March 12 is the 82nd Anniversary of Siquijor Forest Reserve known as Mt. Bandilaan Nature Park.
Proclamation No. 523, s.1940 established Siquijor Forest Reserve for reforestation, forest protection and timber production situated in the Municipalities of Siquijor and Lazi, Island of Siquijor signed by the then President Manuel L. Quezon in March 12, 1940. In celebration of the event, Barangays Cang-agong, Luzong, Cantabon and Cangumantong signed a commitment for a sustainable protection and conservation of the 212 hectares forest reserve of Siquijor for the future generation. “Padayon Natong Amumahan Para Sa Kalambuan sa tanan”.
Forester Paul Tomogsoc of DENR-PENRO Siquijor shared, “ Siquijodnons commitment does not end with this activity, the first time we celebrate the anniversary of the proclamation. We are always grateful for the gifts of nature, the source of medicinal herbs and trees for healers that made our island famous. Ikaw, Ako, Tayo Ang Kalikasan.”
DENR 7 conducts its 3rd Regional Management Conference for 2019 led by newly appointed DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor, Jr., DENR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Visayas Marcial Amaro and DENR Internal Audit Service Director Rolando Castro with the full participation of all officials and Division/Unit Heads of the regional office and the field units to discuss the status of mid-year financial and physical performance of the department and plan out the set of activities and programs that is up for the 3rd quarter implementation.
The two-day conference starts today, July 25 to 26, 2019 at Sea Dream Resort in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
RD Melicor who spearheaded the DENR Central Visayas Regional Conference for the first time thanked Asec Amaro and Dir. Castro for the support they showed for DENR 7 programs and activities.
In a brief message, ASEC Amaro urged the DENR 7 key officials to stay focused on the implementation of the priority programs of the department and reiterated the importance of sustaining a good partnership and collaboration with local government units. He further added that DENR should exert more effort in engaging LGUs in its programs, projects and activities to encourage them to be at the forefront in the environmental protection efforts and enforcement of environmental laws.
After the management conference, the officials are set to visit the DENR 7 mechanized nursery facility in Banban, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
DENR 7 Assistant Secretary for Visayas Marcial Amaro Jr, Asec for Field Operations for Southern Luzon and former DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales, former Usec for Field Operations For. Isabelo Montejo, newly designated DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor Jr together with DENR 7 key officials pose at the future site of the DENR 7 two-storey building with basement parking and roofdeck.
DENR 7 held today a ceremonial ground breaking event and laying of capsule to mark the start of the construction of the DENR 7 Technical Building with a project cost of P21, 976,642.07 and set to be completed in 365 calendar days. The construction of the office building aims to provide more office space for DENR 7 Technical Services personnel.
In a statement, RED Melicor thanked all DENR officials especially ASEC Gonzales for making the way for the realization of the project.
ASEC Amaro, in his message highlighted that providing comfortable and sound working environment to personnel is a boost on the morale and motivation of the employees to perform better and become even more productive in pursuing the mandates of the department.
The project is set to be completed on July 10, 2020.
DENR-7 PENRO and CENRO personnel immediately investigated the open garbage dumping area in Brgy. Doljo, Panglao, Bohol. The said dumpsite was seen by volunteers of the International Coastal Clean-up last September 21, 2019, the Plastic Free Bohol group. The local government unit (LGU) in Panglao, Bohol conducted a clean-up in the said place after it was posted in the social media.
Pursuant to R.A. no. 7160, Section 388, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, Barangay officials should enforce the laws and regulations relating to pollution control and protection of the environment.
RED Paquito Melicor Jr. said, "Solid waste management is now the responsibility of everybody. We should handle our own trash. Segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable is one of the solutions we have to practice in our own households. And saying “No to Single Use Plastic,” be a part of our lifestyle.
Established a Material Recovery Facility in barangays, coordinate with your municipal/city officials, involve the community and partner with stakeholders in waste management. DENR is always ready to give technical assistance to all LGUs in the implementation of the approved 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan.
Apart from helping combat the effects of climate change, bamboo can also help increase the country’s forest cover, said Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu in his Keynote Speech during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1st ASEAN Bamboo Congress held at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City on August 12 to 16, 2019.
Bamboo, touted as the Earth’s tallest grass, has great potentials to pull the countryoff its environmental woes, especially as a strategic tool for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“Bamboo has been proven to adapt well to the changing climatic conditions of the world and has made significant contributions to mitigate the causes and effects of climate change,” said Cimatu.
The environment chief said increasing bamboo plantations and making Panay Island the Bamboo Capital of the Philippines in terms of manufacturing engineered bamboo will ease the pressure on the country’s forests. He added that engineered bamboos are as sturdy as the lumber products.
Among the South East Asian nations, the Philippines ranked lowest in terms of forest cover, with an estimated 7,014,155.71 hectares or 23.38 percent of its official total land area of 30 million hectares covered with trees.
“Bamboo reduces the need for timber resources, enhances carbon sequestration, biodiversity preservation and low-cost rehabilitation of degraded lands. We envision producing engineered bamboo products as a substitute for actual lumber requirement of our country, instead of cutting trees from our forests,” Cimatu said.
Engineered bamboo, he said, will slowly increase the forest cover of the Philippines for the next several years or decades.
“We have already conducted surveys as to the available areas which are potential for bamboo plantations in the region. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 has also allotted a budget of Php 10 million for this year to implement the plan,”said Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.
The 2019 Php 10-M budget targets to prioritize the planting of bamboos under the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) implemented by the DENR. The budget includes the expenditures for establishing three nurseries for priority provinces namely: Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Capiz; production of 100,000 bamboo seedlings; and capacity building for priority stakeholders and DENR personnel.
The bamboo industry has been considered a “sunset industry” but with the government’s plan to revive it, hopes are high that it will again prosper.
