CATANAUAN, QUEZON – During his visit on January 13, 2023, DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr., together with the DENR-CENRO Catanauan personnel, witnessed the newly hatched turtles within the identified nesting site located in Brgy. Cutcutan, Catanauan, Quezon.
The marine turtle nest was regularly monitored by the Technical Staff of CENRO Catanauan until it was reported by one of the resort’s owner, Kaye De Guzman, that the hatchling began to emerge on January 13, 2023. Usec Adobo, OIC-CENRO Gutierrez and some CENRO personnel immediately proceeded to the area to witness the release of sea turtles.
The said hatchlings were identified as Olive Ridley Sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) based on the number of its carapace scutes with 6-7 pairs in irregular pattern. A total of one hundred twenty-one (121) eggs were seen in the nesting site wherein four (4) were unhatched, two (2) were dead, and one hundred fifteen (115) hatchlings were successfully hatched and released at the beach area in Sitio Paraiso, Brgy. Cutcutan, Catanauan, Quezon.
The Olive Ridley sea turtle is also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle and belongs to the family Cheloniidae. It is the second-smallest and most abundant sea turtle in the world commonly found in warm and tropical waters, particularly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The release of sea turtles was in support of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 which aims to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitat to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity.
Gamit ang ipinagmamalaking Kapeng Liberica ng Juan Santiago Agriculture Cooperative (JSACOOP) at kahusayan ni 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion Michael Harris Conlin katuwang ang kanyang grupo na Henry and Sons, nakamit nila ang Silver Award sa Global Coffee Championship sa South Korea Latte Category.
Ang JSACOOP ay isang People’s Organization (PO) sa ilalim ng Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) at National Greening Program (NGP) ng DENR. May kabuuang 298 na hektarya ang lupa na kanilang binubungkal upang magamit sa mga proyekto at aktibidad na pagtatanim ng mga gulay, puno at namumungang kahoy tulad ng kape na pangunahin nilang produkto.
Kilala din ang JSACOOP na isa sa mga umuusbong na industriya sa pagkakape. Sa katunayan, sila ay gumagawa at nagbebenta na kanilang sariling kape (Laguna Blend) mula sa kanilang sariling ani.
Ikinagagalak at ikinararangal ni CENRO Venerando Garcia ang ipinapakitang kahusayan ng organisasyon at pagkamit ng internasyonal na pagkilala at parangal. ###
The DENR CENRO Lipa through the Conservation and Development Section participated in the Co-Creation Workshop for the Institutional Effectiveness and Political Economy of Coral Reef Restoration in the Philippines Project held at Cerca Parola Resort, Lobo, Batangas. The said program was a component of the project entitled “Institutional Effectiveness and Political Economy of Coral Reef Restoration in the Philippines” and was spearheaded by Marine Environment and Resources Foundation Inc. in collaboration with University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute with participation from Macquarie University, Southern Cross University, and University of Technology Sydney, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
The co-creation workshop focused on identifying policy agendas and management initiatives that could enhance and strengthen Lobo’s coral reef protection and management of marine and fisheries resources. Together with various stakeholders, the workshop established interventions to address governance gaps that may have direct and indirect impacts to coral reef restoration.
EMS I Charlene Jovanne Constantino discussed the DENR Guidelines and Other Practical Considerations for Coral Reef Ecosystems Restoration/Artificial Reef Installation and Management. Her discussion provided understanding for establishment and management of structures, coral reef restoration sites. She highlighted the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Technical Bulletin No. 2019-03 entitled General Considerations for Coral Reef Ecosystems Restoration/Rehabilitation which was anchored on the DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-26 or the Guidelines for the Implementation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP).
The Municipality of Lobo, initiated the Artificial Coral Reef Project in support to their marine productivity program since its first launch on year 2014. To date, there were already an approximate of 6,000 artificial reef blocks installed along its coastal barangays, and were being maintained and enjoyed by the local government and coastal communities.
