Kedtag leads environment consultation in Marawi
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| ARMM Environment Secretary Kedtag |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (June 20, 2016) – Secretary Kahal Q. Kedtag of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) graced and led the “Pulong-Pulong Para Sa Kalikasan” conducted Monday (June 20) a Pulong-Pulong Para Sa Kalikasan at Jim’s Conference Hall here.
With the theme: “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo Kabahagi at May Akda sa Pagpapatibay sa Kalikasan,” the pulong-pulong was attended by over 75 participants from the multi-sectoral groups from government and non-government sectors, including local government units, academe, youth, women, police, military, forest rangers, among others.
Kedtag said what we should do is to plan what needs to be done.
He said the deficiency in planning is lack of community participation. He said the community members must get involved in the planning for a better environment.
What happened in Ormoc City, he stressed, was a wrath of the environment. “They chose to have a housing project at the upper portion of the place and cleared it of tress and nature and when typhoon came, many had died below,” he said.
Kedtag said we have to protect our environment. He said we have to conduct dialogue with the stakeholders on the provincial level within the region on how to protect the environment.
He said, “We need to focus and plan to consolidate environment problems of Lanao del Sur.”
He said DENR-ARMM has submitted plans for the rehabilitation of the watershed and the creeks as part of the Bangsamoro Basic Law Draft.
Kedtag was happy to inform the participants that ARMM has increased the region’s forest cover by 6.8 percent.”
He said that from 2016 to 2019 forest rangers will be monitoring programs relating to the environment.
He said the local leaders, the police, the military, and the community members must be involved in planning and implementing environment projects. He said the PAMANA Projects may employ more Bantay Gubat functionaries to ensure the protection of the environment.
He said if what needs to be done is planting trees, then we will plant trees.
He said every stakeholder must be involved, as he asked the retiring DENR officials to get involved and help out in the implementation of the environment plans.
He said the plans to be drawn up by the participants during the workshop will be consolidated and submitted to the regional committee that would sit down and work on it for submission to the Regional Governor.
He said the plans and recommendations for the protection of the environment must be completed by June 28, 2016 so that when Governor Hataman meets President Duterte, the Governor has already the plans for the regional community.
Secretary Kedtag said that the people in Lanao del Sur are lucky because they are near the academic institution, the Mindanao State University, whose College of Forestry could be of great help in coming up with a viable environment plan for the people. He said the plan must come from all of us.
TNRS
