Manila Bulletin, Philippines : DENR goes after restaurants serving local endangered species as pulutan

24/10/2003

DENR goes after restaurants serving local endangered species as pulutan

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a strong warning yesterday against restaurants and establishments all over the coutry that serve wildlife species as delicacies or “pulutan.”

DENR Sec. Elisea Gozun issued the warning following the recovery of 514 protected animals in Metro Manila petshops and public markets, believed to be sold to restaurants serving endangered species to their customers.

Most of the species recovered were snakes, turtles, birds, and a number of monitor lizards, commonly called “Bayawak,” whose meat is believed to have sure-fire aphrodisiac properties when eaten while drinking liquor.

In a memorandum, the DENR chief gave all regional executive directors (REDS) one month to update her on their compliance in conducting an aggressive information drive on restaurant’s owners in their regions while warning them on possible liability for violation of specific laws and regulations enforced by the department to protect the country’s 584 wildlife species.

“Complaints reaching my office indicate that serving of wildlife species as pulutan, or delicacies in restaurants is all over the country has become a common thing. Yet, many people are not aware that 418 or 72 percent of the 584 Philippine wildlife species of both animals and plants are threatened with extinction,” she said while stressing the the urgency for DENR field officers “to be more proactive in informing all restaurants and individuals” within their respective jurisdictions.

The field officers, in the order, were directed to identify the names of the restaurants and a monthly status report on their compliance.

At present, only a measly fine of R100 is slapped by government wildlife officers against wildlife offenders, for non-issuance of permits provided under Section 72 of Presidential Decree No. 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.

On July 30, 2001, Republic Act (RA) 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, was passed carrying a much heavier penalty of imprisonment from six to 12 years, including a fine of up to R1 million, for killing highly critical Philippine wildlife species like the Philippine Eagle, Tamaraw, Dugong, Philippine Crocodile, Visayan spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, and the Dinagat Cloud Rat.

The DENR, according to environment officials, has completed drafting its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) governing this law and only awaits the IRR versions from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) in compliance with the requirement for a tripartite drafting of the IRR from the three agencies.

Dugongs, an endangered species, are still being slaughtered for their meat and sold, although secretly, in public markets, for R50 per kilo. Like the Philippine Snake, the Dugong’s blubber and innards are popular for possessing medicinal properties that can cure asthma, skin allergies, and even delay aging.