June 8, 2022. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - MIMAROPA Region expresses high hopes that the simultaneous tree planting activity staged to celebrate June as Philippine Environment Month, is a leap to strengthen citizen engagement in the shared mission to conserve and protect the only planet we can call home.
Anchored on the theme, “Aksyon Para sa Natatanging Mundo,” which highlights collective and transformative actions for the protection and restoration of the planet, the tree planting activity has gathered together more than 2,000 participants from both the private and public sectors across the five island provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.
Present at the activity sites as early as 6:00 am, the participants had planted in an hour or so, 12, 556 seedlings of forest and fruit bearing trees to a total estimated area of 13 hectares throughout the region.
Planted seedlings were Narra, Kamagong, Bamboo, Ipil, Bitaog, Kupang, Bangkal, Banaba, Tongkat Ali, Mangosteen, and Guyabano,
Meanwhile in Iloilo City, DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Maximo Landrito and Assistant Regional Director for Management Services Donna Mayor-Gordove joined the Departments’ key officials in planting bamboo trees as part of the Leadership and Environmental Sustainability Summit.
As the simultaneous tree-planting activities also commemorated DENR’s 35th founding anniversary, RED Claudio extends her thanks to all those who made time to participate in the event.
“We are always grateful that in performing our gargantuan task to protect the environment in the last 35 years, we have the people, organizations, groups, and institutions who all take part in this concerted effort to sustain the Earth,” RED Claudio stated.
For more than three decades since its establishment under Executive Order 192 dated June 10, 1987, the DENR has initiated tree-planting activities as a primary and critical step to improve the quality of life as well as of the environment. Planting trees help restore the forests, mitigate the effects of climate change, protect the watersheds and other sources of water, and yields fruits and other products that have become sources of life and livelihood.
“As we celebrate the Environment Month and DENR Anniversary, may we all continue to be responsible stewards of nature, and may we always remember to offer our efforts for the welfare of our environment and natural resources, and to the One who created them all,” Director Claudio concluded. ### (With photos and reports from P/CENRO Information Officers)
Taytay, Palawan - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - MIMAROPA Region, together with the local government, partner agencies, NGOs and the church, planted trees and participated in a short talk on solid waste management as steps to further protect the country’s last ecological frontier.
The activities, which were organized on May 17, 2022 to commemorate the Month of the Ocean and the Year of the Protected Areas, gathered over 200 participants from 16 offices and organizations in the municipality. Taytay is home to the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (MSPLS), and the El Nido-Taytay-Managed Resource Protected Area (ENTMRPA).
The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) provided 250 Narra seedlings, which were planted within the vicinity of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay in Monte Vista, Poblacion.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Taytay, Palawan, Engr. Alan Valle stated that these seedlings must be nurtured to ensure higher survival rate.
“Alam naming mababalikan ninyo (participants) ang mga tinanim dito sa Bikaryato, kaya maalagaan ninyo ang mga ito,” CENRO Valle remarked in a short program held before the planting activity.
For his response, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, DD, the Apostolic Vicar in Taytay thanked the DENR, and reminded everyone of their responsibility as stewards of God’s creations.
“Tayo po’y nilikha ng Diyos bilang taga-pangasiwa ng lahat ng Kanyang ginawa,” he said. “Ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan ay manipestasyon ng ating pagmamahal sa Diyos, kaya naman nag-papasalamat kami na dito napili ng DENR na magtanim ng mga puno,” he remarked.
Before the participants headed to the site, Bishop Pabillo blessed them and the seedlings, and led a short prayer for the continuous protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources.
Later that day after the tree planting, environmentalist Edilberto "Kuya Edong" Magpayo, tackled the current status of the environment and the challenges that confront its journey to sustainable development. In a brief lecture, he explained how single-use plastics, such as straws and stirrers, disposable spoon and fork and PET bottles end up in the oceans, harming aquatic resources and eventually human life.
Magpayo, a project officer of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., (PSFI) Turismo At Negosyo Dulot ng Ingat KAlikasaN (TANDIKAN), is a staunch supporter/partner of DENR MIMAROPA’s programs and projects. He promotes a more conscious and environment-friendly lifestyle in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, through his Ayaw ni Princesa ng Single-use Plastic movement.
