Employees and staff of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Regional Office VII joined an early morning coastal clean-up at the Angasil Port in Lapu-Lapu City to kick-off the celebration of the 32nd anniversary celebration of the creation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

It is not unusual for DENR employees to engage in coastal clean-up but last Tuesday’s activity was more meaningful as everyone commemorates the day of the creation of the country’s Environment Department.

DENR was created under Executive Order No. 131 and was reorganized on June 10, 1987 when the “Reorganization Act of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources” was signed stipulating its structure and functions. The Department has since became the government’s primary agency responsible in the conservation, development of natural resource as well as primary environment protector.

At least 50 sacks of garbage were collected and was later hauled by the Material Recovery Facility group of Lapu-Lapu City Government as some of the trash may be recycled.

The coastal clean-up activity was followed with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Portofino Beach near Angasil Port.

Another highlight of the anniversary celebration was the Team Building activity to strengthen the bond and camaraderie among employees of all DENR -7 staff and employees of the various divisions of the regional office including the line bureaus MGB-7 and Environmental Management Bureau – 7, Coastal, Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development and Extension Center (CRERDEC), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Cebu (PENRO Cebu), and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices in Argao and Cebu City.