As a measure to rehabilitate the Bicol River Basin, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Bicol Region led the planting of some 49,509 Bamboo (Bambusa blumeana) culms for riverbank stabilization in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes on February 9 to 12, 2021.

DENR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations in Southern Luzon, Engr. Gilbert C. Gonzales led the Bamboo planting at Barangay Balinad, Polangui, Albay, which was participated in by representatives of the various government agencies.

“This is just the beginning of a continuing collective endeavor. With the support from almost all national agencies and the local government units or LGUs, we can abate the effects of destruction in our communities,” said Asec Gonzales.

DENR Bicol OIC, Regional Executive Director Atty. Antonio A. Abawag and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Arnel B. Garcia signed a memorandum of agreement on January 22, 2021. This is to strengthen the initiatives under the Executive Order 120 or the “Strengthening Rehabilitation and Recovery Efforts in Typhoon-Hit Areas Through the Creation of the Build Back Better (BBB) Task Force”.

Some 551 local residents were hired to plant the bamboo culms in the towns of Bula, Lupi and Sipocot in Camarines Sur, San Lorenzo Ruiz and Basud in Camarines Norte, Polangui and Guinobatan in Albay and San Andres in Catanduanes. In turn, they received food packs under the Food-for-Work Program of the DSWD.

Mayor Peter C. Cua of San Andres, Catanduanes has assured the DENR the full support of the LGU to the stabilization program. “We should care for the protection and management of our watershed to maintain its cleanliness for us to continue to enjoy a clean supply of water not just today but for the future to come,” Mayor Cua said.

Meanwhile, Bula town Mayor Amelita A. Ibasco expressed her gratitude to the DENR for choosing their town as a site for the activity. “This bamboo planting will greatly help our rivers, especially when there are typhoons which causes flooding in our communities,” she added.

The Regional BBB Task Force has earlier announced that various activities are underway under the different Key Result Areas of EO 120.

“With the concerted effort of all national government agencies, LGUs and the communities, we are hopeful that this Build Back Better Project will bring a significant impact to our fellow Bicolanos,” said RED Abawag.

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Published: 01 March 2021

DENR NCR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan (left, top row) assures barangay officials of Malabon City of continuing support for their environmental protection efforts during the signing of memorandum agreement and turnover of three (3) trash collector rafts (inset photo) held Feb. 3 via video conferencing app. On hand to sign the MOA, which defines the responsibilities of receiving barangays, are (2nd from left, top row) Brgy. Chairmen Gerardo Bernardo of Ibaba and Ricky Bernardo of San Agustin, and Brgy. Secretary Ryan Matalubos of Concepcion. Witnessing the event are (from left, middle row) DENR NCR Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Ignacio Almira, Jr., MBSCMO Focal Person Haidee Pabalate, North Field Office Deputy CEO Olga Arzadon, and Elizabeth Gutierrez, senior environmental management specialist of the Malabon City government. ###

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Published: 09 February 2021

Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan (in light blue topper) leads the distribution of mobile waste collection trikes, known as habal-habal, to eight barangays in Metro Manila in separate occasions held at the DENR NCR compound in Quezon City recently. On hand to receive their habal-habal trikes are (from left, 1st photo) Kgd. Luming de Guzman of Batasan Hills, Kgd. Vlady M. Torres of Greater Lagro; Environment Officer Rodorick Capitolo of Bagbag (2 units), Kgd. Marcelina Sumilang of Talayan District, and Brgy. Chairwoman Zenaida Lectura of Barangay UP Campus, all in Quezon City; (from left, 2nd photo): Brgy. Secretary Randy Magtanum and Administrator Jana de Leon of Pineda, Brgy. Chairman Arecl Umipig of Sta. Rosa, both in Pasi City, and Brgy. Chairman Gerardo Sto. Domingo in Marikina City. Under the memorandum of agreement signed by all parties, the habal-habal shall be used primarily to collect wastes from households located in areas not in the regular route of dump trucks. The barangay recipients shall also be responsible for the proper maintenance of the units. Also on hand to witness the distribution are DENR NCR officials (from left, first photo): Deputy Community Environment Officer (DCEO) Florencio Diwa, Jr. and CEO Aida Esguerra, both of East Field Office, and Manila Bay Site Coordinating Management Office Focal Person Haidee Pabalate.###

