Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Monday called on lawmakers to prioritize the passage of proposed measures to strengthen the protection of Philippine wildlife.
In a news statement, Loyzaga said it is high time to address the threats to biodiversity, such as invasive alien species, destruction of natural habitats, unsustainable utilization of resources, illegal wildlife trade and environmental pollution.
Loyzaga believes that amending Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act could do this.
“It is also time to consider in our plans and policies the sustainability and lifetime value of our country’s wildlife resources along with the ecosystem services that they yield not only to the nation but to the overall health of our planet,” Loyzaga added.
RA 9147 provides the necessary environmental policy enabling the government to comprehensively manage and conserve the wildlife resources of the country.
10-point agenda
Loyzaga proposed ten points to amend the wildlife law in penalizing the crime of wildlife trafficking as a separate offense.
These points include considering wildlife crime as a transnational offense, increasing fines and penalties for wildlife violations, expanding the role of other national government agencies and local government units to add more teeth in enforcing the wildlife law and mandating government agencies to control and manage invasive alien species, among others.
Science-based approach
Loyzaga said sophisticated crimes need a sophisticated, robust and science-based counter approach.
“Strengthening RA 9147 is a necessary step to further protect and conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitats,” Loyzaga said.
According to Loyzaga, the support of the lawmakers in the amendment of RA 9147 is indispensable to advance our efforts and initiatives to sustainably manage wildlife resources.
To recall, Senators Cynthia Villar and Jinggoy Estrada filed Senate Bill Nos. 125 and 467, respectively, to give a more robust approach to the existing wildlife laws and ensure that violators will not go unpunished.
Director Natividad Y. Bernardino of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) is optimistic with the filing of the amendatory laws in the 19th Congress.”
“With this legislation, the provisions of RA 9147 will be more stringent on the target perpetrators such as organized syndicates and will provide a wider coverage to encompass even transnational crimes,” Bernardino said.
Bernardino said the move to strengthen RA 9147 comes at a very opportune time during the Covid-19 pandemic since the illegal wildlife trade is identified as one of the pathways of zoonotic disease transmission.