DENR drives for timberland preservation in Siquijor 

By Rizalie Anding Calibo 

Province of Siquijor, March 9 (PIA) -- The local office of the Department and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Siquijor is pushing hard this year on its drive for the preservation of timberland in the province. 

Warning Siquijodnons of the destructive effects of the continued denudation of forests due to incessant cutting of trees, Provincial environment and natural resources officer Antonio Cabrido said locals should help protect Siquijor through the preservation of its 1,160-hectare timberland. 

Chief of forest management services Jose Ando also supported the call explaining RA 9175 otherwise known as “an Act regulating the ownership, possession and sale of chainsaws, penalizing violations thereof and for other purposes” as he urged all chainsaw owners to register their units at their office. 

He said out of 150 chainsaw owners who registered in 2004, only 40% have renewed their permits as of 2010. 

But following intensive efforts of the DENR, Ando said, renewal has increased to 70% this year, an achievement he attributed much to the series of campaigns the DENR made in barangays, he said. 

He warns that ownership of chainsaw units without permission is illegal and therefore punishable by law as he also announces the giving of rewards to “any person who voluntarily gives information leading to the recovery or confiscation of an unregistered chainsaw and the conviction of persons charged thereof.” 

He explained that strict implementation of the law will contribute greatly to the protection of the forest in the island and will help the preservation of mother nature. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)

Secular Franciscans take lead in greening Talingting 

By Rizalie Anding Calibo 

Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor, March 9 (PIA) —Secular Franciscans here are taking the lead in the greening of Enrique Villanueva town formerlyTalingting in the island province of Siquijor. 

Inspired and reinforced by the Comprehensive Course on Franciscan Mission Charism (CCFMC) program that was introduced to the island in 2008, members of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) here are actively taking by heart the plan of action that targets to plant and grow some 5,000 trees of different varieties by 2012. 

As of this date, at least 2,500 trees and mangroves are planted and nurtured by the SFOs in cooperation with the employees of the town’s local government unit (LGU), farmers, fishermen and youth groups. 

Since July last year, tree planting is also made a regular activity of the LGU through the leadership of Sangguniang Bayan Committee Chair on Agriculture and Environment Belinda Inao who is also a professed SFO. 

Belinda also initiated the propagation and distribution of seedlings for free that are now available at her small nursery in barangay Camogao, Enrique Vilanueva,Siquijor. (PIA-Siquijor)

Siquijor State College adopts poor barangay in Larena

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

Province of Siquijor, March 9 (PIA) -- To help alleviate poverty in the area, the Siquijor State College (SSC) here takes barangay Sabang of Larena, Siquijor under its Adopt-a-Barangay program. 

Under the program, staff and students of the school will render community services such as teaching basic and non-formal education, computer operation, entrepreneurial skills, as well as skills on welding and construction to local residents.

Barangay Sabang is identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) as one of the depressed barangays in the province. (PIA-Siquijor)