GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

Details: Written by cassandra

gad

	The DENR 2 Day Care Center, with capacity of 50 heads, was built to take care of employees' children and grandchildren while they are in their nursery stage or when their nannies are absent.

One major concern of the management now a days is addressing efficiency and effectiveness of employees in the workplace. The DENR R02 in particular has been conducting seminar on capability building, personnel management and team building. Such trainings do not absolutely resolve the problem of employees’ efficiency. For instance, a working mother with multiple tasks in the office as well in her dwelling unit doing the usual household activities aside from rearing of the children from health care to education. In short, the work performance of an employee-mother is much affected.

To address such concern, DENR Region 02 has revived the operationalization of Day Care Center with two-pronged functions, to wit:

a) As Nanny Center and
b) As Semi- Formal Education Center

As early as October 2011, the Regional Executive Director has opened two jobs, namely: Day Care Center Teacher and Assistant Teacher.

These two jobs were duly announced and notices were posted in conspicuous places of DENR Regional Office, PENRO Cagayan and CENRO Tuguegarao and to our Regional Website.

On January 2012, deliberation was conducted for hiring a Nanny with qualifications and conditions hereunder enumerated:

a) At least 21-50 years of age with minimum 3 year experience as yaya/nanny within the Philippines
b) Application Letter
c) Certification of Good Moral Character from previous employer/s;
d) Certification from the Barangay Captain/Police;
e) Duly fille-uo Biodata with 2X2 ID picture;
f) After passing the screening, the applicant shall undergo a probationary 3 month contract.
g) Must be physically fit to take care of children in their tender ages (2-4 year old); and
h) With a salary of P5,000.00/month.

Guidelines prescribing the steps and procedures for nannying services of the Day Care was immediate formulated.

Day Care Center (Nannying) Guidelines

Who are qualified to become recipients of the DENR Day Care ( Nannying ) Center?

a.) All Kids including the grandsons and granddaughters whose YAYAS or NANNIES are on sick leave or indefinite leave or AWOL.
b.) All Kids or grandsons or grand daughters who have no Yayas and their mothers or grand mothers are on the process of looking a Nanny or a Yaya.

How to become a Recipient?

a) Registration forms are available at the GAD Center which must be personally filled-up by the parents or guardians

b) Immediately upon submission of the duly filled-up Registration form, the Registrar shall enter in the Roster of Registrants

What are its In-house Policies?

The concerned GAD Focal Person of the Sector shall orient the parent on the policies of the center

When will be the launching?

The Registrar shall announce the date of launching the center operationalization on January 9, 2012.

In-house Policies

a) Nannying shall be from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

b) The Center shall only provide nannying efforts while snacks and lunch including food supplements shall be provided by the parents/guardians.

c) Feeding of the child during morning and afternoon snacks and lunch time is the sole responsibility of the parents or guardians. A parent/ guardian is given a maximum feeding period of 20 minutes.

d) A child admitted at the Center must be physically and mentally fit. Upon admission, the parent must submit a medical certificate.

e) A child who suffers from both minor and major illnesses which are contagious can not be admitted. However, upon submission of proofs of full recovery, the child can already be admitted.

f) A Nanny is mandated to observe extraordinary care and protection over the children under her custody. As such, any injuries that a child may incur within the premises of the center, the Nanny is answerable or liable. However those injuries inflicted upon the child beyond the control of the Nanny, the latter shall not be liable with the condition that he evidence is immediately reported to the concerned parent/guardian thru cellphone.

g) Outdoor Activities are very limited and are only performed when properly coordinated with concerned parents/guardians. Therefore the 8am- 5pm nannying shall be confined within a ventilated closed room but open windows equipped with 3 wall-fans.

h) Children are not allowed to bring any pointed objects inside the room. Parents/Guardians are also advised not to use glass-based food containers. The Nanny has the right not allow.

NEWS

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

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.#

Other News

Photo Releases

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UPDATES – DENR Region 2 Administrative Division Chief Lilia dL. Abel discusses recent guidelines on the issuance of appointments and other human resource actions during the Workshop on Competency-based System for DENR Technical and Support Positions held on November 23, this year at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office, Tuguegarao City. The new rules are provided under Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 1701009 promulgated on June 16, 2017. The Chief, Administrative Officer also presented the revised DENR Merit Selection and Promotion Plan emphasizing on the composition and responsibilities of the Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board (then Selection and Promotion Board).#

BACK TO THE WILDERNESS – Newly designated Batanes OIC, PENR Officer Ilarde C. Viernes releases on Nov. 21, 2017 a Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula at Chadpidan Lake in Basco town after it was turned over by Police Officers Jensen Cobaria, Denvy Lurlaine Zureta and Darna Paco of the Mahatao Police Station. The migratory bird species, having the conservation status of “Least Concern” by the International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN) was surrendered to the Police Officers by school children in Mahatao. Witnessing the release are Basco Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Carlito Cari, and key officials and personnel of the PENR Office. #

