ILOILO CITY, May 21 -– Efforts to clean the Iloilo-Batiano River are paying off with the latest report of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showing a decrease in their coliform content.

A comparative data between April 2011 and 2012 disclosed a slight increase in the coliform content but comparing it with their monitoring in the previous months of this year, the EMB found out the declining coliform level at the Iloilo River.

EMB officer-in-charge, Atty. Jonathan Bulos said that, on the average, the coliform content has decreased to around one million most probable number (MPN) from the more or less five million before.

The standard coliform content is 5,000 MPN/100 ml, Bulos said.

Except for the Dungon Creek and the Calajunan downstream, all other tributaries have a lower coliform content. The high level of coliform at the Calajunan downstream is attributed to the presence of industries and informal settlers while the absence of water treatment facilities and the informal settlers are the contributing factors for the Dungon Creek.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that no intervention is being done yet at the Dungon Creek due to the on-going construction of the Dungon Bridge. However, he committed that once the construction is completed the next focus would be the Dungon area.

Bulos also showed a decline in the coliform content at the Batiano River, which is attributed to the removal of fish pens in the area thus allowing the free flow of water. (PNA) DCT/FFC/PGL/vlo

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, May 21 -– Local officials and residents in nearby Koronadal City are targeting to plant a record-breaking 250,000 trees for its second tree-growing festival slated next month along a critical mountain range straddling the area.

Koronadal Mayor Peter Miguel said Monday the local government is presently preparing at least 1,000 hectares of idle lands along the Quezon Mountain Range as sites for the massive tree-planting activity, which is set on June 29.

“We’re staging a bigger tree-growing festival this year to highlight the need for the doubling of efforts for the reforestation and rehabilitation of our depleted forest cover,” the mayor said.

During the tree-growing festival’s launching last year, around 25,000 local volunteers planted a total of 131,028 tree seedlings in 522.78 hectares of idle lands along the Roxas Mountain Range, which extends to six of the city’s 27 barangays.

The city government originally targeted to plant 120,000 trees in 500 hectares of land in the area.

For this year, Miguel said the initiative will be centered on communities covered by the Quezon Mountain Range in Barangays Mabini and San Jose.

He said they intend to double the number of volunteer tree-planters for this year through its ongoing massive registration drive.

Since last week, local government personnel have been visiting local colleges and universities as well as public and private elementary and secondary schools to encourage them to join the tree-growing festival.

It also set up registration desks in local shopping malls and other public places to sign up other prospective volunteers.

Augustus Bretaña, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief, said they have so far validated 885 hectares out of their targeted 1,000 hectares of tree-planting sites.

He said they already have some 206,000 seedlings that are ready for planting out of their 250,000 target.

“Our validation is presently ongoing and we’re negotiating with a number of farmers and landowners for the inclusion of their lands to the program,” he said.

The city government decided to launch the tree-growing festival last year to highlight the area’s celebration of the International Environment Month held every June and support for the national government’s National Greening Program.

In a briefer, the local government noted that the festivities aimed to promoting environmental volunteerism among residents and the rehabilitation of the city’s declining forest reserve.

A report released by CENRO cited that the city’s forest reserve was so far down to just around 150 hectares or less than one percent of its total land area of about 27,000 hectares.

“We want to institutionalize this activity to promote a culture of environmentalism among our residents and at the same time help fast track the rehabilitation of our denuded forests,” Miguel added. (PNA) DCT/FFC/AVE

TOKYO, May 20 — Three eastern Japan prefectures halted operations of some water filtration plants Friday and Saturday after hazardous formaldehyde was detected in river water, leading to the water supply being cut off in parts of five cities in Chiba Prefecture, affecting some 340,000 households.

According to the local governments, the contamination is believed to have originated from the upstream area of a river system covering a wide swath of the Kanto region centering on Tokyo. The incident will not pose a health risk, the local governments said.

Saitama Prefecture halted water intake and supply at one of its filtration plants after formaldehyde exceeding permitted limits was found in tap water there, while neighboring Chiba stopped water intake at three plants after detecting the substance. Gunma Prefecture has followed suit. (PNA/Kyodo) scs/RSV/rsm

LEGAZPI CITY, May 21 — Through the Climate Change Academy at the Bicol University here, the Albay Provincial Government recently launched its handbook on effective resource management for climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). The guidebook is the first of its kind by a local government unit.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the Albay Sustainable Development Guidebook (ASDG), was published with the help of the Manila Observatory, a leading scientific research institution, and Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings, Inc. (CGPHI). The book project was pursued under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in 2010.

