DENR Region XI

The Earth Day Caravan in Davao City started with a motorcade that was participated in by the DENR-XI, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Mines Geo-Sciences Bureau, PENROs and CENROs, Davao City Bikers Club, Mindanao On Bike Club, Hilary Cycle Parts and Petron Davao. More or less, there were sixty-five (65) bikers, four (4) vehicles and twenty (20) motorcycles from Petron Davao, Mindanao Business Council (MBC), Human Development International (HDI), and eighteen (18) vehicles from DENR-XI who joined the motorcade.

The motorcade started at 9 o’ clock in the morning from DENR Regional office in Lanang to People’s Park at corner Palma Gil and Camus Streets.

Right after the motorcade, a half-day program immediately followed at the People’s Park, Camus-Palma Gil Streets, Davao City. In her welcome address, PENRO Digos Ruth M. Tawantawan gave a brief explanation about the Earth Day People’s Caravan activity as a DENR strategy to sound-off its Thrusts and Programs. She also acknowledged all the participants both in the motorcade and the Caravan giving their utmost support to the activity.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte was invited to be the Guest Speaker of the Program but due to some urgent appointment, he sent City Councilor Leo Avila III to represent him. Known to many Davaoeños, Councilor Avila is an active environmentalist being the former Chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. He urged everyone, most especially the youth to always take part in every environmental activity to help the DENR in their mission to save Mother Earth from further destructions.

This year’s Caravan theme is about water, the reason why Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Metudio Turbella discusses about the importance of protecting and preserving our water, being the source of life. This was seconded by Mr. Vicente T. Lao, the Chairman of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) and Regional Development Council who doesn’t only speak of the importance of business influx in Davao City but also on the importance of having a clean and safe water and environment.

The Caravan activity for Davao City which ended at 12 noon was a complete success given the support of many Business Sectors, Non-Government Organizations, National Government Agencies, Students and Davao City Media. Participants, to name a few, were Davao City Bikers Club, Petron Davao, EMB, MGB, Human Development International, Mindanao Business Council, Davao City Chamber of Commerce, youths from Toril Poblacion, Sangguniang Kabataan from Talomo Poblacion, Philippine Clean Cities Program, Green Brigade of Barangay Talomo, Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School, Davao City National Highschool. Various media are also present like: Sun Star Davao, Sonshine Network, ABS-CBN and GMA 7.

The Davao City Caravan was aired over GMA7, ABS-CBN and other media outlets in the city.

IEC materials as well at Earth Day Caravan pins were also distributed to some of the participants of the program.