In celebration of the National Day for Youth in Climate Action and ASEAN Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Aklan spearheaded the Coastal Clean-up and mangrove planting on Nov. 25, 2022 along the coastal areas of Andagao and New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan. A total of 69 volunteers from PENRO Aklan, Northwestern Visayan College, and People’s Organization-KASAMA participated the above-mentioned activity.
Meanwhile, PENRO Iloilo also conducts tree planting and potting of seedlings on December 2, 2022 at Bo. Obrero, La Paz, Iloilo City. It was attended by PENRO Iloilo and CENRO Guimbal personnel, including the focal person for youth of the respective offices. There are a total of 475 potted seedlings namely: Caballero (200 seedlings), Talisay(35 seedlings), and Fire Tree (240 seedlings), and planted 31 seedlings of Tapuyay
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Negros Occidental celebrated the 8th National Bicycle Day on November 28, 2022 at Calatrava Ecopark, with more or less 200 biking enthusiasts from different biking groups and organizations in the province.
PENRO Negros Occidental led by OIC-PENRO Joan Nathaniel F. Gerangaya fully supported this activity with the theme "Clean Air through a Bicycle Friendly Philippines." It was participated by PENRO Negros Occidental, Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), and CENRO Cadiz personnel, Local Govenrment Units (LGUs), and other environmental partners.
Mayor Marilyn A. Era and Councilor John Mark Fabroz of the Municipality of Calatrava gave their messages of gratitude and support to all environment-related activities.
One of the highlights of the activity was the planting of one hundred (100) white lauan seedlings in designated planting areas at the ecopark, and the pledged of commitment as they synchronously state the Panata sa Kalikasan.
The National Bicycle Day was initiated and organized together with DENR since 2014. In 2020, the National Bicycle Day was officially declared by the National Government through Presidential Proclamation 1052 declaring the 4th Sunday of November as National Bicycle Day.This annual observance aims to promote the environmental benefits of bicycles and highlight the importance of non-motorized transportation as a means of fostering sustainable development and promoting environmental health.
The province of Antique, touted as the place “where the mountains meet the sea,” is yet about to rise from the great onslaught of typhoon Paeng. But no storms will ever dampen the zeal of Antique from striving for greater improvements.
During the recent meeting of the Malandog River Rehabilitation and Development Project (MaRiReDep), DENR Antique Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Cynthia Blancia called on all partner agencies and stakeholders to continue supporting the efforts poured into the project.
It could be recalled that the rehabilitation and development of the Malandog River was snowballed after a thorough water quality assessment by the team of Environmental Management Bureau in 2017. Former DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu then called Malandog River an “ancient tourism destination” owing to the historical fact that it attracted the ten Bornean datus to its pristine waters.
In the offing is the implementation of Malandog’s tourism development plan which would include the display of larger-than-life statues of the ten Bornean datus in Sitio Sumakwel, Brgy. Malandog, Hamtic, Antique. Standing at the height of fifteen feet, probably the tallest in the region, the statues are made of cement with bronze coating and were sculpted by John Alaban. It thereby immortalizes the heritage of the Bornean datus and reinforces the importance of Malandog River as the cradle of civilization in Panay Island especially in the consciousness of the younger generations.
Also part of the tourism development will be the Malandog River floating restaurant, and a river cruise
MaRiReDep Task Force members also encouraged the general public to invest in any of the activities they implement since one of the objectives of Malandog River Ecotourism is to encourage community engagement to generate jobs for economic upliftment. There is also a plan to adopt trash traps and set-up of boundaries of each barangay with rivers identified as tributaries of Malandog river.
“Our barangay captains play a big role in achieving clean and quality water for Malandog River through our strict implementation of the solid waste management. We further need to relocate the informal settlers who took up dwelling along the legal easement of the river,” said PENRO Cynthia Blancia.
