Press Releases

DOLE-GIP takes share in enhanced DENR refo program

 
The Government Internship Program (GIP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 2 takes a share in accelerating the growth and survival of bamboo and other trees planted in the valley's forestlands in support of the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
 
A total of 14 beneficiaries under the DOLE-GIP who rendered three-month services were engaged in plantations’ maintenance and protection activities within the 38-hectare bamboo plantations in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Cagayan.
Activities such as geotagging, foot patrolling, replanting, ring weeding, soil cultivation, and brushing have contributed to the growth and high survival rate of bamboos and other trees planted in the area.
 
The DOLE-DENR partnership started in 2020 engaging the 205 Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) has also resulted in improved riverbank stabilization and solid waste management programs of the Department.
 
120 workers planted bamboos along the easement area of the Cagayan River and 50 conducted cleanup and clearing operations within the Regional Government Center (RGC) in the same year after Super Typhoon Ulysses hit the region; and another 35 beneficiaries cleaned along the RGC premises in 2022.
 
In a recent meeting with DOLE key officials, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Cagayan Valley sought the support of the DOLE to sustain the maintenance and protection activities of the Department’s reforestation program.
 
“Through the government internship program, the community members-beneficiaries are given the opportunity to earn a living at the same time augment the government efforts in its fight to address climate change through massive planting activities,” said Director Bambalan as she thanked the DOLE officials for extending their support to the greening efforts of the Department.
 
Meanwhile, DOLE Regional Director Joel Gonzales appreciated the assistance of the interns for their contribution to environmental protection programs.
 
“We in our Department ensure to provide an improved labor and employment system as evident in our collaboration with other government agencies,” he emphasized.
 
In October 2022, a Memorandum of Agreement between and among the DOLE, DENR and Department of Trade and Industry was inked to seek intervention on bamboo reforestation sustainability; promote bamboo business industry; and extend financial assistance for the engagement of GIP and TUPAD beneficiaries.
 
Director Gonzales also approved in the meeting the 90-day renewal of the 14 GIP beneficiaries and 60-day engagement of the 35 TUPAD workers for a massive cleanup within the Regional Government Center in Carig, Tuguegarao City and maintenance and protection activities in clonal nurseries and at the Mechanized and Modernized Forest Nursery in Lannig, Solana, Cagayan.
 
The signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the said partnership renewal is tentatively set on Feb. 14, this year.#
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DENR Region 2 is PRIME-HRM Bronze Awardee

 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley received Bronze Award after obtaining Maturity Level 2 in four core areas of its Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).
 
The recognition was conferred today by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Region 2 through Acting Director IV Atty. Marites Lappay and Acting Director III Maria Noemi Bustamante.
 
In her message, Regional Executive Director (RED) Gwendolyn Bambalan expressed her gratitude to the Commission for its invaluable assistance throughout the Department’s journey to obtain Maturity Level 2 or process defined in all core areas of PRIME-HRM.
 
These core areas include recruitment, selection and placement; learning and development; performance management; and rewards and recognition.
 
Director Bambalan emphasized that DENR is committed to provide the highest quality of service to the public through excellent human resource management.
 
Under the leadership of RED Bambalan, the Department has crafted customized mechanisms to ensure equality, diversity, fairness and transparency in recruitment, selection and placement, and even in the learning and development program.
 
The performance of the offices from the region down to the field is regularly assessed and monitored, and outstanding employees are recognized through its rewards and recognition program.
 
Aside from these milestones, DENR Region 2 developed automated systems to promote transparency and improve efficiency at work.
 
“May this PRIME-HRM Bronze Award inspire all of us to become better and excellent civil servants,” said RED Bambalan as she challenged and thanked DENR’s Management Services team and personnel.
 
As a PRIME-HRM Bronze Awardee, DENR R2 has now the authority to approve appointments, subject to post audit, and is exempted from Section 96 of the 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments which states that ‘agencies shall not fill up vacancies resulting from promotion until the promotional appointments have been approved/validated by the CSC'.
 
The Department is also granted with other privileges like 20% discount for the HRM officer or agency representative on trainings and conferences conducted by the Civil Service Institute; exclusive membership to community of learners who shall have access to digital learning resources and other developmental opportunities subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Commission; and announcement of the agency’s programs/projects bureaucracy-wide through the CSC website.
 
Witnessing the awarding ceremony were Assistant Regional Executive Directors Ismael Manaligod and Marcos Dacanay, MGB Regional Director Mario Ancheta and other key officials and employees.
 
Meanwhile, RED Bambalan also administered the oath of office of 47 newly appointed and promoted personnel regionwide.
 
