DENR Kalikasan Vol. 5 No. 4

VOLUME 5 NO. 4 DECEMBER 2018 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Cover by: Fly Cam Aerial Film

INSIDE ISSUE:

DENR SUSTAINS FORESTS THRU
NGP AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE on p.4

AGUSAN MARSH: MANOBO'S TREASURE TROVE

on p.5

ILOILO MINISTERIAL DECLARATION on p.6-7
DENR CES, READY TO TAKE ON THE
CHALLENGES OF 2019 on p.8
WHEN SCIENCE MEETS ACCOUNTING on p.8

LET US MARK OUR HISTORY IN

2 019
TO PAGE 2

2 Source: Reuters
(FROM TOP TO BOTTOM): President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte;
LET US MARK . . . FROM PAGE 1 DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu strongly emphasize the agency's commitment during the rehabilitation of Boracay

The year-end is usually the time when people, media, and critics
pass judgment on government’s performance, looking back
on what they think the administration and its agencies have
achieved and failed to accomplish.
For us in the DENR, whose manifold duties and tasks are taken in
consonance with the wide scope and range of environment and natural
resources concern, it is hard for these observers to see the big picture of
our agency’s actual performance in its entirety of work. Most often, they
size up our feats and defeats based on how we resolve popular issues.
For year 2018, the yardstick laid upon us was our ability to bail out
Boracay. The world knows how Boracay was tagged by President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte as a cesspool and ordered it closed for six-month
rehabilitation. Yet, notwithstanding the given limited time, our
Department and the whole Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) were
able, not only to restore back the beaches’ pristine water quality, but
more so, put up a comprehensive system of sustainability measures.
Boracay is not crowded anymore; the carrying capacity of the island is
now being enforced. Its beach fronts are much wider; all illegal structures
obstructing the easement areas were taken out. The surroundings are
cleaner because a new system of garbage collection and disposal is now
in operation. The quality of the beach waters has significantly improved
because the faulty sewers and dirty outflows directly polluting the
beaches have been addressed. The air is fresher now, and there is no
more traffic. This is because e-trikes and e-vehicles, as new forms of
public utility vehicle, are now plying on the widened roads of the island.
It is not noisy anymore at night because strict policies on orderliness are
being imposed. Furthermore, Boracay’s wetlands have been cleared off
with informal settlers and illegal structures.
I guess no critics would deny that DENR has performed well in 2018. The
media, the tourists, the small business establishment owners, and the
local people who initially opposed the idea of closing Boracay and were
afraid of losing much income, were all praises on the huge improvements
and sustainability measures enforced in the island. Even President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte was very pleased on the turnout of Boracay rehabilitation.
Boracay has become a model for sustainable ecotourism that other
ecotourism sites and coastal areas are now replicating.
However, as I have mentioned earlier, the actual achievements of our
Department, in its entirety of work, go beyond the success of Boracay
rehabilitation. In 2018, many of our programs and activities have exceeded
their annual targets. These include programs in clean air, clean water,
solid waste management, National Greening Program, forest protection,
land disposition, biodiversity protection and conservation, climate
change and disaster risk reduction management, responsible mining, and
ecological research and development.
The year 2018 was a good year, and I thank all of you my fellow workers
in DENR for the job well done. Yet, 2019 will even be a better one. We are
given the great opportunity to accomplish remarkable things and mark
history. We are also about to begin what seems to be our biggest and
most difficult challenge in our mandate to protect the environment—
the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
Our President has once more spoken; he wants Manila Bay cleaned
and rehabilitated. On January 27, 2019, we shall commence our tasks in
addressing Manila Bay’s pollution problem. We had brought down the
fecal coliform level of 1 million MPN/100 ml of Boracay water; but now, we
have to bring down the fecal coliform level of 330 million MPN/100ml of
Manila Bay water. So, as you can see, the difficulty and required effort to
accomplish our target in rehabilitating Manila Bay is about 330 times of
Boracay rehabilitation.
Fellow workers in DENR let us all mark history again. You all have been
with me in 2018, so be with me again this 2019. You have always been
with me in Boracay, now be with me again in Manila Bay. The Supreme
Court has decreed; a Mandamus was issued; our President has spoken; so
we have to do it! We need to bring back Manila Bay to its former pristine
condition—for our nation, for our people, and for our future.

