DENR-X CELEBRATES MONTH OF THE OCEAN 2024
“Develop a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy”
In the Philippines, the Month of the Ocean (MOO) is an annual celebration held in May. Established through Presidential Proclamation No. 57 in 1999, this month serves as a dedicated period to honor and raise awareness about the significance of our oceans.
The ocean represents a vast reservoir of potential for economic expansion, employment opportunities, and innovation, particularly through activities associated with the “blue economy,” such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, tourism, renewable energy, and marine biotechnology. The main objective of this year’s celebration is to promote a sustainable and inclusive blue economy that acknowledges the ocean’s crucial role in the health and prosperity of our planet.
In observance of the 2024 MOO, the various DENR-X Offices have organized a series of activities across the region to commemorate this significant month-long event.
PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES
1. Preparatory Meeting for the Coastal Clean-up in the 12 Coastal Barangays of Cagayan de Oro City on April 23, 2024 via Google Meet
The Coastal Resources and Foreshore Management Section of the Conservation and Development Division of DENR-X Regional Office conducted a preparatory meeting to brief the participants of the clean-up assignments, clean-up protocol, and discuss other necessary preparations for the Clean-up Activity that was scheduled on May 10, 2024. It was attended by a total of 65 participants (33 male and 32 female) from various national government agencies, academic institutions, 12 coastal barangays, DENR-X Regional Divisions, MGB-X, EMB-X, Civil Society Organizations, and Peoples Organizations.
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2. HR Intervention on the Importance of MOO Celebration and IEC on UNESCO Ocean Decade Challenge 4 “Develop a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy” during Monday Convocation on April 22, 2024
During monday convocation, the Assistant Chief, CDD and concurrent Chief of CRFMS, Mercedita G. Barbarona informed the DENR Officials and employees of the importance of the upcoming Month of the Ocean celebration and briefly discussed about the lined-up activities to be conducted.
MOO ACTIVITIES IN REGION X
1. IEC on UNESCO Ocean Decade Challenge 4 “Develop a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Economy” during the PIA Updates Radio Program on May 3, 2024
The Assistant Chief, CDD and concurrent Chief of CRFMS, Mercedita G. Barbarona was invited by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Misamis Oriental and talked about the lined-up activities of the DENR in celebration of the Month of the Ocean with emphasis on the Coastal Clean-up Activity to be conducted in the 12 coastal barangays of Cagayan de Oro City on May 10, 2024. The discussion also tackled the solid waste generation and management particularly in the city, including the DENR’s initiatives in reducing wastes that enter the ocean.
2. Coastal Clean-up
Regional Office in collaboration with PENRO Misamis Oriental and CENRO Initao
The DENR-X Regional Office through the CRFMS, spearheaded the conduct of a simultaneous coastal clean-up event in the 12 coastal barangays of Cagayan de Oro City on May 10, 2024, 5:30 AM – 9:00 AM.
A total of 2,870 individual participants from 113 participating sectors/groups have attended as clean-up volunteers which resulted to a total of 1,523 sacks of collected trash with 13,032.9 kilograms covering the 13.85 kilometers stretch of the 12 coastal barangays. The clean-up activity per barangay formally started with a short program highlighting the importance of the Month of the Ocean celebration and the protocol of the clean-up activity.
Highlights of the program in Brgy. Lapasan include the message of RED Henry A. Adornado emphasizing the importance of the celebration and expressing gratitude to the participants that said “in behalf of DENR team, we would like to thank all of you from the various Government Agencies, Academe, and Civic Organizations for joining this very important activity, hindi lang ho ito pagpapakita ng ating pagmamahal sa kalikasan, but pagpapakita rin ng isang magandang ehemplo sa ating mga kabataan”.
In behalf of the City DILG, Mr. Ryan Cloyd Villanueva also gave a message emphasizing the implementation of the Barangay Kalinisan Day (BarKaDa) program and extending appreciation to all especially the LGUs for joining the event. The participation of other Barangay Local Government Units of Cagayan de Oro City was initiated in collaboration with the City DILG wherein some upland barangays were mandated to actively participate in the clean-up activity. It aimed to raise environmental awareness not just particularly in the coastal communities of the city but up to the upland dwellers that also contribute to the accumulated waste in the coastal areas.
PENRO Camiguin conducted a coastal clean-up on May 16, 2024 at Barangay Cantaan, Guinsiliban, Camiguin, with a total of 50 participants (39 males and 11 female that joined the activity coming from Philippine Coast Guards, BLGU-Cantaan, and DENR PENRO Camiguin. A total of 16 sacks were collected weighing 104.1 kg covering a distance of 50 km.
On May 18, 2024, PENRO Lanao del Norte conducted a coastal clean-up at Barangay Baybay, Kulambugan, Lanao del Norte comprising of 30 male and 50 female participants coming from BLGU of Baybay, SK Council, ERU, 4Ps, Women’s, POs, and Youth Organizations making up a total of 80 participants. They were able to collect 78 sacks filled with trash weighing 686 kg covering an area of 0.4 km.
CENRO Iligan City organized a coastal clean-up drive on May 10, 2024 at Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. 70 participants consisting of 49 males and 21 females from the PNP Maritime, Phil. Coast Guard, City Social Welfare Development, Iligan City Ministry Network, BLGU of Tambacan, and CENRO Iligan City collected 29 sacks weighing 725 kg covering an area cleaned of 0.5 km.
