DENR I LEADS MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT MONTH 2022

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-I through Regional Executive Director, Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo, CESO III kicked-off the Philippine Environment Month (PEM) 2022 with the theme “Aksyon para sa Natatanging Mundo” through a coastal cleanup activity along Tondaligan Beach, Bonuan-Tondaligan, Dagupan City on June 1, 2022.

Said activity was participated by the Line Bureaus, P/CENR Officers, Division Chiefs, Philippine Coastguard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Barangay Officials, and constituents. Later that day, RED Barcelo, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) – Region I Director, Engr. Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe; DENR-I Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, Forester Felix C. Taguba; and DENR-I OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Management Services, Engr. Raymundo C. Gayo entertained questions from the media during the DENR-I press conference at CENRO Central Pangasinan Social Hall as part of the kickoff of the PEM. Present during the said press conference were Aksyon Radyo Dagupan, SMNI, iFM, DWIZ, GMA Regional TV, PIA Pangasinan, DZRB 980, Radyo Pilipinas and Bombo Radyo.

Aside from PEM 2022, various special environmental events for June are also celebrated. One of which is the Philippine Eagle Week which is celebrated every June 4-10 of each calendar year with the theme, “Kapayapaan at Kalayaan: Ang Agila at Mamamayan, May Kaugnayan”. DENR I shared some trivias about the country’s pristine jewel to remind Filipinos of the responsibilities as caretakers of the land and the importance of the Philippine eagle and other wildlife in sustaining life on earth. As responsible citizens, we need to usher in a new era of commitment to save our threatened fauna especially our national bird.

As a result of the region’s initiative, the social media cards were shared by a lot of people and organizations including Local Government Units, other DENR Regional Offices, Philippine Information Agency, DENR Central Office, Director Khalil Bayam of DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Services, , and the - reaching more audience and persuading them to join in the campaign for the conservation of the Philippine Eagle and the rest of the rich biodiversity of the country.

Talking about Eagle, Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo, CESO III was recognized as one of the finalists for the “Environmental Awards for Governance and Leadership Excellence” Award CY 2021 - RED Category while EMB 1 Regional Director-Engr. Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe bagged the EAGLE Award as Top Performing EMB Regional Director for calendar year 2021 where she received a trophy and a cash prize of Php 100, 000 during the “Gabi ng Parangal at Pagpupugay” held at the Grand King Imperial Hotel in Iloilo City on June 7, 2022 in celebration of the agency’s 35th founding anniversary and the Philippine Environment Month.

The following day, DENR I took part in the nationwide tree planting spearheaded by the DENR Central Office as one of the opening activities of the Philippine Environment Month 2022 to help restore the country’s forest cover last June 8, 2022. Participants from various groups trooped to 11 identified sites in Ilocos Region. A total of 1,112 volunteers from DENR personnel of the Regional Office and the field offices, other national agencies and private sectors planted a total of 5,816 different variety of premium, fruit-bearing, and native species from 13 planting sites across the region. Among the seedlings planted were narra, acacia, molave, antipolo, bani, fire tree, mahogany, raintree, agoho, supa, duhat, mango, avocado, batino, and cashew.

In line with the celebration of the World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Day on June 8 and 9, 2022, respectively, DENR-1 through the Conservation and Development Division spearheaded the conduct of Communication, Education and Public Awareness campaign, coral bleaching validation and crown of thorns (COTs) removal / SCUBAsurero in the Municipality of Agno and Anda, Pangasinan on June 9, 2022. The CEPA Campaign was organized for the barangay constituents and fisherfolks / communities of Brgy. Aloleng in collaboration with the LGU Agno, Pangasinan. The coral bleaching validation and crown of thorns (COTs) removal / SCUBAsurero was conducted in Brgy. Tondol and Carot in Anda, Pangasinan with the support and collaboration with the said LGU.

 Moreover, in consonance with the Department's family day celebration with the theme, Pistang Pamilyang DENR Para sa Tuluy-tuloy na Tagumpay at Pagkakaisa, DENR Ilocos Region joined virtually via Zoom at the DENR-I Building, Government Center, Brgy. Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union on June 10, 2022. This year’s family day celebration highlighted fun games such as chess, table tennis, scrabble, darts, virtual quiz bee and online raffle/bingo. To complete the fiesta theme of the family day, Filipino delicacies were also served to employees and the walk-in clients. DENR Anniversary Messages were then delivered by MGB-I Regional Director Socrates Gaerlan; EMB-I Clearance and Permitting Division Chief, Engr. Nicanor C. Esteban; Surveys and Mapping Division Chief, Engr. Narciso A. Aragon; and Enforcement Division Chief, Atty. Arlyn Katherine C. Buduhan.