The ASDG book launch at the Bicol University here, was attended by Executive Director Antonia Loyzaga of the Manila Observatory and Tiwi Geothermal Field Asset Manager Wilson Clemente of the CGPHI.

The Climate Change Academy, also a first of its kind in the country and in Asia, was inaugurated by President Noynoy Aquino in December last year.

“With the guidebook, we hope to address key climate change issues and disaster preparedness in the localities. This will be our primary tool in building the capacity and capability of Albay in terms of managing natural disaster risks”, Salceda said.

He explained that the ASDG combines climate and geo-hazards technical studies with socio-economic data to provide the local government with planning and development inputs. “Specifically, it assesses water resource and geo-hazard concerns and sectors that are likely to be affected by future climate changes,” he stressed.

The governor added that other provinces, cities and municipalities can use the ASDG as a template for designing their own planning tools in CCA and DRR.

Albay has pioneered CCA and DRR programs in the country. It has sponsored national conventions and conferences in the past six years, and institutionalized these programs into its LGU organization. For his efforts, the United Nations has named Salceda as its Senior Global Champion in CCA and DRR, and Albay as its global model.

In the 2010 agreement, the Manila Observatory was tasked to undertake a 20-month study of the geological, climate, disaster risks, and socio-economic indicators specific to Albay, and recommend possible solutions and measures to address the risks identified.

The study focused on the area spanning the critical Malinao watershed and Tiwi coast, which have recently become prone to heavy flooding. Interdisciplinary analysis was used in the study guided by the need to address the peculiar dynamics and complexity of sustainable development. (PNA) DCT/FFC/JCN/mec

LEGAZPI CITY, May 21 -– Catanduanes is ready to deploy highly-trained marine environmental protection and water search and rescue operatives to look over safety at sea and coastal resource protection in the island province.

Trained by the Philippine Coast Guard in cooperation with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils of the province’s 11 towns, the operatives are composed of 78 selected volunteers from different barangays.

These volunteers have passed the five-day Marine Environmental Protection and Water Search and Rescue training conducted recently, according to Joel Garcia, the PCG regional commander for Bicol based at the Naval District III headquarters in Barangay Rawis here.

The activity pursues the Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the provincial government of Catanduanes and the PCG Bicol regional headquarters.

It provides for a program for water safety and coastal environment protection.

The program aims to bring down water safety measures at the barangay level to empower local constituents in minimizing the loss of lives of marginal fishermen and fishing implements during inclement weather at sea, he explained.

It also seeks to establish WASAR teams at the barangay levels to enable coastal villagers to respond to emergencies and render first-hand rescue services.

Garcia said the recent WASAR training was the second conducted in the province. The first was in November last year wherein 57 participants from five municipalities passed the training.

One component of the WASAR is the need to protect the local coastal waters from oil spill or any forms of contaminants and toxic substances which may endanger the marine’s flora and fauna.

To institute preparedness and enhance the emergency response capabilities of the local folks, MAREP training was also conducted.

Catanduanes which lies at the Philippine Sea and separated from the Bicol mainland by the Lagonoy Gulf and Maqueda Bay has been a recipient of the project “Saving Lives and Marine Resources thru Safety Practices” introduced by the 905th Auxiliary Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard.

The project being implemented in partnership with the municipal government of Bato, Catanduanes trains local fishermen and seafarers on survival and life saving techniques when caught by offshore tragedies.

The project also undertakes a program designed to protect marine resources in the light of the continuing degradation of the marine environment of the province.

The project, according to Garcia was conceived by the PCG because Catanduanes is situated at the path of typhoons developing over the Pacific Ocean and the rising number of marginal fishermen and travelers lost at sea during inclement weather conditions.

It also considers the protection and restoration of the island’s coastal vegetation and other marine resources as a way to combat the life threatening impacts of climate change, the PCG regional chief said.

The project carries with it three components—the mandatory registration of fishing vessels three gross tons and below; conduct of training-seminars on basic safety, life-saving and survival measures, weather and typhoon dynamics and navigation; and “ways to save the ocean”. It also provides survival kits and life jackets to fishermen.

The PCGAS has been active in supporting local governments and the local PCG unit in implementing activities concerning marine environmental protection, maritime search and rescue, maritime safety administration, community development and youth development.

