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12 16 REDs Activity for 2021Even with the on-going pandemic this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of Region XI headed by its Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel A. Evasco, still made an all-out implementation of DENR’s mandate by undertaking various programs and projects within and outside the region. With the aim to strategize solutions in addressing environmental issues, various activities were conducted this year which are part of the accomplishments of Region XI.

 

CREATION OF A JOINT INTER-REGIONAL TASK FORCE OF MINDANAO REGIONS

The creation of a Joint Inter-Regional Task Force aims to intensify the enforcement of environmental laws and keep the guards up against timber poaching activities in the borders of Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

This year, RED Evasco went to these said regions in order to confer with the Regional Executive Directors of Mindanao Regions in order to attain an agreeable confluence on ways to further strengthen inter-regional partnership and alliance particularly on combatting illegal logging activities across Mindanao.

These productive meetings enabled the directors to elaborate environmental conservation and protection of natural resources including forest products through the signing of Inter-Regional resolution on the issue of illegal logging activities in the tri-boundaries of the said regions.

 

MT. APO YEARLY 3-MONTH OFF-SEASON

By virtue of PAMB-EnBanc Resolution No. 06, Series of 2021, the Protected Area Management Board of Mt. Apo Natural Park through its Chairman DENR-XI Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel A. Evasco, started to implement its yearly 3-month off-season this year.

The 3-month off-season was recommended by RED Evasco after he conducted a monitoring assessment in Mt. Apo together with DENR-XI Team. They had multiple observations of the mountain’s status that need to be addressed immediately.

In Region XI, the off-season started last July, August and September this year. On year 2022, this will be implemented on the months of June, July and August to give way for the rehabilitation of MANP, improvement of its public services, to push for biodiversity conservation and preservation and to strengthen law enforcement mechanisms.

Moreover, the off season also aims to give flora and fauna species in Mt. Apo an undisturbed space and time especially during the months of July to September, as it is the breeding and mating period of some of these species.

 

STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DENR-XI AND CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Headed by RED Evasco, DENR Region XI signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Central Mindanao University (CMU) which is a government institution and is one of the top universities in the country located in Bukidnon.

With the aim to continuously conduct scientific researches, biodiversity monitoring and other conservation activities not only in Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental but to whole of Davao Region, this Agreement was signed to unveil the richness of flora and fauna of Region XI and to be able to discover new species that are mostly site-endemic.

As stipulated in the MOA, DENR-XI will facilitate the provisions of technical assistance.

Last June, just in time to celebrate World Environment Day, Mt. Hamiguitan has unearthed yet another flora species that is the first genus ever recorded in the Philippines and the 5th species in the world.

Amylotheca cleofei is a newly-described flowering plant which was first documented in 2019 at Mt. Hamiguitan by the researchers from the National Museum of the Philippines and the Central Mindanao University. This newly-described mistletoe was named after Clint Michael B. Cleofe of DENR-XI who joined and assisted the researchers during their expedition in Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

CORAL REEF MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEM AND MARINE LIFE

A diver himself, RED Evasco along with the team of rehabilitators from the Coastal Resources and Foreshore Management Section (CRFMS), conducted a coral reef monitoring and assessment activity in Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental.

The dive in Pujada Bay formed part of the team’s installation of new monitoring site for coral and fish assessment of which several positive findings has been recorded during the underwater voyage. Aside from affirmative findings, the team also observed threats including the indiscriminate anchoring of boats which cause damages to the corals.

Along with the LGU officials of Davao Oriental, RED Evasco also headed to Kailukan Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Brgy. Lucatan, Municipality of Tarragona. The director dove the waters himself to check on the current status of the live coral cover thereat as well the fish species habituating in it.

On the other hand, RED Evasco together with DENR-XI Team conducted a Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) of Balut Island in Davao Occidental which is qualified to become a Protected Landscape and Seascape. This activity was closely coordinated with the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Balut Island.

 

RESOLVING TRI-BOUNDARY CONFLICTS IN DAVAO REGION

RED Evasco has taken initial steps to resolve the tri-boundary conflicts or land disputes in Davao Region through a proposed harmonization process between the National Government Agencies and the Local Government Units.

In separate presentations to the LGUs of Davao City, Lands Management Bureau and Lands Journal Screening Committee, RED Evasco stated the core problems, policy analysis and his proposed policy recommendations.

During his meeting with Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte, both officials discussed various problems and issues like boundary conflicts and selling of lands in areas classified as timberlands and within ancestral domains.

The two goal-driven leaders who aim for strong partnership also gone harmonizing the laws between the Local Government Code of 1991 or RA 7160, DENR’s PD 705 of 1975 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 or RA 8371.

 

MT. CANDALAGA: AN EYED PROTECTED AREA

As DENR-XI aims to add Mt. Candalaga in Maragusan, Davao de Oro to the list of Protected Areas in Davao Region, a reconnaissance climb, headed by RED Evasco, was conducted last April of this year.

Following the major climb, the team has consolidated its assessment and significant observations on the mountain’s biodiversity, trails and campsites and porters and guides.

To attain its goals, DENR-XI will work on having Mt. Candalaga a target of Protected Area Suitability Assessment which is an initial step for its inclusion in the National Integrated Protected Areas System or NIPAS.

 

DREDGING OF NABOC RIVER

After a year of activity hiatus due to pandemic, the dredging of Naboc River has finally commenced last March 12, 2021 in Brgy. Naboc, Monkayo, Davao de Oro. The ceremony was especially graced by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu along with other top officials from DENR Central and Regional offices, members of the local government units of the province headed by Davao de Oro Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy, members of the province’s indigenous cultural communities as well as the dredgers or holders of the Industrial Sand and Gravel permits.

Prior to the commencement of the dredging, the DENR has conducted series of conferment and preliminary activities. These include issuance of Cease and Desist Order against the carbon and pulp and ball mill operators and have them transferred from Mt. Diwata to Mabatas Mineral Zone in Brgy. Upper Ulip, Monkayo.

There were also river cleanup activities, signing of agreement between the LGU and the DENR for the rehabilitation, desilting and quarrying of the river, site identification for the installation of mercury-recovery facilities, constant water sampling, conduct of sample dredging as well as an all-out stoppage of mineral processing operations for those who still did not transfer to the allotted processing zone.

The Secretary also challenged the river rehabilitators to make the operation a success. He emphasized that there is no other option but to succeed and that the project is one that “we cannot afford to fail.”

Dredging forms part of the full-scale rehabilitation of the Naboc River which is an all-out effort to restore its clean, pristine and toxic-free condition.