THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD SET THE EXAMPLES IN ENFORCING ENVIRONMENT LAWS

 THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD SET THE EXAMPLES IN ENFORCING ENVIRONMENT LAWS

It is difficult to lecture a private citizen for throwing a plastic bottle into the wrong bin when the nearest government office has overflowing trash, no segregation, and official vehicles that emit thick smoke. Environmental laws cannot have “teeth” if the government acts merely as a referee. It must be the MVP of compliance.

For laws to be respected, they must first be practiced by those who made them.

I have been thinking of a simple but powerful idea: declare all government properties as “Green Zones.” Not just symbolic zones, but real, enforceable, measurable sustainability zones.

By “all,” I mean all—particularly campuses and camps owned by the State. This would include the campuses of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). It should also include the camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Why stop there? Even facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) should be covered.

For that matter, every barangay hall, municipal hall, city hall, and provincial capitol should qualify. Any contiguous government property can be classified as a “campus” for purposes of environmental compliance.

What would this mean in practice?

It would mean strict enforcement of waste segregation at source. Functioning Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Composting systems. Rainwater harvesting. Sewage treatment compliance. Biodiesel use where applicable. Green procurement policies. Zero-waste offices. Electric or hybrid official vehicles. Water recycling systems. Preference for recycled or upcycled materials such as plastic lumber.

This is not radical. It is simply “practice what you preach.”

Under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS Act), we already designate protected areas and buffer zones to defend biodiversity. We recognize that without legal zoning, forests can be treated as vacant lots in the eyes of developers. Why can we not apply the same zoning discipline to our own government compounds?

In urban planning, green zones are considered the “lungs” of a city. They mitigate the urban heat island effect, absorb carbon dioxide, and provide mental health benefits. Studies worldwide show that visible government compliance significantly increases public compliance. When citizens perceive fairness and consistency, they are more likely to follow the law. When they see double standards, cynicism grows.

Imagine if every public school campus visibly practiced circular economy principles—where food waste becomes compost for school gardens, where rainwater flushes toilets, where solar panels power classrooms. Students would not just read about sustainability; they would live it daily.

Imagine if every red-plate vehicle were electric. The government is the largest buyer in the country. If it demands eco-friendly products, markets will shift. Suppliers will adapt. Innovation will accelerate.

The cost argument will surely arise. But what about the savings from lower electricity bills? Reduced fuel imports? Lower waste hauling expenses? Environmental compliance is not merely a moral duty; it is fiscal prudence.

More importantly, it is credibility.

If enforcement agencies fine small establishments for non-compliance while ignoring violations within their own compounds, we create an integrity gap. No law survives long under a double standard.

The government should not only regulate green zones; it should become the showcase of sustainable communities and circular economy systems. Let every government campus serve as a living laboratory of environmental responsibility.

Before we demand discipline from the people, let us demonstrate it in our own backyard.

Only then can we honestly say that environmental laws in our country are not just words on paper—but principles in practice.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/04-07-2027

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