ENVIRONMENT advocacy group Baguio Regreening Movement (BRM) has pledged to be more vigilant in helping to protect the city’s environment by directly coordinating and informing respective government agencies on any concerns.
BRM Chairman Erdolfo Balajadia said the group will be tightly monitoring the protection of the forests, illegal cutting of trees, intrusions to road right of ways, construction of structures on safeguarded lands, illegal throwing of garbage, excavation in hazardous areas, solid waste management and others which are not in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
“No wrong may be done if this wrongdoing may be reported to the agencies concerned and even the BRM for action. And if those running such agencies are concerned, actions must be done immediately after receiving a report from the citizenry,” Balajadia said.
BRM suggested to various government agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), City Buildings and Architects Office (CBAO), and others the designation of a hotline for the public.
“If you see something that is not right, you will be helping government a lot by reporting any irregularities concerning our environment. We all have to be vigilant because what we are protecting is not only for us but for the future generations to come,” Balajadia said.
In 2018, some of the major issues reported and monitored by BRM included intrusions into the watershed areas of the city, the implementation of the anti-smoking, anti-plastic and styrofoam ordinance, solid waste management, illegal settlers on safeguarded lands, total ban on backyard piggeries, illegal mining activities within the jurisdiction of the city, water supply, among others.
“We have to develop a habit. We have to be concerned with our country because many of us in our communities sees irregularities pertaining to our environment, and what we can do is to report it to 8888, the Baguio Regreening Movement, heads of concerned agencies, and even the city council,” Balajadia added.
The BRM chairman warned heads of government agencies that if they fail to act on a concern, their department secretaries would be informed.