Secretary Roy A. Cimatu

VOLUME 5 NO.4 DECEMBER 2018

3

From 1 million MPN/100 ml coliform rehabilitation...

White Beach, Station 1, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan

Manila Bay facing Roxas Boulevard

...to 330 million MPN/100 ml...

VOLUME 5 NO.4 DECEMBER 2018

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D E N R S U S TA I N S F O R E S T S T H R O U G H

N G P A N D S O C I A L E N T E R P R I S E by:MartinaR.Constantino

N ature has its own way of getting back at environment and conserving the natural resources, the than it seems. POs started marketing their products
people who violates it. The total disregard to DENR through Tayo ang Kalikasan (TAK), a collaborative within their locality, local tourists and nearby resorts.
environment and natural resources set off natural effort between the Department and the Filipino citizen Their production is still in the infant stage; once they go
disasters, resulting to tragic incidents such as loss of lives, toward responsible development of natural resources, into full production, they will be needing bigger market,
loss of livelihood, and loss of economic resources. On the adopts social enterprise approach to sustain DENR's and DENR’s TAK will be there to assist them,” added
contrary, taking care of nature brings blessings to people; reforestation programs. The DENR grants people’s Feliciano.
having to enjoy the fruits of its bounty. organization with rights and access to lands and TAK
helps the DENR in assisting local people in developing The DENR also gets support from other national
It is in this notion that the Community-Based Forest and marketing their agroforestry products. government agencies such as the Department of
Management (CBFM) was crafted by DENR in 1996. The Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry,
CBFM concept acknowledges the significant role played “The DENR provides lands and seedlings, gives Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,
by local communities in attaining sustainable forest. financial and other and Department
Thus, there is a need for the government to interact and "If we take care of nature, itassistance to the local of Science and
make intervention to local communities, so that they’ll Technology. They
be motivated and encouraged to join hands with the communities in their
government in maintaining and sustaining the forests. first years until they provide relevant
are able to stand on will take care of us too,” training programs to
After many years of CBFM implementation in the their own. With this, the POs to improve
DENR, the National Greening Program (NGP) was the DENR widens - Roberto Feliciano, Technical Assistant their farming,
developed in 2011 to involve more local communities “Tayo ang Kalikasan” (TAK) production, pricing,
in managing the country’s natural forests. The massive the scope and enable
reforestation activities of NGP to increase the country’s them to sustain their and packaging and
forest cover have provided livelihood to a great number livelihood more. On the other hand, TAK serves as the compete in the commercial market.
of people in the local communities. Livelihood such bridge to link these local producers to the bigger market
as seedling production and preparation, and plant across the regions or even outside of the country,” said “What the DENR is doing through TAK is beyond
maintenance, enables the local people to sustain the growth Roberto Feliciano, a Technical Assistant of TAK. its traditional way of fulfilling its mandate to protect
of trees planted under the NGP. Aside from increase in and conserve the environment and natural resources.
forest cover, the NGP enhances environmental stability, During the regional orientation of TAK in 2018, DENR However, if this “out of the box” strategy is the only
capacitates biodiversity protection and conservation, and regional offices have nominated pilot projects such as effective way to go the extra mile and sustain our forests,
contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation handicrafts, bamboo products, coffee, muscovado, etc.. why not do it,” stressed Feliciano.
efforts of the government. TAK, together with its focal persons in the regions,
monitor and implement the social enterprise program. “Five years from now, we envision POs standing on
Nonetheless, the DENR did not stop at NGP in Using a database of partners and possible clients, the their own, not depending on any government assistance
providing livelihood to local communities. A 180-degree DENR helps POs get bigger markets where they can sell anymore, and are extending their businesses way beyond
turn from its traditonal function of protecting the their quality products. their area. And we are hoping that they can assist other
POs in achieving what they have achieved,” Feliciano
“Coffee industry in the country has more potential concluded.

