Department of Environment and Natural Resources MIMAROPA Region 1515, L & S Building, Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila Telephone number: (02) 405-0156 Trunkline: (02) 248-3367 local: 2701 E-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SECRETARY CIMATU’S MAIN PRIORITY IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY OUR AIR, WATER AND ADDRESS SOLID WASTE PROBLEMS. THUS, THE DENR WILL BE IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.
FOR ENHANCED NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM (E-NGP), OUR PRIORITY ACTIVITIES ARE THE FOLLOWING: (1) REHABILITATION OF 1.2 M HECTARES OF DENUDED FOREST LANDS BY 2022; AND 2) MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION OF EXISTING FORESTS.
The National Greening Program or the NGP as the DENR banner program is a convergence initiative of DA-DAR-DENR where the DENR stands as the lead agency. As a government priority pursuant to EO Nos. 23 and 26, both series of 2011, the NGP aims to: 1) contribute in reducing poverty among upland and lowland poor households, indigenous peoples, and in coastal and urban areas; 2) implement sustainable management of natural resources through resource conservation, protection, and productivity enhancement; 3) provide food, goods and services such as timber, fiber, non-timber forest products, aesthetic values, air enhancement values, water regulation values, and mitigate climate change by expanding forest cover that serve as carbon sink; 4) promote public awareness as well as instill social and environmental consciousness on the value of forests and watersheds; 5) enhance the formation of positive values among the youth and other partners through shared responsibilities in sustainable management of tree plantations and forest resources, and 6) consolidate and harmonize all greening efforts of the government, civil society, and the private sector.
Executive Order No. 26, series of 2011 was issued to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of lands of the public domain for a period of six (6) years from CY 2011 to CY 2028.
Executive Order No. 193 was signed on November 12, 2015, the Expanded NGP will rehabilitate all the remaining unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands estimated at 7.1 million hectares from 2016 to 2028.
To know more about Enhanced National Greening program, click here
Recognizing the gravity of problems that have cropped up in one of the world’s top tourist destinations in the country, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today it will implement policies to help minimize the negative impact of tourism pressure in El Nido, Palawan.
Reports show that El Nido is beset with problems of diminishing water quality, biodiversity loss, flooding, and proliferation of informal settlers, business establishments, and structures without permit, and a host of other problems.
“I want people to experience the beauty of El Nido and other natural wonders of our country for as long as possible,” explains DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu. “That is why I have instructed all personnel of the Department to address such priorities as clean water, clean air, and solid waste management – issues that are even more pressing for island tourist destinations like El Nido and Boracy,” he added. In view of Cimatu’s directive, officials of DENR MIMROPA identified El Nido as a priority area. “We do not want El Nido to face the same problem as Boracay,” expressed DENR MIMAROPA Regional Director Natividad Bernardino.
Bernardino was referring to the mounting garbage problem and water contamination due to unregulated activities in Boracay, which Cimatu, together with the local government, confronted immediately after his assumption as environment Secretary.
Within 20 days in June and July last year, 1,906 tons of garbage was hauled from Boracay to Aklan. Two weeks ago, Cimatu and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo agreed to step up efforts to save Boracay, including penalizing establishments violating environmental and other laws.
Bernardino explains, “we value El Nido’s contribution to the economy of Palawan and of the country, we cannot help, however, but worry that the magnitude of tourist activities in El Nido is already way beyond its carrying capacity.”
According to the 2016 report of the El Nido Municipal Tourism Office, tourist arrival in the town has increased by more than 30 per cent annually in the last three years with last year reaching almost 200,000. This does not only mean increased revenue for the town but also increased demand for fresh water, timber, and other construction materials, use of fuel and consumer goods, and activities in the islands, all of which exert tremendous pressure on the rich biodiversity of El Nido.
Bernardino explained that the Protected Area Management Board of El Nido-Taytay Protected Area already passed a resolution that limits tourist entry and activity in three of the most visited places in El Nido.
