7 tree planters awarded certificates
by Juliet B. Saley
The seven who were awarded during the launching of the 2010 Lang-ay last month were Luis Homrebueno, Jr., Antonio Apil, Lyndon Colbongan, Rodrigo Payacda, Valentine Cameyeng, Calixto Gamlosen, and Purita Cominga.
As stated in the certificate, each awardee commits to continue planting more trees and join with his neighboring awardees to protect the trees they have planted and other existing vegetation including their surroundings from forest fires and poachers as well as enhance the ecological balanced of their environment.
The Tree Planting Certificate was formulated by the Provincial Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources (PAENRO) Board as an incentive to all tree planters and rightful owners of the land planted under the 1 Million Tree Planting Program of the province. This was institutionalized through Provincial Ordinance No. 74 passed by Mt. Province Sangguniang Panlalawigan on July 31, 2006.
Benefits of the Tree Planting Certificate include access in acquiring permit to cut or harvest timber as required by law, free forest charges per memorandum of agreement signed by all sectors of local government units, government agencies and non-government on September 23, 2004, provided the trees to be cut were planted in 2004 and onwards under the 1 Million Tree Planting Program of the province; and income from forest products.
To avail of the Tree Planting Certificate, tree planters should submit Tree Registration Certificate including all attachment like registration of trees planted from 2004 and onwards, land tenure documents or any proof that they own the plantation, Sustainable Traditional and Indigenous Forest Resources Management System and Practices, Free and Prior Informed Consent, and Evaluation of Trees Planted.
It can be recalled that the province under its 1 Million Tree Planting program achieved its target of planting one million trees in three years in just one and a half years. As of September 2008, more than two million forest and fruit tree seedlings have already been planted in various areas in the province.
Planting trees is one of the easiest way in which the public can help mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change. (PIA Mt. Province)
Forest covers in Benguet quickly deteriorating
by SC Aro
Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, in his report during the Regional Development Council meeting held recently, said denudation of forestland is at the rate of 8,400 hectares per year. Currently, the province has a total of 172,751 hectares of forestland.
Fongwan lamented that people cut trees as if they are harvesting cabbages. This is particularly observed in the tri-boundaries of the Benguet, Ifugao and Mt. Province. He presented this to members of the RDC as an urgent issue that need to be addressed.
The RDC has earlier passed a resolution creating a Quick Response Team (QRT) purposely to contain and hasten the resolution of the escalating problem on forest and watershed destruction in the region.
National Commission on Indigenous People – CAR Regional Director requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to submit a report to the RDC on status report of QRT such as the number of cases filed and the resolution of cases.
Ifugao Governor Teodoro Baguilat Jr suggested the best approach in dealing with the mounting problem of deforestation is to talk to the community such that they become stewards of the area.
Talking through experience, Baguilat cited efforts the Social Action and Development Commission (SADC), a non-government organization in Ifugao, which providing alternative source of livelihood to the community which minimized the utilization of forest products. The community themselves protect the mossy forest.
“We cannot just say stop cutting trees as the people also need resources,” Baguilat said.
He added the denudation of forest is affecting geological balance which greatly contributed to the calamities being experienced today. “It is not only the DENR to blame but all of us,” he pointed out.
Batay-an, on the other hand, said that the government should stop issuing tax declaration to the forested areas.
As provided for in the local government code, the management of community forests is now a devolved function of local government units which called for the creation of the Environment and Natural Resources Office.
In strengthening the provision of the code and to formally turn-over the management and supervision of community forest, Fongwan believes that a Memorandum of Agreement should be forged between the LGU and the DENR.
RDC Acting Chair and National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Juan Ngalob said that devolution of such function requires further study. (PIA-Benguet)
Execs slate rehab program for Daet River
by RB Manlangit
Daet, Camarines Norte (16 October) — This municipality has slated the Protection and Rehabilitation Outreach Program for Daet River (PRO Daet River) on Saturday (October 17) with the conduct of a massive cleaning and rehabilitation of the water channel and surrounding areas.
Daet Mayor Tito Sarte Sarion, PRO Daet River chair, said that the municipal government here will spearhead the clean up along Daet River tapping all sectors of the community including barangays along the river as well as NGOs, POs and volunteer groups.
Sarion added the outreach program also include radio advocacy, billboard revolution awareness campaign by utilizing PRO Daet River logo among different organizations’ promotional drives
He said that the local government will ensure the consistent garbage collection along Daet River and will initiate the tree planting activities with the assistance of the concerned national government agencies.
