𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 12 joined the Third Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) at 2:00 P.M. on September 07, 2023, in response to the call of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Assistant regional executive director for management services (ARD-MS) Ma. Elvira V. Lumayag emphasized the importance of being vigilant in times of disaster not only in the workplace but also at home.

During the 3rd Quarter NSED, the DENR 12 Regional Office, its two line bureaus -Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - 12 and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) - 12, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs), and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) conducted a simultaneous Earthquake Drill where employees performed the “Drop, Cover and Hold” countermeasures which are considered as an appropriate action to reduce possible injuries and casualties during earthquakes.

In addition, employees were encouraged to practice their evacuation procedures, do a headcount once in their designated evacuation areas, and report to the designated safety marshals for further documentation.

NSED is a quarterly exercise organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Office of Civil Defense. This activity was intended to highlight the readiness of the Filipino people in case a magnitude 7.2 earthquake happens, particularly the Tagbilaranons who experienced the tragic Bohol earthquake in 2013.

DENR-12 adheres to disaster resilience activities with its employees considering that the Philippines is prone to earthquakes due to its location in the “Pacific Ring of Fire.” (𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘎 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘎, 𝘔𝘎𝘉-12, 𝘗𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘊𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘰, 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱, 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮, 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘒𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘢) | 𝘙𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘎𝘑 BidaAngHanda #NSED2023 #DENRXII

A total of 250 bamboo propagules were planted on Friday, September 8, along the banks of Pangi River in Barangay Luma, Kiamba, Sarangani Province by the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Kiamba in collaboration with the local government unit (LGU) of Kiamba.

The DENR-led activity, which was conducted in line with the celebration of the 123rd Civil Service Month, was joined by 70 participants from CENRO Kiamba, barangay and municipal LGUs, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection.

This was the fourth bamboo growing activity conducted along the Pangi River this year to enhance the soil and water conservation measures in the area. The river is also the official entry of the DENR-12 for this year’s “RIVERs for Life” program. ### (With report and photos from ADTenio, CENRO Kiamba IO Designate) | 𝐑𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐆𝐌

#DENR12News #TayoAngKalikasan

𝑲𝑶𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑫𝑨𝑳 𝑪𝑰𝑻𝒀, 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒐 – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Midsayap led the conduct of the Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection (MFPC) meeting on August 24, 2023, at the Municipal Hall of the local government unit (LGU) of Alamada, Cotabato.

MFPC-related presentations and discussions on forest laws and other regulations were facilitated by CENRO Midsayap’s Enforcement and Monitoring team headed by For. Nor-Hassan R. Batugan together with Ecosystems Management Specialist (EMS) II Nor-Hassan Batugan, Forester II Paul Ben Lamosao, and Forester I Nawawy Hadjisaed as lecturers.

Mayor Jesus N. Sacdalan expressed the need for the municipality to pursue the initiative and to work together for the protection and sustainability of its forests. Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) Alamada suggested to CENRO Midsayap that there shall be a creation of the forest protection committee organized after the barangay elections. The AFP, PNP, and other government agencies shall take responsibility and be involved to help expedite necessary resolutions for the implementation of the program. MFPC is one of the department’s programs for protecting and sustaining our natural and residual forests.

Aside from Mayor Sacdalan, the said event was also participated by Municipal Councilor and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee on Environment, Hon. Sanny Pamili-an, MLGOO Sarah L. Alamada, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) SEMS Danilo A. Puno, a representative from MPS Alamada, the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) council members and some sitio leaders. (𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱) | (𝘙𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘎𝘑)

The IEC campaign was attended by the barangay officials, purok leaders, farmers, and other constituents.

Participants were informed through the presentations of the enforcement and monitoring staff about the different forest protection laws, the causes and effects of the degradation of biodiversity, and some other regulations.

In an open forum, experiences from the past with nature and climate change were compared to the present situation by the participants.

Said activity was conducted to strengthen the awareness of the community for behavioral change toward the environment and natural resources through CENRO Midsayap’s IEC campaign -a strategy of the department for the continuity of its forest protection and sustainability advocacy. #TayoAngKalikasan (𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘖 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘱) | (𝘙𝘚𝘊𝘐𝘎𝘑)

𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 - The officials and employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12 have paid their tribute to Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Management Services Forester Mamutur D. Cariga who retired from public office after more than 44 years of service.

In a “Salamat, Mabuhay!” program of the department yesterday led by Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer and newly-installed ARD for Management Services Maria Elvira V. Lumayag, the officials and employees from DENR-12 regional and field offices including the line bureaus expressed their appreciation and gratitude to ARD Cariga for his big contributions in the implementation of department’s mandate in Region 12.

ARD Cariga, known for being a calm, soft-spoken, good listener, compassionate, humble and decisive leader, started his career in the government in 1979 as a Forester at the then Bureau of Forest Development (BFD) Region 12. He was promoted as a Senior Forester and Assistant District Forester in 1986. He continued to rise through the ranks and became the DENR Region 12 Supervising Forest Management Specialist in 1988 and Chief Forest Management Specialist in 1991.

In 2013, he was designated as the CENR Officer of Matalam and eventually promoted as a full-fledged PENR Officer of Cotabato in 2015. On December 29, 2021 he was designated as the ARD for Management Services and replaced the then retired ARD Bighani Manipula.

By virtue of Regional Special Order No. 2023-423 signed by RED Alicer on August 18, 2023, ARD Cariga was succeeded by ARD Lumayag who previously held the positions of PENRO of Sarangani and CENRO of Gensan and Glan. (𝐑𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐆𝐌) | Photos by: 𝐑𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐆𝐕