Watershed Reforestation Won’t Solve Flooding Says DENR

DENR Scolded After Saying Watershed Reforestation Won’t Solve Flooding

WATERSHED REFORESTATION – Following the massive flooding due to Typhoon Ulysses, DENR said restoring the watershed won’t solve the flooding issues.

Recently, Senators scolded the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for saying campaigns against illegal logging and quarrying won’t help with flooding. The department’s Bureau of Mines and Geosciences chief said the area was too small to hold heavy rains, rendering restorations useless.

According to an article from ABS-CBN, Wilfredo Moncano, told senators that even if they planted 10-year-old trees and stopped all urban development and quarrying activities, it would still flood areas near Marikina. Following his statements, even senator Cynthia Villar was shocked.

Watershed Reforestation Won't Solve Flooding Says DENR
Image from: ABS-CBN

Na-shock ako sa inyong department kasi parang sinasabi niyo, pabayaan na lang kasi hindi kaya ‘pag parang Typhoon Ulysses…

Don’t make statements like that…because if the DENR is not bent on protecting our watershed, who will?

Furthermore, Villar said that it was the department’s responsibility to protect the environment. Moreover, she emphasized that the DENR should always be pro-environment and not justify its destruction.

Likewise, Senators such as Risa Hontiveros and Imee Marcos also expressed similar disbelief at the statements of the DENR chief. “I could not believe it also. It would seem to be an argument setting up to fail doon sa pagprotekata ng watershed“, Hontiveros said. Meanwhile, Marcos said “Medyo hinimatay tayo na ang DENR, surrender na“.

For the longest time, the Marikina Watershed has been the first line of defense against heavy rainfall, especially those caused by storms. However, issues such as illegal quarrying and deforestation still remained rampant.

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