On October 2, Sarion had issued Executive Order No. 19-2009 declaring October 17 as PRO Daet River Day, creating the different working committees and appropriating funds for the program thereafter.
The municipal government is very much concerned about the worsening problem on carrying out the solid waste management program in the country, in addressing or mitigating the effects of climate-change, in addition to the man made destruction of the environment.
An advocacy group, dubbed”Tamang Sanitasyon para sa Kalikasan at Kaunlaran”, will also plan out and carry out activities to ensure the preservation of the Daet River and biodiversity in the area.
The group is composed of Maor Sarion as chair, Dr. Wenifrede T. Oñate of CNSC, vice chair, Elpidio Z. Orata of DENR-PENRO forester, and Santiago A. Mella Jr., Ecological Solid Waste Management officer as over-all coordinators, the various government line agencies and private sectors will serve as members. (PIA CamNorte)
Green Groups Campaign for Zero Waste Solutions to Lessen Ravages of Climate Change
(parade lion waste monster to warn people of health and environmental hazards of wasting)
As the Filipino people come to grips with the deadly onslaught of storms, floods and landslides, the EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and the Miss Earth Foundation stepped up their common plea for increased resource conservation and decreased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through greener lifestyle
changes and Zero Waste.
In a post-Ondoy and Pepeng community outreach, the groups in collaboration with barangay and school officials organized a creative event in Barangay Krus na Ligas in Quezon City to encourage the public to get rid of wasteful habits and consciously cut the amount of trash going to bins, waterways and dumpsites.
To emphasize the issue of wasting, the groups paraded a “lion waste monster,” a horrendous creature whose head and body were crafted mostly from plastic bags – the most obvious manifestation of the ever-increasing throw-away consumption culture that became more visible during the post-Ondoy cleanup challenge. The lion “danced” to
the vigorous beat of drums made of recycled materials.
“The destructive back-to-back storms remind us that we can no longer live ‘business as usual.’ Our wasteful consumption patterns are heating up our planet in a fast pace. By adopting Zero Waste as part of our daily routine, we conserve our diminishing natural resource base and curb pollution from the high volume of trash sent to dumpsites or dumped into our rivers and seas,” said Gigie Cruz of GAIA, which spearheaded the event to mark the “Global Day of Action against Waste and Incineration.”
“Composting our biodegradable discards, for instance, eliminates methane releases from dumpsites and landfills, while improving soil fertility and reducing demands for synthetic fertilizer and toxic pesticides,” she added. Methane has 72 times more global warming
potential compared to carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
“It is time that we make drastic changes in our practices in response to what Mother Earth is telling us. We cannot afford another ‘Ondoy’ or ‘Pepeng’ just to tell us that we need to cut and manage our waste.
We should continue to help educate and empower our people to shift to more 
environmentally-sound alternatives and opt for greener choices now,” said Cathy Untalan, Executive Director, Miss Earth Foundation.
Together with Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry, Miss Philippines Fire 2009 Patricia Marie Tumulak, Miss Philippines Water 2009 Catherine Loyola, Miss Philippines Air 2009 Michelle Martha Braun and Miss Philippines Earth 2009 runner-up Kirstie Joan Babor, the eco-queens likewise promoted a switch to “Wastong Nutrisyon” to avoid non-communicable diseases that are associated with diet-related lifestyle diseases.
For his part, actor Roy Alvarez of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Steering Committee emphasized the need for all Filipinos to assume responsibility for their discards and live a waste-free lifestyle.
“We need everyone to take full responsibility in cutting our waste size to the minimum and in ensuring that our discards are ecologically managed and not merely thrown, dumped or burned. As stewards of Mother Nature, we all need to assume our role and duty to relate and care for the environment,” Alvarez said.
Following the parade, Mercy Sumilang of the Mother Earth Foundation, assisted by 10 “earth maidens and guardians,” facilitated a hands-on demonstration on the easy way of segregating discards into biodegradable, non-biodegradable and hazardous (also known as special waste) categories, and showed the audience the basic steps for successful household composting.
Zero Waste is the dynamic application of waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling and composting at any level – household, institutional, community and country – that has been shown to reduce GHG emissions from avoided disposal and from reduced demand for virgin materials.
According to GAIA’s fact sheet on “Zero Waste for Zero Warming,” Zero Waste is among the cheapest and most effective strategies to combat climate change since its application lessens the use of fossil fuel from materials extraction, production, consumption and disposal, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these activities, while saving the forests and mountains and safeguarding other essential life
support systems.
