Press Release - Opening remarks during the briefing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its Attached Agencies and Government Corporations

I mentioned earlier that is the 2nd briefing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies.

Let us recap what transpired during the 1st briefing:

* Senators Tolentino, Hontiveros, dela Rosa, Binay, Ejercito and Padilla attended. Likewise, Senate President Migz Zubiri and Senate President Pro-Tempore were also in attendance.

* DENR was represented by its head of contingent, Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, accompanied by the relevant undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and other officials of DENR and its attached agencies to defend the DENR budget and answer questions on its policies, programs and projects.

* DENR presented the highlights of its accomplishments and the features of its proposed 2024 budget appropriations in the amount of P24.572 Billion.

* During the discussion proper, the Senators took turns in asking questions on various topics, which include, among others:

o Mapping and Territorial Concerns, especially regarding the five-year mapping targets for the Philippines' EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and archipelagic waters, discrepancies in data, and concerns regarding unsanctioned foreign mapping activities.

o NAMRIA's Financial and Personnel Matters: These were brought into the spotlight. Topics regarding the NAMRIA Trust Fund, its legal basis, and the Commission on Audit (COA) findings thereon were discussed. Additionally, COA findings on the non-remittance of the Philhealth and GSIS contributions of NAMRIA employees and the replacement of permanent employees with job orders were mentioned.

o Issues concerning the management of protected areas were raised, specifically the concerns arising from the PACBRMA (or Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement) granted to Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) on the legislated protected area, Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape.

o The reclamation activities in Manila Bay and in other regions were discussed. The historical significance of Manila Bay, the suspension of all reclamation projects,the environmental implications of such activities. The procedure for the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificates