President-Elect
Republic of the Philippines
c/o Room 526, Senate of the Philippines,
GSIS Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard,
Pasay City, Philippines
Dear Mr. President,
SUGGESTED CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF THE NEXT DENR SECRETARY
Congratulations on your election as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
We join the Filipino people in taking pride in your election as the “People’s President” and wish you success in bringing about a new era of transformational leadership and green governance that our nation has long been praying for.
Sincerely yours,
Roy Alvarez
President
EcoWaste Coalition
SUGGESTED CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF THE NEXT ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY:
She or he:
1. Must be of unquestionable integrity, with no links whatsoever to environmentally critical or destructive projects and activities;
2. Must essentially understand how the earth functions and therefore place the environmental protection agenda at the heart of government policy (e.g., not as a secondary consideration to trade and industrial development);
3. Must be an ecologist with unstinting passion for the environment to help transform the DENR into an agency that will be true to its mandate of protecting the environment (e.g., not facilitating
environmental destruction otherwise);
4. Must have the courage and political will to weed out corruption in the DENR, reverse environmental ruin and redouble the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws;
5. Must possess the vision and the political will to transform the DENR into a transparent and accountable agency and who realizes that stakeholders participation to decision-making process is a must for any program to be effective and sustainable;
6. Must be able to apply practical solutions, cost effective means to get over obstacles and can harness various sectors to support decisions for the environment that may not be acceptable to some sectors due to their economic interests;
7. Must have the political will and the gumption to make industry comply and can harness the department and law enforcement agencies to bring down the full force of the law against violators;
8. Must be a visionary, dynamic and creative to transform a festering environmental problem (like garbage for instance) into an opportunity that will help generate jobs and energize our communities
into positive action;
9. Must be committed to moving the nation quickly from its dependence on dirty, climate destroying and polluting technologies to clean alternatives (e.g., fossil fuels to renewable energy, advance clean production, etc.); and
10. Must be committed to safeguarding our people’s health against toxic chemicals and to applying the precautionary principle, enforcing pollution prevention and reduction strategies, upholding environmental justice and other relevant policies and measures that will contribute to building a toxic-free society for the health and safety of all, especially the Filipino children.
ENDORSED BY:
Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Alaga LAHAT
Jessie Dimaisip, Akbayan
Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz, Ang NARS
Edlyn Grace Corpuz, ATSITRA
Joey Papa, Bangon Kalikasan Movement
Atty. Richard Gutierrez, Ban Toxics
Noli Abinales, Buklod Tao
Ochie Tolentino, Cavite Green Coalition
Comm. Elsie Brandes de-Veyra, Citizens Organization Concerned with
Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability
Esther Pacheco, Citizens Organization Concerned with
Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability
Neneng Jocson, Confederation ng Kalikasan, Nueva Ecija
Grace Chua, Consumer Rights for Safe Food
Fr. Glen Melo, Diocese of Tandag, Surigao del Sur
Antonio Claparols, Ecological Society of the Philippines
Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition
Angie Esquejo, Empowerment, NE
Dr. Ma. Encarnita B. Limpin, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Alliance Philippines
Manny Calonzo, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
Dr. Nina Galang, Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment
and Sustainable Economy
Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Albert Gavino, Green Stage Filipinas – MASKARA
Cathy Untalan, Miss Earth Foundation
Bing Gonzalez, Health Advocate of Nueva Ecija
Merci Ferrer, Health Care Without Harm
Florita Dumaga, HUGALNA, Bohol
Lia Esquillo, Interface Development Interventions, Inc.
Anne Ferazzini, Interface Development Interventions, Inc.
Eileen Sison, Institute for the Development of Educational and
Ecological Alternatives
Roland Cabigas, La Liga Policy Institute
Sr. Maria Aida Velasquez, Lingkod Tao Kalikasan
Betty Cabazares, Kinaiyahan Foundation, Inc.
Fe Juane, Krusada sa Kalikasan
Allan Tura, Makabata para sa Bayan, Inc.
Rosa Palma-Piciller, Malayang Tinig ng Kababaihan sa Komunidad
Sonia Mendoza, Mother Earth Foundation
Noemi Tirona, Network Opposed to Genetically Modified Organisms
Romeo Hidalgo, November 17 Movement
Charie Balaong, Nueva Ecija Women Leaders Advocacy Coalition
Felina Delfin, Outreach Phils, Inc
Ruperto B. Aleroza, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan
Reynante V. Ramilo, Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern
Isagani Serrano, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
Ricky Nunez, PUSOD
Marie Marciano, Sanib Lakas ng mga Aktibong Lingkod sa Inang Kalikasan
Ben Galindo, Sagip Pasig Movement
Bro. Martin Francisco, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Inc.
Fr. Pete Montallana, OFM, Save Sierra Madre Network
Tom Villarin, SIAD Initiatives in Mindanao Consortium for Asset Reform
and Regional Development
Bang Palacio, Sining Yapak
Dr. Helen Mendoza, Soljuspax
Ma. Ronely D. Bisquera-Sheen, Tanggol Kalikasan
Ofelia Panganiban, Zero Waste Philippines
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr, Diocese of Caloocan
Atty. Amang Mejia, Counsel, EcoWaste Coalition
Fidel Nemenzo, Science and Society Program, College of Science, UP Diliman
Dr. Romy Quijano, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UP Manila
Fr. Jett Villarin, President, Xavier University
Nonoy Cacayan
George Dadivas
Bro. Karl Gaspar, CSsR
Atty. Tanya Lat
Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos
Elsie Retanan
Victoria M. Segovia