CONFLICTING MANDATES OF DENR

By Philip M. Lustre Jr.

THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the most unique among the various state agencies of the country. 

It has conflicting mandates. 

The environment side speaks of environmental protection, while the natural resources side speaks of exploitation of the country's rich natural resources. 

They are diametrically opposed mandates.

The appointment of Gina Lopez, an environmental activist, as the incoming DENR secretary highlights the conflicting mandates of this office. 

It necessitates the immediate separation, either through legislation or an executive order.

It is simply unsustainable for the conflicting mandates to resolve in a single office.

Given Gina Lopez's worldview that she is "absolutely" against mining, and that mining, in whichever form, should be fought at all costs, it sends shivers to the spine of the mining community on how they could pursue whatever mining projects they have in the country .

In Gina's view, the mining issue has no middle ground, a common meeting point, where various parties - the mining community, civil society, indigenous communities, the government, and anti-mining activists - could agree.

There is no such thing as responsible mining in her view. Hence, all mining activity - responsible or not - is simply evil.

As an anti-mining activist, Gina Lopez would be best fitted to head the proposed Department of Environmental Protection, the job of which is to use state power to protect the environment from all acts of conscienceless exploitation.

The proposed Department would not only deals with environmental destruction caused by mining activity, but other exploitative activity as well. Environmental destruction caused by air, noise, water pollution would have to be dealt with.

It would have clearer and more expanded mandate to include the less pronounced aspects of environmental depredation.

As the surviving entity, the Department of Natural Resources will continue with its current mandate minus the environmental issues. It is envisioned that the two proposed departments would separate counter check with each other.