Some fifty-one (51) residents of Brgy. Talolora, Palapag, Northern Samar attended the Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) on Solid Waste Management and Climate Change organized by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Pambujan, Northern Samar.
The participants which include men and women, senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) were also given IEC materials translated to the local dialects to heighten the campaign on proper waste disposal and other good environmental practices for nature protection and preservation.
As part of its effort to rehabilitate the beach forest that was damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in the province of Southern Leyte, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)San Juan, in partnership with the local government unit of Hinunangan, spearheaded a tree planting activity along the beach area of Brgy. Talisay and Canipaan, Southern Leyte. During the activity, 1,000 wildlings of Bitoon species were planted by BLGU officials, CENRO San Juan personnel, 4Ps beneficiaries, Bureau of Fire Protection officers, and other volunteers.
Fifteen (15) members of the Silago-Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (MFPC) were recently deputized as Environment and Natural Resources Officers (ENROs) for the 10 municipalities within the jurisdiction of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) San Juan, Southern Leyte.
The deputized ENROs will assist in the enforcement of environmental laws in their area of jurisdiction. Their deputation is consistent with the Department’s mission to mobilize the citizenry in protecting the environment and natural resources.
Their oath-taking was administered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Eastern Visayas Regional Executive Director, Arturo Fadriquela.
Some thirty one (31) land owners in the province of Biliran have finally secured land titles in their lands through the Handog Titulo program conducted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of Biliran.
Of the 31 patents distributed, 19 are agricultural and 12 are residential with an aggregate area of 15.2571 hectares.
“Awarding of free patents or land titles is one of government’s way to help alleviate the social and economic condition of the people. Aside from giving security to the possession of the land, a land owner who obtained a valid title to his land could also pass it on to his legal heirs,” says Engr. Valire Jess Abar, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of Biliran.
“We continue to strengthen our land title distribution program by fast-tracking the processing of applications from qualified landowners. This we do in partnership with the Register of Deeds (ROD) and the concerned local government units (LGUs), added Arturo E. Fadriquela, Regional Executive Director of DENR Region VIII.
Under the Public Land Act, for a land owner to be eligible for an award of an agricultural free patent, he must be in continuous cultivation and occupation of the subject agricultural land for a period of at least 20 years.While for residential free patent, only an actual occupancy of at least 10 years is required, among others.
In its effort towards a more intensified forest protection in Eastern Visayas, the Enforcement Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office conducted an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to the law enforcers in the province of Biliran composed of some elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and coast guards.
Among others, topics discussed include Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (R.A. 9147), Chainsaw Act (R.A.9175), Cutting, Gathering and/or Collecting Timber or other Forest products without license (Section 77 of PD 705), creation of Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, and Rules for the Administrative Adjudication of Illegal Forest Products and the machinery, equipment, tools and conveyances used (DAO) No.97-32).
“It is important to continuously equip our law enforcers on the policies, rules and regulations of the Department such as the ones pertaining to forest protection and biodiversity conservation so that they can effectively enforce these laws against any violators,” says Forester Glenn B. Garciano from the Enforcement Division.
PENRO Biliran personnel from the Monitoring and Enforcement Section, and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers (MENROs) of the province also attended the IEC campaign held at Brgy. Atipolo, Naval Biliran.
