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A 'Strict law enforcement needed for Manila Bay cleanup'

The Department of Environment and A report from the DENR-attached Natural Resources (DENR) has vowed agency Environmental Management to strictly implernent the country's Bureau showed that the fecal coliform Clean Water Law as it beefed up efforts level in the bay reached as high as over to restore Manila Bay tO its pristine state 330 million most probable tnumber per fit for public recreatIS. 100 milliliters. The safe level is only 100 Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu MPN /100m1. said the strict implementation of the The DENR targets to reduce coliform Philippine Clean Water Act is the "key level to less than 270 MPN / 100m1 by to addressing water quality issues and December this year. other environmental problems in the In 2008, the Supreme Court issued a bay." continuing writ of mandamus ordering Ocular inspections conducted by 13 government agencies to clean up Ma- the DENR showed that severat estab- nila Bay and restore its water quality to lishments in Manila discharged their Class SB, which is safe for recreational wastewater into Manila Bay. activities such as swimming. Class SB waters are also suitable for "Establishments have to put up their own sewage treatment plants. They conimercial propagation of shellfish .cannot discharge wastewater in esteros. and as spawning areas for milkfisliand We are giving them three months to other similar species. establish STps," Cimatu said. PAL backs cleanup He said the planned rehabilita- Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) tion of Manila Bay would be in three phases. has expressed its support for-the gov- ernment's move to clean up Manila Bay. Phase 1 covers cleanup and water In a statement, PAL said Manila quality improvement, Phase 2 for re- Bay is heavily polluted and an all-out habilitation and Phase 3 for protection and sustainability. campaign for its sustained cleanup would save it for future generations of The first phase will begin this year, which involves the cleanup of Filipinos. esteros "The rehabilitation of. the bay will and waterways, reduction of the level of fecal coliform and toxic discharges make Manila more livable and attrac- tive for Manilans and foreign visitors" from establishments as well as provi- sion of temporary sanitation facilities Jaime Bautista, PAL president and chief for informal settlers residing along the operating officer, said. Manila Bay. • "As a key promoter of tourist travel to Manila and the largest airline based Manila Bay waters are considered here, PAL supports the government's the most polluted in the country due efforts-to rehabilitate Manila Bay with to domestic _sewage, toxic industrial the same determination that revived effluents from factories and shipping Boracay Island. We will be proud to operations as well as leachate from garbage dumps. promote a revitalized Manila Bay, with its iconic sunset, as the symbol of a capital city that welcomes the world to its shores," Bautista added. — Louise Maureen Simeon, Richmond Mercurio

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ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy A. Ciniatu checks out the Estero de San Antonio Abed in Manila during an ocular inspection of wastewater outfalls and - pipes In the Manila Bay area. arum Most hotels back Manila Bay cleanup, buL OST hotels around the Ma- ism] must plan and must assist in relo- dons," said one veteran hotelier manag- nila Bay area hay? expressed cating displaced guests with minimal ing a large chain of accommodations, Msupport for the cleanup of inconvenience to the latter."' but declined to be identified."We install the historic bay straddling three of the The DENR is implementing a one- our STPs right at the planning stage, as country's most progressive regions, but . strike policy against hotels found dis- it's part of our corporate social duty re- a few want thegovernment to first look charging untreated wastewater into sponsibility totheenvironment Installing them are not knee-jerk reactions. Those at the pollution from informal settlers Manila Bay. About 2,000 hotels are on are buried in theitarth, expensive and as before the hotels; Others want it to the Department of Environment and huge as trailer trucks." mitigate the impact on tourism num- Natural Resources inspection list, as He added, "Hopefully they will com- bers once hotels are shut down for al- well as 500 condominium develop- mend those compliant, unlike you-know- leged pollution. ments. (See,"DENR hail:strike policy where Boracay Wand] wherein they vs pollutlyvê. bay condos," in the Busi- "If there are violations from hotels, applied the shotgun approach and they of course these need to be.fixed," said NESSMIRROR, January 11, 2019.) closed all the establistents, compliant Arthur Copez, president of the, Philip- "I just hope those hotels with exist- • as well as, violators. pine Hotel Owners Association. But he ing sewer6ge treatment plants Will be stressed,"the DOT (Department ofrour- exempted from any penalties and sanc- " Sun ..MANILA BAY," A,. . . _ I I___I I J UPPER I AGE I RATTNER EUITORIAI CARTOON :TORY STORY PAGE ( 1WEI1I

Department of Emil onivenl a,c Nstut al Resources 14 JAN Z019 ,TRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVI SERVICE .1111,kula 10,A (111011 Ilillorm WOE - 41451 Ffrocefs had kon;,to d 10 ui

Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.. Manila Bay.. . Sixteen river systems drain into the bay including CONTINUllo PROM Al the Angat River, Pasig River, Marikina River and the Rio Grande. The problem is if they will change the parameters again. If so, we'll need to upgrade Cimatu's warning our STPs to conform to new parameters." ON Friday, Secretary Roy A. Cimatu inspected the The Duterte'administration closed Boracay bayarea and said the Department of Environment for six months, from April 26 to October 26, 2018, and Natural Resources (DENR) will not hesitate to affecting businesses that may have actually been close any establishment found polluting the bay. compliant with environmental laws. The DENR Prior to the scheduled commencement of the also put out a series of confusing memorandum planned rehabilitation of the natural harbor on circulars on which establishments should have Janua'ry 27, the DENR chief led the inspection of , STPs. Along with this, some resorts had also Estero de San Antonio de Abad, a waterway that complained that the DENR also had different sets directly drains into the Manila Bay through an of easement measurements. outfall at the Manila Yacht Club. — The hotelier said, "for example, we already Together with other officials of the DENR have an LLDA [Laguna Lake Development Autho- and partner agencies, he witnessed effluents rity] Clearance as well as an [CC [environment coming from the pipes of some of the nearby compliance certificate]—and both are underthe establishmentsthatactuallyflow into theestuary. DENR. They're already strict and comprehensive "We have to correct it,"Cimatu told reporters, as it is," while expressing disappointment at the sight of ' He emphasized,"Hopefully, they first attend untreated discharges that validated reports on the to the major cause of the cesspool that is Manila disposal of their wastewater to the Manila Bay. Bay—the squatters.' . Estero de San Antonio de Abad, according to For its part, Conrad Manila said itsupportsthe him, will be the"ground zero"for the Manila Bay Philippine government's campaign to preserve rehabilitation. Manila Bay with a longT term plan to rehabilitate The DENR found outthat its fecal coliform level it from its current state. . is at around 1.3 billion most probable number "With our location attheMall of Asia Complex (MPH) for every 100 milliliters (ml). which is proximate to Manila Bay, we are deeply Having the highest range of this group committed to protecting this valuable body of of harmful bacteria from .human and animal water, as we always make a difference in the feces, this 12-kilometer (km) polluted estuary communities .where we operate, particularly is referred to as one of the "Billionaire's Lanes," along environment protection. We share a or priority areas for the rehabilitation plan, in strong partnership with our local community reference to the billions in bacteria. partners for sustained environment community The coliform level ofthe nearly 2,000 square- projects:cleanupdrive, proper waste .segregation km Manila Bay, on the other hand, s at 330 and management, water , recycling and energy million MPN/100 ml, or 3.3 million times above conservation," it said in a news statement sent the standard safe level of 100 MPH/100 ml fit for to the BUSINESSMIRROR swimming. An official of another hotel, who requested The DENR said it aims to lessen the coliform anonymity as the official was not authorized level to less than 270 MPN by December of this to speak on the matter, said: "As for President year. "We will be going upstream,"Cimatu bared Duterte's directive, I think it's a good move, to of their next moves, following their inspection help cleanup Manila Bay. Many hotels like us are of some of the suspected erring establishments championing sustainability and it'd be a shame if located at the mouth of the popular sunset viewing they didn't have proper water treatmentfacilities spot of the country's capital. to begin with. Our facilities are reviewed by a He specifically pointed out to big estab- third party monthly, and samples are submitted lishments that contribute to water deg radation at to the DENR in compliance with the law. We also the portion of Estero deSanA ntonio de Abad along do our bitin coastal cleanups, having workedwith Leveriza Street, which has about 200 Million government agencies, Philippine Coast Guard, MPH/b0 mkoliform level. among others!' There are about 304 commercial estab- The hotel official added that the estab- lishments and 38 hotels to be visited by the lishment's "wastewater is tested monthly by a DENR and partner agencies as part of the rehab third party, submitted to the DENR, and we're activities. compliant with the standards!' "We will check if they are connected to the According to a presentation bythe DENR of its sewer line or have a [sewage] treatment plant action plan toclean up Manila Bayduringa Cabinet for STP),"said the environment secretary. "Even meeting last:January 7, the Manila Bay area spans the Maynilad and the Manila Water will also be 1,994 square kilometers with a coastline of 190 subjected to our inspection." Reports by Ma. km, comprising three regions—the National Stella F. Arnaldo and Roderica Abed - ri I I Li lirTER F AGE I lioll/IER F11110RIAT CATI100/1 - :HOU RIDER r rAGr t OW ER

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Diokno: Better Road tax? THIS, as healso confirmed thatthe gov- ernment is also looking at sourcing the to use loans fund needed for the cleanup from the road user's tax, billions of which are no for P47-B Mla longer being released after the Presi- dent said he wanted the Road Board abolished for corruption. Bay cleanup The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said that BY BERNADETTE D. NICOLAS the cleanup would take seven years. @BNicolasBM Diokno said the Road Board aboli- HE budget chief recommended tion will pave the way for the govern- ment to revert the total road user's tax at the last Cabinet meeting that the country obtain a loan from to the general fund. T "We need to abolish it, then you the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or need to have a special budget. You World Bank to finance the "ambitiou s" have to file a bill in Congress for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay—pegged use of that fund so you need that un- to cost around P47 billion. der the present structure, [since] the Although there was still no deci- sion on-his recommendation, Budget road user's tax is supposed to be used Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno told the for road maintenance," he said. Malacafiang has said that the Road BUSINESSMIRROR that this proposal \Alas, also backed by Socioeconomic Plan- Board funds can also be used forTropi- ning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia. cal Depression Usman's victims and However, Finance Secretary Carlos public hospitals. G. Dominguez III was not present dur- Last Tuesday, President Duterte ing the meeting, Diokno said. threatened to close hotels near Ma- "...In fact, I recommended that we nila Bay if they do not practice proper He also ordered-In- just borrow money so that there will be waste treatment; more discipline," Diokno said. "We will terior Secretary Eduardo M. •Alio .and just borrow money from ADB or World Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu Bank." SOug ht for clarification, Diokno to proceed with plans to clean up Ma- said this was because the fund needed nila Bay, as they did with Boracay. The President said he is also not is "too big:' "So if it's not multiyear, it could bothered if this move will affect the be five years, because if it's like that, number of tourists staying in these there wine more discipline to review hotels. the feasibility [of the project]," he said, noting that the cleanup was an "ambi- tious program"covering three regions, particularlythe National Capital Region and Regions 3 and 4. 111111 -111 frEll r.AGIE 1 tlAtItIfT ruliomm cAnloon M018 SIORY POWER ,....,- 14 JAN 2O1 eportnient of Enviwoment and lIntural !fr.:our:es RATEGIC COMMUNICA-1101,1 INITIATIVES SERVICE .1 Willa firbi ;hi iv;Km DENR, 12 agencies to craft Manila Bay P-I rehab plan

