The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Albay welcomed its newly appointed Officer-In-Charged (OIC) in a turnover ceremony held at Legazpi City, on January 18, 2024.

 

By virtue of Special Order No. 2024-005 dated January 11, 2024, CENRO Narisol C. Divina succeeded PENRO, Engr. Jerry R. Arena as OIC, PENRO of Albay. The latter served as the PENRO of Albay for three years.

 

The turnover ceremony was led by DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., along with Assistant Regional Director for Management Services (ARD-MS) Ronnel B. Astor, ARD for Technical Services (ARD-TS) Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop, and ARD for Special Concerns (ARD-SC) Adona P. San Diego.

 

In his message, RED Milla expressed his gratitude to the outgoing PENRO. "Thank you for all the hard work and service you gave to PENRO Albay. For three years, you have steered the ship well," he said.

 

Furthermore, in his message, RED Milla showed his appreciation to the incoming PENRO. He urged all personnel to support PENRO Divina. "The captain merely steers the ship, but if not for the best crew, any ship will sink,” RED Milla added.

 

Also present during the turnover were Management Services Division (MSD) Chief, Joel S. Columna, Technical Services Division (TSD) Chief, Benjamin J. Mendel, PENRO Albay, CENRO Guinobatan and Regional Office personnel.###

 

For. Narisol C. Divina has successfully turned over her post as Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of Guinobatan to For. Ferdinand L. Baltazar in a ceremonial turnover of leadership on January 17, 2024 at Morera, Guinobatan, Albay.

 

CENRO Baltazar started his career at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in year 1987 in Region 3. After his reassignment in Bicol in 1989, he was assigned in different DENR V field offices including Mobo, Iriga and Naga. In 2005, he was assigned as the Section Chief of the Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWZCMS) before transferring to PENRO Catanduanes in 2014 as Forester III. After which, he served as the Head of the Regional Enforcement Task Group of the Regional Office in 2020, and then took over as OIC, Division Chief of the Licenses, Patents and Deeds Division (LPDD).

 

The ceremony was attended by DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr. along with Assistant Regional Director for Management Services (ARD-MS) Ronnel B. Astor, ARD for Technical Services (ARD-TS) Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop, and ARD for Special Concerns (ARD-SC) Adona P. San Diego.

 

In his message, RED Milla acknowledged all the triumphs that CENRO Guinobatan achieved under the leadership of For. Divina. “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨,” he said. “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳. 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. 𝘈𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮,” he added.

 

Also present during the turnover were Surveys and Mapping Division (SMD) Chief, Josie A. Columna, newly installed OIC, Chief of the LPDD Ofelia V. Zantua, and CENRO Guinobatan and LPDD personnel.

 

The change of leadership in CENRO Guinobatan is in accordance with the Regional Special Order No. 2024-006 dated January 11, 2024. ###

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol supports the launch of "𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘸𝘢," marking the commencement of the Butanding Season and the launching of the Kagandahan Program Boat Enhancement Project by the Provincial Government of Sorsogon and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Donsol today, January 17, 2024 at the Butanding Visitors Center, Dancalan, Donsol, Sorsogon.

 

The event was attended by key officials, including Province of Sorsogon Governor Jose Edwin B. Hamor, Vice Governor Krunimar Antonio Escudero II, representing 1st District Congresswoman Marie Bernadette Escudero, LGU Donsol Mayor Teodoro B. De Guzman, DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr., World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Donsol Project Manager Manuel E. Narvadez, Jr., Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) 5 Regional Director Atty. Maximo I. Bañares, Jr., Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 5 Regional Director Ariel U. Pioquinto, Department of Tourism (DOT) 5 Regional Director Herbie B. Aguas, and local stakeholders.

 

In his message, WWF Donsol Project Manager Manuel E. Narvadez underscored the importance of collaboration, commitment, and communication in advancing the goals of the Butanding season opening and Kagandahan Program Boat Enhancement Project. Emphasizing these pillars, Mr. Narvadez highlighted the collective efforts required for the sustainable management of marine resources and the critical role each participant plays in fostering responsible tourism and environmental conservation in Donsol, Sorsogon.

 

Additionally, DOT RD Herbie B. Aguas emphasized that the resurgence of Butanding signifies the growth of tourism. “𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺," he said.

 

Moreover, MARINA RD Atty. Maximo I. Bañares reiterates the importance of fostering a cooperative environment to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the residents, reaffirming MARINA's dedication to contribute to the progress and sustainable development of Donsol. "𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺," RD Bañares said.

 

Meanwhile, Province of Sorsogon Governor Jose Edwin B. Hamor highlighted the 7K Program—Kabuhayan, Kadunungan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kalinisan, Kalikasan, and Katrangkilohan—ensuring comprehensive benefits to all Sorsoganons. He appeals for a full cooperation for this initiative focused on prosperity, well-being, and community harmony.

 

Furthermore, the DENR Bicol RED Francisco E. Milla, Jr., expressed full support to Governor Hamor's initiatives in safeguarding our oceans and particularly protecting the butanding. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘌𝘕𝘙 𝘉𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘠𝘶𝘭𝘰-𝘓𝘰𝘺𝘻𝘢𝘨𝘢'𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯," RED Milla said.

