The DENR Region 6 was recognized in its efforts to promote and utilize to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to help unload court cases involving land conflicts.

During the hybrid ADR Awards on December 06, 2022, the DENR bagged not one, not two but three awards! The awarding was held during the Celebration of National ADR Day. This activity was made to honor productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in delivering ADR services. 

In the region, Orland Julius M. Padios from CENRO Bago City, Negros Occidental, earned the top 1 for the Best ADR Officers and Jose Angelo Nermal Fabila from CENRO Belison, Antique, ranked top 2.

Furthermore, the DENR Region 6 Pool of ADROs also earned the top post for the Best Pool of ARD Officers awards for CY 2022, beating out other competing regions. The awarding was based on the accomplishments in the total number of cases referred for ADR, the number of ADR procedures held, the number of cases with successful ADR processes, and the number of cases issued with an Order of Compromise or Settlement Agreement.

“Our DENR 6 family congratulates our ADRO topnothers from CENRO Bago and CENRO Belison. It is overwhelming to hear that we have this kind of “assets” in our Department,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said upon receiving the news. 

He also added that “handling out of court settlement is not easy but they manage it. The amount of patience, understanding, and neutrality of our ADR offices is indeed exemplary.”

Republic Act No. 9285 or the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004, is the declared policy of the State to offer simple and uncomplicated procedure of resolving conflicts to promote freedom of the parties to make their own arrangements to resolve their disputes in an out of court settlement.

The DENR personnel were trained to handle ADR proceedings over land conflict cases, and others. The guidelines in conducting the same are also provided under DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2016-30. 

The DENR Regional Offices in Regions 2, 5, 6, 10, and the Cordillera Administrative Region were among the first to institutionalize the ADR mechanism in their jurisdictions./DENR 6

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 09 December 2022

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held on October 17-20 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City the Abandoned, Undeveloped and Underutilized Fishponds (AUUF) 101 Training and Workshop.

DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran, in his message welcomes the participants in the city of love and wishes for the success of the five-day training workshop.

“Those areas occupied by our mangrove species should be developed to become a mangrove forest as part of balancing our ecology and preparation for our future,” RED Duran said.

The activity was held in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL) project — a five-year project in the Philippines which aims to improve natural resource management through promoting science-based decision-making, improving economic incentives, and strengthening environmental law enforcement.

Sixty-five participants from DENR, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and SIBOL participated. The training and workshop included lectures and discussions led by renowned experts on fishponds, fishpond lease agreements, AUUF reversions, and mangrove rehabilitation among others. The discussions emphasized the problem on thousands of hectares of AUUFs in the Philippines which could have been reforested or reverted to mangrove areas.

"These areas have become priorities for rehabilitation because of climate change. But how will we rehabilitate, if they have been converted to other uses — as settlements, build up areas, and worst, private properties," DENR Policy, Planning and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Assistant Secretary Marcial C. Amaro Jr. remarked during the closing program of the activity. He added that since DENR is now well-informed of the concerns on AUUF, they can start proactively responding to the issue.

The participants identified issues on jurisdiction, overlapping or conflicting administrative orders and policies, and lack of a clear process in AUUF reversion. At present, BFAR still has jurisdiction over many of the non-operational fishponds so DENR cannot act on reforesting or converting them into mangrove areas.

As an initial action, DENR, in consultation with BFAR, drafted a Department Administrative Order (DAO) on AUUF Reversion. SIBOL provided technical assistance in terms of consolidating the concerns of DENR offices across all regions in the Philippines, and incorporating them into the draft DAO.

DENR's initiative, in collaboration with SIBOL, to revert AUUFs back to the department's jurisdiction and convert them into forestlands or mangrove areas contributes to the larger goal of speeding up the process of restoring degraded ecosystems in response to the impacts of climate change. /SIBOL / DENR 6

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 02 November 2022

In the recent conduct of the National Simultaneous Tree and Bamboo Planting Activity with the theme: “Buhayin ang Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan” on September 13, 2022, more than three thousand (3,000) seedlings of native trees and bamboo culms were planted by more than one thousand (1,000) volunteers and participants.

The activity was spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 6 in close collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government unit of Maasin where the activity was conducted.

DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran, together with DILG Regional Director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero and DA Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter led the tree and bamboo planting activity at Brgy. Caigo, Maasin, Iloilo.