2

3
(CLOCKWISE FROM 1-3): BambooandrattanproductsfromCalambaLaguna

ProducersCooperative; A farmer checks coffee for harvest;
A winemaker from tribe of Adams, a small and beautiful mountain
1 community in Ilocos Norte proudly holds a "bugnay",

also known as "native wild berry wine"

VOLUME 5 NO.4 DECEMBER 2018

5

"The Agusan Marsh
is valuable to us. It
is our source of food
and water, and I have
strong respect for water
because it is our life”

- Datu Boyet Reyes, a Manobo Tribal Chief
Sitio Panlabuhan floating village

AGUSAN MARSH:
MANOBO’S TREASURE TROVE
by: Fatima R. Leya

Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in Mindanao, also known as the "Enchanting Marshland of Agusan"

S ituated at the heart of Mindanao’s Agusan Basin, Datu Boyet also said that during flood, water hyacinths to relay to his tribesmen his passion on protecting the
the Agusan Marsh is more than just a vast wetland are trapped in the marsh, which they get and utilize as marsh. Yet admittedly, he said, convincing all could be
expanse for the Indigenous People, Agusanon materials for making slippers. “The DENR taught us a difficult task. For a few Manobos, earning money for
Manobos. It is their ancestral domain, a priceless gift the value of water hyacinths by showing how they can their family is more of a priority than rendering service
from God that fuels their everyday life. be turned into something we can earn from. Making to protect the marsh. “Even so, I try to imbibe in them
“The Agusan Marsh is valuable to us. It is our source slippers is just one of the livelihood projects the DENR the importance of being selfless - the value of looking
of food and water, and I have strong respect for water has introduced to the communities here,” shared Datu. into what one can give rather than what one can get.”
because it is our life,” says Datu Boyet Reyes, a Manobo Before, the excessive accumulation of water hyacinths Datu Boyet conducts tribal school every Saturday, and
tribal chief, living in Sitio Panlabuhan floating village. in the marsh was a threat to the Manobos’ livelihood. teaches young tribesmen their culture and decrees, as
As the tribe’s leader, Datu Boyet acts as the lead They grow too thickly that they cover the entire surface well as the marsh’s significant values pertaining to them,
caretaker of the marsh in their village. “We live in of the marsh, limiting the penetration of sunlight below as part of who they are. “The young Manobos are the
Agusan Marsh because my grandfather, who taught us the water and killing the fishes and plants underneath. future caretakers of the marsh, therefore, they ought to
everything, told us that the marsh has no other caretaker The livelihood introduced by DENR did not only help know how to protect this Earth’s treasure entrusted to
but us; that’s why we need to take care of it,” proudly the Manobos control the proliferation of the aquatic them," he said.
said the Datu. plant, but it also provided them a means to earn income
out of it. Facts and Figures
Source of food and livelihood
The village of Panlabuhan is home to 58 Manobo An Earth’s treasure to protect • The lAagrugseanstMianrsthacWtilwdliefetSlaanncdtuinarythisecocnosuidnetrreyd
tribal families, who all dwell on floating houses. All of By virtue of Presidential Proclamation 913, President the
them depend much on the marsh. They earn their scanty Fidel V. Ramos, in 1996, the Agusan Marsh was among that provides vital ecological services to its
subsistence through fishing, catching fishes primarily those that were declared Protected Area under the surrounding communities.
for food and selling everything in excess to augment category of Wildlife Sanctuary. Refuge to about 200
other needs. endemic, threatened and migratory species of birds, the • Covering an area of 40, 943 hectares, it holds
According to Datu Boyet, weather holds the fate of 40,943- hectare Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary has the largest eisxpaandseecloafrmedarpsrholtefetcitnetdheaPrheilaippanindesa.
their catch. Summer makes them frown but rainy days become a Key Biodiversity Area of the country and a The marsh
bliss them out as flood and fishes fill the marsh. “Flood Wetland of International Importance, being declared as significant wetland of international importance. It
is good for us; it means we’ll have plenty of fish to a Ramsar Site. maisnidagrwa1t2iin7otnerssienpagesocgnire.osIutnhdoafrfborobufirrlosdcs1k1,s2iontfcrlbeuiedrdinssgpdeulcirtiitenlgse
catch, and we can earn between 500 to 1000 pesos a day. Because illegal activities in the marsh remain a Spiderhunter, Philippine Swamphen, and Emerald
Though it doesn’t happen every day, still we can’t be threat to biodiversity and to the Manobo people, its Dove. The marsh also contains a very large area
thankful enough,” gladly said the Datu. local government unit and the DENR regional office of wetland habitat type, the swamp forest, and
Flood is frequent during rainy season because the marsh deployed 100 Bantay Danao in the marsh to enforce a peat swamp forest not found anywhere else in
serves as a catchment of rain water and run offs from the environmental laws. “The Bantay Danaos report to us the Philippines.
uplands. “It acts like a sponge that absorbs the extreme the illegal activities in the marsh then we coordinate
flow of water from the mountain and rivers and prevents with appropriate agencies so that actions would be taken • Lolong, the world’s largest salt water crocodile
it from going to downstream towns,” explained Protected to address the problems,” shared PASu Ibonia.
Area Superintendent (PASu) Emmilie T. Ibonia. As a deputized Bantay Danao leader, Datu Boyet tries in captivity, was caught in Agusan Marsh in 2011
which eventually died in 2013.