With a very strong spirit of volunteerism in the heart of every 905th CGAS member, it has continuously sustained its mission despite limited resources, said Garcia. (PNA)

hbc/LAM/DOC/cbd

MANILA, May 21 – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 7 (DENR-7) office aims commencing this year its search for the greenest coastal resorts in Central Visayas (CV) to help raise anti-pollution efforts among such establishments for better environmental protection and sustainable tourism there.

DENR-7's plan complements the administration's 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) which focuses on making Philippine tourism highly competitive, socially responsible and environment-friendly so the country can eventually become Asia's top must-see destination.

"The search will be a first for our country," said Dr. Al Orolfo, officer-in-charge Regional Technical Director of DENR-7's Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services.

He believes the search will also help boost public awareness and action against pollution which experts already cited as among threats to coastal and marine resources.

"There must be shared responsibility in protecting the environment," he said.

CV covers some 14,952 square kilometers of land and lies between Luzon and Mindanao islands.

Authorities reported CV's terrain is generally characterized by highlands with narrow coastal strips of arable land.

The region experiences dry season from March to May while remaining months of the year are relatively wet.

Natural wonders like marine biodiversity -including species found nowhere else -as well as waterfalls and Bohol's Chocolate Hills are among CV's top tourism draws.

Latest available data show CV has 13 resorts accredited by Department of Tourism (DOT).

Such facilities are in the provinces of Cebu (four resorts), Negros Oriental (two resorts), Bohol (six resorts) and Siquijor (one resort).

Resort is "any place or places with pleasant environment and atmosphere conducive to comfort, healthful relaxation and rest, offering food, sleeping accommodation and recreational facilities to the public for a fee or remuneration," DOT said in its guidelines on granting and cancelling accreditation of resorts and other establishments offering accommodation.

DOT Accreditation Division Chief Inspector Joey Tolentino said among the documents DOT requires proponents of new resort projects to submit are respective DENR environmental compliance certificates.

Compliance with such requirement will enable DOT to endorse the proponent concerned to Board of Investment (BOI), he noted.

"Such proponent will have the opportunity to avail of BOI initiatives," he said.

Orolfo said DENR-7 aims finalizing the search's guidelines as soon as possible as this office wants to formally recognize the greenest CV resorts during Coastal Clean-up Month this September.

"We'd like to make resorts more environmentally responsible," he said.

Orolfo noted that profit must not be the sole goal as establishments' operations will have long-term impact on the environment and people.

DENR-7 believes the search can bring forth a domino effect, encouraging other establishments to adapt respective environmental protection measures.

"Recognizing CV's greenest resorts can inspire other similar establishments to truly undertake respective environment-friendly initiatives including those on pollution," noted Orolfo.

DOT's available preliminary data show CV hosted in 2010 some 2.36 million local and foreign tourists including 20,307 overseas Filipinos.

Such travellers there accounted for 12.37 percent of the country's total 19.13 million tourists that year, DOT noted.

Earlier, DOT said the Philippines' 2011 visitor arrivals "reached unprecedented height of 3.9 million as it surpassed the target for the year," growing 11.2 percent.

The Philippines aims attracting in 2016 some 45.5 million international and domestic tourists, NTDP shows.

Government's NTDP target is to also boost the Philippine economy with tourism gross value-added wealth of some P1,061 billion that year.

NTDP likewise aims creating in 2016 tourism-related employment for nearly seven million people nationwide. (PNA)

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TEHRAN, May 21 — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has underlined the need for national and international efforts to preserve marine biodiversity.

In his message on the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, he warned that between 30 and 35 per cent of critical marine environments are estimated to have been destroyed.

The full text of Ban's message, as released by the UN Information Center:

“Oceans cover almost three-quarters of the surface area of the globe.

"They are home to the largest animal known to have lived on the planet – the blue whale – as well as billions upon billions of the tiniest of microorganisms.

"From sandy shores to the darkest depths of the sea, oceans and coasts support a rich tapestry of life on which human communities rely.

"Fisheries provide more than 15 per cent of the global dietary intake of animal protein. Oceans and coastal areas provide invaluable ecosystem services – from tourism to protection from storms.

"Minuscule photosynthesizing plants called phytoplankton provide 50 per cent of all the oxygen on Earth.

“Yet, despite its importance, marine biodiversity – the theme of this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity – has not fared well at human hands.

"Commercial over-exploitation of the world’s fish stocks is severe. Many species have been hunted to fractions of their original populations.

"More than half of global fisheries are exhausted, and a further third are depleted.

"Between 30 and 35 per cent of critical marine environments – such as seagrasses, mangroves and coral reefs – are estimated to have been destroyed. Plastic debris continues to kill marine life, and pollution from land is creating areas of coastal waters that are almost devoid of oxygen.

