(Left Picture) Eugene V. Domingo, Chief of Knowledge and Information Section discussed the Technical Bulletin No. 8-A "Adoption and Implementation of the Enhanced Forestry Information System. (Right Picture) Participants during the Enhanced Forestry Information System Workshop held at MO2 Westown Hotel, Smallville Complex, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

 A two day Enhanced Forestry Information System (eFIS) Workshop was conducted at M02 Westown Hotel, Smallville Complex, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, recently.

Eugene V. Domingo, Chief of FMB-Knowledge and Information Section and Computer Programmer Arsenio R. Alonzo discussed the presentation of FNB Technical Bulletin No. 8-A which is the “Adoption and Impelementation of the Enhanced Foerstry Information System.”

The e-FIS is a web-based database integrated forestry application systems that provides efficient management of forest data that shall facilitate adequate data support to policy formulation and decision-making. It features the integration of geographical information system which the digital maps of tenured areas, protection forest and production forest and other land use to determine the right forest management system and tenured instruments.

 The workshop was led by ARD Livino B. Duran of Technical Services and graced by ARD Jesse L. Vego of Management Services. It was also attended by representatives from different divisions of the regional office, PENROs and CENROs.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 09 October 2019

RIVERS run through the center of each flourishing cities where they provide their most valuable resource: water. Left photo is the beautiful Esplanade that is strategically built near the Iloilo River as a tourism attraction. While right photo shows the ongoing development of the Malandog River, whose historical significance shaped the culture and heritage of Panay Island. This is where the famous landing of the ten Bornean datus was etched in the history of Antique province right up to this day.

            Most of the highly urbanized cities developed around a river system. This is so for humans needed the ecosystem services that only rivers can provide. Rivers are source of fresh water and help recharge the aquifer, support natural processes such as flood prevention, and provide habitats for plants and animals.

            Here in Western Visayas, most of our urban cities flourished near or around a river system. In Iloilo City, our Esplanades is built around the Iloilo River, giving both residents of the city and tourists fantastic, natural amenities while jogging or walking through it. Obviously, the benefits of living near a river cannot be understated.

            Upon seeing the beautiful changes of the Iloilo River and how it has become a tourist attraction for the city, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu was moved to conclude that it would take political will and a united effort of all stakeholders to attain such change. He wanted to replicate the same kind of success for all rivers in the country.

            “Our clean rivers are a mirror of our good environmental governance. We need to clean the rivers in our respective areas of jurisdiction so that the people and environment benefit from it,” Cimatu told DENR field officials.

            Aside from the DENR officials and employees, Cimatu also encouraged the local government chief executives to be vigilant in implementing environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

“We aim to tap concerted action to protect the country’s rivers from degradation and pollution and ensure their suitability, sustainability, and further improvement,” Cimatu said.

Towards the realization of having clean rivers, DENR field offices have conducted river profiling of all the rivers in their areas of jurisdiction. River profiling is a tedious process that included the identification of threats for the river in order to craft the best solutions that can be done to reverse river degradation.

“It is a tall order from the good Secretary. Nonetheless, it will be DENR’s legacy both for the people and the environment. When we protect the environment, we protect the lives of the people as well,” said Francisco E. Milla, Jr., Regional Executive Director of DENR 6.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 08 October 2019

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has announced the temporary suspension of all dragon boat race activities in Boracay in the wake of a deadly accident that claimed the lives of seven members of a local-based dragon boat group.

Cimatu, who chairs the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), said that such activities are “postponed for the time being until emergency protocols are thoroughly scrutinized.”

“We are temporarily suspending all dragon boat race activities in Boracay, including practice and training, until we have assessed their practice protocols,” Cimatu said.

All agencies involved in emergency rescue and response are scheduled to meet on Monday, Sept. 30 to conduct a comprehensive assessment of protocols, logistics and resources, and to come up with recommendations to address gaps subject to the approval of the BIATF.

These agencies include the local government of Malay and its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, the local dragon boat associations and other water sports associations in the Philippines.

On Sept. 25, seven members of the Boracay Dragon Force died, while 14 others were injured when the boat they were rowing capsized off Boracay Island. The group was then training for an upcoming international competition in Taiwan.

