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-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has strengthened its Enhanced National Greening Program (E-NGP) to mitigate potential impacts of climate change by continuously rehabilitating denuded forestlands and preserving the region’s forest cover.

 

Paquito Moreno, Jr., executive director of the DENR in Region 3, reported that the government's flagship reforestation program has restored over 129,000 hectares of denuded forestlands and watersheds in Central Luzon since its implementation in 2011.

 

“Preserving our forest cover and making more of our forest landscapes intact is an important component of the government’s climate change mitigation program,” he said, adding that these efforts could reduce communities’ vulnerability to climate shock, as forests could sequester greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

 

Further, since bamboo is found to have been an effective instrument to curb greenhouse emission gases, Moreno reported that the DENR has established more than 3,200 hectares of bamboo plantation in 2021, which is in addition to the more than 14,000-hectare established bamboo plantations under NGP.

 

He said partnership and collaboration with private firms were also strengthened to sustain these plantations, where more than 5,800 hectares of unfunded NGP areas have already been adopted by different organizations.

 

The DENR has likewise partnered with families in upland areas, Peoples’ Organizations, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Army in the region to monitor the development of plantations and facilitate quick response against forest fires and reported illegal forest activities in NGP areas.

 

Apart from its ecological value, the NGP, since its implementation in 2011, has generated 154,055 jobs in the region from its plantation maintenance and protection activities.

 

NGP aims to reforest 1.5 million hectares of denuded forestlands and watersheds in the country. It was expanded until 2028 under Executive Order No. 193 to reforest and develop the remaining degraded forest areas in the country. (-30-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here recently partnered with the Bulacan State University (BulSU) in an effort to conserve the cultural heritage and promote ecotourism in the Biak-Na-Bato National Park (BNBNP) in San Miguel, Bulacan.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. noted that this newly-minted Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was an all-encompassing strategy to preserve both the historical and environmental value of the BNBNP by integrating research and rehabilitation components that convert the national park’s pavilion into an exhibit area.

 

“By staging the heritage and ecotourism value of this more than 2,000-hectare protected area, we are establishing a channel to educate the public on the critical role it plays to our biodiversity and wildlife, thus, encouraging them to help us in our protection and conservation efforts,” Moreno explained.

 

Said exhibit is part of the implementation of the Sustainable Heritage Imbibing Nationalism through Education in Bulacan, otherwise known as the SHINE Bulacan project. It aims to increase awareness and nationalism by promoting sustainable heritage through educational tourism and community engagement.

 

Material culture retrieved from archaeological excavations and researches in Bulacan, particularly in the BNBNP, will be displayed in the exhibit, which is part of the BulSU’s three-year research program, “Bulacan Landscape Reconstruction: Identifying Anthropogenic and Natural Indicators in Changing Environment.”

 

It may be recalled that in 2020, a team of archeologists led by Dr. Armand Salvador Mijares, recovered archaeological materials like earthenware pots, modified bones, and even faunal remains inside the Tanggapan Cave in the BNBNP. This discovery added a new dimension to the ecological and archaeological relevance of the national park with evidence of Neolithic and Late Paleolithic periods present within the cave.

 

For her part, BulSU President Cecilia Gascon expressed her gratitude towards the ratification of the MOA, noting that this would further collaborative efforts to safeguard Bulacan’s cultural heritage and rich natural resources.

 

Under the MOA, the Protected Area Management Board of the BNBNP will be responsible for the protection and maintenance of the exhibit, as well as the provision of technical support to the BulSU’s research program.

 

The BNBNP is established by former President Manuel Quezon through Proclamation No. 223 on November 1937. DENR studies show that aside from its historical value, the national park is home to 177 animal species, including the endemic Kalaw or Philippine hornbill, wild boar and Philippine deer. (-30-)

 

 

The recently completed road extension project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expected to improve the productivity of agroforestry farms and livelihood of upland farmers in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

 

Paquito Moreno, executive director of the DENR in Central Luzon, noted that the more than one-kilometer road extension in Barangay Bunga-Dilaing Bato would not only provide communities better accessibility and mobility to goods and services, but would likewise help partner people’s organizations in protecting the 4,914-hectare reforested area of the Seguim Subwatershed.

