The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley celebrated the 29th proclamation anniversary of the Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS), an award winning marine protected area in the region.

 

The celebration held yesterday in Punta Verde, San Vicente, Sta. Ana, Cagayan aimed at strengthening collaboration among members of the protected area management board (PAMB), the community and other stakeholders; and intensifying protected area conservation and promoting sustainable ecotourism.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan who chairs the governing body of PIPLS has directed for stricter measures to ensure coastal and marine resources protection within the protected area.

 

The activity also aimed to promote Palaui Island’s ecotourism sites to encourage more tourists to experience the beauty and richness of the marine protected area and to provide employment opportunities to the locals.

 

For. Joselito Razon, CENR Officer of Aparri, highlighted in his message the vital role of each member of the PAMB in the implementation of activities and projects within the PIPLS.

 

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer John Rey Maximo committed the support of the local government of Sta. Ana to ensure the preservation of the island and to extend assistance to the community.

 

In his message, Atty. John Mark Paracad, PENRO Cagayan technical services division chief, emphasized that PIPLS being one of the legislated protected areas in the country calls for a stringent protection of its natural, biological and physical diversities. He also encouraged the local communities to support the programs of the management board for the Island.

 

Barry the 'barangan', a rabbit fish serves as the flagship species mascot of PIPLS joined the celebration to advocate for protection of coastal and marine biodiversity. A team building activity among PAMB members and the local residents, and a cookfest were also held to foster leadership and unity and to promote culinary skills of the members.

 

The celebration, organized by the PIPLS Protected Area Management Office, was also graced by officials and guests from the Department of Tourism, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coast Guard and the local government of Sta. Ana.

 

In 2019 and 2017, PIPLS was awarded as 1st and 3rd runner-up, respectively, in the Outstanding NIPAS-MPA (National Integrated Protected Areas System-Marine Protected Area) Para El MAR: MPA Awards and Recognition. Para El MAR, which means “for the sea”, is an activity that gives recognition to best practices in MPA management.

 

The PIPLS which covers 8,048 hectares with 1,008-hectare coral reefs, 472-hectare seagrasses and 102-hectare mangroves was proclaimed as a protected area on August 16, 1994 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 447 and was later on legislated by virtue of Republic Act No. 11038.

 

RA 11038 defines protected landscapes and seascapes as areas of national significance which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and land and water while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation, tourism, and other economic activities.#

Around 3,000 board feet of lumber confiscated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 will be donated to towns in Cagayan province with heavily damaged houses caused by Typhoon Egay last July.

 

The lumber subject for disposition from four DENR field offices will be donated to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 2 to facilitate the distribution of wood to typhoon-hit municipalities.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR and Regional Director Leon DG Rafael, Jr. of OCD signed yesterday the deed of donation of confiscated forest products.

 

Director Bambalan said the lumber will be used for the repair or construction of houses of typhoon victims especially in northern Cagayan.

 

“Several municipalities in Cagayan province have been heavily impacted by Typhoon Egay that’s why the DENR is taking part in the whole-of-government approach of helping communities rise above extreme challenges like typhoons,” said Director Bambalan.

 

Meanwhile, Director Rafael Jr. said they will be coordinating with the provincial local government unit (PLGU) in the identification of beneficiaries and transport of donated lumber to recipient towns.

 

“We are thankful for these convergence efforts among government agencies providing support to disaster-hit communities,” enthused Director Rafael as he mentioned that the OCD and other government agencies will be donating roof materials and financial assistance.

 

Cagayan provincial government reported that Typhoon Egay left over 1,600 partially and totally damaged houses in the province.#

The governing body of the Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS) has resolved for stringent measures for coastal and marine resources protection following the ship grounding incident in the marine protected area.

 

The PIPLS covers 8,048 hectares with 1,008-hectare coral reefs, 472-hectare seagrasses, and 102-hectare mangroves. It gained recognition as an outstanding marine protected area showcasing best management practices.

 

In its recent meeting, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) approved the proposal to install floating dock to avoid coral destruction and free the beach area from boats.

 

“Palaui Island as a protected area should as much as possible not be used as a sheltering area, but we understand the plight of the vessels and crew at that time. They needed protection from the strong typhoon,” PAMB chairperson and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley executive director Gwendolyn Bambalan said.

 

According to Director Bambalan, the DENR will initiate a meeting with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Navy to discuss whose mandate is to define the area for sheltering of vessels during typhoon.

 

“We need to request for an interagency meeting to clarify whose responsibility and authority is the determination of sheltering during typhoon. The protected area incidentally is located adjacent to the Babuyan Channel, where international vessels usually pass through,” Director Bambalan said.

 

The regional environment chief added that the interagency conference is necessary to review the response plan for Palaui Island. The meeting is also an avenue to tackle policy gaps, and to determine computation of cost of damage to ecosystem services including restoration cost.

 

On July 27, the DENR team that conducted monitoring within the PIPLS reported two shipping vessels grounded within the protected waters of Palaui Island. The ships were contracted by JDVC Resources Inc., a large-scale offshore mining company with approved Mineral Production Sharing Agreement.

 

The vessels, namely, Tug SEDAR 7 and MB SIPHON I were allegedly pushed toward the shallow waters and run aground due to the “successive heavy freak waves” at the peak of Typhoon “Egay” midnight of July 26.

 

A ship grounding team composed of representatives from the DENR, BFAR, PCG, Environmental Management Bureau, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Local Government Unit of Sta. Ana, Cagayan was immediately deployed to assess the possible damages to corals and other marine resources of the protected area. The team led the conduct of degrounding, ocular inspection, rapid assessment, and in-depth underwater assessment

 

Per initial report of the team during the PAMB meeting, a total of 1,422 sq.m. of corals were damaged.

