The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is partnering with the Philippine-based Catholic movement Couples for Christ (CFC) on an initiative to plant one million trees under the government’s Expanded National Greening Program (ENGP).

Tapping different non-government organizations from various sectors like the CFC is “vital” to achieving the goals of ENGP, according to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

“We are glad that an organization such as the CFC, a church-based organization, is helping us in our goal to protect the environment by taking part in the ENGP,” Cimatu said.

The DENR-CFC partnership was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed by Cimatu and CFC-Philippines president Michael Ariola. DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones and CFC social development programs head Mon De Leon also signed the agreement as witnesses.

CFC is a global lay organization intended for strengthening the Christian family life. The organization started in the country in 1981, and was approved by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines as a national private association of lay faithful in 1996.

Under the MOA, the CFC has committed to contribute to the national reforestation effort by planting one million forest tree seedlings from 2019 to 2021, and maintaining and protecting the planted seedlings during that period.

The DENR, on the other hand, is tasked to give technical assistance to CFC in terms of identifying the forestlands where the seedlings will be planted, conduct survey, planning and mapping, and identify the suitable tree species that should be planted in the areas concerned.

Each party would provide a focal person for the coordination of the activities and for talking with the representatives of the people’s organization who would take care of the planted trees in specified areas.

The ENGP is the continuation of the previous National Greening Program, and was signed under the Executive Order 193 in 2015. It covers all the remaining unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands which will span from 2016 to 2028.

The government’s flagship reforestation program aims to “pursue sustainable development for poverty alleviation, food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity conservation.” 

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 28 April 2019

Boracay keeps getting better a year after it started undergoing rehabilitation, according to Secretary Roy A. Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Much has changed in Boracay since we started and I am happy that we are able to sustain the gains we achieved since we reopened in October last year,” Cimatu said on April 26, which is exactly one year since the resort island was closed to the public for six months to pave the way for its rehabilitation from serious environmental damage.

Cimatu, who heads the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) in charge of the island’s rehabilitation, said the coliform level in Boracay waters “has significantly gone down,” based on the latest water quality monitoring done by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau.

The environment chief noted that the highest coliform level recorded was only 40 most probable number per 100 milliliters (mpn/100 ml). The safe level is 100 mpn/100 ml for Class SB water that is suitable for swimming, skin diving and other recreational activities.

He also reported that there had been “no algae year-round,” indicating that “it is really the dirty water which is causing what used to be a natural occurrence.”

Cimatu said the entire stretch of Boracay’s White Beach is already safe for swimming, and he was hoping the Bulabog Beach, which is now solely used for water sports, will also be declared “swimmable” soon.

So far, Cimatu said 51 establishments along the White Beach have their own sewage treatment plants (STPs) while others are now connected to the sewer line. Forty-two establishments in other areas of the island opted to have their own STPs, he added.

He said demolition orders have been served to establishments violating the 25+ 5 meter easement rule along the White Beach and Bulabog Beach, almost all of them chose to self-demolish. Those who violated the 12-meter road easement were also ordered to remove their illegal structures.

Cimatu said the construction of the Circumferential Road will continue. “Last year, it would take tourists an hour to reach their hotels because of traffic congestion. Now it would only take 20 minutes because of the paved and cleared roads,” he said.

At present, the road from Cagban Port to Hue hotel is now 95 percent finished; Hue Hotel to the Elizalde property is 95 percent done; and what is called the Missing Gap is also 95 percent completed.

Plans are also underway to make Cagban Jetty Port an all-year round port. Previously, it was only used during the Amihan or dry season from November to April as an alternate to Tagbisaan Jetty Port, which is used during Habagat or wet season from May to October.

Despite these achievements, Cimatu said more needs to be done for Boracay to ensure its sustainability as a world-class ecotourism destination.

“Although we have reopened Boracay to global tourism, the rehabilitation of Boracay is not yet complete and remains a work in progress,” he said.

“What we have accomplished thus far has earned commendations, but building sustainability requires time as well as the continuing support of the people of Boracay,” he added.

The government, through the BIATF, is commemorating the first anniversary of the much-publicized closure of Boracay with a week-long celebration promoting the conservation and sustainability.

Low-key activities were lined up for the first-ever “Sustainability Week,” which runs from April 26 to May 1.

The BIATF wanted to keep the observance of “Sustainability Week” simple and without much fanfare, unlike the infamous “Laboracay” which used to be celebrated every Labor Day weekend.

Laboracay was an annual event where beach parties were held to draw people to Boracay. Tourist arrivals tend to peak around this time.

For the Sustainability Week, the BIATF has identified activities that would distribute crowds to pocket events at different locations on the island, particularly in plazas, gyms, and other spaces.

No parties would be allowed on the beachfront. All activities are also scheduled only until 12 midnight.