On the same day, BKPLS/LLRMSFR conducted a coastal clean-up drive in Barangay Tacub, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. The event saw the participation of 40 individuals (26 males and 14 females) from BKPLS Bantay Dagat, BLGU Tacub Brgy. Council, BPAT, and LLRMSFR personnel, resulting in the collection of 32 sacks weighing 315 kg over a distance of 0.3 km. CENRO Kolambugan orchestrated a coastal clean-up drive on May 18, 2024, with a turnout of 47 participants, comprising 30 males and 17 females. This initiative, held in Barangay Poblacion, Kolambugon, Lanao del Norte, led to the retrieval of 34 sacks weighing 360 kg, covering an area of 0.5 km.
Conversely, on May 7, 2024, CENRO Oroquieta organized a coastal clean-up at Barangay Danao, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental. The activity involved 16 participants, 9 males, and 7 females, representing BLGU Danao and CENRO Oroquieta personnel. They successfully collected 4 sacks of trash weighing 4 kg, cleaning a 1 km stretch.
Furthermore, CENRO OZAMIZ hosted a coastal clean-up drive in Barangay Pulot, Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental, on May 12, 2024. The event garnered the participation of 139 individuals (47 males and 92 females) from La Salle University-Ozamiz, resulting in the collection of 45 kg of trash distributed among 10 sacks.
3. Information, Education, Communication Campaign/ Community Education and Public Awareness (CEPA)
CENRO Iligan organized CEPA at Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte on May 10, 2024. It was participated by 70 individuals from PNP Maritime, Phil. Coast Guard, City Social Welfare Development, Iligan City Ministry Network, BLGU of Tambacan, CENRO Iligan City.
Likewise, CENRO Gingoog conducted CEPA on May 10, 2024 at Barangay Binitinan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental participated by 45 participants coming from BLGU Binitinan Brgy. Council and SK Officials and Members, BJMP- Balingasag, Minergy Power Corporation, Fisherfolks, and CENRO Gingoog personnel. 30 IEC materials about Seagrass and 2 posters about Marine Turtle were distributed to Brgy. Binitinan and MENRO Balingasag.
The Coastal Resources and Foreshore Management Section (CRFMS) conducted an IEC on Blue Economy at Brgy. Silad Covered Court, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental on May 24, 2024. The activity was attended by a total of 54 participants (26 male and 28 female) composed of Brgy Council, residents, and fisherfolks of Brgy. Silad, Municipal Councilors and employees of MLGU Sugbongcogon, and personnel from CDD- CRFMS as facilitators. Highlights of the activity include the lecture about the importance of the Month of the Ocean celebration featuring the significance of blue economy particularly in their locality, and the conduct of shoreline clean-up. However, the simultaneous clean-up activities in the five (5) coastal barangays were aborted due to sudden change in the weather condition – strong winds, heavy rains, and big waves which started to happen at around 7:05 AM.
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4. Tree Growing
CENRO Gingoog organized a tree growing activity at Barangay Binitinan, Bilingasag, Misamis Oriental participated by 45 participants coming from BLGU Binitinan Brgy. Council and SK Officials and Members, BJMP- Balingasag, Minergy Power Corporation, Fisherfolks, and CENRO Gingoog personnel on May 10, 2024 with 60 Talisay (Terminalia catappa) seedlings planted in an area of 0.2ha.
5. Potting of Mangrove Seedlings
CENRO OZAMIZ conducted potting of mangrove seedlings at Barangay Pulot, Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental on May 12,2024 participated by 139 individuals from La Salle University-Ozamiz. 357 mangrove sprouts or wildlings of Pagatpat and Piapi were potted.
6. Distribution of IEC Materials and Hanging of Streamers
PENRO Camiguin distributed a total of 335 IEC materials and hanged Month of the Ocean streamers on May 15, 2024 at the five (5) municipalities of Camiguin namely Mambajao, Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay, and Catarman.
7. Meeting re: Status of Mangrove Rehabilitation Project located in Brgy. Taytay, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental
The CRFMS spearheaded the meeting that took place in the DENR-X Conference Room on May 29, 2024, and was attended by representatives from DENR-X, Capitol University, BLGU Taytay, MLGU El Salvador, MENRO of El Salvador City, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Misamis Oriental. The meeting was convened to deliberate on revitalizing the collaboration among stakeholders who spearheaded the project and to address the potential designation of the Mangrove Rehabilitation site as a Local Conservation Area within Misamis Oriental.
8. Month of the Ocean Culmination: Extemporaneous Speech on Youth Perspective Focusing on “Bridging Innovative Solution Towards Garbage Problem in the Coastal Areas”
The culmination of the month-long MOO celebration was marked by the Extemporaneous Speech Contest organized by the Coastal Resources and Foreshore Management Section (CRFMS) of DENR-X Regional Office on May 31, 2024, at the DENR-X Conference Room in Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City.
The event featured the Extemporaneous Speech Contest centered on the Youth Perspective, with a thematic focus on “Bridging Innovative Solutions Towards Garbage Problems in Coastal Areas.” The success of the event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Interior and Local Government of Cagayan de Oro City, SK Federation, and Oro Youth Development Office. The contest drew participation from a diverse group of 68 individuals, including 13 youth contestants, Sangguniang Kabataan Officials, members from various barangays of Cagayan de Oro City, parents, siblings of the contestants, and DENR employees.
Winners of the contest were the following, to wit:
The 10 non-winners also received a total of Php500.00 consolation prizes cost shared by DENR (Php200.00) and SK Federation of Cagayan de Oro City (Php300.00).