For a healthier and safer lifestyle and environment, the EcoWaste Coalition, GAIA and the Miss Earth Foundation have come up with tips that can help in reducing not only the volume but also the toxicity of waste, such as refraining from using single-use disposable items, cutting back on plastic bags and switching to reusable carry bags, properly segregating discards for easier and cleaner recycling, composting biodegradable discards into soil nutrients, separating hazardous waste from regular household waste, and by not burning or dumping discards.
Also present in the event were the representatives of the Cavite Green Coalition, Earth Renewal Project, EARTH UST, Health Care Without Harm, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Sanib-Lakas ng mga Aktibong Lingkod sa Inang Kalikasan and Sining Yapak.
UN’s Billion Tree Campaign hits seven billion goal target
Global climate change initiative inspires millions in run-up to crucial Copenhagen conference
New York/Nairobi (21 September) — The global public’s desire to see action on climate change was clearly spotlighted today with the announcement that the Billion Tree Campaign has reached 7 billion trees—one for every person on the planet.
Over the past three years millions of people ranging from scouts to presidents and from schoolchildren to city dwellers and corporate heads have been rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty for the environment through tree planting.
Today’s milestone was reached with the news that the Government of China has planted 2.6 billion trees as part of this unique campaign, bringing the total to 7.3 billion trees planted in 167 countries worldwide.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said: “Seven billion trees, seven billion commitments to action and seven billion reasons why governments should be inspired to Seal the Deal at the crucial UN climate change convention meeting in Copenhagen in less than 80 days’ time.”
“When this campaign was launched in 2006, there were those who said it could not be done. But day after day and week after week, people have got out into their gardens, parks and cities and into the countryside and the rural areas to prove the doubters wrong,” he added.
“Above all the Billion Tree Campaign shows that the simple act of planting a tree resonates and unites the child in the slums of Africa with a president in Mexico, or a corporate CEO in Paris with UN peacekeepers in Timor-Leste. It is the kind of solidarity that now needs to be expressed at the level of all governments and heads of state between now and December in order to move economies towards a low carbon, sustainable path,” said Mr Steiner.
The Billion Tree Campaign was launched jointly with the World Agroforestry Centre during the UN climate convention meeting in November 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the patronage of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Its initial goal was to catalyze the pledging and the planting of one billion trees as a way of giving public expression to the challenges of climate change and also forest and ecosystem degradation.
Since then the Billion Tree Campaign has more than surpassed its aims, evolving into a true ‘People’s Campaign’ – more than half (52 per cent) of all the participants are private individuals.
Furthermore, tree planting has become both an inter-faith and an inter-generational activity, with the trees symbolizing connections between children and parents and bringing together people from different religious backgrounds.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, the founder of the Kenyan Green Belt Movement and the campaign’s co-patron, said: “Let’s plant even more trees to celebrate this wonderful achievement, the fruit of collective action from people all over the planet. By making the Billion Tree Campaign such an incredible success, people from every continent are calling their governments to truly start caring for the planet and to find unity in the fight against climate change.”
His Serene Highness Albert II, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco and the campaign’s co-patron, said: “I have always had a strong belief in the symbolic strength of the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign and I am delighted that it has exceeded our greatest expectations, far beyond the welfare linked to replanting trees, to benefit future generations.”
Highlights of the Billion Tree Campaign
In the past eight months China planted 6.1 billion trees, of which 2.6 billion have been given to the Billion Tree Campaign. With the announcement of these 2.6 additional billion trees, the grand total number of trees planted for the campaign stands at 7.3 billion as of 21 September. The government planted 260 different species of trees in eleven provinces around China, from Inner Mongolia to Yunnan and from Shandong to Sichuan.
The announcement was made in New York on 21 September at a press conference attended by international dignitaries, including Campaign Patrons Wangari Maathai and Prince Albert II of Monaco, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, China’s Minister of the State Forestry Administration Jia Zhibang, and Mohamed Nasheed, the President of the Maldives. The announcement coincided with Global Climate Week, an event launched to mobilize global mass action around the UN high-level event on climate change – including the Global Tree Planting Drive on19 September where people were encouraged to plant trees on every corner of the planet.
A number of other countries around the world have planted impressive numbers of trees since the campaign was launched. Countries that have planted more than a hundred million trees range from Ethiopia (with 1.4 billion trees) and Turkey (711 million trees) to Mexico (with 537 million trees) and countries including Kenya, Cuba, and Indonesia.
