Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday to purchase choppers so it could improve its monitoring of illegal activities such as open-pit and black sand mining.
During a committee hearing, the DENR revealed it relies on drones, and the so-called LAWIN Protection system in monitoring illegal activities. LAWIN system uses a mobile app designed to record forest condition, and report environmental abuses.
DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr. said the agency rarely uses its only chopper due to high maintenance and fuel cost, but noted it has an agreement with the Department of National Defense (DND) to “just pay for the flying hours whenever we need a helicopter.”
After the agency revealed it has no item for the purchase of flying assets in its proposed P24.171 billion budget for next year, Ejercito recommended to the agency to include it in its budget proposal, and underscored the importance of having one.
The senator told the DENR that having its own helicopters would help it easily monitor the situation on the ground, and immediately reach areas mountainous areas.
He then cited open pit mining, and black sand mining as examples of environmental abuses that are difficult to monitor. It can be noted the government has imposed a ban on open pit mining in the country, threatening to shut down companies found using the said mineral extraction method.
Ejercito urged to the DENR to consider the purchase of a Robinsons R44 Helicoper, noting it is one of the cheapest choppers with low operating cost..
In response, DENR officials present during the hearing vowed to study the senator’s recommendation.
source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1047794