BY JONATHAN L. MAYUGA Wonimayuga

N interagency body led by the Department of Environ- Ament and Natural Resources (DENA). will kick off exploratory talks this week to come up with a plan on how to rehabilitate Manila Bay. Environment Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda, the deputy spokesman of Secretary Roy A. Ci- matu said the DENR chief has been tasked by President Duterte to lead the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. "There will be an interagency meeting composed of representa- tives from the mandamus agencies. Probably more will eventually in- vite to join fthe interagencybodyl," A MAN collects recyclable materials from the pile of garbage that was washed ashore Antiporda said. on Manila Bay by strong waves brought by Tropical Depression Henry on July 16, 2018. To recall, on December 18, 2008, Thirteen agencies will start discussion on a plan to rehabilitate Manila Bay, according to the the Supreme Court ordered 13 gov- Department of Environment and Natural Resources. ALE PHOTO ernment agencies to "clean up, reha- bilitate,andpreserveManilaBay, and Coast Guard, Philippine National to addressing water quality issues restore and maintain its waters to Police-Maritime Group and Philip- and other environmental problems SB level to make them fit for swim- pine PortsAuthority. These agencies in the historic Manila Bay." ming, skin diving and other forms are collectively referred to as "man- Cimatu recently conducted an of contact recreation." damus agencies." ocular inspection of the Estero de Under DENRAdministrative Or- Antiporda, the DENR's undersec- San Antonio de Abad in Malate, der 34, Class SB refers to areas regu- retary for solid waste management Manila, where outfalls from es- larly used by the public for bathing, andlocalgovernment units, was ear- tablishments in the area discharge swimming and skin diving. . lier quoted in news reports as saying their wastewater. Aside from the DENR, the other that the Manila Bay rehabilitation After the inspection, Cimatu concerned agencies are the Depart- will take seven years to complete and ordered that establishments have ments of Agriculture, Public Works a budget of not less than P47 billion. to put up their own sewage treat- and Highways, Interior and Local "By next week, the secretary ment plants (STPs), prohibiting Government, Education, Health, and will publicly announce some of the the direct discharge of wastewater Budget and Management, the Met- plans," he said. in the esteros. ropolitan Waterworks andSewerage Last week Cimatu declared that The DENR chief also gave System, Local Water Utilities Ad- the strict implementation of Re- concerned business establish- ministration, Metropolitan Manila public Act 9275, or the Philippine ments three months to put up Development Authority, Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, is the "key their own STPs . - - I I I 11A11111111 FDIIORIAI CARICleln SIORY

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To jump-start the rehabilitation, the DENR will start the cleanup of esteros by tracing the sources of un- treated wastewater. The planned rehabilitation pro- gram will be strategic to oversee the implementation of the three- phase Manila Bay Action Plan. Phase 1 involves the cleanup and improvement of water quality im- provement, Phase 2 involves actual rehabilitation and Phase 3 covers protection and sustainment. Phase 1 is set to begin this ) ear. It will include the cleanup of esteros andwaterways, reduction of thelevel of fecal coliform andtoxic discharges from establishments, and provision of temporary sanitation facilities for informal settlers residing along the esteros and the Manila Bay shoreline. Solid waste management and planning for the relocation of the informal settlers will also be done. Critics of the Duterte adminis- tration remain unimpressed by the DENR chief's plan. In a statement, the Pambansang Lakas ng.Kilusang Mamarnalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the DENR itself is the one facilitating the destruction of Manila Bay. . This, after one of Pamalakaya's local chapters received a notice of scoping from the DENR to reclaim a total of 420 hectares of Manila Bay within the municipal waters of Bacoor, Cavite. The public scoping is an early stage of environmental impact assessment where the proponent aims to provide an overview of the proposed project...... ...... UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON gal 2_ STORY STORY SINCE 1g00 - PAGE

14 JAN ?am Department of Emdlonment and Natural Resources MANILAPBULLETIN iTRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER DATE

DOT supports DENR effort to rehabilitate Manila Bay "We will continue to strengthen our part- nership with the industry and national and The Department of Tourism (DOT) ex- local government agencies to ensure the pressed its support for the initiative of the sustainable development and management Department of Environment and Natural Re- of this economic sector," the DOT said. sources (DENR) to rehabilitate Manila Bay in a Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has bid to bring it back to its former pristine state. started to inspect the establishments and The tourism department said the effort waterways surrounding the Manila Bay. of cleaning up the Manila Bay "is for the beat Previously, Cimatu expressed hope to interest of the tourism industry and is in line replicate what has been achieved in Boracay with the thrust of the DOT to create a culture Island, which had undergone six months of of sustainable tourism." rehabilitation. The DOT isSued this statement even as it "We are preparing forl an all-out strat- said that it will conduct consultations and dia- egy to briirg the coliform concentration in logues with the other members of the Boracay Manila Bay to a safe leirel so that millions Interagency Task Force to ensure that "ac- of people who reside in the bay region and credited tourism establishments in all parts neighboring areas will enjoy its waters and of the country will conform with the highest marine resources without fear of getting standard of environmental conservation." sick," Cimatu said. _ . . _

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14 JAN ?OM DepeitieenUOIEnvieeillieel and Natural Resources 3TRA1'EGIC COMMUNICATION IEIITIATIVIIR SERVICE T.I.ct•7 DATE Oversight now House priority

By Hananeali Barclay, Mario devote legislative work to the proposed national budget, Mallarl and Gladys Mae Ablon review of measures earlier Senate Minority Leader Franklin approved during the 14 January Drilon said he will not stand in The House of Representatives to 8 February assembly. the way of the Smooth passage focuses on oversight while the "We already finished the of the General Appropriations Senate ponders on quickly legislative agenda that President Bill (GAB). passing the budget when (Rodrigo) Duterte asked for in The approval of the 2019 GAB Congress resumes today in an his State of the Nation Address. is the top agenda of the Senate abbreviated session of less than So, now we will spend more time when it resumes session. a month to give way to the on •oversight because there are Drilon said the Senate will election campaigns that stark:In laws and the laws are• good," work on the passage of the 12 February Arroyo said. P3.757-trillion 2019 budget within Speaker. Gloriat Macapagal- While' virwing they will weeks. Arroyo said the chamber will carefully scrutinize the 2 019 ,Ture to page 6 ' -. L . • • ..•

Clear vvater, bright smiles As Manila Bay 'gets cleaned up, leisure boat rides become frequent. ROMAN PROSPERO

From page 1 of the GAB, following the change in this is dependent on when the Senate will speakership from Davao del Norte Rep. be able to finish them," she explained. "As Minority Leader, I will not obstruct, Pantaleon Alvarez to Arroyo. The Speaker said she recently signed but! will thoroughly scrutinize the spending Malacaliang has called for the the rice tariffication bill following the of the people's money," Drilon said. immediate passage of the 2019 national Senate's approval. ' He noted that proposed budgets of budget, saying any delay would affect the "So, it is mainly waiting what the major Departments like Public Works programs of the Duterte administration. Senate will bring back to us, but for the and Highways (DPWH), National Defense Presently, the government is operating part of the House, we're already finished," (DND), Health (Doll) and Interior and on a reenacted budget. Arroyo said. Local Government (DILG) are still up for interpellations. Waiting for Senate Hearings galore He cited huge "insertions" in the DPWH Arroyo said proper implementation of Different committees will check on the and DILG budgets that need scrutiny. the laws will spur growth and generate status of ongoing projects. more jobs. The Metro Manila Development End of month target "Now, they have to be implemented. The Committee will have a discussion on the "We'll see what will happen, but we more important thing is to make them work policies on the registration and use of will finish the budget not later than end to ease doing business because that's the motorcycles as an alternative public utility of January," the senator vowed. way to bring about prosperity, business and vehicle in Metro Manila, the proposed There were allegations that P75 billion jobs. So, it will be oversight which will be resizing of lanes on EDSA to accommodate was inserted into the DPWH budget while a lot of the work," she said. an additional lane or the so-called "Road PI6 billion was added into the DILG. Diet" and the proposed rehabilitation of "We will scrutinize these," Drilon said. So, it is mainly waiting what the Manila Bay. He expressed his intention to put Senate will bring back to us. Meanwhile, the Committee on Disaster the 1316 billion "inserted" into the DILG Arroyo added anew there were no Management will gather updates on the budget without Secretary Eduardo Afio's priority bills from the legislative agenda master development plan for Marawi knowledge to DoH to fund rural health of the President that are still pending in City and the program components and facilities and salaries for contractual the House and they are just waiting for the financing for its rehabilitation to be nurses. Senate's action. undertaken by the government with the The Senate has blamed the House of "Weyer, the bicameral (conference for Asian Development Bank. Representatives for the delayed transmittal priority bills will also be undertaken), but The Committee on Transportation

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• Departnicnt of Envir mime' it and ',Irani al Resoup GCS 14 JAN 201n STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVIT'; SERVICE 7r7i '1;!, T r, DAR]

will also discuss security issues at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and other projects supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Road Board gone sans House Even without the nod of the House of Representatives, the Road Board is in the path of abolition since the Senate only needs to transmit to Malacafiang the "enrolled" copy of the bill that abolishes it for the President to sign it into law. Thus, said Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon yesterday as he stood firm that there is no need for a bicameral conference meeting which he even cautioned against since he expects holding such a meeting might only lead to an impasse. The bill becomes a law even without the signature of the Speaker or the Senate President. "If I were Senator (Vicente) Sotto (III), I will transmit the copy he signed and if the President does not sign it, in 30 days it becomes a law," Drilon said on radio. However, he expressed optimism that President Duterte will sign the "enrolled" copy.

