NANAWAGAN kahapon ang Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), isang ‘sustainable think-tank’ kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na bigyang pansin ang hindi pagkakapare-pareho sa kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA)  ukol sa  ‘environment’ at ang reyalidad upang maproteksyunan ang kalikasan sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon.

Ito ay makaraang ideklara umano ng Pangulong Duterte na ang  responsableng paggamit sa mga likas na yaman ay isa sa kanyang  ‘non-negotiables’.

“Unless we are working on different definitions of the concepts of ‘responsible’ and ‘protection’ concerning the environment, there is a very big gap between what is happening on the ground,
what his cabinet members are doing, and what President Duterte said in his SONA,” pahayag ni Avril De Torres, Research, Policy, at Law Program Head ng CEED.

Ayon kay De Torres, hindi nabanggit ng Pangulo ang muling direktiba niya kay Department of Energy Secretary (DOE) Sec. Alfonso Cusi na pabilisin ang pagpapalawak ng ‘renewable energy’ sa
bansa, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi tinutugunan ng departamento at sa halip ay mas pinili ang   “technology neutral  approach.”

“The President seemed content with his motherhood statement, but environmentalists and renewable energy advocates would not be satisfied. They were looking for reassurance that Duterte
is still on the side of the environment through a reaffirmation of his directive to Cusi in the previous SONA, as well as a declaration of support for coal divestment. There was no concrete discussion on that matter,” ani De Torres.

Aniya, tila tahimik umano ang administrasyon sa pagsusulong sa ‘extractives industry’ sa gitna ng   nararanasang ‘climate crisis.’

“We are in a health crisis that, as recent scientific researches show, emerged largely due to environmentally abusive practices. It makes no sense that the government is mum on key ecological
issues, especially when these press on our people on a daily basis and, if left unaddressed, spell an even dimmer future for Filipinos,” dagdag pa ng Law Program Head ng CEED. (TJ DELOS REYES)