Press Releases

CENRO GUINOBATAN INTENSIFIES FOREST PROTECTION AND ANTI-ILLEGAL LOGGING CAMPAIGN

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Guinobatan headed by OIC, CENR Officer Narisol C. Divina through its Monitoring and Enforcement Section (MES) led by Forester III Madelyn D. Moral intensifies its forest protection and anti-illegal logging campaign, which resulted to the apprehension of 935.68 board feet of undocumented timber products and two (2) units of unregistered chainsaw at Barangays Bacong and Maonon, Ligao City and Barangay Bongoran, Oas, Albay on January 6 to 7, 2022, respectively.
 
The Team was able to recover five (5) pieces of abandoned White Lauan (Shorea contorta) lumber and flitches with a volume of 136 board feet in Barangay Maonon, Ligao City while conducting LAWIN patrolling on January 6, 2022. On the way back to the office, another stockpile of 12 pieces Rain Tree (Samanea saman) lumber and flitches with a volume of 120 board feet were recovered at Barangay Bacong, Ligao City.
 
The LAWIN is a strategy for intensive environmental law enforcement against timber poachers and environmental violators under the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System (LFBPS).
 
On January 7, 2022, the same Team was immediately deployed to Barangay Bongoran, Oas, Albay a following report from a concerned citizen regarding an alleged illegal tree cutting in a private lot in the said barangay. Fifteen (15) pieces of Guyod lumber with a volume of 120 board feet and one (1) unit of unregistered chainsaw with Serial No. 271869115 were recovered.
 
Moreover, another illegal tree cutting incident was spotted in the same barangay which led to the apprehension of one (1) Bangkal (Nauclea orientalis) round log with a volume of 1.32 cubic meters or 559.68 board feet and one (1) unit chainsaw without serial number.
 
Upon proper inventory and documentation, the apprehended forest products were put under custody of the respective Barangay Local Government Units for safekeeping pending proper disposition. The chainsaws were put under custody of the CENRO Guinobatan.
 
Meanwhile, the offenders who were all caught in flagrante delicto were brought to the Oas Municipal Police Station for filing of the appropriate legal charges for violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code, as amended, which prohibits possession of timber or other forest products without license, and the Republic Act No. 9175, otherwise known as the Chainsaw Act of 2002, which regulates the ownership, possession, sale, importation and use of chainsaws in the country.
 
CENRO Divina commended the hard work of the Enforcement Team and the active participation of the public in the intensification of forest protection and anti-illegal logging campaign of the DENR. Meanwhile, PENR Officer Engr. Jerry R. Arena emphasized the importance of continuously strengthening the Department’s information, education and communication campaign in mobilizing the citizenry towards environmental protection. He also reiterated to observe utmost diligence in the conduct of field operations especially that the threats of the pandemic still persist.###
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Over 4,000 Waterbirds Sighted during the Annual Asian Waterbird Census in Camarines Sur

Over four thousand (4,000) waterbirds were sighted during the Annual Asian Waterbird Census on January 7, 2021 at the Cabusao Critical Habitat, Cabusao, Camarines Sur.
 
The Annual Asian Waterbird Census was spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) V led by Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III together with Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Atty. Ronnel Sopsop, CESE and OIC, ARD for Management Services Grace Cariño, Ph.D. and the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (PAMBCS) of the Conservation and Development Division (CDD). Representatives from the different divisions of the Regional Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Camarines Sur, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sipocot and Local Government Unit (LGU) Cabusao also participated in the activity.
 
4,000 waterbirds of mixed Whiskered Tern, Javan Pond Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Pacific Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Black-Winged Stilt and Northern Shoveler were sighted at the three (3) sites at Cabusao Critical Habitat.
 
Asian Waterbird Census is conducted annually every second and third week of January. It is simultaneously observed with other international censuses of waterbirds in Africa, Europe and Neotropics under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC).###
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106 OLIVE RIDELY HATCHLINGS RELEASED IN BATO, CAMARINES SUR

A total of 106 Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) hatchlings were recently released to the shores of Barangay Payak in Bato, Camarines Sur.

            The release was spearheaded by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Iriga headed by OIC, CENR Officer Nestor Franz A. Fortuno, the Barangay Council headed by Punong Barangay Virginia Saylago and Bantay Dagat personnel.