Cash cow up for slaughter Last September, the Senate adopted House Bill 7436 calling for the abolition of the Road Board which was branded by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno as a "cash cow" of the previous administration. The, President himself publicly announced his desire to have the Road Board abolished. The House, however, rescinded the bill which was approved during the leadership of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker. Onion stressed that the adopted version only needs the President's signature to become a law. "It does not mean that if the Speaker or the Senate President does not sign it, it will not become a law because they cannot veto, that is only for certification that the processes of the law were followed. That is why even if Speaker Arroyo will not sign it, there is no reason for it not to become a law if the President approves it," explained Orlon. After the President's announcement that he wanted the Road Board abolished, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. immediately announced that,the House is ready with a contingent for the bicameral conference committee.

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A mber of the - We note that little progress has been done EDITORIAL Philippine over the past 10 years since the Supreme Court Press mandated a long list of government agencies to PPI Institute The Notional Assodation of PhIlippine Nempopers clean up Manila Bay. Fresh from its experience in rehabilitating Boracay and El Nido, the DENR is training its eyes on Manila Bay, with Cimatu Cleaning scheduling a meeting widi all stakeholders tomor- row, Tuesday, to map out the three-phase action plan-- cleanup and improvement of water quality, Manila Bay rehabilitation, and protection and sustainment EVERAL administrations in the past have Private-sector participation where govern- attempted -- and obviously failed -- to ment agencies have failed is part of the DENR's clean the waters of Manila Bay, where approach this time, notes Commodore Robert S Lim Joseph Jr. of the Manila Yacht Club. The one can see the world-famous beautiful sunset. This time around, under the leadership of club has been implementing -- almost single- President Duterte, the Department of Envi- handedly -- measures to mitigate the pollution ronment and Natural Resources (DENR) will , in the bay but the problem really needs the lead a task force to take another crack at this whole Metro Manila community, Cavite, Bula- seemingly impregnable problem. can and other provinces to make a dent. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu has created an Commodore Joseph cites Cimatu for giv- interagency task force to firm up and imple- ing tasks to all stakeholders, government and ment the "Manila Bay Action Plan," an am- private, towards achieving the objective of bitious, well-funded program to bring down cleaning up the bay until the end of the year. coliform contamination in the bay. An immediate task is to see to it that every Cimatu said the DENR will try to reduce the establishment complies with regulations on bay's fecal contamination to make it suitable sewerage treatment, beginning with a survey on for swimming and other public activities by buildings, commercial establishments, factories. December 2019. A report said the action plan The DENR action plan also includes an edu- has a budget of P47 billion. cation campaign, with die help of DepEd and schools, to train barangay officials and residents 'With private sector and government on waste segregation. cooperating in this task, and It is good that the private sector has been with enough budget, political mobilized to assist the government in this will and dedication, we can all gargantuan environmental mission. The Manila achieve the environmental goals. Bay Coordinating Office under Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor has been formed, with help from we have set for Manila Bay.' nongovernment organizations, Manila Yacht Club's Commodore Robert Lim Joseph, Jr. and Arty Antonio Oposa, Jr., an international environmentalist. Boat owners are coopera- tive in this regard, even lending their boats to government officials conducting surveys on the status of Manila Bay With private sector and government cooperat- ing in this task, and with enough budget, political will and dedication, we can all achieve the envi- ronmental goals we have set for Manila Bay.

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TRATEC;IC COMMUNICAlION INITIATIVES SERVIC DATE

Legal or otherwise

CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ

Rehab and restoration this administration is known for, it is its I have no doubt that, like Boracay, there Finally, the government is embarking on will be a number of skeptics but there will a serious effort to rehabilitate and restore penchant to take on such challenges which have festered for years—to the public's dis- be an even bigger number of well-wishers Manila Bay to a healthy, environmentally for this clean up to succeed. Which may and universal ridicule. Why, even the is why livable condition. I dare not say pristine as it is well that the Task Force has moderated SC mandamus ruling for the bay's clean up that would be romanticizing the gargantuan public expectations by stating early on that and longer-term initiative needed to get what has remained largely unimplemented for still unexplained reasons. it will be done in phases starting with the was once described as one of the cleanest and clean-up of the waterways and the estab- Last Friday, Secretary Cimatu and his most beautiful bays in the world. Obviously lishments which directly dump their wastes crew did a walk through with various stake- heartened by the success of the Boracay into these. For the purpose, the Task Force holders and members of media at the most cleanup which even the most strident crit- should immediately order the MWSS and obvious sources of waste in the most, for ics have come to applaud as the "rehab and its two concessionaires, Manila Water and want of a better term, visible and visited restoration" measures remain in force and Maynilad, to come out with their long over- areas within the Manila Bay area—the Ma- effect as evidenced by the salutary reception due plan to put in place a modern water and nila Yatch Club-BSP-Manila Zoo-Cultural with which those who stayed in the island sewerage system in the entire MWSS con- Center-PICC quadrant—at theManila-Pasay greeted the new year, President Duterte and cession area for which they have been col- boundary. The estero in this area—Estero his crew, principally DENR Secretary Roy lecting fees since. That injunction should de San Antonio Abad—which flows into Cimatu and DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano, later on involve the water districts servic- an outfall just 'under the Manila Vetch Club have vowed to do a Boracay within the next ing the other areas outside of the MWSS has a col iform count hundreds of thousands five years. It will truly be a huge challenge concession to ensure that all those tasked abovem the acceptable levels. This is just whose success has eluded past administra- to provide the service and for which they one outfall and one estero. In due time, us- tions. have been and are being paid are up to their ing the newest available technology, the But no matter. If there is anything which jobs. And then Strove from there. We will Task Force congregating around the existing as we should monitor developments as the Manila Bay "Clean Up" Office created after program unfolds. the issuance of the mandamus, will have a real, honest-to-goodness map of the esteros and waterways in and around the bay area which, by the way, extends from Cavite in the south to Bataan in the north. In the meantime, the Task Force has divided the entire Manila Bay area into four quadrants to ensure the proper and responsible inven- tory of all establishments, big and small, housing, hotel or otherwise, esteros and wa- terways, sewage and water lines, solid waste facilities and all the other appurtenant instal- lations and requirements of living and work- ing in a huge (1994 square kilometer with a 190 kilometer coastline), heav- ily populated (about 30 to 35 percent of the entire population) bay area. That is-just the start. I I I UPPER 'AGE I CANNER EDIIORIAL CARTON STORY STORY PAGE

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Luntiang Pilipinas nominee backs Manila Bay cleanup By RYAN PONCE President Duterte's ful sunset is 'marred by PACPACO order is necessary to save styrofoam containers; Manila Bay, the partylist plastic bags, discarded A VETERAN journal- group said. appliances and many oth- ist representing Lun- "Manila Bay is dying. er solid waste." tiang Pilipinas party- What compounds the "It's time that we take list group yesterday problem is the lack of an a stand against this pol- supported President effective roadmap for lution and degradation. Rodrigo "Rody" Du- reviving this body of Let us take Manila Bay terte's order for Envi- water despite a Supreme back and let us, above ronment Sec. Roy Ci- Court order issued ten all, work towards a matu and Interior Sec. years ago. It's good that healthy, sustainable and Eduardo Alto to start we have taken notice of disaster-resilient future the cleanup of the this wanton disregard of through initiating and most famous but our environmental laws. supporting concerted heavily polluted bod- We should exert all ef- clean-Up efforts," said ies of water in the forts to clean it up," said Legarda, the United Na- country. Ubac, a veteran journal- tions Global Champion Luntiang Pilipinas ist. for Resilience. first nominee Michael Sen. Loren Legarda, The President on Ubac, a former Inquirer founder of .Luntiang Pil- Tuesday night warned reporter who covered the ipinas Partylist and au- hotels along Manila Bay, House of Representa- thor of the Ecological particularly those that do tives, said Cimatu and Solid Waste Management not have wastewater Ano face a three-pronged Act of 2000, called atten- treatment plants, to "do problem in cleaning the tion to the massive deg- something about your bay. radation of Manila Bay. waste there, otherwise I Ubac, an ex-desk- She noted that Manila will close (the hotels)." man, cited the lack of Bay is one of Metro So hotels should put wastewater treatment Manila's crowning glories, (up] water treatment facilities of hotels and big boasting the best view of plants, or I will shut them establishments that the sunset in the coun- down," the President said dump their untreated try "and yet it continues in a speech at a baran- wastewater into the bay; to be neglected: the view gay summit on the peace the liquid waste from of the otherwise beauti- process in Pasay City. households and solid waste that end up in the bay; and the toxic indus- trial effluents discharged by factories and ships. About 1,500 tons of waste are illegally dumped daily on private land, inivers, creeks and in the bay, said Ubac based to a study by the Asian Development Bank. Previous audits un- dertaken by Greenpeace and EcoWaste Coalition showed that at least 70 percent of Manila Bay wastes are plastid bags and packaging. —

