MANILA — Senator Erwin Tulfo slammed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for what he described as a failure to implement measures to protect the country’s natural resources.

“They’re not doing their job. They cannot even answer the questions raised before their agency. Why will we fund an agency, 27 billion pesos, when they cannot even do their jobs? They’re using the agency as a milking cow, ever since, Mr. President. Why?” Tulfo said during Senate plenary deliberations on the DENR’s proposed 2026 budget.

Senator Loren Legarda, defending the agency’s budget, expressed her own frustration with DENR’s inaction. “I cannot defend and answer that, and I hope I am the one asking questions because this is difficult to defend. I have no answers; I will not invent answers. I am even more frustrated than you,” she said.

During his interpellation, Tulfo highlighted several environmental concerns nationwide, pointing to ongoing harmful activities such as illegal logging, mining, and construction in protected areas. He supported his claims with videos and photos from sites in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur; Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan; Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte; and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, among others.

Tulfo noted that despite these issues being raised, DENR representatives either remained silent or failed to provide clear responses.

Earlier, following a series of recent typhoons, Tulfo delivered a privilege speech calling for the protection of the Sierra Madre Mountains. “The Sierra Madre has saved Luzon countless times — from Typhoon Yolanda, Rolly, Paeng, and now Uwan. But who will save the Sierra Madre? It cannot speak for itself. It cannot march to this hall. It cannot plead for mercy against bulldozers and chainsaws. It relies on us — the people’s representatives — to give it voice and legal protection,” he said.

Concluding his interpellation on the 2026 DENR budget, Tulfo urged his colleagues to act swiftly. “I hope, Mr. President, dear colleagues, it is not too late. Compassion is what we need to save this nation, to save our environment.”