2017 ENVIRONMENT MONTH CELEBRATION OF PENRO COTABATO

THEME:

“Connecting People to Nature”

The month of June

of each year is declared

as the Philippine

Environment Month by

virtue of Presidential

Proclamation No. 237

signed in 1998 by then

President Corazon C.

Aquino. This year’s theme is “Connecting People to Nature” which urges people to get

outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and to think about how we are part of

nature and how intimately we

depend on it. It challenges

also to find fun and exciting

ways to experience and

cherish this vital relationship.

Majority of the people around

the world spend every

working day ‘connected to

nature’ and appreciate full

well their dependence on natural

water supplies and how nature provides their livelihoods in the form of good soil. Nature’s

gifts are often hard to value like clean air and ecosystem services, from insects pollinating

fruit trees to the leisure, health and spiritual benefits.

During the celebration, various important events will also be celebrated such as the

World Environment Day on June 5, Philippine Eagle Week on June 4-10 and Philippine

Arbor Day on June 25. PENR Officer Mamerto V. Cardenas Jr. of PENRO Cotabato in his

message explained, it is important that everyone act for the environmental protection and

conservation. He thanked all participants on the environmental activities and encouraged

the employees to be more pro-active doers and environmental heroes in preserving and

protecting our environment and natural resources and by utilizing it with care.

Highlights of Activities

1. Motorcade Parade

To kick off the

celebration in PENRO

Cotabato together with

CENRO Matalam, it

holds a motorcade on

June 1, 2017 at 6:00 in the

morning from the

compound of DENR,

Quirino Drive,

Kidapawan City going to

the major streets, back to

DENR office and converge a short program and light banquet have shared by participants.

During the short ceremony, aside from the inspirational message given by the PENR

Officer Mamerto V.

Cardenas and other high

rank officials of PENRO

Cotabato, a lovely

singing and dancing

presentation have been

delivered by some

employees of PENRO

Cotabato and CENRO

Matalam.

The gathering of

employees from

PENRO Cotabato and

CENRO Matalam have

witnessed the short

ceremony that held at

the DENR compound,

Quirino Drive,

Kidapawan City.

Before the start of the

ceremony at 8:00 o’clock in

the morning, all participants

have partaken a short meal

which is always called in the

local term “merienda”.

2. Hanging of Streamers Last June 1, 2017, PENRO Cotabato hanged a streamer of the World Environment Day

and Environment Month. Streamers were hanged in office premises and other public

places to promote public awareness in the area of operation.

3. Clean Up Drive. The interactor of TSD Chief, Cesar A. Guevarra Ph.D together with the other

employees of DENR-PENRO Cotabato and CENRO Matalam and in cooperation with the

OJT from Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) conducted a

half day clean up drive last June 05, 2017 within the premises of DENR-PENRO Cotabato

and CENRO Matalam. Composed of more than 40 employees, the group cleaned the whole

stretch of DENR

compound, parking area

and NGP corner room.

The activity was led by

the TSD Chief, Cesar A.

Guevarra and closely

supervised by other

Chief of respective

sections. The activity

started at 8:00 and

ended at 11:30 in the

morning. The rest of the employees and other OJT took part in the cleaning of the

drainage, street sweeping, proper disposal of garbage and others.

Cleanliness in the

environment contributes a lot

in maintaining a healthy

environment, thus this activity

is a simple but helpful way for

the improvement of the places

for environmental sustainability

and also a role model to the

community and mitigate

environmental problems.

4. Philippine Eagle Photo Exhibits at Gaisano Grand Mall

June is a busy month for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR), as it leads the celebration of various important events that all aims to promote

environmental protection and sustainable development. The DENR–PENRO Cotabato has

packed an schedule of

activities for the

celebration of the

Philippine Environment

Month and one of this

event is the Philippine

Eagle Week from June 4-

10. As one of the

highlight of celebration ,

PENRO Cotabato in

collaboration with

CENRO Matalam kicked

off with hanging of

Tarpaulin/Streamer and

Philippine Eagle Exhibit

at the Lobby of Grand

Gaisano Mall, Lanao

Kidapawan City through

the courtesy of Mr. Alvin

M. Arcipe, the Manager

of the said mall. The

exhibit starts on June 4

and end up on June 27,

2017, which remind and

give more awareness to

the community the importance of Phil. Eagle and its

habitat. As the forest’s top predator, the Philippine eagle upholds the ecological balance

and regulates the population of smaller animals that may pose danger to humans and

destroy crops. The Philippine eagle’s presence in the forests denotes a rich forest

ecosystem, one that can sustain and provide for our needs. We cannot afford to lose our

national bird and the vital ecological services that they provide. As we celebrate the life of

the Philippine eagle, we urge the Filipino nation to continue our fight to protect the King

of the Birds from senseless killings.

