Solid waste management IEC urged in schools
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
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
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)
Rotary Club of Dumaguete to plant trees in critical watershed area
by Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (13 August) — In an effort to improve the waters supply in Valencia and its neighboring towns, the Rotary Club of Dumaguete together with the Dumaguete City Water District and the local government of Valencia will hold a tree planting activity in Sitio Marulay, Brgy. Lunga in Valencia town.
According to Des Tilos, Valencia Information Officer, Sitio Marulay is identified as a critical watershed area for Dumaguete. “Dumaguete City’s water supply mostly comes from Marulay,” he said.
For the past years, DCWD personnel has been regularly conducting tree-planting activities in this area, Tilos added. (PIA/RMN)
DENR tells public to segregate wastes, use less power as simple ways to help fight climate change
Cebu City (12 August) — Though global warming brought about by climate change is a global issue, ordinary households can still contribute and prevent further the emission of greenhouse gases by practicing simple disciplines such as the segregation of wastes, not using too much electricity, non-cutting of trees and not using fire woods for cooking.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB-7) Chief of the Pollution Control Division Engr. Mar Tabuco during the Kapihan sa PIA this morning on Climate Change blamed global warming as the major cause of natural calamities such as super typhoons, flooding and long droughts.
Tabuco said the country is quite vulnerable to global warming even if the Philippines only contributes less than one percent of total gas emissions worldwide.
The Philippines, a geographically fragmented nation, surrounded by coastlines is in danger of an increase in sea level by as much as 70 meters high in case of an ice meltdown in the Greenland if measures are not acted immediately by nations across the globe to reduce the concentrations of greenhouse gases, this is said.
Tabuco said climate change is a result of industrialization where one requirement is to produce heat to manufacture goods and products while heat sources such as bunker fuel, coal-fired power plants, diesel-fired power plants and fossil fuel emit impurities or greenhouse gases that remain trap in the atmosphere in case of heavy concentrations.
Greenhouse gases detrimental to the atmosphere causing global warming are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, all of which increase the atmosphere’s ability to trap infrared energy affecting the climate.
Tabuco said garbage is one major source of methane gas, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. He called on local government units to adopt a solid waste management program to help address climate change. Another source of methane gas is agricultural wastes, this is learned.
Consuming less electricity in the homes or adopting an energy conservation scheme can also help as this means less fuel is needed to generate power and fewer gases emitted through power generation, according to Tabuco.
Trees also help absorb carbon dioxide, and help arrest flooding which is why tree planting is always encouraged and cutting of trees cautioned. Carbon dioxide also has a shorter life term, the DENR-7 official claimed.
In the same forum, Dept. of Energy (DOE) information officer Lou Arciaga said the top contributor of greenhouse gases emissions is the United States with 30 percent of the overall global greenhouse gases emissions followed by Europe. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
Visayas sets S&T fair
Iloilo City (11 August) — The Visayas Science and Technology Fair 2009 will be held in Bacolod City on August 17 to 22.
With Western Visayas as host, this year’s event will give emphasis on food, alternative energy and environment in line with the theme of the July S&T Month Celebration, “Responding Global Challenges through Science and Technology”.
The week-long event will feature products and projects that will showcase the efforts of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in assisting the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the Visayas region.
Aside from the S&T exhibits that will start after the opening ceremonies on August 17, technical conferences will also be conducted for the next three days.
Topics include Energy Solutions in Response to Global Challenge, Food Product Innovations in Response to Global Challenges and S$T Interventions and Strategies on Climate Change in Response to Global Challenges.
Also a media dialogue and a Fellowship will be held on August 17 while August 21 is called as “Fun with Science” Day. Activities during the day are Water Rocket Launching Competition, Robotics Demonstration and Science Career Dialogue.
Expected to grace the opening ceremony is DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro.
This year’s Visayas Science and Technology Fair is spearheaded by the DOST 6 in cooperation with the province of Negros Occidental, City of Bacolod, Association of Negros Producers and SM City Bacolod.