“Dubbed as the Bamboo Capital of the Philippines, we chose Maasin to support the bamboo industry in this municipality and the benefits it could give to the general public,” said Director Duran. “Study shows that bamboo can absorb tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per hectare each year, thus it helps lower the temperature and mitigate the impacts of climate change. We choose bamboo because this is the science of what we are doing, we all have good reasons to plant bamboo, not just for the tag (as ‘bamboo capital’),” he added.

In his message RD Ingeniero said they are looking towards the success of this activity for the next years to come. “Let us encourage the community to protect our environment by means of planting,” RD Ingeniero said.

Maasin Municipal Mayor Francis A. Amboy also assured the three Regional Department heads that they will took care of the planted seedlings.

The simultaneous tree and bamboo planting activity was in line with Proclamation No. 1401 declares the month of September as the ‘Philippine Bamboo Month’ signed by former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte on June 27, 2022. Other provinces had conducted their tree and bamboo planting activity in their respective areas of responsibility./DENR 6

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 16 September 2022

“Guimaras is more than its sweet mangoes, more than the beautiful views of white beaches to visit and do island hopping. Congratulations for the successful conduct of agri-tourism and bamboo summit,” said Vice President Sara Z. Duterte in her message during the event "ONE Guimaras: Convergence for Sustainable Agri-Fishery and Eco-Tourism Development."

Moreover, VP Duterte lauded the efforts of the province in promoting and enhancing the bamboo industry in Guimaras. The success of the said undertaking is achieved with the support and cooperation of the local farmers and bamboo traders to establish and further improve the bamboo value chain.

VP Duterte also said that Filipinos are like bamboos – strong and resilient. She further expressed confidence that despite the pandemic aftershocks, we will bounce back because the government is on the right track with all the initiatives being done to rebuild the nation.

The event have gathered agri-tourism stakeholders, representatives from national government agencies, duly elected provincial, municipal and barangay officials of the Province last  August 25, 2022 at the Provincial Capitol Gym in San Miguel, Jordan Guimaras.

 PENR Officer Edgardo M. Rostata and Technical Services Division Chief Julieta M. Gabayeron represented the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the event. It was the support and initiatives introduced by PENRO Rostata in terms of information and education campaign which raised the level of awareness among Guimarasnons that have contributed to the strengthening of the bamboo industry of the province.

The bamboo industry have provided an alternative source of livelihood for the communities in Guimaras, alleviate poverty, generate employment and helped create ecotourism destinations while mitigating the impacts of climate change.

The ONE Guimaras event was conducted to further build up opportunities for the Province of Guimaras and have enjoined the support of the national government.

VP Sara thanked all the officials who worked hard to implement initiatives for the eco tourism. “I am optimistic about your success. Patuloy natin mahalin ang Pilipinas,” she said.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 05 September 2022

The “what goes around, comes around” cliché holds true in terms of individual’s responsibility of managing whatever wastes we accumulate or produce in this modern living. What is sad though is the fact that we put others at risk with our nonchalant attitude towards proper solid waste management.

After more than two decades of being passed as a law, the implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000 still needs some pushing. The real struggle is implementing waste segregation at source – that is from households and business establishments.

 The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with its line bureau – the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) made the “push” by adopting a brand character to champion the need to adopt a proper solid waste management mindset. The kind of mindset that is highly aware of the impact of our simple actions that results to proper waste management.

Pinas: The Basura Buster (PBB) Mascot was that brand character to do the “pushing” and was launched on August 12, 2022 at SM City Iloilo. As a brand character, PBB is now the face and icon for proper solid waste management. He is the modern-day garbage man equipped with special upcycled weaponry to keep the environment clean. With PBB, the DENR in Region 6 hopes to increase awareness on everyone’s mind on the need to properly segregate wastes.

Moreover, the PBB mascot shall be the image for easy recall on the importance of embracing a waste-free lifestyle by doing recycling, upcyling and even composting. Although authoritative looking, PBB mascot has a friendly smile, an approachable personality and is very likeable both by the young and old.

“With PBB mascot, we hope to both upscale and expand the impact of our solid waste management program and better influence people in all walks of life, especially our youths. Together, we can achieve the goal of a cleaner and safer environment for today’s generation and those who shall come after us,” said Livino B. Duran, DENR 6 Regional Executive Director.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 26 August 2022