A wounded male Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) or ‘pawikan’was rescued by a fisherman at the municipal waters of Barangay Binitinan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental recently.

In his report to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region X Regional Executive Director (RED) Arleigh J. Adorable, OIC, Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Aldrich S. Resma said the Green Sea Turtle which was rescued by Arnie Valerio is now being rehabilitated and regularly monitored by personnel of the DENR and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Balingasag until its recovery.

OIC, ARD Resma said the local government unit of Balingasag reported the incident to DENR X and a team composed of personnel from the DENR X together with personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Misamis Oriental, Dr. James Bautista and staff from the Misamis Oriental Provincial Veterinary Office and the MENR Officer of Balingasag conducted assessment of the rescued turtle.

The team observed that the turtle had a severe fracture on the right portion of the head presumed to be caused by a heavy blow using a hard/heavy object. The turtle, with a carapace length of 92.5 cm and width of 81 cm, had an amputated left hind-flipper but it was an old injury and the wound is completely healed.

He recommended to RED Adorable that the DENR X Enforcement Division shall conduct further investigation regarding the incident to identify the culprit of the illegal act.

The protection of all wildlife including marine turtles is embodied under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Illegal acts like hunting, killing, gathering their eggs, destroying their nests, selling, transporting and mere possession of any part or derivatives is punishable with a fine of Fifty thousand pesos to Five hundred thousand pesos and imprisonment of four years and one day to six years, if inflected or undertaken against endangered species.

“We thank the local government units (LGUs) for working with us in the protection and conservation of our endangered species like the marine turtles. He said the DENR X continues to work with the LGUs, other government agencies, communities and concerned groups and individuals to further promote the sustainable development of our coastal and marine resources,” ARD Resma added.

It was gathered that the veterinarian injected anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory drug to prevent infection and lessen the pain caused by the fracture. The wound was also sprayed with anti-bacterial medicine. #TayoAngKalikasan (With report from the Protected Area Mgt. and Biodiversity Conservation Section, Conservation and Development Division) RPAO # 09-253-20

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 12 September 2020

Eighteen learners successfully completed the two-day learning event on Filipino Sign Language as The National Sign Language of The Filipino Deaf and The Official Sign Language of Government in all Transactions for The Hearing-Impaired Clients conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region X on August 19-20, 2020 in Cagayan de Oro City.

This is an innovation under the DENR X headed by the Regional Executive Director Arleigh J. Adorable, CESO III. The learning event was aimed to provide efficient service to all types of clients or groups specially the Persons with Disability (PWD) sector of the community.

Resource speakers were Executive Director of the Deaf Association of Misamis Oriental, Inc. (DAMOR) Hazel D. Bual and Sign Language Interpreter from City Social Welfare and Development Ma. Cheryl A. Gacita.

Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Management Services Felix S. Mirasol, Jr. shared about RA 7277 and RA 9442 also known as Magna Carta for disabled persons, and for other purposes which require government offices to treat their client with equal opportunity. He pointed out that all personnel should serve the public with excellence, integrity and honesty.

DENR X Chief of Administrative Division Grace Dolores R. Chan said that the main purpose of the event is to teach frontliners the fundamentals of the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) so they could interact with clienteles who are part of the deaf community.
OIC-Chief of Human Resource Development Section Georgina C. Padilla discussed Republic Act No. 11106 which is an act declaring the Filipino Sign Language as The National Sign Language of The Filipino Deaf and The Official Sign Language of Government in all transactions involving the Deaf, and mandating its use in schools, broadcast media, and workplaces. She emphasized that DENR is an agency that wanted to be responsive and relevant to its clients not only to the able-bodied but also the deaf.
Topics include “What is like to be Deaf?” – Understanding Deaf and Deaf Culture, Learning Basic Signs such as alphabets, numbers, greetings, members of the family, feelings and emotion, and telling time common used words. The learners also had a workshop, actual communication with Deaf application, and group singing using sign language assisted by Winlyn Heartwill Q. Ucab and Mary Ann T. Nagac of the Deaf Association of Misamis Oriental, Inc. (DAMOR). RPAO MR No. 09-245-2020

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 07 September 2020

To further support the “Go Green, Go Grow and Earn Green” activities of the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP)-Bukidnon Council, the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO) of Bukidnon crafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Covenant of Membership signing on Tayo Ang Kalikasan (TAK) with the BSP-Bukidnon council on August 21, 2020 at Barangay Pal-ing Patpat, Malaybalay City.

The MOU serves as a tool for any environment-related activity for both parties in the near future, wherein the DENR as the lead the agency in the protection, conservation and development of the country’s forest and environment and natural resources was tasked to assist and provide technical assistance to the BSP Council in their support to DENR’s implementation of Republic Act No. 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act) and Republic Act No. 9003 (Comprehensive Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).

However, the BSP-Bukidnon council on its part, was also tasked to support the DENR TAK Programs for Environment and Natural Resources for Restoration, Rehabilitation and Development (PRRD) through signing of the Covenant of Membership and to be part of “Tayo Ang Kalikasan” as local chapter of the movement; and to maintain the cleanliness of the rivers/esteros/creeks/canals and/or other water bodies and Tree Planting site pursuant to Republic Act No. 9275 and Republic Act No. 9003.

