Forest, village, sea project launches in Silay City
Bacolod City (22 June) — Forest, Village, Sea (“Mori-Sato-Umi”) a joint project of IKAW-AKO Japan-Negros Partnership for Environment Protection and the Silay City government was officially launched in Silay City recently.
Japan International Cooperation Agency will be extending two million pesos assistance to the technical cooperation for grassroots projects on watershed reforestation and environmental education programs ? introduction of ecotourism.
The groups involved in the project are boy scouts, girl scouts, mangrove planters, ISF holders, students, barangay residents and environment groups.
Ver Pacete, tourism officer of Silay and Leo Canson, IKAW-AKO chairman in Silay, have been tasked to promote the area through ecotourism program which include sentimental journeys, nature camping, valley trekking, star gazing and horseback riding. (PIA/cad)
DENR notes rise in requests for climate change briefing
by A. Lumaque
“We have been in schools and barangays since January this year in response to requests for briefings,” said DENR – Capiz Forest Management Specialist and climate change resource speaker Edwin Borja.
The requests also included the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) briefing on climate change and global warming for Capiz Association of Government Public Information Officers, Inc. (CAGPIO) members, government owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) and local government unit (LGU) information officers.
The LGUs will be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas based on the Climate Change Act of 2009 that President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo is set to sign on October 30.
The law, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, aims to mainstream climate change into policy formulation, development panning, and poverty reduction programs. It also creates a Climate Change Commission (CCC) to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the programs and action plans of government relating to climate change.
The CCC will be headed by the President. It will be composed of three Commissioners, one of whom shall be the vice-chairperson.
The Commission is mandated to formulate “a framework strategy on climate change,” which will serve as the basis for a program for climate change planning, research and development, extension, and monitoring of activities to protect vulnerable communities. (PIA)
DENR experts warn of dire effects of climate change
Provincial Environment and Management Officer (PEMO) and Lawyer Edwin Banal said warnings are up for possible rise in skin cancers, cataracts and other related diseases due to the continuing heating up of the planet.
Speaking on climate change during the opening of the Journalism Seminar-Workshop of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at the Grand Regal Hotel, Abanil said extreme weather- flooding and drought should be expected as the environment reacts to natural and man-made destructions made on the environment. The training runs September 8 to 10.
Global warming he said is the rise in temperature brought about by the greenhouse gasses as a result, partly, by man’s excessive use of fossil fuel or gasoline that emits carbon dioxide.
Because of this, scientists have seen a rise in the global temperature of.74 Celsius from 1906 to 2005 while rise in the surface temperature was place at.6 Celcius during 20th century according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The country is most especially vulnerable to the rise is sea level because it is an archipelagic island, he told the 185 campus writers participating in the training.
Malaria, dengue, yellow fever incidents are feared to grow as food shortage becomes a global threat especially in the third world countries.
Many areas of the world will contend with heavy flood while vast tracks of land will be rendered unproductive because of drought.
At the moment the government is doing all it can to mitigate the anticipated challenges of climate change but it can only do so much.
“We need the cooperation of our leaders and the people to meet the desired solutions needed,” he said.
Alarmed by these grave consequences President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 774 reorganizing the Presidential Task Force on climate change to make the set-up relevant and effective.
At the provincial level the “Task Force Ilahas” is enforcing environmental laws to track down and prosecute violators as massive tree planting activities are held province wide.
He urged school paper organizations to help in educating the community and school on climate change through the press and by whatever means they could effectively spread the dangers the world is facing. (PIA-LOL)
VSU leads launching of environment restoration and livelihood program for Southern Leyte
By Bong Pedalino
Dr. Jose Bacusmo, VSU President, discussed the salient framework of the proposal that has the twin objective of caring for the environment while at the same time instituting livelihood for concerned sectors, during the 58th birthday celebration of Cong. Roger Mercado held last week at barangay Bogo, this city.
