After various surveillance activities made, a total of 330 endangered birds, reptiles and mammals valued at 3.2 million pesos were recently seized by the joint operatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-XI) and the National Bureau of Investigation, Southern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) at Barangay Mahayag, Bunawan, Davao City in violation of Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.

The said endangered species allegedly came from Indonesia and Papua, New Guinea.

Among the seized endangered birds are Palm Cockatoo which has a value of PhP 150,000.00 each; Birds of Paradise valued at PhP 75,000.00 each; Black Lory at PhP 18,000 each, Yellow Crested Cockatoo and Black Caped Lory at PhP 15,000 each, among others.

DENR-XI and NBI-SEMRO already filed a case to the Davao City Prosecution Office against the alleged perpetrators Mike and Felina Artucilla, Catalino Gabrinto, Jose Marie Justan, Warren Aguilar, Roger Abria, Menira Maulana and Billy Kawekes, an Indonesian National.

The seized endangered species are now at the Davao
Crocodile Park, Ma-a, Davao City for custody and safe keeping since the DENR does not have available wildlife rescue center which is supposed to be the repository of confiscated, retrieved of abandoned wildlife.

Davao Crocodile Park is a registered wildlife facility of the DENR. It has an existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DENR as wildlife rescue center. Moreover, Section 32 of RA 9147 provides that existing accredited wildlife rescue centers are recognized as temporary holding facilities for confiscated, abandoned and donated wildlife to ensure their welfare and well-being.

As of this writing, the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture (BA) is conducting a test of all the birds confiscated to make sure that none is a carrier of the deadly Bird Flu Virus.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Eleazar P. Quinto has instructed his Assistant Secretary for Field Operations in Mindanao Ernesto D. Adobo Jr. and Regional Executive Director (RED) Jim O. Sampulna to closely monitor the condition of the seized endangered species.

Quinto stressed that the protection and conservation of the endangered species is imperative in order to maintain ecological balance and enhance biological biodiversity. The preservation of all species is necessary for human survival. Every species is considered as an indicator of environmental health and is crucial to the functioning of the ecosystems.

Director Jim O. Sampulna expressed his sincerest thanks to all the concerned agencies that unquestionably helped in the seizure as well as in the monitoring of the condition of the seized animals.

Republic Act 9147 is an Act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife Resources and their habitats appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes. The Act has the following objectives: to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats; to regulate the collection and trade of wildlife; to pursue with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to International Conventions, protection of wildlife and habitats; and, to initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity (BS/DENR-XI).

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“Every patent issuances postponed is a threat to the Economy,” this is what Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Project Management Manuel D. Gerochi of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stressed during the recently held Training Workshop for Mindanao’s Land Inspectors and Investigators held in Davao City.

Gerochi presented and discussed the various Plans and Programs of the Land Sector for year 2010 giving emphasis to their targets on patent issuances. He directed all Land Management Investigators to fast-track their land investigation process for land titling since land titles issued to rightful owners is believed to facilitate in boosting the economy.

He likewise reminded all the investigators in Mindanao that issuing land titles judiciously to applicants stimulate investments and the economy aside from the fact that it creates a basis for land taxation and wise utilization of the national land resources.

Topics discussed during the 5-day training include identification and discussion of different laws, issuances and policies pertaining to land matters, identifying foreshore areas and differentiating it to lakeshore areas as well as discussions of the different modes of public land disposition among others.

Public Service Ethics and Accountability as well as Republic Act 9485 otherwise known as the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007 was also discussed by Atty. Maria Lapid Iluminada Viba from the Office of the Ombudsman. RA 9485 is an act to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and corruption and providing penalties therefore.

A small group discussion and a workshop immediately followed the lecture proper to evaluate and conduct analytical study of land cases as well as to prepare Group Action Plan. The Group Action Plan will be for implementation in their respective area of assignment.

Also present during the orientation were DENR-XI Regional Executive Director Jim O Sampulna and Assistant Secretary for Field Operations for Mindanao Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr.

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It’s been a year already that I became the Regional Executive Director of this office. And throughout the year, I observed the enthusiasm and the commitment of every employees to achieve our vision, mission and objectives. We have accomplished and even surpassed our targets for year 2009 and for that I would like to express my sincerest thanks to all of you for your unwavering efforts.

I know that 2010 will be another challenging year for us but I am also confident that we can hurdle all the obstacles that may come along our way with vim and vigor. Let us all join hands in pursuing our noble task of saving Mother Earth for our benefit and the benefit of the future generations to come.

Wishing you all a blessed and joy-filled year!

RED Jim O Sampulna

posted by Webmaster @ 11:19 AM

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-XI) has confiscated a total of 6 million pesos or 2,111.270 cubic meters of assorted illegally cut and transported forest products in 2009.

Out of these confiscations, 12 cases filed in various trial courts in the region. Three in Davao Oriental, five in Davao del Norte, three in Compostela Valley Province and one in Davao del Sur.

The confiscations/seizure of these forest products was an offshoot of the strengthened efforts of the DENR in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP-XI), the Philippines Army, Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy, local government units (LGUs) and the community.

