The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sara has recorded the first encounter of Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) spotted laying its eggs along the shoreline of Bantigue Islet, Brgy. Gabi, Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo on March 5, 2023.

CENRO Sara constantly monitoring and coordinating with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Carles thru the office of Municipal ENRO to keep track the progress and refrain tourists from visiting the nesting site. Expected hatching will be late April to mid-May, this year or within 45-75 days after laying.

Furthermore, a tagging and release of trapped Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) was done at the coastal area of Brgy. Cabasi, Guimbal, Iloilo on April 17, 2023. The activity was conducted by CENRO Guimbal personnel spearheaded by CENR Officer Vivente T. Mellizas, Jr.

It was tagged with PH 1768M and has a length of 43cm, width of 36cm and weighs 25 kgs. It was seen trapped in the fishing gear by Mrs. Lalaine Gelvoleo, resident of Brgy. Cabasi last April 16, 2023 and informed the CENRO Guimbal for rescue and release.

The Hawksbill turtle are tagged as Critically Endangered, while the Green sea turtle are tagged as Endangered by the international Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

The DENR in Region 6 is always reminding the public the importance of balanced biodiversity and constantly encouraging reporting similar cases to the authority for proper action and to fully ensure proper protection of their population.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 26 April 2023

In its continuous campaign to free the region’s protected areas of illegal structures and occupants, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 and the Community ENR Office of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) and stoppage of an illegal construction within Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), located at So. Pakol, Brgy. Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City.

The structure is a two storey concrete house with 20 feet x 30 feet in dimension. It is owned by a certain Florante Halipa while the lot claimant is Mr. Francisco Villanueva. With the structure situated within the jurisdiction of NNNP-Multiple Use Zone (MUZ), a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Clearance or Permit from the DENR-Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Office was required and should have been obtained prior to the construction.

Without the required legal documents, the team of CENRO Cadiz immediately installed Notice of Violation (NOV) signage which stated: No Building Permit, No SAPA, No ECC and No PAMB Clearance or Permit from the NNNP PASu office.

NNNP is located at the northwestern part of Negros Island within the Province of Negros Occidental and is home to the threatened and endangered endemic species such as the Negros bleeding heart dove, Visayan warty pig, Visayan spotted deer, and Red lauan.

Section 18 of Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act states that it is unlawful for any person to occupy or dwell in any public land within the protected area without clearance from the PAMB and could warrant a fine of P200,000 to 1P million and/or imprisonment of one to six years.

“By the name itself, protected areas should be protected. We at the DENR always remind the public that it is important to protect and conserve our precious natural resources. By doing so, we work hard towards the attainment of sustainable development for all,” DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

Encroachment of forestlands in NNNP is continuously addressed and monitored by the Environment Department as it installed public notices and signages in strategic locations across the protected area to deter them from selling and buying forestland areas. /DENR 6

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 12 April 2023

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which is mandated to protect, conserve and manage all terrestrial plants and animal species, all turtles and tortoises and wetland species, including crocodiles, waterbirds and all amphibians and seacow or dugong, calls for the public to turn-over rescued animals to the authorities especially to the wildlife authorities, and not keep them as house pet.

The management of DENR Region 6 is grateful for the series of turned-over species in the region. Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran also emphasizes the importance of these species in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem to both floras (plants) and faunas (animals).

On February 07, 2023 a rescued Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) locally known as Dapay was turned-over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Barotac Nuevo by the Municipal (ENR) Office of Dingle from Barangay Bonloy Dingle, Iloilo.

Ten days after, on February 17, 2023, one Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) was turned over by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Guimbal, Iloilo to CENRO Guimbal, after it was found at a dike in Brgy. Poblacion and was caught by one of the residents. The python is temporarily in custody at the Wildlife Rescue Center at Kirayan Tacas, Miagao, Iloilo.

Meanwhile, two (2) juvenile Visayan leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori) was turned-over by Mabini Farm School teacher, Ms. Masa Lavada to CENRO Cadiz City in Negros Occidental on February 14, 2023.

“The turned-over species are a living proof that there is a good number of concerned citizen who are aware of the importance of these species to our ecosystems. They won’t harm when you don’t hurt them, they play an important role to help our ecosystems in balance,” said RED Duran.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 22 February 2023

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Barotac Nuevo together with the 63^rdSpecial Action Company, 6^th Special Action Battalion, PNP-SAF and Organization for Internal Safety and Response Against Crime (OISRAC) conducted a tree planting activity within the four (4) hectares portion of (thirty) 30 hectares timber commodity of Enhanced National Greening Program (E-NGP) located at Brgy. Gemumua Agahon, Passi City on February 3, 2023.

A total of two hundred (200) assorted cloned seedlings were planted by the participants including the members of Gemumua Agahon Integrated Social Forestry Farmers (GAISFOBA).

Meanwhile, on February 10, 2023 the team of CENRO Barotac Nuevo together with the personnel from Tactical Operations Group 6 of the Philippine Air Force, fisherfolks, and barangay officials of Brgy. Talisay had planted a total of three hundred (300) bakauan propagules within the 37.7 hectares mangrove area and collected twenty-five (25) kilograms of garbage during their coastal clean-up located at Sitio Lamintao, Brgy. Talisay, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 20 February 2023

An Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle trapped in a fishnet was rescued by two brothers who are fishermen at around eight o’clock in the morning on February 6, 2023.

Brothers Joemar Avanceña and Ronel Avanceña found the Olive ridley while they were fishing at the mouth of Ilog–Hilabangan River, located at So. Mapaet, Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City. Seeing the need to report it to the proper authorities, the brothers contacted the city ENRO. Then, responding to the call, Himamaylan City ENR Officer Armela Waldato informed Supervising Ecosystem Management Specialist (SVEMS) Lucia Salazar of DENR CENRO Kabankalan City of the incidence.

Kabankalan City ENRO dispatched Ascencion Santocildes, chief of the Conservation and Development Section, to the site. Santocildes and his team assessed the Olive ridley and measured its carapace to be 63 centimeters long and 65 centimeters wide. It has an estimated weight of 30 kilograms. The turtle was also tagged with # PH1296K.

Since the turtle is in good shape, it was immediately released back to the sea water by the DENR team after the tagging.

The Olive ridley is a small sea turtle and has powerful jaws for an omnivore diet of crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps. No wonder they are generally found in coastal bays and estuaries, but also dwell in the oceans in some parts of its habitat. They would usually dive to a depth of 500 feet and feed on bottom dwelling crustaceans.

Its name is derived from its olive-colored carapace. It is listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“We are thankful for the ready help that are usually given by our fishermen and local folks especially in the coastal areas where marine turtles are rescued. Such actions contribute not only to the conservation of these marine turtles, but also to the preservation of our rich marine biodiversity as well,” said Livino B. Duran, DENR 6 regional executive director.

“Protecting the environment is not the sole job of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). We need all the help that our communities can give to protect and conserve our natural resources,” he added.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 10 February 2023