By Sam Ramos
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)-Guipos, has donated 5,548.16 board feet of lumberto four elementary schools in the municipality of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, to aid in school repair and renovation projects.
The donated lumber was distributed among the following schools: Dipili Elementary School, 2,030 board feet; Damit Elementary School: 1,241.83 board feet; Bayog Central Elementary School-Special Education: 1,229.33 board feet and; Camp Blessing Elementary School: 1,047 board feet.
The donation ceremony took place on November 19, 2024, at TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD)in Bayog. It was attended by Bayog Municipal Mayor Celso Matias, top DENR officials, State Auditor Jaymar Lopez, and representatives from the recipient schools.
Pacifico Cabrido Jr., deputy chief of Cenro-Guipos, signed the deed of donation on behalf of the DENR, further cementing the partnership between the DENR, local government, and schools to improve educational facilities in the area.
The lumber, sourced from logs turned over by TVIRD, was processed under the Special Tree Cutting and Earth Balling Permits issued by DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula in 2021 and 2022. These permits facilitated the legal processing of the wood, ensuring it could be used for community development projects like school repairs.
The donation was part of the DENR’s commitment to supporting local communities and enhancing educational infrastructure in the region. These four schools were the first batch of recipients, having met the requirements set by Malacañang Memorandum Order No. 162.
This initiative is a testament to the DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the development of local communities and promote sustainable practices for the benefit of future generations.