It was during my time at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Negros Occidental when numerous opportunities came my way in terms of learning and experiences on the environment and natural resources management.
Aside from handling the communications of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the province, I was tasked to coordinate the Coastal Environment Program, which former DENR Secretary Angel Alcala introduced in the department. It was during that period when I joined the team to work out the requirements for the eventual declaration of the Sagay Marine Reserve as a protected area.
I was also given an opportunity to establish networks and linkages with local and national government agencies and non-government organizations. I was delegated to act as PENRO representative to the technical working group for the creation of the Negros Island Region, as well as in the Environment Committee of the Provincial Development Council. Together with former Provincial Environment Management Officer Edwin Abanil and his senior staff, Rowena Parcon and several others, we planned the organization of the PEMO immediately after the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991. Being the information officer of the PENRO, I became one of the pioneering members of the National Government Information Officers League in Negros Occidental.
The awareness on environmental protection was increasing and several NGOs were engaged in natural resources management, while the advocacy group, Green Alert Negros, was formed. I worked with Green Alert members, especially Rusty Biñas, who was then working with the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction, and Emman Carmona, then connected with the Broad Initiatives for Negros Development, in organizing nature and outdoor education and advocacy campaigns.
The idea was to organize nature exploration but with an environmental education component, and so the “Panagaytay” in the former Northern Negros Forest Reserve and “Palawod” in Sagay Marine Reserve started.
My entry to the DENR was also timely while the conservation community in the country started to roll out discussions on biodiversity conservation and the integrated protected areas system of the Philippines. I participated in several forums and consultations on the proposed and later one became a bill for the National Integrated Protected Areas System, which was passed into law in 1992. Subsequently, there were thorough deliberations at the local and national levels for the development of a project that will pilot the implementation of the NIPAS Act. Eventually, the Conservation of Priority Protected in the Philippines Project was prepared and approved with funding support from the World Bank.
The CPPAP was jointly managed by the DENR with the NGOs for Integrated Protected Areas, a consortium of several conservation NGOs that was specifically organized for the project. Ten priority project sites had been identified for the implementation of the CPPAP, one of which is the formerly named Mount Canla-on National Park, now Mount Kanla-on Natural Park, in Negros Island. Each of the 10 sites should have a designated Protected Area Superintendent to act as the DENR chief operating officer in the area.
My familiarity of the Mount Kanla-on had sparked my curiosity about the CPPAP and I reviewed the project document. Without knowing it, the two other information officers of the DENR in the province, Ruby Arribas and TeresitaGan, were able to secure another copy of the project document and they excitedly told me about available posts for the project in the MKNP. Although I was only joking at that time, I told them I would become the park superintendent.
I became serious about the CPPAP when the late PENRO Larry Cayayan encouraged me to apply as the park superintendent. When I finally decided to consider the position, I received encouragement and endorsement from several NGOs and local governments, especially from former governor Rafael Coscolluela. It was in June 1995 when I officially became one of the earlier and pioneer designated park superintendents in the country.
There are so many tales to tell about my seven-year stint in the MKNP, and I will reserve those stories for my future columns.*