Higit pang paiigtingin ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang pagpapatupad sa mga environmental laws ngayong taon upang maipagpatuloy ang nasimulang rehabilitasyon sa Isla ng Boracay at iba pang mga nagawa ng ahensiya sa taong 2018.

“This year, I hope to send a strong message to environmental offenders and to the public of our seriousness in implementing and enforcing environmental laws, rules and regulations,” sabi ni Secretary Roy A. Cimatu sa ginanap na DENR New Year Call na idinaos sa DENR central office sa Quezon City.

Ang tradisyunal na New Year’s Call ay ang pagsasama-sama ng kalihim at ng iba pang opisyal at empleyado ng DENR upang mabigyan ng prayoridad ang mga programa at proyekto na ipatutupad sa buong taon at ito rin ang pagkakataon ni Cimatu upang ipresenta ang kanyang mga nagawa sa kanyang pinamumunuang ahensiya.

Ayon kay Cimatu, maituturing na “centerpiece” para sa taong 2018 ang rehabilitasyon ng Boracay na pinamuan ng DENR kasama ng iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno sa ilalim ng Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).

“With the eyes of the world upon us, we set forth to do what cynics thought was impossible: to transform a cesspool back to being one of the world’s best beaches and swimming destinations, within a period of only 6 months,” sabi pa ng kalihim.

Dagdag pa nito, “In Boracay, our mettle was put to test. We not only passed that test, but also carried over the momentum to other prime ecotourism destinations like El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Panglao Island in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.”

Aniya, ang rehabilitasyon ng Boracay ay maituturing na tagumpay ng DENR dahilan upang isunod na gawing “big target” ng ahensiya ang Manila Bay rehabilitation.

Kinakailangan umanong kakaiba ang mga hakbang sa gagawing rehabilitasyon ng Manila Bay dahil na rin sa dumi ng tubig bagama’t may kautusan ang Supreme Court (SC) para sa paglilinis nito may isang dekada na ang nakalipas.

“We are putting up a Manila Bay command center, we will get the local government units more involved, and we will be more aggressive in enforcing environmental laws, particularly against the discharge of untreated wastewater into the bay,” sabi pa ng kalihim.

Bukod sa matagumpay ng rehabilitasyon ng Boracay, sinabi pa ni Cimatu na nagtagumpay din ang DENR sa pagpapatupad ng Clean Water Act sa pangangasiwa ng National Water Resources Board (NWRB) noong 2018.

Umabot sa 486 commercial establishments ang naipasara ng NWRB dahil sa pagkakaroon ng iligal deep wells habang ang Pepsi Cola Products Inc. ay pinagmulta ng halagang P11.8 million dahil sa walang kaukulang permisong anim na deep wells sa Muntinlupa City.

Pinuri din ni Cimatu ang pinagsanib na pwersa ng DENR, National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) at ng Cebu City government dahil sa pagkakaaresto sa mga nagbebenta ng mahigit 100 kilo ng raw meat ng endangered green sea turtle.

“In our hands and on our shoulders, lie the future of our nation. In the crucial 11th hour facing climate change and all its chilling effects, we are at a very critical time to make dramatic changes,” sabi pa ni Cimatu. ###

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Published: 07 January 2019

In light of recent tragedies involving landslides that struck MIMAROPA, the Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas due to typhoon Usman, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has sternly reminded local government units (LGUs) that geohazard maps are readily available to them and strongly urges LGU Chief Executives, as chair local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMCs) at the provincial, city, and municipal levels.

During the traditional DENR New Year's Call for the agency's top officials held at the DENR central office in Quezon City, Secretary Roy A. Cimatu reiterated that under Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, local chief executives are tasked to chair local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMCs) at the provincial, city, and municipal levels. It is the council’s responsibility to come up with disaster management and risk reduction plans that will minimize if not totally prevent casualties during calamities.

"The DENR for its part contributes to DRR efforts through the geohazard maps which the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) distributes to all LGUs so they can identify landslide and flood-prone areas," Cimatu said.

Under the said law, LDRRMCs should set the direction, development, implementation and coordination of DRRM programs within their areas.

This includes integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into local development plans and programs, as well as recommending forced or preemptive evacuation of residents if necessary.

“I believe that through these maps, the DENR has done its part in protecting the lives of the Filipino people,” Cimatu pointed out. “We encourage LGUs to work hand in hand with us to protect our people.”

DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny Antiporda said concerned local officials should utilize the geohazard maps, which are also available online through the MGB website at mgb.gov.ph, as basis of crafting LDRRM Plans.

