In order to resolve various requirements of concerned government agencies involved in the offshore mining operation, members of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee have recently convened at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office in Tuguegarao City.

 

Chaired and co-chaired respectively by DENR Region 2 Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Mario Ancheta and Regional Executive Director (RED) Gwendolyn Bambalan, the discussion highlighted the roles and responsibilities of each agency in offshore mining and its compliance with the findings and recommendations of the Multipartite Monitoring Team.

 

In her message, RED Bambalan reminded the members of the committee to be prepared and have preventive measures so as not to repeat the oil spill that occurred in Oriental Mindoro. "We requested this meeting to clarify roles and responsibilities to avoid future problem specifically on offshore-mining-related activities. There is a need for us to have our response plan ready so that each agency would know what to do," the DENR region 2 chief emphasized.

 

Director Bambalan also thanked the mining firm for its commitment in complying with the requirements needed on its operation.

 

The JDVC Resources Inc. is a large-scale offshore mining company to operate magnetite ore in the coastal towns of Cagayan. It's application for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement was already approved but not yet operational.

 

Also present during the meeting were representatives from the JDVC, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, Regional Maritime Unit 2, Philippine National Police, and Maritime Industry Authority.#

Lady staff of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Isabela organized a community outreach to Agta families in Barangay Cabisera 10 in the City of Ilagan, Isabela.

 

As the staff takes time to reflect on Women’s History Month, they reached the people at the grassroots level to provide free comprehensive human services such as food packs, clothing, and grocery items.

 

The group initiated the program for the less fortunate people in the community, particularly Aetas, to engage in a meaningful event that created a positive impact and expanded perspectives on the context of humanitarian concerns.

 

Agtas are one of the Indigenous Peoples residing in the mountainous parts of Luzon. They still depend on agriculture to generate income and sustain their basic needs.#

 

Photos and story by PENRO Isabela

In the opening of the three-day first quarter regional management conference of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley, Undersecretary for Policy Programs and International Affairs Jonas Leones has cited the commitment of the environment officials to environmental good governance to attain quality environment and sustainable natural resources.

 

“Despite the challenges in implementing our programs, you still manage to stride raising the bar of excellent performance towards building a sustainable environment,” said Atty. Leones adding the importance of strategic planning in implementing transparency, accountability, and participatory approaches to achieve greater impact to environment and climate change resiliency programs.

 

USec. Leones also emphasized the need to institutionalize information and communication technology to create solutions and formulate policies through database and online management system.

 

In her message, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR CV stressed to continue developing new approaches and systems to enhance public service delivery.

 

“I challenge our PENROs and CENROs to embrace digitization in our office operations to make our work lighter and smarter. Let us transform our existing processes by maximizing digital technologies,” Director Bambalan said.

 

As evident of bracing change for development, the DENR R2 was recently conferred with bronze award under the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management, specifically by implementing an online recruitment, selection and placement in the agency, the first DENR initiative nationwide.

 

An online system for land record application will also be launched on friday as part of decentralizing the authority of securing simple land record transactions to the field offices.

 

"Let us raise the bar of performance. When we raise the bar of performance, we create a culture of excellence and quality public service," the regional environment chief added.

 

In the awards night, the best regional divisions and PENR and CENR offices and best established forest plantation demonstration areas under the forestland management project were recognized.

 

Discussions on environmental programs concerning legal easements, urban biodiversity to include in mining areas, forestland management, online application for environmental compliance certificate, forestland areas inventory, implementation plan, and concerns from the bureaus, management and technical services were discussed.

 

Experts from research and development and University of the Philippines Los Baños also discussed in the conference the water security in Cagayan River Basin and its climate vulnerability assessment.

 

A benchmarking activity was also conducted in Nagassican, Santiago City to observe and adapt best practices in solid waste management.

 

Nagassican is 2022 regional winner of barangay basura buster and a multi-awarded barangay local government unit under the leadership of punong barangay Reynante Bautista.

 

The opening program was graced by Janet Orpilla representing City Mayor Alyssa Sheena Dy.#

Two of the most empowered women in Cagayan Valley have graced the first gender and development forum of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 yesterday as part of the Women’s Month Celebration.

 

With the theme “Institutionalizing Women’s Rights and Protection Towards Healthy, Exceptional and Green Governance,” Vice Mayor Maria Olivia Pascual of Lal-lo, Cagayan shared the Legislative Actions in Ensuring Safe Spaces, Resilient, and Inclusive Governance Among Women and Men Residents of Lal-lo, while Dr. Ma. Raul Carmela Combate talked about empowered women leader.

 

Tagged as ‘Babaeng Maaasahan’ and awarded as the legislator with "Most Number of Ordinances and Resolutions Passed,” Vice Mayor Pascual is also the President of Zonta Club of Tuguegarao - a leading global organization of professionals which aims to empower women through service and advocacy and to build a better world for women.

 

In her talk, Vice Mayor Pascual shared how she ensured safe spaces, resiliency, and inclusive governance among her constituents in Lal-lo town.

 

To ensure a safe community, she enacted ordinances on public safety, prohibition of carrying deadly weapons, prohibition of students and minors from entering recreational places during academic hours, and implementation of a drug-free workplace.

She also underscored how they practiced resiliency during the peak of the pandemic. “During the pandemic, we became more resilient by not only enduring the situation but how we transformed our actions,” she said.

 

On inclusive governance, the vice mayor shared some ordinances on how they involved the locals from children, youth, men, women and other stakeholders in their undertakings.

 

Dr. Combate, a well-known physician in the province of Cagayan talked about how to be an empowered woman.

According to Dr. Combate, it is important that women understand their purpose in life, how they make plans when faced with challenges and how should they treat others.

 

She also encouraged the participants to identify and master their type of leadership in order to empower others.

 

In her closing message, Director Gwendolyn Bambalan thanked the speakers for sharing their time and inspiring stories.

 

She reminded DENR employees that the true empowered indivuals are those who serve others. “Part of being empowered men and women is when we perform our duties well as public servants,” the regional environment chief underscored.

The forum was participated in by personnel of DENR regional and field offices, Environmental Management Bureau, and Mines and Geosciences Bureau.#

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley has called on empowerment of the region's men and women environment public servants.

 

“I enjoin all workers of DENR Region 2 to participate in our month-long celebration of women’s month which will be highlighted on their development and empowerment,” said the regional environment chief.

 

Director ‘Mutya’ Bambalan who is also the first ever lady environment chief in the region added the levelling up on ways to celebrate the event.

 

“Our employees deserve to be provided with gender and development programs that will motivate them to work harder and be productive amid the uncertainties that we are facing due to life's new normal,” she added.

 

The activities of said celebration will be an avenue for the officials and employees to be oriented on gender mainstreaming and sensitivity that is relevant in natural resource management and conservation program implementation.

 

Employees will also attend symposiums and brown bag discussions on health and wellness; environmental information and techology innovations; leadership and empowerment; and gender equality, inclusive and resilient society.

 

They will also undertake sessions on urban greening and livelihood enterprises as part of adopting climate-resilience program for the employees.

 

As enjoined by the DENR Central Office, the regional and field offices simultaneously hung their event streamers yesterday to drumbeat awareness on women's month celebration.

 

This years theme is "We, for Gender Equality, Inclusive and Resilient Society.”#