DENR Region XI

June is here, and with it comes the celebration of “Philippine Environment Month” by virtue Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino in 1998.

This year the theme is “Beat the Heat: Let Us Work Towards A Safer Climate” focuses on the importance of taking a unified action to help address the worldwide problem on climate change.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, in his speech delivered during the Earth Day celebration at the Quezon Memorial circle on April 22, 2007 called everyone’s attention to the precarious state that we are putting our world in. He stressed that beyond the DENR’s 12-point priority agenda, the Department recognizes the need to devote special effort and attention to what is considered as the biggest and most threatening environmental issue, the issue of climate change and global warming, hence the theme.

“There is no longer any doubt of the insidious effects of climate change and global warming. Virtually everyone is now fully aware that human activities have played a significant role in climate change and in the gradual but persistent rise in global temperature. We already know that global warming has been caused by the increase in the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that man himself spews out into the atmosphere” Reyes added.

Throughout the month of June, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will spearhead various environmental activities in the country.

In Region XI, Regional Executive Director Ricardo L. Calderon disclosed that DENR will conduct the following activities for the environment month: massive information campaign on various DENR programs, projects and activities; Adopt A Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) Project through immersion; Motorcade in line with the Philippine Eagle Week Celebration; Mt. Apo Trek; Signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with different schools and Local Government Units (LGUs) on Green Philippine Program; Tree planting and Mangrove planting; Distribution of land titles through the Handog Titulo Program Lectures on Biodiversity Conservation, Beach clean-up; Bantay Tambutso ( Roadside Inspection) in line with RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999; Mine visit; Conduct of advanced course for Pollution Control Officers (PCOs); Private Emission Testing Center (PETC) monitoring and Recyclable Collection Event, among others.

Calderon further said that environment friendly activities and practices geared to protect, conserve and manage the environment should not only be done during the environment month, rather it should already become part of our system. “We need to focus our goals as well as interest in protecting, managing and cleaning up the environment for our good and for the next generations to come. We must realize that when we protect the environment, we also protect ourselves”, he added.

Moreover, The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) will also spearhead the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, 2007 with the theme “Melting ice- A Hot Topic” which will be held in Tromso, Norway. UNEP stressed that climate change is an issue for everyone and that any of us can make a choice to become part of the solution instead of becoming part of the problem by consuming less energy and making climate friendly choices in our lives. (Bing Sison-DENR XI).