DENR commits to help fasttrack Siargao rehab The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) commits to help fast track the rehabilitation of Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. “I will be designating DENR Caraga RED (Regional Executive Director) Nonito M. Tamayo to be the Chairman of the Siargao rehabilitation. I will make sure that he will focus on the restoration of power and tourism in Siargao. We will also ask for the help of other government agencies,” said DENR chief Sec. Roy A. Cimatu during his visit to Siargao Islands on January 15, 2022.
rehabilitation of mangrove areas and we will be hiring the locals to do the job,” said Sec. Cimatu.
There are a total of 132 barangays in Siargao and According to Atty. Zander Bucas Grande Islands, of Plaza, chief of staff of Governor Francisco Matugas, which 92 are coastal and island barangays. The during Secretary Cimatu’s communities located in courtesy visit at the Siargao the coastal areas are most Incident Command Center devastated by the typhoon. in Dapa, Surigao del Norte, relief operations may last for To address this problem, the three to four months due to DENR is now conducting an the problem in livelihood as more than 60% of the people assessment and identification of possible relocation areas. in Siargao are dependent Installation of “no build zone” on tourism. Thus, there are numerous displaced workers. signages in legal easement areas to prevent residents from building their houses in “Indeed, livelihood is our these high risk areas. biggest problem. In order to help the residents of Siargao, “We will focus on the we will implement the cash identification of possible for work program in the
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relocation sites for the displaced communities. Rest assured that we will do everything we can to help,” Cimatu added. A short briefing at the Protected Area Management Office of Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape in Dapa, Surigao del Norte was also conducted on the same day which was attended by PAMO and DENR Caraga Regional Office personnel. Secretary Cimatu was accompanied by the Deputy Chief Implementor for Visayas Inter-Agency Task Force Major Gen. Mel Feliciano and Executive Assistant Col. Orencio Jeruta during his visit in Siargao. (DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
January 15-21, 2022 |
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