The beautiful Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) has returned to the wetlands of Negros Occidental province for the second time in a row, same day though at a different place.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Negros Occidental reports a rare sighting of Pied Avocet gracing the wetland of Brgy. Tabao, Sagay City on January 17, 2024. The team from PENRO Negros Occidental are conducting the annual Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), which is part of the global International Waterbird Census. The activity aims to provide information on the conservation status of birds and to increase awareness of the waterbirds’ importance.

Last year, also on January 17, a solitary Pied Avocet was caught on cam wading the wetland in Brgy. Latasan, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.

A rare visitor in the region, the bird is known for its appeal, long bluish-grey legs, boldly pied plumage, and its upcurved bill. The Pied Avocet is mostly found on estuaries, brackish lagoons, and coastal wetlands but can also be occasionally seen on more inland areas, especially near huge lakes. They breed in tiny colonies and make noisy calls to mark the start of their nesting season. This bird feeds by sweeping its bill sideways in the watery mud.

Although rarely seen in Western Visayas because it migrates through the seasons, the Pied Avocet is classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Least Concern” and is not facing immediate threats to their existence as of the present. It has an estimated population that ranges from 280,000 to 470,000 individuals worldwide.

“Our wetlands and coasts play an important role by providing a safe haven for different species of wildlife. Our ecosystems in these areas must be preserved so that future generations can also marvel at the different avian creatures who are visiting the country to escape the cold in their places of origin,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

This second sighting in Western Visayas marks a significant moment for bird enthusiasts and conservationists alike. The data gathered adds to the knowledge about these birds and also emphasizes the importance of monitoring and protecting their habitats.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Photo Releases

Published: 23 January 2024

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sara, Iloilo celebrated the Zero Waste Month through an Environmental Lecture on January 11, 2024  at Brgy. San Nicolas, San Dionisio, Iloilo.

This year’s theme is “Sustainable Waste Management in Livable Communities: Zero Waste to Philippine Waters by 2040.” Thirty (30) participants including barangay officials, barangay health workers, utility workers, and the youths attended the activity.

The lecture tackled environmental topics such as Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (RA 11032); Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines (PD 705); Importance of Mangroves; Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) and Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147).

Reading materials such as RA 9003, Wetlands, Kalikasan Western Visayas (regional newsletter), Bamboo Propagation, and Anti-burning Law were also distributed for further information and posting at their barangay hall.

“An informed citizenry is crucial in nation-building. And there is a good chance that those who are aware of the different laws concerning the environment will become agents of change in their respective communities. DENR 6 and its field offices will continue to do its best in this regard,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran expressed.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Photo Releases

Published: 19 January 2024

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 will give its focus on three areas for CY 2024, namely: disaster resiliency, climate action and water security. These three are the main thrusts the Department will pursue and are anchored on Chapter 16 of the Regional Development Plan, titled “Accelerate Climate Action and Strengthen Disaster Resilience.”

In an interview, Forester Livino B. Duran, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 6 disclosed that his office will closely collaborate with other national government agencies to strengthen the region’s disaster resiliency.

“As to DENR, our mandate is focused on the delineation of public easements – especially the riverbanks and coastal areas – to prevent occurrences of disasters in landslide prone and flood prone areas,” Director Duran said. He further said that delineation of public easements and the cadastral survey was already complete more than a hundred years ago. “Meaning, the lines are imaginary and others have already occupied areas within public easements which are very prone to disasters,” he added.

Director Duran further clarified that while the DENR delineates public easements as part of its mandate, relocating those in disaster prone areas falls under the responsibility of the local government unit concerned and should people need housing, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) would be in a position to help.

 As to climate action interventions, the Department’s reforestation programs already got this covered. “Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) is part of the top 30 priorities in order to advance forest cover of the region, while biodiversity maintenance and protection is also promoting climate action,” Director Duran said.

Water security is the newest thrust that the DENR will focus on this year and onwards. The Department is geared towards identification of available water sources.  Water security equates availability or adequate water supply for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes.

The DENR 6 has already identified the region’s critical watersheds and river systems which support life downstream and are sources of freshwater. Director Duran also said that if water volume from both watersheds and river systems is not adequate, the DENR 6 needs to identify underground sources such as aquifers.