The BIATF reminds those in the island to maintain cleanliness, which will be strictly monitored by enforcers from the DENR-LAWIN and the Malay-Solid Waste teams.

Tourists and guests can test their taste buds in a nightly banchetto food festival sponsored by the Boracay Foundation along Laketown Road. They can also register to avail of free rides that will ferry them from D’Mall to other event locations.

Other activities during the week-long celebration include Zumba sessions, paraw-sailing and dive festivals, Ati-atihan parade, sports competition, symposiums and mini-concerts. ###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 27 April 2019

Patuloy sa pagbuti at pagganda ng Boracay matapos ang isang taon ng isinasagawang rehabilitasyon, ayon na rin kay Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

“Much has changed in Boracay since we started and I am happy that we are able to sustain the gains we achieved since we reopened in October last year,” sabi ni Cimatu noong
Abril 26 kung saan ginugunita ang pagpapasara sa isla ng anim na buwan upang sumailalim sa rehabilitasyon.

Ayon pa kay Cimatu na namuno din sa itinatag na Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) na nangasiwa sa rehabilitasyon ng isla, patuloy ang pagbaba ng coliform level sa
tubig ng Boracay base na rin sa isinagawang water quality monitoring ng Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) ng DENR.

Aniya, ang pinakamataas na coliform level na naitala sa Boracay ay 40 most probable number per 100 milliliters (mpn/100ml). Ang tinatawag na “safe level” ay 100 mpn/100ml
para sa Class SB water na maaaring paglanguyan, skin diving at iba pang libangan sa tubig.

Iniulat pa ng kalihim na “No algae year-round, it is really the dirty water which is causing what used to be a natural occurrence.”

Sinabi din ni Cimatu na ang kahabaan ng Boracay’s White Beach ay ligtas na para sa swimming at umaasa pa ito na ang Bulabog Beach na kasalukuyang ginagamit sa water sports
ay maideklara ring swimmable sa hinaharap.

Sa kasalukuyan, 51 establisiyamento na sa kahabaan ng White Beach ang mayroong sariling sewage treatment plants (STPs) habang ang iba ay nakakonekta na sa sewer line.
Umabot naman sa 42 establisiyamento sa ibang lugar sa isla ang may sarili na ring STPs.

Ayon kay Cimatu, nabigyan din ng demolition orders ang mga establisiyamentong lumabag sa 25+5 meter easement rule sa kahabaan ng White Beach at Bulabog Beach, halos
lahat ng mga ito ay pinili ang self-demolish. Ang mga lumabag naman sa 12-meter road easement ay inatasan din na tanggalin ang kanilang mga istraktura.
Aniya, ang construction ng Circumferential Road ay nagpapatuloy. “Last year, it would take tourists an hour to reach their hotels because of traffic congestion. Now it would
only take 20 minutes because of the paved and cleared roads,” sabi pa nito.

Napag-alaman din na ang kalsada mula sa Cagban Port hanggang Hue Hotel ay 95 percent na; 95 percent na rin ang kalsada mula Hue Hotel hanggang sa Elizalde property at
ang tinatawag na Missing Gap ay 95 percent na din.

Patuloy naman ang pagpaplano upang magamit ng buong taon ang Cagban Jetty Port na nagagamit lamang sa panahon ng Amihan o dry season mula Nobyembre hanggang Abril na ginagawa ring alternatibo sa Tagbisaan Jetty Port na nagagamit naman tuwing Habagat o wet season simula buwan ng Mayo hanggang Oktubre.

Bagama’t marami na ring naisaayos, sinabi ni Cimatu na mas marami pa rin ang gagawin sa Boracay upang mapanatili ang pagiging “world-class ecotourism destination” ng
isla. 

“Although we have reopened Boracay to global tourism, the rehabilitation of Boracay is not yet complete and remains a work in progress,” sabi nito.
“What we have accomplished thus far has earned commendations, but building sustainability requires time as well as the continuing support of the people of Boracay,”
dagdag pa ng kalihim.

Ginunita rin ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng BIATF ang unang taon ng pagpapasara sa Boracay kung saan ay mayroong isang linggong selebrasyon para sa “conservation at
sustainability”.

May mga programang inilaan para sa kauna-unahang “Sustainability Week” na nagsimula noong Abril 26 at natapos nitong Mayo 1.
Nais ng BIATF na gawing simple ang paggunita sa “Sustainability Week” hindi katulad ng “Laboracay” na ipinagdiriwang tuwing Labor Day weekend.

Ang Laboracay ay isang taunang pagdiriwang kung saan ay nagkakaroon ng beach parties na humihikayat sa mga turista upang dumagsa sa Boracay.
Para sa Sustainability Week, hahatiin ng BIATF ang mga turista sa magkakahiwalay na lugar kung saan gaganapin ang mga aktibidad partikular na sa mga plaza, gym at iba pang
espasyo.