Since the launch of the Department’s online recruitment, selection and placement system last year, a total of 151 appointments have been issued in the region.#
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Pinas: The Basura Buster visits schools, campaigns for proper waste disposal

 
 
In celebration of Zero Waste Month, Pinas: The Basura Buster toured around Quirino province to educate youth on ecological solid waste management.
 
More than 1,000 students participated in the environmental roadshow dubbed “Youth for PROper Waste Segregation and Disposal” from the 15 elementary and junior high schools in the municipalities of Diffun, Nagtipunan, and Maddela.
 
The students were taught salient features of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 through dalaw-turo approach.
 
Students with special needs and who are members of the Indigenous Peoples also participated in the activity.
"It is important to involve the youth in our climate action to ensure that they will enjoy and sustain a clean and healthy environment. Let us mold the minds of the elementary graders in proper waste segregation and disposal while they are young," said PENR Officer Mariam Frances Malana during the commencement of the activity.
 
Aside from Pinas: The Basura Buster or PBB, information officers Ramon Sanchez, Jennilyn Gatin, and Marideth Joy Wangdale with other field personnel served as the resource persons during the two-week environmental roadshow in the province.
 
Information, education and communication print materials were also distributed to the schools.
 
The activity was initiated by PENR Office Quirino together with CENR Offices of Diffun and Nagtipunan.
PBB which was officially launched in the region last year is the image of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in its ecological solid waste management advocacy campaign.#
 
📸PENRO Quirino
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DENR, NIA set institutional arrangement for Magat watershed rehabilitation

 

After the multi-sectoral convergence meeting for Magat watershed governance conducted in November last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) met yesterday to set institutional arrangement among concerned government and private stakeholders for the rehabilitation and management of Magat Watershed.

At the NIA Command Center in Diliman Quezon City, NIA Acting Administrator Eddie Guillen, DENR Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan, Acting Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Sotivo Pagulayan III of local government unit (LGU) Ramon, Isabela and other officials of the two agencies and local government discussed the plans of NIA Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) and DENR to further improve the management of Magat Watershed.

With an area covering about 414,300 hectares, the Magat Watershed was declared Forest Reservation Area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 573 on June 26, 1969. A Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 1002, s. 1980 was also issued authorizing the NIA to manage, protect, develop, and rehabilitate the 15,000-hectare watershed area.

During the meeting, RED Bambalan raised development issues concerning the protection of said watershed. “Considering the huge area of the watershed, collaboration and partnership among agencies and local government units is important to enlist stakeholders' functions and responsibilities and ensure sustainability of the reservoir and protection of the watershed,” RED Bambalan emphasized.

The regional environment chief requested for the status of the 15,000 hectares, part of the watershed directly draining to the reservoir, and clarified that per LOI issued, the NIA is entrusted to manage and protect the said area.

The lady director also told the new administrator about the proposed regional Memorandum of Agreement (MOA ) between and among the NIA, DENR and LGU Ramon per agreement during the convergence meeting. This aims to update previous agreements and incorporate the stakeholders’ roles and mandates to ensure a holistic environmental and climate-responsive partnership.

“Revisiting the existing MOA signed between DENR and NIA in 2019 relative on the management and development of all critical watersheds will espouse stronger collaboration and partnership among government agencies and institutions,” the regional environment chief appealed adding the 15,000 hectares Magat watershed areas as focus in the execution of the MOA.

The management scheme on coverage of NIA and National Power Corporation on area awarded indicated in the LOI were discussed. She requested the commitment of NIA as to the management of said areas to be defined in the MOA.

Meanwhile, Engr. Guillen sees the potential of agro-forestry and eco-tourism projects that would provide sustainable source of income to the local communities within the watershed area. He suggested to plant fruit-bearing trees with market value in the area as additional source of food and income for the people.

“We strengthen the partnership of NIA with national and local government, private sector, non-government organizations, Irrigators Associations, and the public towards the success of this endeavor,” the irrigation top official underscored.

In the meeting, Conservation Development Division Chief Enrique Pasion presented developmental projects of the Department within the watershed area and other critical watersheds supporting NIA irrigation facilities such as Enhanced National Greening Program, Forestland Management Project, Build Back Better Task Force, and Forest Protection.

He included the operationalization of the Cagayan River Basin wherein one of its accomplishments was the newly passed Regional Development Council Resolution No. 02-05 s. 2022 entitled "Adopting the Proposed Measures to address the use of herbicide in Upland Corn Farming," duly approved by RDC Chairperson and Isabela Governor Rodito Albano III.

He also presented the result of comparative analysis of land cover change within the Magat watershed using the land cover map of NAMRIA from Calendar Years 2010, 2015 and 2020.

CENR Officer Edmundo Malupeng presented the result of the conducted assessment within Magat watershed particularly on activities undertaken by some occupants including the inventory of fish cages and operators within the reservoir, while For. Jose Bueno Jr. of the CDD presented the result of water quality monitoring within the magat reservoir conducted by the EMB R2 last November.