The program, titled “Restoration and Good Government (RGM) for the Environment and Livelihood of Southern Leyte,” aims to mobilize some twelve implementing agencies and the support of eleven cooperating agencies to undertake a massive “restoration of Southern Leyte’s environment and building-up of environment-based livelihood opportunities through genuine community participation,” according to the program’s stated goal.
Among the implementing agencies, which also serves as the RGM Core Group, included the Office of Cong. Roger Mercado, the Institute of Environmental Governance, VSU, ACIAR Q-Seedling Project, VSU, Department of Agroforestry, VSU; DENR 8-CENRO/PENRO So. Leyte, Department of Education, Bogo Women’s Association, Southern Leyte Provincial Jail; Philippine Red Cross Volunteer, GTZ, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office.
The cooperating agencies were the local government units, Non-Government Organizations, Church and other Religious Organizations, People’s organizations; Private Sector, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Information Agency/KBP-Southern Leyte Chapter; Local Water Utilities Authority (LWUA), Department of Trade and Industry, and TESDA.
The program has a duration of six years, from August 1, 2009 until December 31, 2015, and the project sites included Maasin City, Sogod, Hinundayan, and Liloan municipalities.
In an interview, Dr. Bacusmo told PIA the concept that he outlined still needed more brainstorming and fine adjustments so as to concretize the next steps to be undertaken. (PIA-Southern Leyte)
Capiz starts own integrated coastal managementt plan
Roxas City (1 September) — The provincial government of Capiz has taken initial steps towards the formulation of an integrated coastal management plan that would serve as a framework for the proper use and management of the province’s natural resources.
Although focused on the coastal sector the plan, according to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dionisio Molina, Jr. will take into account the interrelationships between aqua-marine environment and resources and those of the inland and upland areas.
A two-day orientation-workshop for this purpose was held recently at the Pag-ulikid Training Center at the Governor’s Mansion compound at Barangay Lanot here. Various stakeholder groups and representatives participated in the activity.
The orientation-workshop was organized by the provincial government headed by Gov. Victor Tanco and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Coastal and Marine Management Office.
The provincial government and DENR through its provincial office here will continue to collaborate with each other in putting together the components of the framework plan that would benefit present and future generations of Capiceños.
Local government and environment officials here said Capiz has vast and rich aqua-marine areas but which need to be properly explored and protected from destructive activities. (PIA)
Feature: Uncovering North Samar’s secrets
Tacloban City (August 28) — The Eco-Tourism Program of the local government unit of Las Navas, Northern Samar gained momentum during the inauguration of the Pinipisakan Falls Cottage, the groundbreaking ceremony of the boat landing and viewing deck projects, and the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Samar Island Natural Park project management thru Dir. Manolito D. Ragub, Project Manager of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Samar Island Natural Park (DENR-SINP) and the Municipality of Las Navas represented by Mayor Arlito A. Tan.
Witnesses during the ceremonies were Ms. Josette G. Doctor, Provincial Tourism Officer of the Province of Northern Samar, the Municipal Council members of Las Navas and the Barangay Council of Barangay San Isidro.
DENR Regional Executive Director Regidor M. De Leon disclosed that pursuant to the said MOA, the DENR and LGU Las Navas shall jointly allocate, protect, develop and manage the Pinipisakan Falls and Ginagatusan Caves, and its surrounding ecosystem for recreational and ecotourism purposes.
It was Honorable Emil Ong, the representative of the 2nd District of Northern Samar, who first introduced the Pinipisakan Falls and Ginagatusan Caves to this writer.
Two days before the Presidential Visit in Las Navas town on July 16, the good Congressman was with a television crew, navigating the Catubig River, which traverses the entire municipality of Las Navas, on their way to shoot the awesome Pinipisakan Falls, his way of promoting the scintillating secret ecotourism destinations in his district.
With the use of a motorized banca, navigating the Catubig River is the primary thoroughfare for traveling in Las Navas. The same leads to the province’s best-kept secrets, Km 3, a subterranean natural pool, the Ginagatusan Caves and Pinipisakan Falls, a multi-layered cascading attraction.
