DENR CV to expedite land titling, NGP sites rehab in Calayan

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 has sought to fast track land titling and rehabilitate National Greening Program (NGP) sites in the northern most part of Cagayan.

 

In a dialogue with municipal vice mayor Edmund Escalante during the visit at Calayan Group of Islands on May 13-14, this year, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Cagayan Valley proposed a partnership between the local government of Calayan and DENR through a memorandum of partnership agreement (MOPA) to expedite public land titling process and issuance in the municipality.

 

Through the MOPA, a land-matter help desk shall be established in the municipality with technical assistance from CENRO Sanchez Mira and PENRO Cagayan.

 

With over 4,000 hectares of alienable and disposable lands in Calayan, Director Bambalan instructed to conduct inventory of public lands to identify areas that have yet to be titled.

 

Aside from security of tenure, Director Bambalan said the land titles will help the LGU generate additional revenue that would improve the town's economic development.

 

The regional environment chief also solicited the support of the LGU to improve the status of the 148-hectare NGP area established in the municipality.

 

The DENR through its ‘tree replacement program’ in partnership with mining companies in the region will fund the establishment of additional plantations in Calayan under the enhanced NGP.

 

This initiative aims to create employment opportunities for the locals by engaging them in the development and maintenance of additional NGP sites.

 

Meanwhile, to heighten proper waste management in the municipality, a waste composter and a shredder will be awarded to the LGU by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

 

“Napakaganda ng bayan ng Calayan. I hope this will never be disturbed and destructed,” said RED Bambalan.

 

After the dialogue, the team monitored Dalupiri and Camiguin, still parts of the Calayan Group of Islands, and Fuga island under the jurisdiction of Aparri town using the new watercraft of DENR Cagayan Valley named MB (motor boat) Sierra in celebration of 2023 Month of the Ocean.

 

The high-end motor boat will be used for ground trotting, water quality monitoring, habitat assessment and survey, and other enforcement activities like seaboard patrolling and monitoring.

 

In its maiden voyage, Director Bambalan was also joined by Cagayan PENR Officer Enrique Pasion, Sanchez Mira CENR Officer Marina Galzote, Aparri CENR Officer Joselito Razon, other DENR and EMB officials, and the Philippine National Police - Maritime Group Aparri.

 

The DENR team also conducted biophysical assessment at Calayan and Camiguin islands.#