DENR-PENRO Cavite announced that the permittees of the Philippine Ports Authority were able to plant a total of 9,000 fruit tree species within an 18-hectare forestland in Maragondon, Cavite for 2023.
The said tree planting initiative is in line with DENR’s Enhanced National Greening Program (eNGP) and in response to President BBM’s call for increased tree planting activities across the country. DENR-PENRO Cavite conducts regular monitoring of the planted trees to ensure high survival and growth rates.
PPA orders mandatory tree and mangrove planting for its permittees as a condition before a certificate of registration, appointment, or award of contract is issued to them. The said program focuses on planting native tree species to help restore local ecosystems and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the communities. It also serves as an effort to mitigate climate change, reduce pollution, prevent soil erosion, and alleviate the possible impacts of typhoon.
PPA remains committed to responsible and sustainable operations in all their ports across the country. The agency assures that they will continue to pursue and strengthen their environmental programs and initiatives to support DENR’s goals and help ensure that economic programs go hand in hand with environmental protection.
DENR calls on other government agencies and private organizations to take action on the pressing environmental challenges facing the country. The department believes that collective action and cooperation will be the key to building a sustainable future for both the environment and the economy. ###
New DENR-CENRO Calaca, Batangas OIC, Rommel S. Baybayon assumed his post after a formal turn-over ceremony held last January 16, 2024.
During the ceremonial turn-over, outgoing OIC-CENR Officer Isagani Q. Amatorio represented by Forester III Judilyn T. Enoc officially passed the Key of Responsibility and Leadership to OIC-CENRO Baybayon.
OIC-PENR Officer, Batangas, Noel M. Recillo highlighted the achievements of CENRO Calaca during the leadership of OIC-CENRO Amatorio, and relayed his hopes that the office will also give the same support to the incoming OIC. On the other hand, For. Enoc, who acted as the In-Charge, CENRO, officially introduced to Baybayon the CENRO employees and assured him that they will give their full support and commitment to his leadership.
OIC-CENRO Baybayon, in his acceptance speech, recalled his experiences when he started his job at the DENR and when he was assigned to different DENR offices. He also emphasized that he was looking forward to working with his new subordinates and assured that the trust and confidence given to him will be paid off with utmost sincere service to their clientele. He also extended his gratitude to DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director (RED) Nilo B. Tamoria and PENRO Recillo for their support and the opportunity to lead the office.
RED Tamoria lauded the work performance of CENRO Calaca and the entire DENR Batangas from the leadership of previous PENR and CENR Officers to now. He also conveyed his trust and support to the incoming CENRO Baybayon that he will lead the office and perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities.
The turnover was pursuant to DENR CALABARZON Regional Special Order No. 2023-455 designating Supervising Ecosystems Management Specialist (SVEMS) Rommel S. Baybayon as the OIC of DENR-CENRO Calaca, Batangas.###
DENR-CENRO Lipa City conducted a general clean up of working space and office premises on January 19, 2024 to facilitate the attainment of new goals, ideas, and fresh perspective for the year, carrying the belief that a dust-free, organized, and clutter-free workspace enhances concentration and productivity at work. The said activity was also in line with the celebration of the National Zero Waste Month.
All personnel were advised through an internal Office memorandum to clean and declutter their own workspace by getting rid of certain items or materials that were unnecessary to keep. “Alam kong marami tayong ginagawa pero kailangan natin maglinis para mas maging produktibo tayo sa pagsisimula pa lamang ng taon. I-recycle at i-donate natin ang mga gamit na hindi na natin magagamit,” OIC-CENR Officer Allan Willard Estillore stated before conducting the activity.
A total of four trash bags composed of used papers, assorted plastics and residual wastes were collected. The CENRO coordinated with the Lipa City ENRO for the turnover of the collected solid wastes immediately after the cleanup activity.
The said office was able to implement a systematic administration of garbage collection and disposal in the City of Lipa through a project called “Trash to Cash”, an inter-agency project of the City Government of Lipa to practice waste segregation at source. The project aims to reduce the volume of garbage collected from the city and encourage all Lipeños to properly manage their wastes.
