SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – In times of the present global condition, we need to stand behind one another to easily curb what we are going through this pandemic. Thus, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Region I (DENR 1) readily went out of their way to fulfill its mandate through environmental information campaign.

Representatives from the Senior Citizen and PWD Focal Person, Ms. Nelie Banez, of DENR-I General Services Section and Youth Focal Person, Zenaida L. Paday-os of Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG) conducted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activity with the utmost observance of social distancing and basic health regulations in the City Federation of Senior Citizen Association, Inc., (SFSCAI) office, barangays Madayegdeg, and Carlatan, City of San Fernando, La Union last March 29, 2021.

A total of thirty (30) DENR – I posters, tarpaulins and 360 pamphlets were distributed to the said barangays as references and guide about the programs, projects and activities of the department. The proper usage of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) were the most timely and newest posters given that covers the proper disposal of face masks, hand gloves, and other used PPEs and segregated from other wastes to avoid contamination. A short discussion was also undertaken especially on the most frequent ask questions (FAQs) relating to the Free Patent Applications of which the DENR representatives gave some brief lectures.

Paday-os said, “what is really happening now in our environment is not a joke, we need to be serious and work hand in hand in protecting and conserving our environment and natural resources for us to live longer and for the benefit of the future generation.”

We need also to protect our elderly by providing them relevant information from the experts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic through distribution of the IEC materials, not only on social media since not everyone has access to internet.

The discussion focused on the question “How to protect and show how we care and to address the emotions of a person with disability and to the elderly in the middle of this health crisis?

The conducted activity is in the observance of the 17th Women with Disabilities Day Celebration with the theme “Women Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future and Recovery From COVID-19 World.” This is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 744, s. 2004, to honor women with disabilities every last Monday of the month of March. (ZLP/RSCIG)

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Published: 25 May 2021

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -  The Conservation and Development Division (CDD) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region- I (DENR- I) hosted the celebration of the International Day of Forests (IDF) 2021 with this year’s theme: “Forest restoration: A path to recovery and well- being.” The DENR- I event which was held at the DENR- I Social Hall, Government Center, was highlighted with various activities in observance of minimum health protocols on March 22, 2021.

The IDF 2021 event was participated by DENR- I foresters and highlighted with a brief program wherein DENR- I Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo shared his experienced as Forest Guard in the DENR Region- III before becoming a lawyer. Likewise, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Felix Taguba, a certified forester and newly- appointed Director III, discussed briefly the present forest cover in Luzon particularly the Sierra Madre Mountains. Games like Forest Quiz Bee and Forest Identification (Dendrology) also refreshed the guts and renewed camaraderie of the participating foresters grouped into four while the beauty and brains Mr. and Ms. Lakan and Lakambini made the event a bit lively.

The restoration and sustainable management of forests can help in addressing the issues related to climate change and biodiversity. It also carries the potential to produce goods and services for sustainable development, fostering an economic activity that creates jobs and improve lives. On International Day of Forests, countries around the world are motivated to undertake local, national, and international efforts to conduct activities for forests and trees such as tree- planting campaigns.

The United Nations proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Forests in 2012 to commemorate and raise awareness of the significance of all types of forests. This day is a reminder of the value of forests in the lives of living creatures. Forests play a major role in providing food, water, and shelter to animals as well as human beings in uncountable ways. (GCG- RSCIG)

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Published: 24 May 2021

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region- I (DENR- I) through the Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives (RSCIG), the main communication unit of the department conducted the Virtual Orientation cum Workshop on the Creation of DENR- I Communication Plan (ComPlan) Calendar Year 2022- 2026 at DENR- I Regional Office, Government Center, Sevilla, San Fernando City, La Union on March 16- 17, 2021. RSCIG hosted the significant event headed by Chief, Renelita A. Santos together with the Sectoral Focal Persons from Environmental Management Bureau, Region- I (EMB-I) Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Region- I (MGB- I) and to ensure the health and well- being of all involved on said event because of the pandemic, designated information officers from DENR- I field offices attended via Zoom.

As the main communication arm of DENR- I, RCSIG is mandated to lead and create public awareness and provide information on Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) programs and projects. Because of the pandemic, DENR adopted alternative measures to efficiently implement and strengthen information education and communication (IEC) drive to the public most particularly in the social media. The orientation/ workshop aims to capacitate designated Information Officers in DENR- I, EMB- I, MGB-I and field offices who also acts as Public Assistance Desk Officers (PADO) and Youth Desk Coordinators. They are as well be informed on the regions’ environmental issues and concerns, ENR laws, programs and projects of the department and shall form part of the creation of the DENR- I Com Plan for CY 2022- 2026. The ComPlan aims to guide and support activities for increasing stakeholder awareness and literacy on the ecological and economic values of the environment and natural resources and the designated information officers of PENROs, CENROs and sectoral focal persons are the front liners in the information campaign drive in the implementation of DENR programs, projects and other activities in llocos Region.

During the event, DENR- I Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo personally delivered his message and urged the new set of Information Officers to strengthen their mandated responsibilities to raise awareness on how to provide information on ENR programs and projects under the “new normal” situation most particularly in the social media – the foremost, loudest, and most visible medium today. He also reminded the participants regarding the Ten Point Priority Programs of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, “we must write, conceptualize, inform and empower the public based on these priority programs,” the DENR- I head executive said. “I hope that you will help craft a creative, informative and innovative Communication Plan for CY 2022- 2026 for the public to be closer to our DENR IEC campaign awareness, you are the DENR bridge and voice to the public,” he added. Likewise, DENR Director of Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (SCIS) Dr. Hiro Masuda, virtually delivered his inspirational message and stressed that “We act as legitimate information officers with end goal for culture and behavior change.” DENR National Youth Desk Officer, Joseph M. Villaflor also virtually discussed the components and important points of Environmental Education and Information, ENR laws, among others.

