Watching a beautiful sun sets behind the vast ocean evokes a feeling of calm within a human heart. Many people find it therapeutic. But have you ever thought how else the ocean impacts our lives?

If not for the oceans, the world’s atmosphere would be intolerable. This is because oceans absorb solar radiation and release heat needed to drive the atmospheric circulation. The oceans are also responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for years, even millions of years. Thanks to microscopic marine algae called Phytoplankton which makes the ocean the world’s biggest carbon sink. Phytoplanktons absorb carbon the way all the plants and trees on land do.

Despite acting as a great carbon sink, this never poses danger to the marine ecosystem which has the greatest biodiversity on Earth. It is said that half of the known species on this planet live in the oceans.

“Our oceans are a source of nutrition, food, medicines, and renewable energy sources, and even leisure. We used to think that when we throw our trash into the ocean it would simply be cleaned out of existence. Truth is, ocean pollution is now one of the hardest battles we are fighting. We are having a tough time cleaning up our mess,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

“We are calling on each and every resident in Western Visayas to be aware of how our mismanaged wastes impact on our oceans, rivers, and streams and eventually, our health. What little we can do, when do it collectively, can help a lot in cleaning up our marine ecosystem,” Director Duran added.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) celebrates this year’s Month of the Ocean with the theme: Protect and Restore Ecosystems and Biodiversity and continues to campaign for ocean protection and restoration of our planet’s vitality.

Ocean serves as the foundation of many of the economies in the world. It provides support to various sectors such as tourism, fisheries and international shipping. Ocean is touted as the “super highway” that helps to link economies together and transport goods and people across the globe. Despite such importance however, the world’s ocean health faces its biggest threats – climate change and plastic pollution.

Climate change disrupted the balance in ocean carbon cycle and has damaged coral reefs due to increasing temperatures which causes coral bleaching. As a result, breeding grounds for marine fishes and mammals are damaged. Meanwhile, plastic pollution caused marine animals to suffocate, starve or drown as their stomachs get filled with plastic. Unlike humans, marine animals see plastic waste as prey.

As inhabitants of this planet, our health is at stake, too. When we keep the ocean healthy, it continues to provide us with the things we need to keep a healthy and happy existence./DENR 6

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Category: Press Releases

Published: 20 May 2022

On April 22, 2022, countries and people around the world will once again celebrate Earth Day.

This year’s theme: “#InvestInOurPlanet” is aimed at accelerating solutions to address the impacts of climate change. But this can never be a one-man army thing. To achieve this, everyone must be involved – governments, citizens, businesses – and do their part.

Fifty two years ago, in April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day began as an environmental revolution. Then US Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the 1^st Earth Day to push for environmental protection onto the national agenda. Today, we continue to embark on a massive education revolution to sustain our only home – this Planet Earth.

Earth Day then should mean reflecting on the impact of even our small actions to the environment as a whole. With this, Earth Day should indeed be an everyday affair.

“Our everyday choices and actions have ripple effects to our environment. How we manage our wastes, how we consume water, how we refuse single-use plastics, how we minimize or eliminate food waste – all these and more are the things we decide upon on a daily basis. When collectively we choose to be mindful and be aware of the positive or negative effect our actions have on this Earth, only then can we either sustain or destroy our home,” notes DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

Join us as we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2022 by doing some of these small actions, which collectively, become great solutions:

• Refuse single-use plastics. Pollution from single-use plastics account for over 50% of the plastics found in landfills while 18 billion pounds of plastic waste flow into our oceans from coastal regions every year;
• Conserve water by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth. You can water your lawns in the early morning or late at night to prevent evaporation;
• Recycle all paper waste. Use both sides of printing paper prior to recycling it. Use email instead of paper and change your bills to e-billing.
• Do not waste food. Meal preparation allows you to know the exact ingredients you will need. If you don’t cook, don’t buy loose ingredients. If you dine out, order only what you can consume.
• Decrease your carbon footprint by taking public transportation or you may opt to ride a bike. Perhaps, you can walk when possible. Walking is good to the body and helps improve your health.

