DENR-7 celebrates Environment Month
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas leads the month-long celebration of the Philippine environment month this June with a series of campaign programs and activities geared toward raising the level of awareness on environmental issues and concerns.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said in his press statement that he encourages everyone to take part in ensuring the protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources mindful of the present threats of climate change.
The celebration will kick off with a foot parade on June 4 to be led by Dichoso and other officials of DENR-7 including line bureaus and stakeholders.
It will then be followed by the opening of Sportsfest, Pinoy Games, and presentation of 12 “Mutya ng Kalikasan” candidates.
As part of the features of the environment celebration, a river or creek clean up and tree planting are scheduled on June 2 while simultaneous soil potting in various nurseries on June 8 and DENR Open House and Market Week will run from June 11 to 15.
Mangrove planting and coastal cleanup will be on June 20 while a facilitated mine tour and responsible mining symposium will be held on June 22 at Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City.
Meanwhile, a benchmarking tour will be conducted in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Bohol on June 13-15 and a five-day ENR exhibit or exposition will be from June 18 to 22.
Butuanon watershed tree planting will be on June 23 and the Mutya ng Kalikasan Coronation Night is happening on June 27.
The environment month culmination will be on June 29 where awarding and recognition of partners and collaborators will take place.
The United Nations (UN) Environment Programme defines the green economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
This year’s theme is, “Green Economy: Does it include you.” (mbcn/hfg-PIA 7/DENR-7)
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MGB-7 conducts geohazard assessment and mapping in NegOr
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region (DENR-7) is conducting a four-week geohazard assessment and mapping in the 81 barangays in Negros Oriental, covering one city and three municipalities using a scale of 1:10,000 from May 28 to June 26.
“This is to show more details of the area covered by the map as the densification of geohazard and climate change maps are among the major projects to be implemented this year,” said MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo.
A team of senior geologists composed of Maria Elena Lupo, Josephine Aleta, and Abraham Lucero Jr., will be determining the vulnerability of each barangay to landslides and flooding including coastal erosion, storm surges, and coastal flooding.
Among the details that can be found in a 1:10,000-scale geohazard map include parameters or features in the area that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that can possibly occur in the area.
The three-member team will also look into sites in a barangay where relocation or evacuation areas will be identified.
Alburo said priority in the densification project will be maps of 30 barangays in Dumaguete City, 24 barangays in Valencia, 14 barangays in San Jose, and 13 barangays in Sibulan.
The 1:10,000-scale geohazard map is expected to be completed in 2014.
“The geohazard or climate change maps will then be distributed to concerned local government units with continuing information and education campaign support to local chief executives and other members of the community or barangay,” Dichoso said.
Alburo, on the other hand, explained that the assessment team will then be issuing appropriate warnings and geohazards advisories to be received by any barangay official so that they can begin with initiating measures to reduce possible impacts or effects of these geological hazards.
In a related development, the 1-50,000-scale geohazard maps are now accessible and downloadable in four government websites, including that of a non-government organization.
The government websites hosting the interactive geohazard maps include that of the DENR (www.denr.gov.ph), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (www.mgb.gov.ph), Philippine Information Agency (www.pia.gov.ph), and that of Environmental Science for Social Change (www.essc.org.ph).
Dichoso articulated that DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said the move is to broaden public access to the geohazard maps, which has become an important tool in disaster risk reduction and management.(mbcn/hfg-PIA 7/DENR-7)
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DILG Secretary awards seal of good housekeeping to 75 LGUs in Reg 7
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo led the awarding of certificates of Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) to 75 local government units (LGUs) in Region 7, during the Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation: A Call to Action of DILG-7, last May 25 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
This is recognition to the respective LGUs as SGH awardees in good governance through advancing the principles of accountability and transparency in local government management.
Awardee mayors from the different LGUs received the SGH markers, while others sent in their representatives to accept the marks.
The towns of Hagna and Ubay from Bohol province received the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) worth P1 million from the DILG. The PCF is an incentive fund to eligible LGUs.
"For those who have not receive the Performance Challenge Fund, the President already approved P750 billion for this year," Robredo said.
He added that SGH would soon be a requirement to enable LGUs to borrow fund at the Department of Finance.
The other part of the event was to formally introduce the Seal of Disaster Preparedness for Floods (SDP) that aims to recognize the performance and efforts of local governments in institutionalizing disaster preparedness for floods in the local level.
Local government units that demonstrate an acceptable level of disaster preparedness and disaster preparedness response before and during floods will accept this SDP mark. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-RO7 & Mayette Baring/CNU Intern)