DENR involves stakeholders in environmental stewardship by racquel m. caldez

QUIRINO, Isabela – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources urged the involvement of stakeholders in environmental stewardship during the scheduled National Greening Program Stakeholders’ Meeting held at the NGP Site Barangay Santiago in this town.

Environment Head in Isabela William C. Savella asked the participants to declare strong support and participate in the Greening Program of DENR which aims to help solve food security, reduce poverty, help achieve environmental stability, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“These actions are inspiring and are demonstrated with emerging societal commitment to environmental stewardship”, Savella said.

With recent developments, it suggests that a new era of environmental opportunity is upon us to make a steady environmental progress,” he further said.

The DENR officials are happy that no other than the president, Benigno S. Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 26 ordering and declaring the implementation of the National Greening Program. This NGP is now the flagship environmental greening program of the government which aims to plant 1.5 billon trees in 1.5 million hectares of land in the country until 2016.

DENR Regional Executive Director Benjamin Tumaliuan said he is looking forward to working with the environmental partner on this program to lead the nation to a cleaner, safer and more prosperous future. 

The environmental partners particularly the local officials in District 02 expressed sincerest gratitude to the DENR in implementing the vision for NGP.

Stakeholders have to actively take responsibility to improve environmental quality and achieve sustainable results for they have an important role to play in promoting and sustaining the programs of the Department. 

4Ps beneficiaries receive checks by racquel m. caldez

ILAGAN, Isabela – Twenty six beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) San Mariano town received checks during the launching of the "Sustainable Livelihood and Environment for Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) disadvantaged clients" program held recently at the Amphitheatre of the Provincial Capitol here.

The 4Ps and non-4Ps were provided P6,000 each as initial capital for the propagation of seedlings to be planted at the DENR’s identified National Greening Program project sites. 

DENR awarded the 127 chosen beneficiaries with Letter of Acceptance or LOA to plant forest trees and fruit-bearing trees.

Both agencies agreed to tie up for the formulation of a cooperation program wherein the beneficiaries will be the vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors of the community.

The cooperation program highlights the National Greening Program where the DENR identified and provided 100 hectares of land located at Disulap, San Mariano, Isabela, the pilot area, while the DSWD identified 60 beneficiaries from barangay Disulap and Marannao who are also under the 4Ps.

San Mariano was the first town identified by the two government agencies as the beneficiaries of DENR and DSWD cooperation program. 

DSWD Undersecretary for Operation Parisya H. Tarayji said the program aims to improve the quality of life of the disadvantaged individuals in all sectors of society and to implement an area-based, eco-system approach of sustaining the environment and livelihood of the poor and marginalized within the context of sustainable development convergence strategy of the national government.

Regional Technical Director for Forestry Wilfredo Malvar turned over to Usec Taradyi the General Perspective on the Greening and Landscaping Plan for the field office and for the Cagayan Valley Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth and DSWD Field Office compound during the launching.

WASTE REDUCTION THROUGH “TRASHION” SHOW Recyclable and Fashionable Trash By racquel m. caldez

We are surprised and delighted to see the change in the way people think about waste.  And what adds up to the delight is that people do this in a fun, innovative, playful and memorable way. It’s actually unbelievable that there are people who are so creative and innovative enough to produce something so beautiful from a simple and ordinary thing. Indeed, they hold design and environmentalism in equal measure. 

We are happy that the City Government of Santiago went further and thought of holding a special event to display the different designs out of the trash in what they called a ‘Trashion’ Show. With their high creativity and imagination, they turned trash into fashion. The creative process involved making trash and items that have been used or thrown-out to create a new material entirely just like what they modelled. They manipulated all previously used and discarded materials into dresses, suits, and accessories. They gave new life to worthless wrappers, newspapers, plastic bags, boxes; turning those wastes into trendy costumes, bags and jewelry. Everything is really possible.

We are faced with great excitement and enthusiasm toward the idea of this endeavour and glad that they showed great responsibility, friendly competition and creative designs. But more importantly is that they learned as well the value of teamwork. It provided people an opportunity to connect, conceptualize and create with one another. This project and show was made for them not only to produce creative designs, but to tighten up their bonds as friends, neighbors, community and to have fun working together. This will really give a great impact and will surely motivate many.

