Left photo shows the Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) rescued at Brgy. Malacañang, Culasi, Antique while right photo was the Hawksbill Sea Turtle rescued at Sitio Banacan, Brgy. Cabalagan, Nueva Valencia in the island province of Guimaras.

For hundreds of years, marine turtles lived in the vast oceans but they coexist with humans in many countries and shores each time they visit land.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had reported many sightings of marine turtles nesting in Western Visayas. Boracay Island, for one, has been tagged as the “turtle haven” because of the simultaneous releases and discovery of turtle nesting sites in the island.

On September 7, 2020, the world’s largest known marine turtle and is the fourth heaviest modern reptile behind three crocodilians, the Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), was found and rescued at Brgy. Malacañang, Culasi, Antique by the Community ENR Office in Culasi. The marine turtle was reported by Mark Jay Ortega as it was tangled in fish traps in the area.

It has a thick leathery skin with longitudinal ridges instead of a hard shell. Leatherbacks are the only turtle that does not have a hard shell. It has a curved carapace length of 115 cm and curved carapace width of 82 cm. After tagging, it was immediately released back to the sea. Leatherbacks are also called leathery turtle, lute turtle, or just luth.

Ellen Flor Solis of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) noted that this is the second Leatherback turtle that was reported rescued in Panay Island. Solis had been working with sea turtles rescue for the past 15 years.

Another turn-over, tagging and release were done at Sitio Banacan, Brgy. Cabalagan, Nueva Valencia in the island province of Guimaras on September 9, 2020 to the rescued Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). The marine turtle was caught in a net and was reported to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and Provincial ENR Office of Guimaras.

Hawksbills  have narrow, pointed beak. Their overlapping scales on their shells form a serrated look and is the turtle’s distinctive feature. Such colored and patterned shells make Hawkbills highly-valuable and were commonly sold as “tortoiseshell” in markets. They are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Factors that affect their decline include loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, pollution, coastal development, and they are the most threatened by wildlife trade.

Through the joint efforts of the municipal local government unit of Nueva Valencia, Barangay LGU of Cabalagnan, Nueva Valencia and Provincial ENR Office represented by Environmental Management Specialist (EMS) II Rhett Arthur Diana and other staff from the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (TINMR), the marine turtle was released back to its habitat

“Turtles are one of the oldest creatures still in existence, with an average life span of 100 years. We laud the efforts of those who helped the release trapped turtles and we continue to urge the general public to help us strengthen the protection of our natural resources – both in land and water,” said DENR 6 regional executive director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.

The protection of marine turtles and other animals are part of the Enhanced Biodiversity Conservation which is one of the ten (10) priority programs of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu./

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Published: 08 September 2020

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 aims to further protect the forests from illegal loggers and poachers thus a forest ranger station was established at SitioTabionan, Brgy. Bucari, Leon, Iloilo.

Under the supervision of the Community ENR Office – Guimbal, the Forest Ranger Station is an improved infrastructure that will now serve as choke point and for protection of forests by limiting access on forestlands to avoid its exploitation.

The Forest Protection Program (FPP) strengthens protection mechanism in the country’s remaining natural forests. It also complements the National Greening Program’s (NGPs) objective to expand our forest covers to conserve our natural forest resources from degrading due to commercial logging that supplies the demand of forest products for industrial and household purposes.

Forest rangers perform wide range of tasks such as monitoring and patrolling the forest area and the forest ranger station will serve as their temporary shelter during their field activities.

DENR pushes for the creation of an Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) to further strengthen forest protection and law enforcement in forest lands by eradicating illegal logging, poaching and to also address mining issues as well as enhancing the team of forest enforcers.

“Bucari, Leonalso known as Panay’s “Little Baguio”,is one of the many nature tourist destinations here in Western Visayas. It should be protected and conserved with the help of our forest rangers that patrol the area even in these times of COVID-19 pandemic,” said regional executive director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.

Intensified Forest Protection and Anti-illegal logging are among the top ten DENR Priority Programs and Projects of Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

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Published: 04 September 2020

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Iloilo through its community offices continues the efforts on land related services amidst coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Barotac Nuevo conducted a meeting with the lot claimants for the Agricultural Free Patent Issuance of the portion Lot 7945 Cadastral 186 consist in an area of 63.4943 hectares at Brgy. Caratagan, Calinog, Iloilo.

The meeting was participated by 21 applicants for the finalization of the subdivision plan to utilize Alienable and Disposable (A&D) lands which was facilitated by the Regulatory and Permitting Section of CENRO Barotac Nuevo in coordination with the municipal mayor Francisco L. Calvo of Calinog, Iloilo.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Tubungan together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 6 signed the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) in line with the creation of the Land Management Office of the municipality for their commitment to improve land resources, administration and management.

The establishment of partnership with the Department aims to recognize the importance of increasing land related services with the signing of MOPA along with municipal mayor Roquito G. Tacsagon of Tubungan, Iloilo, Guimbal CENR Officer Vicente T. Mellizas, Jr. Regulatory and Permitting Section Chief Edgardo A. Ferrer and MENR Officer Francisco G. Gallego, Jr.

The DENR is committed to create an active collaboration with LGUs for the improvement of land sector, and recognizes the indispensable assistance of the municipality of Tubungan in land administration and management.