Simultaneous with the fun celebration in DENR I were the awarding of 2021 Recognizing Individuals/Institutions towards Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers or R.I.V.E.Rs for Life and Pasiklaban sa DENR talent competition in the DENR Central Office Multipurpose Hall, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Out of sixteen (16) regions, the Office’s official entry, the Lower Bakun River in Alilem, Ilocos Sur made it into the top five (5) and was given a Certificate of Recognition from Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna which was received by RED Barcelo, ARD for Management Services, Engr. Raymundo C. Gayo, Jr., ARD for Technical Services Dir. Felix C. Taguba, and Ilocos Sur PENR Officer Rosemarie B. Jornacion.

Also, the Region’s entry in the PASIKLABAN sa DENR emerged first place immersing the crowd within their festive performance and representing Region I the best way. Part of DENR I's presentation was EMB Eagle Awardee CY 2021, EMB 1 Regional Director-Engr. Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe who gracefully danced, kept up with the younger employees of the Office, and wowed the audience with her majestic look.

RED Barcelo, RD Hipe, Assistant Regional Director for Management Services, Engr. Raymundo Gayo, DENR-I Administrative Division Chief Mary Ann Escoto, and the DENR-I dance group happily received the cash prize of P30,000 as “Pasiklaban sa DENR” nationwide champion. DENR-I, EMB-I and MGB-I personnel showed their full support to the DENR-I delegates by watching their performance online.

Still in line with the EMC 2022, DENR Ilocos Region formally opened the weeklong DENR Sportsfest 2022 at the DENR Regional Office I grounds last June 13, 2022.

It was indeed a festive event that gave DENR I personnel a much needed break and a time to relax in a competitive yet friendly atmosphere. Personnel from the different Offices were grouped into four (4) teams namely the Red Management Services Team, Green Technical Services Team, Blue EMB Team, and White MGB Team and each were represented by their respective 'muses'.

Instead of the usual cauldron lighting, the opening ceremony of the Sportsfest wrapped up with the 'breaking the pot' also known as Pukpok Palayok which is a fun game played during Filipino fiestas and traditional parties-one that suits the theme of this year's fest. This was led by RED Barcelo and the Key Official/representatives of the different teams.

The following week, June 20-24, 2022, the Office officially opened frontline kiosks of services from Social Security System (SSS), PAG-IBIG, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) dubbed as HR @ Ur Service as part of the agency's celebration of the 2022 Philippine Environment Month which aims to bring the services closer to the employees.

The ribbon cutting was led by the Chief of the Legal Division Atty. Claro M. Ramolete together with Surveys and Mapping Division Chief Engr. Narcisco Aragon, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Administrative Officer Leopoldo Raguindin and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) represented by Engr. Nick Esteban.

In collaboration with the Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. and the Professional Regulations Commission, through their Carbon Neutral Program (CNP) Convergence Initiative, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region I (DENR-I) took part in the nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity in consonance of Arbor Day 2022 with this year's theme: BIKE.HIKE.PLANT  at Daang Kalikasan, Mangatarem, Pangasinan last June 25, 2022. Same activity was also conducted in assigned planting sites in the field offices.

Among the volunteers were Regional Office personnel, PENRO Pangasinan, CENRO Central Pangasinan, Professional Regulation Commission-Region 1 (PRC-R1), Department of Public Works and Highways- Region 1 (DPWH-R1), Department of Education -Region 1 (DepEd-R1) Pangasinan State University, Tarlac Agricultural University, San Carlos College, Philippine College of Science and Technology, Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy, Mangatarem Mountain Bikers Association, Region 1 Medical Center, LGU Bayambang, and other volunteers.

To wrap up the celebration of PEM 2022, DENR Ilocos Region conducted a colorful and festive culminating program held at Bauang North Central School Gymnasium, Central East, Bauang, La Union on July 6, 2022.

The program carried Filipino native games like jackstone, bunong braso, Chinese garter, and Sikking Bado (Piko) while the Sideline Band and DENR I talents performed live to entertain the crowd who sported in various color-coded shirts-Red for Management Services, Green for Technical Services, White for MGB, and Blue for EMB.

It was graced by the representative of Bauang Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin De Guzman, Sangguniang Bayan Member- Committee on Environment Felix Sanchez. The highlight of the fiesta-themed celebration was the awarding of plaques, medals, and certificates to the winners of sportsfest and native games as well as the recognition of DENR I’s key officials who excelled in various endeavors (DML/JAP-RSCIG)

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