And who knows, this will be the start of something wonderful... opportunities for many ...added protection to Mother Earth. Who knows that every item that was made reduces land pollution and serves as a very visible reminder that wastes can be put to good use long after its initial purpose has expired.

This is also an opportune time to educate the public about the environment and their responsibility to keep it clean for the good of humanity and of the planet's ecosystems as a whole. It is just another way to do your part for a greener world.

Too many materials end up in trash bins. They are deemed aesthetically redundant and get discarded at the end of the usage. It came to the point of looking for immediate solutions for many and the government to utilize waste for something that’s creative and promotes environmental awareness, But for the creative, artistic, innovative people like them, they feel that there is something they can easily do with those items so they become lovely, delicate and eco friendly fashion wear and other items.

From the Trashion Show, we learn to appreciate more and to never underestimate Mother Nature. Indeed, she brings wonders to the world. It is but amazing to make your own fashion treasures from trash. One can improve the quality of the unused or unwanted trash into something more valuable or of better use to man. We believe that for the next few years, there's going to be a significant amount. So, we say, long live whatever else they can be used for!

DOUBLE CRIME: Death of a forest and a forest officer By racquel m. caldez

A real tragic drama

Late night on February 7, a gunman barged into the office in Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Sanchez Mira town. He made his way to one of the rooms and got in through an open door. He paced in and shot in the chest of the 46-year old forest management specialist Melanie Dirain. Still unsatisfied, he made his way back to the room and made sure he slain the victim with another shot. Dirain sustained several gunshot wounds from a 45-caliber pistol.

The murderer, who overlooked missed to shoot a fellow employee of the lady officer, walked out of the office and left the settlement the way he came in.

Secure with Security Systems?

                This is caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera. But ironic that law enforcement agencies still have little leads on Dirain’s assailant because his face was not easily identifiable as his head was partly covered by a hood.

In this event, we learn that security systems are not a guarantee for security. And only brave steps bring end to these crime acts.

Double Crime

Authorities said Dirain’s killing could be job-related and those behind it could be linked to illegal logging activities in Cagayan. 

If the cause is the forester’s handing in the confiscation of some thousands of board feet of hot logs from Cagayan, then the perpetrators committed another crime... an environmental crime. Forests are under threat from cutting down the trees without permission. Illegal logging is a crime and is bad for people’s rights.

We all thought that curtailing illegal logging may seem relatively simple. We hire more forest officers to conduct patrols, strengthen fines, prosecute cases, and implement better tracking systems. And it is heartbreaking that the foresters and protectors who stand in the way of illegal loggers are the ones silenced through killings.

Condemns the crime

The sheer cruelty of this cold-blooded killing should have provoked furious condemnation from those unequivocally opposed to the targeting of foresters and protectors of nature.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources leads in strongly condemning the appalling attack to the forestry specialist and calls the government to act in order to bring those responsible individuals to trial.

The DENR has set aside P200,000 as reward for whoever could give information leading to the arrest of the killer. In fact, Director Benjamin Tumaliuan said that the CIDG has also taken a step by bringing the CCTV footage to Manila for visual enhancement and reproduced copies of the image of the gunman and posted it in all DENR offices in Cagayan Valley and neighboring regions.

How about us?

Do we need to be a forester to do our job of protecting Mother Earth? So what do we need to do to combat illegal logging? We are the consumers. We therefore need to buy certified sustainable timber and paper products. Let us close the door on illegally logged wood to enter our markets and homes. We need to keep acting together. We bring justice to the death of Forestry Specialist Melanie Duruin... We need to bring justice and end to the environmental crime committed against our trees... our forest... our Mother Earth.

BROADCASTREEING by racquel m. caldez

“We all have a role to play in taking care of nature so that nature can take care of us.”  And so broadcasters in this light are not exempted.

It is definitely known that broadcasters are individuals who work in either radio or television as they are responsible for passing along pertinent information. They can also deal in a variety of subjects such as news, music, entertainment and more.

But at this juncture, the broadcasters were able to break away from their broadcasting board works and spearhead a different and worthwhile undertaking of tree planting. It is so wonderful that at the same time, Mirriam Webster dictionary defines “broadcast” as a means to sow over a wide area, especially by hand. And it is just proper that the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) merged “broadcasting” and “tree planting” to come up with a creative project “Oplan Broadcastreeing”.