The meeting was also attended by NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar Sulaik, MARIIS Department Manager Gileu Michael Dimoloy, MARIIS Dam and Reservoir Division Manager Carlo Ablan, NIA Central Office Department Managers, and other DENR officials.

In order to fully discuss the watershed implementation plan, a Regional DENR-NIA Meeting is scheduled on Feb. 9, this year, in Ramon town to include the LGU and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2.

The meeting aims to determine the respective responsibilities of each agency or organization that will be incorporated in the joint Memorandum of Agreement to be signed by concerned parties.#

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DENR, NIA set institutional arrangement for Magat watershed rehabilitation

 

After the multi-sectoral convergence meeting for Magat watershed governance conducted in November last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) met yesterday to set institutional arrangement among concerned government and private stakeholders for the rehabilitation and management of Magat Watershed.

At the NIA Command Center in Diliman Quezon City, NIA Acting Administrator Eddie Guillen, DENR Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan, Acting Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Sotivo Pagulayan III of local government unit (LGU) Ramon, Isabela and other officials of the two agencies and local government discussed the plans of NIA Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) and DENR to further improve the management of Magat Watershed.

With an area covering about 414,300 hectares, the Magat Watershed was declared Forest Reservation Area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 573 on June 26, 1969. A Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 1002, s. 1980 was also issued authorizing the NIA to manage, protect, develop, and rehabilitate the 15,000-hectare watershed area.

During the meeting, RED Bambalan raised development issues concerning the protection of said watershed. “Considering the huge area of the watershed, collaboration and partnership among agencies and local government units is important to enlist stakeholders' functions and responsibilities and ensure sustainability of the reservoir and protection of the watershed,” RED Bambalan emphasized.

The regional environment chief requested for the status of the 15,000 hectares, part of the watershed directly draining to the reservoir, and clarified that per LOI issued, the NIA is entrusted to manage and protect the said area.

The lady director also told the new administrator about the proposed regional Memorandum of Agreement (MOA ) between and among the NIA, DENR and LGU Ramon per agreement during the convergence meeting. This aims to update previous agreements and incorporate the stakeholders’ roles and mandates to ensure a holistic environmental and climate-responsive partnership.

“Revisiting the existing MOA signed between DENR and NIA in 2019 relative on the management and development of all critical watersheds will espouse stronger collaboration and partnership among government agencies and institutions,” the regional environment chief appealed adding the 15,000 hectares Magat watershed areas as focus in the execution of the MOA.

The management scheme on coverage of NIA and National Power Corporation on area awarded indicated in the LOI were discussed. She requested the commitment of NIA as to the management of said areas to be defined in the MOA.

Meanwhile, Engr. Guillen sees the potential of agro-forestry and eco-tourism projects that would provide sustainable source of income to the local communities within the watershed area. He suggested to plant fruit-bearing trees with market value in the area as additional source of food and income for the people.

“We strengthen the partnership of NIA with national and local government, private sector, non-government organizations, Irrigators Associations, and the public towards the success of this endeavor,” the irrigation top official underscored.

In the meeting, Conservation Development Division Chief Enrique Pasion presented developmental projects of the Department within the watershed area and other critical watersheds supporting NIA irrigation facilities such as Enhanced National Greening Program, Forestland Management Project, Build Back Better Task Force, and Forest Protection.

He included the operationalization of the Cagayan River Basin wherein one of its accomplishments was the newly passed Regional Development Council Resolution No. 02-05 s. 2022 entitled "Adopting the Proposed Measures to address the use of herbicide in Upland Corn Farming," duly approved by RDC Chairperson and Isabela Governor Rodito Albano III.

He also presented the result of comparative analysis of land cover change within the Magat watershed using the land cover map of NAMRIA from Calendar Years 2010, 2015 and 2020.

CENR Officer Edmundo Malupeng presented the result of the conducted assessment within Magat watershed particularly on activities undertaken by some occupants including the inventory of fish cages and operators within the reservoir, while For. Jose Bueno Jr. of the CDD presented the result of water quality monitoring within the magat reservoir conducted by the EMB R2 last November.

The meeting was also attended by NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar Sulaik, MARIIS Department Manager Gileu Michael Dimoloy, MARIIS Dam and Reservoir Division Manager Carlo Ablan, NIA Central Office Department Managers, and other DENR officials.

In order to fully discuss the watershed implementation plan, a Regional DENR-NIA Meeting is scheduled on Feb. 9, this year, in Ramon town to include the LGU and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2.

The meeting aims to determine the respective responsibilities of each agency or organization that will be incorporated in the joint Memorandum of Agreement to be signed by concerned parties.#

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Category: Press Releases
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