DENR Caraga under the leadership of Regional Executive Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo, CESO III bagged the 1^st Runner-up (2^nd place) in the Kabahagi: An International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD) 2022 Capture Quest, photo marathon contest organized by the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in partnership with Canon Philippines, USAID- Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE), Gerry Roxas Foundation along with USAID-Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes or SIBOL project, DENR-UNDP-Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) project and DENR-UNDP/GEF Project on Integrated Approach to Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines (BD Cor) project.

The Kabahagi Photo Marathon Contest was held on May 20, 2022 nationwide. It is a prequel event in celebration of the IDBD 2022 with the theme, "Building a shared future for all life." The activity showcased not only the beauty and ecological values of featured protected areas in every region but also the photographic talents of the DENR employees.

Sixteen (16) regional teams competed in this simultaneous one-day shoot photo contest where the participants interpreted the five (5) given categories namely: Flora and Fauna, Symmetry, Movement, Details and Creative using subjects within their chosen protected area. All images were submitted straight out of the camera without editing or enhancement.

In the case of DENR Caraga, its Regional Team dubbed as “Team Kalagan” featured the Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS) in Surigao del Norte. The term Caraga originated from the word “Kalagan”, “Kalag” meaning soul and “An” meaning land. Given the region’s rich history, Caraga is known as the “land of the brave and fierce people.”

Team Kalagan is composed of CDO II Maria Catherine M. Gonzaga from the Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG); MEO Felipe D. Armihar, Jr., MEO Karen Kenneth Bonotan, FR Roxan P. Lunasin, EMR Jane B. Diaz, and RSWO Sheryl U. Azarraga from the Conservation and Development Division (CDD); FR Seth S. Pimentel from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Lianga, Surigao del Sur; and DMO III Franklyn L. Arcadio, FR Ed Vincent G. Empron, ISA Arthur S. Juanite, FPO Anthony Jan P. Borga, and EO Arieyl C. Jamodiong from the Protected Area Management Office of SIPLAS.

DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna received the Php 30,000.00 cheque and a brand new Canon Inspic in behalf of the team during the awarding ceremony at the launching of the Year of the Protected Areas (YoPA) at the EDSA Shangrila, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City on May 23, 2022.

RED Tamayo congratulated the team and expressed his appreciation towards BMB’s undertaking. “Congratulations Team Kalagan! Good job! We should print these photos and display them in our office. I would also like to congratulate the BMB for successfully spearheading this event. It indeed brought the best out of our employees and we were able to showcase the beauty of SIPLAS as a protected area.”

Director Tamayo further encouraged everyone to take part on advocacies that involves environmental protection and conservation.

Region V’s Team Oragon bagged the grand prize while Region X’s Team Marine Terra ranked third and got the Canon's Choice Award for one of its photos. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 26 May 2022

DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations – Mindanao Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, along with Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo of DENR Caraga, led the Ceremonial Turn-over of 285, 571 seedlings of various tree species and giant bamboo culms, and 76,403 bd. ft. of logs and lumbers to the Province of Dinagat Islands through Governor Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao on April 21, 2022, at the Kalikasang Buhay Park, Brgy. Cuarinta, San Jose, Dinagat Islands.

Armed Forces of the Philippines EastMinCom Commander Lieutenant General Greg T. Almerol, who assisted the DENR in the transport of the donated materials, was present during the turnover to witness the event.  Also present were DENR Caraga OIC-ARD for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo, PENR Officer Agapito T. Patubo, PENRO Dinagat personnel, members of the Philippine Army, and the residents of Dinagat Islands.

The DENR Caraga’s donation of the confiscated logs and lumbers is in line with Executive Order No.120, series of 2020 entitled “Strengthening Rehabilitation and Recovery Efforts in Typhoon-hit Areas Through the Creation of the Build Back Better Task Force”, which calls for the rebuilding or repairing of houses that are more resilient to hazards, and build safer sites for housing under the township approach.

The onslaught of Typhoon Odette on December 16, 2021, damaged more than 95% of the residential and public infrastructures in the province of Dinagat Islands. About 14,545 houses were totally damaged, and 15,763 were partially damaged.

