THE Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) of Negros Occidental is pushing for the utilization of a geocam mobile application to further strengthen its community environmental protection efforts.
Andres Untal, head of Penro-Negros Occidental, told Sun.Star Bacolod Monday that the app will involve more Negrenses in the protection and conservation of the environment.
The application, which can be installed in Android phones, allows concerned citizens to take photos with “coordinates” of any environmental law violations and send it to authorities.
“Coordinates will mainly help us determine whether the subject of the photo is within protected area, timberland, or titled property,” Untal said, adding that the geocam app also equips them to act immediately on the violations.
The app can be used even without an internet connection, he also said.
On Wednesday, Penro will launch the use of the geocam application at its office in Barangay 39, Bacolod City.
During the activity, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will provide free mobile app installation and orientation to participants.
Aside from environment advocates, people doing outdoor activities like mountaineers and other Negrenses are urged to further help in the government’s reef conservation efforts by installing the app.
They are then advised to send their photos to Penro’s email address: penrneg@yahoo.com, or post them in the Penro-Negros Occidental Facebook page.
Untal said the initiative, which is in collaboration with the Protected Area Superintendent of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), is aimed at stopping illegal logging activities and other environmental law violations, including mining and pollutions, among others.
“We are encouraging the citizenry to participate as they have a very significant role in the protection and conservation of our natural resources since it cannot be fully done by DENR alone,” he said.