Press Releases

Five LGUs in C. Luzon bag DENR's Manila BAYani Awards

 
 
Five local government units (LGUs) in Central Luzon received the Manila BAYani Awards from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in recognition of their significant efforts and contribution in the cleanup and rehabilitation of the Manila Bay.
 
DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna, along with (from left) Atty. Antonio Oposa, Jr., former environment czar Roy Cimatu, Senator Cynthia Villar, and Palawan 3rd District Representative Edward Hagedorn, personally handed the certificates of recognition to the city governments of Balanga, Bataan and Palayan, Nueva Ecija; municipalities of Sasmuan, Pampanga and Marilao, Bulacan; and the Environment and Natural Resources Office of the Provincial Government of Pampanga.
 
In his message, Sampulna lauded the efforts of LGUs that exerted diligent effort to help the DENR in the massive cleanup of major river systems and tributaries in the Manila Bay.
 
“Congratulations to all the awardees. With your relentless support, we will ultimately win this battle for Manila Bay,” Sampulna said.
 
The Manila BAYani Awards aims to recognize LGUs, groups and individuals that have shown exemplary and innovative strategies in the implementation of the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation program.
 
For his part, DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. expressed his gratitude to partner LGUs for their continued support in the Manila Bay rehabilitation program that led to the success of several initiatives in the region, such as daily cleanup drives, grubbing, trash trap installation and establishment of toilet facilities.
 
“It is through our strategic partnership and collective efforts that we have been able to execute activities that brought significant contributions and progress in our rehabilitation efforts,” Moreno said.
 
In a related development, the DENR here will open this June the Cabcaben Linear Park in Mariveles, Bataan, and a toilet facility in Binuangan, Obando, Bulacan and Aguawan, Mariveles, Bataan.
 
Since the massive cleanup of the Manila Bay started in 2019, over 280,000 tons of wastes have been collected from more than 37,000 river and coastal cleanups in Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. (-30-)
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DENR, partners plant trees to boost rehab, conservation efforts of C. Luzon forestlands

 
 
More than 2,000 government employees and volunteers across Central Luzon embarked on a massive tree growing activity to heighten rehabilitation and conservation efforts of the remaining forestlands and watersheds in the region.
 
DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. stressed that the convergence of different national government agencies in this nationwide tree planting activity illustrated the theme of the Philippine Environment Month, which has called for a collective and transformative action in protecting and conserving the environment.
 
“The message we want to demonstrate in this year’s observance of the Philippine Environment Month is “Aksyon para sa Natatanging Mundo,” which embodies our collective effort and shared commitment to nurture our ecological wealth, particularly the 942,387 hectares of forestland areas of Central Luzon,” Moreno said.
 
Over 17,000 bamboos, native and fruit-bearing trees were planted in identified Expanded National Greening Program (ENGP) sites in the region.
 
The simultaneous tree growing activity transpired in the 38-hectare forestland areas in the region, covering the ENGP sites in Dilasag, Maria Aurora and Dingalan in Aurora; Limay and Morong in Bataan; Doña Remedios Trinidad and Norzagaray in Bulacan; Carranglan, Gabaldon, Santa Rosa, and Bongabon in Nueva Ecija; Arayat, Pampanga; San Jose, Tarlac; and Subic and Botolan in Zambales.
 
Meanwhile, a cleanup activity within the premises of the DENR regional and field offices was done alongside the said tree planting event, which promotes 5S of good housekeeping through workplace cleaning and organization. (-30-)
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DENR, Army ink pact to boost forest protection, greening program in C. Luzon

 
 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here forged a Memorandum of Partnership (MOPA) with the 3rd Regional Community Defense Group (3RCDG) of the Philippine Army (PA) to boost forest protection and greening programs in Central Luzon.
 
DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. stressed that the newly-minted partnership would be fundamental in the government’s quest to conserve the country’s natural resources, particularly in the enrichment of existing plantations and in the rehabilitation and protection of forestlands in the region.
 
“The Army has been among our steady and reliable partners in environmental stewardship. Their consistent support is a big boost not only in our anti-illegal logging campaign but in our conservation efforts as well,” Moreno said.
 
On the other hand, DENR Assistant Secretary for Administration and Legislative Affairs Joan Lagunda explained that the Army served as a strong support system of the DENR in defending the country’s natural resources against environmental crimes which have grown bolder over time.
 
“Criminal elements have become bolder, and our ecological wealth, if left undefended, is an easy target for unscrupulous groups. Hence, we must keep watch and continue to act against environmental threats with the help of the Army,” Lagunda said.
 
To mark the partnership, DENR Assistant Secretary Lagunda, DENR Regional Executive Director Moreno, Army Reserve Commander Major General Fernando Felipe, and 3RCDG Commander Col. Roberto Sarmiento led the ceremonial signing of the MOPA.
 
