Saturday, November 28, 2009

viewpoint by racquel m. caldez


Kalikasan Update on its 13th Year: The Advocacy Continues!
True to the commitment of providing people with opportunities for their environmental awareness, the Kalikasan Update recently turned to its 13 years of producing quality newsletter.
The Kalikasan Update is the official paper of DENR Isabela, with a dedication to help improve the dissemination of DENR information, programs and innovative environmental projects to the community and society.
Indeed, we are reminded that these years of blessings are supposed to be the most precious and enduring because for this simple reason we are able to share our piece of writing which in any way persuades the public to care for the natural environment.
But what do we look forward to after this celebration?
We look forward to be among the exceptional who do not only demonstrate excellence in disseminating information, but more importantly, display exemplary advocacy, leadership and compassionate involvement anchored on good moral values in fighting the battle against environmental destruction.
Advocacy? What really is this thing? We understand that it is the organization and deliberate use of information to persuade a specific audience to take action.
Yes, we are one in our quest in creating a new world order in the environmental battle arena. That, amidst the awe and wonder we have of the fruits of the scientific and technological progress, the information and communication revolution which have dramatically changed our lives, our ways of thinking and feeling, may this simple gesture be a driving force for others to take action.
We must directly represent, defend, intervene, support or recommend a course of action for the justice that Mother Earth deserves.
We shall continue to expand organized efforts of partners and stakeholders and mobilize them into action. We shall get the commitment of the public to act on the problem or issue of environmental destruction and degradation.
Yet, at the same time, we are afraid that with the world embracing the culture of greed and violence, people were not educated to become fully human, or were enabled to develop all the powers and faculties of the whole person. There is a realization that overemphasis on carelessness led to the neglect of the environment.
But this persuades us for the determination to consider the place and role of sharing our minds through the written articles. We must continue our environmental involvement, where media enforces environmental values, that we might have less fear, more cooperation, more learning in environmental care.
We continue to promote concern for the environment. Information can enhance adoption of new, environmentally friendly technologies. May we achieve superior environmental performance while supporting our main principles of protection, conservation, and preservation.
For thirteen years, we have fed the public with so much knowledge and information but we hope that they have not lost their sense of appreciation. We make sure that they are informed, and yet necessarily inspired. Inspired to act.
Indeed, we all deserve to receive a gift. Undoubtedly, the DENR administrators and personnel are trying to give the best gift of programs and policies which we could use in our endeavours of caring for the environment. Which in return, as stakeholders and advocates, we give them our gifts of perseverance, respect, discipline and more.
I guess what we have to learn in all of this is to celebrate the good parts of our accomplishments. Likewise, we must not forget to remember, give and share to those who were affected by the typhoons, floods and landslides, and to those who were affected by the carelessness of the many in heeding the call of Mother Earth.
And we should be made to realize that the earth is the Lord’s noblest creation and the fullest thereof, that, even our life and all that we acquire are entrusted to us by God for our stewardship.

ESTANISLAO T. CALDEZ (MESSAGE)

To the staff of the DENR Isabela newsletter “KALIKASAN Updates” on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of publication, I join the readers and officials of your province in congratulating all of you for the rare privilege of chronicling the historical events of your Department.

May you continue to do what is necessary and even what is impossible to influence the people to appreciate the beauty and bounty of Nature. But at the same time, for them to realize that nature too, needs care, concern and protection.

One act might be a flicker of hope to do better for the environment. And the flicker of hope may become brighter flashes of light to illuminate our path to a safer place to live in. KALIKASAN Updates made a move. It ignited the flicker of hope for 13 years and this light will still go on for the years to come.

Continue doing the good work.


ESTANISLAO T. CALDEZ
Phil. Daily Inquirer Correspondent

MA. FATIMA C. SAQUING (MESSAGE)

I am pleased to convey to you my warmest congratulations.
After thirteen years of providing information about environmental protection, I just feel so glad it has reached this far.
The advocacy for environmental stewardship has always been my motivation to contribute articles to your paper. I hope we could still come up with ideas and innovative contributions that are changing our environmental footprint.
Indeed, issues surrounding the quality of our environment are really big and they call for big solutions. And investing time and resources in the development of innovative ideas, dissemination of best practices to stop, and possibly help reverse, environmental damaging practices has been a great avenue for this.
And we are learning more of the impact of protecting and caring for Mother Earth through the news and articles we read in the “Kalikasan Updates” paper. And DENR Isabela newsletter just made a good job in doing so.
I wish to borrow the words of one Environmental stewardship advocate by saying, “ Now, do not stand by as tepid souls, but step forward and enter the battle to protect our environment.”
May we find ourselves as leaders in elevating standards of protecting the environment. Our goal should never waver from preserving natural resources and the environment by reducing waste and reusing or recycling production materials, when possible in the midst of dangers posed by our world’s new realities.
Always make a difference and continue to partner with the people and it is paramount to meeting our environmental goals in the region and the country.
Again, my congratulations to the editorial board and staff of Kalikasan Update. Kudos also for a job well done and for maintaining the integrity of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

MA. FATIMA C. SAQUING, MSN
CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR
SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY
TUGUEGARAO, CITY

GOVERNOR ALVARO ANTONIO (MESSAGE)

Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN
TUguegarao City

Congratulations to the men and women behind the success of DENR Isabela newsletter KALIKASAN Updates. Indeed, I am honored to be part of your newsletter's 13th anniversary issue.