The cleanup activity supports the objectives of ecological solid waste management through the efficient implementation of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). ###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) CALABARZON and the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) of Rizal and Quezon were among the DENR offices recognized as top performers in handling hotline concerns, during the 2023 Year-End Capability Building Seminar-Workshop (Luzon Cluster) on DENR Action Center/Hotline 8888 Operations and Tickets’ Resolution last January 18, 2024 in San Mateo, Rizal.
DENR Region IV-A (CALABARZON) ranked second among all the Regional Offices in Luzon in terms of handling overall tickets lodged before them for CY 2023, with a total of 100% Resolution Rate, while DENR Region 3 (Central Luzon) ranked first.
The PENROs of Rizal and Quezon, on the other hand, received two awards each. PENRO Quezon ranked second among all the PENROs in Luzon in terms of handling 8888 Tickets with a total of 79.17% combined compliance and resolution rate, while PENRO Rizal ranked third with a total of 70.97% compliance and resolution rate. Moreover, both PENROs of Quezon and Rizal ranked first in the overall handling of tickets lodged before them for CY 2023, among all the PENROs in Luzon.
DENR Chief of Staff and Supervising Undersecretary for Strategic Communications Marilou G. Erni and DENR Action Center/Hotline 8888 Head, Dir. Joe-Mar S. Perez led the awarding of the Plaques of Recognition to the respective DENR Central, Regional, and Provincial Office awardees. ###
DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Mr. John Ma Chumacera, a successful businessman, for the adoption of a 50-hectare timber plantation in Brgy. Mapulot, Tagkawayan, Quezon.
The adopted plantation is a portion of a 700-hectare graduated tree plantation established in 2012 under the National Greening Program (NGP) of the DENR. Since the subject plantation already finished its 3-year financial provision under the NGP contract, financial support for the maintenance and protection activities of the site is unavailable. This motivated Mr. Chumacera to adopt the plantation and continue his advocacy on securing the environment's welfare.
Mr. Chumacera is a 58-year-old resident of Brgy. Poblacion, Tagkawayan, Quezon, who used to work with the local government and community leaders. He is the founder of the Tagkawayan Farmers’ Association, who developed a cacao industry in the locality through the introduction of high-yield cacao varieties, education of farmers, and transfer of technology. His commitment includes establishment of a nursery in the adopted area to support forest rehabilitation and food security aspirations, and setting up of a demonstration farm and learning site for various farmers in the municipality.
In view of his profile and active involvement in a series of tree growing activities in the upland and mangrove areas, DENR-CENRO Calauag recommended Mr. Chumacera to be one of its partners in achieving environmental sustainability.
For. Julieta Narte of PENRO Quezon stressed that a 3-year budget for NGP is insufficient to sustain the optimum survival rate of trees planted in an NGP site. She emphasized that the government also allocates funds to various programs, projects, and activities for the country’s welfare. Thus, it does not assure a bursting budget allocation for its reforestation programs more than implemented under Expanded NGP until 2028. She added that the stewards and volunteers play a vital role in the collaborative efforts of the DENR to sustain the quality of the forest and environment.
Director Tamoria expressed his recognition of the efforts and initiatives of Mr. Chumacera and the rest of the individuals who continuously uplift the values of collaboration for the sake of the environment.
He highlighted that one of the DENR’s primary mandates is to conserve and protect forestland and watersheds. However, the success of the implementation of the department’s projects, programs and activities depends on its joint efforts with the concerned communities and stakeholders.
“Caring for the environment and natural resources is an obligation of all since all people enjoy its benefits, and the present and future generations are our inspiration to pursue environmental conservation efforts,” RED Tamoria stressed.
DENR-CENR Officer Joselito Barros expressed his utmost gratitude to Mr. Chumacera for initiating such endeavors to improve the environment. He further complimented his commitment towards environmental improvement and sustainability.
Tagkawayan Mayor’s Executive Assistant Michael Tolentino, Brgy. Mapulot Chair Rogelio Esmas, Brgy. Sta. Cecilia Chair Nelson Nimedes, Mapulot Community Resources Development Association, Inc. President Diosmedes Esmas, and an environmentalist from Tagkawayan, Wilfredo Lingon II, served as witnesses of the undertaking. Also, concerned individuals from NGAs, NGOs, and the local government of Tagkawayan, Quezon observed the ceremonial MOA signing. ###
