thursDAY | february 20, 2014
News in Focus
Mindanao Daily 3 NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper
DENR 10 conducts deliberation DAR Sec. visits agrarian reform for Mandulog River Watershed beneficiaries federation in B’non To protect and conserve Mandulog River Watershed, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 10 conducted the final deliberation of Mandulog Characterization and Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) on February at DENR 10 Conference Room, Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City. DENR 10 Regional Executive Director (RED) Ruth M. Tawantawan stated the importance of protecting and conserving the Mandulog River Watershed that will benefit the people and the environment. The participants of the activity include selected DENR 10 personnel, Local Government Units (LGU) of Iligan City, academe, DENR field officials and personnel from Lanao del Norte. Professor Danilo Mero of Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi presented the profile of the Mandulog River Watershed including its location, physical and biological features, assessment of the vulnerabilities and its updated IWMP. Mandulog River Watershed is located mainly in Iligan City and the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
By Ferdinand Villanueva
OIC, Regional Director Rex S. Monsanto (3rd from left) of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of DENR 10 (MGBDENR 10) flanked by Engr. Reynaldo Casomo, Safety Engineer & Ma. Lilita Baguio (2nd & 4th from left), the Community Relations Manager of LAFARGE Iligan Incorporated pose for posterity after receiving the Certificate of Commendation. The company achievement award was for the 4,631,580 man-hours of Zero (0) Incident/ Accident by regular and service contractor employees from June 2012 to December 2013 during the DENR 10 Monday Convocation on February 10 in Cagayan de Oro City. Witnessing the event are (from left to right) Regional Technical Director Paquito D. Melicor, Jr. of the Land Management Service, Regional Director Sabdullah Abubacar of the Environmental Management Bureau of DENR 10 (EMB-DENR 10) OIC, Caretakers Forester Merlyn Dumalahay and Ms. Gina Padilla of the Forestry Sector and Research Sector respectively. m. paragas/denr-rpao
The watershed has rich biological features having different kinds of species on trees and shrubs, ferns and allies, palms, grasses and herbs and medicinal plants. Biophysical Characterization and Integrated Management Plan of Mandulog River Watershed
is a project funded and implemented by DENR 10 through Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Lanao del Norte and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Iligan City. (ShannonlynDAlpas/ RPAO)
Malaybalay City -DAR Secretary Virgilio De los Reyes recently visited the Cabanglasan Networking Community Association (CNWCA) in Poblacion, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon together with DAR-10 Regional Director Felix Aguhob as well as Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers Julio Celestiano, Jr. and Norberto Paquingan. Cabanglasan Mayor Renante Inocando personally welcomed the group and he proudly announced that it is the first time in the history of the Municipality of Cabanglasan that a Cabinet Secretary visited their place. Sec. De los Reyes explained the purpose of his visit during the gathering. He said he wanted the farmers to understand the programs and projects of DAR and cited what the Department is trying to do to ensure the total development of the beneficiaries. These include putting together efforts to strengthen the farmers’ organizations as well as provide credit and farm equipment,
Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes met the officers and members of CNWCA, a recipient of DAR ARCCESS project in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon. With him are other DAR officers (standing L-R) PARO Julio Celestiano, RD Felix Aguhob, MARO Carlos Garcia and Phoebe Noval. photo supplied
among others. Cabanglasan Networking Community Association (CNWCA) is a federation composed of twelve (12) people’s organizations as members. A recipient of DAR ARCCESS program, CNWCA has so far availed of common service facilities such as three (3) units thresher, one (1) unit flatbed dryer and 35 horsepower tractor with implements to be used in their farms to increase their income. DAR has also provided the CNWCA officers and members with
trainings on business development skills and necessary technology for the management of their own enterprise. This is part of the interventions to develop the agrarian reform beneficiaries’ (ARB) necessary competencies to manage and develop their own respective enterprises. Ac c ord i ng to S e c . D e l o s R e y e s , “AR B s and their organizations should be able to enhance their financial bottom lines which would lead to an improvement in their quality of living.” (ERS)