BACKGROUND OF OFFICE
CENRO Coron office at Bgy. 5, Poblacion, Coron, Palawan
DENR-CENRO Coron, Palawan is the product of the recent DENR reorganization in 1987 by virtue of Executive Order 192 which resulted in the integration of the defunct Bureau of Forest Development, Bureau of Lands and other field bureaus operating in Coron, Palawan. As early as 1950, the then Bureau of Forestry, District Office at Roxas, Palawan created and established Coron as Forest Station while the Bureau of Lands started its operation in 1974 as Special Project (Busuanga Ranching Project). In 1981, BFD was formally created in Coron as a separate District Office No. 23 followed by the formulation of the Natural Resources District (NRD) in 1982 under the Ministry of Natural Resources. Then District Forester Francisco Arenas and District Land Officer Nicandro Sagalongos started the operation of the Natural Resources District No. 23 up to the implementation of EO 192.
The office is located at Poblacion, Coron, Palawan, where it is most accessible to all clientele.
MANDATE AND ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Executive Order No. 192 mandates the DENR to be primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, specifically forest and grazing lands, mineral resources, including those in reservation watershed areas, and lands of the public domain, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources as may be provided for by law in order to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos.
DENR-CENRO Coron is responsible in the monitoring of use and development of all the natural resources in Calamianes Group of Islands including lowlands and uplands. Forest Protection Unit focuses in the control of the forest activities of all the barangays. The National Greening Program (NGP) of CENRO-Coron concentrates on the reforestation and rehabilitation activities in order to restore denuded/degraded forestlands. Massive campaign on the Ecological Solid Waste Management was conducted for the protection and maintenance of the cleanliness of the environment in the Calamianes Group of Islands. Constant reminders to the community in their vital role in the protection of the environment through the conduct of Information and Education Campaign (IEC). DENR-CENRO Coron conducted a Coastal Clean-Up on January 30, 2016 at Jendi Resort, Coron, Palawan and a River Clean-Up at Tulbuan River at Sitio Tulbuan,Brgy.Decalachao, Coron, Palawan on March 12, 2016. Clean-Up Drive is part of our Information and Education Campaign.
AREAS OF JURISDICTION
The areas under the jurisdiction of CENRO Coron covers the whole Calamianes group of islands . The group of islands is composed of municipalities of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, and Linapacan with a combined land area of 177,703 hectares (Philippine Statistics Authority as of 2007). The municipality of Coron has the widest land area with 68,910 hectares followed by Culion with 49,959 hectares, Busuanga with 39,290 hectares and the island municipality of Linapacan with 19,544 hectares.
FOREST MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES
The aim of forest management is to protect the remaining forest resources (land, water and environment) including the established forest plantations in upland and lowland areas under the National Greening Program (NGP), to detect against any form of forest destruction/violations including the wise utilization of our forest resources for sustainable development within the Calamianes Island, Coron, Palawan.
Due to the implementation of Rationalization plan in the department, consisting of 31 regular personnel are employed under the forestry sector which is composed of Foresters ,Forest Technicians and Forest Rangers are deployed and assigned within the Municipalities of Coron, Culion, Busuanga and Linapacan are expected to be effective in the implementation of DENR forestry laws and regulations and programs .Intensified forest protection activities such as surveillance and patrolling with coordination to other law enforcement agencies, LGUs , and other private sectors within the area of jurisdiction are regularly conducted to minimize and control illegal timber poaching/gathering within identified hot spot areas. The strategic activities conducted under this- unit is the continuous Information and Education Campaign (IEC) in the community through meetings and linkaging with barangay officials concerned to increase the awareness and participation of the community in the protection of our environment and natural resources. Also encouraging other private sectors to actively participate and voluntarily involve themselves as partners in Forest Protection through deputation and recognition from our office. It also includes the regular manning of established checkpoint in 24 hours schedule basis to closely monitor the flow and transport of forest products.
