Engaging the Youth in Wetland Conservation

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has found an ally in the conservation of the Buguey Wetlands following the engagement recently of the youth in World Wetlands Day.

These young partners are elementary and high school students residing near the Buguey Wetlands.

The students learned the importance and benefits of wetlands through the Buguey Wetlands Summit held on Feb. 2, this year in the said town. The Summit highlighted the celebration of the World Wetlands Day.

With the theme, “Wetlands and climate change,” the participants from Minanga Elementary School, Mala Weste Elementary School, Leron Elementary School, Centro West Elementary School, Buguey Central Elementary School, San Isidro Elementary School, Sta. Maria Primary and Licerio Antiporda Senior National High School also learned the roles of wetlands in mitigating the effects of climate change.

The students participated in different interactive lectures and activities which allowed them to tour in some areas within the wetlands.

In the first station, the students experienced bird watching and were asked to identify the migratory birds visiting the area. The participants identified five species, namely; Black-winged Stilt, Intermediate Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron and Purple Heron.

The students learned the common species of mangroves and its parts and functions in the second station. They identified seven species in the area which include Bakawan Lalaki, Bakawan Babae, Pagatpat, Pototan, Saging-saging, Nipa and Bungalon or Api-api.

The students also learned the functions of wetlands and the interconnection of natural resources through find-a-word and memory games in the last two stations.
In his message, Buguey Sangguniang Bayan Member Adolfo Miranda Jr. appealed to the participants to actively join in conserving the Buguey Wetlands as the survival of the migratory birds and the source of income of the locals depend on it.

Prior to the Summit, a series of Dalaw Turo were conducted in schools to widen the students’ knowledge about wetlands. Campaign materials like pamphlets, game cards, shirts and hats were also given to the students and their teachers.

The Summit is part of the Buguey Wetlands Awareness Campaign (BWAn) Project, a grant given to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Cagayan with Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Aparri and Local Government Unit of Buguey as implementers. It aims to provide supplemental activities for the conservation and development of the environment and is funded by Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia.

BWAn Project Lead Emerlynn Daliong encouraged the students to share their learnings during the Summit to their family and friends to build a bigger and stronger network in wetlands protection and preservation.

Buguey Wetlands with an approximate area of 500 hectares cover about 80 percent of the total area of the said municipality. These wetlands are composed of coastal lagoons, freshwater marshes, mangrove swamps, mudflats, with some fish, crab and shrimp ponds, and large rice paddies.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every 2nd day of February to raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands.#

DENR to reactivate anti-illegal logging task force

The regional anti-illegal logging task force (RAILTF) created under Executive Order No. 23 will again come into action soon following the order made by the new Cagayan Valley environment chief to reactivate the team.

In the first expanded executive committee meeting held on Jan. 24 at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office in Tuguegarao City, Regional Executive Director (RED) Atty. Antonio A. Abawag discussed priority directives to intensify the campaign against forest destruction in Region 2 being a transshipment point of illegal forest products.

Pursuant to Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force Resolution No. 2011-003, the regional task force is chaired by the DENR regional executive director with the Department of the Interior and Local Government regional director as vice chair. The Philippine National Police regional director and the brigade commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines serve as members.

According to RED Abawag, he will meet the task force in February to formulate anti-illegal logging operations.

He said the DENR will train partners to be deputized for forest protection activities and shift other Forest Rangers from forest development to forest protection activities.

The DENR lawyers will also participate in anti-illegal logging operations particularly in the filing of cases.

The regional environment chief instructed the field officials not to recommend new lumber dealer permits for his approval and not to renew permits with reports of violation as he ordered the conduct of stock inventory of lumber dealers. He also announced that he will not release apprehended conveyances.

To intensify the integration of mining and environmental programs into the Department’s priorities, RED Abawag ordered the creation of ENR law enforcement task force to be composed of DENR technical personnel and consultant lawyers, and staff from the Environmental Management Bureau, and Mines and Geosciences Bureau. The task force will immediately act on violation of environmental laws. # CCC

Cagayan Valley has new DENR chief

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 has a new Regional Executive Director.

The change of command took place on Jan. 11, 2019 at the Narek Hall, DENR Regional Office, Tuguegarao City officiated by Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones.

USEC Leones relayed to the two regional heads the marching order of Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to focus on river rehabilitation. “The rivers must be clean,” said the national planning top official.

