DENR optimistic about effective natural wealth management with 'Sukat ng Kalikasan' launch
By Trixee Rosel
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has expressed optimism about the effective implementation of the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act with the launch of the “Sukat ng Kalikasan” (SnK) framework and toolkit.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said the PENCAS law aims to gauge the contributions of ecosystems to economic development, enhance the scientific approach to natural resource management, and bolster climate and disaster resilience efforts.
Emphasizing the importance of SnK in strengthening PENCAS implementation, Loyzaga highlighted its potential for effective natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, private sector engagement, and community resilience.
Under Republic Act No. 11995, or the PENCAS Act, DENR collaborates with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Interagency Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Statistics (IACENRS), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Loyzaga stressed SnK's role in bridging economic planning and environmental conservation efforts, customizing solutions for the Philippine context, and advancing sustainable natural resource management alongside development goals.
SnK offers versatile applications in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, providing assessment tools and mechanisms for evidence-based management plans, decision-making tools, and monetary valuation of natural assets.
A joint initiative of DENR and the United States Agency for International Development's Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) Project, SnK involves various national government agencies, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Statistics Authority, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and National Commission for Culture and the Arts.