Other partners are Western Visayas Agriculture & Resources R & D Consortium, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Negros Prawn Producers Marketing Cooperative, Inc., Association of Negros Occidental Food Processors, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges Region VI and Regional Development Council. (PIA)
DOST opens 5th Visayas Cluster S&T Fair in Tacloban City
Tacloban City (August 3) — In line with the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week, the Department of Science and Technology Regions 6, 7 and 8 are jointly conducting the 5th Visayas Cluster S&T Fair at the People’s Center in Tacloban City on August 3 to 7, 2009.
The opening program was conducted on August 3 with Secretary Estrella Alabastro thru her representative Assistant Secretary and OIC for Regional Operations Dr. Carol Yorobe. giving the Keynote Speech which dwelt on the theme “Responding to Global Challenges through Science and Technology.”
Busy attending to the activity are the three regional directors, Engr. Rowena Gelonga for Region 6 or Western Visayas; Engr. Rene Burt T. Llanto for Region 7 or Central Visayas; and Engr. Edgardo Esperancilla for Region 8 or Eastern Visayas.
Highlights of the opening rites include the launching of the Web-Based GIS Mapping of SET-UP Project in the Visayas; the launching of the DOST Visayas Consortium; the Public Awarding of the ISO 17025 Accreditation of DOST Region 8′s Regional Science and Technology Laboratory.
Another highlight is the awarding of certificates to the SET-UP ISS graduates, namely, Biliran Essential Oil Manufacturing Plant; AJ Handicrafts and the S&T Kabalikat Award to ABC 5.
The opening rites ended with the ribbon-cutting and viewing of the S&T Exhibits by the special guests and the DOST Visayas Regional Directors.
In this year’s National Science and Technology Week, the science communities in the country are expected to show, not just tell, how science and technology enables the Philippines to meet global challenges.
The five-day marathon of carefully planned activities and exhibits will showcase the recent scientific developments, achievements and achievers, and technological innovations that respond to climate change, energy, food security, economic, and other domestic and global issues.
The Department of Science and Technology is the country’s lead agency that directs, leads, and coordinates S&T activities in the country. It has also the responsibility to formulate policies, programs, and projects in support of national development. (PIA 
Herrera hands seedlings for Bohol Day Catigbian fruit-tree planting project
Tagbilaran City (27 July) — TRUE to his personal conviction, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera tied up with Catigbian local officials to use every little opportunity for agricultural production as a way to enhance family income and care for the environment.
Through a tree-planting program that the town has put up as a legacy to their younger generations, Herrera mainly provided seedlings to 793 graduating students from Catigbian’s local public and private schools.
Herrera responded to the town’s tree-planting project, which Mayor Roberto Salinas dubbed as a precious gift for the next generation.
The vice governor, who also sits as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Agriculture Committee Chair has always advocated for increased agricultural production to pull Bohol into that dream of becoming the real food basket of the Visayas.
The activity was also in consonance with the municipal ordinance mandating all graduating students to plant fruit bearing trees before they can breeze through school.
In a synchronized fruit bearing tree-planting activity organized to coincide with the 155th Bohol Foundation Day, Herrera gave 800 coconut seedlings, 281 chico seedlings, 576 mango seedlings, 594 guava and 800 lomboy seedlings.
Herrera’s help also included 207 jackfruit seedlings, 562 star-apple, 160 marang, 85 santol, 164 guyabano and 75 rambutan seedlings.
According to Salinas, the activity is also in support of the Bohol Day celebration adopted theme, which is “Together we can build a greater Bohol.”
It is quite ironic that when we want to buy fruits, we have to go to Tagbilaran where we have all the available space to plant here, Salinas said.
We want to make Catibian a green haven for peace, progress and development and we are doing exactly that, the former league of mayors president shared. (PIA)
Feature: Binhi fulfills commitment to help combat climate change in RP
Tacloban City (July 25) — “Binhi,” a greening program being implemented by the Energy Development Corporation, is scheduled to have its first Regional Launching in Leyte, on July 29, 2009, Mr. Dave Devilles, EDC corporate communications officer, said.