Incoming Regional Executive Director Antonio A. Abawag said “the swapping could be for the betterment” as he urged everybody to do his tasks and “continue to work on the priority programs of our Secretary.” “Let’s respect one another. That’s basic,” the new Cagayan Valley environment chief emphasized.

The reshuffling of REDs was announced by Secretary Cimatu during the New Year’s Call on Jan. 5, this year at the DENR Central Office, Quezon City.

The designation of Atty. Abawag as OIC, RED is contained in Special Order No. 2019-06 issued by Secretary Cimatu on Jan. 7, 2019.

Director Abawag took over the leadership from OIC, Regional Executive Director Gil A. Aromin who is designated as OIC, RED of DENR Region 5, where Atty. Abawag came from.

Prior to his designation as OIC, RED in the Bicol Region, Atty. Abawag was the Assistant Regional Director for Management Services in the same region after serving as ARD for Technical Services from 2015 to 2017 in CALABARZON. He was also the Regional Technical Director for Forestry in Region 5 for four years.

A licensed forester, he worked as a CENR Officer for 10 years and became the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) Officer of the different provinces in Region 5.
He first joined the DENR in 1979 as Senior Forester at the then Bureau of Forest Development in Region 5.

A Director III by position, Atty. Abawag was appointed Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) IV on August 23, 2013. # CCC

3 regions to intensify resource protection

Convergence includes wildlife and mineral resources

The protection of the natural resources of three regions will soon be strengthened following the interregional convergence meeting held in Baguio City on Nov. 20, this year.

The meeting resulted in the preparation of a memorandum of agreement among the regional executive directors (RED) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

According to Cagayan Valley environment chief Atty. Gil A. Aromin, the mutual complementation and collaboration will unify, and streamline efforts and resources toward achieving overall protection of the environment and natural resources.

“The interregional convergence is one of our initiatives pursuant to the commitment of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to stop illegal environmental activities,” RED Aromin said.

During the meeting, the environment chiefs agreed that the monitoring checkpoints for forest products in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan; Bangui, Ilocos Norte; and Luna, Apayao will also be utilized to regulate the transport of wildlife and mineral products.

Mobile checkpoints will also be established in strategic places to intensify monitoring of forest products, wildlife and mineral resources.

The team leaders of the monitoring stations will closely coordinate to monitor any movement of illegal products including apprehension.

It was also agreed that the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) officer whose jurisdiction covers the monitoring station will supervise the activities of the checkpoint and will submit report to concerned RED.

Meanwhile, the administrative adjudication of the apprehended or seized forest products, wildlife and mineral products and transportation used, tools and equipment including filing of complaints against the perpetrators will be conducted by the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) office concerned. The disposition thereof will be in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) will assist in the apprehension and evaluation of mineral resources to be transported.

It can be recalled that on August 15, 2018, Secretary Cimatu issued DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2018-18 establishing a centralized coordinative mechanism at the Regional Office of DENR, MGB and Environmental Management Bureau.

Under the said DAO, the DENR RED, assistant regional director for technical services, PENR and CENR officers are deputized to police mining activities and enforce environmental laws, rules and regulations. They are also authorized to issue orders and to arrest violators of environmental laws. # CCC

DENR to launch PIPLS flagship mascot

The flagship species icon of the Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS) will be launched by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

The launch of the mascot for rabbitfish Siganidae locally known as Barangan will highlight this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 15.

Mascot “Barry”, short term for Barangan, will serve as a social marketing tool under the flagship communication campaign of the DENR’s Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP). It will represent the protected area’s campaign slogan, “You and me for the sea.”

CMEMP is a national program that aims to comprehensively manage, address and effectively reduce the drivers and threats of degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems. It seeks to achieve and promote sustainability of ecosystem services, food security and climate change resiliency.

The identification of the flagship species was made through a focus group discussion with key stakeholders of the PIPLS.

The mascot, a representation of the flagship species, will be the symbol to stimulate awareness of the people for them to consequently take action in the conservation and protection of coastal and marine resources.

“We solicit the support of the community to sustain the rich biodiversity of the Palaui Island Protected Landscapes and Seascapes and to promote responsible ecotourism,” DENR Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin said.

The Cagayan Valley environment chief added that PIPLS is a pride of Region 2 as it was awarded 3rd Outstanding National Integrated Protected Areas System - Marine Protected Areas (NIPAS-MPA) in the country in 2017. The award was given by the MPA Support Network Philippines during the Para El Mar (for the sea) MPA Awards and Recognition in Iloilo City.

