Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan in the Philippines, has been designated as the first Green Justice Zone in the country. This announcement was made by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who stated that the purpose of this initiative is to combat environmental crimes.
The launch of the Puerto Princesa Green Justice Zone was a joint effort between officials from the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice. Together, they form the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), which was established in 2010.
The Green Justice Zone focuses on environmental protection and natural resource management within its jurisdiction, aiming to address climate change and prevent further environmental degradation. This is particularly significant for the Philippines, as it is one of the world’s mega-diverse countries, hosting over 36,000 species of plants and animals according to a 2017 study by the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility.
However, the country faces economic pressures and widespread illegal activities, such as illegal logging and wildlife trade, which have turned it into a major biodiversity hotspot. These environmental crimes lead to a loss of natural resources valued at over US $1 billion or approximately P50 billion per year.
In response to these challenges, the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) has pledged its commitment to support the goals of the Green Justice Zone. Interior Secretary Abalos assured that the DILG will actively work on policies and capacity-building to further these goals.
Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron of Puerto Princesa City expressed his gratitude to the JSCC and partner international organizations for selecting Puerto Princesa as the first Green Justice Zone in the country. He emphasized that this initiative reflects their collective commitment to environmental justice and sustainability.
The establishment of the JSCC Puerto Princesa City Justice Zone marks the third specialty justice zone in the Philippines. The first one was set up in Zamboanga City to address cases of human trafficking, and the second was launched in Tagaytay City to handle cases related to economic development projects.
Justice Zones are areas where local justice sector actors, including the police, prosecutors, public attorneys, judges, and prison staff, collaborate to identify common problems and develop shared solutions to address them.
The designation of Puerto Princesa as the first Green Justice Zone in the Philippines demonstrates the country’s dedication to environmental protection and sustainable development. This initiative serves as an example of how different sectors can come together to combat environmental crimes and promote a greener future.