At the upper most stream, the Pinipisakan Falls, a series of starlike waterfalls, a multi-layered cascading attraction, located 15 kilometers away from the town of Las Navas, Km 3, a subterranean natural pool, and the Ginagatusan Caves are the main attractions of the area and are only accessible by motor boats.
To get to these spots, take an hour-long boat ride and then enjoy a “short walk”, as the local guides describe it. This short walk, as one will discover, is actually a 3 kilometer trek that involves negotiating very steep upward and downward slopes as well as narrow dirt roads — a group will have to walk single-file, one person at a time.
Once one has found what he has set out searching for, he will surely forget how difficult it was to get there, as the waters shimmer in an inviting shade of aquamarine, all that one will hear are the sounds of the currents and wonder at the magnificence of the Pinipisakan Falls.
Congressman Ong’s advocacy to promote the best-kept secret wonders of Northern Samar, was given a great boost, recently, as the local government of Las Navas thru Mayor Arlito A. Tan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Regidor M. De Leon inked a memorandum of agreement to take the responsibility of overseeing the development, management and maintenance of the Pinipisakan Falls and the Ginagatusan (unexplored) Caves at Barangay San Isidro. (PIA 8/DENR 
Solid waste management IEC urged in schools
Iloilo City (20 August) — The Regional Ecology Center (REC) 6 has urged schools, colleges and universities in Iloilo City to intensify solid waste management activities in their respective institutions and integrate environmental topics in subjects.
The REC made the call during the 3rd Media Information Day with schools, media and government agencies, which focused on Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 (RA No. 9512).
RA 9512 provides for a collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral efforts in all levels to make environmental advocacy beneficial to the communities, including schools, and help them adapt and mitigate impacts of climate change.
The participants were briefed on the status of solid waste management implementation and of REC 6 activity highlights.
Regional Solid Waste Management Coordinator Collette Juntarciego said implementation of RA 9003 is still a challenge for LGUs and institutions even as efforts are gradually picking up, while EMB-GTZ is also intensifying their technical assistance to facilitate implementation.
Meanwhile, schools have also indicated some programs they undertake and their continuing efforts in integrating topics in their courses.
Further commitments to pursue and institutionalize environmental awareness education in the colleges and universities were expected as result of the forum.
GTZ-SWM4LGUs Team leader Johannes Paul said there are more options which the networks of media and academic institutions and the REC 6 members can do to bring implementation of RA 9512 vigorous. (PIA6/ESS)
Negrenses Rally to Preserve The Country’s Organic Farming Capital
Bacolod City, 19 August 2009. Around 150 farmers and members of church and civic groups trooped today to the Negros Occidental provincial capitol to press members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to uphold Provincial Ordinance 007, which bans the entry of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and secure the future of Negros as the organic farming capital of the Philippines.
Greenpeace put up two doors signifying an organic, GMO-free Negros (Green) and a GMO-contaminated future (Black), and requested members of the SP to take a stand and pass through the door that signifies their position.
Negros Occidental pioneered the ban on GMOs when it passed the ordinance, also called the “Safeguard Against Genetically Modified Organisms,” in 2007. The province, along with Negros Oriental, has been putting measures into place to turn Negros into an organic food island. Last April, the local government upheld the ban by rejecting shipments of illegal GMO corn at the capital’s port in Bacolod City.
This prompted GMO producing companies to field lobby groups to challenge the ordinance. The provincial government reiterated that it is maintaining the ban. Last month, however, anti-organic farming parties were able to sway the SP into holding hearings to reconsider the ordinance.
“It is now time for members of the provincial council to show their support for a future of agriculture that provides real solutions to food security and does not depend on unreliable, unproven techno fixes such as agrochemicals and GMOs” said Daniel M. Ocampo, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Sustainable Agriculture campaigner. “We are calling on the SP to look into lasting solutions that provide income and growth for the province without compromising the health of people and the environment.”
