DENR calls for tougher measure to protect Philippine wildlife

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources called on lawmakers to pass a measure that will give more teeth to the law that seeks to manage, protect, and conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitats. Environment officials believe the 20-year-old Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act is ripe for strengthening as it no longer deters perpetrators from engaging in illegal wildlife trade. “We need to address the growing scale and sophistication of wildlife crimes and develop a more stringent legal framework to improve enforcement mechanisms and strengthen inter-agency cooperation against illegal wildlife trade,” Benito De Leon, DENR undersecretary for enforcement, said in a briefing Wednesday. Under the proposed measures, the crime of wildlife trafficking is a distinct and separate offense. Penalty for wildlife trafficking ranges from 12 years and one day to 20 years, and a fine of P200,000 to P2 million. There will be tougher penalties. For example, significant increase in maximum penalties for trading, possession and transport of wildlife from four years of imprisonment and/or a fine of P300,000 to eight years of imprisonment and/or a fine of P1 million will be 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for tougher measures to protect Philippine wildlife. They are advocating for the development of a more stringent legal framework to improve enforcement mechanisms and strengthen inter-agency cooperation against illegal wildlife trade. The DENR believes that the current law, Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, needs to be strengthened as it no longer effectively deters violations and criminal activities related to wildlife trade. They are urging lawmakers to pass a measure that will provide stiffer penalties for wildlife trafficking, trading, possession, and transport of wildlife. The DENR also wants to empower various government agencies to control and manage invasive alien species and adjudicate cases of violations. The proposed measures aim to address the growing scale and sophistication of wildlife crimes and protect the country's wildlife resources and their habitats.