By Tara Yap

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing for the creation of a new bureau that will strictly enforce environmental laws and regulations.

DENR Undersecretary Jim Sampulna for Field Operations, Enforcement and Muslim Affairs said Secretary Roy Cimatu was pushing for the creation of the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB).

Speaking at the recent planning workshop in Iloilo City for DENR regional directors, Sampulna told Manila Bulletin that Cimatu’s proposal still needs to be legislated.

“There must be a law for the creation of a new DENR bureau,” Sampulna noted.

When asked if this will replicate the jobs of existing DENR bureaus, Sampulna explained that the proposed EPEB can boost monitoring of environmental violations by harnessing the implementation of pertinent laws.

While EPEB is still in the proposal stage, Sampulna is already eyeing a replication of a task force that he started while regional director of DENR in Western Visayas.

Started in 2016, the “Amlig Panay-Guimaras” task force was designed to curb deforestation, illegal logging, and illegal wildlife trading in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces.

“This can greatly benefit the other regions in the country,” Sampulna added.