Upon learning of the incident, Cimatu expressed his sympathy to the victims and their families, as he promised that emergency response programs will be strengthened in Boracay to prevent a similar incident in the future.

According to reports, the boat capsized after it was hit by large swells of waves originating from the sudden violent gusts of wind before the dragon boat racers reached the third bay of Tulubhan Beach in Barangay Manocmanoc.

Members of the team were not wearing life vests during that time, while one of the paddlers did not know how to swim, the reports added.

The local government of Malay, Aklan and partner agencies have extended their support to the bereaved families by offering them services, such as financial assistance, stress debriefing, cadaver management, and security. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 27 September 2019

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said emergency response programs will be strengthened in Boracay Island to prevent another tragedy similar to the death of members of the Boracay Dragon Team.

“The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BIATF) is saddened by this tragedy and sympathizes with the families of all casualties. The task force will work with the local government units and other authorities to extend assistance to all affected by this unfortunate incident,” Cimatu said.

Cimatu assured that the BIATF Field Office “will work on a comprehensive emergency response program and shall recommend it to the principals of the task force.”

The BIATF is chaired by Cimatu and co-chaired by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

“The program will consider the provision of necessary protocols, logistics, and resources for an effective emergency rescue and response in the island,” Cimatu said.

The local municipality of Malay in Aklan also responded to the aid of the victims and their families by activating their Incident Command System, with the departments and agencies providing their services such as cadaver management from the Municipal Health Office; family assistance and stress debriefing from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and Red Cross; and security from the Philippine Coast Guard and the maritime arm of the Philippine National Police.

A boat carrying 20 paddlers and one steersman of the Boracay Dragon Team overturned amid rowing from the Bulabog Beach to the White Beach of Boracay Island on the morning of Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

Seven paddlers were declared dead on arrival (DOA) after being taken to the hospital, namely: Mark Vincent Navarete, Omar Arcob, Maricel Tan, Yohan Tan, Richel Montoya, Antonette Supranes, and John Vincent Natividad.

Another paddler, Von Navarossa, was brought to Kalibo Hospital.

The survivors were Mark Baccay, Jaylord Violanda, Robel Licerio, Marc Sabado, Oathleen Sabado, Kenneth Bandalan, Julia Kurbaniizova, Maggie Xie, Xhen Autona, Lani Ordas, Janice Lumbo, Jao Buenaventura, and Edwin Paradas.

According to reports, the Boracay Dragon Boat Team was training for weeks at Bulabog Beach in Barangay Balabag but transferred to the White Beach because the winds changed from southwest monsoon (habagat) to northeast monsoon (amihan) three days ago.

While paddling, the team encountered a sudden violent gust of wind before they reached the third bay of Tulubhan Beach in SitioTulubhan in Manocmanoc, Boracay Island. Waves started to swell and then hit the boat. Water filled the boat before it capsized.

The group has been practicing for weeks in the famous tourist destination for an international competition before the accident. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 25 September 2019

Cases of African Swine Flu (ASF) continues to soar in the past months in the country, putting challenges not just to food security but also to the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management or Republic Act 9003.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has conducted a study/analysis and determined that one of the causes of the ASF in the country is the improper disposal of food wastes which are being reused in piggeries, feeding it to livestock or pigs.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said that it is the responsibility of all local government units to see to it that all wastes, including biodegradables and food wastes, be properly disposed.

Thus, he directed all DENR regional offices and EMB regional offices to issue an advisory to all local government units on the need to strictly comply with the provisions of RA 9003 by properly addressing both residual and biodegradable wastes in their area of jurisdictions, where food waste collection should be done by the local government units.

Secretary Cimatu also emphasized that the direct collection of food wastes by private individuals from food establishments should be strictly not allowed.

In line with this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Philippines further heightened its post-marketing surveillance. Audit is being conducted on all concerned and covered establishments to ensure full compliance with the FDA order, at the same time, to hold violators liable under Republic Act 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009), Republic Act 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013) and other pertinent laws, all in the interest of protecting public health and safety.

The ASF is a viral disease that is contagious to animals but not in humans, has no treatment and vaccination, and no known cure, and could put the swine industry at risk, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is one of the major priority programs of Environmental Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, highlighting the proper solid waste disposal and management of the Materials Recovery Facility.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 24 September 2019