Director Aromin also urged the public to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), a global effort which aims to protect coastal and marine areas against solid waste and litters and inspire behavior change toward reducing single-use plastic materials. He requested volunteers to coordinate to the nearest DENR office for the activity.

Region 2 has a total coastline of 1,247.49 kilometers where the annual ICC is held.

Proclamation No. 470 s. 2003 declared every third Saturday of September as the International Coastal Cleanup Day.# CCC

DENR to fast track permit issuance for gov’t projects

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will fast track the processing and issuance of tree cutting and earth-balling permits to give way for infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has issued DENR Administrative Order No. 2018-16 prescribing guidelines in the processing and issuance of permits on the removal and relocation of trees for the construction of roads, bridges, flood control and other infrastructure duly certified as government projects of the DPWH.

Under the new law, the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Offices are mandated to issue within three (3) working days the corresponding tree cutting permit and or earth-balling permit, after evaluation of the complete requirements of the application.

The CENR Office is authorized to conduct ocular inspection to verify the correctness of the submitted requirements in coordination with the DPWH before the issuance of the permit. It shall determine the number of trees, location and its species, classification if naturally grown or planted, and verify the corresponding volume upon the conduct of geotagging and tree scaling during the actual tree cutting activities.

“Tree removal and relocation operations, including turnover and transport of logs, shall only be done under the presence and close supervision of the DENR,” Secretary Cimatu ordered.

The DPWH shall shoulder all operational costs.

The policy provides that in case of tree removal and relocation in public forestlands, the corresponding permit shall only be processed upon issuance of appropriate land tenure instruments secured by the DPWH from the concerned regional directors, subject to existing regulations.

The DENR is also required to attend consultation meetings during pre-project activities of the DPWH to further facilitate issuance of permit.

“The design of the road projects should always consider the least number of trees to be affected,” the DAO reads.

According to Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin, DENR Region 2 issued six (6) tree cutting permits for DPWH projects in Cagayan Valley since January 2018.# CCC

New law declares 5 CV national parks

Five protected areas in Cagayan Valley are recently classified as national parks.

These areas with a total of 225,424.44 hectares are included in Republic Act (RA) 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018 which amended RA 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.

The new law signed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte on June 22, 2018, also declares protected areas under national parks and provides for their management.

The five protected areas included in the 94 now classified as national parks in the Philippines are: Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS); Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS); Tumauini Watershed Natural Park (TWNR); Salinas Natural Monument (SNM); and Casecnan Protected Landscape (CPL).

The PPLS located in the province of Cagayan has the largest area with 118,653.67 ha. The CPL in the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, and Aurora in Region 3 follows with a total area of 86,246.77 ha; the PIPLS in Cagayan, 8,048.57 ha; TWNP in Isabela, 6,509.38 ha; and the SNM in Nueva Vizcaya, 5,966.05 ha.

Under the ENIPAS Act, the composition of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) is amended to include the DENR regional director, governor, senator, district representative, mayor, barangay chairperson, regional directors of the Department of Agriculture, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine National Police and Department of National Defense as ex-officio members who shall serve for the duration of their respective term of office. The PAMB is the governing body of a protected area.

The new law provides for the imposition of higher rates of fines from P200,000 to P5 Million; and the stiffer penalty for committing illegal acts enumerated by the law such as imprisonment from one (1) year up to not more than 12 years, and perpetual disqualification from public office for public or government officials.

The Act also creates a protected area management office to be headed by a permanent protected area superintendent with a sufficient number of support staff.

In a special meeting with key personnel of DENR Region 2 on July 30, this year, Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin has ordered the technical staff to orient the PAMB members on the salient provisions of RA 11038.
“The State shall ensure the full implementation of this Act, the mobilization of resources for the institutional mechanisms…and the full scientific and technical support needed for the conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystems, culture and indigenous practices,” the expanded protected area law reads.# CCC

Region 2 fire brigades on high alert

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Cagayan Valley has alerted its forest fire teams with high temperature besetting numerous plantations established under the National Greening Program (NGP).

Since January this year, the DENR has reported 25 incidents of forest fire in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces which affected 900 hectares of plantations. Reported causes of forest fire include throwing of cigarette butts, burning of agricultural wastes, and burning of garbage along roadsides adjacent to the plantations.

“The fire occurrence is very alarming. Let’s be serious. Everybody should cooperate,” said Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Felix C. Taguba in his recent meeting with information officers, NGP focal persons, forest fire team leaders and forest protection officers of the different provincial environment and natural resources (PENR) and community environment and natural resources (CENR) offices in the region.