Just recently, Cagayan Valley was confounded with different catastrophes that brought about horrible damages to agriculture, and infrastructure because of our culpable acts against mother nature. We are now experiencing the nightmare brought about by man's carelessness and neglect of his environment,

I urge you, therefore to be one of our partners in informing our provincemates through print media on environmetal concerns particularly on care of environment so as not to experience once again the ravaging effects of the anger of mother nature.
It is through our collective efforts that we realize our highest hopes and dreams to have a better place to live in.
Again, congratulations and God Bless!

ATTY. ALVARO R. ANTONIO

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

DENR Director Laureano B. Lingan Jr. (message)


Isang Makakalikasang Pagbati!
We take pride in congratulating the staff of “KALIKASAN UPDATE”, IN-HOUSE NEWSLETTER of PENRO Isabela, in celebrating its 13th anniversary as you continue your advocacy in the conservation of our natural resources and protection of our environment to attain a better quality of life.
Region 02 supports the goal of our Secretary Hon. Lito L. Atienza to carry on a massive and efficient information campaign in achieving a wholesome environment and sustainable development making use of the various means of communication.
Your efforts to pursue this endeavor is a medium that binds the community and the government to understand and appreciate better their role in the protection and conservation of our natural resources.
Carry on and More Power!


LAUREANO B. LINGAN JR., CESO IV
Regional Executive Director

Perla A. Visorro President/CEO Cagayan Valley Partners in People Development (message)

Our warm felicitations to KALIKASAN UPDATES of DENR PENRO Isabela on its 13th anniversary issue! It is noteworthy that PENRO Isabela has sustained the publication of KALIKASAN UPDATES for more than a decade to perform its development communication and public relations functions. Just like any corporate communication tool and being more than a mouthpiece of its agency, a publication like KALIKASAN is a knowledge provider to its various readers – government offices, local government units, business and industry, and civil society – the academe, NGOs, church, and the public at large. It can re-align their orientation, influence their perspectives and shape their values and attitudes regarding the environment. It is imperative that it delivers correct environmental information at the right time. When, for instance, that time says “Isabela rise, join hands to protect the environment and conserve its precious biodiversity”, it must make that CALL! LOUD AND CLEAR!

One such time is NOW – just when Isabela has already woken to the reality of illegal logging happening in the Northern Sierra Madre Nature Park and is recovering from the devastations caused by the recent natural calamities and other extreme weather conditions.

This is a major challenge for KALIKASAN and I have no doubt that it can meet the challenge. It must. CARRY ON!


Perla A. Visorro
President/CEO
Cagayan Valley Partners in People Development

PIA Director Purita Licas (message)


To the editorial staff of “Kalikasan Updates,” congratulation for surviving 13 years of pressures that may have been brought about by concerns on the environment, specifically on the popular issue on long-range structural change in the earth’s ecology.

You have played vital role in advocating environmental protection so that the people become not only aware but also concerned and accordingly, act so that everyone becomes partner towards that end.

I commend you for maintaining the Kalikasan Updates as a tool for dissemination and thus, opening the hearts and minds of the people to the realities of the present global environmental phenomenon.

I am with you in advocating moral responsibility to the public to ensure that the future generations will have a healthy environment to live in.

Today, the most popular debate on the environmental effects of globalization is particularly concerned with the question whether a worldwide liberalization of trade and economy may provoke environmental collapse. The economy is obviously important, and businesses need to make money, but how important is a healthy economy or record profit margins if we don’t have a healthy environment in which we enjoy them.

We have only one planet, and one chance of saving it before it gets too late and before we get to the stage where the impact of climate change is irreversible. We have a role, as individuals, to play. Change we must do in the way we live our lives- we need to be greener in everything we do, and we need to put pressure on the politicians, academe, corporations, church, youth and all sectors of the society to do their bit and start taking their responsibilities seriously.

May we continually be an advocate in mitigating climate change and in protecting Mother Earth.

Long live……..Congratulations!


PURITA S. LICAS, LLB, MPA
Regional Director
Philippine Information Agency
Region 2