The Isabela Coastal Development Office (ICDO) and Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO) in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Isabela State University (ISU) recently held a Forum on Environmental Protection and Conservation dubbed "Voice of the Sierra Madre" at the De Venecia Hall, ISU Echague Main Campus in Echague town.

 

The forum aims to raise awareness about the importance of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) – the last frontier of biodiversity.

 

The envi confab was participated in by youth or student leaders, government, private, and business sector representatives featuring experts on climate change mitigation and marine ecosystem biodiversity, Sierra Madre overview and the current coastal state, ecotourism management, and environmental programs and projects of the Provincial Government of Isabela.

 

Resource speakers were PENRO Isabela Park Operations Superintendent V Nestor Lorenzo and Ecosystems Management Specialist II Luzviminda Rosario, ISU Cabagan College of Forestry Campus Planning and Development Director, and Isabela Provincial Administrator Atty. Noel Manuel Lopez.

 

6th Congressional District Representative Faustino Dy V pointed out in his keynote address that House Bill (HB) No. 1214 seeks to create a body to protect the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

 

The HB which Dy authored calls for making Sierra Madre Conservation and Development Authority.

 

The forum allowed participants to engage in discussion and exchange of ideas on how the different sectors and stakeholders can work collaboratively to protect the environment.

 

During the Covenant Signing for the conservation and protection of Mother Earth, participants and speakers pledged to respect and honor Mother Earth, protect the environment, promote sustainability, support conservation efforts, take responsibility, and educate others.

 

The Multi-Sectoral Network for Sierra Madre Protection is composed of the Provincial Local Government Unit, Municipal LGUs, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, ISU, youth and women's sectors, and DENR.#

(PENRO Isabela)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) have renewed their commitment for the rehabilitation of the Magat Watershed Forest Reserve (MWFR) covering the municipalities of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya in the Cagayan Valley Region.

 

Witnessed by Senator Imee Marcos during the Stakeholders’ Convergence cum IA Congress at the Casa Jardin in Santiago City Isabela, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR R2 and NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen inked on April 22 Earth Day a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance the Magat watershed governance.

 

In the agreement, the DENR shall provide watershed and forest management standards for planning, decision-making and monitoring purposes; facilitate the issuance of appropriate DENR permits and clearances; lead in the enforcement of forestry laws, rules and regulations; issue deputation orders to qualified NIA-MARIIS field officers; confiscate and take custody of forestry products illegally-cut, harvested and collected; and organize multi-sectoral watershed management council among stakeholders to provide oversight functions on watershed management planning and implementation in the area.

 

Meanwhile the NIA shall be responsible in managing the 15,728.12 hectares watershed area of the MWFR; secure environment clearances and permits when necessary; identify and recommend priority areas for immediate rehabilitation and development; prepare, formulate and implement the Integrated Watershed Management Plans and Programs; and assist the DENR in the enforcement of forestry laws rules and regulations.

 

In November 2022 Multi-Sectoral Convergence Meeting, Director Bambalan proposed to revisit the agreements committed by the DENR and NIA for updating and integration of the stakeholders’ roles and mandates to ensure a holistic environmental and climate-responsive partnership.

 

Also in January this year, the two agencies met to set institutional arrangement among concerned government and private stakeholders to plan rehabilitation and management mechanisms for Magat watershed improvement.

 

The provisions in the agreements crafted in 1980 and 2019 between the DENR and the NIA are now integrated in the new MOA to ensure holistic partnership for sustainability of the Magat reservoir and protection of the watershed.

 

RED Bambalan has earlier emphasized that revisiting the existing MOA signed between the environment and irrigation sectors with the local government on the management and development of all critical watersheds will espouse stronger collaboration and partnership among government agencies and institutions.

 

By virtue of Letter of Instruction No. 1002 issued by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1980, the NIA was authorized to manage, protect, develop and rehabilitate over 15,000-hectare watershed administered by the NIA-MARIIS. The Magat Watershed was declared Forest Reservation Area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 573 on June 26, 1969.#

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) have renewed their commitment for the rehabilitation of the Magat Watershed Forest Reserve (MWFR) covering the municipalities of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya in the Cagayan Valley Region.

 

Witnessed by Senator Imee Marcos during the Stakeholders’ Convergence cum IA Congress at the Casa Jardin in Santiago City Isabela, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR R2 and NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen inked on April 22 Earth Day a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance the Magat watershed governance.

 

In the agreement, the DENR shall provide watershed and forest management standards for planning, decision-making and monitoring purposes; facilitate the issuance of appropriate DENR permits and clearances; lead in the enforcement of forestry laws, rules and regulations; issue deputation orders to qualified NIA-MARIIS field officers; confiscate and take custody of forestry products illegally-cut, harvested and collected; and organize multi-sectoral watershed management council among stakeholders to provide oversight functions on watershed management planning and implementation in the area.