Moreover, the exhibit caught an

attention of the crowd and spent their

times patiently reading to learn the

information shared and enjoy taking

photos with the standing life -size Eagle,

which played as the main attraction /

subject of the exhibit. One Photo

displayed which captured the attention

of the people walking around is the board

with title “Why Protect the Philippine

Eagle?” because it gives them interesting

facts/ information about the species. In

addition, another board with the details of its

legislation that inform the public on policies

and prohibition related to national bird.

Separate board shows some of the bird’s

values and recommendations on "What We

Can Do to Protect the Eagle.”

The activity became successful with the support of PENR Officer Mamerto V. Cardenas

Jr., TSD Chief, Cesar A. Guevarra Ph. D., Chief, Regulation and Enforcement Section Shirley

P. Uy and cooperative efforts of some PENRO personnels specially of the following:

Norhaya D. Amantonding, Junnalyn U. Cabanlig, Rehana S. Kamid-Sabdullah.

Recognizing the desires to

inspire the minds of Filipino

people on the importance of

the Philippine Eagle among

others as biological

indicator of the forest, a

national symbol, and a

unique heritage; and the

requirements for a unified

and concerted efforts

among all sectors of the

society, the DENR

continuously enjoins

everybody to pro-actively

support and participate on

the quest to protect, save the remaining population, and ensure the survival and

perpetuation of the species.

5. Film Showing (Phil. Eagle)

PENRO Cotabato held and organized a series of film showing that promote awareness

and appreciation of the importance of the Philippine Eagle not only as a national symbol

but as a biological indicator of the state of forest ecosystems. On June 6-8, 2017, film

showing has been performed in the Conference room of CENRO Matalam and witnessed

by employees from PENRO

Cotabato, CENRO Matalam

and OJT of CFCST. Various

environmental related movies

entitled; Environmental

Principles and Keystone

Species, Mangroves and

Forests, Philippines Forest

Formations, Biodiversity in

the Philippine Forest,

Climate Change and

Philippine Wildlife-Our

Pride, Our Hope, Our Duty

have been viewed by the

viewers. During the film

viewing, all were focused on

the characters and plot of

the story. Everyone was

deeply engaged in every scene for the film produced emotional response to viewers. At the

end, several were able to share their reactions and realizations. And different thoughts

and notions were given by them but there is one thing that made up their mind. They will

keep and give their support to protect and conserve our National bird.

6. Distribution of IEC Materials

Effective Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials are an

important component of the comprehensive environmental education campaign. The

distribution and promotion of IEC materials were done to provide awareness and

information to the public.

In an effort of PENRO Cotabato from

June 5-10, 2017 produced and distributed

Information Education and

Commnunication (IEC) materials inside of

Grand Gaisano Mall which underscores the

situation of the Phillipine Eagle and the

importance of protecting our natural

biodiversity. The IEC materials that have been

distributed with the following title; Help Save

Our Threatened Endemic Raptors, How to

Identify Birds, Climate Change & Pag init ng Mundo were totally lucrative to the public

based on their feedback. A total of 128 copies of brochures were distributed to the

costumers.

7. Family Day/ Salu-Salo Day

As we all strive everyday to extend services to the public, as it seems to demand a lot

more from us as the years go by, we find ourselves more tired and with little time to mingle

with other co-worker. It's important to make a pause in life and spend time with other

employees especially with boss.

On June 09, 2017,

PENRO Cotabato and

CENRO Matalam led a one

day family fest as one of the

activity during this

environment month. This

event started with the

Eucharistic Mass Ceremony

at 8:00 O’clock in the

morning. Fr. Jun Balatero

DCK. was lively, dynamic

and challenging. He spoke of good

values and attitude in dealing the

people and the environment as well.