The DENR CENRO Calaca conducted monitoring on the tree planting activities in graduated NGP plantation located in Brgy. Patugo, Balayan, Batangas.
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the adoption of a graduated NGP site in Brgy. Patugo, Balayan, Batangas was forged by and between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources CALABARZON and SEM Calaca Power Corporation (SCPC) and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation (SLGPC) on October 19, 2020. Part of the agreement is the planting of 25,000 seedlings of forest tree species in a 50-hectare upland plantation. Tree planting activities in the area will be conducted by SCPC and SLGPC until the year 2023.
To ensure its high survival rate, this was monitored by the team from the Conservation and Development Section of DENR CENRO Calaca last November 10, 2022 to identify additional maintenance and protection activities needed in the area such as weeding, staking, brushing and replanting.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was inked between DENR CALABARZON represented by Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria and Barangay Local Government Units (LGUs) of Cavite City particularly Barangay 14 represented by Brgy. Chairperson Eduardo Vidal; Barangay 29A – Brgy. Chairperson Araceli A. Sese; Barangay 53B– Brgy. Chairperson Beatriz Rosal A. Dimaano; Barangay 62M– Brgy. Chairperson Maria Corazon C. Salud; and Barangay 49M– Brgy. Chairperson Philip Voltaire L. Cosigno last October 10, 2022 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, City of Cavite. The event was witnessed by the City ENR Officer Carlo Dante M. Filoteo and Cavite PENR Officer Januel R. Peras.
The agreement envisioned to successfully implement the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program and the Operational Plan for Manila Bay Coastal Strategy (OPMBCS), with the main objective of cleaning-up the Manila Bay and its neighboring ecosystems. Both parties have committed to jointly venture in the Implementation of a Barangay Eco-Gardening program to promote waste diversion, as a support measure to climate change adaptation, and foster a clean and green environment.
City ENRO Carlo Dante M. Filoteo expressed his appreciation to DENR for choosing the selected barangays of Cavite City for this endeavor. He believes that this project can be a model to other barangays of their locality towards proper waste management and recycling. He also acknowledged the efforts and hard work of everyone to make this activity possible.
City Vice Mayor Ronell Rusit also expressed his utmost support to this project as well as to other environmental related programs and activities being implemented in Cavite City. Likewise, the City Councilor and Chairperson on Committee for Environment and Ecological Services Mark Anthony A. Amparo conveyed that through this kind of projects, several problems on solid wastes and proper waste disposal can be solved even little by little, which eventually could make a difference.
RED Nilo B. Tamoria emphasized that the duly signed MOA for the establishment of five (5) Barangay Eco-gardens in Cavite City is one of many ways to clean the Manila Bay and a strategy to change the behavior of our community in order to implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or RA 9003.
“Sa pamamagitan po ng pag-eestablish ng eco-gardens, ito’y makatutulong sa pagbabawas ng basura dahil sa composting component nito gayundin ang pag gamit sa mga recyclables bilang taniman sa ating mga eco-garden. Ang proyektong ito ay naglalayon na maenganyo at maging inspirasyon ito sa ating kapwa mamamayan at lalo na sa mga kabataan na miyembro ng ating komunidad”, RED Tamoria added,
In behalf of the recipients of the barangay eco-gardens, Barangay Chairperson Beatriz Rosal A. Dimaano extended her appreciation to DENR for having this kind of project that could help the community members in the segregation of waste and production of healthy and fresh vegetables in the future.
MBSCMO Cavite Focal Person Judaline A. Fabro gave further instruction concerning the utilization of the budget allocated for the eco-gardens. She emphasized that each eco-garden has a budget of Php 100,000.00 that includes Community Organizing, Vertical gardening seminars and installation of vertical gardens. The eco-garden shall use recyclable containers and decomposed materials from biodegradable wastes. It shall operate for a period of not less than three (3) years and the MBSCMO and respective Barangay LGUs will conduct monitoring and inspection of the project.