 

Meanwhile the NIA shall be responsible in managing the 15,728.12 hectares watershed area of the MWFR; secure environment clearances and permits when necessary; identify and recommend priority areas for immediate rehabilitation and development; prepare, formulate and implement the Integrated Watershed Management Plans and Programs; and assist the DENR in the enforcement of forestry laws rules and regulations.

 

In November 2022 Multi-Sectoral Convergence Meeting, Director Bambalan proposed to revisit the agreements committed by the DENR and NIA for updating and integration of the stakeholders’ roles and mandates to ensure a holistic environmental and climate-responsive partnership.

 

Also in January this year, the two agencies met to set institutional arrangement among concerned government and private stakeholders to plan rehabilitation and management mechanisms for Magat watershed improvement.

 

The provisions in the agreements crafted in 1980 and 2019 between the DENR and the NIA are now integrated in the new MOA to ensure holistic partnership for sustainability of the Magat reservoir and protection of the watershed.

 

RED Bambalan has earlier emphasized that revisiting the existing MOA signed between the environment and irrigation sectors with the local government on the management and development of all critical watersheds will espouse stronger collaboration and partnership among government agencies and institutions.

 

By virtue of Letter of Instruction No. 1002 issued by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1980, the NIA was authorized to manage, protect, develop and rehabilitate over 15,000-hectare watershed administered by the NIA-MARIIS. The Magat Watershed was declared Forest Reservation Area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 573 on June 26, 1969.#

Isabela Environment Chief Orly Cariazo led the distribution of land titles to beneficiaries in Palanan, Isabela on April 14, this year.

 

Forester Cariazo emphasized in his message the importance of issuing land titles through the Handog Titulo under the Land Administration and Management Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 

For the part of the local government unit of Palanan, Mayor Angelo Bernardo assured to allocate funds for the release of land titles from the Registry of Deeds (ROD) to be awarded to beneficiaries.

 

Palanan CENR Officer Federico Cauilan, Jr. expressed his appreciation to the LGU for supporting all DENR programs specifically on land administration and their assistance in making the program possible.

 

The DENR and ROD in Isabela will continue to expedite the issuance or granting of land titles to qualified applicants through a Joint ‘Handog Titulo’ Program.

 

PENRO Isabela Technical Services Division Chief Giovanie Taguinod, Municipal Assessor Rodrigo Neil, Jr, and other CENRO Palanan and LGU officials also joined the ceremony.#

(PENRO Isabela)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2, Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and Tuguegaro City local government unit (LGU) have pledged to create Solid Waste Management Task Force to enhance air and water quality, and solid waste management in the city.

 

The task force to be led by the four offices in collaboration with other partners and stakeholders will assess the operation and maintenance of the sanitary landfill (SLF) of the LGU, implement massive waste segregation in all barangays and clearing of waterways along the esteros and creeks, and establish urban biodiversity area.

 

“We are happy in the DENR to extend technical assistance to ensure the implementation of wastes segregation and in the clearing of waterways, esteros, and creeks in the city," Director Bambalan said.

 

The regional environment chief also emphasized the role of the local government in implementing proper solid waste management as embodied in Republic Act No. 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000."

 

Meanwhile, Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que thanked the DENR, and the bureaus for extending assistance on guidelines and procedures towards an enhanced solid waste and quality environment. “I want a stricter implementation of waste segregation and with our collaboration with the DENR, we can surely bring change for a cleaner, greener and smarter Tuguegarao City,” Mayor Ting-Que said.

 

As part of combating the effects of climate change, the DENR proposed the establishment of urban biodiversity greenbelt in the city in support of achieving a resilient and sustainable environment in urban areas. This will be presented in the city council for its approval for an endorsement of resolution adopting the said proposal.

 

Regional Director Nelson Honrado of EMB Region 2 emphasized the need to fully implement waste segregation at source, within the households, and barangay level to reduce wastes. “The bulk of waste generated in Tuguegarao City is mostly biodegradable. If only these biodegradable wastes be converted into compost then only residual wastes will go to the sanitary landfill," said Director Honrado.

 

Solid waste management program strategies and approaches were also discussed in the meeting such as the conduct of massive information drive; orientation among barangay officials; and benchmarking to SLF, urban greening and river management best practices.

 

Other measures tackled include the imposition of no segregation no collection policy, installation of dumpster or a large trash receptacle in selected areas, and scheduling of garbage collection to include within the regional government center.

 

"We want a change that has longer effect and impact. With shared responsibility, better opportunity comes in," the local chief executive added.

 

Tuguegarao City has an average total of 40 tons generated waste per day.

 

Joining in the meeting were other DENR and LGU officials.#