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Published: 08 February 2021

NCR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan (left) and Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) Pollution Control Officer Janice Picardal (center), representing ATI Vice President for Business Support Services Atty. Rodolfo G. Corvite, Jr., present to public the memorandum of agreement they forged for the turn over of a 3-door toilet facility (see insert photo 3rd row) to Baseco/Brgy. 649 in Tondo, Manila, represented by Kgd. Markdolph J. Navalta (right). The construction of the toilet facility was funded by ATI, an active partner of DENR NCR under its Enhanced Adopt an Estero Program. Witnessing the event are (from left): DENR NCR Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Engr. Ignacio Almira, ARD for Management Services Al Orolfo, and EMB NCR Regional Director Domingo Clemente, Jr. Measuring 48.6 square meters, the toilet facility has 3-door restroom with water closet, lavatory, water supply lines, vent line, sanitary and storm drainage line, floor drains, septic tank
and electrical fixtures. ###

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Published: 08 February 2021

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 and its field offices conducted simultaneous coastal clean-up drives to raise awareness on waste management problems in Western Visayas in this typhoon season.
DENR Regional Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) here in Western Visayas partners with different stakeholders, local government units (LGUs) and nearby coastal residents gathering volunteers to participate in the annual movement of International Coastal Clean-up (ICC).
ICC is the largest volunteer effort to protect the ocean’s health through picking up litters on beaches, coasts, rivers, waterways and even underwater dive sites and record information on the trash being collected.
This year’s event was celebrated with limited amount of volunteers observing physical distancing adhering safety protocols due to the rising cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Thus, people were encouraged to do their part at home by clearing the trash on the waterways or coasts near their houses.
DENR Regional Office initiated a clean-up activity at the Iloilo River Esplanade. Volunteers collected approximately 169.50 kilograms of trash scattered in the river banks.
In the northwest part of Panay Island, PENRO Aklan also took their part through simultaneous clean-up within their communities’ waterways and coastal areas. Residents and volunteers were able to gathered approximately 500 kilograms of wastes which mostly plastics from food packaging, rubbers, metals, wires and straws that could danger the lives of marine creatures.
CENRO Guimbal was able to conduct the clean-up activity at the coastal areas of Brgy. Buyu-an, Tigbauan, Iloilo and collected a total of 36.4 kilograms of waste. Trashes was sorted, weighted and disposed properly at the barangay’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
The province where the mountains meet the sea called Antique, coastal areas of Brgy. Poblacion, Culasi was cleaned with the help of municipality’s Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group and nearby residents as they volunteered during clean-up activity and collected a total of four sacks of trash.
Meanwhile in the Negros Island, CENRO Bago City partnered with the LGUs of San Enrique pave the way of clearing trashes in the coastal areas collecting 17 sacks of trash composed mostly of plastics that entangled in the mangrove trees.
Simultaneous coastal clean-up activities were also conducted in the lone island of Guimaras collecting approximately 450 kilograms of trash on coastal areas and along Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (TINMAR) protected area.
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Scientists estimate that 50-80% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean.” Thus coastal clean-ups also help in saving the ocean biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Clearing up the waterways at our beloved homes will greatly help during the upcoming typhoon as it will lessen the debris and drastic effects of the typhoon aftermath.
“Cleaner waters greatly help in growth of marine life production. Although coronavirus disease (COVID-19) brought adverse effect on public health and economy, it allows the ocean to breathe as carbon emission slowed due to less sea travel. Small acts of cleaning the ocean can bring impact to climate change mitigation. Being volunteers during clean-ups help us to become better stewards of our environment.” said regional executive director Francisco E. Milla, Jr./DENR6/ASCC/JLR/LGGL

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Published: 10 November 2020