Six (6) individuals and one (1) organization in SOCCSKSARGEN region made it as regional winners in the Search for Outstanding Volunteers 2017, the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) disclosed.
Forester Mary Jane Manlisis, chief of PEMO – Forest & Inland Water Management Division said the lone organization that made it in the search under the Organization/Non-Profit category in the province is the Association of South Cotabato Earth Savers (ASCES) or also known as Earth Savers with its domicile located in Tampakan municipality.
Earth Savers, formerly called Deputized Environment & Natural Resources Officers (DENROs), has been a partner of PEMO since 2010. It started with 44 members but later grew to 450 members distributed in the 9 towns and lone city of South Cotabato.
It was organized to establish support groups in the different municipalities province-wide to help implement environmentally-related programs or [projects and assists in the sustainable conservation and protection of the remaining forest resources within their area of jurisdiction.
Forester Manlisis likewise added that aside from Earth Savers, 2 individuals from South Cotabato made it as regional winners under the Individual/Adult category, namely; Junelia Damel of Tantangan and Regalado Bantilan of T’boli.
The other winners from the region are Fulung Dan Alim of General Santos City, Agbay Bautista of Maitum Sarangani and Norma Adamat of Kidapawan City, Cotabato under the Individual/Adult category and Juwahdi Salik of Cotabato City under the Youth category.
Regional Development Council 12 awarded the said individuals and organization plaque of recognition each during their regular meeting last September 20.
The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency spearheads the search in partnership with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) as Secretariat and other national line agencies.
Conferment of awards will be on December this year, according to PNVSCA, which is celebrated as National Volunteers Month.
