Press Releases

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CAR, along with the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Office of the Civil Defense Cordillera, the 505th Search and Rescue Group and Tactical Operations Group 1 of the Philippine Air Force, and the Barangay Local Government Unit of Sakba are currently on the ground responding to a forest fire at Brgy. Ekip, Bokod.
 
The fire which razed Sitio Petal, Pedal, Proper and Bakian, all parts of the Upper Agno River Basin Resource Reserve started on March 23.
 
Initial report from the BFP Bokod confirmed one casualty which involved a certain 61-year old, Johnny Baniwas.
 
A residential property owned by Arcemai Antonion and an ongoing house construction at Sitio Puodan were also damaged.
 
As of writing, an emergency operations center has been established at the municipal substation in Ambangeg.
 
Inter-agency collaborations are currently ongoing to immediately suppress the fire such as Aerial Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis and inspection; Bambi bucket operations; and continuous air to ground response planning, operations and management.
 
The cause of fire is still under investigation.
 
In collaboration with the Environment and Management Bureau – Cordillera Administrative Region (EMB-CAR) the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), dance their way in celebration of the International World Water Day with the theme: “accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”.
 
This is an eye opener and a call for every individual to make a difference by changing the way we use, consume, and manage water in our lives with the slogan “Be the change you want to see the world.”
 
The activity was accompanied by the Watershed and Water Resources Research Development and Extension Center (WWRRDEC), Bureau of Fire Protection – Cordillera Administrative Region (BFP-CAR), and the Philippine National Police Regional Office – Cordillera Administrative Region (PNP-RO-CAR).
 
The purpose of this activity is to celebrate the International World Water Day, to conserve, consume, use, and treasure wisely. By means of water, we give life to everything. Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water. We must consume water judiciously and not waste even a drop of water and to treat it as the most precious treasure the we possess and consume it accordingly. We must also motivate our family, friends, and neighbors to use water wisely and not waste it.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), awarded a Special Forest Land Agreement (FLAG) for hydro electric power generation to HEDCOR, Inc. The latter's projects are located Bineng, La Trinidad and Banenbeng, Sablan, Benguet.
The FLAG is a conversion of the previously awarded Forest Land Use Permit (SLUP) numbered DENR-CAR-04-9122022. The SLUP covering a total area of 11.5 hectares was reduced to 9.7 hectares.
This project is seen to spur socioeconomic development not only at the regional level, but in the communities. Given that it is a renewable energy project, it aims to displace about 25,000 tons of carbon emission that would have otherwise been emitted by fossil fuel fired power plants.
 
Engr. Ralph C. Pablo, Regional Executive Dir. of DENR-CAR emphasized that HEDCOR Inc. should abide and implement smoothly, timely all the conditions stipulated in the agreement and that they shouldl be regularly monitored.
 
In response, Mr. Rolando Vergara, Jr. the Vice President of Renewable Energy Project Development and Execution of HEDCOR, Inc thanked the DENR for awarding the Special Land Use Agreement and committed to work out the conditions stipulated in the agreement.
 
The tenurial instrument was duly endorsed with no objection from the Barangay, Municipality of Sablan.
 
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-CAR also issued a Certificate of Pre- Condition for the project.
 
Special Forest Land Use Agreement (FLAG) is a land tenure security awarded to Filipino citizens, cooperatives or corporations / associations with juridical personality for co-production, joint venture purposely to develop the forest lands into appropriate productive uses, to provide equitable economic opportunities to local communities and other stakeholders, to generate additional revenues for the government and optimize the use of forestlands to ensure continuous productive uses and services therefrom.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CAR is ready for change.
 
The installation of Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga is expected to bring change to the Department as she reframes the Department's priorities.
 
Regional Executive Director Engr. Ralph Pablo said that the Department will have to do away, a little bit, from its 10 Priority Programs, but will incorporate relevant concepts and strategies to holistically address climate change and promote climate mitigation and adaptation.
 
"Basically this year, we will be employing strategies that will strengthen the resilience of our natural resources, ecosystems and communities. Apart from these, we will strengthen our resilience as an organization," he said referring to the climate actions of the government.
 
Pablo also emphasized that the DENR now seeks to carry out its undertakings through strengthened partnerships with and participation of national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, the academe, people's organizations, and community people.
 
"More than ever, we hope to extend our networks and mobilize our resources through multi-stakeholder partnerships; improve our operational efficiency by enhancing our human resource capacities and maximizing our limited resources," he stressed.
 
The regional and field officials took the directives positively eith enthusiasm, even reprogramming their Work and Financial Plans in accordance with that of the DENR Central Office.
More college students will be planting trees. This, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CAR (DENR-CAR) and 34 higher education learning institutions entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Commission on Higher Education-CAR (CHED-CAR) for the implementation of Project SAGIP.
 
Project SAGIP is a climate action initiative of CHED-CAR which focuses on tree planting and growing. It enjoins student beneficiaries in the financial assistance programs of the Commission to plant trees as their contribution to the environment.
 
The participants under the Project shall include but are not limited to the beneficiaries, scholars or grantees under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES); Tulong Dunong under the TES; Student Loan Program (SLP); CHED Merit-Based Scholarship Program (CMBSP); Scholarships for Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP); and other scholarship grants t be implemented and monitored by the CHED in the undergraduate and graduate level. Students benefiting from the Free Higher Education (FHE) in state universities and colleges, as well as scholars and grantees from other government and non-government projects or scholarships will also be enjoined to participate in the project.
 
Under Project SAGIP, the students shall be required to plant at least one fruit-bearing tree and or one indigenous tree in their locality per year. The activity shall then be a part of the reportorial requirements of the students for the renewal of their scholarship or grants.
 
The conduct of tree planting activities shall be coordinated with the concerned Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in their locality.
 
Apart from tree planting, the participating students shall maintain and monitor their planted trees to ensure survival.
 
On the part of the DENR-CAR, all PENROs and CENROs shall be mobilized to provide the needed technical assistance and logistics, especially seedlings appropriate in their respective localities, subject to their availability.
 
Apart from assistance in the conduct of tree planting activities, the DENR-CAR shall ensure provision of resource persons or subject-matter experts in the conduct of learning and development activities related to the project which include forestry, environmental sustainability, climate change, geosciences, among others.
 
To motivate higher education institutions to consistently and enthusiastically implement the project, CHED-CAR will carry out the SAGIP Innovation award which will recognize the HEIs, local government units, and students with distinctive innovative works in the implementation of the project.
 
HEIs which agreed and committed to participating in Project SAGIP include the University of the Cordilleras; University of Baguio; Saint Louis University; Saint Louis College Inc.; Saint Louis College of Bulanao; STI Education Services Group Inc. – Baguio; San Pablo Major Seminary; Philippine Nazarene College; Pines City Colleges; Philippine College of Ministry; Kings Colleges of the Philippines – Benguet; Keystone College Inc.; Kalinga State University; Kalinga Colleges of Science and Technology; International School of Asia and the Pacific – Kalinga; Ifugao State University; Easter College Inc.; Divine Word College of Bangued; Data Center College of the Philippines Baguio City; Data Center College of the Philippines Bangued; Cordillera A+ Computer Technology College; Baguio College of Technology; Benguet State University; Cordillera Career Development College; Casiciaco Reclectos Seminary; Abra State Institute of Science and Technology; Abra Valley Colleges; Mountain Province State Polytechnic College; Apayao State College; BVS Colleges Inc.; BSBT College; AMA Computer College – Baguio; and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College.