The MGB has also been conducting information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns to help LGUs and communities use and understand the maps.

Antiporda added that disasters are bound to happen but based on these maps, local officials can come up, and have in place, disaster risk reduction and management plans or precautionary measures to save lives and avoid damage to property in their areas of jurisdiction.

“These (maps) are even color-coded to indicate areas that are high risk or with high susceptibility to landslides and floods. Thus, having no appropriate information is not an excuse,” Secretary Cimatu said.

“Given this, LGUs have the obligation to tell the people of the danger of staying in an area for the sake of their livelihood,” DENR Secretary emphasized.

Antiporda lamented that the recent landslide incident took place in the Bicol region, particularly Albay province, which has always been known as a model in disaster risk reduction and management.

“It’s time for Albay to re-study their preparation and their systems,” Antiporda said. “If climate changes, then better protection should be provided to people.”

The DENR official reiterated that in the hierarchy of priorities, life comes first before natural resources and livelihood.

He added that the DENR has taken the proactive stance to build relationships with LGUs and the people to protect lives.

The DENR’s Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program is an on-going priority program which is being implemented by the MGB. Its main objective is to identify areas in the country which are susceptible or vulnerable to various geologic hazards. Under this Program, the 1:10,000 scale landslide and flood susceptibility assessment of 1,634 cities and municipalities were completed. Through the use of these maps, communities at risk can better prepare for natural hazards and avoid disaster. ###

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Published: 07 January 2019

Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has issued a memorandum ordering all field officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to take proactive and timely measures to avoid risks associated with excessive rainfall.

The environment chief issued the directive after heavy rains from Tropical Depression Usman triggered flashfloods and landslides that killed at least 120 people in the Bicol region shortly before the New Year.

Earlier in 2018, two other deadly rainfall-induced landslides happened in Itogon town in Benguet and Naga City in Cebu province. A similar incident happened in Natonin, Mt. Province in October.

Cimatu said the increase in the frequency of landslide events triggered by heavy rainfall underscores the urgent need to further protect communities from the devastating effects of climate change.

“It is therefore imperative for the DENR and its field offices to be prepared and responsive to the dangers and adverse effects of excessive rainfall,” Cimatu said in the memo.

The memo was addressed to all DENR regional executive directors, regional directors of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and provincial and community environment and natural resources officers (PENROs/CENROs) nationwide.

For them to become proactive, Cimatu said DENR field officials should revisit and familiarize themselves with the MGB-prepared geohazard maps indicating areas that are prone to floods and landslides.

“With the use and understanding of the geohazard map, the likelihood that we will be able to proactively respond to weather disturbances like typhoon and even mere low pressure incidences causing abnormally high rainfall will be greater,” Cimatu said.

The DENR Secretary directed all field offices to have a copy of the recently released and updated geohazard maps in their advisory bulletin board.

He also ordered field officials and employees to acquaint themselves with the location of landslide- and flood-prone sites in their respective areas of responsibility (AORs).

DENR field officials were likewise ordered to establish an open line of communication and strong coordination with concerned local government officials.

Local government offices, Cimatu said, should be properly briefed on the possible danger of landslide and flooding in their respective areas.

He said that DENR field officers should also validate on the ground and clearly reflect in their geohazard maps the areas or communities threatened by flooding and landslide, and to officially communicate these with the concerned local government.

At the same time, Cimatu ordered his field officials to familiarize themselves with the color-coded danger signs in the geohazard maps, as well as the rainfall warning signals released by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or DOST-PAGASA.

The DENR chief also instructed the field officials to be “physically present” in their AORs and to actively participate in meetings and disaster response efforts of the regional, provincial and municipal disaster risk coordinating councils during adverse weather.

He also ordered the immediate activation of an Operations Center in every regional office, PENRO and CENRO. The center will be tasked to receive instructions from the DENR central office in Quezon City and be responsible for providing updates and submission of reports.

It will be manned 24/7 by capable and dependable field officials complete with communications equipment, vehicles and other safety equipment necessary to effectively respond to the needs during abnormal weather events. ###

 

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Published: 06 January 2019

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be more aggressive in enforcing environmental laws and regulations in 2019 in order to sustain the momentum created by the much lauded rehabilitation of Boracay Island and other accomplishments of the agency last year.

“This year, I hope to send a strong message to environmental offenders and to the public of our seriousness in implementing and enforcing environmental laws, rules and regulations,” Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said during the traditional DENR New Year’s Call held at the DENR central office in Quezon City.

