The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Guinobatan headed by OIC, CENR Officer Narisol C. Divina rescued and released an endangered Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) along the shoreline of Sitio Tambac at Maonon, Ligao City on February 15, 2023.
Through the report of Mr. Jerome Tuazon and Mr. Joseph Dayawon, personnel of a beach resort in the area, the marine turtle was found entangled in a fishing net. They immediately turnedover the turtle to the Bantay Dagat who then informed the CENRO Guinobatan through the Ligao City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Maria Soledad T. Preña.
Upon assessment, the CENRO Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS) Team found the sea turtle to be in good condition with carapace length and width measuring 51 and 47 centimeters, respectively.
"CENRO Guinobatan continously appeals to the public to report any incidence of marine stranding to the authorities to help us in the proper assessment, handling and release of these marine species," CENRO Divina said.
"We are also appealing to the local communities, especially those in the coastal areas, to avoid throwing their garbage near or in the seas such as single use plastics, straws, fishing nets and the likes, as this is detrimental to the marine biodiversity," she added.
CENRO Divina also expressed her gratitude to the effort of the local community who contributed in the conservation and protection of wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity.
Green Sea Turtles are categorized as "Endangered Species" based on DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2019-09. (With report from CENRO Guinobatan)###
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Placer in Masbate under the leadership of Municipal Mayor Eusebio P. Dumoran Jr. received a Special Patent for government site on February 13, 2023 at the Municipal Hall, Placer, Masbate.
Masbate Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Officer Benito B. Salazar and Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Officer Jean V. Imperial of Mobo led the awarding together with some personnel of DENR Masbate.
The awarding of Special Patent is under the Handog Titulo Program of the Department, which seeks to expedite the processing and issuance of public land patents to qualified recipients to fuel progress and development in the country in accordance with Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10023 or an Act Authorizing The Issuance Of Free Patents To Residential Lands.
DENR Bicol headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr. continuously strengthens its partnership with the LGUs in the region to effectively and efficiently carry out its land disposition mandate. (With report from CENRO Mobo)###
Over eleven thousand (11,000) waterbirds were sighted during the recently conducted Annual Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) in the Bicol Region.
The AWC in the region was spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol led by the Conservation and Development Division (CDD) through its Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (PAMBCS) together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs), various Local Government Units (LGUs) and some bird photographers.
The identified sites for the AWC were the Buga Lake at Libon, Albay; Juban Wetlands Critical Habitat and Prieto Diaz Wetlands in Sorsogon; Cabusao Wetland Critical Habitat at Cabusao, Camarines Sur; Mercedes Critical Habitat at Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Panganiban Wetlands at Panganiban, Catanduanes; Bongsanglay Natural Park in Ticao Island, Masbate; and Naro and Chico Island Wildlife Sanctuaries at Cawayan, Masbate, respectively.
Some of the waterbirds sighted were Yellow Bittern, White-browed Crake, Tufted Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Garganey, Grey Heron, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Striated Heron, Moorhen, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Northern Shoveler, Black Winged Stilt, Common Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Whiskered Tern, Whimbrel, and Eurasian Wigeon.
The presence of vulnerable species such as Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica), and Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), near threatened species such as Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), and Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), and Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), which is identified as an endangered species were also recorded.
Held every January, the AWC runs parallel to other international census of waterbirds in Africa, Europe and Neotropics under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC).
DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., calls for public support in protecting and conserving wildlife species and their habitat, which is in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
The conduct of AWC aims to improve public knowledge of waterbird species and provide basis on the estimates of its population. It also aims to increase awareness on the significance of wetland sites that are important for waterbirds and those that may qualify as "Wetlands of International Importance" under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Photos courtesy of DENR Bicol Conservation and Development Division ###
Key officials and employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) V headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Camarines Sur headed by PENR Officer Ronnel B. Astor, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sipocot headed by CENR Officer Eduardo C. Ampongan and the members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Libmanan Caves National Park (LCNP) hugged trees on Valentines Day 2023.
The activity was held after the first quarter PAMB Meeting of LCNP and in support to the “Tree Hugging Campaign” launched by the DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB).
