MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has opened a ‘Community Pan-tree’ that gives out free fruit and vegetable seedlings to those in need.

The DENR said it was inspired by the community pantries that are currently trending throughout the county.

This is why, in celebration of Earth Day 2021, the department will be giving away seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and vegetables.

It also encourages individuals and groups who share the passion for urban greening to also donate plants in support of the project.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Project can be postponed. However, workers in the said project might lose their jobs.

The recent dumping of dolomite in Manila Bay drew ire from netizens saying the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic should be the government’s priority.

DENR Spokesperson Jonas Leones said the budget can be allotted to the COVID-19 response through supervening events; however, Leones stressed that all the budget cannot be allotted to the pandemic response alone.

“Pwede naman iyon kung talagang ganoon ang situation kaya lang hindi naman pupwedeng, sa akin personally, hindi naman pupwedeng lahat ng budget ay ilagay din natin doon (It can be done if that is the situation, but personally, we cannot put all the budget in the [COVID-19] response),” he said.

Leones reiterated the rehabilitation project has already been planned and there will be workers that will be affected if the project is suspended.

“Kung ititigil natin lahat ito, wala na tayong accomplishment wala pa ring work ang mga tao rito(If we will suspend this, we won’t have accomplishments and the people here will lose their jobs),” he said.

The Department reiterates that the project should push through despite the criticisms from various groups.

The Manila Bay Rehabilitation Project is around 50%-60% complete, it added. AAC (with reports from Dante Amento)

MANILA, Philippines — Muling naglalagay ng crushed dolomite sa dalampasigan ng Manila Bay ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) bilang bahagi ng isinasagawa nitong nourishment o rehabilitation project sa lugar.

Ayon sa DENR, bahagi ito ng P28 milyon sa P389 milyong kabuuang halaga ng proyekto na layong pagandahin at pangalagaan ang lugar upang maiwasan ang coastal flooding at erosion.

Ayon kay DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones, ang pondong ginamit sa proyektong ito ay bahagi pa rin ng 2019 national budget.

Ang kontrata nito ay naaprubahan bago pa man nagsimula ang coronavirus pandemic at nabinbin lang ang pagpapatupad dahil sa kinakaharap na krisis.

Sinabi ni Leones na target nilang matapos ang Manila Bay nourishment project sa ikatlong bahagi ng 2021.

Sinisilip ng mga kritiko ang timing ng proyekto lalo’t nahaharap pa sa pandemiya ang Pilipinas at marami ang nangangailangan ng ayuda.

Ngunit giit ng DENR, hindi maaaring basta na lamang suspindihin ang isang government project sa ilalim ng contractual obligation.

Ayon naman kay Attorney George Erwin Garcia, ang College of Law Dean ng Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, maaaring i-justify ng gobyerno ang pagpapahinto sa isang proyekto lalo na at nasa ilalim ng krisis sa kalusugan ang bansa.

“Because we are in a national emergency, pandemiya ito, madaling i-justify at pwedeng ma-justify yung pagpapatigil ng isang proyekto at para yan ay maging tinatawag na savings,” ang pahayag ni Garcia.

“Lahat ng kontrata, nakadepende sa mga pangyayari especially kung may tinatawag na supervening events na hindi naman na-predict ng mga partido sa kontrata,” dagdag pa niya.

Tumanggi namang magbigay ng pahayag ang Malakanyang kaugnay ng pagpapatuloy ng proyekto. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Rosalie Coz)