OIC, PENR Officer Vergilino P. Alima during the opening program expressed his gratitude to the BSP-council represented by Council Scout Executive Glenda A. Berse for the all-out support to DENR’s programs and activities. He also lauded the BSP-council’s “Go Green, Go Grow and Earn Green” initiatives which enable Scouts to become well-rounded individuals and effective citizens in the future. He also thanked Council Scout Executive Berse for supporting the MOU.

BSP-Bukidnon Council Scout Executive Glenda A. Berse on her part articulated that the Council is very happy and excited to be part in the protection, conservation and development of the environment. She also expressed the Scouts willingness to help in whatever ways they could to perform their duties and responsibilities as TAK partner stakeholder.

Meanwhile, after the brief program, a chapter formation on TAK movement was spearheaded by PENRO-Bukidnon TAK focal person Arhleen A. Arat. She discussed the TAK organizational structure and background and emphasized that the program was objectively envisioned to be a collaborative effort between the government and stakeholders.

The signing of MOU and TAK Covenant of Membership and recitation of the TAK Pledge of Commitment concluded the program proper.

Moreover, a tree growing activity was also conducted during the activity, DENR-PENRO Bukidnon Youth Desk Officer Roxanne Faye O. Rolida spearheaded and briefed Scouts on the proper way of handling and planting of seedlings prior to the actual tree planting to ensure the survival of seedlings. A total of 100 Kupang (Parkia timoriana) seedlings were planted during the activity. #TayoAngKalikasan (RPAO PR No. 08-241-2020) (With reports from PENRO-Bukidnon TAK Focal Person Arhleen A. Arat)

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Parent Category: News & Events

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Published: 27 August 2020

To properly disseminate information on the forthcoming expiration of Republic Act No. 9176 (Agricultural Free Patent Titling) application on December 31, 2020, the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Camiguin update and distribute notices to Local Government Units and other concerned government Offices within the province on July 23-27, 2020.

The DENR-PENRO Camiguin personnel through the supervision of PENR Officer Merlyn O. Dumalahay toured around the municipalities in the province to distribute information materials, posters and tarpaulins regarding the Agricultural Free Patent Titling expiry come December 31, 2020.

PENRO Dumalahay calls on concerned parties to take advantage of the allocated time to process their free patent applications through the DENR Land Inspector or personally visit the DENR-PENR Office located in Poblacion Mambajao. She also reiterated that processing and filing of Agricultural Free Patent Applications will no longer be accepted after the deadline unless a new law is passed extending the Republic Act No. 9176, Dumalahay added.
(Report and photos courtesy from PENRO Camiguin) #TayoAngKalikasan (RPAO MR No. 08-233-2020)

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Parent Category: News & Events

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Published: 24 August 2020

The implementation of Expanded National Greening Program (ENGP) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region X (DENR X) has thrived its way during the first half of CY 2020 amidst the continuing threat poses by coronavirus disease.

DENR X ENGP has produced a total of 5,528,635 seedlings or equivalent to 101% of its regular target of 5,451,175 seedlings. Among the commodities produced are timber (4,958,276), bamboo (226,180), fruit trees (5,000), coffee (25,000), cacao (103,750), indigenous species (122,825) and rattan (12,500).

Under the maintenance and protection of existing ENGP plantations from CY 2018 and 2019, DENR X has maintained and protected 100% of its total target of 8,852 hectares and attained a minimum survival rate of 85% up to the end of second quarter of the current year.

With regard to plantation establishment, DENR X has established a total of 1,192 hectares with 1,627,685 seedlings planted on it and covered by 131 Memorandum of Agreements for Comprehensive Site Development contracted to Peoples’ Organizations (POs).

The ENGP established plantations this year are distributed in the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) of DENR X. Except for the PENRO of Camiguin which only targets the maintenance and protection of its existing ENGP plantations, the PENRO of Bukidnon has the largest target area of 3,086 hectares, followed by that of PENROs of Misamis Oriental (880.5 ha), Lanao del Norte (500 ha) and Misamis Occidental (46.5 ha), respectively.

Another highlight of this mid-year’s accomplishment is the income generation from ENGP established plantations with a total of Php1,832,064.20 covering the first to second quarter of CY 2020. Under the same period, some ENGP-POs have generated additional gross income of Php130,352.00 from their NGP-Livelihood Enterprise Development Projects that were implemented last CY 2017 and 2018. Moreover, since the beginning of this year, a total of 53.25 kilograms of seeds were already collected from the identified Individual Plus Trees in the region, while the Clonal Nursery situated in Sumpong, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon has produced a total of 7,263 cloned seedlings of various species.

Despite the restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, DENR X has undertaken strategic measures in order to satisfactorily accomplish its targets under ENGP. #TayoAngKalikasan RPAO MR No. 08-218-2020

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 05 August 2020