THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday celebrated its 27th founding anniversary with the gathering of its employees in the region and a coastal clean-up in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.

This year’s anniversary celebration is anchored on the theme: Serbisyo, Parangal at Musika.

DENR Regional Public Affairs Officer Rosevirico Tan said they started celebration with a Holy Mass at the San Jose Parish Church in Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur.

Tan said that after the mass they motored to the town of Tukuran, 25 kilometers from Pagadian City, where they conducted coastal clean-up.

Tan said the coastal clean-up was led by DENR Regional Executive Director Arleigh Adorable.

The clean-up activity with joined by the municipal government officials and employees of Tukuran, civil society organizations and the academe.

Tan said the coastal clean-up is in line with the agency’s mandate as the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources as stipulated under Executive Order 192.

Tan said the coastal clean-up activity was followed by Zumba fitness dance and sports activities to include parlor games.

Tan added that the sports activities were aimed to promote camaraderie among the DENR employees here in the region. (Bong Garcia)