Publishing date: Friday, Mar. 28, 2008 (3:10 PM) |  Printer-friendly page  |

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has embarked on a 25-day nationwide Earth Day People's Caravan as the country gears up for the celebration of Earth Day on April 22.

Dubbed “Lakbay para sa Kalikasan! Para sa Buhay at Kinabukasan,” the caravan, which started last March 25 up to April 18, is a sequenced intensive information, education and communication (IEC) campaign that will pass through provinces, cities and municipalities with the intent of bringing DENR programs and services to the people.

“We have to put emphasis on information campaign this year because the people have to know how they can participate in saving planet Earth. Many Filipinos are still largely unaware of the destructive effects of climate change and pollution. If these problems worsen, mankind has nowhere to go. It is important that we take drastic measures now if only to assure a safe environment for future generations,” Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said.

Early this year, Atienza declared 2008 as an information, education and communication (IEC) year for the DENR to give the people a broader and deeper knowledge of the various threats and opportunities facing the environment.

The national caravan is divided into three clusters: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Luzon cluster, which covers Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, Region 5, Region 8, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the National Capital Region (NCR), started last March 25 and will converge on April 4 at SM Mall in San Fernando, Pampanga. The Visayas cluster, comprising of Regions 4B, 6 and 7 will start off on April 7 and will converge in Boracay, Aklan on April 12. The Mindanao cluster, composed of Regions 9, 10, 11 and 12, will start off on April 14 and will converge in Cagayan de Oro City on April 18.

“I cannot overemphasize the significance and timeliness of the information caravan. It will provide a venue in bringing the government, particularly the DENR, closer to the people, on one hand, while the local residents will be able to know more and understand the programs of the government,” Atienza said.

Among the major activities that will be undertaken by the clusters at their respective convergence areas include the signing of pledge of commitment (Pangako sa Inang Kalikasan) by representatives of participating local government units, other government agencies, non-government organizations, academe, business and other sectors, as well as presentation of signed commitments by supporters from various regions.

Luzon cluster

Of the Luzon cluster, DENR Region 3 started off the earliest last March 25 in Dingalan, Aurora, to be followed by DENR Region 8 on March 31 in Alen, Samar. The Region 8 contingent will then be met by DENR-Region 5 contingent in Matnog, Sorsogon on April 1. Up north, DENR-Region 2 will start off its local caravan in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan, along with DENR-CAR in Apayao, both on April 1, while DENR-Region 1 on April 2 in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte.

In Bicol region, newly-installed Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada announced several activities that will be undertaken by his office in various designated stops. These include anti-smoke belching campaign, information campaign centering on Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act highlighted by deputation of wildlife conservation officers and signing of memorandum of agreement on PRS 92/Adopt-a-mojon project in Sorsogon City;

Forum on geo-hazard and launching of 1 million mangrove planting project, signing of memorandum of agreement among DENR, Philippine National Oil Company and Albay local government, and coastal clean up in Legazpi City; presentation of the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project, MOA signing on the Libmanan-Pulantuna Watershed Management Council in Pili, Camarines Sur;

Another MOA signing on watershed management council and bike for the environment in Daet, Camarines Sur; Handog Titulo and roadside tree planting, including information campaign against illegal logging in Catanduanes.