 

OPLAN BROADCASTREEING

A project “Oplan Broadcastreeing” is designed to address the growing problem on environmental destruction and as broadcasters’ way of supporting the government, particularly on its National Greening Program (NGP) embodied in Executive Order No. 28, a priority program of President Benigno S Aquino III.

 

In Isabela, Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) provincial chapter President Alvin M. Alivia directed the said project, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Military, Philippine National Police, volunteer student planters and other groups associated with KBP.

 ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIORS

What makes the project more significant is the day it was implemented. In the aftermath of the devastation brought about by the typhoon Pedring and Quiel, the country’s broadcasters turned themselves into environment warriors with a nationwide, simultaneous tree-planting activity. As members of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), they braved the stormy weather and pushed through with “Oplan Broadcastreeing” planting a thousand tree seedlings.

They braved their way to show love to nature and to show their commitment to protect the nature. They were able to put into action their mission of contributing in their environmental concern advocacy.

WHAT’S NEXT?

After they’ve worked so hard to get their tree in the ground, what’s next? A tree correctly planted and well cared for will provide many benefit for years to come. Though trees grow on their own, they do need a lot of care and concern initially. It will only cause a loss of time and effort when the trees planted will have an undesirable results. And we are very sure that the broadcasters’ project includes nurturing the tree seedlings they planted. There is a need to ensure the sustainability and survival of the planted trees.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Environmental protection is regarded as the most pressing social responsibility. The task of environment protection is a universal responsibility of all of us. So it is relevant that broadcasters took personal responsibility for the care of the environment. It is very significant that they took action so that they'll be able to pass on something to the next generation.

We are at this point in time of desperate need for action to protect our natural resources. And it is more common to hear that part of what we can actually do to help is to plant a tree. It seems like such a simple thing to do.  But the truth is; every tree makes a difference to better the earth.

Trees have always played an important part in people's lives, from providing shade and maintaining the beauty of the place. With the trees planted now by the broadcasters, they are giving the future generations the chance to enjoy, too, the beauty of the flowering and fruit bearing trees.

And trees are not just a beautiful creature standing among the many places of this world. It is very essential that directly ensures our survival.  Yes, planting trees save lives.  And so the broadcasters save lives. Every tree makes a difference.  That means every broadcaster who planted a tree also made that difference. 

In this way, the broadcasters are making an important gesture to the world in demonstrating their global concern and at the same time making their own little but significant, contribution to the protection of nature.

Rescued philippine eagle in Isabela needs rehabilitation by racquel m. caldez

ILAGAN, Isabela – The rescued Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) that is currently under the custody of Mayor Edgar T. Go in San Mariano,Isabela will undergo initial steps towards rehabilitation process.

The eagle will be transferred to a larger cage to regain flight skills and where other rehabilitation procedures will be performed.

Environment Head in Isabela William C. Savella said the DENR Field Office in Region 2 has available facility to accommodate the eagle.

Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) stated in her letter sent to the Mayor of San Mariano that the bird has to undergo a rehabilitation process prior to the release aimed at regaining the bird’s wild behavior such as hunting skills, flight and fear of humans.

Dir. Lim recommended the eventual release of the eagle back to its natural habitat preferably in capture site.

PENRO Savella divulged that the eagle which was rescued by a Dumagat in Sitio Diwagao, Dinapigue had undergone medical assessment by a veterinarian of the PAWB in Quezon City and discovered that the bird is under stress as indicated in the presence of “stress marks”.

Dr. Rizza Araceli Salinas, a veterinarian of the PAWB in Quezon City who undertook medical assessment of the eagle, revealed that the feathers of the captured 5 kilograms female eagle has stress bars and that the bird’s red and white blood cells counts are found within the normal range.

PAWB Staff of the DENR Central Office mentioned during the conduct of medical check-up that the Philippine Eagle is already tame because of its passive response to human presence.

The PAWB Director has initially contacted the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to provide telemetry device to track the bird and ascertain its survival in the wild.

A team composed of DENR Region 02 and PAWB personnel will be conducting a site assessment in the area where the eagle was captured and will be released eventually.

The Eagle is globally recognized as threatened species. Capture and possession of threatened wildlife is strictly prohibited under Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

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