“Our aim is to ensure a sustainable future for all Antiqueños. As long as we work together and cooperate for the good of our environment and the people, we can achieve our goals,” said Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
A 10.5 foot Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) was captured in Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental.
In the early morning of November 7, 2022, a team from the Bureau of Fire Protection–Special Rescue Force (BFP-SRF) in Negros Occidental got a call from a certain Andrew dela Torre who reported that a python (locally called “Magkal”) is seen hiding on top of a Mango tree and had killed one of their chickens.
The Office of the BFP-SRF headed by Inspector Jun Michael A Manuel together with Bacolod PNP Station 3 then went to the area and captured the snake using improvised equipments. It was seen on the top of a Mango tree at dela Torre's residence at Purok Santol, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The team packed the snake inside a sack then turned it over to DENR PENRO Negros Occidental for proper identification, check up and release at around nine o’clock of the same day.
The Reticulated python was released into a forested area in Don Salvador Benedicto, which is part of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) on November 8 after ensuring that it is in good condition. Personnel of the NNNP led the team that released the said wildlife into its natural habitat.
“We commend the responsive move of the BFP-SRF Negros Occidental and the active assistance of our PENRO Negros Occidental as well. Wildlife has their proper place in our ecosystem, and we need to understand that they should be protected as well. They are not enemies rather, they help keep our ecosystems balanced,” said regional executive director Livino B. Duran of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2019-09 otherwise known as “Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna” classified the Reticulated python as Other Threatened Species (OTS). Reticulated python is under threat from adverse factors such as over collection throughout its range and destruction of their habitats.
Reticulated pythons are usually large and are quite aggressive feeders. Although their temperament can be calm, they can cause danger to their owners. Nonetheless, they play a good role as a natural pest control.
One of DENR’s priority programs, enhanced biodiversity conservation focuses not only on preserving natural habitats like watersheds, wildlife sanctuaries and mangrove habitats but also preserving the diversity of species.
Have you seen a bird fly, swoop down in water to catch a fish but instead of flying out of water, it falls on it?
This is exactly what happened to a juvenile White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), as related by the five fishermen who rescued the bird in Brgy. Gargato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.
The said fishermen saw the sea eagle catching its prey until it got tired and eventually fell into the water. Upon seeing it, the fishermen hurried to rescue the bird. This incident was reported by Hinigaran Environment and Natural Resources Officer (ENRO) Aniceto Muñoz to CENRO Kabankalan City thru Supervising Ecosystems Management Specialist (SVEMS) Lucia Salazar.
SVEMS Salazar immediately called Forest Ranger Vladimer Piansay to proceed to the area. He was assisted by ENRO Muñoz and Brgy. Captain Eric John Lutario. The sea eagle was turned-over to Mr. Fernando Dino Gutierrez of the Feather Park Corporation, Kabankalan City for proper treatment and recovery. This was the first time CENRO Kabankalan City received a call for assistance over a rescued White-bellied sea eagle.
The said White-bellied sea eagle has an estimated measurement of 70-85 cm in length with a wingspan of at least two meters and weight of 4.2 kg. Their conservation status is Least Concern (LC) though human disturbance of their habitat such as human activities near their nests or the removal of suitable trees for their nesting threatens their population. They are diurnal (active during the day) bird of prey that loves to breed and hunt near bodies of water. Half of its diet is fish and when it hunts for food, it uses its long black talons (claws). Juveniles have brown plumage on its breast that is replaced with pure white feathers as it matures.
“Thank you to the Hinigaran fishermen who readily rescued the eagle, and to our partner LGU Hinigaran for the assistance and our technical team for the prompt action. Let the bird fly free!” said CENR Officer Fred Canto of DENR CENRO Kabankalan City.
“Biodiversity conservation is of utmost importance if we are to sustain our different ecosystems that provide us with everything we need. Our working together to achieve sustainability of our natural resources would ensure food security for all our people,” said DENR 6 regional executive director Livino B. Duran.
