POE: WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT?

Sen. Grace Poe has filed a resolution asking the Senate to inquire into the actual state of the Philippine environment to ensure its proper management and protection.

Poe said many poor Filipinos are relying on the country's natural resources to make both ends meet, and it is crucial to protect them in pursuit of inclusive economic growth.

"We want to determine the current state of our environment and identify the necessary measures toward its protection," Poe stressed.

Poe's Senate Resolution No. 235 urges the Senate committees on environment and natural resources and climate change to conduct the said inquiry, in aid of legislation, to ensure a timely blueprint for the protection of the country's natural resources.

The resolution cited the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) report stating that the Philippines has the second-lowest forest cover in Southeast Asia which has dwindled in the past 100 years from 30 million hectares to 7.2 million, or 24 percent of the country's land area.

The country's biodiversity is among the most threatened in the world, with only two percent of its coral reefs in excellent condition, the DENR report further said.

"With the continued threats to the country's environment, it is imperative to act swiftly to ensure proper management of our natural resources," Poe emphasized.