1ST CAGAYAN RIVER BASIN SUMMIT – DENR Cagayan Valley Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin delivers his message during the opening program of the 1st Cagayan River Basin Summit on November 28, 2017 in Santiago City, Isabela. "We are here to see the best practices of other river basin managements. This will also stir up consciousness among ourselves on how to protect our rivers," the regional environment chief said. The activity aimed to address Cagayan River concerns such as the deterioration of its water quality and the lowering of its water supply, by gaining techniques from other successfully managed river basins in the country. In the two-day event, resource speakers from the local government of Iloilo and Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission shared their best practices in river basin management before the members of the Cagayan River Basin Management Council and other stakeholders from Regions 2 and 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.#

LATEST DISCOVERY IN BATANES – This Oriental Pratincole Glareola malvidarum was discovered by the team from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office during the conduct of Biodiversity Monitoring System in the island municipality of Sabtang. Sighted at Diblolon of Barangay Savidug on March 7, 2018, the bird is considered the latest record of avian species in the biodiversity-rich province. Oriental Pratincoles are common in drier open areas, dry rice fields, pasture areas and plowed fields. They are seen in large groups. #

EMPOWERING WEOS – Batanes OIC, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) Officer Ilarde C. Viernes reorients the deputized Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs) on their duties and responsibilities on March 13, this year at the municipal hall of Itbayat. After the short reorientation session, the WEOs were given their protective gears in order to become more effective and efficient in their work. With OIC, PENR Officer Viernes are (L-R) Sangguniang Bayan Member Alejandria C. Asa; Sangguniang Bayan Member Onesimo G. Manzo; OIC, Mayor Zenas Labrador; Technical Services Division Chief Dionicio C. Deundo; Environmental Management Specialist Antonio Mina of the Environmental Management Bureau; and Enforcement Chief Samuel P. Telan. #

ENSURING GOOD WATER QUALITY – “All local government units are mandated to put up a septage management system in order to prevent sanitation problems,” says DENR Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin during the 1st Quarter Pinacanauan de Tuguegarao Water Quality Management Area (PdT-WQMA) Governing Board Meeting held at the Carmelita Hotel, Tuguegarao City on April 3, this year. Director Aromin said if local government units (LGUs) cannot establish a waste water treatment facility, they should at least require every household to have their own septic tank. “But these septic tanks must be devised by either the LGU or the Department of Health to make sure that there will be no seepage of effluent underground,” Atty. Aromin added. He also emphasized that the harmonized efforts of the DENR, Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau and LGUs in formulating approaches will have a great impact in addressing environmental problems, especially on the water quality of the region. “Let us all come together to ensure that Cagayan Valley will sustain good water quality for the community,” the regional environment chief enthused. Pinacanauan River, which traverses along Tuguegarao City and Peñablanca, was designated as WQMA by virtue of Department Administrative Order No. 2013-06. The meeting was attended by representatives from concerned LGUs, barangays within the WQM area, different line agencies, academe, business sectors and other partners who are members of the governing board. #

RESTORING FREEDOM – This hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is being freed by a joint team from the Ivana Police Station, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Batanes on Aug. 6, this year after it was trapped in a fishnet along the shallow seawater of Sitio Vatang, San Vicente, Ivana. The trapped turtle was reported to police authorities by a certain Joseph Meriel, a truck driver who ferried construction workers to their job site, upon sighting a moving creature trying to free itself from the net.#

GREENING THE MOUNTAIN, GREENING THE OCEAN – Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin (2nd from left, front row) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director Mario A. Ancheta (3rd from left, front row), lead the officials and employees of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Batanes and the Local Government Unit of Ivana in planting about 1,500 Arius seedlings in Barangay Radiwan. The tree planting was held on April 19, this year in observance of the International Earth Day celebrated every 22nd of April. MGB Mine Management Division Chief Geoffrey Prado (4th from left, front row) and 56 beneficiaries of Special Program for Employment of Students under LGU Ivana also joined the tree planting. After the tree planting, the DENR and MGB team conducted a coastal cleanup along Kadpidan Beach adjacent to Ivana Marine Protected Area. #

INSTITUTIONALIZING GOOD HOUSEKEEPING – Management Services Division Chief Victoria D. Baliuag spearheads the official launch of 5S and Ecological Solid Waste Management in PENRO Batanes on June 6, 2018 as a highlight of the Environment Month celebration. Memorandum Circular No. 2018-03 issued by Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin directs the implementation of the program regionwide.#

