The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) V through its Management Services held a “Salamat, Mabuhay” program to honor and pay tribute to six (6) retiring employees last July 8, 2022 at the DENR V Covered Court, Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City.
The six retirees were Ms. Elena Aban, Ms. Nena Dote, Mr. Rafael Rañeses, Jr., Ms. Marietta Betito, Mr. Panfilo Basas and Mr. Leonardo Samaniego.
“This Salamat Mabuhay Program is in honor of you. Your DENR family would like to extend our gratitude and give you a big thanks for the great and amazing service you have rendered to the government,” said Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III in his message.
The “Salamat, Mabuhay” program aims to acknowledge the service of the retirees as mandated by CSC MC No. 7, series of 1998. The DENR through then Secretary Horacio Ramos adopted said CSC Memo Circular in 2010.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr. through the Conservation and Development Division (CDD) in collaboration with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Albay under the leadership of PENR Officer Engr. Jerry R. Arena culminated the celebration of the Month of the Ocean by planting some 250 mangrove propagules on May 27, 2022 at Cawit, Manito, Albay.
Inspired by the “The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want (2021 to 2030)” message of the United Nation’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, this year’s theme, “Protect and Restore the Ecosystems and Biodiversity” highlights the importance of protection and restoration of our ecosystems and biodiversity for the present and future generations.
The mangrove planting cum coastal clean-up was participated in by the residents of the Barangay, local government unit (LGU) of Manito and employees of the DENR.
The clean-up generated 170 kilograms of waste composing mainly of solid waste like plastic bags.
In her message, Assistant Regional Director for Management Services (ARDMS) Grace L. Cariño, Ph.D. said that our marine ecosystem plays a very vital role in our environment, especially, in climate change mitigation. “This mangrove planting symbolizes our support and commitment to restore our ecosystem”.
The celebration of the MOO every month of May in the Philippines was mandated through Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued on 1998.###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) V headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III culminated the 2022 Month of the Ocean (MOO) celebration together with various Local Government Units (LGUs) with an awarding ceremony of the winners of the 2nd MOO Quiz Bee and the Search for Best Mangrove Award in the Bicol Region dubbed, “Gawad Iba Ka Juan” on May 26, 2022 at the A and A Bed and Breakfast Inn, Imperial Court Subdivision, Legazpi City and a mangrove tree planting and coastal clean-up at Cawit, Manito, Albay on May 27, 2022.
The month-long celebration was spearheaded by the Conservation and Development Division (CDD) and kickstarted with a Zumba fitness activity and Trivia Contest on May 2, 2022.
This year’s theme, “Protect and Restore the Ecosystems and Biodiversity”, is inspired by the message of United Nation’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development which is “The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want (2021 to 2030).”
Moreover, present in the Culmination Program were LGU Mercedes represented by Municipal Councilor Maria Velia Flor Ibasco, LGU Masbate City represented by City Councilor Alberto R. Abayon, LGU Gubat represented by Municipal Administrator Patrick Omar B. Erestain, LGU Siruma represented by Municipal Agriculture Officer Lorna Avellana, and LGU Cabusao represented by Mayor Weny Sabalbero.
RED Milla awarded the 2nd MOO Quiz Bee Champion Camille Alexandra Elizondo of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Albay, 1st Placer Bianca Camille Abarrientos of the Planning and Management Division (PMD), and 2nd Placer Paul Edward Acosta of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) V.
RED Milla also commended the DENR Bicol “Team Oragon” which won the recently held photo marathon contest organized by the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau in partnership with Canon Philippines.
For the Gawad Iba Ka Juan awarding, the Pawa Mangrove Park in Masbate City bagged the Best Mangrove Award. The Pawa Mangrove Park will be the entry of the Bicol Region for the upcoming Para El Mar Awards, a biennial event which gives recognition to the best performing local Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in terms of practices and management. Also, the Mercedes Critical Habitat in Mercedes, Camarines Norte was awarded as 1st Runner-up and Panganiban Mangrove Area in Gubat, Sorsogon as 2nd Runner-up, respectively.
RED Milla in his message said, “Celebrating the Month of the Ocean has always been a good opportunity to provide the people especially our communities to have broader understanding of the importance of coastal and marine ecosystems.” He also said that over the years, the office and the public celebrated the MOO by doing coastal clean-ups, Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) campaigns such as webinars, film showing, and Citizen Science.
“The conservation and sustainable use of oceans can only be achieved if there is collaboration at all levels and across many sectors,” RED Milla said.
The DENR Bicol enjoins the public to take part on the environmental celebrations and promote the conservation and protection of the environment and natural resources.
The celebration of the MOO every month of May in the Philippines was mandated through Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1998.###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) V headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III through the Conservation and Development Division (CDD) held the 2nd Quiz Bee in celebration of the Month of the Ocean (MOO) with the theme, “Protect and Restore the Ecosystems and Biodiversity” at the DENR V, Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City.
The Elimination Round was participated in by 44 representatives from the Divisions, Field Offices, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) V and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) V on May 23, 2022.
Ten (10) representatives made it to the Semi-final round. Out of the 10, three (3) representatives who scored the highest made it to the Final Round held on May 25, 2022.
Out of the three (3), Camille Alexandra Elizondo of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Albay earned the highest and competed against the 1st MOO Quiz Bee Champion, respectively, John Mark Violeta of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Camarines Norte during the Championship Round.
Moreover, she was declared the Champion while Bianca Camille Abarrientos of the Planning and Management Division (PMD) bagged 1st Place, and Paul Edward Acosta of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) V bagged the 2nd Place. Cash prizes and tokens will be awarded to the winners on the MOO Culminating Program on May 26, 2022.
The MOO celebration is conducted every May by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57 signed by then President Joseph Estrada on December 11, 1998.###
Among the 16 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Offices nationwide, the DENR Bicol headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III reigned supreme as the grand winner in the Kabahagi: An International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD) 2022 Capture Quest, a photo marathon contest organized by the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in partnership with Canon Philippines.
The Kabahagi Photo Marathon Contest was a prequel event in celebration of the IDBD 2022 with the theme, "Building a shared future for all life," which aimed to showcase the beauty of protected areas in the regions.
For Bicol Region, the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) in Bulusan, Sorsogon was featured by the DENR Bicol Regional Team dubbed, "Team Oragon"."Oragon" is a Bikol term which means "astig" in Filipino or "feisty/fierce/strong" in the English language.
Team Oragon is composed of employees from the Conservation and Development Division (CDD), Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Sorsogon, Camarines Norte and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Iriga and Goa, Camarines Sur.
Five photo entries were rigorously chosen for the categories namely, Flora and Fauna, Symmetry, Details, Movement, and Open/Creative Category. All images were straight out of camera.
RED Milla in behalf of the team, received the Php 50,000.00 cheque, and a brand new Canon camera during the awarding ceremony segment at the launching of the Year of the Protected Areas (YoPA) at the EDSA Shangrila, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
RED Milla expressed his gratitude to the DENR BMB for the opportunity of showcasing the PAs in the country and his appreciation to the Team Oragon who exerted their time, effort, and expertise to produce outstanding photographs worthy of the prizes. "Indeed, we have proven that we are Oragons in exhibiting the beauty of the Bicol Region. With this, I hope that we get to encourage the public to help us protect, conserve, and manage the environment and natural resources," RED Milla said.
Moreover, DENR Region 10 Team Marine Terra placed 2nd Runner-up and was chosen as Canon's Choice Award, while Region 13 Team Kalagan placed 1st Runner-up.
The DENR Bicol encourages the public to join in activities that will showcase talents and skills while promote the protection and conservation of the planet.###
