Stakeholders join Clean Up Panay Project in Aklan
About 480 participants composed of the 4Ps beneficiaries, local government unit of Kalibo, Barangay Councils of Poblacion, New Buswang, and Pook, Kalibo Municipal Police Station, Philippine Army reservist, local residents, and a private company (Mabuhay Maritime Express Transport Incorporated) joined the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PENRO Aklan in cleaning up of Aklan River, streets and thoroughfares, and coastal areas in three barangays of the Municipality of Kalibo, Aklan last August 17, 2019.
The clean up activity collected a total of 273 sacks with estimated 6,825 kilograms of residuals comprising single use plastics, PET bottles, styrofoams, diapers, and many more which were mostly dumped indiscriminately in river, streets, thoroughfares and coastal area.
During the Climate Reality and Environmental Forum held on August 22, 2019, OIC PENR Officer Merlene B. Aborka encouraged the local government units and barangays officials to help the government in the mobilization of their respective communities to participate in the Clean Up Panay Project by cleaning up their respective areas of responsibility as a “way of life” or In a regular basis such as every Friday or Saturday to sustain the clean up efforts.
Francisco E. Milla, Jr., Regional Executive Director of DENR Western Visayas expressed his gratitude on the active participation and support of the public in cleaning up the riverbanks of Aklan River.
“It is important that we help clean up and free our rivers from garbage to avoid contaminating and polluting our source of clean water,” he said.
The Clean-Up Panay Project is a priority project of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu that took inspiration in the recent rehabilitation of Boracay Island and Manila Bay and ordered DENR in Western Visayas to take the lead in the cleanup of rivers and shorelines in Panay Island.
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DENR Sec Cimatu pushes for Panay as PH Bamboo Capital
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu strengthens the implementation of the Enhanced National Greening Program (E-NGP) by targeting 13,050 hectares to be planted with bamboos in Panay Island. He pushed for it to become the country’s ‘Bamboo Capital’ and this is one of his marching orders during his traditional New Year’s Call held at the Department Environment Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office in Quezon City.
Bamboos help mitigate the effects of climate change as it can absorb 12 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per hectare each year, improving the quality of air in the country and help cool the temperature. It also has an extensive root system maintaining soil stability that intercepts rain preventing soil erosion and flashfloods that may occur during heavy rain and typhoons.
During the New Year’s Call, Secretary Cimatu stressed the need to strictly enforce forest protection thereby increasing forest cover without losing the lives of our rangers. Illegal loggers should be punished according to the law thus, it should also be enforced, he pointed out.
On the other hand, other programs were also given focus by Sec. Cimatu, especially on the region’s patents issuance that has now more than 4,000 hectares target on agricultural and residential patents.
In this new decade, hopefulness and optimism springs to combat the environmental dilemmas happening in the country. The DENR also pursues its goals to implement and mandate environmental laws, programs and sustain rehabilitations by improving air quality based on the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 which mandates to control emission of hazardous, poisonous gases, and other air pollutants. The open burning must also be discouraged and make polluters pay through penalties, addressing solid waste problems through the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and programs that ensures protection of public health and environment by proper waste segregation, waste reduction and adaptation of zero-waste lifestyle, thereby also protecting the country’s water bodies from pollution and strategizing to protect water quality through Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
Meanwhile, the government through the efforts of the DENR along with other national government agencies sustain the rehabilitation of Boracay and Manila Bay. Secretary Cimatu orders official and employees of the Department to conduct daily clean-up in the Manila Baywalk area and Baseco beach during the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
“With all these plans, Secretary Cimatu is calling on each one of us to be proactive and seriously take by heart the Department’s mandate to responsibly take care of our environment and natural resources,” said Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.
Photo Releases
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Provincial ENR Office (DENR-PENRO) Capiz conducted a river clean-up in line with the Recognizing Individuals/Institutions towards Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers (R. I. V. E. R. S.) for Life Award..(More...)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 recently conducted a Consultation Conference among the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) (More...)
After the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) which spearheaded the initial phase of the rehabilitation activities for the island of Boracay, the task force has been renamed to Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG).(More...)
DENR Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla Jr. with PENRO Valentin P. Talabero , COA Marilou Suncad and Other DENR Officials during the signing of National Greening Program (NGP) Contract for plantation maintenance and protechtion. (More...)
DECLINE in apprehensions of illegally transported forest products was due to DENR's stronger collaboration with the local government units concerned, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (More...)
From left: PENR Officer Edgardo M. Rostata; Mayor Alfredo Marañon, III; Vice Mayor Narciso S. Javelosa, Jr.; and CENR Officer Rally Cagayanan signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) during the turn-over of the tour guiding equipment given to Suyac Island Eco-Park Tourist Attendant Association (SIETAAS) and Molocaboc Island Reef Rangers Association (MIRRA) as beneficiaries of Sagay Marine Reserve./DENR 6–PENRO Negros Occidental.(More...)
DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu taking a photo of the clustered STP designed by the Guangdong Xindayu Environmental Technology Co.during his latest ocular inspection in Boracay Island (left). DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr. shows the tarpaulin which contain(More...)
DENR Secretary Roy. A Cimatu together with Regional Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr. of DENR 6 conducts on-site inspection on the status of the on-going Malandog River Rehabilitation and Management project in Hamtic, Antique. / DENR(More...)
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