 

“As an agroforestry support facility of our Forestland Management Project (FMP) in Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, this infrastructure project is seen as supplementary to the local government’s efforts to provide social services, boost the local economy and guarantee food security,” he said.

 

Moreno reported that this facility would be added to the completed access roads of Sitio Sinipit-Sitio Pamalyan in Barangay Conversion in Pantabangan and Dilaing Bato-Calo-Mambeja in Barangay R. A. Padilla in Carranglan which both connect farm areas to market towns.

 

“Apart from facilitating a greener path for our farmers and our environment, we want to help communities improve their vehicular and pedestrian mobility that lessen potential damage and transportation cost of agricultural products,” Moreno ended.

 

The opening of the road extension was strengthened with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DENR and the municipal government of Carranglan, where the latter, in coordination with FMP Partner Peoples' Organization Tapil Bunga Farmers Association, Inc., would be responsible for maintaining and operating the completed subproject.

 

For his part, Barangay Bunga Captain Faustino Natividad expressed his gratitude for the benefit the project would bring to the community and vowed to help in its maintenance activities.

 

Launched in 2012, FMP is a 10-year reforestation project that aims to rehabilitate the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, one of the biggest protected areas in Central Luzon, and to strengthen forestland management through the implementation of a collaborative community-based forest management strategy.

 

It 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-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here partnered with the Provincial Government of Pampanga and the Beverly Place Golf and Country Club, Inc. (BPGCCI) to boost the propagation of native trees in Central Luzon through an arboretum project in Mexico town.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. stressed that the said initiative would not only fast-track the growth of native trees, but would eventually promote urban forest management, which has been considered as among the fundamentals in mitigating the threats of climate change.

 

“Urban greening is beneficial for both the environment and the city dwellers. By increasing the green spaces within the city, local residents will see the value of our native trees as effective air filters that remove pollutants, thus, encouraging them to become stakeholders in sustaining our ecological wealth,” Moreno said, noting that this project was the first in the country and could be replicated in other areas to extensively promote ‘green’ cities.

 

He added that the establishment of the arboretum within the golf course area of the Beverly Place would be supplemental to the government’s existing reforestation program, as well as in the efforts to sustain the population of native trees that prevent them from potential extinction.

 

“Planting native trees is a strategic approach in increasing our forest cover in the region, especially that these endemic tree species pose high survival rate given their site compatibility and resistance to pests and diseases,” Moreno ended.

More than 1,300 planting materials that include Narra, Bamboo, Bitaog, Ilang-ilang, Molave, Balitbitan, Banaba, and Fire Tree species would be established along the seven-kilometer length of the Beverly Place.

 

To mark the partnership, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations in Luzon Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, Regional Executive Director Moreno and Provincial Chief Laudemir Salac led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Committee on Natural Resources and Environment Chairman Atty. Ananias L. Canlas Jr. and BPGCCI General Manager Elson Alvaran. The group initially planted a total of 35 Narra and 20 Thai Bamboo in the area.

 

For his part, Alvaran expressed his gratitude to the DENR for the gesture of support they have received from the government, noting that the partnership would bear sustainable development and increase the value of the property as an ecotourism and plant propagation area.

 

Under the MOA, the BPGCCI will conduct the site preparation and on-site layout of the endemic tree species. They will likewise take charge of protecting and maintaining the trees, as well as in preparing periodic reports and installing weather-resistant signage in the planting area.

 

The provincial government of Pampanga will assist the BPGCCI in monitoring and providing necessary environmental inputs needed in the area, while the DENR will provide native tree species and forest tree planting materials.

 

Said planting materials will come from the replacement seedlings from the issued tree cutting permits of the DENR office in Pampanga and other possible sources from field offices.

 

Trees to be planted in this area will join the over 128,000 hectares of forest plantations established by the DENR and its partners through the Enhanced National Greening Program since 2011. (-30-)