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Luntian partylist bet prods DENRy.'DILG tb., start E E,EEEt E E Manila Bayeleainup 'drive . A VETERAN journalist representing . showed: that at least 70 percent of -Luntiang 'Filipinas party-list group Manila Bay wastes ON plastic bags I yesterday supported President Rodri- and packaging. go "Rody" Duterte's order to the De- "Manila Bay is dyii g. What 0 rn- partuient of Environment and Natutal pounds the problem is the lack of an Resources and Department Of the,in- effettiVel roadmap for reviving this tenor and Local GOvernment tri nstart body of Waterdespite a Supreme the cleanup of famous but heavily CouthOrder issued 10 years ago. It's polluted Manila Bay. good that We have taken notiee of this Luntiang Filipinas first nominee. wanton disregard of our environmen- Michael Ubac, a former Inquirer re= talliMs. We should exert all efforts to porter who covered the House of 'Roil- clean It up," Ubac added. resentatives, said Environment *ere- Sen. LotenLegarda,founderof tary Roy Cimatu and Interior Secretary tiahg'Filipinas Partylistand author of Eduardo Alio face a three-pronged the 'EeOlOgical Solid Waste Manage- problem in cleaning the Bay... - • ' mentAct Of 2000, called anent ion to the . Ubac, a deskthan when he lef t the . rnaasive degradation of Manila Bay. Inquirer, cited) the lack of wastewater Sheneted thatManild Bay is one of - treatment facilities of hotels and big Metro Manila's crowning glories, establistunents that dump theinourea t- boasting the best view of the sunset ed wastewatet into the bay; the liquid "and yet it continues to be neglected: waste from households and solid waste the view of the otherwise beautiful - that end up in the bay; and the toxic sunset is 'marred by styrofoam con- industrial effluents discharged by fac- Miners, plastic bags, discarded appli-• tones and ships. • ;Imes and many other solid WASIe." About 1,500 tons of wastes were The'President on Tuesday night illegally dumped daily on private land, warned hotels near Manila Bay, par- in rivers, creeks and in Manila Bay, said: Ocularly those that do not have waste- Ubac, citing a study by the Asian Do- water treatment plants; to "do some- Velopment Bank thing about your waste there, other- Previous audits undertaken by wise I will close (the hotels)." Greenpeace and EcoWaste Coalition Ryan Pacpaco PAGE I DAMIER EDII9RIAl CARTOON STORY STORY

Department of Etertronment and Natural Resources 14 JAN 2010 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIAIIVES SERVICE UNA SA SALIFA DATE

Manila Bay maaari nang pagliguan sa Disyembre - Cimatu INIFIAYAG kahapon ni Depart- Hindi man ito magiging ka- billion 'Manila Bay Action Plan," men( of Environment and Natu- sing 'finis ng tubig sa Boracay at saad ni Cimatu ral Resources (DENA) Secretary El Nido ngunit ang hyperpolluted Dagdag pa nito, ang istriktong Roy cunatu na smusubukan ng na Manila Bay ay maami nang pagpapatupad ng Republic Act No. ahensiyang bawasan ang languyan kapag natapos ang major 9275 o ang Philippine Clean Water taminasyon sa Manila Bay upang rehab sa katapusan ng taong 2019. Act of 2004 ay siyang magiging maging malinis ito at maaari nang • "An interagency task force daan upang maipahayag ang mga mag-swimming at magsagawang . will attempt to bring down co- isyu sa kalidad ng tubig at iba pang public activities dito sa darating • liformi na Digyembre 2019. eontamination of the bay problemang pangkapaligime sa to acceptable levels with a P47- 'historic bay' (Jobelle Macayan) t UPPER PAGET BANNER MTORTAL CARTOON ez% MITY STORY Pt PAGE LOWER

Department of Environment and Natural Resources 14 JAN 2010 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE -.102:1C UNA $A% SAWA )7E°-0 DATE

Manila Bay rehab gimik lang! NABABAHALA ang niga ng ECC na pumayag ang mangingisda sa Bacoo; mga residenteng apek- Cavite dahil ang pa- tado sa proyekto para ng'Sfriba nila ay gimik ito matuloy. lang—ng 'Department of "Kailanman ay hindi Environment and Natural isinulong rig DENR ang Resources (DENR) ang tunay na pangangalaga ng Manila Bay rehabilitation kablasan. Marapat lamang para mas mapadali ang silang bansagan bilang De- reclamation at paglcasira stroyer of Environment and ng nasabing baybayin. Natural Resources dalill Ayon sa Pambansang instrumento sila ng mga Lakas ng Kilusan Mama- mandarambong rig kali- malakaya ng Filipinas, kasan at karagatan," sabi nais ng local government ni Myrna Candinato, presi- ng Bacoor na tabunan dent ng Alyansa ng mga ang 420 ektarya sa Ma- Magdaragat sa Bacoor nila Bay para sa hindi pa Maraming mga origi- malinaw na mga dahilan. nal resident ng Bacoor Nag-isyu na ang ang namumuhay sa pa-. DENR ng notice of public ngingisda at pag-aani ng scoping para sa reclama- talaba at tahong. tion project sa Bacoor. Oras umano na ma- Ito ang kauna-unahang tabunan ang karagatan, hakbang na kailangan mawawalan sila ng kabu- para sa Environmental Im- hayarn, katulad ng narig- pact Assessment. 'Pag wala yari sa mga mangingisda nang problema dito, susu- sa.Parariaque at Las Pinas nod na ang pagkuha ng nang itinayo arts Coastal Environmental Clearance Road noong panalion di Certificate (ECC). diktador Ferdinand Mar- Mahalaga sa pagkuha cos. (Eileen Mencias) „ye- lIE CAniC.3:.r.,st4 s\ 177 1 LTA 1,-7 1-71 1ElMoi,5A;-_-_ -I 77t. .17.1 (.1 mans l'AOF I PAWN:: tttrlit:art ,n, ___] MC .IZ ^11.0 Aektr I- .f.,ky,59€,,,;,,,,, 11,.:1; IONVER I .th.,;:t.,Irv's! rtt:n

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Soon for bathing Instead of clambering up rocks to avoid the toxic water, these boys will soon be happily dipping themselves in Manila Bay based on the rehabilitation timeline of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. ROMAN PROSPEFt0 urrrn I.A•:E. I 'KAMM Ent WAIN CA1111 i1)11 SIONY MOW(

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DIRTY SWIM Children have fun swimming in the dirty waters of Manila Bay on Sunday, oblivious to the threat posed by the murky waters to their health. Government officials have started planning for the iehabilitation of the bay, which had served as a dumping area for all kinds of trash for years. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGU IA

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RAGBABAKASAKALING may mahuhuling isda sa Manila Bay ang mga mangingisdang residente sa paligid ng lawa. Ramakailan ay inatasan ni Pangulong Duterte si Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu na simulan ang paglilinis ng Manila Bay, Rung saan dumadaloy ang Pasig River al dim ng mga estero ng Metro Manila. INQUIRER CARTOON

Department of Environment and Natural Resources STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE I. DATE

sa Manila Bay. Eh, anong nangyari nitong nakaraang 40 dekada? Ngayon kasi, kapag pumunta tayo roon para makita ang paglubog ng araw ay mandidiri na tayo sapagkat mabaho Vag tuluyang na ang ilang lugar doon dahil puno na nalinis ang Manila ng napakaraming basura. Bay, napakalaking Ano naman kung malilinis ang Manila Bay? ginhawa at biyaya! Magiging simbolo ito na unti-unti nang NAPAKALAKINGbagay kung maisa- naaayos ang ating bayan. sagawa nina Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte May posibilidad na mapansin ng mga at Department of the Environment and foreign investor na um uunlad na ang Natural Resource (DENR) Secretary Roy Pilipinas at magbubuhos na sila ng pondo Cimatu ang paglilinis sa Manila Bay. para mas mapalago ang industriya at Sa tingin natin, kahit ito lang ang ma- inga negosyo rito. gawa ni P-Duterte sa buong anim na taon Napakarami ng mga nagpaparumi sa ng kanyang administrasyon ay matatan- Manila Bay at marami ang mga kumikita daan na siya bilang isa sa pinakanuigaling sa pamamagitan nito nandiyan ang mga na pangulo ng bansa. pabrika at establisimyento na malayo sa Bakit? Ang paglilinis sa Manila Bay Manila Bay, pero nagtatapon ng mga ay malaking kapakinabangan sa alga basura nila sa Pasig River na umaagos mangingisda, tato na sa mga taga-Batan- patungong Manila Bay. gas at Cavite dahil kung mawawala ang Daan-daang inilyon num() ang kini- mga basura rito ay darami ang inga isda kita ng opisyales ng city hall ng Maynila, na puwede nilang makuha. Pasay, Cavite at iba pa para hindi mai- Ang Manila Bay ay simbolo rig ating pasara ang mga pagawaan at estabisim- bansa mula pa noong panahon ng mga yento na nagdurumi sa Manila Bay at lobo at Iola natin. Pasig River. Isa sa mga dahilan kaya 'raging kapital Hahanap talaga ng dahilan para ma- ng Pilipinas ang Maynila ay dahil napaka- sabotahe ang proyektong linisin ang Ma- ganda ng Manila Bay. Tanyag sa buong nila Bay. mundo ang eksena ng paglubog rig araw Malaki rin umano ang kinikita ng niga "rnagagaling" sa coast guard na hinahayaang magtapon ng basura sa Manila Bay ang mga barkong duniara- ong dito. Subalit, kung nagawa nina P-Duterte

at Sec. Cimatu ang paglilinis sa Boracay natatakutan. Island ay magagawa rin nila ang pagli- Malaki ang tiwala natin kay Sec. Ci- linis sa Manila Bay. Natatandaan ha ninyo matu sa pagtantiya niyang magagawa noong inanunsiyo ni P-Duterte ang pag- ang paglilinis bago magtapos ang taong sasara ng anim na buwan ng Isla ng Ito. Boracay ay nagliihiyaw ang mga dilawang Sana ay magiagumpay tayo sa pro- senador tulad nina Risa Hontiveros at yekto ni P-Duterte na malinis ang Manila Barn Aquino na mali raw ito? Nang-intriga pa irga noon si Sen. An- ton io Trillanes IV na ipinasara la ng umano ni P-Duterte ang Boracay Island para makapasok ang mga Intsik na ca- sino operator? 0, ano ngayon, tameme sila na ma- saya ang buong bayan at maging ang mga negosyante rito na nalinis ito sa wakas. Nakilala natin si Sec. Cimatu noong nakasama natin siya sa gobyerno ni ex- P-C MA. Siya ay respetadong heneral ng Army at walang habitl ng korupsiyon. Taliimik lang siya, pero masigasig at walang ki-

41. 11i A • t: f s-Thi 4c[.. ? 6 ri • Department of Environment and Natural Resources Ituraeltrttla/ V”itte ,../e1r1frXrait..4dilder 11r L. 'YA flY 0 N S S AVA N ITRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE YiPfrt

Erap sa Manila zoo. local gov't buildings Proper waste disposal

. system d.apa.* sundin

INATASAN ni Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada si rehabilitasyon ng Manila Bay. • ,CityAdministrator Ericson Alcovendaz na fiyaking aDinatnan na nating ganyan any sitwasyon maayos any waste. disposal ng mga estrukturang ng Manila Zoo kaya't ginagawan natin ng paraang pag-aari ng local na pamahalaan kasunod ng piano maayos ito. Kaya nga tayo nag ka roon ng ng national government na Isagawa ang major Enviromental Code Ordinance paw masolusyonan rehabilitation ng Manila Bay. ang mga problemang .sumisisra sa ating kalIkar Partikular na pinatututukan ni Mayor Estrada sanf aril Estrada. artg Manila Zoo na kabilang sa nabanggitng DENR Tinlyak'ni Estrada, suportado niya ang pro!. na walang maayos na waste disposal system yektong rehabilitasyon ni Pangulong Duterte kayal .upang matiyak na makatutugon sa Environmental ngayon pa lamang ay ipinaiinspeksiyon na rin niya Code Ordinance 8371 na naipasa ng konseho sa ang iba pang city owned premises na posibleng Dahl ng kanyang termIno. direlctang nagtatapos sa Manila Bay. Nagbigay din ng direktiba sl Estrada kay "Inuuna natin any mga local government pro2 Alcovendaz na magsagawa rig imbentaryo sa perties na sumunod sa mgwenvironmental lave mga gusali na pag-aari ng city government para bago natin tutukan ang commetcial establisN sa [along madaling panahon Ito ay magawan ng ments. Kailangan Makita nila na tayo sa gobyemo mga tamang waste disposal bago magslmula ang any unang sumusunod sa batas," ani Estrada.