It can be recalled that in March 2009, the DENR and PNP XI signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to intensify the drive against violations of forestry laws. The signing of the MOA marked another milestone in DENR’s effort to sustain its fight against timber poaching, illegal logging and transport of forest products emanating from the forested areas of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley Province, Davao City and nearby regions.

Regional Technical Director for Forest Management Service (FMS) Hardinado V. Patnugot disclosed that DENR-XI had conducted a total of four training/orientations to various participants coming from the different sectors about forestry rules, laws and regulations; basic legal processes, among others which is a requirement before one can be deputized as a Forest Law Enforcement Officer.

A total of 13 applications for Forest Law Enforcement Officer (FLEO) were approved by DENR Secretary Jose L. Atieza in 2009. There were still 30 applications for FLEO coming from the 101st Infranty Brigade of the Philippine Army Special Forces assigned in San Isidro, Tagum City due for clearance by the Secretary.

Likewise, Regional Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna vowed to unquestionably pursue his fight against illegal logging saying that our forest which is considered as a carbon sink plays a great role in mitigating climate change, therefore, it must be protected and preserved by all means. Admittedly, he said, DENR cannot do it alone, we need everybody’s cooperation. The environment is "OUR" concern.

posted by Webmaster @ 9:43 AM

In support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s nationwide campaign on mitigating the impact of climate change, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched a program designed to reduce solid waste generation of the country by 50% in the next six months.

Entitled the “Green Movement Agenda: Our Strategy for Local Action” (GMA-SLA), the program will focus on a “Zero Basura” Action Plan that is geared to prioritize, operationalize, institutionalize and fast-track the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Waste Management Act of 2001 involving local government units.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said that the directive of President Arroyo to reduce the volume of solid waste by 50% not only reflects the country’s on-going garbage problem but also the need for more concerted and conscientious effort of local leaders and the people to implement the solid waste management program. It also calls for DENR to seriously enforce RA 9003.

“The threat of climate change to humanity cannot be overemphasized. But the ways by which the government can help address it are many, such as the proper management of our garbage. If our garbage is not properly attended to, it will produce methane, a greenhouse gas whose warming potential is 20 times greater than that of carbon dioxide,” Atienza further stressed.

Last December 26, 2008, President Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 774 entitled “Reorganizing the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change” and appointed the DENR to head the Task Group on Solid Waste Management.

With the support of President Arroyo, Atienza reiterated his call for LGUs as well as the public to “conquer garbage” through a “zero-waste lifestyle” because “it is the LGUs who are mandated as the prime movers” of the program.

Supervising the implementation of the GMA-SLA program from the national down to the local government units is the concurrent Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Gerardo Calderon. He is also DENR’s Assistant Secretary (ASEC) for Local Government Concerns and Lands.

During the “Zero Basura Caravan” held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel last July 17, 2009, ASEC Calderon updated the President on the undertakings of GMA-SLA program divulging that as of June of 2009, 30% of 930 existing open and controlled dumpsites in the country have been rehabilitated for closure.

Calderon added that there were also 26 facilities that have been improved to sanitary landfill facilities or have been transformed into an integrated solid waste management facility or Ecoparks by various local government units.

On the other hand, Calderon also reported that out of 42,000 barangays all over the country, 5,508 of it are being serviced by 5,070 Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) or a compliance rate of 13.11%. The said figure is a 126% increase from the 2008 figure.

“Zero Basura Caravan” is in coordination with the FOURmula 1 Program of the Department of Health. Over the past four months, the Caravan was able to reach out to all the 13 Regional Clusters in the country to harmonize various local actions to pursue the objectives of the RA 9003.

posted by Webmaster @ 1:34 PM

A total of 565T worth miscellaneous logbolts were recently seized at Cabaywa, Asuncion, Davao del Norte through the joint efforts of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Tagum City, Philippine National Police, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR)- LGU.

CENR Officer of Tagum City Julius S. Valdez disclosed that the seized logs has a total volume of 141.38 and were loaded in five trucks with plate numbers JBV-548, JBS-541, GNH-680, LFB-266 and GGJ-716.

Aside from these confiscations Valdez said they have also confiscations in Talaingod, Davao Norte and 88 pieces of lauan or 38.93 cu.m. in Kapalong. Valdez said he is thankful for the full support of DENR-XI Director Jim Sampulna, the LGU and the PNP that made all the accomplishments possible.

Formal charges will be filed against the perpetrators for violation of Section 68 of Presidential Decree (PD 705) otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.

Director Jim O Sampulna, on the other hand, lauded those who seized the illegally cut and transported forest products. He stressed that this is an offshoot of the strengthened campaign of the DENR against the despoilers of the forests. “ I would like to reiterate that DENR-XI has the full support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the fight against illegal loggers plus we have the support of the community, so there is no way out for them. We are bent on running after them” he added.

It can be recalled that DENR-XI and the AFP forged earlier this year a Memorandum of Agreement on the fight against illegal logging in Region XI. This is in response to DENR Secretary Lito Atienza’s “one-strike policy” emphasizing that the regional officials will not only exercise authority but also observe accountability in ensuring that the environment and natural resources in their area of jurisdiction are preserved and protected.

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