DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) --The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)  here is looking forward for the entire Pantaron Range to soon be declared as  a protected area under the Expanded (NIPAS) National Integrated Protected Areas System  or Republic Act 11038.

Guesting in the Pakigsayod radio program on June 7,  DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO)  Chamberlain Babiera  expressed optimism that Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez can make through Congress his proposed bill on this regard and eventually make it a law.

“Hopefully with the sponsorship of Congressman Alverez that will ripen it into a law that will protect the Pantaron Range,”  he said.

The Pantaron Range cuts across three regions of Davao, Caraga and Northern Mindanao, and a wide portion of 1,600 hectares of it, is under the geographical area of Davao Region particularly Davao del Norte, Babiera said.

DENR-PENRO Davao del Norte conducted late last year the Protected Area Survey Assessment (PASA) which forms part of the array of document to support the bill of Alvarez who, he said, is also coordinating with concerned House Representatives in Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region.

The regional office of the DENR had already reviewed the PASA report of DENR Davao del Norte, Babiera said,  and submitted it  to the DENR central office Biodiversity Management Bureau to consolidate it  with the PASA from Northern Mindanao and from Caraga.

Babiera was looking at a “wholistic” management of the would-be Pantaron Range Protected Area which would be governed by  the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) which will bring in all local chief executives of the local government units (LGUs) that have stakes of the Pantaron Range.

He assured that DENR shall be working closely with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the tribes occupying the Pantaron Range which Babiera said, is covered by a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

Babiera expressed concern about naturally grown trees in the  Pantaron Range which he referred as a less explore “true forest”, where a number of endemic plants and trees are yet to be identified.

“Di pa masyadong na puntahan (It is rarely visited). There are  no trails and tracks yet in the  Pantaron Range.  Pa bugso-bugso lang na visitation,” he said.  (JMDA/PI XI)