In his talk, Magpayo said that apart from using reusable merchandise, such as eco-bags and water tumblers, one can help fight the battle against plastic pollution by simply refusing plastics.
“Pag namimili tayo at bibigyan tayo ng plastic bag, pwede naman natin na tanggihan iyon. Kung wala tayong dalang eco-bag, pwede naman natin ilagay ang mga pinamili natin diretso sa bag natin, lalo na kung konti lang naman ang mga iyon,” he explained.
The participants, many of which were also parents and teachers, vowed that they will observe and share the “no to single-use plastics campaign,” with their families and colleagues.
Alongside the staff of DENR MIMAROPA’s Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group, PENRO Palawan, CENRO Puerto Princesa, CENRO Taytay and the Protected Area Management Offices of MSPLS and ENTMRPA, the celebration of Month of the Ocean and Year of the Protected Areas was made possible and successful through the valuable support of the following: Barangay GAD Monitor – Taytay, CBFM – MPMPC, 401st B MC, Regional Mobile Force Batallion, the local offices of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Feast Light, Tayo Ang Kalikasan Ambassadors, Catholic Women's League,
Julio Arzaga Elementary School, Central Taytay National High School, Taytay Greek Council Zeta Phi Omega, Rhoans 66, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay and St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish Pastoral and Council Office.
The advocacy against single-use plastics is DENR MIMAROPA’s initiative under the Department’s Tayo Ang Kalikasan (TAK) campaign. TAK aims to engage the citizenry in taking care of the environment through the DENR’s priority programs, such as forest protection, clean water, and solid waste management, among others.
In 2018, DENR MIMAROPA issued Memorandum Order No. 2018-06, which prohibits the use of styorofam food containers and single-use utensils in its regional and field offices. The effort gained strength as the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) approved Resolution No. 1363, Series of 2020, which imposes a ban on single-use plastics in all government offices all over the country.
DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio said that the vision for plastic and litter-free oceans may be a long-haul, but it is not impossible to achieve for as long as everybody fulfils their responsibilities.
“The battle to save our oceans and the rest of our natural resources lies on our concerted efforts to say no to plastics,” the Director pointed out.
“The good news is, these efforts are simple and easy. We start by bringing our own water tumbler, own eco-bag. These are simple steps that would definitely help reduce plastic consumption and pollution,” she remarked. ###
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, DD, the Apostolic Vicar in Taytay (left photo) blessed the seedlings and thanked the DENR for planting trees within the vicinity of the church. He received from CENRO Alan Valle (right) a Plaque of Appreciation and TAK t-shirt in recognition of his support to the DENR’s mission to protect and conserve the environment and natural resources.
In a short lecture, environmentalist Edilberto "Kuya Edong" Magpayo, explained how single-use plastics, such as straws and stirrers, disposable spoon and fork and PET bottles end up in the oceans, harming aquatic resources and eventually human life. Over 200 participants from 16 agencies and organizations in Taytay joined the event and the DENR campaign to say no to single-use plastics.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – MIMAROPA Region warns the public to take extra caution when dealing with real property investments particularly those that involve forestlands and other government lands.
Republic Act (RA) 7586 as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018 prohibits occupying or dwelling in any public land within the protected area without clearance from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and the DENR.
Similarly, Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines issued on May 19, 1975, specifies that no person may utilize, exploit, occupy, possess or conduct any activity within any forestland, unless he has been authorized to do so under a license agreement, lease, license, or permit.
Pending applications for tenurial instruments or license agreements do not, in any way, signify approval, hence no activity or development in the area shall take place while such applications are under review, or are being processed.
It is for these reasons that DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio calls on the public to exercise due diligence when acquiring land properties.
“We understand that land investments entail huge amounts of resources—money, effort, and time. We want you (public) to be rightfully informed so that you will not end up putting your resources to waste, more so, facing charges merely because of misinformation,” RED Claudio said.
The DENR likewise clarifies that tax declarations are not proof of ownership if the subject areas are forestlands and/or government lands. A tax declaration is a property record issued by provincial, city or municipal assessors, showing, among others, the market and assessed values of the property as basis for the collection of real property tax.
PD 705 also prohibits any public officer or employee from issuing a tax declaration without securing a certification from the DENR that the real property to be declared is alienable and disposable, and not timberland or forestland.
