𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12 presented the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget proposal to various civil society organizations (CSOs) in a consultation meeting on March 20, 2023 at the department’s function hall in this city.

DENR-12 Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix Alicer welcomed the participants from various sectors and underscored the importance of the said consultation meeting.

“The involvement of the beneficiaries on the budget proposal for 2024 is significant to check and balance the implementation of programs and projects toward environmental protection and conservation in the region,” he said.

Borrowing the words of Pres. Marcos Jr, “RED Alicer also said that the preservation of the environment is the preservation of life.”

"Our plans is useless if the future of our environment is compromised,” he added.

RED Alicer added that the presence of CSOs is important in reviewing the proper utilization of the proposed budget for next year.

Planning and Management Division Chief Forester Vicente Y. Curtiz said that the meeting was a requisite to National Budget Memorandum No.145 or the National Budget Call for FY 2024.

“This consultation provides an opportunity for the department to present the thrust and priorities, major programs, activities, and projects (PAPs), and the department’s accomplishments for calendar year 2022, including FY 2024 Budget Proposal of DENR for CSO,” Chief Curtiz said.

Several issues and concerns from the people’s organizations were also discussed particularly the commodities that should be planted on identified areas aligned to the FY 2024 proposal and the devolved functions between the DENR and local government units (LGUs).| RSCIGV

Officials of the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Sarangani and Sarangani Provincial Police Office recently discussed the several steps to strengthen their partnership in enforcing environmental laws in the province.

PENR Officer Maria Elvira V. Lumayag said a capacity building on case build-up for DENR enforcement personnel will be scheduled to avoid technicalities on the cases filed by the DENR that usually lead to case dismissal.

She added that a convergence activity with the Provincial Government of Sarangani and concerned national government agencies will also be conducted to identify loopholes, strengths, and partnerships and to allocate resources for the implementation of environmental laws in Sarangani. (With report and photos from SRCabildo, PENRO Sarangani IO Designate)

𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐌, 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 – A total of 117 participants from Barangay Malbang of this town joined the information drive on land surveys and patent issuance spearheaded by the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) of Kiamba on Wednesday (March 15).

DMO IV Forester Fredam P. Unabia said the activity will lead to the perfection of the residents’ ownership of their respective home lots and protect them from possible conflicts with other claimants.

Forester Michael Perales, chief of regulation and permitting section (RPS) together with some personnel of CENRO Kiamba RPS presented the Republic Act (RA) 11573 or An Act Improving the Confirmation Process for imperfect land titles; RA 10023, An Act Authorizing the Issuance of Free Patents to Residential Lands; Residential and Agricultural Land Surveys Process; and the DMC 2019-10 or the Supplemental Procedures on the Issuance, Processing, and Approval of Survey Authority, Survey Plans, and Public land Applications (PLAs) covering lots in the Province of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Palawan.

Engr. Evanly W. Kusin, GAD focal person, also presented the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004” and “Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) in celebration of this year’s National Women’s Month.

The community committed that they will support and cooperate in all the activities of the DENR in their barangay. (With report and photos from CENRO Kiamba) | RSCIGM

𝑲𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒐 – A juvenile pinsker's hawk-eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri) was rescued by a farmer in an open-space farmland at Brgy. Amabel, Magpet, Cotabato on Monday, March 14. The raptor was found weak and had lost its ability to fly. It was taken care of and fed by the farmer enabling it to regain its energy.

The farmer brought the raptor to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Magpet headed by MENR Officer Erly R. Baudi the following day, March 15. Upon the examination by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Magpet Municipal Veterinarian Dr. Mylene P. Reniedo, the juvenile raptor was checked for record purposes. It measures 63 centimeters in length, 125 centimeters in its wingspan, and weighs 1.2 kilograms.

On the same day, the raptor was turned over to the Community and Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Matalam for its immediate release to its natural habitat as it was declared healthy and fit.

The release of the pinsker's hawk-eagle was spearheaded by Protected and Wildlife Unit (PAWU) Chief Forester Rosie R. Camiguing together with some personnel of CENRO Matalam. According to Forester Camiguing, the adult population of the Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle is considered endangered and estimated to be six hundred to eight hundred (600-800) individuals remaining in the wild based on the data of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

It was advised by Dr. Reniedo that whenever a rescued wildlife such as the said raptor is found to be healthy and fit upon assessment, it should immediately be released back to the wild to avoid further stress that may cause more harm to the animal. #(𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮) | 𝘙𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘎J

𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋, 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12 has continued its regular marine conservation efforts in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) during the coral tagging activity on Tuesday (March 14) at the Kamanga Marine Ecopark in Maasim town of this province led by two women officials of the department.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of Sarangani Maria Elvira V. Lumayag and SBPS Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Joy C. Ologuin led the coral tagging team composed of marine biologists and coral experts in tagging 60 corals in the 30 and 60 feet underwater area.

According to PENR Officer Lumayag, the activity will allow the SBPS Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) to monitor the growth of the corals on a monthly basis and provide valuable insights regarding their health and condition in the crown-of-thorns affected area of Kamanga Marine Ecopark.

PASu Ologuin said the data that will be collected from the growth monitoring of corals will aid in the development of effective conservation strategies for marine ecosystem.

PENRO Lumayag emphasized that the SBPS-PAMO continues to work towards the protection of the marine ecosystem and encouraged everyone to join in their efforts. She also highlighted the crucial role of women in marine conservation, especially in Sarangani Bay, where women make up a significant portion of the workforce in fishing industry. (With report and photos from SRCabildo, DENR-PENRO Sarangani IO Designate)

#TayoAngKalikasan #womensmonth2023