Atienza assumes DENR post, bashes critics

Newly appointed Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza formally assumed Wednesday his post with a challenge to his critics: “Prove I’m a tree killer." Atienza took over the post vacated by Angelo T. Reyes who has been named energy chief. The new Department of Environment and Natural Resources head vowed to do his best to protect and efficiently managed the environment. He said critics would not pull him down. In a press briefing shortly after the turnover ceremony, Atienza said: "[I don’t kill trees. I am a] protector, tree planter and environment protector. [Somebody had spread stories that I killed trees at] Arroceros Park but that was not true." Atienza was referring to environmentalists who accused him of being a "tree killer" when the Arroceros Forest Park was re-developed a few years ago to give way for the construction of city schools division and a teachers’ dormitory on the 2.2-hectare park. Atienza, the 16th DENR secretary and the seventh in the last seven years, said most of the trees at the park were uprooted and transferred to Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila. He also recalled that when the construction started, “we made sure that the design would conform with the conditions prevailing. No century-old tree was touched by the construction." To underscore that the project environmentally compliant, Atienza said: “We were supervised by the Bureau of Lands. We also asked the DENR to look into the matter. We were also given supervision by the DENR to make sure that the construction would not destroy the ecological condition in the Arroceros property." Atienza, at the same time, asked his critics to finally put the issue to rest. "To call me a tree killer is not right. I invite you to put this issue once for all to rest. One of these days, we should go there and see if I had killed the trees there," he said. The lot occupied by the Arroceros Forest Park used to be owned by the Land Bank of the Philippines. It was bought by the city of Manila government for P65 million, using the city’s education fund. In 1993, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim signed a memorandum of agreement with Winner Foundation giving the civic organization the right to develop the area as a forest park. About a decade later, Atienza, who succeeded as mayor, announced his plan to build the office of the city schools division and a teachers’ dormitory in the 2.2-hectare park. Winner protested, saying the construction would endanger about 3,500 trees in the area, some of which were centuries old. Atienza argued that teachers should benefit from the lot because it was bought using the city’s education fund. He added that Winner technically had no rights over the park because the 1993 MOA was not approved by the city council. In 2003, Winner asked the Manila Regional Trial Court to stop City Hall from taking over the park. Days later, Atienza announced the closure of the park to give way to the dormitory construction. The Manila court later rejected Winner’s petition, stressing the need to determine the validity of the MOA first. Winner again filed a preliminary injunction case in 2005. The case is awaiting resolution. The May 2007 elections saw Lim’s return as mayor of the country’s capital. On his first day on the job, Lim reopened the Arroceros Forest Park and said no more structures would be built in the park. Lim also vowed to renew the 1993 MOA for another 25 years. Winner president Regina Paterno welcomed Lim’s decision but said 70 percent of the trees had been felled to give way to construction. Another issue that was pointed to Atienza was his alleged failure to solve the garbage crisis in Manila, which he denied. "There have been many crises in Metro Manila but Manila has never suffered a crisis because we've done our homework. We've handled our garbage collection and disposal," he said. "We've solved the problem as we're delivering our garbage to a duly accredited landfill station. I'm proud when I look back at my record because I have solved the problem of garbage in Manila," he added. He also assured the private sector, environmentalists, stakeholders in the environment sector and his critics that he will solicit their support for him to succeed as chief caretaker of the DENR. "I have always taken an open mind and respected the people's sentiments. In my nine year's as Manila mayor, I know I have not pleased anyone because of my political will and I understand. But I will be ready to extend my hand especially to my critics in order for me and the department to succeed," he said. "The protection of the environment and our natural resources is not just a problem of the DENR... We need the support of everybody so that all the reforms and programs we will lay out will succeed. Atienza, at the same time, also hinted at a restructuring at the DENR to see if the department’s organization is efficient in form and structure." When asked if he will adopt some of the plans and programs earlier initiated by Reyes, Atienza said he will do so. He said among the projects he will adopt is the "Trees for Life" project initiated by Reyes this year. - GMANews.TV