 

"Different species of hard corals and lime rocks were found cracked and detached or removed from the base,” the report stated. The team added that a red painted mark in coral reef and hard bottom habitat (massive) was found and suspected came from the hull of the Tug boat SEDAR 7.

 

As agreed, the PAMB through the DENR will submit report to the Biodiversity Management Bureau and will request guidance on the value and the fines to be collected for the damages incurred based on the conditions of the corals.

 

The JDVC Resources Inc. assured the Palaui Island management board that it will address the damages.

 

Prior to the incident, the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee of Region 2 chaired by Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Mario Ancheta held a meeting with JDVC Resources Inc. for a smooth operation in the waters off Cagayan province. In that meeting which was initiated by Director Bambalan who co-chairs the committee, various requirements of concerned government agencies involved in the offshore mining operations were discussed.#

The governing body of the Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS) has resolved for stringent measures for coastal and marine resources protection following the ship grounding incident in the marine protected area.

 

The PIPLS covers 8,048 hectares with 1,008-hectare coral reefs, 472-hectare seagrasses, and 102-hectare mangroves. It gained recognition as an outstanding marine protected area showcasing best management practices.

 

In its recent meeting, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) approved the proposal to install floating dock to avoid coral destruction and free the beach area from boats.

 

“Palaui Island as a protected area should as much as possible not be used as a sheltering area, but we understand the plight of the vessels and crew at that time. They needed protection from the strong typhoon,” PAMB chairperson and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley executive director Gwendolyn Bambalan said.

 

According to Director Bambalan, the DENR will initiate a meeting with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Navy to discuss whose mandate is to define the area for sheltering of vessels during typhoon.

 

“We need to request for an interagency meeting to clarify whose responsibility and authority is the determination of sheltering during typhoon. The protected area incidentally is located adjacent to the Babuyan Channel, where international vessels usually pass through,” Director Bambalan said.

 

The regional environment chief added that the interagency conference is necessary to review the response plan for Palaui Island. The meeting is also an avenue to tackle policy gaps, and to determine computation of cost of damage to ecosystem services including restoration cost.

 

On July 27, the DENR team that conducted monitoring within the PIPLS reported two shipping vessels grounded within the protected waters of Palaui Island. The ships were contracted by JDVC Resources Inc., a large-scale offshore mining company with approved Mineral Production Sharing Agreement.

 

The vessels, namely, Tug SEDAR 7 and MB SIPHON I were allegedly pushed toward the shallow waters and run aground due to the “successive heavy freak waves” at the peak of Typhoon “Egay” midnight of July 26.

 

A ship grounding team composed of representatives from the DENR, BFAR, PCG, Environmental Management Bureau, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Local Government Unit of Sta. Ana, Cagayan was immediately deployed to assess the possible damages to corals and other marine resources of the protected area. The team led the conduct of degrounding, ocular inspection, rapid assessment, and in-depth underwater assessment

 

Per initial report of the team during the PAMB meeting, a total of 1,422 sq.m. of corals were damaged.

 

"Different species of hard corals and lime rocks were found cracked and detached or removed from the base,” the report stated. The team added that a red painted mark in coral reef and hard bottom habitat (massive) was found and suspected came from the hull of the Tug boat SEDAR 7.

 

As agreed, the PAMB through the DENR will submit report to the Biodiversity Management Bureau and will request guidance on the value and the fines to be collected for the damages incurred based on the conditions of the corals.

 

The JDVC Resources Inc. assured the Palaui Island management board that it will address the damages.

 

Prior to the incident, the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee of Region 2 chaired by Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Mario Ancheta held a meeting with JDVC Resources Inc. for a smooth operation in the waters off Cagayan province. In that meeting which was initiated by Director Bambalan who co-chairs the committee, various requirements of concerned government agencies involved in the offshore mining operations were discussed.#

To deliberate strategies on how to enhance water conservation efforts through enhanced protection of the Cagayan River, members of the Cagayan River Basin Management Council (CRBMC) covering Regions 2, 3 and the Cordilleras recently convened at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office , Tuguegarao City.

 

DENR Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan emphasized the integration of various agencies' conservation measures for the updating of the Integrated Cagayan River Basin (CRB) Master Plan.

 

“The CRB Master Plan serves as the backbone of the council in the implementation of policies, rules and regulations and in resolving issues concerning the management of Cagayan River Basin,” said Director Bambalan who presided over the executive committe meeting.

 

In the meeting, lead convenor agencies presented their contributions in line with their mandates to enhance activities within the CRB focusing climate actions. The agencies include DENR, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Office of the Civil Defense, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

 

The University of the Philippines Los Banos represented by Dr. Rex Victor Cruz presented the status of the ongoing updating of the CRB Master Plan.

 

Meanwhile, Nelson Gorospe, River Basin Control Office Executive Director, emphasized to mainstream all related land use and watershed plans in the CRB master plan for better implementation.

 

As proposed by the National Economic and Development Authority, the council will issue a resolution for the DOST-PAGASA to submit proposal on the upgrading and maintenance of additional monitoring weather stations and equipment.

 

Once the plan shall have been updated, the council technical working group will meet to ensure complementation of the agencies and to identify priority area for the river basin enhancement project.

 

The meeting was also attended by representatives from the local government units, non-government organizations, academe, and other government agencies from the three regions.

 

The CRBMC is an implementing body to oversee the overall implementation of its six major thematic areas, namely; Watershed Management, Water Resources Management, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Wetland Coastal and Freshwater Resources Management, Economic Development, and Institutional Management.#