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Erap sa Manila Zoo: Sumunod sa tamang pagtatapon ng basura INATASAN ni Manila Sinabi ni Estrada na nga tayo nagkaroon ng Mayor Joseph Estrada si titiyakin niyang tutugon 'Enviromental , Code Or- City Administrator Eric- ito sa Environmental dinance para maresolba son Alcovendaz na tiya- Code Ordinance 8371 ang mga problemang king maayos ang waste na naipasa ng konseho sumisisra sa ating Ica- disposal system ng Ma- sa &Ern ng kanyang ter- likasan", ani Estrada. nila Zoo at iba pang mga mino. Dagdag ni Estrada, su- istrakturang pag-aari Nagbigay din ng di- portado niya ang proyek- ng lokal na pamahalaan rektiba si Estrada kay tong rehabilitasyon ni kasunod ng piano ni Pa- Alcovendaz na i-imben- Pangulong Duterte kaya't ngulong Rodrigo Dutette tatyo ang mga gusali na ipinasusuri na niya ang na isailalim sa rehabilita- pag-aari ng city govern- iba pang pag-aari ng syon ang Manila Bay ment para magawan nila lungsod na posibleng di- Kabilang ang Manila ng tamang waste disposal rektang nagtatapon ng Zoo sa mga tinukoy ng system bago pa magsim- kanilang basura sa Ma- Department of Environ- ula ang rehabilitasyon ng nila Bay ment and Natural Re- Manila Bay Isusunod aniyang tu- sources (DENR) na pal- "Dinatnan na nating tutukan ng lungsod ang pak ang waste disposal ganyan ang sitwasyon mga commercial estab- system na nagpapalala ng Manila Zoo kaya't•gi- lishment lab o na ang mga umano ng problema sa nagawan natin ng para- nasa paligid ng nasabing polusyon sa Manila Bay ang maayos ito. Kaya look. (Mm Billones) UPPER PAGE I °Main EDITORIAL CAR10011 STORY STORY cavairaraara vosairmaaar

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Waste not, want not hen this column began it was with said to encompass the concepts of reducing, lamentations about surgical waste, reusing, recycling and repairing things. It is and how it, leaves a mark in the a term which evokes the type of care which world's landfills for what• might as encourages people to use things up until W the very end of their lifespan, and to find well be eternity. Half a year later, the shift away from single-use plastic may be visible new homes or uses for things they no on social media, typified by cute photos of ze- longer need. It is a trait that honors the in- ro-waste stores and colorful replacements for trinsic value of every created thing—which, plastic straws and utensils, but environmen- in fact, the KonMari method does. talists are uncomfortably aware that the This isn't to idealize Japan or its cul- world's plastic production and waste disposal ture. Despite its much lauded philosophy is still far from ideal. One can only imagine HINTS AND SYMBOLS of "waste not, want not," Japan still wastes how much single-use plastic was purchased KAY RIVERA around 6.5 million tons of food per year, and summarily discarded over the holidays. and was reported several times .to be I've been thinking about this along with most popular articles describes Marie Kon- "drowning in plastic" after China ceased Marie Kondo, the "tidying up" guru and do's actions, of "greeting" and honoring a imports in an effort to reduce paper and originator of the minimalist "KonMati" house upon arrival or her "waking up" books plastic waste. Clearly the local environ- method, whose books and new Netflix se- that have been in storage, as trappings of a mentalists still have a lot of work to do. ries have encouraged households across "woo-woo" fairyland type of thinking. It sug- As we find ourselves swept up in one the world to dispose of things which don't gests a certain Western shortsightedness to well-meaning trend after another, from re- "spark joy." In each episode, Marie Kondo be immediately dismissive and fail to recog- ducing our use of plastic to simplifying our shows up at a client's doorstep, viith the nize the animistic roots of such practices, as lives with the KonMari method, there's a client most commonly being a couple, and well as the belief, shared among a number of caution for us not to misinterpret the latter helps them to organize their homes, with Eastern philosophies, that even inanimate as, perhapX, many of Kondo's critics do. The the serene smile and unflappable compo- things have spirits. - method, if its philosophy were to be under- sure of an adult who is so put together. One of the more valid concerns about stood, should be producing a type of cultural But exposure to a worldwide audience the KonMari method is that it does encour- shift, and it shouldn't be the type which pro- opened KonMari to criticisms as well, some age quick disposal. The bags of stuff which motes getting rid of stuff just to make way of which were not entirely well-founded. For the clients -discard are less satisfying to for more stuff. In the long term and in the one thing, memes mocking KonMari for think about when one considers that they bigger scheme of things, what the method "forcing" one to let go of one's books have might go straight to the landfill. Angela should really teach is the recognition of the little basis in fact; unlike her aggressive Spring, writing for The Guardian, laments eternal and intrinsic value of things, which "home makeover" counterparts from reality that getting rid of things which no longer should replace the quick-to-buy, quick-to- TV, KonMari doesn't force her clients to let "spark joy" encourages a culture of dispos- dispose culture we've come to know, and go. The Guardian alone has three "think- ability, and would have liked to see Kon- which would impact our environment more pieces" on what Marie Kondo supposedly Mari encourage disposal in a manner, which than a ban on plastic straws would. gets wrong. Most of the criticisms are, to put honors the Japanese concept of "mott'ainai." This is a sense of regret at the idea of waste, [email protected] . it bluntly, very Western in nature. One of the _ AGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON 111-.--r79icp_sTivotreiro,,Pini pnoopifr—JA STORY STORY PAGE 1 4 JAN 2010 Department of Environment and Natural Resources MANILIMULLETIN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER DATE

51 containers of garbage shipped back to South Korea

By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

The 51 containers of illegal garbage languishing at the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental were finally shipped back yesterday to South Korea where the assorted wastes came from several months ago. But environmental group EcoWaste Coalition pointed out "the struggle for environmental justice, morality and the rule of law is not yet over" as there are still 5,176.91 tons of bulk waste lying on and waiting to be shipped out of the country in a P4

to our communities," Lucero told the 51 containers of... 41 crowd assembled at the MICT. Lucero vowed that EcoWaste Coali- government land in Barangay Santa how much we, the Filipino people, want tion will continue to vigorously remain Cruz, Tagoloan. our fragile ecosystems to be protected "as a civil society group dedicated to Aileen Lucero, national coordina- against the adverse effects of waste promoting a zero waste and toxics-free tor of EcoWaste Coalition, cited the trafficking, which is a serious threat to Philippines, we promise to remain vigi- departure of the illegal garbage exports our people's lives, their health, and the lant to ensure that our country does not from South Korea from local shores environment," Lucero said. become a dumpsite for any country's extolling the move as a "triumph for Emphasizing their stance against garbage." environmental justice, morality, and waste trafficking, activists from the MICT Port Collector John Simon the rule of law." EcoWaste Coalition and various civil soci- said: "May our victory serve as a lesson During the ceremonial send-off rites ety groups from Davao City prominently to big nations that small nations like held at the MICT, Lucero asserted "the brandished a banner with the words "stop the Philippines can rise and fight for its waste shipments violated Korean and exporting garbage to the Philippines." right to have a clean environment free Philippine Customs and environmental They also paraded placards saying from the hazardous waste of the most laws, as well as the Basel Convention," "we are not a garbage can for Ko- powerful and industrialized nations of and "sending the garbage back to its rean waste," "Korean waste should be the world." origin is only just, moral and lawful." treated in Korea," and "don't transfer Not forgetting about the 103 contain- The Quezon City based toxic waste Korean waste to the Philippines." ers of reeking Canadian residual wastes watchdog sent a 15 member delegation "By saying 'no' to garbage dumping disguised as plastic scraps for recy- to witness the momentous send-off from Korea and other countries, we say cling, tile EcoWaste Coalition stressed ceremony of illegally transported mixed 'no' to the derogation of our country's that "the repatriation of the South Ko- waste in the Philippines. dignity and sovereignty, 'no' to the dis- rean garbage to its source should rouse "Our resolute stance to get the respect for national and international Canada into resolving the festering garbage returned to its sender shows laws, and 'no' to the harm they will bring garbage dumping controversy" f',,,Gr I flANNEP MITORIAI CAR10011 SIORY 510115