Hindi naman papayagan ang parties sa beachfront. Lahat ng aktibidad ay matatapos hanggang alas 12:00 ng hatinggabi.

Pinaalalahanan rin ng BIATF ang mga nasa isla na panatilihin ang kalinisan na mahigpit na binabantayan ng mga tauhan ng DENR-LAWIN at ng Malay-Solid Waste teams.
Nasubukan din ng mga turista ang kanilang panlasa sa isinagawang banchetto food festival na inisponsoran ng Boracay Foundation sa kahabaan ng Laketown Road.
Nakapagpatala rin ang mga ito para sa libreng sakay mula sa D’Mall patungo sa iba’t-ibang lokasyon.

Kabilang pa sa mga kaganapan sa isang linggong selebrasyon ang Zumba session, paraw-sailing and dive festival, Ati-atihan parade, sports competition, symposium at mini-
concert. ###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 27 April 2019

Patuloy sa pagbuti at pagganda ng Boracay matapos ang isang taon ng isinasagawang rehabilitasyon, ayon na rin kay Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

“Much has changed in Boracay since we started and I am happy that we are able to sustain the gains we achieved since we reopened in October last year,” sabi ni Cimatu noong
Abril 26 kung saan ginugunita ang pagpapasara sa isla ng anim na buwan upang sumailalim sa rehabilitasyon.

Ayon pa kay Cimatu na namuno din sa itinatag na Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) na nangasiwa sa rehabilitasyon ng isla, patuloy ang pagbaba ng coliform level sa
tubig ng Boracay base na rin sa isinagawang water quality monitoring ng Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) ng DENR.

Aniya, ang pinakamataas na coliform level na naitala sa Boracay ay 40 most probable number per 100 milliliters (mpn/100ml). Ang tinatawag na “safe level” ay 100 mpn/100ml
para sa Class SB water na maaaring paglanguyan, skin diving at iba pang libangan sa tubig.

Iniulat pa ng kalihim na “No algae year-round, it is really the dirty water which is causing what used to be a natural occurrence.”

Sinabi din ni Cimatu na ang kahabaan ng Boracay’s White Beach ay ligtas na para sa swimming at umaasa pa ito na ang Bulabog Beach na kasalukuyang ginagamit sa water sports
ay maideklara ring swimmable sa hinaharap.

Sa kasalukuyan, 51 establisiyamento na sa kahabaan ng White Beach ang mayroong sariling sewage treatment plants (STPs) habang ang iba ay nakakonekta na sa sewer line.
Umabot naman sa 42 establisiyamento sa ibang lugar sa isla ang may sarili na ring STPs.

Ayon kay Cimatu, nabigyan din ng demolition orders ang mga establisiyamentong lumabag sa 25+5 meter easement rule sa kahabaan ng White Beach at Bulabog Beach, halos
lahat ng mga ito ay pinili ang self-demolish. Ang mga lumabag naman sa 12-meter road easement ay inatasan din na tanggalin ang kanilang mga istraktura.
Aniya, ang construction ng Circumferential Road ay nagpapatuloy. “Last year, it would take tourists an hour to reach their hotels because of traffic congestion. Now it would
only take 20 minutes because of the paved and cleared roads,” sabi pa nito.

Napag-alaman din na ang kalsada mula sa Cagban Port hanggang Hue Hotel ay 95 percent na; 95 percent na rin ang kalsada mula Hue Hotel hanggang sa Elizalde property at
ang tinatawag na Missing Gap ay 95 percent na din.

Patuloy naman ang pagpaplano upang magamit ng buong taon ang Cagban Jetty Port na nagagamit lamang sa panahon ng Amihan o dry season mula Nobyembre hanggang Abril na ginagawa ring alternatibo sa Tagbisaan Jetty Port na nagagamit naman tuwing Habagat o wet season simula buwan ng Mayo hanggang Oktubre.

Bagama’t marami na ring naisaayos, sinabi ni Cimatu na mas marami pa rin ang gagawin sa Boracay upang mapanatili ang pagiging “world-class ecotourism destination” ng
isla. 

“Although we have reopened Boracay to global tourism, the rehabilitation of Boracay is not yet complete and remains a work in progress,” sabi nito.
“What we have accomplished thus far has earned commendations, but building sustainability requires time as well as the continuing support of the people of Boracay,”
dagdag pa ng kalihim.

Ginunita rin ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng BIATF ang unang taon ng pagpapasara sa Boracay kung saan ay mayroong isang linggong selebrasyon para sa “conservation at
sustainability”.

