The Department of Environment and Natural Resources 9 on Saturday conducted an operation in the municipality of San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur in response to a report that there is cutting of Dipterocarp trees in the area. This resulted to the apprehension of nearly 3,000 board feet of illegally sawn Yakal and Lawaan lumber in the area.

"In a joint operation between the National Bureau of Investigation, 53rd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army and DENR PENRO Zamboanga del Sur, they were able to apprehend 1,265 board feet of lawaan and yakal species and is now impounded at the PENR Office in Pagadian City," said DENR 9 Regional Executive Director Crisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez.

RED Rodriguez added that a suspect was apprehended and is up for inquest by the NBI today (Sept. 8.).

“There are still 1,600 board feet in the area waiting to be hauled,” she said.

Based on an inventory made by the team, a total of 30 tree stumps were discovered in the area.

Last August 15, PENRO ZDS seized illegally-sawn lumber estimated to be worth around P1.3million in Langapod, Labangan.

RED Rodriguez lauded the support of the NBI and the Philippine Army as well as the continued efforts of PENRO Zamboanga del Sur in the crackdown of illegal environmental activities in the province.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Provincial Releases

Published: 09 October 2019

The Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI) together with the USAID-Protect Wildlife, conducted the training on Research and Conservation of Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) for personnel from the DENR, LGU Zamboanga, Academe, and Zamboanga City Water District Forest Guards to capacitate the individuals focusing on the monitoring of Philippine Eagle within Region IX. The training was held at Yakan Hall, Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City on September 16-18, 2019.

The Director for Research and Conservation, Dr. Jayson Ibañez, together with his team, were the resource persons of the said training. The training discussed raptor research and management techniques with focus on our National Bird, the Philippine Eagle. The topics include: Philippine Eagle biology and ecology and conservation status, and Eagle survey techniques by Dr. Ibañez; Philippine Eagle behavioral studies (ethogram) by Ms. Lohwana Halaq; Raptor/Eagle identification techniques by Biologist Tristan Senarillos; Physical examination of rescued or trapped Philippine Eagles for telemetry and basic first aid for injured Eagles by Resident Veterinarian Dr. Ana Lascano; Philippine Eagle trapping, tagging and radio-telemetry studies by Senior Biologist Rowell Taraya; and Philippine Eagle rescue and restraint protocols/conservation breeding overview by Mr. Domingo Tadena. An open forum thereafter followed between the resource persons and the participants.

Aside from the inside-the-classroom lecture, the resource persons conducted hands-on activities to demonstrate the actual and proper techniques for Raptor/Eagle handling at Banuang area, inside the Pasonanca Natural Park where the Wildlife Holding Facility is located. Raptors under rehabilitation in the holding facility were used for the actual demonstration.

Mr. Tadena demonstrated the protocols and techniques for raptor capture and restraint by using the raptor, Philippine Serpent Eagle (Spilornis holospilus). Dr. Lascano illustrated the proper physical examination for rescued or trapped raptors for telemetry and basic first aid for injured eagles.

Senior Biologist Taraya showed the techniques on Philippine Eagle trapping, tagging and installation of radio telemetry by using another raptor species, the Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri). The said raptor also undergone a physical examination and was banded with Leg Band number 09 WSE 17Y.

The highlight of the hands-on training was the release of the banded Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle inside Pasonanca Natural Park. It is the first Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle released with a satellite-based tracking device in the Philippines. (Vanessa Joy G. Dael)

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Provincial Releases

Published: 09 October 2019

As an offshoot for the proposed 5th flyway site under the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network Partnership (EAAFP) and as a wetland of international importance, the Conservation and Development Section personnel of PENRO-Sibugay together with the technical staff of CENRO-Kabasalan and CENRO-Imelda attended the hands-on training-workshop on biodiversity assessment and monitoring held at the municipal hall of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay from September 23-24, 2019. The coastal municipalities of Tungawan, R.T Lim, Ipil, Naga, Kabasalan, Siay, Payao, Talusan and Olutanga as well as selected coastal barangays and POs were also participants of the said training-workshop. Mr. Philip Godfrey Jakosalem, Field Operation Manager of Phil. Bio. spearheaded the said activity. The main objective of this training is to capacitate the technical personnel under the jurisdiction of PENRO-Zamboanga Sibugay, coastal communities and LGU’s within the Sibugay Coastal Wetlands

The program started at 9:00am with a doxology followed by the singing of national anthem. Ms. Vanessa Joy Dael, CDS-Sibugay staff acknowledged and introduced all the participants from PENRO Sibugay, CENROs: Kabasalan, Imelda and various municipalities. Resource persons, other guests and representatives who were present were also acknowledged. The opening message was given by Ms. Carmeli De Guzman, Municipal Fisheries Aquatic Resources Officer of Siay. Followed by an inspirational talk given by Ms. Kyle Zulueta, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity representative.

