𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: The DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Kalamansig conducted a monitoring activity on Tuesday (February 7) at the Lebak Katunggan Coastal Eco Park in Barangay Taguisa, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat Province as part of the office's regular monitoring and enforcement activities.

 

CENR Officer Iskak G. Dipatuan said that they regularly monitor the upland and mangrove forests to determine if there are existing threats like illegal logging, improper waste disposal and other illicit environmental activities with the help of LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System. | RSCIGM

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Seven (7) exhibit booths were installed in Limketkai Luxe Hotel for the two-day 2023 Mindanao Multistakeholders Forum.

 

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga led the ceremonial opening of the exhibit on February 1 right after she arrived at the said forum.

 

The exhibit shows the solid waste management products of the Environmental Management Bureau, the rock collection of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and the rich flora and fauna of Region 12 alongside with Regions 9 to 11 and 13.

 

Beyond its rich ecosystem, the event also aims to showcase the uniqueness of each region, its culture, and its best practices.

 

Participants of the forum who visit the booths are entertained by regional representatives wearing their tribal costume and formal attires. | RSCIGP

 

 

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat - The DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) of Sultan Kudarat enlightened the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on the requirements needed for Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) during the leveling-off meeting on January 30, 2023, in this town.

 

During the meeting, the DENR provided all the necessary instructions and inputs to the NGCP of which the latter committed to meet with their service providers and worked for the completion of all the needed requirements for the SLUP application.

 

PENR Officer Shalimar A. Disomangcop together with Kalamansig CENR Officer Iskak G. Dipatuan, DENR-12 Licenses, Patents and Deeds Division Chief Emily Ampatuan with other DENR-12 personnel expressed his willingness to help NGCP in its application on SLUP.

 

The meeting was also attended by PENRO Sultan Kudarat Technical Services Division Chief Abdul K. Mantikayan, CENRO Tacurong representative DMO IV Forester James R. Omar, PENRO Sultan Kudarat Regulation and Permitting Section Chief Celeste Mae K. Camsa, NGCP team, and other DENR-12 employees.

 

NGCP is a privately-owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s state-owned power grid, an interconnected system that transmits gigawatts of power at thousands of volts from where it is made to where it is needed. (With report and photos from SKusin, PENRO Sultan Kudarat IO Designate) | RSCIGV

Three Protected Areas (PAs) in Region XII namely; Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL) and Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve (AVWFR) of South Cotabato and Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) of Sarangani Province, participated and upheld another step for excellence in biodiversity research through the launching of Mindanao State University (MSU) GenSan Center for Biodiversity Studies in SOCCSKSARGEN (CBSS) on January 18 at the MSU Grounds, General Santos City.

 

The establishment of the center will pave way for identifying and protecting critically-endangered plant and animal species and conserving terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It will also provide an avenue for state-of-the-art research to investigate various critical issues concerning Soccsksargen indigenous flora and fauna, and ecosystem, especially those that thrive in MMPL, AVWFR, and SBPS (Abad, 2023).

 

CBSS administrators and honored guests officiated the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the building marker. Messages of support were delivered by the three invited PAs Superintendents; PASu-SBPS Joy C. Ologuin disclosed possible projects and partnerships with CBSS; Assistant PASu Lei Ann Acuña, on behalf of PASu Leonisa Alfaro, delivered her message on the benefits of acquiring reliable biodiversity data for years have been esteemed due to the partnership between the academe and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 

Meanwhile, PASu-MMPL, Efren C. Hibaler, commended their initiatives and pledged their full support in all their undertakings in research. He underscored the significance of MMPL as one of the famous landmarks in the region and with research being conducted within the PA that promotes awareness for biodiversity preservation.

 

On the other hand, J.D Usman D. Aragasi, MPA, Acting Chancellor for Research and Extension, enthused all the attendees as he figuratively used the crowned Miss Universe 2023 as an example of someone who advocates for protection and nature conservation. (MATenorio and JVOro) | RSCIGP

 

 

 

In line with the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) target for CY 2023, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Matalam conducted the same on January 24-25 in areas visited by the waterbirds at Brgy. Dugong, M'lang, North Cotabato.

 

It was spearheaded by the Protected Area and Wildlife Unit (PAWU), Chief Forester Rosie R. Camiguing together with PAWU support personnel and a composite team from PENRO Cotabato.

 

There were 14 species of migratory birds and 12 other species that were observed with a total of 1,423 individuals recorded by the team during the 2-day monitoring on-site. These are yellow bittern, intermediate egret, black-winged stilt, whiskered tern, little egret, brown shrike, common sandpiper, purple swamphen/western swamphen, wood sandpiper, Javan pond heron, white-breasted waterhen, purple heron, water rail, Chinese egret, great egret, yellow vented bulbul, Philippine coucal, brown breasted kingfisher, barn swallow, barn swallow, zebra dove, swiftlets, chestnut munia, white-collared kingfisher, common kingfisher, blue-tailed bee-eater, and brown dove. Sites covered during the census include ponds, freshwater swamps, rice fields, and marshes.

 

The annual water bird count data and site information are recorded on standardized census forms. A single count is made at each site (Site 1, 2, 3 & 4) that was visited in previous years. The said AWC activity hopes to provide the basis for the count of the waterbird population, their conservation status, and monitoring of the changes in the number of species distribution.

 

Said activity aims to increase awareness of the importance of waterbirds and their wetland habitats at local, national, and international levels. (With report from Cinconiegue, Ivy M. and photos from CENRO Matalam) | RSCIGJ #AWC2023 #TayoAngKalikasan #DENRNews