ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has recently trained Alternative Dispute Resolution Officers from selected DENR offices nationwide to resolve land and forestry disputes and conflicts.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Cidur S. Julsadjiri said yesterday about 37 ADROs participated in the week-long rigid training on how to peacefully resolve land and forestry disputes and conflicts in their respective areas of responsibility.

The training was conducted by the DENR in partnership with PENRO-Zamboanga del Norte and Conflict Resolution Group Foundation Inc.

The CoRe group extensively lectured the participants on mediation through non-adversarial communication.

The training was the 14th conducted by the DENR and was held recently at the Mibang Hotel, Sta. Filemona, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte with lecturers' expert in handling land and forestry disputes and conflicts as resource speakers.

The ADROs were also given 29 land dispute cases to resolve, filed at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices of Piñan, Manukan and Liloy to test their knowledge of what they learned throughout the training.

About three cases under CENRO Piñan were amicably settled by the newly trained ADROs, Julsadjiri said.

Julsadjiri lauded the ADROs for their dedication and asked that they will help the people and the department resolved land disputes and conflicts. He also expressed his deep gratitude for choosing Zamboanga del Norte to be the venue of their activity.

ADR program was institutionalized in the department pursuant to DENR Administrative Order No. 2005-18 which mandates the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution principles and procedures in the resolution of appropriate environment and natural resources conflict.