Six (6) Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle hatchlings were released by CENRO Boracay, recently.

The turtles were observed by the locals in Puka Beach, Boracay Island and possibly a part of a larger group of hatchlings that emerged on March 25, 2024. A plastic gallon was used to temporarily house the turtles and the residents then coordinated with CENRO Boracay.

The release was facilitated by the Chief and members of the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Unit (PAMBCU)/Coastal Unit and assisted by Boracay Lawin patrollers and OJT students from Aklan State University (ASU). The activity was also witnessed by other local and foreign tourists who happened to pass by and saw firsthand how the turtles flipped their way on the sand before reaching the sea.

“Watching these hatchlings flip their way to the sea gives us hope that their species will continue to thrive in the future. It is a healing experience and also a reminder that these creatures are under threat due to man-made activities that pollute or destroy their habitats. I encourage everyone to protect our marine turtles because they play a vital role in our marine ecosystem,” says Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran./DENR6

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 22 April 2024

The bayanihan spirit lives on as personnel of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) led by Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) and PENR Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya together with officers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other volunteers braved the seven hour fight to put out the forest fire that occurred at Spur 6, Brgy. Bagong Silang, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental on April 7, 2024.

The affected area being inaccessible to fire truck units, volunteers used water containers and manually extinguished the fire to prevent it from spreading to other areas. Three hectares mostly planted with Udling (Syzygium nitidum) and White Lauan (Shores contorta) trees were affected by the blaze that occurred around 10:00 am and was placed under control at about 5:00 pm.

“I give my sincerest thanks and salute to all the volunteers that joined hands to put out the forest fire that occurred at NNNP. As we experience temperatures reaching dangerous levels, we must practice due care and concern in dealing with fire, not only for people around us but to the environment as well,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said./DENR6

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 22 April 2024

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is a primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, specifically forest and grazing lands, mineral resources, including those in reservation and watershed areas, and lands of public domain.

Hence, the Provincial ENR Office of Capiz signed a Letters of Agreement (LOAs) for the implementation of the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) in the municipality of Jamindan and Dumarao, Capiz.

On March 07, 2024 the ENGP Project LOA Signing between the DENR represented by PENR Officer Vicente A. Sardina and LGU Jamindan, Capiz represented by Mayor Mac Arthur Valdemar was done at the Mayor's Office Conference Room. It was witnessed by two (2) Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Members; Brgy. Captain Melinda Villa of Brgy. San Juan where the project will be implemented; and five (5) eNGP Project Contractors, namely: Christopher Maximo, Erwin Maximo, Eulita Maximo, Isaiah Maximo and Eduardo Maximo.

In the afternoon, another LOA signing was done at the Municipality of Dumarao, Capiz. The LOA was signed by PENRO Sardina together with Provincial NGP Coordinator For. Marlyn l. Caraggayan, and five (5) eNGP Project Contractors, namely: Jesus Funa, Bebot Funa, and Alfredo Pinggullo from Brgy. Salcedo, Dumarao, Capiz; and, Richard Padernal and Vicente Fugio from Brgy. Codingle, Dumarao, Capiz.

Each contractor will have a target area of ten (10) has., with a total of fifty (50) has. for the Municipality of Jamindan, and fifty (50) has. for the Municipality of Dumarao.

An indigenous commodity will be used as planting materials for the implementation in the said CY 2024 ENGP site.

In total PENRO Capiz targeted 934 has. (697 has. for the regular NGP area, and 237 has. for the NGP areas within Protected Area) of plantation establishments for CY 2024.

“This LOA Signing is the start of our partnership to the eNGP contractors, they will be our partner for environmental protection and maintaining the balance. Thus, the success of this project is the success of the contractors and people behind it,” DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

Other provinces also targeted NGP plantation to wit; Aklan with 858 has. (662 has. in Regular NGP Area and 196 has. within PA); Antique with 589 has. (555 has. in Regular NGP and 34 has. within PA); Iloilo with 172.6 has. (65.6 has. in Regular NGP and 107 has. within PA); and, Negros Occidental with 562.3 (295.3 has. in Regular NGP and 267 has. within PA).

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 05 April 2024

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) always believed that the help of other stakeholders is key to establishing a wide-ranging area of reforestation project.

Thus, the Provincial ENR Office in Capiz led by PENR Officer Vicente A. Sardina supported the Archdiocese-CASAC "Caritas Bamboo Forest Project" by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at Archbishop's Residence Compound, St. Pius X Seminary, Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City Capiz, on February 28, 2024.

The MOA will cover four (4) sites with a total of 33.5 hectares and for the Province of Capiz, it is located at Brgy. Agnaga, Cuartero with 14 has. The rest were located at Brgy. Balabag, Anilao, Iloilo with 9.5 has.; and, Brgy. Villasin, Cadiz City with 3 has. and Brgy. Punaw, San Carlos City with 7 has. both in the province of Negros Occidental.

Other signatories were from the following; Capiz State University; Provincial Government of Capiz-PENRO (CaPENRO); Go Green Capiz Movement; Atty. Abeb from The Tree Hugger-an environmental conservation organization; Brgy. Council and/or representatives of the above-mentioned barangays. Each stakeholders have their own separate MOA with different or own tasks and functions.

The Caritas Bamboo Forest Project is a church-based climate mitigation project in partnership with Caritas Philippines, USAID Philippines, and Gerry Roxas Foundation launched in 2022 which aims to plant at least five million bamboo poles nationwide in five years.

“Environmental protection is not just a job of one person, but a unified partnership. DENR 6 is glad to become one of the recipients of this CASAC project that will benefit not just the environment but the community as well,” RED Livino B. Duran said.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 05 April 2024

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Barotac Nuevo conducted a Mangrove Planting Activity on March 2, 2024 at Sitio Lamintao, Brgy. Talisay, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. It is in line with the celebration of the World Seagrass Day.

A total of three hundred (300) Bakauan (Rhizophora spp) seedlings were planted within the .15 hectares (1500 sq. m.) portion of the 37.7 hectares CY 2017 Enhanced National Greening Program (e-NGP) site at Brgy. Lanas and Talisay in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

Participants include officers from the Tactical Operation Group 6 of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), 62^nd Special Action Company, 6^th Action Battalion of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), 552^nd Engineer Construction Battalion, 53^rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army, and members of the Barangay Council and Bantay Dagat of Brgy. Talisay. The number of volunteers in the activity reached thirty-six (36) individuals.

“Mangroves play a crucial role in our wetlands by playing host to different animal species and at the same time, serving as natural barriers that keep communities safe during typhoons and flooding. Let us join hands in protecting our mangrove forests and help expand their cover in our wetlands,” said Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 04 April 2024