GUIMARAS – The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) has strengthened the protection of this island province’s wildlife.
The PENRO led by PENR Officer Edgardo M. Rostata, in collaboration with the provincial government, recently conducted a two-day training for wildlife enforcement officers (WEOs) at Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Nueva Valencia town.
The 16 participants included representatives from the provincial government and local governments of Nueva Valencia, Buenavista, Jordan, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag; and selected PENRO personnel.
The training aimed to toughen the enforcement of Republic Act (RA) 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, in the province.
It particularly aims to monitor and enforce wildlife laws, and to implement the Integrated Coastal Management Program particularly in habitat protection, restoration, and management of the province’s coastal areas in pursuit of an outcome-based performance as mandated by RA 11292 (Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019).
“Understanding and being responsible to their job as WEOs will help, not just the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) but the community as well, to preserve the fauna and flora in our ecosystem. We have a bigger role to act but with the strengthened partnership with affiliated LGUs, we know that we can accomplish bigger gains too,” said DENR Region 6 officer-in-charge regional executive director Raul Lorilla.
He also encouraged more LGUs from other provinces to team up with DENR for the preservation of the environment and natural resources.
“This responsibility is huge and heavy, but we need to implement and heighten our guard for our country’s precious flora and fauna,” Lorilla added./PN
