DENR-IX CELEBRATES THE NATIONAL CLEAN UP MONTH AND THE PHILIPPINE CIVIL SERVICE ANNIVERSARY

Unloading of Mahogany Seedlings for Tree Planting

activity. (Photo by Fred Larubis II/DENR -IX)

PAGADIAN CITY - Friends of Biodiversity have shown great enthusiasm as they participated in a tree planting and coastal clean-up activities led recently by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IX, Pagadian City at Barangay Bulanit, Labangan, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Biodiversity is a contraction of the words “biological” and “diversity”. It is the web of life that encompasses all species on earth including the full-range of ecosystems, their component species, and the genetic variety of those species produced by nature or shaped by humans. We all depend on the world’s vast biodiversity to supply our daily needs. (ACB Publication)

WMSU-ESU Students alight the DENR service bus to

participate in the coastal clean-up and tree planting

activities. (Photo by Fred Larubis II/DENR –IX)

The said activities were undertaken to highlight the observance of the National Clean up Month (September) and the International Coastal Clean-up  (ICC) Day (3^rd Saturday of September) with their themes: “Clean Up the World!” and “Our Place, Our Planet, Our Responsibility” , respectively. It also coincided with the celebration of the Philippine Civil Service Month with its theme: “Kawani, Ikaw Ay Isang Lingkod Bayan”.

ICC is an initiative of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and Ocean Conservancy that started in Texas Coast way back in 1986, 2,800 Texans picked up 124 tons of rubbish from 122 miles of Texans Coastlines. (ICC Primer-CMMD)

GAD Regional Focal Person Milca N. Huellar supervises

the coastal clean-up. (Photo by Fred Larubis II/DENR –IX)

The environmental efforts were carried out by around 120 persons composed of 80 Western Mindanao State University–External Studies Unit (WMSU-ESU) students, Pagadian City campus; 30 DENR employees from the  Office of the Regional Executive Director and CENRO Pagadian City, and 10 officers & members of Bulanit Seaweeds Farmers Association (BSFA).

According to Ms. Milca N. Huelar, Regional Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Person who facilitated the activities, an estimated 10 sacks of marine debris with more or less 100 kilos were gathered from 1- kilometer coastline and 300 mahogany seedlings were planted inland, all at Barangay Bulanit.

An employee of CENRO Pagadian City teaches students

the ABC in Tree Planting before going to the planting site.

(Photo by Fred Larubis II/DENR –IX)

Forester Hiya Jaapar who led the IEC team said the non-DENR participants were oriented earlier on the Department’s programs, projects and activities for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources.

In his lecture, Forester Jaapar explained that our government showed its enthusiasm and support over the activity by declaring the month of September as the National Clean up Month by the then President Fidel V. Ramos thru the issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 244 dated September 3, 1992.  The ICC Day was eventually institutionalized by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 470 by then Pres. Gloria Arroyo.

The implementation of ICC aims to increase awareness on marine debris crisis and its adverse impact on the people and environment; remove debris from the shores, surface and under waters and waterways; gather information on the debris collected and submit these to CMC for inclusion to an international study on marine debris; use the information gathered to influence the LGUs to formulate and enact resolutions and ordinances for marine environmental protection and conservation; and to articulate the importance of a clean, healthy and sustainable marine environment.

The cleanup activities are classified into coastal cleanup wherein volunteers pick up trash from the shorelines; underwater cleanup-scuba divers remove trash found in coral reefs and on sea grass beds; water surface clean up -volunteers ride boats, kayaks or rafts and scoop trash floating on the water surface; and waterways cleanup–volunteers clean the rivers, lakes, streams, estuaries, esteros, canals and other bodies of water aside from the coastal areas and marine water.

ICC in Region–IX last year, a total of 1,740 volunteers shared their precious time and effort toto help clean 12.7 kilometers of shoreline and collected 214 bags of garbage with an estimated weight of 4,010 kilos, Forester Jaapar said. (H. A. Ascura/DENR-IX PR)