“Binhi” reinvents the whole idea of reforestation by rescuing and securing the native but endangered premium tree species in the Philippines. “Binhi” aims to bring back the vanishing trees by establishing Mother Trees in locations that will be protected and pampered by partners all over the 81 provinces of the country.
“Binhi,” is a greening program of Mr. Oscar Lopez, chairman of the Lopez Group, Inc., which started in December 2008 as part of the Lopez Family”s commitment to action in the Clinton Global Initiative and as EDC”s action to help combat climate change in the Philippines.
“Binhi” has a four-pronged strategy: the Tree for the Future or urban forestation of prime endangered Philippine Tree Species; Tree for Food or livelihood by re-vegetating open and denuded forest lands; Tree for Life or assisting natural regeneration by bridging forest gaps; and Tree for Leisure or on-site nature appreciation by sprouting ecotourism forest parks.
Under the Tree for the Future strategy, EDC will undertake forestation of prime endangered Philippine Tree Species. EDC shall grow a thousand forests from a single acorn planted and nurtured at the heart of the city, by the city folks themselves.
The target is the establishment of forest parks or urban reforestation in the 81 provinces of the Philippines.
The primary goal of Binhi”s Tree for the Future is for every Filipino to develop the passion to preserve and protect high value but endangered Philippine trees. Planting these vanishing hardwood species will also create awareness about such tree species as they will be propagated in public parks, school grounds, and leisure estates nationwide.
Sustainable partnership with the local government units, Department of Education, universities and colleges and non-governmental organizations and city-based groups is encouraged to be forged in this particular component. The partners will help safeguard the tree parks to ensure the survival of the endangered premium endemic species. This could very well be a great contribution to environmental preservation.
Every tree planted would have individual signboards indicating its unique features or story, for better appreciation of the public.
Under the Tree for Food Strategy, livelihood will be generated by re-vegetating open and denuded forest lands. Forest plantations or agroforestry farms under the Integrated Forest Management Agreement will be established in the five geothermal sites of Energy Development Corporation, Leyte, Albay/Sorsogon, Negros Oriental, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and North Kidapawan.
“Binhi”s” Tree for Food component will establish a total of 5,000-hectare plantation over a period of ten (10) years or 500 hectares annually in these provinces. Tree for Food will engage farmers” associations and community organizations to cultivate tree farms in target areas such as denuded and logged-ever forest lands, open lands/grasslands, brushlands and inadequately stocked areas; and areas covered by Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) issued by DENR to people”s organizations (POs).
When the tree farms mature, the beneficiary organizations will share the proceeds from the sale of wood products while earmarking another amount to replant the harvested compartments of the plantation. This will be sustained by adopting a yield management scheme like rotation cutting.
Under the Tree for Life strategy, the EDC hopes to assist natural regeneration by bridging forest gaps. Rainforestation farming will be the centrepiece strategy of Tree for Life. EDC will bridge the forest gaps between important mountain systems to bring back the once robust biodiversity. Select areas will be designated as protection zones for conservation and biodiversity study with premier institutions like the University of the Philippines. These forest bridges will be grown to mimic the structure and function of natural systems.
Community involvement will be vital in Tree for Life. They will be partners from seedling production to maintenance and protection. Forest Bridges will be established in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) and the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).
Finally, the Tree for Leisure strategy aims for on-site nature appreciation by sprouting ecotourism forest parks. Tree for Leisure will preserve the natural beauty and ambience forests by designating them as ecotourism spots.
In collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Local Government Units (LGUs), EDC will convert select areas in its geothermal project sites into ecotourism destinations.
These geothermal ecotourism havens will encourage Filipinos to commune more often with nature, either for meditation, trekking, recreation or simply for relaxation – this while providing sanctuary to wildlife species.
For instance, EDC”s geothermal project site in Bacman has been ecotourism-certified by the DOT and it houses the world”s largest fruit bat that can only be found in the Philippines, the golden-crowned flying fox acerodon jubatus and the flying fox pteropus vampyrus.
Binhi is the Filipino word for germling, embryo or seed. In essence, Binhi aims to create a ripple effect by modeling a corporate green movement in the Philippine business community. (PIA
