The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy – BARMM, through the Forest Management Services headed by Director Abdul-Jalil S. Umngan, facilitated the attendance and participation of different offices in the Ministry and its provincial offices in the paralegal training on environmental protection conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Region XII (DENR-XII) on 12 January 2022.

The said training for SOCCSKSARGEN Environmental Protection Task Force and partner agencies aims to provide knowledge regarding the administrative adjudication proceeding of illegal forest products and enhance the investigatory skills required in the implementation of environmental laws, rules, and regulations. The seminar is significant to harmonize and strengthen the implementation of the environment policies through a convergence of different law enforcement entities.

Three topics were discussed during the seminar:

1. DAO 97-32 Rules for the Administrative Adjudication of Illegal Forest Products and Machinery, Equipment, Tools and conveyances by Joffrey S. Laraya, JD DMO III;

2. RA 9147 (Prohibited Acts and Penalties) Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act by For. Ali M. Hadjinasser, Ph.D. Chief, Conservation and Development Division; and

3. Rules of Court and the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases by Atty. Joseph Boyd A. Atensor Provincial Prosecutor South Cotabato.

The activity targets to integrate respective agencies’ functions in the implementation and enforcement of forestry laws, policies, rules, regulations.