The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley officially welcomed yesterday Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Management Services Grace Cariño following the turn-over ceremony administered by Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan.

 

The new management services director who is a Cagayano served DENR Region 5 for three decades. She was designated as ARD for Management Services in the Bicol Region before her assignment in Region 2.

 

Director Bambalan also installed Atty. Ismael Manaligod as the new ARD for Technical Services vice Engr. Marcos Dacanay who is now the ARD for Special Concerns.

 

The designation of the three assistant directors is compliant with DENR Special Order Nos. 824, 825 and 826 issued by Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Dec. 1, 2023.

 

In her message, Director Bambalan mentioned the innovations of the DENR Region 2 such as the conferment of the PRIME HRM Bronze award, development of e-frontline services and other online systems, and office improvements, among others.

 

"As we are now into the digitalization governance, we hope to improve and expand next year what we have started to provide better services to our clients," Director Bambalan emphasized as she urged officials to build and count legacies for the Department.

 

Meanwhile, Director Bambalan also administered the oath-taking of the 36 newly appointed employees from the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, and the Regional Office. Under her term, a total of 616 appointments have been issued since June 2020.

 

Gift-giving to some personnel, janitors, and security guards was also held during the Christmas program.#

 

With its remarkable contribution to basic education, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley was awarded as the 1st runner-up in the 2nd Gawad ACE BEN competition of the Department of Education (DepEd) during the awarding ceremony held yesterday in Tuguegarao City.

 

Gawad ACE BEN or Agency Contribution for an Ennobling Basic Education towards Nation-building is a competitive platform where regional line agencies and local government units in Cagayan Valley showcase their dedicated programs for students and support to basic education.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said the region has long prioritized schools as beneficiaries in the disposition of confiscated forest products used for the construction of chairs and tables for schoolchildren.

 

Director Bambalan also mentioned her plan to strengthen the partnership with the education sector by facilitating the issuance of legal instruments for all school sites either through titling or proclamation.

 

Aside from the 4,580 board feet of confiscated lumber donated to schools this year, the DENR also led environmental education initiatives in schools and communities. It conducted youth camps and mall exhibits, and distributed information materials.

 

With the help of the ENR Ambassadors organized by the DENR, more students were engaged in environmental activities like tree growing, coastal cleanup, mangrove visit and community outreach program.

 

The awarding ceremony highlighted the 2nd Regional Public Affairs, Communication, and Information Congress of DepEd.#

 

The last quarter Regional Management Conference of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley recently held in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya highlighted milestones, and achievements in the implementation of its priority programs.

 

Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones in his message outlined strategies in the pursuit of a greener future and a steadfast governance.

 

“We must prioritize policies that foster environmental sustainability, address climate change challenges, and promote biodiversity conservation,” USec Leones emphasized adding the integration of initiatives that leverage technology, engage communities, and encourage sustainable practices.

 

In her speech, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan underscored the region's initiatives in 2023 while acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead in the coming year. She discussed some of her priority directions for 2024, which are aimed at improving the management and technical services operations.

 

During the conference, key officials discussed inventory of structures within forestlands which aid in monitoring and evaluation for renewal of issued 25-year tenurial instruments. They also tackled the one control maps of all the community environment and natural resources offices needed for the establishment of Natural Resource National Geospatial Database, a platform for planning and informed policy and decision-making.

 

The officials also immersed with Community-Based Forest Management-People’s Organization members of Federation of Vista Hills, Kalongkong and Kakilingan Upland Farmers, Inc. in Barangay Buena Vista to assist them in their forest and livelihood activities and to discuss vital solutions to climate change specifically on protecting biodiversity and building resilient communities.

 

Also gracing the event were incoming Assistant Regional Executive Director for Management Services Grace Cariño, Vice Governor Eufemia Dacayo, and Bayombong Mayor Antonio Sergio Bagasao.