He encouraged the employees to be

an ambassador of goodwill and role

model to the community. The Mass

was in Cebuano, English and with a

little Ilongo but the homily was still

in Cebuano.

When time nearly come to 11:00

o’clock , the potluck brought an overflowing abundance of food, that CDS Chief, Semona

M. Bernadas in charge of the food committee, had to spend most of the hour in the

morning on her feet preparing foods, fruits platters, boxes and packs from the caterer.

Many “wows!” were heard as plenty of food met the eyes when lunch was announced,

everybody was satisfied and happy with the food and orderliness of the service.

After few hours, series

of recreational games

has announced and cited

some rules of the games

event.

Majority of the games

and activities,

participants from

PENRO Cotabato and

CENRO matalam are

active participants that cheered by their respective supporters. One of the employee

participating said, "It was fun, we laughed a lot, and I saw that together with other

employees are capable of doing many things if we do it together." Another one also said,

"I spent a lovely day with

my co-worker, I wish this

day was celebrated more

often."

Despite of frequent

rain in afternoon time,

majority of the employees

were able to join the night

party, which started at

seven o’clock in the

evening. The event was

graced by the presence

Chief Official of Technical Services Division and the live shows of hired local band. Day

ended, employees returned to their homes tired but very happy to have had the

opportunity to spend a special day together and hoping to have similar opportunities in

the near future.

8. Essay Writing Contest

An English creative

writing competition was

held on June 15, 2017 for

the employees of PENRO

Cotabato and CENRO

Matalam, as one of the

activity in celebrating the

environment month. With

an attempt to explore and

nourish the talents of the

participants and

demonstrates their writing

skills, as well as to express

their outlook on the topic.

The participants were asked to

write on the topic “About

Environment Issues” and they were

also asked to submit their essays

composed within one hour with a

minimum of 500 words. The essay

was judged by Regulation and

Enforcement Section Chief, Shirley

P. Uy, University of Southern

Mindanao Professor, Marlyn A.

Resurreccion Ph. D., USM Professor Roviline A. Rapisura Ph. D. on the basis of the

participant’s vocabulary, presentation and grammar.

Through a long

process of critical

judgment, the Panel of

Judges finally selected the

best three write-ups for

award. Among the

contestants Ms. Cherelyn

O. Navarra grabbed the

first position. Ms. Desiree

Mae J. Dumanig turned out to be second and Ms. Michelle N. Ortega secured the third

position. The rest of the participants are namely; Nicole H. Gevero, Junalyn U. Cabanlig,

Jun Anne Lingkob, and Salymah Kusingan. The winners were awarded with P 1500.00 for

the first prize, P 1,000.00 for the second prize and P 500.00 for the third prize respectively.

The prize-money along with honour of crest and certificates were handed over to them by

the honorable judges during the event.

9. Culmination Day Celebration

To formally close the

Environment Month 2017

Celebration, the DENR-

PENRO Cotabato

together with CENRO

Matalam conducted its

culmination program last

June 30, 2017 held at the

office of PENRO

Cotabato.

The Program started with an opening

remarks of For. Shirley P. Uy, Chief of

Regulation and Enforcement Section. She

expressed her warm welcome address to the

participants with gratitude in the active

participation of the said office. PENR Officer

Mamerto V. Cardenas Jr. delivered also his

message wherein he summarized all the

activities conducted by the office in

celebration of the Environment Month. He urged the employees to continue to give

service to the people as well as sustain their efforts in protecting and preserving the

environment.

Another spotlight of the

event is the presentation of

PENRO Cotabato ”Side B” band

group who sang environmental

Song “Mother Nature Need Us”.

The song promotes the

environmental awareness,

develop

environmental protection against

pollution, and protect the mother

earth. The “Side B” Band Jammers

provided remarkable music and

entertainment. However at the same

time, the talent from CENRO

Matalam unleashed their energy on

the dance floor by performing a

modern dance.

The program was ended with

the inspiring remarks given by the

Chief of Technical Services

Division, Cesar A. Guevarra Ph. D.

with his message “The only way

forward, if we are going to improve

the quality of the environment, is to

get everybody involved”.

Prepared By: Attested By:

ARMANDO C. VICTORIA CESAR A. GUEVARRA Ph.D. ISA II/Acting PIO Chief, Technical Services Div.

Approved By:

MAMERTO V. CARDENAS JR. PENR Offcier