“That is why it is critical to know first, the classification of land you are buying. You better think twice if the parcel of land you wish to invest in is a timberland and you are only presented with a tax declaration,” the DENR MIMAROPA chief clarified.
“Being rightfully informed is our best defense against illegal transactions and anomalous titling of real properties,” she added.
The Director also reminded Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENROs and CENROs) in the region to ensure local officials within their jurisdiction are apprised of the prohibition and penalties on the issuance of illegal tax declarations.
MIMAROPA Region is composed of five island provinces, namely Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, all of which boast of rich biodiversity that attracts thousands of tourists and investors.
RED Claudio expressed that while the DENR welcomes opportunities that will reinvigorate the economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, she asserted that the state of the environment and the enforcement of laws should not be compromised.
“We are here to ensure that environmental laws are complied with, and that our people know their responsibilities. As we always say, we all have a stake at sustaining our environment and natural resources so that they may still be enjoyed by generations to come,” the Director concluded. (30)
Director Vicente Tuddao, Jr., (center) turned over the symbolic key of responsibility to formalize the turnover of leadership to incoming ARD for Technical Services Maximo Landrito last Tuesday, May 10. Present to witness the milestone event were Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio (in red) and other key officials of DENR MIMAROPA, namely (from left) Licenses, Patents and Deeds Division Chief Cesar P. Odi, Conservation and Development Division OIC -Chief Melissa Endangan, PENRO Occidental Mindoro Ernesto E. Tañada, Administrative Division Chief Rosario C. Gulmaticoo, CENRO Taytay, Palwan Alan L. Valle, PENRO Palawan Felizardo B. Cayatoc, PENRO Oriental Mindoro Mary June F. Maypa, Planning and Management Division Chief Marilyn R. Limpiada, Finance Division Chief Ruby C. Bautista, and PENRO Marinduque Imelda M. Diaz.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - MIMAROPA Region on Tuesday paid tribute to ARD Vicente Tuddao, Jr.'s seven years of dedicated public service, as the agency marked a new leadership in the Office of the Assistant Director for Technical Services.
In a simple turnover ceremony held at the Kimberly Hotel in Manila, ARD Tuddao handed over the symbolic key of responsibility to formalize the turnover of leadership to incoming OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Maximo Landrito.
Director Tuddao will now lead the Internal Audit Service (IAS) as the OIC Director according to Special Order No. 2022-329 dated May 5, 2022.
In his message, Director Tuddao called on all the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resouces Officers and Division Chiefs to give the newly installed ARD twice the support they gave him during his stint in the MIMAROPA Region.
On the other hand, ARD Landrito assumed the leadership and responsibility in line with the Special Order No. 2022-338 dated May 10, 2022. Prior to his new assignment, ARD Landrito served as OIC - PENRO, Romblon in 2015, and then assumed as full fledged PENR Officer in February 2020.
Present during the program were key officials of DENR MIMAROPA led by its Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio.
Left photo (standing, from left) Dr. Edgar Santos and the Chief of Manila’s City Health Department, Dr. Arnold Pangan, show Marinduque’s butterfly clock and the Certificate of Appreciation awarded by the DENR MIMAROPA Region in recognition of their immediate assistance to the office’s COVID-19 vaccination program, April 27. Representing DENR MIMAROPA were (seating, from left) Madona Corado, Chief of Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG) and Rosario Gulmatico, Chief of Administrative Division. Also present in the short meetup was Ms. Maria Hilda B. Herrer, (right photo), one of the nurses who administered the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines among the officials and employees of DENR MIMAROPA Regional Office.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – MIMAROPA Region awarded Certificates of Appreciation to the medical frontliners of the City Health Department of Manila in recognition of their untiring support to the region’s successful COVID-19 vaccination program, April 27.
The office likewise handed over butterfly wall décors and clock from Marinduque as tokens of its appreciation to the doctors and nurses who made sure the employees got the protection they needed against the COVID-19 virus.
DENR MIMAROPA Regional Office has achieved 100% vaccination rate (first and second doses) among its personnel. A number of employees also received booster shots in January 2022 in order to maintain their defense against the disease while performing their duties.
DENR MIMAROPA greatly attributed the success of its vaccination program to the immediate assistance provided by the CHD Team.
