The Department of Environment and Natural Resources CALABARZON conducted a Press Conference in line with the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, 2019, at the DENR IV-A (CALABARZON) Building, located at Brgy. Mayapa, Calamba City.

One of the main speakers, DENR PENRO Quezon, Chief of Management Services Division, Mr. Galo Martinez Jr., discussed the status of Tayo Ang Kalikasan (TAK) movement in the province of Quezon, and how they encouraged the community to participate in the composting revolution.

They launched the Sustainable Re-greening and the Art of Composting (SRAC) for cleaner environment, a subprogram under TAK. The PENRO Quezon strategized a competition to make the Lucena City residents interested to take part in. The participants of the competition shall use recycled materials and a homemade compost from their own kitchen wastes.

Galo disclosed that Lucena City generates 30 tons of waste a day, and 60% of this is generated alone by the homeowners. PENRO Quezon coordinated with the Federation of Lucena Home Owners Association to help with the competition which will also reduce their generated wastes by half.

Department of Trade and Industry, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Tourism are few of the agencies that helped launch the garden competition. They offered lectures on composting, soil testing and tools. DTI and other agencies will also provide assistance on the marketing of organic fruits and vegetables that will be harvested from Lucena. Their main market will be the hotels in Manila.

This competition not only helped decrease the generated wastes in Lucena but also provided a livelihood for the communities. Galo said that competition will be done annually so it can become a habit for the communities in Lucena.

According to Regional Executive Director, Maria Paz G. Luna, SRAC is proof that the DENR CALABARZON is trying hard to increase the success of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns. These campaigns aim to develop behavioral changes in the communities. These changes can be observed from the communities of Lucena because they were given an incentive and were shown how can they benefit from the SRAC, through their garden competition.

DENR CALABARZON is urging the public to join the composting revolution and to plant flowering native trees. Meanwhile, report Environment and Natural Resources-related cases via hotline 8888, sms to +639456215007/ +639083340224, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send us photos, videos and other information via https://www.facebook.com/DENR4AOfficial/ #DENRCalabarzon #TayoAngKalikasan