In the Big Lagoon, only 60 guests will be allowed at any one time or a maximum of 720 guests per day. In the Small Lagoon, a maximum of 30 guests will be allowed at any one time or a total of 360 persons per day. For the Secret Beach, only 12 visitors will be allowed at any one time or a total of 144 a day.
Limits on the number of conveyances have also been set – maximum of five boats in the anchorage area and 30 kayaks inside the Big Lagoon, only 15 kayaks inside the Small Lagoon, and two boats in the anchorage area of Secret Beach.
Moreover, activities such as fishing, cliff jumping, grilling of food, and playing of loud music have been prohibited in the three spots. In another resolution, PAMB identified the Strict Protection Zone, areas with high biodiversity value, which shall be closed to human activity except for scientific research and/or ceremonial use by indigenous communities. This includes, among others, Helicopter Island, Balinaud Beach, Turtle Island, and Pacanayan Island.
In the coming months, DENR also plans to conduct inspection of all establishments in El Nido and ensure compliance on the disposal of solid and liquid wastes, monitor air and water quality, validate tenurial instruments of business and residents, and monitor strict observance of environmental laws, and other measures that will help lessen the harmful impact of tourism activities on the environment, people’s livelihood, and tourism itself.
Bernardino explains that DENR is already working closely with the local government of El Nido and shall conduct public consultations regarding the implementation of new PAMB policies.
“We hope the public understands it is for the long term benefit of everyone if we preserve the natural beauty of El Nido, which is what attracts tourists there in the first place,” Bernardino ended.
MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) is comprised of five (5) island provinces of Southern Luzon, namely: Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. Carved out of the former Southern Tagalog Region, MIMAROPA was created through Executive Order No. 103 promulgated on 17 May 2002.
The Region has a total land area of 2,745,601 hectares, broken down into 992,317 hectares of Alienable and Disposable (Agricultural) Lands and 1,753,284 hectares of Classified Forestlands. The total forest area regardless of land classification for the entire Region is 1,195,144 hectares (CY 2003 Forestry Statistics).
MIMAROPA is probably the most biologically significant region in the country in terms of richness in both terrestirial and marine species diversity. Located in the Region are nineteen (19) National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) sites occupying a total land area of 1,614,578.63 hectares. It is home to a number of wildlife species found only in the islands including the Tamaraw, Calamian deer, Palawan flying fox, Mindoro imperial pigeon, Mindoro bleeding heart, Palawan hornbill, Mindoro hornbill, Black hooded coucal, Scarlet collared flowerpecker, Palawan peacock pheasant, among others.
MIMAROPA boasts of a long coastline totaling 6,428 kilometers which is 17.7% of the country’s total coastline of 36,289 km. It is made up of twelve (12) main islands, namely: Marinduque, Mindoro & Lubang, Romblon, Tablas & Sibuyan, Palawan, Dumaran, Coron, Culion, Balabac & Linapacan, It is one of two (2) Regions sharing no land border with another Region, the other one being Region VIII (Eastern Visayas). The entire MIMAROPA area is also part of the Coral Triangle Initiative (Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia)
MIMAROPA is also rich in mineral resources. Important metallic minerals that can be found include copper, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc, molybdenum, pyrite, manganese, nickel, chromite, cobalt, mercury and chromium. Non-metallics are: coal, asbestos, guano and phosphates, red and white clay, marble, barite, jade and silica.
The Regional Office of DENR-MIMAROPA is presently situated at the L&S Bldg, 1515 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila. DENR-MIMAROPA has five (5) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) located in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro; Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; Boac, Marinduque; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; and Odiongan, Romblon. Its Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) are found in Mamburao, Sablayan and San Jose (Occidental Mindoro); Calapan City, Socorro and Roxas (Oriental Mindoro); Boac (Marinduque); Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, Taytay, Coron, Narra, Quezon and Brooke’s Point (Palawan); and Odiongan (Romblon).
