AN ENVIRONMENTAL group is urging the incoming local and national administration for the continuous protection of the environment.
With the administration of president-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. set to start on June 30, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) Environmental Research Specialist Lemuel Manalo said they are hoping that the incoming administration would consider environmental protection in their decision-making.
"We call for the decision-makers, especially in the national government... to really put environment as their utmost priority in their decision making," Manalo said.
He also reiterated their call to the legislators to make laws that would address environmental problems like flooding. This was one of their calls in their Green Vote survey.
"We really tell the people to vote for the environment, to really prioritize environmental-protectors to be seated in the government, and as policymakers," Manalo said.
He also urged lawmakers to listen to the plight of the people, who will be affected if the environment looms.
The environmental advocate also urged the incoming administration of Davao City mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte to address the waste-generation problem of the city and to fully implement the Single-Use Plastic Ban ordinance signed by the latter's sister, outgoing Mayor and vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio.
He added that the Comprehensive Land Use Program would be followed by limiting the application of the residential application and enhancing or upgrading the disaster risk reduction and management.
Manalo said Idis is also calling for President Rodrigo Duterte to take a stand in the Tampakan Open-Pit Mining in South Cotabato, which they believe would also affect Davao Gulf.