The three-day conference concluded with an oath-taking ceremony for 44 newly appointed personnel from the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, and Quirino.#

 

After the reopening of the Bangan Hill National Park (BHNP) located in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya in November 2022, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley led the inauguration of the coffee shop and other facilities within the protected area (PA).

 

The coffee shop, PA information center, ticketing booth, view deck and hostel were constructed by DENR Region 2 with funding support from the Biodiversity Management Bureau.

 

Through the improved facilities, the BHNP now offers fun and relaxation activities such as hiking, biking, picnic trips, photo shoots, bird watching, and viewing within the almost 13-hectare scenic spot in the province.

 

“The improvement of Bangan Hill National Park was really a dream come true. At first, we do not know where to get funds to charge all the activities we planned to do. Our being adamant to pursue what were in our minds and our good networking with officials from the DENR Central Office really paid off,” said Director Bambalan.

 

She underscored the importance of improving the ecotourism facilities not only in BHNP but also in other protected areas of the region.

 

“I believe that ecotourism development will not only enhance the efforts towards conserving the remaining natural resources but also create economic opportunities in the local community,” she added emphasizing the engagement of people's organization members in the ecotourism development enterprise for coffee and other local food products.

 

The regional environment chief also appealed to the members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to support the project by preparing the different guidelines and protocol for the operationalization of the said facilities.

 

Cagayan Valley Regional Tourism Council Chairperson Ruth Padilla and Bayombong Mayor Antonio Sergio Bagasao represented by Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Marilyn Juan graced the event. They acknowledged the contributions of the DENR in ecotourism and PA management and committed for continued support toward the development of the national park.

 

Declared as national park by virtue of Republic Act No. 7954 s. 1995, the BHNP is a historic and cultural landmark of Nueva Vizcaya having held in this place the first mass in the province in 1739 which also marks the founding of the municipality of Bayombong.#

The first female director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 was named as the CES Cost-Effective Officer (CEO) for her outstanding contributions to promoting environmental responsibility in the mining industry.

 

The Career Executive Service Board (CESB) conferred the prestigious recognition to Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan during the 2023 CES Lifelong Learning for Leadership Congress (CESCON) held at the Manila Hotel in the City of Manila.

 

According to the CES Board, the Outstanding CEO award aims to give credit to the strategic leadership qualities of the CES officers and third-level eligibles whose decisions or actions create a desired level of performance that leads to the maximum utilization of resources, resulting in increased agency savings.

 

During her first year in Region 2, Director Bambalan advocated for a transformative and more sustainable approach to the Seedling Replacement Scheme for the trees that were removed by the mining companies in their operations.

 

In 2020, she initiated a partnership with mining firms for the development and maintenance of forest plantations and agroforestry areas in the region in support of the National Greening Program (NGP).

“Instead of merely replacing the trees cut with either 50 seedlings for every planted tree or 100 seedlings for naturally growing trees that will be removed, I requested the mining companies during my first year in Region 2 to instead develop and maintain forest plantations that will be planted with indigenous species and/or agroforestry areas in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino,” Director Bambalan said.

 

Through a Memoranda of Agreement with FCF Minerals Corporation and OceanaGold Philippines, these companies provided funds for the development of NGP areas for three years starting in 2021. The partnership resulted in the establishment of 645 hectares of forest and agroforestry plantations. It also provided livelihood opportunities to local communities.

 

The collaboration also led to the establishment of an arboretum at the Ecological Park and Training Center in the province of Nueva Vizcaya in 2021.

 

Under the partnership agreement signed in July 2021, the FCF Minerals Corporation pledged an annual budget of P300,000 for five years starting in 2021. The company also committed to provide annual financial support for the maintenance, protection, and research undertakings at the arboretum.

 

The three-hectare arboretum now showcases different indigenous and dipterocarp species that are already vulnerable and threatened. Aside from being a source of quality planting materials, the arboretum serves as an ecotourism site and educational laboratory.

 

"We are confident that with these initiatives, we are creating more impacts in our regreening efforts and ensuring accountability and transparency in our program implementation,” the Cagayan Valley environment chief said.#