The USAID-Safe Water Project and the Globe Telecom Inc. turned over mobile phones to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Puerto Princesa and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (MENROs) of Quezon, Rizal, Narra, Aborlan, Roxas, Taytay, and Dumaran in a ceremony held on December 6, 2022 at Holiday Suites, North National Road, Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City.
These mobile phones will be used in forest protection and monitoring since these are equipped with the LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System mobile applications.
Present during the activity were Ms. Alma Porcuincula, Chief of Party, USAID-Safe Water; Joanne Dulce, USAID Environment Office; and Forester Aldrin Bayangos of the Corporate Communications Group of the Globe Telecom, Inc. among others. Also present were representatives from the different recipient-municipalities.
Community Development Assistant II Rose Aileen T. San Luis of the City ENRO represented the City ENRO, Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, during the activity.
In her message, she highlighted the importance of sustaining the technology taught by the USAID which is known as LAWIN, a forest and biodiversity protection tool.
“The LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System which is a user-friendly technology and science based assessment that facilitates the monitoring activities in our forests will definitely help us in properly managing our forests, the habitat of our wildlife, and protect them from the threats of deforestation, degradation, and as well as other destruction caused by human activities,” San Luis said.
She shared that the Office of the City ENRO conducted puppet shows in the different schools and barangays as part of its awareness campaign to protect the forest, conserve its natural resources and help influence people’s behavior towards the environment.
“Protecting the environment, and conserving the remaining wildlife species has been an enormous challenge for the government and various stakeholders. The Puppet show and other campaign tools have been considered as an important approach to help reduce wildlife poaching and other destructive practices and activities that cause pressures to the environment,” San Luis explained in her message.