SOCIAL MARKETING – Dibang, the mascot of the flagship species for Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (BPLS) has her first exposure during the cultural parade opening the 235th Batanes Foundation Anniversary held on June 26, 2018. The mascot is a social marketing tool under the Flagship Communication Campaign of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP). The flagship species was selected by the different environmental stakeholders in October last year through a Focus Group Discussion. The mascot was officially launched by OIC, Regional Director Atty Gil A. Aromin and OIC, PENR Officer Marcelo G. Bumidang on June 25, 2018. Dibang is the Ivatan term for flying fish.#

STRENGTHENING CRBMC -- “Each agency has an important role to play. What we will agree upon today will spell out what will happen to the Cagayan River Basin,” says DENR Region 2 Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin as he welcome participants to the Regional Technical Working Group Meeting of the Cagayan River Basin Management Council (inset) on July 12, 2018, at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office. Among the agenda of the meeting are the presentation of the proposed additional thematic areas of concern to be included in the organizational structure and the creation of Addalam Sub-River Basin Management Committee. These are in preparation to the Executive Committee Meeting to be held on July 18-19, 2018 in the province of Quirino. OIC, Regional Director of National Economic and Development Authority Region 2, Engr. Ferdinand T. Tumaliuan, presided over the meeting. #

NUTRI-ADVOCACY – Information and Communication Technology Chief Roderick Y. Abad feeds the minds of 100 Kindergarten and Grades I-III pupils of Diptan Elementary School in Basco, Batanes on July 6, 2018 as part of the Nutrition Month Celebration. The pupils were treated with free food while listening to the lecture cum film showing on wild animals found in the province. Debbie, the mascot of Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (BPLS) delighted the pupils with her second public exposure. On the same day, the PENR Office personnel planted 500 seedlings of Arius and Malugay at Sitio Maluyloy in Barangay San Antonio as part of the month-long celebration. #

TAYO ANG KALIKASAN – DENR Region 2 top officials headed by OIC, Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin (center) leads the employees of the Regional Office in reciting the “Tayo ang Kalikasan” pledge during the convocation today, July 30, 2018. “Tayo ang Kalikasan”, a citizen’s movement for environmental stewardship and sustainable development, was officially launched on April 24, 2018 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The movement aims to encourage the citizenry in the protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources, and to contribute in the achievement of the 2017-2022 Philippine Developmen Plan. Also with RD Aromin are Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services For. Felix C. Taguba (left) and ARD for Management Services Engr. Marcos G. Dacanay (right).#

FMP MIDTERM REVIEW – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) representative Kessy Reyes (standing) interviews the officers of Magsaysay United Upland Farmers Developers Association (MUUFDA) People’s Organization (PO) on July 18, this year in Magsaysay, Diffun, Quirino. The interview aims to evaluate the extent of Forestland Management Project (FMP) implementation in the community such as seedling production, plantation establishment, enterprise development and establishment of agro-forestry support facilities. The MUUFDA, with 60 beneficiaries, has already completed its 30 hectares reforestation project. It is also maintaining a 110-hectare agro-forestry plantation and currently in the process of procuring bee colony for honey bee production as part of their livelihood enterprises. The association has been one of the active among the 10 POs involved in the FMP within the Ganano Sub-watershed funded by the JICA. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa pagkakaroon ng proyektong ito dahil nadagdagan ang kita naming mga miyembro. Kung may namatay man sa aming itinanim, pinapalitan agad namin ito. Sinasama din namin ang mga anak namin sa pagtatanim at tulong-tulong kami sa pag-akyat ng mga punla sa bundok,” said Mr. Wilbert Natura (3rd from left), chairman of the MUUFDA, during the interview. The Midterm Review was conducted to assess the project performance of the POs within the nine sub-watershed areas in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. It also aimed to analyze the factors affecting their performance and formulate recommendations to improve the project implementation which is now on its 6th year.#

SPEEDING UP LAND SURVEY – With the purpose of settling issues on the submission of Inspection, Verification and Approval of Surveys (IVAS) and in order to harmonize conflicting policies between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in processing survey returns, a joint consultation meeting was conducted on September 6, 2018, at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office. The consultation meeting was participated in by the different municipal and provincial agrarian reform officers in the region, and heads of the various sections of the Surveys and Mapping Division of the DENR. In his message, DENR Regional Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin expressed his appreciation to the agrarian reform office in initiating the conduct of the consultation meeting. He said: “The DENR is here to help the DAR. This meeting is important for us to see what we can do to tackle issues that can be resolved on our level and arrive at a consensus for a better public service.”#

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, THE IVATAN WAY – Personnel of the PENR Office tie the roof of the Land Records Office and water tank of PENRO Batanes, and install window shutters in preparation for Typhoon Ompong as part of preemptive actions. These along with the creation of Skeletal Force that operated 24/7 saved the PENR Office building from even a small damage brought about by the typhoon that visited the province on September 14-15, 2018. #