In addition to bringing governments to take concrete action to reforest their lands, the Billion Tree Campaign has succeeded in catalyzing tree planting from all walks of society, bringing together creative, original and pioneering initiatives around the world.
To name a few, the Replant New Orleans Initiative sponsored a planting of fruit trees to help breathe new life into a community struggling with the aftermath of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina; the Greening Soweto Campaign is transforming dustbowls into treed lanes in Soweto by capitalizing on South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup; and 132 children in 56 countries have pledged to plant a total of one million trees as part of the ‘Stop talking, Start planting’ campaign, which was started by an eleven-year-old boy.
The economic gains of tree planting are powerfully illustrated by the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative. As well as being close to planting 38 million trees in the Appalachian region, the North American organization has also devised a green job tree planting proposal to stimulate the economy of Appalachia and reap the ecological benefits of a region-wide reforestation effort.
In addition, the Campaign has mobilized groups and individuals in post-conflict areas around the world, bringing the seeds of hope to communities in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Liberia and Somalia among others.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has planted 9 million trees in and around refugee camps around the globe, helping to plant hundreds of thousands of acres of trees in Asia and Africa since the 1990s.
The United Nations Departments of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and Field Support (DFS) have also participated in the campaign, with thirteen peacekeeping missions having pledged 117,848 trees. Of this number 33,184 trees have already taken root across various countries hosting peacekeeping missions. The campaign, which encouraged the planting of indigenous trees appropriate to the local environments, has not only witnessed the participation and enthusiasm of UN staff, but also of the local communities in the different areas of operation.
The private sector has become a key player in the global campaign, accounting for almost 15 per cent of all the trees planted. Multinationals from Accor to Bayer and from Toyota to Coca-Cola East and Central Africa and Yves Rocher have been active tree planters, along with hundreds of small and medium-sized companies the world over.
The campaign’s universal appeal is clear from its success on social networking sites, with some 4,000 blogs adopting the cause early in the campaign.
Proving true its motto that ‘Every tree counts, and we count every tree’, the Billion Tree Campaign’s phenomenal success is a result of the participation of people of all walks of life and from every corner of the planet. (UN/PIA)
Green Groups Support New Mining Policy In Congress
MANILA – Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), a national coalition of more than eighty (80) organizations composed of mining-affected communities and civil society organizations, expressed their support and endorsed their position on the proposed new mining policy – House Bill 6342 (Philippine Mineral Resources Act of 2009) popularly known as the Alternative Mining Bill (AMB) in a public hearing facilitated by the House Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Iggy Arroyo held last September 9 at the House of Representatives.
“Upon careful review of HB 6342, ATM strongly believes that the proposed bill puts forward some policy reforms that are reflective of the genuine needs of mining-affected communities, and that the bill will respond to the regulatory framework necessary to implement large-scale mining without sacrificing social and other costs associated with the extractive industry, which the Mining Act of 1995, after more than a decade liberal interpretation and implementation failed to address”, said ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera.
According to Garganera, HB 6342 has a clear declaration of state policy and that adheres to total human development and sustainable development principles.
“ATM is supportive of the clear policy positions that are imbedded in HB 6342, to name a few: 1) Integrating development of communities and science and technology initiatives, which puts local communities at the “center of development”; 2) Adherence to principles of participatory governance in the creation of the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council that reflects true and genuine participation of local communities and their designated representatives, in accepting, studying, approving and monitoring the application and operations of mining projects, which will ensure authentic and legitimate representation, promote transparency and exact accountabilities from the decision-makers; 3) Recognition of local autonomy and just share in revenues of mining by LGUs that equitably outlines the sources of revenues by which LGUs are entitled to; 4) Addressing the social impacts of large-scale mining by mandating the contractor to prepare and submit an Environmental and Social Impact Prevention and Mitigation Plan (ESIPMP), which is a better mitigation measure than the current EIA system that does not fully address the complexity of mining operations; and 5) Improved Access to Justice where there the bill is able to lay down the policy foundations to ensure protection of human rights, definition of corporate and individual acts resulting to human rights violations, as well as prescribe procedures by which these can be resolved,” enumerated Garganera.
“On the same hearing, the House Committee on Natural Resources also deliberated two House Resolutions (HR) related to mining, namely: HR 25 “Urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to uphold its notice of cancellation or termination of Aglubang Mining Corporation’s mineral production sharing agreement No. 167-2000-IV” and HR 360 “Investigation into the effects of large-scale mining activities on the environment and people’s livelihood in Oriental Mindoro”, these covers the provinces that serve as our nation’s food basket threatened by mining operations,” said Garganera.