The campaign aims to promote social and health benefits that we can derive from nurturing trees and the environment.
The campaign also aims to raise awareness on the importance of the tree hugging movement.
The Tree Hugging Campaign originated from the Chipko Movement in the 1970s, which emphasizes the interdependence of humans and the environment. (With report from PENRO Camarines Sur)###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III spearheaded a region-wide mangrove and tree growing, cleanup, and information drive in celebration of the 2023 World Wetlands Day (WWD) on February 2, 2023.
With the theme, “It’s Time for Wetland Restoration”, the DENR Regional Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) in coordination with the provincial, municipal and barangay local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, academe and local residents participated in the activities.
“There is a great need for all of us to help and do our share in the protection and conservation of wetlands. Our small actions like planting and cleanups make a ripple effect to restore and revive our wetlands,” RED Milla said.
In the province of Masbate, the celebration was led by PENRO Masbate headed by OIC, PENR Officer Benito B. Salazar, CENRO Mobo headed by CENR Officer Jean V. Imperial, CENRO San Jacinto headed by OIC, CENR Officer Basil Cesar S. Camba and LGU Palanas. Some 120 mangrove propagules were planted and 15 sacks of solid wastes were collected at Barangay Bontod, Palanas while 235 native tree seedlings were planted and five sacks of solid wastes were collected along Dalakit Falls, Barangay Almiñe, San Jacinto. In addition, IEC drives to the faculty members and students of Rondina Atendido National High School at Barangay Nabangig, Palanas and San Jacinto National High School in Poblacion District 2, San Jacinto, both in Masbate were also conducted.
In the province of Catanduanes, an IEC drive was conducted by PENRO Catanduanes headed by PENR Officer Imelda D. Baltazar at Alinawan Elementary School in Barangay Alinawan, Panganiban. Also, a total of 500 mangrove propagules were planted by the public, which was followed by a bird watching activity in the same area.
Meanwhile, PENRO Albay headed by OIC, PENR Officer Engr. Jerry R. Arena together with LGU Manito conducted a coastal cleanup drive in Barangay Cawit, Manito, Albay. In addition, CENRO Guinobatan headed by OIC, CENR Officer Narisol C. Divina and the LGU Camalig spearheaded an IEC drive at Binanderahan Elementary School at Barangay Binanderahan, Camalig, Albay. Afterwhich, participants planted some 200 assorted native tree seedlings at the Green Lake in the said barangay.
Likewise, PENRO Sorsogon headed by OIC, PENR Officer Tito R. Migo and LGU Gubat led the public in planting Bongalon (Avicennia marina) mangrove propagules at Barangay Rizal, Gubat, Sorsogon.
Moreover, PENRO Camarines Sur headed by PENR Officer Ronnel B. Astor and CENRO Iriga headed by OIC, CENR Officer Herleo O. Pavericio together with the LGU Buhi headed by Mayor Rey P. Lacoste led the cleanup drive along Lake Buhi. Some 10 sacks of solid waste and 20 truckloads of water hyacinth were removed from the lake. Also, at least 160 liters of chemical solution known as Effective Microorganism Activated Solution (EMAS) was poured into the water ways of the market area and the Sowong River in Buhi to help mitigate the increase of bacteria. Also, 1,000 mangrove propagules were planted and at least three sacks of solid wastes were collected at Barangay Biong, Cabusao and was conducted by CENRO Sipocot headed by CENR Officer Eduardo C. Ampongan. Another mangrove planting and cleanup drive will be conducted in the town of Goa, Camarines Sur on February 17, 2023.
Also, PENRO Camarines Norte headed by OIC, PENR Officer Nestor Franz A. Fortuno led the cleanup drive at Barangay Mambulangon, Mercedes, Camarines Norte wherein 15 sacks of solid wastes were collected.
The WWD marks the date of the Adoption of the Convention on Wetland in Ramsar City in Iran on February 2, 1971. The Philippine government adopted its local celebration in 1995 under Presidential Decree No. 74, “Declaring February 2 of every year as National Wetlands Day”. (With reports from PENROs and CENROs) ####
