Local government leaders from 89 villages in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija actively participated in a series of environmental education lectures conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resouces (DENR) here in partnership with the Liga ng mga Barangay to engage local communities in solid waste management and river protection.

 

Donaver Guevarra, regional information officer of the DENR, explained that the massive information campaign was critical in the ongoing cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay since Nueva Ecija is the upstream portion of the 260-km Pampanga River that drains into the bay.

 

"Waste disposal, especially single-use plastic management, remains a challenging part of the cleanup of Manila Bay areas in the region. Educating people on proper waste segregation, the importance of our river system, and its connectivity to Manila Bay are important, so that household wastes may be prevented from reaching waterways and river systems," Guevarra said.

 

For his part, Christopher Lee, president of the Association of Barangay Chairman in Cabanatuan City, vowed to support the program of the DENR and will intensify their solid waste management efforts including river cleanup.

 

Amid the pandemic and strict quarantine measures, Guevarra stressed that the DENR will continue to conduct information, education, and communication (IEC) activities among local leaders about their roles in promoting and implementing ecological solid waste management and river protection, especially during this Habagat season where garbage is often washed away in the river system and other waterways.

 

This year, the DENR Region 3 has already conducted 37 environmental education lectures using a blended approach of online platforms and face-to-face interaction participated in by more than 1,200 local government leaders and members of peoples' organizations in Central Luzon. (-30-)

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here, through its Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office, has strengthened its National Geohazard Assessment and Mapping Program (NGAMP) to continuously identify areas in the region that are susceptible to geologic hazards and protect communities from disaster and calamities.

 

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu describes geohazard map as a "life-saving tool" that aids susceptible communities in the preparation against the destructive and life-threatening impacts of floods, landslides, liquefaction, earthquake, and other ground instabilities.

 

According to Engr. Alilo Ensomo, Jr., regional director of MGB, NGAMP is part of the country's disaster risk reduction management program and centers on rain-induced landslides, floods, flashfloods, ground subsidence or sinking, and other forms of slope instabilities that are not directly induced by earthquakes or volcanic activities.

 

"In Central Luzon, the MGB was able to complete its 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps in 2014, and has been conducting Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and updating of geohazard maps to identify potential areas which may be prone to natural disasters," he said.

 

He added that the MGB also conducted coastal geohazard mapping in the eastern and western seaboard of the region and completed the assessment of 39 coastal municipalities in Central Luzon in 2018.

Starting last year, the MGB also conducted detailed assessment of highly vulnerable coastal barangays in Botolan and San Narcico, Zambales.

 

MGB also expanded its NGAMP by including Karst Subsidence and Hazard Assessment in areas underlain by limestone, such as Candelaria in Zambales, San Miguel and Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan, and General Tinio in Nueva Ecija.

 

"Let us maximize the use of these geohazard maps as fundamental tools in disaster preparation, so that potential impacts of natural calamities may be reduced and more communities will be saved from danger," Ensomo noted.

 

He said geohazard map is a valuable tool to keep local communities resilient and safe from disaster and calamities. (-30-)

Paquito Moreno, executive director of the DENR regional office, said forest and wildlife protection is one of the challenging tasks of the DENR and has been the battle cry for many decades now.

 

“Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu’s marching order to us is to prevent the cutting of trees in our forests, protected areas and watersheds,” he explained, adding that the limited human resources with about 150 forest rangers patrolling and monitoring the region’s more than 900,000 hectares forestland pose a challenge to the DENR.

 

He said the partnership with the 703rd IB, 7ID of the PA is a welcome development in the government’s forest protection program and big boost to end forest destruction in the region.

 

“Collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders of the environment is vital in our campaign to end illegal logging, and the Philippine Army has been our steady partner in our anti-illegal logging campaign,” he added.

 

Under the partnership agreement, the 703rd IB, 7ID of the PA will provide intelligence support, assist in the monitoring of illegal forest activities and in the enforcement of forestry and other environmental laws.

 

The DENR Region 3, on the other hand, shall take the lead in the conduct of forest protection activities, conduct skill enhancement training on forest and environmental laws and deputize all units of the 703rd IB,7IB of the PA as forest protection officer.

 

For his part, Brigadier General Andrew Costelo, Commander of 703rd IB, 7ID of the PA, said that with or without the MOP, the PA is committed and required to undertake environmental protection activities as their contribution to mother earth.

 

“We assure the DENR that the 703rd IB, 7ID of the PA is one with you against illegal logging and in the implementation of any environmental activities,” he said, adding that the agreement formalizes the partnership in ensuring the protection of the environment. (-30-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has conducted recently massive information, education and communication (IEC) campaign in four provinces in Central Luzon in a bid to raise public awareness and knowledge on some important pressing environmental issues, and solicit support on the protection and conservation of the environment.

 

Donaver Guevarra, chief of the regional public affairs office (RPAO), said the environmental education lecture series were conducted in 15 barangays in Mariveles town and Balanga City in Bataan; Capas and Bamban towns in Tarlac; Masinloc town in Zambales; and Sasmuan town in Pampanga benefiting well over 400 barangay officials and health workers including members of people's organization.

 

"Providing the public as well as the leaders of our local government with the right information and educating them on the value and importance of our environment especially our rivers and mangrove ecosystems including environmental laws are important ways we can help save our environment," he explained.

 

He said caring for the environment starts from understanding, and the local government is at the forefront of keeping a balance and sustainable ecosystem to make a community protected and resilient against disaster and calamity.

 

The environmental topics that have been discussed during the lecture series include the protection of mangrove, tips to be plastic free, ecological solid waste management, importance of river system, and the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation.

 

"Solid waste management remains to be a critical concern in keeping our environment on a good and sustainable condition. Given this, educating the people on proper garbage disposal must be prioritized to keep our environmemt safe and clean," Guevarra noted.

 

Despite the pandemic, he stressed that the DENR here has continued to go on grounds and conduct small-group discussions in barangays adjacent to river systems and mangrove plantations.

 

This year, the DENR here has already conducted 29 environmental education lectures using a blended approach of online platforms and limited face-to-face interaction participated in by more than 1,000 residents of Central Luzon. (-30-)

 

Six towns in Bulacan recently received motorized banca from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here to further boost the cleanup and rehabilitation of river systems directly flowing into the greater portion of Manila Bay.

 

Emelita Lingat, head of the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Bulacan, said the towns of Obando, Marilao, Paombong and Hagonoy, along with the cities of Malolos and Meycauyan, were among the recipients of motorized banca, which would be used to intensify waterway patrolling and monitoring activities of the DENR and local government.

 

"The distribution of these boats is fundamental in our Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation efforts. These boats will be used in cleanup, monitoring and law enforcement activities, as well as in water quality testing in major river systems and streams in Bulacan," she explained.

 

She also reported that these motorized banca would be added to the seven boats previously distributed to towns of Marilao, Meycauayan, Bulakan, Obando, Paombong, Hagonoy, and the City of Malolos on 2018, which were then used for garbage collection.

 

Manila Bay has a total coastline of 190 kilometers, where 75% or 142 kilometers of it is part of Central Luzon. (-30-)