Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Region 2 administered the oath of office of the 62 newly-appointed personnel who vowed allegiance to the Department and committed to work harder for the environment.

 

"I hope that you are more motivated to perform your work to the best of your ability," Director Bambalan said as she congratulated the appointees for their success.

 

Assistant Regional Executive Director for Technical Services Marcos Dacanay in his message acknowledged the effort of the Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board (HRMPSB) for doing a deliberate process in the recruitment, selection and placement of qualified applicants to vacant positions.

 

Director Bambalan reminded the appointees from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes that in the discharge of their functions, they have to exercise due diligence, uphold transparency, integrity, and accountability. "Being appointed is not just having the position, you have to be ready to assume the higher responsibility that is attached to your new position," the regional environment chief added.

 

The oathtaking of the employees was facilitated by the HRMPSB under the chairmanship of Atty. Ismael Manaligod, DENR assistant regional executive director for management services.#

In the ENR Frontline Course recently held in Tuguegarao City, 31 personnel successfully graduated. It also recognized three awardees who will take the lead in planning support to operation activities to attain the Department's vision towards environmental sustainability.

 

Class 107 Matapang valedictorian, salutatorian and 1st honorable mention were Mathematician Aide I Jaynaliza Ribunal and Administrative Aide VI Jovelle Marie Catiwa of PENRO Quirino and Maria Luisa Quintero of CENRO Alcala, respectively.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Region 2 in her message enjoined the graduates to do their job well as the management continues to provide trainings for all employees.

 

"The outcome of this program would depend on how you absorb the learning presented by our competent resource persons once you return to your respective offices,” Director Bambalan emphasized while encouraging them to apply the lessons gained from the training.

 

She also expressed gratitude to the Regional Mobile Training Team and its Secretariat led by Assistant Regional Executive Director Ismael Manaligod and Enforcement Division Chief Joel Daquioag, for organizing the first seven-day ENRA Course this year and continuously developing different approaches to improve the course.

 

For the part of the RMTT, Atty. Manaligod underscored the importance of the course not only to help employees become more competent workers but also to improve the performance of the Department.

 

The ENR Frontline Course is one of the five tracks developed by the ENR Academy (ENRA) to enhance the competencies of the employees. Basic, Supervisory, Managerial, and Executive Courses are among the four additional programs.

 

Since 2019, the graduates of 107 Class Matapang is now the seventh batch completers under ENR Frontline Course managed by DENR Regional Office through the Administrative Division.#

Recognizing the important role of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in natural resource conservation, the CENR office distributed 63 food packs of rice, noodles, canned goods, and clothes to the said community members.

 

The Agtas, one of the primary indigenous cultural communities in the province of Quirino were updated on forest and biodiversity programs implemented within their ancestral domain.

 

Under the present dispensation, the DENR implements its projects across silos through collaboration with all sectors of society including vulnerable groups and IPs.

 

CENR Officer Nelson Paguigan acknowledged their efforts in conserving the environment and natural resources.

"These gifts are sign of our appreciation to you for being the guardians of the forests within your CADT areas. Let us join hands in protecting these lands," CENRO Paguigan appealed.

 

The youth in the community were also engaged in greening initiatives of the Department. "Let us capitalize in empowering the youth for they will become forest guardians in the next generation," CENRO Paguigan added.

 

A tree growing activity was also conducted on Earth Day in partnership with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, teachers, school staff, and learners of Tilitilan Elementary School for the Agtas.#

 

By PENRO Quirino

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Cagayan Valley and Allacapan Mayor Harry Florida signed yesterday a memorandum of partnership agreement (MOPA) in order to fast track the processing and issuance of titles in the said municipality.

 

Director Bambalan in her message stressed the importance of land management partnership to achieve orderly and efficient land titling process.

 

She also highlighted the role of the local government in ensuring the submission of complete requirements for the processing of public land application of its constituents.

 

"With this government partnership, we could facilitate land conflict resolution thereby avoiding double titling and inaccurate survey because submission of a complete staff work duly verified by the PENR Office will be ensured," Director Bambalan added.

 

In his message, Mayor Florida thanked the DENR and promised to support the projects and programs of the Department as he hoped for the success of the land management collaboration.

 

Meanwhile, PENR Officer Enrique Pasion explained land management as one priority program of the Department pursuant to DENR Administrative Order 2011-06 which provides "Guidelines in Public Land Titling with LGUs; and Republic Act No. 10023 or the "Residential Free Patent Act."

 

RLTA as defined by Land Management Bureau Technical Bulletin No. 1 s. 2018 provides the process to obtain a clear picture of the land tenure situation on the ground before land titling operations.

 

Allacapan Vice Mayor Yvonne Kathrina Florida together with the LGU's environment and assessing officers; and other DENR officials also witnessed the event.

 

DENR Region 2 started its massive land titling operation in 2012 through the RLTA where to date, 76 MOPAs were already forged with the local chief executives in the region.#

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 launches today forest investment program to engage the private sectors, local government units (LGUs), financial institutions and other stakeholders to invest in forest industrial development.

 

In the Forest: Your Investment (FYI) Forum held at the Go Hotels in Tuguegarao City, the DENR highlighted its initiatives geared towards the creation of investment-friendly climate where potential private investors are provided with options to explore and develop diversified community projects.

 

With the theme “Exploring Forestry Investment Programs and Opportunities in the Philippines," the region offered the private companies to invest in the 900-hectare open forest area potential for investment located in the province of Cagayan: 500 hectares in Claveria, particularly in Barangays Nagsabaran, Bacsay, Cataraoan Sur, Cadcadir East, Union, and Lablabig; and 400 hectares in Sta. Praxedes located in Barangays SanMiguel, Sicul and Cadongdongan.

 

Participating investors in the FYI forum were informed of the investor-friendly policies, investment development plans for Sta. Praxedes and Claveria, and how to proceed with the establishment of roundwood plantation, agroforestry plantation and non-timber forest product, and development of ecotourism site as identified activities for the said investment.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR R2 emphasized in her message the need to upscale potential investment opportunity with the development of the Forest Investment Road Map for 2018-2028 which serves as a blueprint to promote and adopt investment-friendly policies and support mechanism.

 

“We would like to take your commitment in this forum to venture into a public-private partnership to co-manage our country's forestlands and forest resources for sustainable forest management,” Director Bambalan appealed.

 

In his message, DENR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Arleigh Adorable higligted the crucial role of forests in sustaining biodiversity alongside economic opportunities for sustainable development.

As pinnacle factor in climate change mitigation, forests serve as the natural support system to all life forms because of dependency to natural resources specifically for food and livelihood.

Forests also provide services such as timber production, water for agriculture and domestic use, ecotourism, energy sources, and protection against disasters such as floods. They also sequester carbon to aid in climate change impact.

Gracing the forum were Mayors Esterlina Aguinaldo of Sta. Praxedes and Lucille Angelus Yapo represented by councilor Romeo Rafol of Claveria.

Also joining the event were other officials from the LGUs, government agencies, academe, and DENR who equally supported the implementation of forest investment projects not only in Cagayan but also in the whole region.

 

“I would like to express my gratitude to our partners and stakeholders for your full support to the implementation of the department’s reforestation and greening initiatives,” the regional environment chief added as she reported that since 2011, the region was able to grow more than 86 million trees covering over 116,000 hectares of forestlands under the Department's National Greening Program.

 

"The forest investment project will also bring back verdant forest, increase productivity of the land and forest resources and economic condition of the people. With the private sector, financing institutions, non-government organizations and academic community working together with the government we are assured to hasten our country’s economic, environmental and social progress," the regional environment chief concluded.#