DENR 6 REGION & FIELD OFFICES CELEBRATE WORLD WETLANDS DAY

As part of the World Wetlands Day celebration on February 2, 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 together with the different Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENRO/CENRO) all over Western Visayas conducted various activities within their areas of jurisdiction.

This year’s theme is "Wetlands and Human Well-being" and it focuses on the interconnectedness between wetlands and various aspects of human well-being which includes physical, mental and environmental health.

DENR Regional Office through its Conservation and Development Division, PENRO Iloilo, CENRO Guimbal, and Iloilo City ENRO conducted a Bird Watching  Activity and IEC at Crgy. Hinactan, La Paz, Iloilo City. Among waterbird species spotted were Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa), and Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) to name a few.

“Our wetlands play a vital role not only to our flora and fauna, but to the lives of people in the communities where they are situated. As we celebrate this every year, not only do we remember its importance but we must also increase our efforts for their protection. Our well-being is influenced by healthy ecosystems and it is our duty to preserve the natural wonders around us for the future generations,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran expressed.

CENRO Barotac Nuevo collaborated with different stakeholders such as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) District Jail Pototan, Tactical Group 6 of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Special Action Force, aqnd the Barangay officials and residents of Brgy. Lanas, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo during the conduct of a Coastal Clean-Up Activity on February 6, 2024 in the said barangay.

On the other hand, CENRO Sara headed by OIC-CENR Officer Rene G. Abordo had a Mangrove Planting Activity at Brgy. Agdaliran, San Dionisio, Iloilo on the 2^nd of February. One hundred five (105) participants composed of officials and personnel from CENRO Sara, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Dionisio, Iloilo Maritime Police Station, officials of Brgy. Agdarilan, the youth sector, and other volunteers. They planted a total of two hundred fifty (250) propagules composed of one hundred (100) Bakhaw and one hundred fifty (150) Pagatpat.

PENRO Antique held a lecture about the importance of wetlands at Hamtic, Antique on February 2, 2024 led by For. Rocelia D. Campos, Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Unit (PAMBCU) Chief. It was attended by the personnel and staff at MENRO Hamtic wherein they were also presented with the results of the recent Asian Waterbird Census within their municipality.

Meanwhile, CENRO Belison with its PAMBCU and CMEMP staff with representatives from the LGU conducted a Bird Watching Activity in identified and mapped sites at Brgy. Poblacion, Belison and Brgy.Carit-an, Patnongon, Antique on February 1 and 2, 2024 respectively. MENRO Noel Salvan of Patnongon together with his personnel also joined in the activities.

In addition, CENRO Culasi strengthened its information and education campaign through a discussion and video presentation to invited People’s Organizations (POs) on January 30, 2024, regarding the importance of wetlands and laws that govern their conservation. Consequently, a Bird Watching Activity was also held on February 2, 2024 at Brgy. San Antonio, Culasi, Antique. Waterbird species namely; Yellow-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), Red Turtle Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica), Blue Tailed Bee-Eater (Merops philippinus), Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata), Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), and Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) were seen and identified.

CENRO Boracay under PENRO Aklan displayed IEC materials on the 1^st of February and followed by a Simultaneous Clean-Up together with partners and stakeholders the following day at the different wetlands in the island as well as an Essay Writing Contest participated by high school students in Boracay. A tree planting activity was then conducted at Wetland No. 6 where a total of one hundred (100) seedlings of Api-Api (Avicennia marina) and Coconut (Cocos nucifera) was planted.

PENRO Capiz collaborated with Our Mother of Mercy Learning School, Inc. through its students enrolled in the Special Program in Journalism  to develop and produce a documentary that tackles the pivotal role that wetlands play in harbouring Mangrove ecosystems. These areas not only serve as vital habitats for diverse flora and fauna but also offer abundant resources that create sustainable livelihood opportunities. The documentary serves as a powerful testament to the interconnectedness between wetlands and various facets of human health. PENRO Capiz also participated in the mangrove planting activity organized by the Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) at Brgy. Agustin Navarra, Ivisan , Capiz.

“We are thrilled to present this documentary as part of our commitment to raising awareness about the critical importance of wetlands in our lives…It is an opportunity for the community to witness the symbiotic relationship between wetlands and human wellbeing, emphasizing the need for their preservation and sustainable management,” says Mr. Diomer M. Berdugo, Journalism Adviser at the said School. 

PENRO Guimaras through its PAMBCU together with Guimaras ENRO, LGU-San Lorenzo, and JBLFMU conducted activities such as seabird watching, coral reef assessment, and forest bathing in the mangrove areas of the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras as part of the World Wetlands Day on February 2, 2024. A total of fifty-three (53) seabirds were documented in the areas of Masai and Binabaywan composed of Whiskered Terns (Chlidonias hybrid), Black-Naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) and Philippine Duck (Anasluzonica). It was followed by a coral reef assessment and fish visual census at the same sites. After the assessments, the participants had a short stroll at the Mangrove Boardwalk to commune with nature- a modest yet remarkable way to relieve stress and to wind down.

Moving over to PENRO Negros Occidental headed by PENRO Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya as they jumpstarted the celebrations by hanging tarpaulins bearing this year’s theme on February 2 and will be followed by a series of lectures and distribution of IEC materials regarding the importance of wetlands on the following week.

CENRO Kabankalan on the other hand, joined forces with PEMO Negros Occidental, KAHIL-ICAMC, LGU-Ilog, Barangay Officials, officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the local community in a coastal clean-up and IEC activity at Brgy. Bocana, Ilog, Negros Occidental, February 2, 2024.

Meanwhile, CENRO Cadiz with Cadiz City ENRO for a coastal clean-up activity  at Brgy. Daga, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on the 2^nd of February. Over two hundred (200) participants composed of volunteers from PNU-Visayas Kabil;in Eco-Club, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cadiz Substation, Cadiz Volunteer Radio Communicators (CVRCOM), Brgy. Daga Officials, People’s Organizations (POs), and the local community.

CENRO Bago City together with the PENRO Conservation and Management Section had an environmental talk at Pontevedra National High School wherein students are exposed to topics about wetlands and well-being, restoration, as well as introducing to them the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA).

“DENR 6 and the different PENROs and CENROs will continue to do our part in ensuring that the wetlands in our region are protected. We urge our partners especially the different LGUs and local communities to give their full support and cooperation so that we can fulfill this mandate. We will further strengthen our collaboration with stakeholders because we wanted really to succeed in our future endeavours,” RED Duran said.

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