CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has strengthened its forest protection operations in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan with newly turned-over facilities aimed at improving forest monitoring, protection and field enforcement activities in the province.
The new facilities are expected to provide DENR personnel with improved support for patrols, monitoring and other field operations in one of Bulacan’s key forest areas, as the agency continues efforts to safeguard forest resources and curb activities that threaten protected and forested lands.
According to Dennis Vergara, head of the DENR community office in Baliwag, the facilities, consisting of a depository and storage facility, seedling nursery, and forest officer and ranger station, were formally turned over to the DENR following their construction with the support of Eagle Cement Corporation (ECC) and Solid North Mineral Corporation (SNMC) under their corporate social responsibility program.
The depository and storage facility will provide space for the proper safekeeping of apprehended forest products, while the seedling nursery will support the production and maintenance of replacement seedlings for forest rehabilitation activities.
“The forest officer and ranger station, meanwhile, will provide additional operational support for personnel tasked with forest protection and monitoring,” Vergara added.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the facilities will help strengthen the agency’s capacity to monitor and protect forest areas and support the proper management of forest resources.
“The new facilities are expected to improve the DENR’s field operations and strengthen efforts to protect forest resources while supporting rehabilitation activities in the area. This initiative also highlights the role of public-private partnerships in providing additional resources for environmental protection and sustainable forest management,” Pablo said.
ECC and SNMC expressed their continued support for environmental protection and their interest in working with the DENR on additional initiatives that will contribute to the management and protection of natural resources.
Pablo and ECC Plant Manager Geneser Aves led the turnover ceremony, together with DENR Bulacan Provincial Head Rolly Mulato and Vergara. (UnliNews Online)
