Open letter to the President and CA

Mr. President Rodrigo Duterte and the Commission on Appointments:

The Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance Inc. (SSMNAI), a network alliance of more than 70 groups involved with environmental issues, has been able to advocate with Environment Secretary Gina Lopez for the care of Sierra Madre and for its protection from those who see the Sierra Madre simply as an object to be abused or an opportunity to amass wealth. Under the leadership of Secretary Gina Lopez, the DENR started to regain its trust from non-government organizations, peoples’ organizations, indigenous peoples and from other civil society organizations. In Regions 2, 3, 4A, these organizations together with the DENR have resolved to work together to restore Sierra Madre’s forest cover and protect biodiversity from further destruction due to deforestation, mining, construction of roads and dams.