The New Year’s Call is where the Secretary meets with all DENR officials and employees to announce the policy direction for the agency and set the priority programs and projects to be implemented for the rest of the year. The annual gathering also gives the DENR chief the chance to present the agency’s accomplishments in the previous year.

Cimatu described the Boracay rehabilitation, which was carried out by the DENR and other members of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force as the “centerpiece of our 2018 accomplishments.”

“With the eyes of the world upon us, we set forth to do what cynics thought was impossible: to transform a cesspool back to being one of the world’s best beaches and swimming destinations, within a period of only 6 months,” Cimatu said.

He added: “In Boracay, our mettle was put to test. We not only passed that test, but also carried over the momentum to other prime ecotourism destinations like El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Panglao Island in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.”

Cimatu said the Boracay’s success had spawned demands for replication so the DENR decided to have the rehabilitation of Manila Bay as its “next big target.”

The Manila Bay rehabilitation, he said, calls for a change in approach considering that its water quality has not improved despite a Supreme Court mandamus for its cleanup issued a decade ago.

“We are putting up a Manila Bay command center, we will get the local government units more involved, and we will be more aggressive in enforcing environmental laws, particularly against the dischaege of untreated wastewater into the bay,” Cimatu disclosed.

Apart from the Boracay rehabilitation, Cimatu said the DENR, through the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), was also successful in enforcing the Clean Water Act in other parts of the country in 2018.

The NWRB caused the closure of 486 commercial establishments illegally operating deep wells. It also slapped Pepsi Cola Products Inc. with a hefty fine of P11.8 million for operating 6 deep wells in Muntinlupa City without the necessary permits.

Cimatu also commended the combined forces of the DENR, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Cebu City government in apprehending those responsible in the butcher and sale of more than 100 kilograms of raw meat of endangered green sea turtles.

In closing, Cimatu rallied DENR officials and employees to let the success in Boracay “fuel our spirits in facing the challenges before us in 2019” and keep in mind that their mandate in the agency “transcends our personal needs, wants and interest.”

“In our hands and on our shoulders, lie the future of our nation. In the crucial 11th hour facing climate change and all its chilling effects, we are at a very critical time to make dramatic changes,” Cimatu stressed. #

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Published: 05 January 2019

Kamakailan ay nagbalak magpabagsak ang Okada Manila ng 130,000 lobo sa kanilang lugar upang markahan ang pagpapalit ng taon. Kabi-kabilang reklamo ang isinulat ng netizens ilang araw bago ang okasyon. Dahil dito, kinansela ng Okada ang pagpapabagsak ng lobo dahil na rin sa payo ng DENR (Nasa link na ito ang Opisyal na Pahayag ng Biodiversity Management Bureau).  Samantala, tila nakasanayan na ng mga punerarya na ipamaalam ang mga pamilya sa kanilang namayapang kamag-anak sa pamamagitan ng mga lobong pinakakawalan sa himpapawid.  Winawari yatang ang lobo ay aabot sa langit na sana’y siyang kinahinatnan ng mahal sa buhay. Ang katunayan po ay nalagpak din naman sa lupa at nagiging dagdag kalat lamang.  Hindi kaya't ang ibig sabihin noon ay sa purgatoryo ninyo ipinadala ang mensahe? Siguraduhin pong aabot ang mensahe sa mahal sa buhay at hindi sa purgatoryo.  At tandaan ang awitin, paumanhin sa nagsulat, Sa libing ng lolo, nagpalipad ng lobo, pinalipad sa langit, di ko na nakita, BASURA na pala, Sayang ang pera kong ibinili ng lobo, Sa bulong na lang sana, umabot pa ng langit. Sa rehiyon ng CALABARZON, nais naming hikayatin ang mga Pamahalaang Lokal na ituring na littering ang pagpapakawala ng lobo dahil doon na rin naman ito patutungo. Kaya't nagbibigay na kami ng babala sa mga punerarya at ibang party o event organizers, na magpapakawala ng lobo, pag may nagpadala sa amin ng reklamo ukol sa inyo, gaya ng pagbaha ng reklamo sa Cove Manila Balloon Drop sa Okada Manila, maari po kaming mag-file ng kaso ng paglabag sa RA 9003 (kopya ng RA 9003). Para sa inyong mga reklamo, maaari ninyo kaming i-text sa +639456215007/ +639083340224, i-email sa This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. o padalhan ng litrato/mensahe sa https://www.facebook.com/DENR4AOfficial/ #ZeroWaste #DENRCalabarzon #TayoAngKalikasan

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Published: 04 January 2019