Organic farmers in Negros are looking towards the SP to uphold the ban protecting their means of livelihood – and their way of life – from contamination. “We are spending less on materials to get the same yield of crop when using organic means rather than the chemicals that some entities are pushing,” Jose Winston Cordoba of the Canaan Farmers Association (CFA) said in Ilonggo, his native tongue. “We, and especially our children, are also safe from harmful chemicals when there are no GMOs,” added Arturo Artucilla, also a board member of CFA, an organization of grassroots farmers in the Municipality of Magallon in Negros Occ
idental.
Greenpeace has documented projects on millions of farms in more than 50 countries around the world, and findings reveal that switching to sustainable farming methods increases harvests by an average of 73% — showing that the world’s poor can feed themselves by using cheap, locally-available technologies that will not damage the environment.
Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.
Gov’t info officers gather for global warming and climate change advocacy
by PS Mabaquiao
San Jose, Antique (18 August) — It was a warm morning when Information Officers of different municipalities, agencies and offices of the Provincial Government gathered to express their commitment and support to undertake advocacy and information dissemination on Global Warming and Climate Change in their respective localities and agencies in a forum initiated by Philippine Information Agency.
This phenomenon has been experienced by mankind as manifested in by extreme weather events such as heavy rains, flooding, El Niño, heat waves, extreme cold fronts, spread of diseases, calamities and disasters among others.
According to Engr. Abraham Fabila, Provincial Director, Department of Science and Technology, Climate change is a “change in climate which is attributed directly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods” while Global Warming refers to the increase in the earth’s mean temperature as a result of enhanced greenhouse effect.
John Temana, Information Officer of Department of Environment and Natural Resources presented the geophysical hazards of the province including some mitigating measures an individual could do to help cushion the impact of Global Warming and Climate Change.
Temana further shared some tips everyone can do to share in mitigating the effect of climate change and global warming such as conserve use of electricity by using energy saving lights and devices, planting of trees and vegetables and integration of trees in agricultural farms as wind breaks and generate bio-intensive development for natural fertilizers and wildlife/insect habitat.
Other practical guides include waste segregation and recycling, re-using of grocery plastic bags when shopping, non-burning of garbage at home and advocating the same to barangays/communities and using organic fertilizers instead of inorganic, chemicals and pesticides.
Margie L. Gadian, Manager, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), encouraged Information Officers to do their share in advocating and disseminating information on Climate Change and Global Warming in their respective agencies and local government units to help people understand its effects in their lives and environment and how it can be mitigated.
The Information Officers agreed to integrate the subject matter in their information dissemination and advocacy activities especially in barangay assemblies and community meetings.
Students/youths are also encouraged to join the advocacy because they will be the stewards of the Earth in the years to come. (PIA)
DENR continues ‘global watch’
Roxas City (13 August) — For the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headed by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dionisio Molina here, climate change and global warming is an unchanging concern, insofar as keeping people informed about it is concerned.
Grace Molina, Public Information Officer of the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office here, said they have embarked on an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign about the phenomenon involving communities, schools and organizations.
Recently, Molina said they have added the gender component into the campaign.
After the initial series of briefings and lectures conducted as part of the campaign, Molina said they are also ready to conduct similar activities in coordination with other groups that are interested to know and understand about climate change and global warming, its causes and effects, actions taken by the Philippine government and United Nations (UN)-led international institutions, and what individuals can do to help mitigate and avert the phenomenon.
DENR also has adopted other strategies to complement the information campaign such as tree planting, clean-up activities and enforcement of environmental laws.
It also looks at environmental problems such as solid wastes as source of livelihood for communities through the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) which DENR is encouraging local government units to establish.
This particular strategy was stressed by DENR Secretary Lito Atienza in his briefing on climate change in Libacao, Aklan where he accompanied President Arroyo in her visit to the municipality last week to inaugurate a P40-million river revetment wall flood control project and distribute Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program cash grants and funding assistance for DENR’s Upland Development Program.
The Aklan town’s hinterland barangays share borders with the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Antique. These areas are important watershed zones. (PIA)
