The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will celebrate its 31st founding anniversary on July 4 with a call for a concerted effort to protect the environment in the face of growing environmental challenges.

This year’s theme, “Ikaw, Ako, Tayo ang Kalikasan,” is a powerful reminder that people are a part of the environment and protecting it is everyone’s responsibility, according to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

“Environmental protection is not the government’s responsibility alone because everyone has a part to play in protecting the environment from damage,” Cimatu pointed out.

President Rodrigo Duterte will be the special guest of honor during event. He will lead the distribution of residential land titles to qualified residents of eight barangays in Taguig City.

Former DENR secretaries were also invited to join in celebrating major milestones in the agency’s history since its reorganization into a department in 1987 under then President Corazon Aquino.

Cimatu is expected to give updates on the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in Boracay, as well as the agency’s other accomplishments over the past year.

Another highlight of the event is the handing over to Cimatu of the international award Boracay won from Greening the Islands (GTI), a global initiative promoting sustainability projects exclusive to island economies and communities.

There will also be awarding recognizing the DENR’s outstanding regional officials, contributors to the DENR’s technical bulletin Sylvatrop, and winners of the recently concluded sportsfest.

In between the awarding ceremonies and messages, DENR employees and guests will be treated to a “2018 DENR Milenyalng Kalikasan” contest, which will include representatives from the agency’s different offices in Quezon City and nearby regions.

The DENR traces its roots to the mid-1800s when Spanish rule created the Inspeccion General de Minas in 1837 to administer minerals and mineral lands, and the Inspeccion General de Montes in 1863 to be responsible for the management of wide range of natural resources, such as forest inventory and protection, land classification, watershed protection, water and biodiversity.

Executive Order 192 issued by Pres. Cirazon Aquino on June 10, 1986 prescribed its reorganization into the present DENR. ###