To date, as per available record data, the has office has apprehended/confiscated illegally sawn lumber with various dimension and species with equivalent total volume of 816.7 board feet. The filing of necessary complaint in court against violators was done accordingly. The abandoned confiscated lumber was already disposed through Deed of Donation to the Department of Education and other government agencies.
PROTECTED AREAS, WILDLIFE AND COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES
Under the biodiversity management, we have very limited activities due to the absence and non-proclamation of Protected Area under the Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act (Republic Act 7586) dated July 23, 2009.
Republic Act 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 is implemented and under the jurisdiction of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) thru Republic Act 7611.
However, constant monitoring, surveillance and apprehension/s of law violators/s on wildlife trade (flora and fauna) is continuous within our administrative jurisdiction.
In the absence of Protected Areas under the National Integrated Protected Area Systems ( NIPAS Act) , there were several marine protected areas that were established within our area of jurisdiction. These areas are supported by LGUs resolutions under the assistance of Ecological Fishery Improved and Sustainable Hatch (ECOFISH )Project and Malampaya Foundation and with coordination of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and PCSD as partners of the Project/s.
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
National Greening Program(NGP)
The CENRO Coron, Palawan is engage in the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) through massive reforestation and rehabilitation within its administrative jurisdiction to address the government program by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 for a period of six years (CY 2011-2016).
The Coron Watershed Beneficiaries Association- Agroforestry Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CWBA-AMPC), a duly registered People’s Organization (PO), headed by Mrs.Consuelo T. Magallanes, the leading partner in the implementation of the program with technical support from our competitive Extension Officers.
To date, we have already established 49 plantations sites from2011-2013 covering an area of 1,833 hectares in the uplands and 24 plantations sitescovering an area of 100 hectares for mangrove. We have also identified and developed 52 sites with a total area of 560 hectares for Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Program (MBFDP). Based on the result of the recent validation conducted, 86% survival rate was obtained for the established plantation for CY 2011, 2012, 2013 despite the occurrence of fire that razed specifically in the project areas located within the municipality of Coron.
Currently, the main activity of the program is to replant all of the sites destroyed by forest fire. We are formulating management plans as to how to outsource planting materials and implement replanting activities in the affected areas.
As in the case of mangrove areas, sites were identified and established to replace those of low to very low survival rate as caused by the devastating waves, occurrence of Northeast monsoon (amihan) and presence of barnacles.
The protection and maintenance is also strengthened by means of patrolling to ensure sustainability of the program.
Community-based Forest Management (CBFM)
There are two CBFMA holders within the jurisdiction of CENRO Coron-Calamianes. One is the Coron Watershed Beneficiaries Association- Agro-forestry Multipurpose Cooperative (CWBA-AMPC) in Brgy. San Nicolas, Coron, Palawan which entered into Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) on December 8, 2000. The association is responsible for the management of the two thousand one hundred fifteen (2,115) hectares of forestland located in Brgy. Borac, San Nicolas, Guadalupe and Poblacion 6, Coron, Palawan.
Since CY 2011, CWBA-AMPC have already accomplished two (2) CBFM-CARP projects (Phase 1- CY 2011and Phase 2-CY 2012) entitled Livelihood Assistance through Agro- forestry Development Backyard Gardening and Basket Weaving. Members are now enjoying the productive result of the project especially from the harvests of planted agricultural crops. CWBA-AMPC is also an active partner in the implementation of National Greening Program. They were awarded a Comprehensive contract with a total of 1,273 hectares and 560 hectares under the Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project, for CY 2011-2013 and CY 2015, respectively. They are also engaged in the management of the Patubig project that supplies water for domestic use of more than 300 household in Barangay San Nicolas, Coron, Palawan.
The Baldat Agricultural and Fisherfolk Organization (BAFISO) in Brgy. Baldat, Culion, Palawan is an inactive organization, however, the office is encouraging them to participate in our forest protection, rehabilitation and development programs.