“Protect and Restore Ecosystems and Biodiversity”
Due to the highly diverse marine organisms and habitats in the Philippine waters in which we are heavily dependent for food, livelihood, recreation, and others, the month of May was declared as the “Month of the Ocean” per Presidential Proclamation No. 57, series of 1999 for conservation, protection, and sustainable management.
As marine organisms continue to face the dangers brought about by climate change and anthropogenic factors, the DENR is celebrating this year’s MOO with the theme “Protect and Restore Ecosystems and Biodiversity” in observance of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) message, “The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want”. Hence, the 2022 MOO celebration was meaningfully conducted through the implementation of activities that promote and support ‘blue restoration’.The Regional and Field Offices, with the respective PENROs and CENROs of the four coastal provinces in the region, have conducted events such as Social Media Announcement and Hanging of Recyclable Tarpaulins, Distribution of IEC materials, Clean-up activities, CEPA campaign, and Tree Growing activities.
A. Announcement of the MOO Celebration
To gather public support, social media platforms as well as tarpaulins made of recyclable materials such as paper were used to publicize the MOO celebration.
PENRO Misamis Occidental shared and posted the MOO slogan on the Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape-Protected Area Official Facebook Page as a way to disseminate the significance of the special event to the public. Meanwhile, PENRO Lanao del Norte and CENRO Ozamiz City fabricated an environment-friendly steamer called “tarpapel” for the MOO corresponding banner, which was hung in the conspicuous space of their respective office premises and academic institutions, whereas PENRO Camiguin distributed MOO streamers to the Provincial and five (5) Municipal Local Government Units (LGUs) to promote the special event province-wide.
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B. Clean-up Activities
The Regional Office mobilized the communities in the 12 coastal barangays (Lapasan, Bulua, Macabalan, Gusa, Puntod, Cugman, Tablon, Bayabas, Agusan, Bonbon, Puerto and Bugo) of Cagayan de Oro City to conduct a simultaneous coastal clean-up activity on May 19, 2022.
In partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro City, through the City Local Environment and Natural Resources (CLENRO), the cleanup covered the 1.45 km stretch of Lapasan and Gusa beach with an estimated 200 sacks of garbage collected. A trash data inventory was conducted after the cleanup wherein the majority of the total waste collected consisted of food wrappers, beverage plastic bottles, cigarette butts, take-away plastics/foams, plastic straws, plastic bottle caps, and facemasks.
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Meanwhile, PENRO Camiguin, with the active participation of divers from the LGUs and other partner agencies, conducted “SCUBAsurero” or an underwater clean-up at Lagundi Fish Sanctuary in May 18, 2022, where 123.5kg of trash/wastes were collected. A total of 23 males and 6 females, of which 16 are licensed divers, joined the clean-up activity.
CENRO Oroquieta City conducted a coastal clean-up activity on May 13, 2022, in Brgy. Lao and Sta. Cruz in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, which was participated by 89 individuals (48 male and 41 female). The said activity covered 1km with twelve (12) sacks of solid waste collected and deposited in the Barangay Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Another coastal clean-up activity was also conducted by the same Office on May 20, 2022, at Brgy. San Vicente Bajo, Oroquieta City and Brgy. Southern Looc, Plaridel on May 27, 2022, covering a strip of 180m and 100m, respectively. A total of 57 (19 male and 38 female) and 32 participants joined the said activity where 15 sacks (30kg) and 8 sacks (12kg) of solid wastes were collected, respectively.
C. Tree Planting/Growing Activities
CENRO Ozamiz City conducted a mangrove planting activity at Brgy. Dela Paz, Clarin on May 13, 2022, and upland tree growing activity at Brgy. Fertig Hills, Tangub City on May 20, 2022, all in Misamis Occidental, which was participated by 29 and 50 individuals from Philippine Coast Guard, Daima Shipping Corp., La Salle University, Order of Demolay and Job’s Daughter, Alpha Phi Omega, and LGUs, respectively. A total of 650 mangrove propagules and 215 seedlings of Cynometra ramiflora (Balitbitan), Agathis philippinensis (Almaciga), Pterocarpus indicus (Narra), and Tectona grandis (Teak) were planted.
CENRO Iligan City also spearheaded a mangrove planting activity on May 23, 2022, at Overton, Brgy. Maria Cristina, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte participated by 24 representatives from the LGU and on-the-job trainee students from Mindanao State University, Marawi City. A total of 720 mangrove propagules were planted.
On May 27, 2022, CENRO Oroquieta City conducted a mangrove planting activity at Brgy. Southern Looc, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental where a total of 500 mangrove propagules were planted along the barangay shoreline.