VOLUME 5 NO.4 DECEMBER 2018

6

1 2
3
5 4

(CLOCKWISE FROM 1-5): Sixth Ministerial Forum at the Courtyard, Marriott Hotel;
The flags representing countries of the East Asian seas;
Symbol of Solidarity: Ministers, DENR, and PEMSEA officials join hands
during the Sixth Ministerial Forum, EAS Congress 2018;
DENR Presscon after the Ministerial Forum; and
Closing ceremony of the EAS Congress at the Iloilo Convention Center
with National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia

VOLUME 5 NO.44 DDEECCEEMMBBEERR22001188

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VOLUME 5 NO.4 DECEMBER 2018

8 VOLUME 5 NO. 4 DECEMBER 2018

T he Department of Environment CDEHNRACLELS,ERNEAGDYETSO OTAFKE 2ON0T1H9E
and Natural Resources’ Association by: Fatima R. Leya
of Career Executives (DENR-ACE),
having elected its new set of officers on them, leaders, a place to grow and support
November 13, 2018, is now ready to take the Department in achieving its goal and
on the challenges of 2019. mandate.
Atty. Jonas R. Leones, DENR Undersecretary
for Policy, Planning and International Affairs, Atty. Leones emphasized the DENR-ACE’s
and elected President of DENR CES for three active engagement in Career Executive
consecutive years now, vows to push for the Service Board activities, which contributed
rights of career executives and ensure that much to the welfare of its members and
they are given positions corresponding to instrumental in formulating CES policies
their ranks. “There are still career executives within the agency and in the national level.
in waiting and are afloat within the agency,
and that’s what we want to fix,” he said. Furthermore, he cited the association’s
He also assures legal assistance to its recognition by the Career Executive Service
members who were filed with lawsuits, while Board for its valuable contribution in the
performing their job and duties. “Our pool achievement of 70% CES occupancy rate in
of lawyers is always there to help any career the Department.
executives with legal issues. Many of our
members have already benefitted from that,” Currently, the DENR-ACE has a total
he stressed. of 53 honorary and retired members and
According to the DENR CES President, for 111 active members, who are purveyors of
13 years now, the DENR’s sole organization integrity and excellence in public service in
for career executives has been providing the DENR’s workforce.
its members with assistance and capacity (Fourth-from-right)Usec.JonasR.LeoneswithDENR-ACEmembers,duringthetreegrowingactivityforthe45th CESBoardAnniversary
building activities to become effective and
committed leaders of the agency. The DENR
CES aims to raise the bar for competent
career executives in the DENR – to provide

