DENR-13 celebrates Month of the Ocean
By Hannah M. Morano
BUTUAN CITY, May 20 – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga celebrates the
2019 Month of the Ocean (MOO) through a simultaneous region-wide coastal
clean-up drive on May 24, 2019.
This year marks the 20th
anniversary of the MOO celebration with the theme “Free the Seas from Marine
Debris.”
The theme for this year focuses
the issues of marine debris and its emerging threats to the coastal and marine
biodiversity.
DENR Caraga regional director
lawyer Felix Alicer reiterated that the annual observance of the Month of
the Ocean is mandated through Presidential Proclamation No. 57, series of 1999.
As specified in Section 2, the
DENR and Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are mandated to spearhead the observance of the MOO.
Other government agencies, private
sector, academe, partners and other stakeholders pledged to become actively
involved during the simultaneous region-wide coastal clean-up drive to show
their support to the agency’s undertakings.
This environmental endeavor aims
to highlight the conservation, preservation and sustainable management of the
country’s coastal and marine resources.
The Department’s efforts and
initiatives to help and protect our coastal and marine environment are
unceasing and go beyond the MOO.
“Together, in many ways, we can
help and keep our seas free from marine debris,” said Alicer. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
