Regional Releases

World Wildlife Day: DENR PENRO Rizal exhibits Birds of Montalban

Taytay, Rizal– The Rizal Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office hosted a wildlife conservation photo exhibit featuring the works of Mhark Ban Gatela, a wildlife photographer. This year's theme for the celebration of World Wildlife Day is, "Recovering Key species for ecosystem restoration".

A total of 138 spectators had the chance to witness the beauty of wildlife captured by Mr. Gatela. His works and experiences in the wild, which includes discovering endemic species and documenting its nests, are very significant in conserving our resources, particularly in Pamitinan Protected Landscape (PPL).

The PPL was proclaimed as a protected area through Presidential Proclamation No. 901 dated 10 December 1996. It is located at Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal and covers a total area of 609.15 hectares. Various species of flora and fauna can be found in the PA, as well as different geological rock formations of varying sizes and shapes.

The photo of the Philippine Pita (Erythropitta erythrogaster) is one of the top-picked favorites. This species is currently classified as Least Concern. Its population is suspected to decline due to the ongoing destruction of lowland evergreen forest (del Hoyo et al. 2003).

World Wildlife Day is celebrated every 3rd day of March. To celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

This year, World Wildlife Day has emphasized the imperative need to reverse the fate of the most critically endangered species, to support the restoration of their habitats and ecosystems, and to promote their sustainable use by humanity.

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Category: Regional Releases

DENR CENRO Calaca participates in the pilot testing of wood based identification app

A team from the University of the Philippines Los Baños - College of Forestry and Natural Resources visited CENRO Calaca and conducted pilot testing of the web application called “kAhoI: Image-based wood identification using artificial intelligence”.

The team, led by Dr. Rosalie Mendoza, first presented the rationale and user interface of the web application which was attended by personnel from Enforcement and Monitoring Section (EMS), Planning and Support Unit (PSU) and Conservation and Development Section (CDS). The web application has a wood identification database containing various macroscopic end-grain images taken from authentic samples of twenty (20) selected Philippines species that are significant to DENR and WFPs. It automates the classification of raw end-grain images of different wood samples using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) classifier. The user only needs to upload an image of the end grain of the wood.

To evaluate the efficiency of the web application the team proceeded to CENRO Calaca’s impounding area and took end grain macroscopic photos of confiscated woods using a macro lens called Xylorix WIDK-24X01. Photos were then uploaded and processed on the kAhoI application to verify and identify the species of the wood.

The development of the said web application aims to provide various forestry related sectors such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), wood processing plants (WFPs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) an easier way of wood identification and proper selection of species.

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IEC Campaign on illegal occupation of foreshore and salvage zones in San Juan, Batangas, pushed by DENR CENRO Lipa

In response to numerous complaints received by the Local Government Unit of San Juan from local residents and tourists, DENR-CENRO Lipa City was invited to conduct an IEC Meeting with the resort owners and other Local Officials last February. 

The discussion focused on PD 1067 or The Water Code of the Philippines which highlighted the definition and importance of the salvage zone or the legal easement, the foreshore land, and the restrictions on the use of these critical portions of the coastal areas. The definition of foreshore was clarified to the stakeholders as the area between the highest and lowest tide, while the salvage zone is the area of land measuring 20 meters landward from the interior limit of the shoreline. The salvage zone is classified as part of the public domain and shall not be subjected to private appropriation, which means that public access to the salvage zone is guaranteed by law and public policy. 

Information on the procedures and requirements to secure Foreshore Lease Agreement (FLA) and Provisional Permit from the DENR for the lawful use of the foreshore areas were also explained. Also discussed during the forum were the activities being undertaken by CENRO Lipa City in partnership with the LGU of San Juan, Batangas for the purpose of maintaining free public access to the legal easement of the municipality’s shoreline and the dismantling of unlawful structures.  

