Back to Main
To Overseas Start Page
The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas
November, 2001 Vol.5 No.11
   


DENR has the ball in DAO 17

By WIGBERTO E. TANADA
President, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, 56 Mother Ignacia Ave. cor. Dr. Lazcano St., Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City 1103

 

 

 

    



The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), the Pinalakas ng Ugnayan ng Maliliitna Mangingisda ng Luzon, Mindanao at Visayas (Pumalu-MV) and the NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR) have been engaged in the campaign for the implementation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Administrative Order No. 2001-17. We were greatly disappointed when the opinion of the justice secretary was sought on the legality of DAO 17.

We have just received a copy of Justice Secretary Hernando B. Perez's opinion dated October 23, 2001 and we are happy to note that he did not find DAO 17 illegal. The fact that Perez cites no contravention of law or any legal infirmities in his opinion is for us tantamount to saying that DAO 17 is valid, legal and now enforceable.

We therefore reiterate our call for the immediate implementation of DAO 17. Rest assured that the PRRM and its partners will extend its support to the DENR to ensure that this process takes off right away.

The ball is in the DENR's court once again. We expect nothing less than the unwavering commitment of the DENR to the implementation of DAO 17 and the protection and conservation of our coastal and marine resources.

***

            To Over Seas Start Page

This website was made possible through support provided by the USAID under the terms of Contract No. AID 492-0444-C-00-6028-00. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. As long as proper reference is made to the source, articles may be quoted or reproduced in any form for non-commercial, non-profit purposes to advance the cause of marine environmental management and conservation.