"Added to all of this, increased burning of fossil fuels is affecting the global climate, making the sea surface warmer, causing sea level to rise and increasing ocean acidity, with consequences we are only beginning to comprehend.

“But, there is hope. A scientific review conducted in 2011 showed that, despite all the damage inflicted on marine wildlife and habitats over the past centuries, between 10 and 50 per cent of populations and ecosystems have shown some recovery when human threats were reduced or removed.

"However, compared to the land – where nearly 15 per cent of surface area is under some kind of protection – little more than 1 per cent of marine environments are protected.

“Lately, some progress is being made, particularly with the establishment of large-scale marine reserves and documenting areas of ecological or biological significance in open-ocean and deep-sea habitats.

"On this International Day for Biodiversity, as we look ahead to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June, we need to recommit to building on these advances.

“Rio+20 must galvanize action to improve the management and conservation of oceans through initiatives by the United Nations, governments and other partners to curb overfishing, expand marine protected areas and reduce ocean pollution and the impact of climate change.

"By taking action at the national, regional and global levels, including enhancing international cooperation, we can achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Target of conserving 10 per cent of marine and coastal areas by 2020, a crucial step in protecting marine biodiversity for the future we want.” (PNA/IRNA) hbc/ssc

By Catherine J. Teves

MANILA, May 18 – Delegates to the first Philippine international river summit in Iloilo City will seek the government's approval for holding this event every two or three years to help further raise public action on cleaning up waterways nationwide so communities can have less risk for flooding and other disasters, particularly amid the climate change which authorities project to bring wetter rainy seasons.

The recommendation is among the target outputs of the summit from May 30 to June 1, this year, said Dr. Vicente Tuddao Jr. of the River Basin Control Office which is among the event's proponents.

"We'll seek a policy on sustaining the summit," he said.

The government continues promoting river clean-ups as studies show waterways in the country are dying from degradation due to indiscriminate waste dumping, soil erosion, encroachment of informal settlements and other problems.

Such problems are polluting the waterways, reducing water-carrying capacity of these and constricting water flow, Tuddao warned.

"Between 60 percent to 80 percent of waste dumped in waterways are from domestic sources," he said.

He noted that waste accumulation in such waterways causes water there to overflow, submerging surrounding communities.

Tuddao said cleaning up the waterways will help reduce communities' flooding risk.

"We're therefore looking at the summit as an advocacy campaign," he stressed.

Environment watchdog Greenpeace earlier lamented the state of four Metro Manila waterways — San Juan River, Parañaque River, Navotas-Malabon-Tullahan-Tenejeros River, and Pasig River — noting government data indicate these "showed poor water quality."

Indicators of such quality include low level of dissolved oxygen — oxygen that's dissolved in water and which is essential to healthy water bodies.

Authorities decided holding the summit so best practices on improving water quality and on addressing other river-related concerns can be discussed.

"This gathering will bring together hundreds of representatives from international organizations, water experts and professionals who'll present, dissect and share experiences and concerns in rehabilitating and preserving river resources and recommend ways to address river development and management," Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said earlier.

The city's Iloilo River will be among the waterways to be highlighted during the summit.

Mabilog reported that about half of the river was already cleaned up with private sector assistance.

He lauded the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Smart Communications for helping undertake the clean-up. (PNA) scs/CJT/utb

MANILA, May 18 – International watchdog Greenpeace Southeast Asia is calling for in-depth studies on environmental impacts of field-testing and commercially propagating genetically modified (GM) crops in the country, fearing possible ecological imbalance from introducing these into the environment.

Greenpeace sustainable agriculture campaigner Daniel Ocampo said such imbalance was possible as genetic traits placed in GM crops through biotechnology could spread to other plants and alter the original make-up and ecological function of these.

Concerns also surfaced earlier about the possibility of fast-growing GM crops dominating respective habitats, outstripping other plant species there to cause loss of biodiversity.

"Studies are first needed to determine GM crops' impact not only on health but on the environment as well," Ocampo said Friday on the side of Greenpeace's briefing on regulations covering genetic engineering in Philippine agriculture.

Greenpeace wants public scrutiny of such regulations, believing the country's approval system for GM crops at present is flawed and compromises health and environmental safety.

"Biosafety is looking at biotechnology procedures which must be regulated," Ocampo said.

