Cagayan de Oro City – In pursuit of stopping the prevalent destruction of natural resources in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Region 10 (DENR 10) through the leadership of Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry A. Adornado apprehended illegal forest products and heavy equipment during the conduct of monitoring and investigation on the alleged illegal forest destruction along the Iponan River on December 4, 2023 in Barangay Tumpagon, Cagayan de Oro City and Barangay Cauyunan, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

Uprooted trees were discovered during the monitoring and investigation of the alleged illegal forest and river destruction along the Iponan River on December 4, 2023 in Barangay Tumpagon, Cagayan de Oro City.

Three units of Backhoes are being abandoned within the creek/small tributary of the Iponan River, already part of Barangay Cauyonan, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The joint operation team (Team) was spearheaded by DENR 10 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services (ARD-TS) Ronald D. Gadot, Sr.. The Team is composed of personnel from the DENR 10 - Enforcement, technical personnel from the PENRO Misamis Oriental, and CENRO Initao in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, Cagayan de Oro City Station.

Upon arrival in the vicinity of the target area, the Team quickly secured the same and discovered that approximately 1.94 hectares of land thereof were damaged due to excavation. It was also revealed that the backhoe units have encroached on the riverbank and its easement and navigated in small creeks, and water tributaries causing significant obstruction and visible damage to the banks of the tributaries as observed by the Team.

The successful operation resulted in the apprehension of 56 pieces of uprooted logs (Falcata, Santol, Malabulak, and African Tulip species) with a combined volume of 17.011 cubic meters with an estimated value of PHP 42,535.00 and abandoned three (3) backhoe excavators with an estimated value of PHP 21 million.

The seized backhoe excavators were left in the temporary custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Special Forces in Barangay Tumpagon, Cagayan de Oro City while the 56 uprooted forest products were left behind in the vicinity due to the inaccessibility of the area and the absence of the specialized equipment/vehicles to haul the forest products.

ARD Gadot said the office immediately issued an apprehension receipt under Presidential Decree (PD) 705, as amended, and DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 1997 – 32. He added a further investigation is being conducted by DENR 10 and a proper filing of charges to still-at-large violators thereafter.

ARD Gadot recommended the immediate conduct of Administrative Adjudication proceedings per DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 1997 - 32 and further intensify patrol and surveillance in the upstream areas, particularly in Barangay Cauyunan in the Municipality of Opol, Misamis Oriental, and other areas along the boundaries of Iligan City.

Furthermore, RED Henry Adornado instructed the PENRO and CENRO concerned to identify strategic locations to establish new monitoring stations to deter would-be violators in the future. He also sought the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government in the region to remind Local Government Units of their roles in the protection of the environment within their jurisdiction as embedded under the local government code of 1991.

The discovery of the illegal activities along the Iponan River was made using available Google images and was validated using drone technologies.

The successful operation is a significant victory in the ongoing fight of the Department against any illegal environmental activities with devastating consequences to the environment and local communities, he added.

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Published: 25 December 2023

To foster meaningful discussions and facilitate collaboration on crucial environmental matters, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 10 through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Region 10 will conduct Environmental Summit for 2023 on November 22-23 in Cagayan de Oro City.

With the theme, “Breaking the Plastic Habit: EPR Towards Circular Economy cum Panel Discussion on Extended Producer Responsibility”, the two-day event serves a pivotal platform bringing together various stakeholders from the government, industry, academia and civil society. It is also an offshoot of the recently conducted EPR Forum with Nestle Philippines in the city.

The first day of the Environmental Summit will focus on providing in-depth plenary presentations covering various aspects of the EPR Law and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations. It will also include comprehensive presentation and coaching session on navigating EPR Registry. This will be actively participated in by Obliged Enterprises, Producer’s Responsibility Organizations, Collectives, Provincial Local Government Units, Local Government Units as well as selected academic institutions in Region 10.

On the following day, outline of the EPR Program with strategies and initiatives will be presented. A workshop and review will be made to comprehensively gather feedback on the implementation of the program. It will also include the actual EPR Registration for the interested entities.