“We, at the DENR, will do everything we can to help the people of Dinagat Islands. The donation of these seedlings, logs, and lumbers is just the start of our rehabilitation efforts for this province. We hope that these forest products will help in rebuilding your houses. We will not stop until we see Dinagat thrive again.” USec Fragada said during the program.

The DENR also launched the “Mini-Sawmill on Wheels” project as a response to the disaster caused by Typhoon Odette, in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 402nd Brigade on January 14, 2022. The project aims to facilitate the milling of uprooted and felled trees into usable sizes for rehabilitation and rebuilding of the damaged houses in PDI and Surigao del Norte.  As of April 3, 2022, the project has a total lumber production of 64,864.01 bd. ft. in Dinagat Islands.

Aside from rehabilitating the damaged infrastructures, the DENR also aims to help recover the province’s environment, particularly its forests, by donating 285,571 seedlings of various tree species and giant bamboo culms. The agency endeavored to produce these planting materials through the CENR Offices of Nasipit, Bayugan, Bunawan, Cantilan, Lianga, and Loreto; the Mechanized and Modernized Forest Nursery in Bislig City; the Bood Clonal Nursery in Butuan City; and various mining companies namely, Platinum Group Metals Corporation, C.T.P. Construction and Mining Corporation, Carrascal Nickel Corporation, Philsaga Mining Corporation, Taganito Mining Corporation, and Greenstone Resources Corporation.

In her message during the program, Governor Bag-ao expressed her gratitude to all the stakeholders that helped the province in its recovery efforts.

“We would like to express our sincerest gratitude towards the DENR and the Philippine Army for continuously helping us, especially after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. I always say that the people of Dinagat Islands are all resilient.  We are not victims; we are survivors. In these trying times, we will work hand-in-hand to build an even better Dinagat. We will also use some of the donated confiscated forest products to build 100 community kitchens that will help us provide hot meals for the people of Dinagat. Again, thank you very much,” she said.

The program ended with the three parties, the DENR, the Philippine Army, and the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands, signing a statement of commitment to work together to implement the rehabilitation and recovery program of the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands.

The program is under the #BayanihanDinagat initiative and the Build Back Better frameworks, particularly the building of “Angat Buhay sa Kalikasang Buhay Resilient Villages” in the province. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 23 May 2022

As early as January 17, 2022, the region issued an instruction enjoining all the field offices to strictly implement COMELEC Resolution No. 10730 specifically, on the observance of posting of campaign materials only in designated poster areas and not on trees and plants.

This is in consonance with the instruction of Undersecretary for Filed Operations-Mindanao Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, reiterating previous memorandum from Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna on the promotion of an environmentally-conscious national elections campaign pursuant to Joint DENR-DILG-COMELEC Memorandum Circular No. 2013-01 re: Basura-Free Elections 2013 “Kalat Ko, Sisinupin Ko”.

The clearing operations in the region actually started a day after the campaign period commenced on February 8 and is sustained until this time.

The activity was carried out in close coordination with the LGUs, the PNP, DPWH and COMELEC, under the province-wide campaign, Operation Baklas, pursuant to COMELEC Resolution 10730. The other field offices in the region (5 PENROs and 10 CENROs) also conducted the same clearing operations where they focused on the clearing of campaign posters/materials posted on trees and other non-designated poster areas.

Based on a consolidated report, it was disclosed that to date, the region-wide campaign has gathered an initial count of 4,763  pieces of assorted framed and unframed tarpaulin of various dimension, paper-based and other propaganda materials that were removed and collected from trees and other structures along non-designated poster areas.

Under the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, it is illegal for anyone, to injure or cause damage to trees and other vegetation, especially along plazas and other public places. This may lead to infection by parasitic fungi which eventually could lead to the death of the tree.

Moreover, Presidential Decree 953 also prohibits "cutting, destroying, damaging, or injuring naturally grown or planted trees of any kind, flowering or ornamental plants and shrubs, or plants of scenic, aesthetic and ecological value, along public roads, in plazas, parks other than national parks, or in any other public ground or place.”

