World Environment Day 2013 Success Celebrated in Pagadian City

A grand motorcade during the World Environment

Day 2013.

A grand motorcade during the World Environment

Day 2013.

PAGADIAN CITY - The celebration of the 2013 Philippine Environment Month reels off with the conduct of a Motorcade and Program by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in observance of  World Environment Day yesterday (June 5, 2013) in Pagadian City.

With the theme “Think.Eat.Save,” various groups composed of DENR-IX personnel, city government officials led by newly-elected Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones, other government agencies, fast food chain stores, and civic groups conducted a motorcade around the city to drumbeat awareness and generate advocacy for the environment.

During the program at Plaza Luz stage, the different officials present took turns in extolling the importance of the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) call for a concerted effort to reduce food waste, save money, minimize the environmental impact of food production and force food production processes to become more efficient.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones, as the guest speaker, lamented about the abundance of food being wasted and yet, here in the city, there are certain groups of people begging in the streets and go to bed hungry.

Speakers during the program proper (upper left)

Mayor Romeo Pulmones, (upper right) RD Sixto E.

Tolentino, (lower left) Dr. Adelaida R. Borja and

(lower right) RTD Dioscoro Melana.

“Asa kitang dapita nasayup ng anagpadayon man ang pagka usik sa mga pagkaon nga angay unta nahi adto sa mga kabos nga kanunay nagkutoy ang mga tiyan. Tingali managsama mang atong mga pangagpas. Nagpanghitabo kini tungod kay kulang kita sa tinuod nga programa nga hugtanon gayud nga i-implementar. Salamat nga adunay World Environment Day diin pinaagi sa maong celebrasyon hinayhinaynga mabuksan ang atong mga mata aron Makita ang tinuod ngasitwasyon”, Mayor Pulmones added.

Lastly, Mayor Pulmones consider this problem as an additional challenge to his administration and shall be given top priority.

DENR-9 RED Arleigh J. Adorable delivers his 

environmental message

DENR-IX Regional Executive Director Arleigh J. Adorable, in his message, pointed out the stress on the limited resources in order to produce food in the country. He specifically mentioned the conversion of agricultural lands into commercial and residential areas which lessens our capacity to produce more food.

“Other factors involved in the production of food which we need to take into consideration include the patronizing of organic food and locally-produced products that require less emissions-producing handling and transport to our tables”, RED Adorable said.

Environment Management Bureau Regional

Director Sixto Tolentino

On the other hand,   Environment Management Bureau Regional Director Sixto Tolentino challenged everyone present to be a beacon of advocacy towards environmental protection. Citing the need for more awareness and advocates for the environment, he dared everyone to be like the light of a candle that glows and glimmers in the darkness of ignorance. Starting to advocate and help spread awareness for the environment is a big boost towards a concerted global effort for the preservation of our environment.

(PENRO) Dr. Adelaida R. Borja

Also present during the occasion were Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Dr. Adelaida Borja who gave the opening remarks, Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services Regional Technical Director Dr. Diosocoro Melana who gave the closing message, Forest Management Services Regional Technical Director Ali M. Bari and Pagadian City Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ernesto Alcibar.

Dr. Diosocoro Melana, Regional Technical Director

Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone

Management Services

Meanwhile, DENR-IX has lined up numerous activities for this year’s Environment Month Celebration. It began with a kick-off program last June 3 during the Monday’s Convocation of the regional office in Pagadian City.

June 4-10 is declared as Philippine Eagle Conservation Week with the theme “Saving Eagles, Protecting Forests, Securing Our Future”. Thus, the Regional Eagle Watch Team has come out with a series of information campaign activities to drum-beat the occasion.

June 5 will also see DENR-IX key personnel as guests or interviewed in regular radio programs of DXKP and DXBZ- Radyo Bagting based in Pagadian City.

On June 19- 21, a Youth for Environment Camp will be conducted by DENR-IX personnel to teachers and students of Canatuan National High School in Zamboanga del Norte.

On June 25, DENR-IX will invite the public in general to join them in a tree planting activitiy to commemorate the day as Philippine Arbor Day.

From June 26-28, the DalawTuro Team will visit schools in Isabela City, Basilan Province to conduct information campaign among teachers and students.

The month of June was assigned as Philippine Environment Month through Proclamation No. 237, series of 1988 in support to the observance of World Environment Day with the objective of “instilling environmental awareness and concern among various sectors of Philippine society.” (R. Tan, DENR-IX News Release)