May mga programang inilaan para sa kauna-unahang “Sustainability Week” na nagsimula noong Abril 26 at natapos nitong Mayo 1.
Nais ng BIATF na gawing simple ang paggunita sa “Sustainability Week” hindi katulad ng “Laboracay” na ipinagdiriwang tuwing Labor Day weekend.

Ang Laboracay ay isang taunang pagdiriwang kung saan ay nagkakaroon ng beach parties na humihikayat sa mga turista upang dumagsa sa Boracay.
Para sa Sustainability Week, hahatiin ng BIATF ang mga turista sa magkakahiwalay na lugar kung saan gaganapin ang mga aktibidad partikular na sa mga plaza, gym at iba pang
espasyo.

Hindi naman papayagan ang parties sa beachfront. Lahat ng aktibidad ay matatapos hanggang alas 12:00 ng hatinggabi.

Pinaalalahanan rin ng BIATF ang mga nasa isla na panatilihin ang kalinisan na mahigpit na binabantayan ng mga tauhan ng DENR-LAWIN at ng Malay-Solid Waste teams.
Nasubukan din ng mga turista ang kanilang panlasa sa isinagawang banchetto food festival na inisponsoran ng Boracay Foundation sa kahabaan ng Laketown Road.
Nakapagpatala rin ang mga ito para sa libreng sakay mula sa D’Mall patungo sa iba’t-ibang lokasyon.

Kabilang pa sa mga kaganapan sa isang linggong selebrasyon ang Zumba session, paraw-sailing and dive festival, Ati-atihan parade, sports competition, symposium at mini-
concert. ###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 27 April 2019

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has called on the public to remain vigilant against wildlife crime and help the government in its intensified campaign to fight illegal wildlife trade that has been driving endangered species to the brink of extinction.

“If you know any illegal wildlife trade, we enjoin you to work hand in glove with us in curtailing this nefarious trade by informing us so we can act decisively and fast against these illegal traders,” Cimatu said.

The environment chief made the call when he led the local celebration of Earth Day held at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City last April 24. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Protect Our Species: Ikaw, Ako, TayoangKalikasan,” which is dedicated to the protection of endangered wildlife.

Cimatu said the theme proved timely as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources— through the Philippine Operations Group of Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade or Task Force POGI—and other government agencies have intensified their operations against illegal wildlife traders.

Earlier this month, Task Force POGI—a composite team of wildlife enforcers from various agencies including the Biodiversity Management Bureau, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police—seized 450 species of bird, mammals and reptiles worth over P50 million during a raid conducted in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

The wildlife species, which include the endangered black palm cockatoos and echidna, were reportedly smuggled from Indonesia.

Also this month, the Bureau of Customs intercepted more than 700 live venomous tarantulas, with combined estimated value of P310,000 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The interception led to the arrest of two suspects, one of them is a consignee of the shipment from Poland.

In March, NBI operatives swooped down in Binondo, Manila and arrested a businessman after stocks of bird’s nest and dried seahorses were found in his drugstore. A total of 30 containers of edible bird’s nest worth P575,000 were confiscated.

Allegedly from Palawan and Thailand, the bird’s nests were made using the solidified saliva of swiftlets or balinsasayaw (Collocaliini). The threads of the solidified saliva were collected for use as main ingredient in an expensive soup.

During a separate operation in the same area, the Task Force POGI also seized some 20 individuals of golden chicken fern (Cibotiumbarometz) estimated to cost around Php40, 000.

The golden chicken fern is originally from Sierra Madre, and is included in the Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which means that the plant species cannot be “exported, possessed, and traded without securing the necessary wildlife permits.”

The suspects in all four operations have been charged for violating Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Protection Act, which defines and penalizes illegal wildlife trade. Under the law, unlawful trading, possession and transport of wildlife species, as well as their derivatives and by-products, are punishable by a jail term of up to two years and a fine of not more than P200,000.

Cimatu said there will be no let-up in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. “We will never let our guard down against animal poachers and traffickers. We will never allow our beloved country to be a transhipment point for this unlawful activity,” he stressed.

Apart from curbing illegal wildlife trade, the DENR is also active in making sure the species will have a healthy environment to live “by leading a call for decisive action among governments across the world to address the impacts of plastic pollution and enhance the coordination of global policies for coral reef management.”

Resolutions pushing for these reforms were co-sponsored by the Philippines during the fourth meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya last March.

According to Cimatu, it is expected that these international efforts “will lead to a greater hope for the Philippines and the world to continue cutting down on plastic use as more policies will be influenced by a greater call for environmental protection.”

As these efforts to protect the wildlife are ongoing both locally and nationally, Cimatu then reiterated the call to the Filipinos, stressing its importance for the future generations: “Let’s love and care for our environment and our wildlife species because this is our noble and great legacy to our children and their children.” ###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 25 April 2019