Climate Change/Environment

COTABATO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 12 (DENR-XII) on April 30 turned over the initial batch of Cotabato City's land-related documents to the management of the Bangsamoro region's Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE).
 
DENR-XII Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Engr. Mama G. Samaon and MENRE Land Management Services (LMS) Director Eshan Karl O. Mabang led the turnover ceremony held in Koronadal City.
 

COTABATO CITY – Locally known as “Kokam”, a Philippine slow loris held captive in Tawi- Tawi was turned over to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy’s (MENRE) provincial office last week, April 16.

A local resident found the animal in a malnourished condition in Barangay Mandulan, Bongao municipality.

According to Community ENRE Officer of Tawi-Tawi 1st District Saido Espiliro, the animal was held captive for a few months before it was rescued.

On Earth Day, a Catholic bishop rallied the people in mineral-rich Surigao del Sur to unite in protecting the environment after the government lifted a ban on new mining deals.

Bishop Raul Dael of Tandag urged the people to be steadfast, assuring them that the diocese will never back down on its mission to “care for the creation”.

“We will never give up in protecting, preserving and allowing the fruitfulness of our creation to be witnessed in abundance,” Dael said.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Almost 200 kilos of garbage, mostly bottles and plastic water bottles, were retrieved and brought down from Lake Venado and the peak of Mt. Apo in a recent clean-up climb at the country's highest peak.

The clean-up/climb conducted from Feb. 22 - 27 was initiated by the Department of Natural Resources North Cotabato provincial office and the Mt. Apo National Park Protected Area Management Board, with the support of the local tourism offices of Magpet town and Kidapawan City.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Around 94 baby turtles “made their way home” to the Sarangani Bay on Wednesday afternoon after hatching at a protected nesting site in a coastal village in Glan town, Sarangani province.

Forester Abdul Cariga, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Glan, said the Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) were found by a concerned resident early Wednesday crawling in the shores of Purok Islam, Barangay Glan Padidu.

KORONADAL CITY  – Hundreds of whales and dolphins were spotted in Sarangani Bay during the Feb.2-5 marine mammal monitoring in the protected seascape by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 12 and its partners.

Joy C. Ologuin, protected area superintendent (PASu) of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), said that food hunting and nursing of calves are the possible reasons why the whales and dolphins were in the bay.

KIAMBA, Sarangani - Another Philippine eagle was rescued by Mang Ganang in Sitio Wata, Barangay Ticulab, Maitum, Sarangani. The said eagle is now under the custody of the Philippine Eagle Foundation for observation.

On January 9, 2021, CENRO Kiamba came to see the rescued raptor and met Mr. Ganang.

Accoding to him: “I saw a big bird trying to catch a monkey in the portion of the forest, near the Salagbanog Falls. After a quick swipe on its prey, the raptor fell from the tree and was trapped in the thorny vines of rattan.”

GEN. SANTOS CITY - Another fish kill hit Lake Sebu in South Cotabato on Friday, forcing tilapia fish cage operators to launch a massive emergency harvest.

Lake Sebu Mayor Floro Gandam confirmed in a radio interview on Saturday the latest fish kill has affected fish cages in three barangays surrounding the 354-hectare mountain lake.

He said the affected areas were portions of the lake’s waters in barangays Poblacion, Bacdulong, and Takunel.

“The emergency harvests are ongoing to save the remaining tilapia,” the mayor said.

COTABATO CITY - THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has turned over all government documents and resource maps pertaining to protected areas located in the component provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Effectively, the BARMM’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) now officially oversees protected areas, following the official turnover by DENR Undersecretary for Enforcement, Mining and Muslim Affairs Jim O. Sampulna to BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof A. Macacua.

LUPON, Davao Oriental – A family of the critically endangered Philippine eagle has recently been spotted in the forests of Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Official photographer of the Provincial Information Office, Eden Jhan Licayan, who took the photos and some video footage of the rare sightings, said he spotted a total of three Philippine eagles during the assessment of potential tourism sites in the area on December 7-10.

Licayan said he first spotted a young Philippine eagle perched on a tree near its nest while emitting a powerful call.