Relevant environmental laws such as Chainsaw Act of 2002 (RA 9175), Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147), and PD 705 (Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines) and the new law authorizing the issuance of Free Patents to agricultural lands where also discussed, wherein the roles of the DENR as the primary agency responsible for the conservation, protection and management of country’s environment and natural resources were specially pointed out. ###

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PENRO Batangas and CENRO Lipa recognized as Best Performing PENR and CENR Offices for year 2021

The DENR-CALABARZON Regional Office recognized and awarded its top Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENRO and CENRO) for accomplishing their 2021 goals and targets that contributed to the achievement of the DENR’s mandate and programs in the Region. The awarding ceremony took place during the Year-End Assessment, Service Award, and Recognition Program for CY 2021 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) CALABARZON on December 21, 2021. Through the efforts of the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee of DENR CALABARZON, the recognition is in pursuance of the Office’s continuing thrust and commitment to service excellence, to which DENR Batangas successfully responded to the call for innovativeness, efficiency, and integrity in frontline service.

During the culmination program, DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria awarded the Best PENRO to PENRO Batangas and the Best CENRO to CENRO Lipa City. RED Tamoria commended the awardees, with challenge to continue to give their best not only in accomplishing their targets but most of all, to practice efficiency and decency in implementing the programs and projects of the DENR. All of the provincial and field offices were also recognized and applauded during the program and were challenged to be steadfast in their commitment to render efficient and proactive service to the public.

Another award was given to CENRO Lipa City in recognition of its efficiency to raise revenue collections, which resulted in the highest revenue generated for CY 2021.  Cartographer I/DPLI Myla A. Melo, also of CENRO Lipa was awarded a plaque of recognition for achieving the highest number of Residential Free Patents processed/issued for CY 2021. DPLI Melo also received a certificate of recognition for achieving the second highest number of Agricultural Free Patents processed/issued for the same year. 

OIC-PENR Officer Noel M. Recillo acknowledged the contributions of the entire workforce of DENR Batangas as he praised the relentless efforts of PENRO Batangas personnel and the staff from the field offices of CENROs Calaca and Lipa City. OIC-CENR Officer Allan Willard M. Estillore of Lipa City expressed appreciation of the spirited team-work displayed by CENRO Lipa personnel in accomplishing all its mandates and activites for the year and specially acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, formerly OIC-CENRO Januel Peras (now OIC-PENRO of Cavite), to the overall achievements of CENRO Lipa, and of DENR-Batangas as a whole.

Be informed further that all precautionary measures and safety protocols against COVID-19 threat were properly observed and enforced during the activity. 

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DENR CENRO Lipa successfully resolved a Land Dispute Case through Alternative Dispute Resolution

DENR CENRO Lipa City is speeding-up the resolutions of land disputes through conflict resolution process minus the tedious process of administrative hearing or court litigation. A formal and verified protest by the Local Government Unit of Barangay Majuben in Mabini, Batangas against a public land application with allegation that portion of property being claimed includes the parcel of land where the barangay hall stands was resolved by this Office on October 25, 2021 through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). After a series of ADR sessions, CENR Officer and ADR Officer Allan Willard Estillore successfully mediated the case and amicably settled through a Compromise Agreement signed by both parties and approved by the PENR Officer of Batangas Noel M. Recillo through an Order Based on the Compromise Agreement.
 
Most of the land cases filed are now handled by the DENR Alternative Dispute Resolution Officers (ADRO) who were accredited after a rigorous training and examination. Mediation through the ADR has rebuilt relationships that were destroyed by land disputes, especially involving family and friends. The ADR became operational in December 2016 with the issuance of DENR Administrative Order 2016-30 calling for the establishment of mechanisms and tools for ADR in the disposition of land claims and conflicts, the organization of a pool of ADRO, and the creation of a committee and secretariat tasked to implement the ADR process.
 
The activity strengthened rapport between the DENR and its stakeholders on the efficient and effective administration, surveys, management and disposition of alienable and disposable lands of the public domain and other lands outside the responsibilities of other government agencies. Moreover, health and safety measures against COVID-19 were properly observed and practiced during the ADR proceedings.###
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