“The 14th Congress is nearing its end. Yet, ATM remains hopeful that the leadership of Rep. Iggy Arroyo will urgently address the unjust current practices of the mining industry, which is being exacerbated by a flawed mineral policy,” concluded Garganera.
ATM is calling for the passage of HB 6342, filed in Congress last May 13,2009, which was introduced by House Representatives, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Erin Tañada, Walden Bello, Rufus Rodriguez, and Carlos Padilla. The bill is a proposed policy to scrap the Mining Act of 1995 and introduce a new mining policy to regulate the rational exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources onshore (as well as quarry resources, sand and gravel, guano, and gemstones) and ensure the equitable sharing of benefits for the State, indigenous peoples and local communities and for other purposes.
The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group and a people’s movement that upholds the rights of the present and future Filipinos against the persisting injustices related to mining. ATM is convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth – Phils. (LRC-KsK/FOE-Phils.) and PhilDHRRA.
For more information:
Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19 / Roslyn Arayata, Policy Research & Advocacy Officer (0917) 521.7937
DENR-CAR says watershed protection is everybody’s concern
by SC Aro
La Trinidad, Benguet (12 September) — Environment and Natural Resources Regional Cordillera Administrative Region Director Primitivo Galinato Jr. calls on officials, farmers and other stakeholders to help work out for the protection and conservation of the deteriorating state of the region’s watershed system.
Saying that DENR cannot do it alone, Galinato stressed that something must be done with the sorry state of the watershed system otherwise it will become a survival of the fittest.
According to Galinato, there are only 729,539 hectares of forest cover area remaining in the region, of which more than 481,491 hectares need to be rehabilitated.
He lamented the massive conversion of mossy forests into vegetable gardens. If this goes on, it will lead to massive soil erosion then eventually sedimentation and siltation, he said. The worsening state of the watershed system is aggravated by illegal logging and timber poaching.
We must think of what is to be left for the next generation, he further said.
While it is true that farming is a source of livelihood, the use of the land should not be abused as this would further deteriorate the environment, Galinato said.
He stressed the importance of watershed system. Its water runs the turbines of the dams of the Luzon grid namely the Binga, Ambuklao and San Roque dams. If riverbeds become shallow due to denudation or polluted due to sedimentation or siltation, it affects quality of water.
Dubbed as the watershed cradle of northern Luzon, Galinato said the Cordillera region has 13 major watershed system that feeds irrigation systems of Regions I, II and III.
In efforts to rescue the deteriorating state of the region’s watersheds, a watershed summit was held October last year aimed to identify courses of action to arrest the alarming deterioration of the region’s watershed and to make these sustainable. It also aimed to forge a Covenant for Action among all stakeholders, and to consolidate the position of CAR in co-opting the support of regions 1 and 2 for external assistance to undertake a comprehensive watershed program.
As an offshoot of this was an inter-regional summit held last May among stakeholders in CAR, Regions I, and II to generate their support for CAR watersheds. (PIA-Benguet)
Korina says mining projects must be fully studied
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (13 August) — TV host Korina Sanchez said there is a need to balance the development and protection of the environment inorder to preserve the environment while building the lives of the poor sector in the country.
“There is a need to balance both sides of the issue. The environment should not be compromised while reaping the benefits of our natural resources,” Sanchez said during a press conference at the Sta. Mary’s University (SMU) here.
Sanchez said however that some mining projects in the country are well studied by the government and its proponents so that it does not damage the environment while gaining the benefits from within.
She was in the province as guest speaker for the Indigenous Peoples day celebration Saturday(August 
organized by the Nueva Vizcaya Peoples Organizations (NVPO). (PIA NVizcaya)
Korina says mining projects must be fully studied
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (13 August) — TV host Korina Sanchez said there is a need to balance the development and protection of the environment inorder to preserve the environment while building the lives of the poor sector in the country.
“There is a need to balance both sides of the issue. The environment should not be compromised while reaping the benefits of our natural resources,” Sanchez said during a press conference at the Sta. Mary’s University (SMU) here.
Sanchez said however that some mining projects in the country are well studied by the government and its proponents so that it does not damage the environment while gaining the benefits from within.