ARD Taguba has ordered the field officials to conduct regular forest patrolling and monitoring including Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in communities adjacent to fire prone areas.

The regional technical services chief emphasized the urgent need to protect the NGP plantations because these are funded by taxpayers’ money.

As a strategy for forest fire prevention, the DENR will intensify its IEC through broadcast and regular meetings with upland communities to ensure their cooperation on forest fire prevention.

As proactive measures, the Department has conducted trainings and has mobilized its forest protection officers including those in the barangays, local government units, people’s organizations and NGP beneficiaries who are residing adjacent to fire prone areas. Firefighting tools and binoculars were also provided to the PENR and CENR offices aside from the lookout towers constructed in strategic places.

More than 66 million of forest and fruit-bearing trees planted in almost 82,000 hectares under the NGP from 2011 to 2018 are being guarded from forest fire.# CCC

Cimatu: No letup in strict enforcement of environmental laws

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said there will no letup in the government effort to strictly enforce environmental laws and regulations designed to restore, preserve and protect the country’s rich environment and vast natural resources.

“We will prioritize the environment. We will strengthen our Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in the provincial level which job is to take care of the environment,” Cimatu told national and regional officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during their management conference held in Batanes recently.

He said the Boracay problem should serve as a lesson not just for local government officials but also for those in the DENR who must be proactive in handling environmental concerns.

Cimatu said he plans to put up a DENR office in every tourist destination in the country, just like what he did in Boracay.

Even before Boracay was closed to tourists to pave the way for its rehabilitation, Cimatu already ordered the re-establishment of a Community Environment and Natural Resources Office there to ensure the sustainability of environmental programs intended solely for the world-famous island paradise.

Cimatu said he won’t recommend the reopening of Boracay until the fecal coliform contamination is addressed.

“The ball is in our hands. We have to bring down the coliform. This is non-negotiable,” Cimatu said, as he announced the deployment of some DENR and EMB regional directors to the island to solve the problem in a month.

The DENR chief also directed all his field officials to prioritize the cleanup of water bodies within their jurisdiction. “I am very particular on the cleanliness of our rivers,” he said, as he warned them of his one-strike policy for non-compliance.

Apart from strict enforcement of environmental laws, Cimatu reminded his field officials of their duty to ensure the protection and conservation of natural resources, particularly the forests.

He ordered them to ensure the cooperation and support of the local government in their respective areas of jurisdiction in the DENR’s forest protection and anti-illegal logging campaign.

Cimatu said that regional offices will not get commendation for “hot logs” they have confiscated, but for their effort to prevent trees from being cut.

He urged all other field officials to follow the example of Batanes, which has become a good model for protecting the environment. Batanes is the only province in the country, which has been declared as a protected area in its entirety. #

DENR, CEZA, LGU inspect Nangaramoan Beach

"We do not like to happen in Nangaramoan what happened in Boracay."

This was the statement of Cagayan Valley environment chief Atty. Gil A. Aromin during the joint site inspection by the DENR, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sta. Ana in Nangaramoan Beach, Sta. Ana, Cagayan, on March 22, 2018. 

Regional Director Aromin emphasized that even before the situation in Boracay became a national issue, DENR Region 2 has already taken positive steps to contain and preserve the beach.
"What is best for the environment will be best for the people. All we have to do is to manage the resources properly and comply with environmental laws," Atty. Aromin added.

In January this year, business operation along Nangaramoan Beach, one of the world's finest beaches, was stopped for failure to comply with environmental laws and for violating Section 69 of Presidential Decree No. 705 as amended by Section 78 of Republic Act 7161, the Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

According to Engr. Avelino Natividad, chief safety officer of CEZA, self-demolition and clearing of establishments within the 20-meter salvage zone has already started.

After acquiring all the necessary documents such as the previous surveys of the site and the foreshore development and management plan, the DENR-CEZA-LGU team will convene to plan for necessary actions.

It can be recalled that in October 2017, the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Office of Aparri, CEZA and LGU Sta. Ana issued final notice to the president and members of the Nangaramoan Environmental Protectors Association to stop their business operation including further construction and improvement of establishments which were illegally erected.