After the opening ceremony, series of lectures were presented by Mr. Philip Godfrey Jakosalem highlighting the importance of the EAAFP flyway site. The different flyway sites recognized in the Philippines and other existing EAAF network sites across many countries were also discussed. The presentation on bird morphology and waterbird identification were presented next by Mr. Andrew Ross Atentar, Phil Bio staff. Afternoon sessions include Flying Foxes identification and monitoring techniques on bat counting, which was discussed by Mr. Jakosalem. A field exposure followed, where participants were grouped into three for the bat exit count at Laih, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Second day activities started with the hands-on training on proper waterbird identification. The participants were brought to Kabasalan Stations (Sta. Cruz and Salipyasin) to observe the diverse species of waterbirds. After their field activities, consolidation of waterbird lists were reported back to the station. The group also reported their observation during their field exposure on bat identification and counting as well as waterbird monitoring and identification,(Javica Faye D. Canag)

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Provincial Releases

Published: 09 October 2019

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Bago City recently spearheaded the 7th cleanup of Sum-ag River in Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

One hundred eighty five (185) participants from the Philippine Coast Guard, Sum-ag Elementary School, PCG Auxiliary, City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council(CFARMC) Guardians Emigrant and barangay officials and residents joined the Sum-ag River Cleanup and gathered a total of forty three (43) sacks of assorted garbages.

DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr. thanked stakeholders for helping cleanup Sum-Ag River. He also appealed to the community to observe proper solid waste disposal and management.

“The Environment Department is very thankful for your active support in helping to improve the quality of our water bodies. Whatever we do to our environment will eventually affect us in many ways”, he said.

RED Milla also underscored that the conductof cleanup drive will need the involvement of community for them to realize the need tO reverse the worsening condition of rivers and other water bodies.

Clean Water is one of the ten (10) priority programs of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu which aims to improve water quality of priority rivers and other critical water bodies including lakes and bays through continuous massive clean up, monitoring of industries and rehabilitation of esteros and rivers./DENR-CENROBago

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Provincial Releases

Published: 18 September 2019

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)ZamboangaPensinsulathru the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Zamboanga City, in coordination with the office of the Register of Deeds and local government unit officials awarded186 land titles to qualified recipients from Barangay Tolosa under the HandogTitulo Program.

The awarding ceremony, held on September 18, 2019 in Zamboanga City, was attended by Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Atty. Rommel Agan (for Mayor BengClimaco), Register of Deeds Jayvee Baginda, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Dante Oporto, CENROfficerPilaritoMontebon, City Assesor Erwin Bernardo, Tolosa Barangay Chairman Joseph S. Lazareno, beneficiaries and residents of the said barangay.

Vice Mayor Agan congratulated the beneficiares and told them to take care of their land titles as this can be used as collaterals in times of need.

" Puedeyaustedesdurmienbuenamentetodo el noche y hindena man lingasa cay talyiya con ustedes el titulo del magatierradondeustedes ta queda o siembra," (You can now sleep soundly everynight and not worry anymore because you are now in possession of land titles for the lands where you stay or plant.) said Vice Mayor Agan.

CENRO Montebon, on the other hand, invited others who still do not have land titles to visit his office to apply as the office provides free land survey services to qualified applicants.

"Please feel free to visit our office for your titling needs or concerns,"CENRO Montebon said.

The beneficiaries were all happy and contented for finally receiving the titles to their lands.

A total of 186 land titles were awarded consisting of 90 Agricultural Patents and 96 Residential Free Patents.

The conduct of the HandogTitulo Program is in line with the mandate of the DENR to administer, manage and dispose public lands in favor of qualified beneficiaries pursuant to Act No. 218 dated September 2, 1901 entitled "An Act Creating the Bureau of Public Lands." It was also held in celebration of the 118th anniversary of the Land Management Bureau. (rt)

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Provincial Releases

Published: 12 September 2019