LUNA, Apayao – With the province’s commitment and desire to protect and conserve its forests, it employs hundreds of green guards as forest protectors and trains them to ensure that they are equipped with knowledge and skills to perform their jobs.
Over 110 green guards underwent orientation and training August 9, 2023 at Payanan, San Gregorio, Luna, Apayao where they were given a series of lectures on the Revised Forestry Code, Chainsaw Act, Rules for Administering Adjudication of Illegal Forest Products, and other relevant and related topics.
Added to the lectures are updates and presentations which include the special joint order of provincial government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Eagle Biology and Ecology, and Biodiversity Assessment, and Data Gathering Process using Cyber Tracker Application.
The green guards were also given activities for some hands-on application of principles and knowledge gained.
Among the speakers were Rainier Balbuena (Cordillera office of the DENR, PENR Officer-Apayao), Forester James B. Tacas (DENR CENRO–Calanasan), Forester Joseph M. Buyag (DENR CENRO–Calanasan), Forest Ranger Janilyne C. Tubban (DENR CENRO–Calanasan), and Ma. Susana Legaspi (Biologist, Philippine Eagle Foundation).
It is hoped that the training will not only provide knowledge and skills but instill in the hearts of the green guards the necessity and importance of keeping and conserving Apayao’s natural resources and maintaining it as Cordillera’s last nature frontier. By Apayao PIO
