Philippines: Executive Order 774 ridiculous and confused

Manila, PHILIPPINES Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Amalie Obusan said:

”Although the intent of the Executive Order 774 to step up environmental protection may seem sincere and creditable, the Executive Order is itself ridiculous and confused. Greenpeace believes that this casts serious doubt on the effectiveness of such a body and calls on the President to instead implement real and tangible climate change solutions.

”The reorganized Task Force, now headed by the President, basically mandates all government agencies and local governments to comply with laws and responsibilities that the said agencies should already be doing in the first place:

* it tasks all government agencies to follow the Solid Waste Act, which by law should actually be already be implemented;
* it tasks the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to survey, map and protect watershed areas, which is already one of the responsibilities of the DENR;
* it mandates that waterways and riverbanks should be cleared of obstructions