Under the MOPA, the Ready Reserve Units (RRU) of the 3RCDG will adopt a non-contiguous 20-hectare existing plantation in each province.
 
These areas identified by provincial and community offices of the DENR here will be planted with endemic species, and the RRU shall be in charge of its maintenance and protection needs.
 
For his part, Major General Felipe vowed to continuously support the DENR in its environmental protection programs, noting that achieving environmental sustainability is paramount to realizing just and lasting peace.
 
In Central Luzon, forest protection activities have been successfully done in collaboration with the Army and other law enforcement agencies, which has resulted in the apprehension of over 2.5 million pesos-worth of suspected illegal forest products and the filing of cases against over 40 individuals allegedly involved in these illegal activities. (-30-)
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DENR awards special patent to Capas National Shrine

 
 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has awarded to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) of the Department of National Defense a special patent for the historic 50-hectare Capas National Shrine in the province of Tarlac.
 
DENR Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs Atty. Ernesto Adobo, Jr., along with DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr., DENR provincial chief Celia Esteban, Capas Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Gerundio Fernandez, and Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, personally handed the special patent to PVAO Administrator Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina during the Gawad Titulo program held at Capas National Shrine.
 
In his message, Adobo noted that the awarding of the said special patent concurred to the marching order of DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna to prioritize the issuance of land titles to all military, naval and air force military camps and reservations.
 
“Through this special patent, we are helping our fellow public servants from the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to achieve their mission of winning lasting peace for sustainable development by protecting their military camps from illegal occupation and adverse claims of ownership,” Adobo said.
 
The activity is part of the massive rollout of the Handog Titulo program, a fundamental component of the DENR’s thrust to improve land administration and management.
 
Moreno added that the special patent would also be fundamental in strengthening and sustaining the government’s greening programs, particularly in conserving 31,000 trees planted within the Capas National Shrine that symbolize 25,000 Filipinos and 6,000 Americans who died in the concentration camp.
 
For his part, PVAO Administrator Carolina expressed his gratitude to the DENR noting that the newly-awarded special patent institutes security not only to the memorial itself, but to chronicles of heroism and nationalism that transpire in the Pambansang Dambana ng Capas.
 
Tarlac Governor Susan Yap also thanked the DENR for its efforts in facilitating the processing of the land title that would be instrumental in strengthening their programs to promote sustainable tourism through history appreciation.
 
The Capas National Shrine is a memorial built by the Philippine government in Barangay Aranguren, Capas Tarlac in honor of all the Filipino and American soldiers who endured the Bataan Death March. It embodies chronicles of heroism and valor that bring fruition to Philippine freedom and democracy.
 
From Mariveles and Bagac in Bataan, around 60,000 to 80,000 Filipino and American prisoners-of-war walked to San Fernando Train Station in Pampanga, where they were cramped into boxcars and transported to Capas Train Station in Tarlac, from which they walked to Camp O’Donnell—the final stop of the brutal march by the Imperial Japanese Army.
 
By virtue of Proclamation No. 842, President Corazon Aquino proclaimed Camp O-Donnell as the Capas National Shrine on December 7, 1991. (-30-)
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Over 19K poll ads removed from DENR's Oplan Baklas

 
 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has removed over 19,000 pieces of campaign materials illegally nailed and tucked on trees along main roads and thoroughfares in Central Luzon.
 
The series of operations came through following the recent directive of DENR Secretary Jim Sampulna to its field offices to carry out "Operation Baklas" that aimed to promote an environmentally conscious elections by urging political parties and supporters to only post poll advertisements and other paraphernalia in common poster areas and spare trees from any campaign materials.
 
The DENR-3 in collaboration with other enforcement agencies intensified its efforts to remove illegally posted campaign materials in key areas in the region notably in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and, Pampanga, which are among the vote-rich provinces in the Philippines.
 
“Trees are vital to our environment. Nailing them with posters and streamers will not only reduce their aesthetic values, but will likewise pose threat of infestation, as nailed parts may serve as entry points to fungi, bugs, termites, among others,” DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. further explained.
 
He added that solid waste, particularly non-biodegradables and single-used plastics, accumulated from the three-month campaign period could increase, especially if proper disposal and recycling would not be observed by the public.
 
In a related development, the Assistant Regional Director of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), served as guest in last Tuesday's Earth Talk Central Luzon, a regular radio program hosted by DENR-3. The COMELEC official discussed important guidelines to keep the pre- and post-election season environmentally-sound.
 
The DENR here warned the public that any person found violating Section 3 of the Republic Act 3571, which prohibits cutting, destroying or injuring planted or growing trees, may be punished with a penalty ranging from six months to two years imprisonment and a fine up to P5,000.
 
The public may report incidences of illegal posting of campaign materials on trees and other environmentally destructive activities to the nearest DENR office in their area or contact 0945-368-5303. (-30-)
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