WHEN SCIENCE MEETS ACCOUNTING
by: Weng R. Ganibi

Accounting is a term usually associated These projects produced databases on The Phil-WAVES program also made Official Newsletter of the EDITORIAL
with financial resources. When going Philippine ecosystems with consideration possible for the DENR to put together DEPARTMENT OF
technical about the term, accounting of economic and environmental concepts scattered data on environment and natural
may branch out to recording, summarizing, combined in retrospective and prospective resources using a framework called System ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
and analyzing. When accounting concepts accounting for natural wealth. During of Environmental-Economic Accounting Vol. 5 No. 4 DECEMBER 2018
are integrated with values and benefits the course of implementation of these (SEEA). When the SEEA framework is used
derived from natural resources, you get projects, institutional linkages with various to integrate data on economics and ENR, it Usec. Benny D. Antiporda
Natural Capital Accounting or NCA. government agencies and offices were provides a holistic view of interrelationships Adviser
NCA is a science-based approach in established. The projects also developed and between the economy and the natural Hiro V. Masuda, DBA
accounting for the value of what nature or honed capabilities of selected technical staff environment and their benefits. Editor-in-Chief
natural environment provides. It is a potent for environmental accounting. Armed with lessons learned from past Maria Matilda A. Gaddi
tool not only in development planning but The institutionalization of ENRA was ENRA experiences, DENR now looks ahead Managing Editor
in policy review and analysis as well. For however not implemented because its to mainstreaming ENR accounting in our Alvin D. Gatbonton
instance, NCA should give a clear picture concepts were highly technical and its merits regular programs, projects, and activities. Associate Editor
of how much our country has in a particular in decision-making and presumably in policy Our Boracay experience is a fitting Adona P. San Diego
forest. Economic and environmental data analysis were then unappreciated. illustration of how vital ENR data and Martina R. Constantino
from this particular forest should tell us how As years past, the country has been slowly information are. Employing ENR accounting Fatima R. Leya
much our country stands to gain from letting gaining appreciation of natural capital in Boracay and other tourist destinations Writers
the forest grow and flourish in a specific accounting especially so when Wealth should allow us to better assess the impacts Andrea Ana Sarian
period of time or compare what we stand to Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem of development against rehabilitation Lay-out and Graphic Editor
gain or lose if we start earning now or later Services (WAVES) was launched during interventions the government has invested. Eduard Dominic D. Ocado
from the natural resources and ecosystem the meeting of the 2010 Convention on Also, with ENR data and information at Marjun N. Jumao-as
services it provides. NCA is also a good Biological Diversity. WAVES is a global hand, we can do better in assessing the Jasper L. Lumagbas /
way to determine where the Philippines is partnership program led by the World Bank. impacts of development interventions such Rhoderic M. Los Bañez
in terms of rapid economic development and ENRA was rekindled in 2013 when the as the National Greening Program and other Photographers/Infographics
stresses due to damages caused by natural Philippine government ventured in a natural biodiversity and ecosystems management Melvin B. Soriano
calamities. NCA therefore is a vital tool that capital accounting project with World Bank programs or assessing losses on our natural Distribution and Circulation
can provide a clear direction towards the -- the Philippine Wealth Accounting and environment from natural disasters and
sustainable growth of our country. Valuation of Ecosystem Services (Phil- calamities. Processed ENR accounting data A publication of the Department of
Taking accounting to the environment and WAVES). For obvious reasons, DENR was may serve as bases for financial planning Environment and Natural Resources through the
natural resources (ENR) sector is, however, one of the national government agencies and reprogramming, policy planning and Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service with
nothing new to the Department. In fact, chosen for the development of accounts in science-based decision-making. office address at DENR Building, Visayas Avenue,
ENR accounting (ENRA) has been started in the project. Currently, plans are being laid down to
DENR decades ago. There was an ENRA Under the Phil-WAVES, ENR ecosystem institutionalize ENR accounting in our Diliman, 1101, Quezon City
project funded by the United States Agency accounts were developed in two pilot sites: Department. Tasks, roles, and responsibilities
for International Development (USAID), 1) Laguna de Bay; and 2) Southern Palawan. have already been identified. It is just a matter
Integrated Environmental Management for Results gathered from the two pilot sites of time when coordinative mechanisms are
Sustainable Development Program (IEMSD) helped the DENR in the formulation of put in place for ENRA to finally take off.
funded by United Nations Development recommendations to address existing policies Soon, we will be making environment and
Programme (UNDP), and the Philippine issues in ENR conservation, protection, and natural resources accounting work in DENR.
Economic-Environmental and Natural management.
Resources Accounting (PEENRA) Project.

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