The learners who are also chief operating officers accountable in the management and operation of the PA have capacitated on various policies and procedures provided under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2019-05 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act (RA) No. 7586 as amended by RA No. 11038.

 

They have also learned basic parliamentary procedures, minutes of meeting and PAMB resolution preparation, interpretation of results of biodiversity monitoring and assesment systems, urban biodiversity, and management zoning.

 

In the training, the protected area superintendents and staff of the protected area management office and protected area management and biodiversity conservation section were guided in assessing PA suitability, socio-economic, trail resources, cave classification, and inland wetlands; and in developing biodiversity friendly enterprises.

 

The event aims to intensify PA management by equipping the staff on latest rules and regulations on PA management programs. It is also one of the strategies to excel in accomplishing target programs and activities this year under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 2.

 

Resource speakers were legal officers, PASus, and PAMO senior staff in the region and field offices.#

Through the assistance of Kalipunan ng mga Kawani sa Kagawaran ng Kalikasan (K4), Bureau of Forest Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Lands Integrated Cooperative, almost 50 beneficiaries were provided basic needs such as clothing, towels, umbrellas, tumblers, papers, colored pencils, ballpen, blue-tooth radios and percolators.

 

In her message, K4 President Marina Malamug commended the efforts of the institutions for their hard work and commitment. She said the DENR is in support of the gender and development programs where empowering women, girls and children is one of its external activities.

 

Also gracing the event were Shirley Labugen and Rosario Corpuz, both center heads, and other DENR personnel.

 

The RHWG is an alternative form of family care to disadvantaged and abused women and girl victims or survivors, and their qualified dependent whose needs cannot be adequately met by their own families and relatives over a period of time; while the RSCC provides protection and rehabilitation services through temporary residential care to neglected, abandoned, abused and exploited children and those with special needs such as children at risk and who are in need of alternative family care.#

Atty. Juny Vic Andaya, CPL protected area superintendent (PASu) of Dupax community environment and natural resources office (CENRO) said the two-day orientation cum capacity building will prepare the PAMO in implementing the 2023 target activities being the support arm to the 62 members of the CPL-Protected Area Management Board covering 86,168.445 hectares.

 

“We have to be ready and be equipped with environmental laws to improve our operations," said forester-lawyer Andaya.

 

To adapt to strategies and build stronger partnerships, representative from the neighboring PA located at Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve (PCWFR) was invited to discuss laws covering the PA and its operation to enhance the natural resource conservation.

 

Forester Leonardo Udasco, forest management specialist of CENRO Munoz, explained the provisions of the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS) focusing on prohibited acts, rules on communities, and indigenous peoples and their existing rights.

 

Legal bases on the different activities of the PAMO was also discussed during the orientation.

 

The CPL is a PA dominated by indigenous peoples who belong to the Bugkalot, Ilongot, Kalanguya and Kalahan tribes.#

By CENRO Dupax

In her message, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 2 stressed the importance of having a common understanding and implementation of environmental policies and regulations in the regional and field offices.

 

She also reminded the forest officers to be vigilant in their respective monitoring and surveillance operations and strategize in preventing illegal activities from the source, cutting the routes, and monitoring the destination of the forest products.

 

Learning service providers Atty. John Lee Rumusud of the Legal Division and Aldwin Ricamora of PENRO Cagayan discussed respectively Presidential Decree No. 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act, and Department Administrative Order No. 97-32.

 

The participants were also tasked to accomplish the documents required under DAO No. 97-32 during the workshop.

 

Forest rangers, park rangers and enforcement personnel of PENRO Batanes also joined the orientation online.#

By PENRO Cagayan

As part of promoting gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, the event included lectures and presentations on mining and environment-related programs.

 

The municipality of Baggao is vulnerable to typhoons, landslides, and other natural disasters. As a climate-vulnerable area directly hit during previous typhoon, the environment and local government officials collaborated to empower individuals, families and organizations living in the community.

 

CENR Officer Aida Adap of Alcala, Cagayan emphasized in her message the importance of knowing the areas prone to landslides and determining appropriate measures in order to reduce vulnerability to disasters.

 

Geosciences Division Chief Felicitas Piligan, Geologist Aina Claravall, and Science Research Specialist Rea Maye Leslie Mejares, all women officials of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 2 explained Geohazard Mapping and Role of Women in Disaster Management, Landslide or Mass Movement, and Flooding and Karst Subsidence, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, Regional Youth Desk Officer Ralffe Concepcion of DENR discussed with the youth participants the Pinas Basura Buster (PBB) Campaign of the Department. He introduced PBB mascot as the image of DENR in its solid waste management advocacy campaign to raise awareness and behavioural change on proper waste management and disposal.

 

In attendance were 120 participants from the 48 barangays composed of local officials, Sangguniang Kabataan members, and residents; while other DENR and LGU personnel assisted in the event.#