Provincial Releases

True to the challenge of the theme for the observance of the National Climate Change Consciousness Week 2022, “Sama-samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima,” the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Pambujan, Northern Samar anchored its series of communication, education and public awareness (CEPA) campaigns  on how the public could help mitigate the challenge of climate change.

In Brgy. Ginagdanan, Northern Samar, CENRO Pambujan personnel  conducted a lecture on climate change for a People’s Organization maintaining a tree plantation under the Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFM) program. Their discussion  focused on proper management of their plantation as a mitigating measure against the adverse effects of climate change.

Lectures on R.A 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 were also held at Brgy. Manaybanay and Brgy. Del Sur, Mapanas, Northern Samar. Barangay officials, 4Ps beneficiaries, senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities attended the lectures aimed at engaging the communities to practice effective solid waste management in their respective homes in order to minimize wastes and air pollutants that contribute to the accumulation of greenhouse gases which cause climate change.

CEPA materials were distributed to the participants after the lecture series.

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Baybay City, Leyte conducted a lecture on biodiversity conservation, climate change awareness and solid waste management to the officials, health and community development workers of Brgy. Bunga, Baybay City. The purpose of the activity was to address concerns related to indiscriminate waste disposal, biodiversity degradation and climate change, among others. After the lecture, the participants suggested for a total stakeholders involvement in addressing the identified environmental concerns and for the DENR to implement monitoring and evaluation as success indicators.

In celebration of the Climate Change Consciousness Week, CENRO San Juan spearheaded a coastal clean-up along the coastal area of Brgy. Osao, San Juan Southern Leyte.  A total of 17 trash bags were collected, with a volume of about 530 kilograms of assorted wastes. Plastic wastes such as bottles and containers were separated to ease segregation and disposal at the barangay Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

About a hundred volunteers which include barangay officials, SK federation members, officers from the BFP, BJMP and Philippine Coast guards, Land Bank-San Juan branch employees, 4Ps beneficiaries and fisher folks took part in the coastal clean-up.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Samar through the Protected Area Management Office of the Samar Island Natural Park is stepping up its efforts for the inclusion of the SINP into UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The local government units, DENR and the SINP-PAMB have been exerting all its efforts towards this bid. Recently, tourism officers from different municipalities within the province of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar convened for a workshop on the preprartion of SINP's nomination dossier.

"The dossier will serve as a compilation of all documents that will showcase SINP's outstanding universal value. This is necessary for the assessment and evaluation of the SINP by the UNESCO," Samar PENRO Angelito Villanueva says.

“The realization of SINP’s inclusion to UNESCO World Heritage List will bring honor not only to the whole Samar island but also to our country. SINP will be given global significance in terms of development and protection of its rich natural and cultural value,” he added.

SINP is the largest legislated protected Area in Eastern Visayas with an area of 335,105.57 hectares. It covers 34 municipalities and 3 cities within Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces.

In 2018, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan proposed the inclusion of the SINP in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This proposal was supported by the Governors of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Catbalogan in coordination with the Registry of Deeds (ROD), and the local government unit of Calbayog City recently awarded sixty two (62) agricultural and residential free patents to qualified beneficiaries in Calbayog City.

In her message, Forester Elsie Borja, CENR Officer of CENRO Catbalogan reminded the recipients to value their free patents. “You now hold the proof attesting that you are the sole owner of the land you have been cultivating and occupying for years. Make it productive and use it to achieve a better quality of life,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Loreto Garedo, a free patent beneficiary thanked the government for holding the Handog Titulo Program. “With this, we are given an opportunity to own titled lands without spending much during the process,” he said.

The Handog Titulo program seeks to expedite the processing and issuance of public land patents or free patents to qualified recipients. This aims to reduce poverty, increase productivity of the people, and fuel progress and development. Applications for free patents shall be filed before the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).