MANILA, Philippines – Lusot na sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa sa Kamara ang House Bill (HB) No. 8443 o ang pagtatag ng Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) na naglalayong matukoy ang dami ng natural capital ng bansa at ang halaga nito sa ating ekonomiya.
Sa oras na maisabatas ay maglalatag ng sistema para sa pagsasagawa ng accounting ng natural capital ng bansa na gagamiting gabay sa pagpaplano ng mga programa at babalangkasing polisiya.
Magsisilbi rin itong komprehensibong pagkukunan ng datos patungkol sa natural capital statistics at pagsasama bilang bahagi ng macroeconomic indicator.
“We acknowledge that solid data is crucial in preserving and developing our natural capital and with this proposed legislation, we hope to provide tools and measures that can contribute to the protection, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems,” pahayag ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez sa naging pagpasa sa panukala sa Kamara.
“This bill also intends to provide a framework in the generation of natural capital statistics and accounts toward their progressive integration in macroeconomic indicators that is why the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Interagency Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Statistics (IACENRS), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) shall work hand-in-hand in the implementation of the measure,” dagdag pa nito.
Sa ilalim ng HB No. 8443, ang PSA ang aatasan para sa pagtatatag at implimentasyon ng PENCAS salig sa System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)
Anumang proyekto ng national government, national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations, LGUs, at pribadong sektor na may kinalaman sa PENCAS ay kailangan munang aprubahan ng NEDA.
Umaasa naman si ni Cibac Partylist Rep Eddie Villanueva na agad lulusot sa Senado ang panukala upang maisabatas ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos lalo at isa ito sa kanyang priority measures.
“Economic growth must not be at the price of environmental degradation. The passage of PENCAS bill is a concrete step in our pursuit of sustainable development – a kind of progress that does not compromise the health and integrity of our natural resources but rather protects and promotes its conservation and well-being. By adopting a system that quantifies how we fare in taking care of our environment, we will be more conscious and apprised of the environmental implications of our actions and better plan our efforts towards growth. This will lead us to be more responsible stewards of our natural resources,” paliwanag ni Villanueva.
