DENR Region XI

The second day of the Earth Day People’s Caravan was spent in Davao del Norte particularly in Tagum, Carmen and Panabo. A short program was done and prepared by the employees of the Provincial Office in Tagum headed by the OIC, Provincial Governor and the Department Head of Office of the Environment and Natural Resources (OENR) Felix Abangin. The program started with an invocation-film showing depicting concerns for the environment and showing all possible preservation efforts on the different ecosystems.

Abangin included in his welcome message the history of Earth Day dating back from 1970. He also shared that Davao del Norte is one province not innocent to environmental destruction, the main reason why the LGUs here seriously work hand in hand with the DENR in mitigating environmental destruction and in strictly enforcing environmental laws in order to preserve and protect the environment.

Afterwards, the OIC, Chief of RPAO-XI Dr. Rita Fe C. Sison gave the rationale of the Caravan emphasizing the need to sound-off and proclaim DENR’s call to action for the preservation of the environment as well as increasing people’s awareness on the Thrusts and Programs of the department.

Right after the program, the group then proceeded to have a courtesy call with Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy. The Mayor welcomed the DENR-XI delegates with enthusiasm, gladly accepting the token that was given to him. He talked with the delegates headed by RED Ric Calderon for awhile about the Caravan activity and strongly pronounced his support to the said activity being a fervent Mayor in terms of protecting the environment.

Mayor Uy asked for an ample time from the delegates to let him show them his various on-going projects in Tagum City and the delegates gladly consented. The Mayor proudly showed them the proposed City Hall Building, Environmental Park, the 9-hectare Camp sites and Tagum City’s Nursery, among others.

After the tour in Tagum City, the Caravan proceeded to the Municipality of Carmen wherein the employees both from CENRO Panabo and the Municipal Hall excitedly and patiently await for the DENR-XI delegates. During the brief and simple program, Earth Day Caravan pins were distributed to the audience. A simple message from Mayor Marcelino A. Peranados of Carmen highlighted the program. The Mayor expressed his appreciation to DENR for not forgetting to include his Municipality in the Caravan. After which, RED Ric Calderon gave the Mayor a simple token as a sign of DENR’s gratitude for supporting the Caravan.

Last stop of the Caravan for the day was a courtesy call to Panabo City Mayor Jose L. Silvosa. During his welcome message, Mayor Silvosa presented their own Earth Day activities such as tree planting, mangrove planting and IEC campaigns. The Mayor further encouraged everyone to be more concerned with the environment emphasizing that the damages we are causing to Mother Earth is greater than the damages we are doing to ourselves. He also stressed that Panabo City was happy to be included in the Caravan activity of the DENR.