When we love this Planet Earth, it will sure to love us back many folds. This is our home and we have all the reasons to clean it up and sustain it as a safe place where we reside.

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Published: 18 April 2022

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 6 is encouraging all sectors to switch off non-essential lights to show our solidarity and support in celebration of Earth Hour 2022 tomorrow, March 26, 2022 at 8:30pm to 9:30pm.

This symbolic campaign which started in 2008 urges everyone to switch off lights and non-essential electrical appliances as a way of speaking up for nature and to join the global cause of raising awareness about climate change and saving energy. 

“We’ve been through a lot in the past two (2) years due to the effects of the pandemic and the series of environmental crisis that we have encountered. For us to start a positive change, we need to switch off our inaction and speak up for nature. By joining the Earth Hour, your simple act of switching off lights and other appliances is an essential part of a collective effort to save Mother Earth,” said DENR 6 Regional Director Livino B. Duran.

This year’s theme will focus on “Shape Our Future”, a critical year for everyone and our planet Earth as we move forward in pursuit of change and progress. It is up to us to #ShapeOurFuture by bringing attention to the critical issues our planet is facing today.

As such, we urge everyone to participate in #EarthHour2022, let us show how much we care about our environment and Mother Earth.

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Published: 26 March 2022

Every March 22, the World Water Day is celebrated internationally to focus on the importance of freshwater in our everyday life.

This year’s theme focuses on: “Groundwater: Making the Invisible, Visible” which draws the attention of the public on the groundwater resources that are important to most of the middle class communities, especially in our country with its vital role in agriculture, industry and climate change adaptation.

Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers, which are geological formations of rocks, sands and gravels that hold substantial quantities of water. Groundwater feeds springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands, and seeps into the oceans. It can be extracted to the surface by pumps and wells.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducts a kick-off activity for the World Water Day Celebration with the two-day National River Basin Summit on March 15-16, 2022.

The Summit aims to enhance the participants’ knowledge on water management through sharing of ideas, learning experiences and best practices and will allow participants’ exposure to new technologies related to river basin management. Hosted by the River Basin Control Office, the Summit also promote integrated river basin management as an approach to climate change adaption and mitigation, and will identify policy and information gaps for an enhanced river basin management. 

The two-day event discussed topics on groundwater management, river basin management and governance, water security and conservation, and ecosystem-based adaptation approach.

World Water Day 2022 celebrates safe water awareness in taking action to global water crisis. It supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for all by 2030.

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Published: 25 March 2022

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 recognizes the role and contribution of women to the successful achievement of the Department’s programs and policies concerning our environment and natural resources.

“The month of March is the National Women's Month. We, in DENR 6, already institutionalizes the role and participation of women in the organization. We put premium value on woman's worth and their great contribution in formation building. We have women leaders holding key positions in this region. Their strong presence in the work force have contributed a lot to the successful achievement of our targets year-in and year-out,” DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino Duran said.

RED Duran emphasized that for DENR Region 6, the key positions held by women officials in different divisions has fostered a gender inclusive workplace and has strengthened camaraderie among the employees. Both men and women of DENR Region 6 has successfully worked hand in hand in achieving their goal and in promoting policies and programs for the environment.

“The world will never be happy without women. Equally, women are men's inspiration and partners. At the DENR, we need them as our foresters, forest rangers, forest protection officers, enforcers, clerks, lawyers, and so much more. We are happy, God created women,”  he added.

This year’s National Women’s Month theme: “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran,” According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), focuses on including women’s concerns in the government agenda and enabling more women to implement and at the same time, demand programs and services that can bring the country closer to narrowing the gender gaps and moving towards sustainable and equitable development.

The National Women’s Month is celebrated every March as "Women’s Role in History Month" under Proclamation No. 227, series of 1988.

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Parent Category: News & Events

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Published: 16 March 2022