A non-government policy organization urged the Aquino administration to invest more on the environment, particularly the preservation of the country's protected areas and national parks.

La Liga Policy Institute (La Liga) environment campaigner Jonathan Ronquillo cited that of the total 109 Protected Areas and National Parks, most of them only receive an annual budget ranging from P150,000 to P300,000.

He lamented that such budget has to be taken out of the budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) Office of the Secretary.

He pointed out that the DENR’s budget should at least be above 1 percent of the annual national budget for the agency to effectively implement such programs, and that each of the declared protected areas should have its own budget line item in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

"While the Philippines is proud to have three of these protected areas namely Mt. Apo in Davao, Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon and Mt. Iglit-Baco in Oriental Mindoro the distinction being an ASEAN Heritage Park, their rehabilitation and development are not adequately funded," he said.

“The DENR is not even able to provide a budget to hire enough number of forest rangers to provide adequate protection from illegal activities,” he added.

La Liga has been calling for the immediate release of the “impounded budgets” for the rehabilitation and development of these protected areas “to give the country a fighting change against the worst impacts of climate change.”

“By investing in the environment, the government will be able to generate more real green jobs, which is very crucial in protecting the environment and preventing the further degradation of our forests and marine ecosystems,” Ronquillo said.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje earlier pledged to push for the enactment of 17 protected areas to be certified as priority bills by President Aquino.

Under the Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, protected areas shall be established through presidential proclamations and thereafter, be enacted into law.