BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Various activities to promote environmental awareness and protection are lined up this month to celebrate environment month.
A simultaneous tree planting and clean up drive was conducted in the different parts of the region on June 5 in celebration of the World Environment Day (WED).
Various information, education and communication activities were also initiated such as a photo and film showing in the different municipalities of Apayao; IEC on the Water Code, learning event of environmental laws and painting contests and painting contests in Benguet, and IEC activities on environmental laws, climate change adaptation and mitigation for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in Ifugao and Kalinga.
There was also a caravan for the registration and renewal of chainsaw, and a memorandum of agreement signing on forest protection in the municipalities of Sallapadan, Danglas, Bucay and Bangued in Abra, in partnership with the municipal local government units, Philippine National Police, and the Sangguniang Kabataan.
Other activities conducted on WED were construction of greenbelt, an open space or a farm acting as natural wildfire buffers, in the burned parts of the seedling production areas in Bokod and Tublay in Benguet, and the Handog Titulo and mass acceptance of the free patent applications in the towns of Conner and Flora in Apayao.
Even as the Cordillera is a landlocked region, various activities were also conducted in observance of the World Ocean Day celebrated every June 8. Activities include tree planting and clean up drives of the different waterways and the barangays regionwide.
Information, education, and communication (IEC) drives conducted covered various topics such as the water code, ENR laws, solid waste and upcycling, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
On the observance of the Philippine Eagle Week on June 4 to 10, the DENR with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the provincial government of Apayao lined up IEC activities in the barangays of Kabugao including the motoring of activities of Nariha Kabugao, a rescued Philippine eagle released recently in the mountains of Apayao.
On June 25, during the observance of the Philippine Arbor Day, a region-wide tree planting event will be held to be participated by the different offices including the private sector.
Other events lined up for the Environment Month celebration include the conduct of a biodiversity friendly agricultural practices assessment with the Biodiversity Management Bureau in Hungduan in Ifugao on June 12-14; a Biodiversity Symposium on June 18 in Abra; Environment and Natural Resources Service Caravan Display and Marketing of products of people’s organizations on June 18-19 in the towns of Luna and Kabugao in Apayao, and the Ifugao Watershed Management Council meeting on June 28 in Lamut, Ifugao.
The different bureaus and attached agencies of the DENR will also be conducting caravans in the different parts of the Cordillera bringing their services and programs closer to the people.
The DENR-Cordillera kicked off the Environment Month celebration in the “Kapihan sa Kalikasan sa Cordillera” forum presenting the various activities and advocacies lined up to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
Serving as panelists were DENR-CAR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno Jr. with Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director Jean Borromeo, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Fay Apil and Water Watershed and Water Resources Research, Development and Extension Center Head Helen Maddumba. (RMC-PIA CAR)