Participants were virtually formed into groups wherein they prepared and presented their respective work programs and communication plans regarding environmental issues based on the Ten Point Priority Programs during the workshop. The workshop and orientation not only focused on the creation of ComPlan but also aims to generate “consistent and uniformed messages about DENR Ilocos Region- I advocacies based on the DENR Roadmap crafted in 2016. This April 2021, a learning event on the results based Strategic Communication Plan will be hosted by the DENR-SCIS to formulate the medium term communication plan aligned with the ENR priority program. (GCG-RSCIG)    

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Published: 24 May 2021

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan – “The National Greening Program (NGP) aims to bring back the diminishing forest cover of the Philippines, sana matulungan niyo kami na pangalagaan ang mga puno at kagubatan at, ginagawa natin ang lahat para mag-succeed ang project na ito,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary for Enforcement Daniel Darius Nicer said during the Environmental Caravan dubbed “Bike and Hike for Health and Environment” held at Sitio Parasapas, Barangay Casantamaria-an, San Quintin, Pangasinan on March 12, 2020. The said activity is also in line with the celebration of the International Year of Forests (IDY) this month of March, 2021 with the theme, “Forest Restoration, a path to recovery   and well- being.”

The combined sports, health and nature activity was initiated by Asec Nicer which aims to entice people of their active participation in restoring and protecting our forests that will help improve a healthier environment especially during this pandemic.

In his message, Asec Nicer also called for the active participation of the communities especially the youth who has passion in riding bicycles to have` help nurture our forests. Some NGP areas have potentials as tourist attractions because of some development like camping grounds and a bike ramps which was created by the bikers. On the NGP site in Barangay Casantamaria-an, ilang-ilang species were planted which were foreseen to augment the income of the People’s Organizations (POs) in the area and provide them sustainable livelihood and protection in their community.   The flower of an ilang-ilang tree produces essential oil which is the main component of some expensive perfumes being produced here and abroad. Beside the planted ilang-ilang are pet bottles bored with small holes that serve as the “water reservoir” to continuously augment water to the plants even without somebody to water them occasionally.

The event was participated by CENRO Urdaneta personnel headed OIC, CENR Officer Engr. Ronnie M. Jacinto, LGU San Quintin led by Honorable Mayor Clark Cecil P. Tiu, San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC) led by Vice President for Public Affairs Tommy T. Valdez, Eastern Pangasinan Bikers Club (EPBC) led by Mr. Luis Manuel Fonacier, Philippine National Poilice (PNP) San Quintin led by PCPT Freddie Lorenzo, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) San Quintin led by SFO3 Harry Carig.

According to Mayor Clark Cecil P. Tiu,  “Sa dami na po ng naitatanim dapat, marami na dapat tayong kahoy sa kabundukan, but sometimes people are hardheaded, though, we are exerting effort to advise them, but there are still, who doesn’t care and understand the importance of our environment and the forest, kaya yung mga nagkakaingin, nagsusunog doon sa kabundukan, a small fire can cause a big problem, especially this month is tag-init, pag isang pagkakamali lng, upos lng ng sigarilyo na maitapon, it can destroy the whole mountain area”.

“This is a very good activity na naisipan po ng ating ASEC Daniel Dicer na kung saan po ang ini- involve po ang ating madlang people especially ang ating mga bikers, to create awareness at the same time and protect the environment”, Mayor Tiu points out.

The Bike and Hike for Health and Environment is correlated to adopt a tree where all participants espoused a tree that will be named after them. Signing of the Pledge of Commitment was highlighted during the conclusion of the activity as a manifestation of the support of all participants in the protection and preservation of the environment and natural resources. (ZLP-RSCIG)

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Published: 24 May 2021

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union - Members of the San Fernando City, La Union - based active youth organization, the Lupon ng mga Indibidwal na Nangangalaga ng Kalikasan (LINK) founded by acting city Mayor Alfred "Alf" Ortega, received 10 units of LTE pocket WiFi from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region I (DENR ) I represented by the Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG) Chief, Renelita A. Santos in collaboration with the Lions Club International District 301-C headed by District Governor Robert Ranchez. The distribution was held at Marcos Bldg., San Fernando City on March 10, 2021.

In his message, Mayor Ortega urged the student- beneficiaries to do well in school and at the same time continue their passion and their love for the environment.

Santos also expressed that, "may this assistance from the DENR and the lions club international serve as inspiration to them as they are now officially called ENR ambassadors."

  The ENR ambassador project is under the Tayo Ang Kalikasan (TAK) which is the advocacy and social mobilization platform of the DENR. This is a nationwide initiative which aims to mobilize the learners in promoting DENR programs, projects and activities. The said WiFi's will be used by the selected youth-recipients in the IEC campaign through social media in partnership with the Lions Club International that will likewise grant for the monthly load for these pocket WiFi’s.  The ENR Ambassador Project is a pet project of DENR USEC for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Unit (LGU)- Concerns, Benny D. Antiporda. (ZLP/RSCIG)

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Published: 24 May 2021