Department of Env!' minipill RIIII (Jelinel Resources

1RATEGIC COMMIMICAlION INEIIA11V15 SERVICE

Korean garb age returns to sender; rality- and the rule of law is not yet over" as there were still 5,176.91 tons of bulk waste languishing on government land watchdog elated in Barangay Santa Cruz, Tagoloan, waiting to be sent home. THE waste and pollution watch group "For the sake of the Tagoloan peo- EcoWaste Coalition on Sunday extolled ple's health and their environment, we the departure of 51 Containers of illegal call upon the Korean government to garbage exports from South Korea as a continue its fruitful cooperation with "triumph for. environmental justice, mo- the Philippine government to ensure rality and the rule of law." the rapid reexport of these wastes to Py- Speaking at the ceremonial send-off eongtaek City," she said. at the Mindanao International Container On Dec. 27 and 28, 2018, the govern- Terminal, Aileen Lucero, the group's ments of the Philippines and South Korea national coordinator, said "the waste resolved to have the 6,500 tons of illegal shipments violated Korean and Philip- garbage re-exported to the latter. Phil- pine customs and environmental laws, ippine authorities have detemiined the as well as the Basel Convention. waste shipments as "misdeclared, heter- "Our resolute stance to get the gar- ogenous and injurious to public health. bage returned to its sender shows how Not forgetting about the 103 contain- much we, the Filipino people, want ers of reeking Canadian residual wastes our fragile ecosystems to be protected disguised as plastic scrap for recycling, against the adverse effects of waste traf- the EcoWaste Coalition said "the repa- ficking, which is a serious threat to our triation of the South Korean garbage to people's lives, their health and the envi- its source should rouse Canada into re- ronment," Lucero said. solving the festering garbage dumping To emphasize their stance against controversy." waste trafficking, activists from the Illegal garbage exports from Canada en- EcoWaste Coalition and various, civil tered the port of Manila in several batches . society groups front Davao City held from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, the waste a banner that read "stop exporting gar- . from 26 of these 103 containers were il- bage to the Philippines." legally disposed of at a landfill in Tarlac. 'They also brandished placards saying Canada 's indecisiveness to take their "we are not a garbage can for. Korean reeking garbage back violates the rule of waste," "Korean waste should be treated law and is immoral, the EcoWaste Coali- in Korea," and "don't transfer Korean tion said. Despite Prime Minister Justin waste to the Philippines." Trudeau's assurance in 2017 that "it is "By saying 'no' to garbage dumping now theoretically possible to get it back," from Korea and other countries, we say the Canadian garbage continues to fester 'no' to the derogation of our country's with no end in sight, the group said. dignity and sovereignty, `no' to the disre- The return of the dumped waste to spect for national and international laws, South Korea shows doing the right thing and `no' to the harm they will bring to our is not just theoretical, the EcoWaste communities," Lucero told the crowd. Coalition said, expressing its hope that "As a civil society group dedicated to Canada would finally comply with the pramoting a zero waste and toxics-five Basel Convention. Philippines, we promise to remain vigilant to ensure that our country does not become a dump for any country's garbage." MIC1' Port Collector John Simon echoed Lucero's stance. "May our victory serve as a lesson to the big nations that small nations like the Philippines can rise and fight for their right to have a clean environment free from the hazardous waste of the most . powerful and industrialized na- tions of the world," Simon said. Lacere , was quick to .,poiM out ,"the straggle-ter eiironmentd justice, mo- I 1H= L—±1 EIMOttlAlLII CAEfloi)ri =I ..1011Y SIVE/ tw;E I OW En 1.1COMMI 414.41 tws..7gobov• -,m,mv,;;AGAir enarImEnt of Environment nd COMMUNIC/V11011 mituvriviis :;cioncri DAIE

Trash shipment sent back to Korea BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL Northern Mindanao office that examined the shipment consigned HE 51 container vans of wastes declared as to Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp. found that the vans contained plastic synthetic flakes have been sent back to hazardous waste. The broker was TSouth Korea. identified as Mary Claire Boot. "The waste shipment are current- offloaded and illegally discharged. Records showed that Verde Soko ly being loaded to the vessel that Calixihan said the ship left port ,on two separate occasions, brought will bring it back to South Korea," as soon as all the 51 container 'vans into the country one shipload Cagayan de Oro Port Collector were loaded. containing 5,176.91 metric tons of Floro Calixihan told The Manila The waste shipment came from Py- various plastic and waste materials Times on Sunday. eongt,aek City, South Korea. misdeclared as plastic synthetic The Port of Cagayan de Oro has The Environmental Management flakes, and another 51 40-footer jurisdiction over the sub-port of Tago- Bureau of the Department of En- containers, also declared as contain- ing plastic synthetic flakes. loan, where the container vans were vironment_ and Natural Resources- r-rn I I —I [—A I — I 1771 rArIrldx UM, I:A riTo

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Depar truant of Envii noire' d nod al 0osou, cc 1 4 JAN 2010 7 '.r7,7?, 3.,!1,:7, 7", ,r- STRATEGIC commutooyncti INITIATIVP.; SERVICE rir h,71 FE 3:•c' IMTU

Solon: Al.! Korean trash must go

Misamis Oriental Rep. Juliette Uy on Emano added he would invite Sen.Cynthia Sunday insisted that all remaining garbage Villar to visit the garbage site, for her to from South Korea that are stored in Verde personally decide on what should be done with Soko plant site in Sta. Cruz, Tagoloan, should the waste: be shipped back to its port of origin and fast. MICT collector John Simon is supporting Uy's "All, not just part or some, of the total stand, noting that all the hazardous wastes must garbage shipments stored at MICT (Mindanao be returned to South Korea, since their shipment International Container Terminal) should violated customs and environmental laws. be returned to South Korea, All of it. There Uy said she will pursue accountability should be no gray areas in this regard," and address problems in the government Uy said. policy, operations, and procedures that allowed the importation of solid wastes Emano added he would invite Sen. from South Korea. Cynthia Villar to visit the garbage site, She also urged the Department of Natural for her to personally decide on what Resources (DENR) and Phividec to work and should be done with the waste. cooperate in the upcoming congressional investigation on the shipment. The government on Saturday started shipping "I see the need to adopt new stringent back to South Korea the mostly hazardous and policies to prevent the importation of plastic toxic wastes, but there are still at least 5,000 and other types of waste, since we do not want metric tons of garbage remaining at the Verde our province and our whole country for that Soko dumpsite. matter to become a global garbage dump," Uy She was reacting to a statement of Misamis emphasized. Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano, who earlier On the other hand, she lauded the South Korean said hei was looking into the possibility of government, the BoC, DENR and other civil society recycling the remaining hazardous wastes and environmental groups for worldng together and and process them into plastic chairs through addressing the solid waste management controversy Vi2Jar Sipag Foundation. in a "swift" manner. Hananeel Bordey —7.—J =I I—I I I MOE I !WHIST CT/Irani/1i CAR10011 STORY STORY

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Deportment of Eovl000tooml nod Nnlionl Flesom ce$

STRATEGIC COMMUNICA1101 INITIATIVCS SERVICE

RUBBISH. Customs officials inspect a batch of Illegal girba-ge exports from South Korean before the trash in 51 containers is shipped back to its sender. Story on A2 . . . - ,

I CATINCII EDITORIAL 51011Y STORY

14 JAN 2013 Department of En vi: (foment and NaUll I Pesouroes

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION IEIII1ATIVES SERVICE

Trash returned to sender melds -the provisions of Republic Act By Cory Martinez 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous THE 51 containers filled with illegal and Nuclear Wastes Control Act), state: garbage exports from South Korea that "no importation of heterogenous dumped in Tagoloan, Misamis Orien- and unsorted plastic materials shall be tal were finally returned yesterday to allowed." their country of origin: EMB inspectors, according to the re- This was announced by EcoWaste port, found assorted plastics such as Coalition national coordinator Aileen bottles, straws, gloves, shower hose, L.Lucero who together with 14 members utensils, toothbrushes, Styrofoams, of the group attended the send-off rites wrappers and 'cellophane, as well as at the Mindanao international Contain- textiles, wood, metal rods; vinyl tiles, er Terminal (MKT). broken glasses, paper boxes, spray cans, The group lauded the departure of shoes, slippers, gloves, diapers, etc. the South Korea's mixed plastic waste Also found in the shipments were cargoes, wrongly declared -as "plastic waste electrical and electronic equip- synthetic flakes," saying that the move ment (WEEE), -popularly known as e- is a "triumph for environmental justice, waste, including printers, keyboards, morality and the rule of law." electric fans, cables, cellphone batteries The waste shipments vinlated Ko- and chargers, d ry cell batteries, and LED rean and Philippine customs and envi- nips. ronmental laws, as well as the Basel During the send-off rites, Tuccro's Convention," and "sending the garbage group and various civil society groups back to its origin is only just, moral and from Davao City demanded a stop to /awful," Lucero stressed. - exporting garbage to the Philippines. Based on the investigation report of "Our resolute stance to get the gar- the Environmental Management Bu- bage-returned to its sender shows how reau (EMB)-RegiOn 10 of the Depart- much we, the Filipino people, want our ment of Environment and Natural Re- fragileecosystems to be protected against sources (DENR), the misdeclared gar- the adverse effects of waste traffickhig, bage was in violation of DENR DAD which is a Serious threat to our people's 2013-22. lives, their health and Hieenvironment," The said regulation, w hicli imple- Lucero said. AP-4--ga'e - ,`1 2.47orne;t1A- DATE UPPER H F

N TE 14 JAN ?on PAGE LOWER HALF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND INITIATIVES SERVICE

Mga basurang itinapon sa Mindanao ibinalik na sa SoKor SIN1MULAN no kahapon Tagolorm. Misa in is Oriental. ang pbabalik sa South Korea ng aabot sa 200 containers ng tone-ioncladang basura na iligal na naipuslit sa bansa. basura ang ihabalik sa South . Korea. Matatandaang noong No- byeinbre. 1,200 Gaytinman. 51 no containers tonclada ng pa !among ang maibabalik dahil basura mula sa South Korea ang kailangan pang maibalbt mull naharang sa inspeksyon ng ring mga basura at ibabalik sa Bureau of Customs. - . mga containers kung saan Kabilang sa limn ng mga nanggaling basura ay syringe diapers at ang inga Ito.. !sang ceremonial re-expona- iba pang hospital.wastes. tion ng inga basura.tungong Nakaselyo na at handa nang Korea ang magaganap rigayong ibalik ang nasa 51 containers. araw at dadalulian ng mga °pi- ng nasabing mga basura.- syal mula sa Department of Ayon kay John Simon, port . Natural Resources . and rEnvi collector sa Mindanao 'mama- ronment," BOC, local .o n . tional Container Terminal sa .at environmental 'griatipsfficial ...... 1 ci UPPER PAGE I RAN firm EDITORIAL GAR100n STORY S1ORY PAGE LOWER ppireirsprrre's•a••1 twiy...••••••••••P Nrirr=.....••••• 14 JAN .2 oii