The event will also highlight exhibition where select/priority groups can exhibit products and services to support industries and other stakeholders in their endeavors to effectively implement EPR programs and waste diversion initiatives.

EPR is an environmental policy approach that encourages plastic waste reduction through the elimination of unnecessary plastic packaging of products, the development of more environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging design, and the recovery of plastic packaging from the trash to reuse or recycle them back into the production process. #TayoAngKalikasan RSCIG No. 11-322-2023

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 21 November 2023

To provide assistance and, in line with the simultaneous activity of the Community Passion (ComPassion) Project, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10 (DENR 10) through the Environmental Management Bureau, Region 10 (EMB 10), facilitated the “Trash-to-Bugas” program initiative courtesy of DENR 10 Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) to mark the 50th Founding Anniversary of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) on November 14, 2023 in Barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City.

The “Trash-to-Bugas” initiative encourages individuals and industry partners to collect and segregate properly solid wastes in compliance with the Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000, and Republic Act 11898 otherwise known as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022.

DENR 10 Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Management Services Ma. Theresa J. Allen expressed her gratitude to the barangay council of Puntod headed by its newly elected Barangay Chairman Alexis Dacer for the manifestation of support to the programs of the DENR as well as for the various women’s organizations in the barangay who are the prime beneficiary target of this project. She also thanked the presence of DENR personnel, the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), and partner industries the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) and the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Incorporated, and Macabalan Porters Association.

“We want to strengthen the partnership and operationalize the EPR Law through the leadership of Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry Adornado and Regional Director (RD) Reynaldo Digamo together with other eight industry partners and identify respective responsibilities to sustain our ComPassion Project anchoring on the EPR and of course with the participation of the community” said DENR 10 ARD for Management Services Ma. Theresa J. Allen.

A representative from CLENRO Mr. Ed Naguio said that the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cagayan de Oro fully supports the initiative of the DENR on the “Trash-to-Bugas” project as this would help the city’s campaign project to lessen the volume of plastics and eventually eliminate and prevent plastics from leading to the sea.

EMB 10 Regional Director Reynaldo S. Digamo emphasized that the ComPassion Project is based on the five pillars of sustainable development – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

He also urged the community to engage and practice solid waste segregation and challenged the barangay council of Puntod to take responsibility for monitoring and rehabilitating one of the areas in the barangay that already served as the dumping site.

The “Trash-to-Bugas” initiative was participated in by 64 residents of which a total weight of 280.42 kilograms of plastic wastes were collected in exchange of 202 kilograms of rice or 101 rice bags.

The ComPassion Project promotes community-based services that empower and creatively address the needs of various sectors and constituents in effective and significant ways that support the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. This also highlights the advocacy of the Department’s mission and vision to reach out to the community and provide opportunities, training and support, as well as resources for community projects. (RSCIG No. 11-320-2023)

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Published: 16 November 2023

To sustainably manage, collaborate purposively, and coordinate development initiatives among stakeholders in watersheds, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 10 partners with stakeholders in the institutionalization of the Agusan-Cugman Cluster of Watersheds Management Council (ACCWMC) through signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on October 17, 2023 in Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City.

The partners for the MOA include the national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, non-government organizations, religious group, security group, civil society organization, business sector and the social/people’s organizations. The activity aims to sustainably manage the multiple use of natural resources within the watersheds in a manner that is environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable, and to further restore the productive and protective function of currently degraded watersheds.

“Through this MOA, we are committing to a journey of partnership, shared responsibility, and continuous harmonious effort. This serves as a platform for collective decision-making, resource mobilization, and the execution of sustainable initiatives to protect and restore the ecological balance of our home.”, said DENR 10 Regional Executive Director Henry A. Adornado.