 

"𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘸𝘢," a Sorsoganon term signifying the emergence of beauty, aligns perfectly with the start of the whale shark season in Donsol. It marks the festive kick-off of the Butanding season and launches the Kagandahan Program Boat Enhancement Project, supporting local boatmen through subsidies for boat enhancement. This initiative not only celebrates Sorsogon's natural beauty but also contributes to economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.

 

The DENR Bicol stands with the visionary "𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘸𝘢" initiative, affirming its commitment to shaping a future where Sorsogon's natural beauty aligns with economic empowerment and ecological resilience. ###

Development Management Officer IV Lemuel A. Soriano assumed his post as the new Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of San Jacinto in Masbate on January 10, 2024 at San Jacinto, Masbate.

 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr. led the turnover ceremony together with Assistant Regional Director for Management Services (ARD-MS) Ronnel B. Astor and ARD for Technical Services Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop.

 

The post was vacated by For. Basil Cesar S. Camba, who is now serving as the new CENRO of Iriga in Camarines Sur. In his message, CENRO Camba thanked all the CENRO San Jacinto personnel, who made his 4 years stay in the office worthwhile. He also challenged them to continually improve both the office and their service for a better public service.

 

Meanwhile, newly installed CENRO Soriano called upon all the men and women of the Office to be with him in his journey. "Let us create a synergy of success through our combined efforts as advocates of environmental protection and preservation," he said.

 

Moreover, RED Milla expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CENRO San Jacinto employees who greatly contributed to the timely completion of the Department's targets last CY2023.

 

"As we start our humble beginnings this year with a change of leadership, I am hopeful that this will serve as inspiration for us to continously strive for excellence," said RED Milla. "As to our two environmental leaders - to be an exemplar of excellence, responsibility and integrity - that is my challenge to both of you," he added.

 

Present also during the ceremony were PENRO Benito B. Salazar of Masbate, CENRO Jean V. Imperial of Mobo, MS Division Chief of PENRO Masbate Aldrin C. Barruga, OIC, Chief of TSD Rey O. Samaniego and the personnel of CENRO San Jacinto, who served as witnesses.

 

The change of leadership in CENRO San Jacinto is in accordance with the Regional Special Order No. 2024-001 dated January 2, 2024. ###

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) V successfully launched its Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan (KALINISAN) program today, January 6, 2024 on various areas in the Bicol region.

 

In the province of Albay, approximately one hundred thirty-seven (137) sacks weighing 1,338.5 kilograms of solid waste were collected during a cleanup activity at Barangay Dap-dap, Legazpi City.

 

Present during the activity were Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services (ARD-TS) Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop, ARD for Special Concerns (SC) Adona P. San Diego, OIC, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of Albay Engr. Jerry R. Arena, DENR regional and provincial personnel, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, students and faculty members of Dap-dap Elementary School, and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), officials and residents of Barangay Dap-dap.

 

DILG V Regional Director Arnaldo E. Escober, Jr., expressed his gratitude to the local government unit (LGU) of Dap-dap and all its partner agencies who showed full support in the KALINISAN para sa Bagong Pilipinas Program. He also pledged DILG's continued support to all its partner-stakeholder future activities.

 

On the other hand, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Guinobatan personnel headed by OIC, CENR Officer Narisol C. Divina participated in a separate cleanup drive at Barangay Doña Mercedes, Guinobatan, Albay.

 

Moreover, DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla, Jr., together with ARD for Management Services (MS) Ronnel B. Astor, and OIC, PENRO Herleo O. Pavericio of Camarines Sur led the cleanup drive at Barangay Sta. Elena Baras, Nabua, Camarines Sur.

 

The cleanup was attended by the PENRO Camarines Sur and CENRO Iriga personnel, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Education (DepEd) and other national agencies.

 

In the province of Sorsogon, a total of twenty (20) sacks weighing 370 kilograms of wastes were collected at Barangay Talisay, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon. About 220 participants, including some PENRO Sorsogon personnel headed by OIC, PENRO Marlon C. Francia showed their full support in the activity.

 

Meanwhile, the PENRO Camarines Norte led by OIC, PENRO Nestor Franz A. Fortuno gathered a total of fifty (50) kilos of wastes at Barangay Bagasbas, Daet, Camarines Norte.

 

DILG Provincial Director Melody E. Relucio led the activity, which was also actively participated in by various national and local government agencies, and academe in the province.

 

Further, approximately thirty-three (33) kilograms of solid wastes were collected by the PENRO Masbate headed by PENRO Benito B. Salazar and CENRO Mobo led by CENRO Jean V. Imperial during its cleanup drive at Tugbungan Sitio Himumuro, Barangay Nursery, Masbate. A total of three hundred eighty (380) participants attended the provincial launch.

 

Additionally, PENRO Catanduanes headed by PENRO Imelda D. Baltazar together with other national and local government agencies, academe and stakeholders in the province also participated in the KALINISAN program launching at Barangay Palnab del Sur, Virac, Catanduanes.

 

About 450 kilograms of solid wastes were generated, which were then collected by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) Virac personnel for proper handling and disposal.

 

The KALINISAN Program is a convergence initiative to consolidate all efforts of the government to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment for all by capacitating local government units and enabling community participation anchored on the tradition of "bayanihan".

 

Additionally, it aims to raise awareness on environmental responsibility, encourage local government units to invest in programs, projects and activities on solid waste and ecological practices, and set up a recognition system for the cleanest LGUs. (With report from P/CENROs) ###