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

𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐍, 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 – In a bid to plant 2.5 million trees of various species from February 2023 to January 2024, the city government of Kidapawan expresses its desire to forge a partnership with the Agroforestry Research, Development and Extension Center (ARDEC) of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) – Region XII.

Said initiative is in line with the city’s celebration of its 25th charter anniversary dubbed as Canopy ’25 with its effort to grow and nurture 2.5 million trees of indigenous forest species, fruit-bearing trees, and bamboo. It aims not only to improve the condition of the environment and its landscape but also to instill the essence and value of shared responsibility in protecting the environment as well as the benefits from its invaluable resources.

In the proposed partnership, ARDEC shall provide technical assistance to the personnel of City ENRO-Kidapawan and those involved in the project on the production of quality planting materials as well as on plantation establishment and monitoring of plantations.

ARDEC also committed to provide quality seeds from ARDEC’s Southern Mindanao Forest Tree Seed Center (SMFTSC) in Tagum City to ensure that the planting materials to be produced are from good sources.

On February 21, 2023, the city government of Kidapawan launched the Canopy ‘25 in Brgy. Ginatilan to mark the commencement of its year-long activity which was attended by the ARDEC-Technology Transfer, Promotion and Extension Unit (TTPEU) Head Vilma Flauta-Nitura and ARDEC Station 1 Head Jethrone M. Setenta.

During the launching, Kidapawan City Mayor Atty. Jose Paolo M. Evangelista expressed his high hopes for the support of various sectors and that he looks forward to partnerships for the greater good of the people and the environment. Jethrone M. Setenta/ARDEC | RSCIGP

𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋, 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 – Various enforcement personnel from the DENR, Philippine National Police (PNP), and some local government units of this province were recently capacitated in a learning event spearheaded by the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Sarangani to strengthen the implementation of environment and natural resources (ENR) laws in the area.

PENR Officer Maria Elvira V. Lumayag said that the training, which was conducted on March 13-14, aimed to give the foresters, forest rangers, forest protection officers, and other law enforcement personnel a powerful edge on their capabilities in enforcing environmental laws.

“With a focus on refreshing their knowledge on relevant legal provisions, the initiative has equipped the enforcement personnel with the tools and skills needed to perform their duties with unparalleled effectiveness,” she said.

The training, which was participated by some personnel from DENR-PENRO Sarangani, PNP, PENRO of Sarangani PLGU, MENRO Alabel, and MENRO Maasim, emphasized the importance of collaboration between government offices involved in enforcing environmental laws, highlighting the legal instruments used in the conduct of enforcement activities such as the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 705), Sulong Kalikasan, Chainsaw Act, and Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

PENR Officer Lumayag also urged the enforcers to stay alert and vigilant, especially during night time, following the reports regarding a closed van from a neighboring province passing through their area of responsibility, allegedly carrying illegal forest products.

“We hope that through this orientation, our enforcement activities, which requires teamwork and cooperation, will be more effective in protecting our environment,” she said. (With report and photos from SRCabildo, DENR-PENRO Sarangani IO Designate) | RSCIGM

#TayoAngKalikasan #DENRNews