In behalf of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy, Chief, Administrative Officer Alejo T. Salvani, Jr. of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office expressed his gratitude to DENR and stakeholders in the initiative to institutionalize the ACCWMC as this will ensure to implement various environment-related activities that will protect, conserve and show love for the environment. He assured that the Local Government of Cagayan de Oro City will support the endeavor for the benefit of the environment and the communities.

“The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 10 strongly supports this noble endeavor to effectively and sustainably manage our watersheds recognizing the propelling impacts of climate change in the region”, emphasized by Assistant Regional Director Leonila G. Cajarte of National Economic Development Authority 10 in behalf of NEDA 10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño.

“The DILG urges our partner agencies to actively cooperate, engage and get involved as we partake further steps looking forward in the operation, supervision, management, protection and rehabilitation of the ACCWMC”, imparted by Chief, Hazel L. Occeña Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Local Government Capability Development Division who represented DILG 10 Regional Director Wilhelm M. Suyko.

The Agusan-Cugman Cluster of Watersheds (ACCW) is a significant and ecological area in Northern Mindanao. It encompasses a vast land of approximately 37,138 hectares within the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental covering five municipalities and city, namely: Manolo Fortich, Libona, Baungon in Bukidnon and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City. At the heart of ACCW lies the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon as its headwater that gives life to the diverse ecosystems within the five watersheds and eventually converge into the Macajalar Bay in Misamis Oriental.

The ACCWMC envisions to have a robust, resilient and nourishing cluster of watersheds that provides vital ecological services and amenities essential to the economy, food security and human survival. The council will serve as the governing body that will oversee the operation, management, protection and rehabilitation of the Agusan-Cugman Cluster of Watersheds. RSCIG-10-287-2023

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Published: 20 October 2023

To further strengthen the collaboration between national government agencies (NGAs) and the local government unit (LGUs) in the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and policies for the sustainable protection and conservation of our remaining natural resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10, through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Manolo Fortich inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the LGU of Malitbog, Bukidnon during the conduct of Municipal-wide Chainsaw Holders Forum on October 12, 2023 at Malitbog Cultural Center, Malitbog, Bukidnon.

The agreement was signed between Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry A. Adornado representing the DENR and Hon. Mayor Gary D. Casiño representing the Municipality of Malitbog, Bukidnon.

The MOA defines the roles and responsibilities of the DENR and LGU for the effective and efficient management of the environment and natural resources (ENR) specifically in the issuance of cutting and transport permits as well as the regulation of the chainsaw registration in the area.

RED Adornado said the department supports and is not against any development and harvesting of planted forest products instead, urged chainsaw permit holders to be proactive and responsible chainsaw owners to abide the existing ENR regulations and policies to avoid violations leading to the filing of cases, confiscation and penalties.

RED Adornado stressed and enumerated important provisions and violations as provided by Republic Act 9175 (Regulating the Ownership, Possession, Sale, Importation and Use of Chainsaws, Penalizing Violations Thereof and for Other Purposes).

He suggested to the Sangguniang Bayan of Malitbog that they can come up with additional policies pertaining to environmental protection and implementation of Republic Act 9175 based on the conduct of this Municipal-wide Chainsaw Holders Forum.

RED Adornado also lauded Mayor Casiño for the all-out support for the conduct of the forum particularly the signing of the MOA under the Department’s Tayo Ang Kalikasan a movement that envisioned to be a collaborative effort of the government, through DENR, and its citizens toward the protection of the country's natural resources.

Hon. Mayor Casiño likewise thanked RED Adornado, Bukidnon Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Vergilino Alima, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Manolo Fortich OIC, CENR Officer Daniel Somera and other DENR personnel for being very supportive to LGU-Malitbog.

Witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement are Hon. Vice Mayor Catherine D. Arguelles, PENR Officer Vergilino P. Alima and CENR Officer Daniel F. Somera other municipal officials and employees, chainsaw permit holders, private individuals, concerned residents and various stakeholders from the said municipality. (RSCIG MR # 10-285-2023) #TayoAngKalikasan (Photo and report courtesy of CENRO Manolo Fortich)

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Published: 18 October 2023