Department of Environment and Natural Resources litirefi STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE "Vti-rgrfierrga DAIE Al4G N INC/ nsG PAHAYA,ra‘ter.. TAGS:OG A DASSA

Basurang itinambak sa Misamis ibinalik na sa SoKor

Sa wakas, naibiyahe na kahapon justice, morality and the rule of law is niit "sending the garbage back to its origin is ang 51 containers ng ilegal na basurang yet over" dahil mayroon pang 5,176.91 only just, moral and lawful." nakatambak sa Mindanao International tonelada ng basuraang nakatambak pa rin "May our victory serve as a lesson Container Terminal (MICT)saTagoloan, lupa nggobyemosa BarangaySantaCruz, to big nations that small nations like the MisamisOzientalpabaliksa South Korea Tagoloan, at nagliihintay na maibiyahe Philippinescan rise and fight for its light kungsaan itonanggaling ilang buwan na palabasng bansa. to have a clean environment five from the angnakalilipas. Sa ceremonial send-off rites na hazardous waste of the most powerful Gayunman, maagap na ipinunto ginanapsi top., sinabi ni Lucenma "the and industrialized nations of the world," ni Aileen Lucero, national coordinator Waste shipments violated Korean and pahayag namanni roa Pori Collector ng env in mmental group na FroWaste Philippinecustoms and environmental John Simon. Coahtionna"thestruggleforenvimnmental laws, as well as the Basel Convention," at Chito A. Chavez 14 JAN 2013

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Basura ibiniyahe, pabalik ng SoKor IBINIYAHE na kahapoh ang bahagi ng_tone-tonelada ng basura pabalik ng South Korea na naipuslit sa bansa, rtoong'nakaraang taon. Matatandaing naharang ng Bureau of Customs ang aabot sa 1,200 tonelada ng basura noong Nobyembre. Kabilang sa mga basura ay syringe, diapers at iba pang hospital wastes. Ayon kay John Simon, port collector sa Minda. nao International Container Terminal sa Tagoloan, Mi- samis Oriental, nasa 50 container ang ibinayahe ka- haponi Nasa 200 container ang ibabalik sa South Ko-

'ThkOiya, k4ilingan pang maibalot mull ang. nala‘ labing mgalastkait 'batik sa mga container kung Saan nangga mg ang mga Ito.—Radyo Inquirer UPPER PAGET TANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON 3 STORY STOP( PAGE WER

1 4 Doportment of Environment and Natur al flesout ces JAN 2010

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE DATE

Imported trash returned to SoKor ' The 51 containers of illegal gar- Santa Cruz, Tagoloan. bage languishing at the Mindanao mixed waste. But still, EcoWaste Coalition cited International Container Terminal "Our resolute stance to- get the the departure of the illegal garbage (MICT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Ori- garbage returned to its .sender exports from South Korea is a "tri- ental, shows how much we, the Filipino y shipped back umph for environmental 'justice, people, want our fragile ecosystems Sunday to South Korea where the morality and the rule of law." assorted wastes came frorn several to be protected against the adverse During the ceremonial send-off months ago. effects of waste trafficking, which rites held at the MICT, Lucero as- However, Aileen Lucero na- is a serious threat to Mir people's serted "the waste shipments vio- tional coordinator of environmental 'lives, their health and the environ- lated Korean and Philippine customs group EcoWaste ment," Lucero said quickly and environmental laws, as well as pointed out "the struggle for en- Emphasizing their stance against the Basel Convention," and "send- vironmental justice, morality and waste trafficking, activists from the ing the garbage back to its origin is the rule of law is not yet over" EcoWaste Coalition and various only just, moral and lawful.". as there are still • civil society groups from Davao City o r The Quezon City-based toxic bulk waste lying on and waiting prominently brandished a banner watchdog sent a 15-member del- to be shipped out of the country with the words "stop exporting egation to witness the send-off in a government land in Barangay garbage to the Philippines." (Chita ceremony of illegally transported Chavez) 6.s,41 UPPER PAGE! BANDER EDITORIAL CARToon yapirprefork\-- 13 -2. STORY STOR1 -10_,Expoing-stitSINCE INDO - — PAGE

Amissatiasilar

Department of Environment and Natural Resources MANILAPBULLETIN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INMATIVES SERVICE THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER 1 4 JAN ?On DATE

DENR 's closure orders questioned anew I

11371VIADELArla B:MIRAFLIR1 second MR filed by Ore Asia. "Ore Asia filed another MR While the nine suspended and clarification to the DENR, mining companies simply ac- which we received on Decem- cepted their fate, three compa- ber 18. In the said motion, they nies ordered closed by the De- are requesting for sufficient partment of Environment and time to submit their position Natural Resources (DENR) paper, arguments, and docu- won't easily accept the govern- mentary evidence in support ment's decision. of its motion," Teh said. Environment Secretary Roy "We will deny it. As a rule, Cimatu has denied in Novem- no second MR is allowed," she ber the motion for reconsid- added. eration (MR) filed by mining She noted, however, that companies Claver Mineral for "out denial to become final Development Corp. (Claver), and executory" there should be Oriental Synergy Mining Corp., no appeal filed to OP within 15 and Ore Asia Mining and Devel- days. This means that Ore Asia opment Corp. (Ore Asia) seek- may still be given a chance to ing to invalidate the closure make an appeal to OP once the orders that former DENR chief DENR denied its MR. Regina Paz Lopez imposed on Of the three firms, Claver them in 2017. was'the first to seek OP's inter- The companies, however, vention, filing its appeal as early have the right to appeal to the as December. Then on Friday, Office of the President (01') 15 the legal counsel of Oriental days upon receiving Cimatu's Synergy has confirmed that decision. they also went to OP to dispute More than a month later, DENR's closure order. . Business Bulletin learned that "We have submitted our both Claver and Oriental Syn- appeal to the Office of the Presi- ergy have already filed an ap- dent and furnished DENR with peal to or: while Ore Asia has a copy OP received our appeal attempted to submit another on December 20," the firm's Motion for Reconsideration legal counsel said in a phone (MR) to the DENR. interview. This was confirmed by En- Oriental Synergy has a vironment Undersecretary nickel and chromite mine in for Mining Concerns Analiza . Dinagat Islands covering 648 Rebuelta-Teh though she said hectares of land. Its head office the DENR is poised to deny the is in Caloocan City UPP PAGE I BANNER ED/TOR:At CARTOON STORY STORY PAGE TOWER 14 JAN.2010 Department of Environment and Natural Resources

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE DATE

SAY MO Pagtatapon ng basura ATTORNEY? sa `critical habitat' ingly exploit wildlife resourc- the best scientific data tak- Paunawa: es and their habitats, or un- ing into consideration spe- Isangguni ang iba pa dertake the following acts: x cies endemicity and/or rich- ninyong usaping legal sa x x . ness, presence of man-made arnmg opisina sa address na (c) effecting any oft/ac/in!- pressures/threats to the sur- nakasaad sa pitak na ito o lowing, acts in critical vival of wildlife living in the kaya ipadala ang inyong

11111111111111111111111 habitat(s): area, among others. katanungan sa aming e- ( i) dumping of waste prod- Kaugnay nito, nakasaad mail , address: By ATTY. PERSIDA ucts detrimental to wildlife; din sa batas na ito na ang [email protected] s1numang lumabag ay o tumawal sa PAO hot- RUEDA-ACOSTA Samakatuwid, ipinag- maparurusahan ng kulong line: (02) 26-2801; 426- Kgg. na Chief Acosta, babawal ng batas na ito ng isang (1) taon han Nang 2450; 426-2987; o 929- NAGTATRABAHO ako sa na magtaponng inga waste walong (8) taon. Maaari 9436 local 106 o 107 dur- isang aspital sa aming bay- products na magiging ma- ring maipataw ang multa ing office hours at local 159 an. Ftinatapon sa isang lugar panganib at maaarini sa halagang limang after office hours. na nadeklarapalang 'critical makasira sa ating wildli e (P5,000) libong piso hang- ng mga serbisyong legal habitat" ang mga basura lab o na, sa mga nade - gang limang (F5,000,000) ng PAO gaya ng legal ad- kasama ang mga kemikal na larang critical habitats. milyong piso. vice, court representation, ginagamit namin sa mga Ayon sa Section 25 ng na- Nawa ay nasagot namin pagsasagawa ng doku- pasyente. Ano pa ha ang ka- turang batas, magtatala- ang inyong !ma katanun- mento, notaryo at iba pa kahara pin naming parusa ga ang Department of En- gan. Nais naming. ipaalala ay libre at walang bayad kung sakaling matuklasan na vironment and Natural sa inyo na ang optnyon na mula sa kliyente ng PAO lcami ang nagtapon (Won? Resources (DENR) secre- ito ay nakabase sa myong sang-ayon sa R.A. 9406 Lubos na gumagalang, tary ng mga critical habi- mga naisalaysay sa inyong (PAO Law). Sang-ayon din Farah tats na hindi kasama sa liham at sa pagkakaintin- sa nasabing batas, ang ka- protektadong lugar sa ila- di namin duo. Maaaring bmggali o kalaban sa kaso Dear Farah, lim ng R.A. No. 7586 o maiba ang opinyon kung na matatalo ang magba- Para sa inyong kaala- National Integrated Protect- mayroong karagdagang bayad ng attorney's fee sa man, ang batas na na- ed Areas System Act of 1992 impormasyon na PAO para ideposi to sa kasasaklaw sa inyong ka- (NIPAS): Mas mainam kung person- National Treasury. Maaar- tanungan ay ang Republic "Section 25. Establish- al kayong sasangguni sa ing isumbong kay Chief pub- Act (R.A.)No. 91470 Wild- ment of Critical Habitats. - isang abogado. Acosta ang sino mang life Resources Conservation Within two (2) years follow- Maraming salamat sa lic attorney o empleyado ng and Protection Act. Na- ing the effectivity of this inyong patuloy na pagtiti- PAO na manghihingi o kasaad sa Section 27 ng Act, The Secretary shall des- wala. tatanggap ng salapi mula batas na ito na: ignate critical habitats out- Ang inyong Lingkod sa kliyente ng PAO sa ad- "Section 27. Illegal Acts. side protected areas under Bayan, dress na ito: 5th Floor, DOI — Unless otherwise allowed in Republic Act No. 7586, DR. PERSIDA V. Agencies Building, NIA accordance with this Act, it where threatened species are RUEDA-ACOSTA, DSD Road comer East Avenue, shall be unlawful for any per- found. Such designation Punong Manananggol Diliman, Quezon City, son to willfully and know- shall be made on the basis of Pambayan

