DILG-7 head hopes Robredo’s legacy will continue
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY Aug 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) Director Ananias Villacorta expressed optimism that the next DILG secretary will continue the legacy and the good deeds of the late secretary Jesse Robredo.
Villacorta added that he hopes whoever sits as the next DILG secretary will have the same heart as with the late secretary and that everything he has started for the development of the country and for the sake of good governance among leaders will be continued.
“Nanghinaut mi nga mapadayon unta ang mga maayong binuhatan nga nasugdan ni Sec. Jess ila unta nga ipadayon ang mga lakang nga iyang nahimo (We are hoping that the good deeds started by Sec. Jess will be continued as well as the actions he implemented),” Villacorta declared.
He also pledged that DILG-7 will continue to implement what Sec. Robredo started for the development of the region and the country and to ensure that good governance is also practiced here.
Today, the DILG-7 deviate from its usual daily routine through a holy mass conducted inside the regional office to express its grief on the death of the DILG secretary whom they consider as a good leader.
Officials and representatives from other government agencies, as well as local members of media also attended the mass.
Another mass is set on Friday, August 24 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral with the members of the regional development council in attendance. (mbcn/AYS-PIA7 Cebu)
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80 participants join the forestry consultative workshop
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Aug 24 (PIA) -- Around 80 participants from 15 regions attended the three-day forestry sector national consultative planning workshop hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) on August 22-24 at the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.
DENR-7 Executive Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said, the activity is done to convene forestry planners, implementers and other stakeholders to review the execution of the various forestry programs vis-a-vis the overall thrusts and flagship projects of DENR.
This is also a forum to identify and resolve issues and concerns that impact on the implementation of forestry programs and projects and set meaningful strategic directions, Montejo added.
The workshop adopts a participatory approach from all the participants comprising of regional technical directors forest management services, regional planning officers and chiefs of forest resources development division and forest resources conservation division.
Expected output includes agreement among the participants on how to improve forestry programs and activities, community road map and National Greening Program (NGP) sites for 2013, unit of work measurement and unit costing for forestry.
“This is a very important activity considering the instructions of DENR Secretary Ramon Paje to prepare a relevant plan in meeting the target of planting and growing 1.5 billion trees to cover 1.5 million hectares until 2016, especially on mangrove and fuelwood tree plantation,” Montejo said.
In a message during the opening program, Forest Management Bureau Director Ricardo Calderon emphasized the major topic for discussion is the NGP, particularly on the progress of implementation and the consolidated Geographic Information System -mapping system adopting common attributes that will provide special data and information in accordance with the need of the program.
The forum also intends to discuss and present the establishment of 500 hectares commercial plantation by province and status of seedling production.
Among the topics presented are mycorrhizal technology and its application for NGP; forest law enforcement updates and partnership agreement with the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation Inc. -Foundation for the Philippine Environment; a presentation by the Platinum Rubber Development Inc.; and updates on Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management. (mbcn/HFG-PIA7, DENR7)