“Identifying our productive aquifers could help guide our LGUs. Ideally, land use above ground of these productive aquifers should be agricultural, not commercial or residential. We should move ahead – identify exact location [of the aquifers] to protect these and for the LGU to anticipate proper zoning scheme,” Director Duran said.

            The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR Region 6 is tasked with the identification of the underground aquifers of the region. The Bureau will be employing the geo-resistivity analysis as a method to confirm the presence of groundwater in specific areas.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Photo Releases

Published: 17 January 2024

Being mandated as stewards of environmental protection and to start the new year right, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 through its field Offices in Panay and Guimaras Islands participated in the Kalinisan Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Program Clean-Up Activity on January 6, 2024.

KALINISAN- “Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan” is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas Campaign and is organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which aims to involve government agencies, local government units, and the general public in maintaining a clean environment for all.

“We at DENR 6 fully support this initiative. It is in line with our mandate to preserve our environment not only for today but most of all, for the future generations. All of us have the responsibility to keep our surroundings clean. Uniting with this common purpose is a great step forward in nation-building” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran expressed.

Officials and personnel from different PENROs and CENROs spearheaded clean-ups in their own areas of jurisdiction. According to the data submitted by their designated information officers, PENRO Aklan and CENRO Boracay had more than six hundred (600) participants and collected 291 sacks of waste, PENRO Capiz with thirty one (31) participants and three (3) sacks of collected wastes weighing ninety-eight (98) kgs. PENRO Guimaras had one hundred eleven (111) volunteers gathering forty (40) sacks weighing an estimated two hundred twenty-four (224) kgs. of trash, PENRO Antique and CENRO Belison collected twelve (12) sacks weighing sixty-nine point two (69.2) kgs. of waste and PENRO Iloilo had one hundred forty-six (146) participants who collected thirty (30) sacks of trash weighing one hundred fifty-four (154) kgs.

            “Time and again, we encourage everyone to properly dispose their waste to avoid polluting our land, water, and air. This clean-up activity must not be a one-time event but a daily routine in our homes and communities. Let us support initiatives like this and become responsible Filipinos who love and care for our environment”, RED Duran said.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Photo Releases

Published: 11 January 2024

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 continues with its issuance of residential and agricultural free patents to qualified beneficiaries and lays out accomplishments from July 2022 to October 2023, so far under the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

During the said period, DENR field offices in Western Visayas distributed 1,847 residential free patents with a total area of 55.4457 hectares. In Aklan province, 375 patents were distributed covering a total land area of 13.516 ha.; Antique with 385 for 11.2582 ha.; Capiz with 125 for 3.6418 ha.; Guimaras with 97 for 5.024 ha.; Negros Occidental with 357 for 7.0739 ha.; and Iloilo, having the lion’s share with 508 issued residential free patents with a total land area of 14.9318 hectares.

For the agricultural free patents, Aklan had the greatest number of patents issued at 674 with a total area of 280.6157 ha. Other provinces namely: Iloilo granted 452 patents with an area of 318.9385 ha.; Antique with 273 covering 181.3425 ha.; Capiz granting 178 patents with a total area of 216.724 ha.; Guimaras with 89 and an area of 83.9795 ha.; and, Negros Occidental having given 103 patents with a span of 84.5889 ha. In total, 1,769 agricultural patents were issued in the region with a total area of 1166.1891 ha. on the same period.

Combining both residential and agricultural free patents issued, it has reached 3,616 with a total area of 1221.6348 ha. granted to applicants in Region 6 for the past one year and three months since President Marcos’ term started.

“Granting of free patents for agricultural and residential lands is one of DENR’s responsibilities in serving the people and giving them rights to own these spaces provided that they meet the requirements. We help empower our beneficiaries by making them landowners,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

Republic Act No. 11573 signed in 2021 by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte is the new law that governs the grant of agricultural and residential free patents. It aims to improve the process of confirmation concerning imperfect land titles and amends Commonwealth Act No. 141 known as the “Public Land Act” and PD No. 1529 or the “Property Registration Decree”.

Free patents for residential and agricultural lands are given to qualified applicants in a much more simplified and practical administrative titling process. It gives the current occupants or owners of alienable and disposable lands a sense of security.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Photo Releases

Published: 29 December 2023