Climate Change/Environment

KORONADAL CITY - Top officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 12 are now "engaging and investing" on the youth in the campaign for proper waste disposal in the Soccsksargen region.

In a statement, DENR XII Regional Executive Director Dr. Sabdullah C. Abubacar, CESO IV emphasized that one of the main roles of the DENR is to extend technical assistance to the local government units and other stakeholders in protecting and conserving the environment and natural resources.

COTABATO CITY --- There is a member of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliament, preacher Alzad Sattar, who engages in community work beyond BARMM duties.

Sattar of Basilan province is often seen collecting garbage for disposal along streets in Isabela City during free time despite his being a member of the BARMM parliament.

He belongs to the Basilan Ulama Supreme Council that actively supports the cleanup drive in Isabela City of newcomers Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman and Vice Mayor Kifli Salliman.

ISABELA CITY --- The Basilan Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force will intensify its crackdown on poaching of forest products in tropical timberlands in the province.

The task force is comprised of representatives from the Army’s 104th Brigade, whose units are deployed in different towns in Basilan, from the provincial police office and the environment and natural resources department.

COTABATO CITY – Environment officials and volunteers joined hands Thursday in a simultaneous cleanup drive in Maguindanao province to mark the Environment Month.

Minister Abdulraof Macacua of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MENRE-BARMM) led environment officials in holding a coastal cleanup drive in barangays Badak and Kusiong, both in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

KORONADAL CITY -- Iniligtas ng local ng pamahalaan ang mahigit 50 pamilya sa Barangay New, Iloilo, Tantangan, South Cotabato.

Ito ay matapos malubog sa hanggang bewang na baha sanhi ng malakas na pagulan kahapon ang kanilang lugar. Ang mga nailigtas na mamamayan ay dinala ng mga kasapi ng rescue team ng Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council sa Barangay Gym.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The local government unit of Kidapawan has issued reminder to its constituents about possible landslides and flash floods as the state bureau officially announced the coming of rainy season.

On Monday afternoon, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported the overflow of at rivers in the city residential areas.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista of Kidapawan City said the city has prepared evacuation plan for residents living near creeks and rivers should the river water rises to critical level.

COTABATO CITY  – The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MENRE-BARMM) has become the first BARMM agency that remitted huge amount of revenues to the regional treasury, an environment official said.

Since MENRE-BARMM Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua took over the leadership of the defunct Department of Enrivonment and Natural Resources (DENR-ARMM) on March 1 this year, the environmental agency has already remitted a total of P207,010,832 as of June 13.

COTABATO CITY  -- In celebration of the Environment Month this June, environment officials and employees have conducted soil bagging activity on Thursday to prepare young trees for tree planting activities.

Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MENRE-BARMM) led employees in soil bagging at the ministry’s regional nursery in Barangay Dimapatoy, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

It is among the major environmental efforts of MENRE to be actualized this June.

COTABATO CITY -- Three public elementary schools in Maguindanao have been underwater due to torrential rains affecting the province and the rest of Mindanao the past few days.

The flooded schools are the Pagatin Elementary School in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town; Sambulawan Elementary School (Shariff Saydona Mustapha); and Barurao Elementary School (Sultan sa Barongis).

Alibai Benito Aliuden, Maguindanao 1st division schools’ superintendent, quoted a report from the school principals of the affected schools that flooding had been a perennial problem.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – At least 10 houses made of light materials were destroyed after what residents believed was a freak tornado that hit farming communities in Barangay Buayan, Mlang, North Cotabato Sunday night, a belated report showed.

Bernardo Tayong, Mlang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (MDRRM) officer, said strong wind during heavy down pour at past 6 p.m. totally destroyed four homes while the rest sustained partial damages.

A huge mango tree and several coconut trees were also toppled down and hit several homes.