The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Embassy Manila’s U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of the Interior (US DOI) and the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted a workshop to advance environmental law enforcement on March 6 to 8, 2013 at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The activity aimed to improve the skills of DOJ members in prosecuting violators of environmental laws to expedite the resolution of environmental cases. The workshop also sought to update the prosecutors on the recent changes in the new Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases, which were promulgated by the Supreme Court. The training was attended by 11 Regional State Prosecutors from across the country, two Provincial Prosecutors, and 17 City Prosecutors.

Experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and the Environmental Legal Assistance Center discussed environmental laws on forestry, fisheries, protected areas, indigenous peoples’ rights, pollution and mining. They also covered topics on The Writs of Kalikasan and Continuing Mandamus, Temporary Environmental Protection Orders, and Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases.

The U.S. Government is committed to protecting the environment and supporting biodiversity conservation in the Philippines and around the world. It has contributed to the development of the Wildlife Law Enforcement Protocol and the Fisheries Law Enforcement Protocol, standardization of environmental law enforcement training curricula, and capacity building for environmental law enforcement officers.