[In the news] Solons, groups come together to save PH forests – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Solons, groups come together to save PH forests – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos.

By Niña Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TMANILA, Philippines—Three lawmakers and environment advocates have launched the “Sagip Gubat” network to push for the passage of a proposed bill on the protection and restoration of the country’s dwindling forests.

“We have been pushing for this for so many years. But this is the first time that we are bringing together other [nongovernment organizations] to lobby for the urgent passage of the forest resources bill (FRB),” Blas Tabaranza Jr., chief operating officer of the environmental group Haribon, said at the launch of “Sagip Gubat” on Wednesday.

Tabaranza called on President Benigno Aquino III to certify the FRB as urgent, saying the latter himself had “admitted that an executive order would not be enough to protect the Philippines from disasters and climate change.”

On Feb. 11, the President signed EO 23 imposing a moratorium on logging in all natural and residual forests.

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