CENRO Talakag also conducted a tree growing activity on May 26, 2022 at Kili-og, Libona, Bukidnon where a total of 200 Pterocarpus indicus (Narra) seedlings were planted by the CENRO personnel, LGU and Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Kili-og.
Meanwhile, CENRO Don Carlos conducted a tree planting activity on May 31, 2022 at Miabo Cave environs, Kisolop, New Kidapawan, Kibawe, Bukidnon where 250 seedlings were planted by the CENRO personnel and Basyawon Kisolop Small Upland Farmers Association Inc. (BKSUFA).
D. Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Campaign
a. #TiktokParaSaKaragatan Campaign
To deliver a powerful message through lyrics and music, the Regional Office, through the Coastal Resources and Foreshore Management Section (CRFMS) of Conservation and Development Division (CDD), launched its Tiktok Campaign Video for Sea Change Advocacy dubbed #TiktokParaSaKaragatan, which features the “Dahil May Dagat, May Ikaw (DMDMI)” original song composition of Deputy Chief, CDD and Concurrent Chief, CRFMS Mercedita G. Barbarona.
The DMDMI song, which forms part of the regional initiatives of DENR-X, was created to inspire the youth and residents in the Philippines to take pride in the marine ecosystems and appreciate the importance of the oceans. The video was posted on the DENR Northern Mindanao Facebook Page on May 20, 2022, to encourage the public to join in the advocacy.
In addition, the Tiktok Campaign was launched to the coastal communities in Cagayan de Oro City on May 19, 2022. Representatives from the DENR-X Regional Office Divisions, LGUs and NGAs, and roughly 300 participants performed together the DMDMI tiktok dance at Brgy. Gusa Gymnasium, Cagayan de Oro City.
b. Distribution of Information, Education Communication (IEC) Materials
In joint collaboration with the Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard, PENRO Camiguin distributed flyers to all local government units and two academic intuitions in the province. Said IEC material highlights solid waste management and the need to sustainably manage the coastal habitats: mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs, and other biodiversity management services. A total of 180 flyers were distributed to locals, 78 flyers to the Provincial and five Municipal LGUs, and 200 flyers to the Yumbing and Mambajao National High Schools.
c. Radio Broadcasting
PENRO Misamis Occidental radio broadcasts the significance of celebrating the MOO at DXNT 96.5 FM, Oroquieta City by giving advice on how to help the ocean as an individual, community, and as a nation.
d. Series of Presentations/Lectures on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems and Related Programs of the DENR
On May 6, 2022, CENRO Oroquieta City conducted CEPA at Brgy. Puntod, Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental through lectures on the importance of the ocean and Republic Act No. 9003 also known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management”. A total of 34 participants (22 male and 12 female) attended the said activity.
PENRO Misamis Oriental and CENRO Initao also conducted CEPA on the importance of the ocean, coral reef ecosystem and its threats, and the protection and conservation of the Blue-barred Parrotfish in Gitagum, Libertad, Initao, Naawan, and Manticao, all in Misamis Oriental Province on May 24-27, 2022. A pre-test and post-test were administered to gauge the level of knowledge of the 61 participants who attended the said activity.
PENRO Lanao del Norte and CENRO Kolambugan also conducted a CEPA highlighting the importance of the three coastal habitats: mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs, as well as the threats faced by these ecosystems, impacts of marine pollution, and RA 9003 on May 31, 2022, which was participated by the students of Rupagan Elementary School in Bacolod and Geronima National High School in Kolambugan, all in Lanao del Norte. A pre-test and post-test were administered to gauge the level of knowledge of the pupils.
E. Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Activity in the Coastal Barangays of Cagayan de Oro City
For CY 2022, the DENR-X, together with the City Government of CDO, various NGAs, and the private sector, continue to sustain the Challenge for Change: CDO Limpyo Dagat Initiatives (CCP: CLDI) implementation in the coastal areas of CDO City
and the Macajalar Bay through the mobilization of the Multisectoral Composite Monitoring and Evaluation Team (MCMET).
The MCMET, which is composed of representatives from the various NGAs and local government units, has a role to conduct an M&E activity in the 12 coastal barangays of CDO to assess the sustainability of the CCP: CLDI piloted in 2019. Hence, an M&E activity was conducted in the 12 coastal barangays of Cagayan de Oro City on May 5, 2022, to assess and monitor the said barangays based on the three criteria– Cleanliness (40%), Innovativeness (40%), and Consistency (20%).
