The regional environment chief has appealed for support from the uniformed personnel in the conduct of oplan huli week 2023.

 

In her message yesterday during the flag-raising and awarding ceremonies of the Cagayan Police Provincial Office (CPPO) in Tuguegarao City, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thanked the uniformed forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its assistance in the enforcement of forestry and environmental laws, rules and regulations.

 

“The DENR has high regard to the PNP as the primary law enforcement agency in the country. In fact, the police force has been our agency’s staunch partner in environmental protection,” Director Bambalan emphasized.

 

The regional environment chief also mentioned the successful joint DENR-PNP accomplishment in 2022 for the series of apprehensions of illegal forest products and conveyances originating from the nearby regions passing through Region 2.

 

“While we are mandated to conserve our nation’s wealth, we also need to protect our forest officers. This is the very reason why we intensify our collaboration with our country’s enforcement arm,” she added as she stressed the importance of collaboration with the enforcement arm to ensure the safety of forest officers when doing forest patrol and monitoring in various checkpoints.

 

The CPPO under the leadership of Police Colonel Julio Gorospe, provincial director, has been an active partner of the DENR during seaborne operations in the coastal areas and in the conduct of ground surveillance against illegal forest activities. Since June 2020, the collaboration resulted to the apprehension of more than 180 cubic meters of forest products and 65 conveyances.

 

Director Bambalan was guest of honor and keynote speaker in the said awarding. She administered the pinning of the “Medalya ng Kagalingan at Papuri" to the seven police officers namely; Police Majors Jefferson Mukay and Jeorge Jacob; Police Captains Vilmore Mallilin and Jim Palattao; Police Senior Master Sergeant Arnel Talosig; and Police Corporals Vanessa Kim Purisima and Sheila Pascua.#

In a bid to empower and improve the lives of people’s organizations in the community, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 has awarded financial assistance to the beneficiaries under the Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) program of the Department.

 

With the assistance of the provincial environment and natural resources office of Isabela through the CENR Office of Cabagan, the Asosyasyon ng mga Kababaihan para sa Turismo at Kalikasan (AKAP) and Tumauini Watershed Natural Park Lead Guide Association (TWNP-LGA) received P50,000 each for their livelihood projects in time of the women's month culmination.

 

The two people’s organizations will start their business within the Tumauini Watershed Natural Park not only to generate income but also to improve the basic services offered to the tourists.

 

The women group will put up a carinderia while the TWNP-LGA will venture into rental on tour guiding equipment.

 

"Aside from gaining income from your business startup projects, the cleanliness of the park and the safety of visitors will be ensured with your presence as our partners," Director Bambalan underscored.

 

PENR Officer Orly Cariazo encouraged the beneficiaries to grow their business and properly manage the financial support given to them.

 

“The financial assistance which came from the Integrated Protected Area Fund implemented by the Protected Area Managemen Board aims to support and empower you economically,” the regional environment chief added as she urge the beneficiaries to always ensure the protection and safety of all park visitors.

 

For their acceptance messages, AKAP Vice President Melchora Divina said the financial support is a big help to start their chosen enterprise while Marlo Delos Trinos, TWNP-LGA president, thanked the DENR and pledged their commitment to utilize the funds for the purchase of personal protective equipment and other tour-guide gears.

 

The awarding was also witnessed by CENR Officer Dionisio Deundo, PA superintendent Tito Mangantulao, BDFE beneficiaries, and other DENR personnel.#

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Isabela recently facilitated an orientation seminar on environmental and natural resources laws among the chief and deputy chief of police in the province.

 

Police Major Pio Raneses of Isabela Police Provincial Office said in his welcome remarks the activity aims to enhance and equip the participants with knowledge on environmental laws, policies, rules, and regulations as they carry out responsibilities in conducting operations within their respective municipalities.

 

"We need to be updated on environmental laws to address confusions and queries and become skilled in handling environmental cases," Major Raneses said.

 

For his part, PENRO Isabela Chief Technical Services Division Giovanie Taguinod urged the participating police officers to listen attentively to the topics for a mutual understanding of special laws.

 

"Let us have a uniform interpretation of the different environmental laws. We hope for a fruitful interaction and eventually capacitate everyone on matters," he said.

 

Atty. Teodora Pagalilauan, land management officer III of PENRO Isabela, tackled the provisions of DENR Administrative Order No. 97-32 and its Prohibited Acts and Penalties, Implementing Rules and Regulations of Chainsaw Act of 2002, and other environmental-related topics.

 

The lawyer vouched that strengthening the existing mechanisms in environmental law enforcement, regulations, and policies is vital to address dangers posed to the environment and those who protect it.

