DENR7 Leads Month-long Celebration of Environment Month

(PIA7) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) leads a month-long celebration of the Philippine environment month this June with the theme, “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.”

DENR-7 Regional Public Information Office head, Dr. Ed Llamedo said, the celebration kicked off with a foot parade on June 1 led by DENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo and other DENR7 officials including its line bureaus and stakeholders with other regional directors from various national government agencies (NGAs), DENR7 headed the opening during the Unified Flag Raising Ceremony, at the DepED Ecotech Center, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

In his message, Montejo urged all national and local government units to get involved in the environment celebration to ensure its protection and conservation and equally mindful of the present threats of climate change.

Montejo said this year’s theme aptly describes the need to responsibly consume our natural resources and should work against the depletion and overexploitation of natural resources.

One of the features of the opening was the ceremonial tree planting led by Montejo with the other nine regional directors from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and National Science Teaching Instrumentation Center (NSTIC).

Montejo also presented the activities slated for the environment month celebration including a series of campaign programs and activities geared toward raising the level of awareness on environmental issues and concerns.

DENR7 will also conduct several clean-up and tree planting activities to sustain, rehabilitate, and protect our ecosystem, Llamedo said.

According to Llamedo, on June 5 there will be a simultaneous mangrove planting and clean-up drive in various coastal areas in the region in observance of the World Environment Day (WED).

In coordination witvarious schools in the region, DENR will also conduct the Earth Stewardship Forum in Bohol Island State University (BISU), Bilar Campus on June 17; Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) in Pamplona Campus on June 22; and Cebu Technological University (CTU), Tuburan Campus on June 23.

To involve public elementary and secondary schools to practice proper solid waste management, tree growing and other environment-friendly initiatives, a green schools campaign and distribution of IEC materials is conducted within the period, Llamedo added.

DENR-partner industries and pollution control officers will also gather for a training course through Environmental Congress organized by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) on June 17-18.

The LGUs in the region will also gather for the Experimental Forest awareness and Appreciation Campaign and Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting initiated by the Biodiversity, Coastal, Wetlands, and Ecotourism Research Center (BCWERC) on June 19 to orient the importance of experimental forests and its existing programs.

Other activities include Mining Symposium and Mine Tour by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) on June 24; tree growing activity in line with the Arbor Day celebration on June 25 and the 3rd Cebu Run for the Rivers on June 28 by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry in line with the celebration of Cebu Business Month.

For the culmination on June 29, DENR will hold an Appreciation Night for DENR partners by recognizing the sincere efforts in promoting and advocating environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.

The Philippine Environment Month is an annual celebration conducted every month of June. (mbcn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/with reports from Dr. Ed Llamedo/DENR7)