In today’s launching of the government’s 6-year National Greening Program, President Benigno S Aquino III is also giving tribute to six “environmental heroes” for standing bravely to the call of duty, even sacrificing their lives, for the protection of the country’s environment and natural resources.
To be given posthumous awards of recognition by Pres. Aquino include four DENR field personnel and three non-DENR personnel, as follows:
- DENR employees:
- Kenedy Eber Bayani – Mr. Bayani was Forest Ranger at the DENR when he lost his life in the line of duty on July 9, 2010. He was gunned down while manning a checkpoint in San Isidro, Luna in Apayao province. He was a member of the team that confiscated Tanguile, Red Lauan and Mayapis lumber and flitches.
- 2. Rolando S. Sinday, 49 – Mr. Sinday worked as a Tree Marker at the local office of the DENR in Lianga, Surigao del Sur until his death on December 6, 2010. He was on his way home aboard his motorbike when he was fired upon three times at his back by two gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle. He died on the spot. Sinday took part in the “Oplan Kalasangan” inside the forested area of the SAMMILIA Federation of Peoples Forest Development Corp. in Lianga, Surigao del Sur leading to the confiscation of 3,000 cubic meters of illegally-cut logs.
- 3. Jacinto P. Dragas, 55 – Mr. Dragas was also a Forest Ranger of the DENR when he lost his life in the line of duty on January 13, 2011. He was manning the checkpoint in Barangay Tabon, Bislig City in Surigao del Sur when he was shot dead by three unidentified gunmen with .45 caliber pistols. Two days before the incident, Dragas apprehended a six-wheeler truck passing the checkpoint that was loaded with 305 pieces of suspected illegally-cut Lauan and Toog timber.
- 4. Pierre Gillo – Mr. Gillo was a community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) in Sta. Rita, Samar when he lost his life in the line of duty on February 25, 2011. He was shot down in front of his residence by two gunmen riding in tandem on motorcycle. He was known for his strong advocacy against illegal logging and pouching in his area of jurisdiction in spite of several death threats he received.
- Non-DENR employees:
- 1. Nelson Luna – Mr. Luna lost his life in the line of duty on October 29, 2010. Mr. Luna was on a volunteer work with the DENR Forest Products Monitoring Station in Bislig, Surigao de Sur and contributed to the apprehension of illegally-transported wood products. He was gunned down while manning a check point in Bislig. Luna’s wife allegedly started to get death threats through texts since Luna started reporting for duty the past three months before the incident.
- 2. Christopher P. Mazo – Mr. Mazo was the police chief of Lianga, Surigao del Sur when he lost his life on August 21, 2010. Police chief Mazo was killed by a sniper in an ambush allegedly by NPA rebels while his convoy was conducting a verification/assessment of SAMMILIA’s log stocks and logging operations in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.
- 3. Elpidio “Jojo” Malinao – Mr. Malinao was a Forest Guard at the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystem covering Mt. Makiling when he lost his life on May 9, 2011. He was gunned down at Bry. Maitim, Bay, Laguna after attending an MTC hearing.
Aside from plaque of recognition, their families will also be given financial assistance and scholarship program, in consonance with Project TREES (Trust Resources to Ensure Environmentalists’ Security) of the DENR.
Project TREES was established by the DENR and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) in 1995 to promote the security and welfare of dedicated environmental protectors and their families and boost morale among the ranks.
- 1. For Kenedy Eder Bayani:
- A Certificate of Recognition for Mr. Bayani will be received by his wife Remelyn.
- A scholarship program will be availed by his son, Krysler June Bayani, 15, who will be 4th year high school this coming school year.
- 2. For Rolando S. Sinday:
- Certificate of Recognition will be received by wife, Gloria.
- Employment program award will be availed by his son Mr. Marjun A. Sinday, 30 years old, college level.
- 3. For Jacinto P. Dragas:
- Certificate of Recognition will be received by wife Mrs. Flora.
- An employment program will be availed by his daughter Ms. Floriza G. Dragas, 23 years old, college level.
- 4. For Pierre Gillo:
- Certificate of Recognition will be received by his wife Zosima.
- 5. For Nelson Luna:
- Certificate of Recognition will be received by wife Phanie Jean.
- 6. For Christopher P. Mazo:
- Certificate of Recognition will be received by wife Liza.
- 7. For Elpido Malinao:
- Certificate of Recognition will be received by UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco.
The Heroes Park:
Another highlight of the NGP launching is the planting of the first of 1.5 billion trees targeted under the program by President Aquino. The President will plant a 14-foot Narra sapling at the Heroes Park at the back of the DENR building in Quezon City.
The Heroes Park was established in 1995 to pay tribute and give honor to the men and women of DENR who perished defending their ideals and conviction for the protection of the environment.
The Heroes Park features the sculpture entitled “Rocks and Columns of Heroes” by internationally-renowned Filipino artist, UP Prof. Nestor Olarte Vinluan.
Prof. Vinluan describes his master piece as follows:
“The public outdoor sculpture as is an integration of ideas. It consists of five upright pillars on a bed of stones sprawled on a four-tiered circular concrete platform. There exists an interaction between the vertical and horizontal elements to symbolize both the soaring aspirations of men and the solid foundation they should come from.
The colorful structure is a simple celebration of life, a fitting offering to those brave souls who have gladly given their lives to enable the people to experience beauty and equanimity even from the most banal in life.” -30- DENR, PAO