 

Sixty-six uniformed men took the pre and post-tests, and selected participants gave an impression to the seminar course.

 

They said they were now equipped with proper concepts, skills, and techniques in law enforcement. As environmental defenders, they will be more competent particularly in utilizing practical technological know-how on forestry laws.#

By PENRO Isabela

To protect biodiversity in mining areas and promote sustainable development and utilization of natural and mineral resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recently conducted orientation on DENR Administrative Order No. 2022-04 or “Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Protection in Mining Operations.”

 

In the three-day Luzon cluster orientation on DAO 2022-04 hosted by the DENR Region 2, over 60 participants from DENR central office, staff and line bureaus, and regions in the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were oriented on the provisions of the new policy to minimize negative impacts of mining on biodiversity.

 

In her message, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the DENR Cagayan Valley shared the experiences and best practices on mining rehabilitation with the engagement of the mining companies and stakeholders. “We will continue to uphold responsible mining, and that rehabilitation and enrichment of affected areas are always our priority,” she said.

 

Director Bambalan required mining companies in the region to identify reference ecosystems in mining sites where they can grow and restore native and endemic species that they can use in rehabilitating affected or mined areas.

 

She also emphasized that through the region's initiative, the partner mining companies are more into area development rather than mere seedlings replacement scheme because aside from providing livelihood opportunities to the partner Peoples Organizations, it also contributed to the increased areas developed under the National Greening Program.

 

The establishment of a three-hectare arboretum in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, and creation of regional environmental law enforcement committee to amplify the cross-sectoral approach in the enforcement of environmental laws were other initiatives to enhance forest development in the region.

 

“I would like to remind the participants that as DENR employees, we have a very critical role to play. We are obliged to strictly implement mining and other ENR laws, rules and regulations. This is our commitment to the environment, to the people, and to the generations to come,” the regional environment chief added.

 

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information Systems and Mining Concerns Nonita Caguioa emphasized the importance of collaboration with key stakeholders in order to successfully implement the said law.

 

“This rollout training aims to impart to the participants knowledge on responsible mining ensuring the protection of biodiversity and species habitat,” ASec. Caguioa stressed adding the provision of adequate measures to protect biodiversity as one of the objectives of the new policy.

 

The orientation was organized by the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) under the leadership of Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Marcial Amaro Jr. who is also the BMB Director in concurrent capacity.

 

It was co-organized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, DENR-United Nations Development Program and Global Environmental Facility Biodiversity Corridor Project, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Centre for Biodiversity-Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN Project.#

In an effort to guide the mining stakeholders in the development of their Social Development Management Program (SDMP), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 2 has recently oriented on Enterprise Development and Networking the three large-scale mining companies in the region namely; Didipio Mine, FCF Minerals Corporation, and Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC) at the Casa Jardin, Santiago City in Isabela.

 

Regional Director Mario Ancheta of MGB Region 2 in his welcome message said, “The social development and management program is one government initiative to implement and ensure sustainable development in the host and neighboring communities of mining companies. This is a good opportunity to learn from one another, to benchmark our best practices so we can better equip our communities to be sustainable and self-sufficient through enterprise development.”

 

MGB Region 2 Senior Science Research Specialist Maribeth Tumaliuan discussed existing policies on SDMP while representatives from mining companies presented their existing development and management plans.

 

In the orientation, Didipio Mine Community Relations (ComRel) Manager Nerry Langres, Community Development Supervisor Vincent Flores, and Community Development Superintendent Peter Benaires respectively discussed the overview of the SDMP allocation in their host and neighboring communities (HNCs), livelihood updates in communities, and social impact assessment of the company’s SDMP.

 

Moreover, FCF ComRel Superintendent Judy Ann Romero presented the findings and recommendations of the 1st SDMP for 2017-2022 implementation and the status of the implementation of their program on enterprise development; while DMC ComRel Supervisor Maria Perpetua De la Cruz discussed the development of their HNCs.

 

Meanwhile, DENR Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan explained the strategic planning program to enhance the SDMP implementation. She underscored the importance of DENR Administrative Order No. 2020-12 to promote the general welfare of the people in the communities where the mining area is located.

 

Director Bambalan who initiated the conduct of the event emphasized the SDMP implementation areas of concern of the mining companies such as capacity building on project management, organizational development, entrepreneurship, and skills development and training.

 

The orientation was also participated in by barangay local government unit councils; representatives from the federations, cooperatives, and community organizations of the HNCs of the respective mining companies; and other DENR and mining personnel.

 

The participants discussed their views and suggestions during the open forum moderated by MGB R2 Supervising Science Research Specialist Demetrio Corsino.#

 

Photos and story by MGB R2