            According to the CENRO Iriga technical personnel, the Barangay Council reported the sighting of a turtle laying eggs at the shorelines of the said barangay in October 2021 and immediately set up a parameter fence to secure the nesting site. They informed the incident to the CENRO Iriga and consequently, the office conducted regular monitoring of the area.

            A Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) drive was also conducted by the CENRO Iriga to increase the awareness of the barangay residents on sea turtles and other wildlife species.

            Under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2019-09 titled, “Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and their Categories”, the marine turtle species are considered endangered. Likewise, all wildlife in the Philippines are protected under Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act".

The DENR V continuously calls on the public to report such incidents and turnover any wildlife to proper authorities for proper handling and release to its natural habitat. Continuous CEPA campaigns are being conducted by the DENR, which have caused increasing numbers of public turn overs to the office. (With report from CENRO Iriga)###

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133 SEA TURTLE HATCHLINGS RELEASED IN TBPPS

The DENR V Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Guinobatan headed by OIC, CENR Officer Narisol C. Divina together with some local sea turtle conservation advocates successfully released a total of 133 Olive Ridley hatchlings to their natural habitat on December 28, 2021 and January 1 to 2, 2022 at Barangay Nagas, Oas, Albay, a part of the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS).
 
Forest Technician II Faye Jesusa T. Onrubia, head of the CENRO Guinobatan Wildlife Resources Permitting Unit, said that two (2) adult marine turtles were spotted by the locals about to lay eggs in the nesting site at Barangay Nagas on October 27 and 30, 2021. Since then, regular monitoring activities were conducted in the area to prevent the nests from getting damaged or threatened by predators, possible flooding of nests and egg hunting by humans.
 
The sea turtle hatchlings emerged from the nests on the evenings of December 27, 2021 (30 hatchlings), December 31, 2021 (57 hatchlings) and January 1, 2022 (46 hatchlings), respectively. The hatchlings were all found to be Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). Per DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2019-09 titled, "Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and their Categories", the marine turtles are considered endangered.
 
The sea turtle hatchlings were spared from typhoons during the last quarter of 2021, allowing the eggs to fully undergo incubation period and hatch.
 
The local officials also believe that the continuous conduct of Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) activities in their area will help boost the potentials of the residents in becoming partners in environmental protection, conservation and management.
 
The catching and hunting of marine turtles, and all wildlife species are prohibited under Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act".###
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DENR BICOL TOUTS 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SETS 2022 GOALS

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) V together with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) V and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) V through its key officials highlighted the major accomplishments on its thrusts and priority programs during its first hybrid Monday program for the year 2022 on January 3, 2022 at the DENR V Covered Court, Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City.
 
“We have been challenged by the pandemic but I am proud to say that we have accomplished all our targets, programs, and activities including the later release funds from the Central Office which was a challenge last December 2021. With this, I am thankful to each and every employee. Thank you for your passion, perseverance and grit for the betterment of our mandates and programs,” Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr., CESO III said.
 
RED Milla also urged the employees to renew their commitment to serve the public and would like to strengthen the collaboration with the line bureaus and other partner stakeholders to maintain its good standing. "I believe that we can do it through our patience, perseverance, and unity," he added.
 
RED Milla also called on the Management Services (MS) under the leadership of the OIC, Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for MS Grace L. Cariño to strive a higher level in the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management or the PRIME-HRM and the Quality Management System (QMS) Certification while for the Technical Services under the leadership of the ARD for Technical Services (TS) Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop to accomplish all targets especially those under the Expanded National Greening Program (E-NGP) and patents this year.
 
Moreover, RED Milla also touted on the physical improvements such as the repainted buildings and improved covered court. “Let us be a model in the offices here. We have to model cleanliness, segregation of solid wastes and also separate bins for COVID wastes. Let us make this part of our advocacy,” he said.
 
In addition, RED Milla shared the COVID-19 vaccination status of the Region. He said that it has already achieved the vaccination rate of at least 95% for EMB V, 97% for MGB V, and 85% for DENR V. He also urged everyone to practice the health protocols and avail of the free booster shots for everyone’s protection from the virus.
 
“May this New Year be our inspiration as we continue to raise the bar of environmental protection through our hard work and perseverance,” he said.###
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