‘’It is important to manage public lands for effective utilization. The Department, aims to administer efficient land services in this challenging situation in order to provide people of land related services,” said regional executive director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.

Improved land administration and management is one of the top ten DENR priority programs and projects of Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

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Published: 04 September 2020

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas observes the celebration of World Wildlife Day (WWD) on March 3, 2020. This year’s theme: “Sustaining All Life on Earth,’’ aims to promote the importance of varieties of wild fauna and flora, to raise awareness of the threats encountered by the species and to protect and conserve wildlife resources.

The Philippines is the second largest archipelago with 7,641 islands with a population of over 100 million and is projected to reach 125 million by 2030. It is also one of the 17 mega-diverse countries with unique characteristics of wildlife species.

There are more than 52,177 described species and half of them are endemic. These distinctive species comprise of amphibians with 114 species and reptiles with 342 species. The country is known as the 4^th most important country in bird endemism with 695 species and 5^th in the world in terms of total plant species, making the Philippines evidently abundant with wildlife species and resources.

Although the country is rich with biodiversity, it also faces perilous circumstances, making wildlife crime the fourth most lucrative illegal business hereafter narcotics, human trafficking and arms. The value of Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) in the country is estimated at P50 billion including the market value of wildlife and its resources, ecological role and value, damage to habitat incurred during poaching and loss of potential ecotourism revenues.

The suppressing illegal wildlife trade in the country was driven by the following reasons: species are poached to supply national and international black markets for exotic pet trade purposes, meat for luxury food, scales and skins used to make ornaments, pieces for pieces of jewelry, and frenzied of over collection for traditional medicine and rumored to cure HIV/AIDS that is sold at thousands of pesos.

Here in Western Visayas, there are five key species namely, Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons) considered Critically Endangered (CR), Philippine spotted deer (Rusa alfredi) considered Endangered (EN), Rufous-headed hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni) considered as Critically Endangered (CR), Visayan hornbill (Penelopides panini) considered Endangered (EN), and Negros bleeding heart pigeon (Gallicolumba keayi) considered Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

The DENR enforces environmental laws to combat illegal wildlife trade that has economic, environmental and social impacts through confiscation and seizures of wildlife animals and plants. Continuous information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign helps raise awareness in saving these species.

The Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, provides for the safeguarding of Philippine flora and fauna.

“We depend on biodiversity to live and survive here on Earth thus in our hands, lies the power to save and preserve these wildlife species for a balance and healthful ecology, “said Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla.

 Enhancing biodiversity conservation is one among the ten priority programs of the DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.#DENR6

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Published: 02 March 2020

Philippines is a diverse country with rich ecosystems that serve as habitats of endemic species of flora and fauna. Such bountiful natural resources however, are facing environmental changes brought about by exploitation such as poaching, deforestation, land degradation through conversion for other usage, climate change and pollution.

The task on environmental protection is gargantuan in scale and expanse. The Asian Development Bank estimated the amount incurred in illegal wildlife trade in the country at P50 billion a year. In Region 6, the DENR was able to apprehend and confiscate illegally transported forest products that amount to millions. Cases with other regions are far tougher.

Recognizing this threat, the Philippine government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing for the creation of an Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) that shall pursue the stringent implementation of environmental laws, policies, rules and regulations with the assistance of personnel from the military, police, the National Bureau of Investigation and government prosecutors.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu saw the need to form EPEB as the DENR lacks personnel similar to police, intelligence officers specifically handling enforcement. “We have laws but we had a hard time implementing them,” said Cimatu. In giving the financial support it needs, Cimatu proposed funding increase for the Department which include P1.2 billion for the EPEB. “With our own enforcement bureau, the DENR could effectively enforce environmental laws and protect its workers who have been vicious targets of illegal loggers and other environmental criminals,” he added.

On February 19-20, 2020, Iloilo City will host the Strategic Planning Workshop on Environmental Protection and Enforcement.

Undersecretary for Enforcement and Muslim Affairs, Jim O. Sampulna leads the conduct of the workshop in order to review, assess and set policy directions in the implementation and presentation of the proposed bill that would create the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB). The event will gather the Department’s undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau directors, regional executive directors, assistant regional directors for technical services, PENRO’s, Chief Enforcement Division and Chairman of National Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee-Sub-Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (NALECC-SCENR) as participants.

The Bureau is seen to empower the arrest and prosecution of environmental criminals, apprehend and confiscate timber and forest products without license, and destroy illegal structures occupying forest lands without authority to include paraphernalia and conveyances. These are in line with President Duterte’s zero to 10-point socioeconomic agenda, particularly, peace and order.

It also aims to curb illegal mining, illegal logging, smuggling and trading of wildlife species and other environmental crimes that risk our biodiversity and destroys our protected areas, the habitat of the threatened species.

In Western Visayas, there are a total of 235 Lawin Patrollers, composed of forest rangers, forest protection officers, forest technicians and park foreman patrolling the timberland including the 14 protected areas, five are legislated and eight are under initial component of Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas (E-NIPAS). The teams were able to patrol a total of 8,745.65 kilometers for CY 2019.

"Their presence in forest areas served as deterrence to illegal activities, which advanced the protection of our rich natural resources in the region,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.

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Published: 17 February 2020