City Declared First ‘Green Justice Zone’ to Combat Environmental Crimes

Puerto Princesa, the Philippines, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. announced the city’s designation as the country’s first Green Justice Zone, a measure aimed at curbing environmental crimes. This initiative was launched in collaboration with officials from the Supreme Court (SC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

According to Philippines News Agency, the Puerto Princesa Green Justice Zone is focused on environmental protection and natural resource management within its jurisdiction. This initiative is part of broader efforts to address climate change and environmental degradation. Abalos emphasized the significance of this project, noting that the Philippines, as a mega-diverse country, hosts an extensive variety of plant and animal species. However, he pointed out that illegal activities like logging and wildlife trade pose significant threats to the country’s biodiversity, resulting in substantial economic losses.

Abalos assured that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would actively support the policies and capacity-building efforts within the Green Justice Zone. Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron expressed gratitude to the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) and international partners for selecting Puerto Princesa as the first Green Justice Zone. Bayron highlighted the initiative’s reflection of a collective commitment to environmental justice and sustainability.

The JSCC Puerto Princesa City Justice Zone is also the country’s third ‘specialty’ justice zone, following those established in Zamboanga City for trafficking cases and in Tagaytay City for cases related to economic development projects. These Justice Zones are areas where local justice sector actors collaborate to address common problems and develop solutions.