There are 138 cottages, nine variety stores and five souvenir shops in Nangaramoan Beach.#

Parties ink Phil croc conservation hub

The population of Philippine Crocodile in Region 2 will soon increase following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the establishment of a conservation center and groundbreaking ceremony held on Feb. 15, 2018 at the Isabela State University (ISU) - San Mariano campus.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Mariano, ISU Echague campus, Mabuwaya Foundation Inc. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be jointly managing the Conservation Center.

In his message of support, DENR Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin expressed his gratitude to the partners for helping the Department in wildlife protection. “The DENR is the primary government agency mandated to protect and conserve our wildlife, however, we lack the technical and financial capabilities and facilities for the conservation of Philippine Crocodile,” Director Aromin said.

The LGU shall provide sand, gravel and boulders, and heavy equipment in the construction of the facility; designate information and tourist officer, and caretaker; promote the Philippine Crocodile breeding facility as a tourist attraction; and provide additional funding for the management of the facility.

For its part, the ISU shall allow the use of the designated area of 4,000 sq.m.; provide security during the construction period; and involve students and staff in the development if tge facility as a crocodile headstart and breeding center.

The provision of funding for the main construction of the facility including technical supervision of the building and management of the facility shall be shouldered by the Mabuwaya Foundation. It shall also provide technical supervision of crocodile husbandry and handling, and continue to source funding for the facility after year 2022.

As a requirement in the establishment of wildlife centers, the DENR issued the wildlife farm permit on Nov. 13, 2017.

The DENR shall also provide logistics, technical assistance and other related services in the establishment and maintenance of the facility.

The monitoring of the facility will be jointly undertaken by LGU San Mariano, ISU Echague, Mabuwaya Foundation and the DENR.

The Philippine Crocodile is considered as one of the rarest crocodile species in the world and classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

RD Aromin urged the partners to collaborate for the success of the initiative. “Let the Philippine Crocodile Conservation Center in this Region be known and be the exemplary conservation center throughout the country,” he said.#

Isabela LGU to pilot anew land titling program in Region 2

Inspired by the full support of the local government unit in the LGU-led Titling Program, the regional environment chief announced the pilot implementation of Rapid Land Tenure Appraisal (RLTA), a systematic land titling approach, in Quirino, Isabela.

Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin made this pronouncement during the awarding of land patents to 120 land owners held on Feb. 13, 2018 at the Quirino Coliseum.

The Cagayan Valley chief recalled that the partnership in land titling between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and LGU Quirino started in 2012 when he convinced Mayor Jossie Maria Bella L. Juan to enrol in the LGU-led titling initiative of the Department. Regional Director Aromin was then the regional technical director for Land Management Sector.

The partnership resulted in the launch of the LGU-led Titling program on Sept. 25, 2013 and the signing of the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) on June 23, 2014 making Quirino town the pilot in Region 2.

As required in the MOPA, the LGU headed by Mayor Juan created the LGU-led Titling Office and designated personnel to operate it. The local chief executive also created the LGU-led Titling Council.

“Hindi po natatapos ang tulong ng DENR,” vowed RD Aromin as he expressed his commitment to the mayor that all untitled lots will be titled before her term ends.

“Through the partnership of the DENR and the LGU, the processing of titles has been facilitated, thus, our constituents need not undergo the long, complicated and expensive process of land titling,” Mayor Juan said.

The local chief executive added that the awarding of patents is a dream come true to her constituents who have been longing to have their lands titled.

Emphasizing the benefits of titling to the LGU, Mayor Juan said through the land titles, revenue collection in the form of real property taxes increases thereby improving economic development in the municipality.#

• DENR beefs up environmental law enforcement
• DENR orders stop on business in Nangaramoan Beach
• Int’l NGO, DENR forge partnership for NGP
• DENR PhilCCAP: Good Practice Awards nominee 
  
• Sec. Cimatu to DENR field officials: maintain cleanliness of Cagayan River
• Strict procurement process reduces corruption – ARD Reyes
• RD Aromin calls for personal commitment to environment
• ASEC Cuna visits Quirino, graces FP caravan
• Appointees pledge commitment for better environment
• Divilacan watershed is priority site for SIAD 
• RD Aromin orders vigilant forest protection on Lent
• Preparation for Sierra Madre Summit underway
• PENRO Isabela observes Earth Hour
• PLGU Quirino, DENR sign conservation pact for ecotourism
• Forest patrol system levels up
• Sec. Lopez issues “One Strike One Out” policy
• CV targets zero forest fire
• DENR, LGU Sta. Teresita ink partnership on Bakong enterprise
• RGADFPS lines up Women’s Month activities