Press Releases

DENR leads massive coastal cleanup in Pampanga towns

 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Pampanga 4th District Representative Anna York Bondoc, spearheaded a massive coastal cleanup in support of the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation program.
 
About 2,500 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) joined forces with the DENR here to clean up major river systems and water bodies in Apalit, Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Luis, San Simon, and Sto. Tomas.
 
The 10-day cleanup drive resulted to the collection of about 1,950 cubic meters of waste, mostly composed of plastic beverage bottles, drinking straws, and cups; foamed fragments like styrofoam food containers and plates; film plastics such as plastic food wrappers, candy wrappers, and sando bags.
 
Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo expressed his gratitude for the collaboration and highlighted the importance of concerted action in safeguarding and enhancing the water quality of Manila Bay.
 
"We are immensely grateful for the unwavering dedication of all those who participated in this coastal cleanup initiative. Their commitment to protecting our marine ecosystems is truly commendable and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship," Pablo remarked.
 
The activity underscored DENR’s commitment to environmental stewardship and represents a significant step forward in addressing the urgent issue of marine pollution and its detrimental effects on coastal environments, particularly on Manila Bay. (-30)
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DENR, JICA grant site dev't areas to N. Ecija peoples' organizations

 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) turned over the management of over 14,000 hectares of site development areas established under the Forestland Management Project (FMP) to 35 people’s organizations in Nueva Ecija.
 
Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo reported that these people’s organizations played a major role in the execution of the FMP, and that their role would be more integral in the continued protection, conservation, and development of agroforestry and reforestation areas, especially with the conclusion of the 10-year project.
 
“Our partner people’s organizations have been crucial in the greening of the more than 44,000-hectare Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve. This turnover is a way of showing our appreciation for their reforestation efforts,” Pablo said.
 
The executive director further added that the partner people’s organizations would also benefit from the various agroforestry facilities established under the FMP including bridges, access roads, water impounding systems, and irrigation pipelines.
 
Started in 2012, the FMP is a reforestation project that aims to rehabilitate the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, one of the biggest protected areas in Central Luzon, through collaborative and comprehensive community-based forest management strategies.
 
FMP also integrates conservation and development-oriented activities with participation and capacity-building of local communities to rehabilitate degraded forestlands in three critical river basins, including Upper Magat and Cagayan in Region 2, Upper Pampanga in Region 3, and Jalaur in Iloilo. (-30-)
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DENR awards land titles, seedlings to Zambales folks

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here distributed land titles and seedlings during the local launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Botolan, Zambales.

Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo reported that the DENR, through its provincial office in Zambales, distributed a total of 153 land titles and 600 seedlings of acacia, eucalyptus, and agoho, which benefit residents of Palauig, Masinloc and Botolan towns.
 
Two people’s organizations, the Eastern Botolan Tree Farmers’ Association, Inc. and the San Roque Community Management Center, Inc., also received 200,000 seedlings each from the Zambales Diversified Metal Corporation.
 
“To truly serve the people, we must provide a better frontline service accessibility — hence, our participation in this Serbisyo Fair. Through this activity, we can immediately address the concerns of the public on applying for land titles, foreshore lease agreement, tree cutting permit, chainsaw registration, private land tree plantation, certificate of wildlife registration, and water use permit,” Pablo explained.
 
The executive director added that the DENR here would expand and fast-track land title application by bringing “Handog Titulo” program to communities, so that security of tenure may be provided to beneficiaries while local productivity was maximized.
 
The BPSF convened 46 national government agencies to offer public services, including health, social services, agriculture, livelihood, and education.
 
Zambales is the 10th province in the country and the first in Central Luzon to stage BPSF. (-30-)
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Hatchlings of olive ridley sea turtles released to the seas of Zambales

 
 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here released to the seas of Zambales some 800 hatchlings of olive ridley sea turtles, scientific 𝘓𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢, during the annual celebration of ‘Pawikan Day’ that promotes marine turtle protection and conservation efforts.
 
Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo reported that the DENR provincial office in Zambales, along with PawiCare, All Hands Beach, and the team from USAID Philippines Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) Project, released the hatchlings in Subic Bay and the coastal areas of San Narciso and Masinloc towns.
 
"Our olive ridley sea turtles are important to our ecosystem. Their existence is an important indicator of a balanced and healthy marine life," Pablo said, urging communities to help the DENR in protecting marine species and other wildlife.
He likewise appealed to the public to report illegal activities, especially wildlife trade, to the DENR.
 
The olive ridley sea turtle is one of the five marine turtle species that can be found in the tropical oceans of the Philippines, particularly nesting in the coastal towns of Morong in Bataan, San Antonio in Zambales, and in some coastal areas of Aurora.
 
Section 27 of the Republic Act 9147, also known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act," prohibits collecting, hunting, and possessing of wildlife and their by-products and derivatives.
 
Anyone found guilty of violating the wildlife law shall be imprisoned to a maximum of two years and shall be fined of up to P200,000, if inflicted against endangered species. (-30-)
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DENR excels in handling 8888 concerns

 

The Office of the Secretary and Action Center of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recognized DENR Region 3, together with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Bulacan, for its exemplary performance in handling and resolving public concerns.
 
The DENR here stood as the top-performing regional office in handling 8888 tickets with 100% resolution rate, while the EMB ranked third in the same category for accomplishing a 94.44% resolution rate.
 
Meanwhile, PENRO Bulacan placed first in handling 8888 tickets with a compliance and resolution rating of 93.75%, while DENR Region 3 ranked third with a 74.12% rating.
 
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo noted that the said recognition would continuously inspire the organization to promote efficient public service delivery by immediately responding to environmental issues and concerns raised by the public and its stakeholders. (-30-)
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