DENR-7 installs new officials in Central Luzon protected areas

By Hazel F. Gloria

Wednesday 15th of August 2012

CEBU CITY, Aug 15 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) has reorganized the composition of Protected Area Superintendents (PASu) in 24 protected areas (PA) in Central Visayas.

DENR-7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo issued a regional special order number 484 dated July 24 which was officially released on August 13 reassigning or designating certain DENR officials to the position of PASu in various protected areas in concurrent capacity.

The reorganization developed after a meeting held on July 20 with Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (P/CENROs) to strengthen the integration and harmonization of the PASu and field offices of the DENR-7 in providing technical guidance in protected area management.

Under the new setup, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Cebu Richard Abella will now be the PASu of Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) with Florentino Supino Jr. as assistant PASu.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Cebu City Anastacio Caballejo will oversee two PAs, namely, Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS) and Guadalupe Mabugnao-Mainit National Park (GMMNP) in Guadalupe, Carcar, Cebu.

As defined in Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), PAs are portions of land and water with unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biodiversity and protected against destructive human exploitation.

For Bantayan Island Wilderness Area (BIWA) and Camotes Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (CIMSFR), CENRO Carmen Cebu Moreno Tagra will now act as new PASu for these PAs.

In Negros Oriental, two PAs, namely, Apo Island Protected Landscape/Seascape (AIPL/S) in Dauin and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (BTLNP) will be handled by CENRO Dumaguete City Mario Aragon.

Viernov Grefalde will be the PASu for Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).

In Bohol, 10 out 16 PAs will be managed by CENRO Tagbilaran City Eusalem Quiwag, namely, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (RSPL), Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM), Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape/Seascape (ALLPL/S), Panglao Island Protected Seasacpe (PIPS), Loboc Watershed Forest Reserve (LWFR), Alijawan-Cansuhay-Anibongan River Watershed Forest Reserve (ACARWFR), Tubigon Group of Islands Wilderness Area and Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (TGIWAMSFR), Clarin Group of Islands Wilderness Area (CGIWA), Calape Group of Islands Wilderness Area and Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (CGIWAMSFR), and Cabilao-Sandingan Islands Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (CSIMSFR).

CENRO Talibon Elpidio R. Palaca Sr. will take charge of six PAs, namely, Talibon Group of Islands Protected Landscape/Seascape (TGIPL/S), Candijay-Anda-Mabini Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Candijay Group of Islands Wilderness Area (CAMMSFR/CGIWA), Inabanga-Buenavista Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Inabanga Group of Islands Wilderness Area (IBMSFR/IGIWA), President Carlos P. Garcia Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Group of Islands Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (PCPGMSFR/PCPGGMSFR), Getafe Group of Islands Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Wilderness Area (GGIMSFR/WA) and Ubay Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (UMSFR).

“PAs are categorized as nature or resource reserves, natural parks, monuments, or biotic areas, wildlife sanctuaries, protected land or seascapes or as established by law, conventions or international agreements,” Montejo concluded. (DENR7/HFG-PIA7)