BUTUAN CITY – Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza Sunday asked the national government, particularly the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to strictly impose forest laws, rules and regulations to address environmental abuse to avert more catastrophic disasters that already claimed several lives and damaged billions of pesos worth of properties.

The solon blamed the neglect for the death of innocent civilians and destruction of billions of pesos of crops and properties caused by natural and man-made disasters.

“Now is the time to act together, especially the national government, particularly the DENR to honestly impose their mandate. This is their (DENR) obligation and they are answerable to our innocent people who lost their lives,” stressed Plaza. “Even though the DENR is already doing its best in enforcing environment preservation and forest protection, it must redouble its effort in putting an end to the cutting of trees and instead continue the reforestation and tree planting activities at various forest lands, watershed and denuded areas,” he added.

Agusan del Sur is known as the remaining “timber province” of the south.

Caraga Region has large forest lands, and most of these are located in Agusan del Sur and nearby areas.

“We cannot anymore want to happen to us on what Tropical Storm ‘Ondoy’ did, the DENR and other agencies of the government, especially DENR, local government units and non-government organizations must do their part,” said Plaza.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero also asked the national government to “give more teeth” in the drive against violators of the forestry laws.

“While we cannot stop nature, we can mitigate the effects through the simple act of fully implementing our environmental laws, particularly the Solid Waste Management Act, the Waste Water Act, and the Clean Water Act,” Escudero said.

He said the country has enough laws to address environmental preservation and management.

The problem is in the implementation of these laws, he said.

“The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should make an inventory of the number of local government units who are compliant with these laws,” Escudero said.