She was in the province as guest speaker for the Indigenous Peoples day celebration Saturday(August organized by the Nueva Vizcaya Peoples Organizations (NVPO). (PIA NVizcaya)
Feature: Large-scale coconut biodiesel production in Ilocos Norte, first in the world
By Carlo P. Canares
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (10 August) — North Luzon, particularly the province of Ilocos Norte boasts of not just the country’s but the world’s first large scale coconut plantation intended solely for the production of coconut bio-fuel as an alternative energy resource.
The Arroyo administration is promoting indigenous energy exploration to protect the country from shocks brought about by volatile imported fuel prices and help solve the global problem on climate change.
Some 400,000 hectares of land in North Luzon, majority of which will be in the villages of Balaoi, Caparispisan and Caunayan in the town of Pagudpud, will be developed and planted with coconut trees to secure the supply of coconut oil for domestic market demand and sustain exports.
Not only will there be development of alternative fuels but also reforestation that promotes cleaner, fresher air; protect and restore the environment and absorb carbon dioxide.
A Coconut Bio-fuel energy plant, covering 9 hectares of land, will rise in the coastal town of Pasuqin in the province of Ilocos Norte. The coconut oil mill and biodiesel plant will produce at least 2,000 tons of coconut oil per month with provisions of up to 25,000 tons; and 300,000 tons of coconut biodiesel annually.
The first phase of the project is for the construction of the Coconut Oil Mill plant. Covering an estimated 4.5 hectares, it will consist of a copra warehouse, copra milling section, coconut oil refinery section, copra cake section, storage tanks, administration offices and port facility. The second phase is the construction of the Coconut biodiesel plant and Coconut shell charcoal processing plant and will cover another 4.5 hectares of land.
The bio-fuel power project is one way of solving the problem of climate change because the use of coconut bio-diesel will contribute to the reduction of green house gas emissions in the atmosphere.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has repeatedly stressed that climate change is already adversely affecting the world and will have catastrophic effects if immediate and sufficient actions to curb fossil fuel emission and forest loss are not taken.
Bio-fuel is any fuel derived from organic matter. It is a renewable source of energy unlike other resources such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels. One advantage of biofuel in comparison with most fuel types is its biodegradability, thus its handling and use is relatively harmless to the environment.
The bio-fuel coconut oil project will secure the region’s – and the country’s – own source of alternative fuel and lessen dependence on imported fossil fuels. It will also mean job creation and economic upturn for various related industries.
The bio-fuel/coconut oil project will cost P3.5 billion of which P500 million will be for land and infrastructure while the remaining P3 billion will be for plantation of coconut trees, including provisions for livelihood and employment, farm supplies, fertilizers, seedlings, etc. (PIA Ilocos Norte)
BONLAG meets to discuss role in 2010 elections, environmental issues
by Vency D. Bulayungan
Bontoc, Mt. Province (8 August) — In an effort to attain a clean and honest elections in 2010, and to help preserve the environment, the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe (BONLAG), conducted recently a three day tongtongan (dialogue) here with the theme, “Nation building through Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs)”.
Bishop Rodolfo Beltran said that like in the past, the vicariate will actively be involved in the 2010 elections. One of the issues he said which the vicariate minimize or even eliminate is vote buying. “This has been a long problem which we are trying to address,” Beltran said.
Beltran admitted that in the past he would advise the people to accept the money given by politicians and not vote for them. However, this time he said he will advise them not to accept the money anymore. We are not retreating from this effort and we will imbibe fear to the people not to sell their votes.
On the other hand, retired Bishop Francisco Claver, who was one of the speakers, said that the people in the different BECs have a role to do in the 2010 elections. “We Christianize the culture of politics, Claver said.
Still active in his obligations and various advocacies, Claver said that BECs have big participation in nation building. “If you want to build the nation, go to the BECs. He also believes that poor people take part in nation building.
“BECs are a community of communities and we believe that a community plays a major role in social change,” Claver said. Although there is a slow change, Claver challenged the participants to act now and do their share in attaining this goal.
Meanwhile, Beltran disclosed that one of the pressing concerns that the vicariate is facing right now is environmental issues. He said that cutting of trees should be minimized because due to rampant cutting of trees, disasters such as landslides occur and the illicit activity also lessen water supply. He enjoined all sectors of society to come together and join hands in the preservation of the environment.
Participated by about 270 representatives from the 21 Mission Stations of BONLAG, Beltran described the BECs here as alive and that the tongtongan this year is very good since this is an opportunity to remind everybody in the vicariates the moves in building the nation through the BECs. “The BECs make me happy because even though they are not perfect, they are alive,” he said. (PIA-Ifugao)