DENR Caraga continue the operation until the election and we'll strengthen our IEC campaign not only to ensure compliance of the law but to generate awareness among the people on the importance of trees, most especially in these times of climate change.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 28 April 2022

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Forest Management Bureau and Caraga Regional Office, conducted an Orientation cum Planning Workshop for the implementation of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCo) Vertical Integration Project (VIP) for CY2022 at Dottie’s Place, Butuan City, on April 18-22, 2022.

The five-day activity serves as a venue to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of carrying out the project’s strategic direction and a way to convene, brainstorm, and strategize for this year’s operations and plans, as the project reaches its second year of implementation.

On June 23, 2021, the DENR entered a Memorandum of Understanding with AFoCo to produce value-added wood products from forests within Negros Oriental and Agusan del Sur, which will generate jobs for grassroots communities and shall be implemented over five years until 2026.

The only two Community-Based Forest Management - People's Organization (CBFM-PO) considered for the project nationwide are the Mabuhay Timberland Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (MATILFAMCO) in Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and the Nalundan United Farmers Association, Inc. (NUFAI) located in Bindoy, Negros Oriental.

Under the project, the CBFM-PO shall support the vertical integration of wood processing to produce value-added wood products by utilizing raw materials harvested from CBFM areas and thus promote livelihood opportunities within their community.

During his inspirational message, Regional Executive Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo highlighted the sustainable forest management project’s economic importance and gains for its beneficiaries and the environment.

“This is the realization of our dream for CBFM, wherein beneficiaries can produce their own materials, nurture the growing trees, harvest and then process it,” RED Tamayo said while stressing the financial benefits that the project accrue to the PO with the implementation of the AFoCo-VIP.

He added, “Hindi lang talaga ‘yung sinasabi natin nung una that there is money in planting trees but with VIP, there is even more money in planting and processing all those trees from their plantation.”

The orientation cum workshop was attended by Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo, PENR Officer Jose Flavio V. Concha of Agusan del Sur, CENR Officer Norman A. Asugan of Bayugan City, AFoCo VIP Project Manager Janelyn P. Francisco, Project Development Officers, site managers, and field implementing units’ representatives.###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 26 April 2022

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Forest Management Bureau and Caraga Regional Office, conducted an Orientation cum Planning Workshop for the implementation of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCo) Vertical Integration Project (VIP) for CY2022 at Dottie’s Place, Butuan City, on April 18-22, 2022.

The five-day activity serves as a venue to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of carrying out the project’s strategic direction and a way to convene, brainstorm, and strategize for this year’s operations and plans, as the project reaches its second year of implementation.

On June 23, 2021, the DENR entered a Memorandum of Understanding with AFoCo to produce value-added wood products from forests within Negros Oriental and Agusan del Sur, which will generate jobs for grassroots communities and shall be implemented over five years until 2026.

The only two Community-Based Forest Management - People's Organization (CBFM-PO) considered for the project nationwide are the Mabuhay Timberland Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (MATILFAMCO) in Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and the Nalundan United Farmers Association, Inc. (NUFAI) located in Bindoy, Negros Oriental.

Under the project, the CBFM-PO shall support the vertical integration of wood processing to produce value-added wood products by utilizing raw materials harvested from CBFM areas and thus promote livelihood opportunities within their community.

During his inspirational message, Regional Executive Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo highlighted the sustainable forest management project’s economic importance and gains for its beneficiaries and the environment.

“This is the realization of our dream for CBFM, wherein beneficiaries can produce their own materials, nurture the growing trees, harvest and then process it,” RED Tamayo said while stressing the financial benefits that the project accrue to the PO with the implementation of the AFoCo-VIP.

He added, “Hindi lang talaga ‘yung sinasabi natin nung una that there is money in planting trees but with VIP, there is even more money in planting and processing all those trees from their plantation.”

The orientation cum workshop was attended by Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo, PENR Officer Jose Flavio V. Concha of Agusan del Sur, CENR Officer Norman A. Asugan of Bayugan City, AFoCo VIP Project Manager Janelyn P. Francisco, Project Development Officers, site managers, and field implementing units’ representatives.###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 26 April 2022