asked if this was really the case.
“Or is it a de facto permanent policy?” she asked.
DENR Sec. Juan Miguel Cuna said the memorandum was issued following numerous requests in relation to government projects.
Cuna said the DENR deemed it appropriate to issue the interim guidelines at that time under the sustainable development framework being followed.
He said the guidelines and methods were handed down following consultations with the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau, the Biodiversity Management Bureau and the Forest Management Bureau.
He also said a study on the survival rate of the mangroves transferred is being conducted and it is targeted to be completed by December.
“We’re encouraged by the initial results that have been sent to us already. But for us to be able to really extensively complete the study, we’re targeting December of this year,” he said.
De Lima cast doubt on the encouraging nature of the results and said the DENR should be more forthcoming about the findings.
She also suggested that the DENR suspend the memorandum in the meantime or scrap it altogether.
“Momentarily, I wish to suggest to suspend first the implementation, if not altogether do away [with the memorandum],” she said.