This month, Supreme Court (SC) granted the petition of Greenpeace and other parties for a writ of 'kalikasan' against local field trials of GM Bt eggplants.

That writ is a "legal remedy under Philippine law available to individuals, groups and organizations on behalf of persons whose constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology is violated or threatened with violation by a private individual or entity, public official or employee, involving environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces," Greenpeace said.

Lawyer and Greenpeace political adviser Zelda Soriano lauded SC for issuing the writ, saying this would help open up public discussions on GM Bt eggplants to determine if these were truly safe or not.

"The writ's issuance is a reason for celebration," she said during the briefing.

Ocampo believes public scrutiny of GM crops is due, reporting feedback he received earlier indicated GM corn grown in Bicol region's Pili municipality was already adversely affecting biodiversity there.

"Super weeds were observed growing there already," he said.

He noted the weeds are resistant to herbicides just like the GM corn planted there.

"We view GM crops as sources of contamination," he said.

Pili's soil was also no longer suitable for other crops since this turned hard from being saturated with herbicides, he said.

"Farmers there can't do inter-cropping anymore so food production is affected," he said. (PNA) RMA/CJT/utb

ILOILO CITY, May 17 – The 1st Philippine International River Summit that Iloilo City is hosting on May 29-June 1 has caught the interest of an Indian columnist.

“The International River Summit will be the platform where Iloilo will proclaim its success to the world and some 1,000 participants from around the world are expected to be around to applaud,” stressed Barun Roy, columnist of India’s leading newspaper Business Standard.

“For Iloilo, the summit’s theme, ‘My River, My Life,’ couldn’t be more appropriate,” he said in his column posted May 17 on the daily’s website.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said the big global environmental event sets the trend in river protection and preservation not only in the country but worldwide.

Roy also credited the introduction of economical wastewater treatment technology implemented in the city as a significant improvement in ecologically-sustainable urban development.

“The best part of the clean-up drive went into raising public awareness against the discharge of untreated wastewater. Businesses were shown easy and affordable ways of wastewater treatment, using technologies that avoid or minimize the use of mechanical or energy-dependent parts,” Roy said.

“A pilot low-cost treatment facility was set up at a slaughterhouse, and the result was so convincing that others took up the cue and set up facilities of their own,” he noted.

City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Noel Z. Hechanova said most hospitals in the city have either completed or in planning process of installing their wastewater treatment facilities even as the hotels would follow suit.

Roy likened the Iloilo River conservation efforts to the success of Singapore, China and South Korea in running a sustainable river management.

“When good intentions are backed by strong will, even a dead river can be brought back to life. Singapore has proved it beyond a shred of doubt, as have Shanghai and Seoul, and now Iloilo in the Philippines is ready to prove it once again when it hosts an international river summit at the end of May,” Roy said.

Excited local authorities have started building a multi-million-dollar esplanade along the river to serve as the city’s cultural, recreational, and tourism lifeline, he added.

“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has now reported a significant reduction in the river’s coliform bacteria level.

Over the past few years, mounds of floating garbage were scooped out of the river and all illegal structures and fish pens impeding its flow were removed.

"The banks were cleared of all unauthorized dwellings and a round-the-clock river watch was introduced, with volunteers from non-government organizations, Coast Guard, and naval reserves enforcing strict anti-litter laws and stopping illegal encroachments, fishing, and dumping of waste,” Roy stated.

Stretching 15 kilometers, the Iloilo River is actually an estuarine water body that forms a safe, natural harbor at the point where it meets the sea.

“Theoretically, it’s supposed to be kept alive by a network of connecting rivers and creeks, but that support system broke down long ago under the relentless onslaught of an unplanned, ill-sewered, but economically prospering city dumping millions of gallons of pollutants into it,” Roy said.

“By 2000, the river was close to biological death and alarmed authorities felt something had to be done urgently. Action came in the form of a River Master Plan put in place in 2004 and a River Development Council set up in the succeeding year, which provided the administrative framework for launching a systematic clean-up campaign,” he added.

“Iloilo, in the mid-Philippines scramble of islands known as the Visayas, is the country’s second most economically important city and has a history perhaps as important as Manila’s.

"Setting off its later prosperity as the country’s sugar and textile capital, trade boomed when a port was opened in 1855 and, as the place grew to be the regional center for the entire Western Visayas, people, factories, and businesses descended on it in large numbers.

"Stone warehouses sprouted all along the Iloilo River and fish pens crowded its bed — where burgeoning commercial, industrial, and human activities go into the river that cuts through the city,” Roy said. (PNA)

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