DENR creates ocean environment task force

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has created a task force that seeks to create policies and programs to protect the country’s oceans. 

DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Jonas Leones said that DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga recently issued Special Order No. 2025-98 which creates the ocean environments task force (OETF).

“This new task force is to be supported by four of the country’s foremost marine scientists and is expected to streamline our ocean-related policies and programs through comprehensive consultations and collaborations,” said Leones on Wednesday during the launching of the National Blue Carbon Action Partnership. 

“Through this initiative, we are also establishing eight new marine scientific research stations across the archipelago, fostering discovery, collaboration, innovation with higher education institutions, national government organizations, and the private sector,” he added. 

DENR Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Annaliza Teh added that the OETF will also help in forming an ocean environments bureau. 

“So the task of the task force is to formulate the oceans environment policy, including the needed requirements to support the formation of an oceans environment bureau,” she said. 

“Also the task force is created to mainstream scientific advice for oceans environment related policy developments and programs. facilitate the institutional, legal, interagency coordination and consultations for the ocean environments policy,” Teh added. 

In 2022, the DENR and the Philippine Coast Guard signed an agreement to implement joint marine protection activities, such as coastal and underwater cleanups, water quality monitoring, wildlife protection, among others. — BM, GMA Integrated News