UPPER PAGE I SANGER EOGOIGAt GARMOG 51010' STOI Y PAGE lOWEP

14 JAN Z 015 Dopot %mein .1 cirnyinnisne.... mitt flotilla' nclokilleil

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE DATE

MIGRATORY birds fleeing the harsh winter in the Northern Hemisphere wander on the Manila Bay for food before resuming their journey to the warmth and safety of the Southern Hemisphere. (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)

j-71ir --iinitr-M-C-T.-ThPIM IP UPPER PAGE 1 EARNER EDITORIAL CARTOON t..„_tyrrErOtEf----- rENE----Vial PRO ot STORY STORY SINCE - PAGE ROWER 14 JAN Z010 Department of Environment and Natural Resources MANILAPBULLETIN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INMATIVES SERVICE THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER DATE

SPEAKING OUT A sea of garbage

tarSWIGNARIOt R. BURYrani- There is no dearth of materials on any and all of the foregoing aspects HE recent Traslacion has of solid waste management. In fact, established newer records of a comprehensive plan based on solid sorts - the longest procession, waste management best practices is Tthe best attended, the most even available off the shelf. organized, the least number of injured What is just needed is political will. persons reported. Read that as: E-xecution. Inevitably, however, it also earned the unenviable record for the largest Garbage dumping volume of garbage generated in a single , To further complicate our problems, public event. we have had two episodes of garbage Almost a half day after the proces- dumping originating from foreign sion officially ended, MMDA and even countries. barangay brigades were still busy col- 6,500 tons of waste materials, origi- lecting garbage along the procession nating from South Korea, somehow route causing not a few social media found their way into the Mindanao port commentators to refer to the annual in Misamis Oriental last year. religious event as "Trash-lacion." The materials were declared as The day after, comments in social "soft plastic" for furniture reprocess- media made for very interesting read- ing but turned out to be medical and ing. electronic waste. Basically, commentators analyzed The South Korean government has the reasons for our propensity to wan- since agreed to take back the trash. tonly throw garbage, not just in events Not so, in the case of the Canadian like the Traslacion but even in ordinary government. outdoor public gatherings. Between 2013 and 2014, private Here are a few comments which, to Canadian companies shipped to the me, hit closest to home. Philippines 103 containers declared Basically, we have become spoiled to contain scrap plastics for recycling. both at home and in school. In general, The containers turned out to be filled there is always somebody at home, the with municipal solid waste not fit for kasambahay, who cleans up our mess. recycling. In school cafeterias, somebody else During the 31st ASEAN Summit in usually clears the table for us after we Manila in November, 2017, Canadian have left. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau report- Another commentator explained it edly assured President Duterte that slightly differently. Canada is working on a solution to the Inside our own homes, we tend to be garbage dumping controversy. "garbage-free" The problem, however, Not much has been heard from begins as soon as we leave home. Trudeau since. Either way, the situation appears to Former Senate President Aquilino boil down to a breakdown in individual Pimentel III ruefully commented that and community discipline. the two incidents sadly reflect how we How do we restore discipline? are perceived abroad. It is easier said than done, but the textbook answer lies in the 3 E's Note: You may email us at toting- - E-ducation, E-nforcement, and E- bunye2000@gmaiteom. You may also ngineering. To these, I would add a like" us on Facebook at "Speaking fourth E: E-xample. Out "

LIII 1 • UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY PAGE LOWER 14 JAN zoio

Department of Environment and Natural Resources STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INMAlIVES SERVICE toys:I.IN F,L; L 7*. ; Vgle r DATE

Speaking Out Atty. Ignacio R. Bunye

A sea of garbage

I'M recently concluded Trans- Either way, the situation appears -71 lacion has established newer to boil down to a breakdown in indi- records of sorts — the longest vidual and community discipline. procession, the best attended, the How do we restore discipline? most organized, the least,number of It is easier said than done, but injured persons reported. the textbook answer lies in the 3 Inevitably, however, italso earned Es: E-ducation, E-nforcement and the unenviable record for the larg- E-ngineering: To these, I would add est volume of garbage generated in a fourth E: E-xample. a single public event. There is no dearth of materials on Almost a half day after the any and all of the foregoing aspects procession officially ended, MMDA of solid waste management. In fact, and even barangay brigades were a comprehensive plan based on solid still busy collecting garbage along waste management best practices is the procession route causing not a even available off the shelf. few social media commentators to What is just needed is political refer to the annual religious event will. as Trashlacion. Read that as: E-xecution. The day after, comments in social Garbage dumping media made for very interesting• To further complicate our prob- reading. lems, we have had two episodes of Basically, commentators analyzed garbage dumping originating from the reasons for our propensity to foreign countries. wantonly throw garbage, not just 6,500 tons of waste materials, in events like the Translacion but originating from South Korea, some- even in ordinary outdoor public how found their way into the 'Mind- gatherings. anao port in Misamis Oriental last Here are a few comments which, year. to me, hit closest to home. The materials were declared as Basically, we have become spoiled "soft plastic" for furniture reprocess- both at home and in school. In gen- ing but turned out to be medical and eral, there is always somebody at electronic waste. home, the kasambahay, who cleans The South Korean government up our mess. In school cafeterias, has since agreed to take back the somebody else usually clears the trash. table for us after we have left. Not so, in the the case of the al- Another commentator explained nadian government. it slightly differently. Between 2013 and 2014, private Inside our own homes; we tend Canadian companies shipped to the to be "garbage free". The problem, Philippines 103 containers declared however, begins as soon as we to contain scrap plastics for recycling. leave home. (Turn to Page 12) . •

Speaking... (From Page 7)

The containers turned out to be Not much has been heard from filled up with municipal solid waste Trudeau since. not fit for recycling. Former Senate President Aquilino During the 31st Asean Summit in Pimentel III ruefully commented Manila in November 2017, Cana- that the two incidents sadly reflect dian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau how we are perceived abroad. reportedly assured President Du- Note: You may email us at tot- terte that Canada is working on a ingbunye2 0 0 [email protected] . You solution to the garbage dumping may also "like" us on Facebook at controversy. "Speaking Out". ioviEGIc. 171 LA n-71 LH 1111 ConinniNICA I inri wry :‘,1? ? R cornnom CARIOC.11 4( 1-7 roony 5/01IY SEM.11T AE I own

14 JAN 2010 : FAG? / DARE

CTALK CITO BELTRAN

Cheaper gasoline e can easily have gaso- line that costs cheaper Wby 2 to 4 pesos per liter by simply removing ethanol from the gasoline sold at gas stations! This was the revelation made by Chairman Sergio Ortiz Luis of the Philippine Confederation of Exporters when he recently guested on our show AGENDA on Cignal TV. He pointed out that while everybody is talking about excise tax and foreign prices, no one has ever thought about revisiting the law that requires petroleum companies to infuse or blend Ethanol to their standard "gasoline." In addition, he pointed out that the basis or spirit of the law has turned out to be flawed or far from the intention. To begin with the "ethanol law" was meant to promote agricultural and commercial production of "grains" or plants that produce ethanol. This is generally corn and at one point some supporters said cassava also had potential. The law would then lead to prosperity for corn farmers who would become millionaires in no time. To further sugarcoat the law, the proponents even claimed that it would vastly improve air quality in support of the Clean Air Act. Unfortunately, none of that happened. From what I've heard in the past we have never produced enough corn or ethanol in the Philippines. Fact of the matter is, corn is so short in supply that feed millers opt to import their corn for two reasons: imported corn is cheaper and is drier or has less water content because they are generally industrially dried instead of being dried in the open such as the national highways of the Philippines. In effect, the so-called expected boom never happened and we still have no corn farming millionaires. What we do have are millionaire import- ers of ethanol. As for helping improve the air quality, the Philippines cocktail of gasoline and ethanol can't possibly match the EURO 4 or EURO 5 fuel standards that have become more popular among motorists because many suspect that the Ethanol concoction is the culprit behind numerous problems that beset modern vehicles. • If consumers can save 2 to 4 pesos per liter by sim- ply removing the law protecting ethanol merchants, then it is well worth the time and effort of the Depart- ment of Energy and Congress to investigate if the Spirit of the Law was actually achieved or if we can be spared the unnecessary cost that is nothing more than the failed attempt of a corporation in Mindanao to cash in on the potential of Ethanol that never took off except to line their pockets. . . . 1 SMATF.1:11: jlt.u— • - CONIMIIN WA I it II AOF lEt 1-1 (Oil .•./11 CA/110011 '," 4 mon, Snout W/ . rA.7E IC HP • SEUVII I'. Th -1,77„ Hiicl I GYP 14 JAN 2010

PAGE /AM

People in Bicol may have thought that Usman would be low-impact after the state weather bureau raised storm sig- AS A MATTER OF FACT nal number one. "Unfortunately, typhoon signal has nothing SARA SOLIVEN DE GUZMAN to do with rainfall amount because the signal numbers of PAGASA are based on wind strength," Lagmay said. He also emphasized the importance of hazard maps in providing important information to help people under- stand the risks of natural hazards and to help mitigate We have man-made disasters. Hazard maps indicate the extent of expected risk areas, and can be combined with disaster management disasters not natural ones information such as evacuation sites, evacuation routes, and so forth. "People'and the LGU (local government unit) ropical Depression Usman, find it hard to use or interpret a hazard map without the which entered the Philippines identified safe places," he added. If safe places are identi- Ton Christmas Day was said fied, LGUs and the people can make the right decisions. to be the second deadliest weather This information cannot be found in the map of Mines disaster for the country last year and Geosciences Bureau but is covered by Project NOAH. following Typhoon Mangkhut in So, what do we do now? Do we just sit around and wait September. It caused heavy flooding for another disaster to happen? This information is not and landslide leaving 126 people new. We have been talking about this for quite sometime dead, 26 missing and 74 injured now. Yet, it seems that no one wants to listen. Or maybe (according to a Philippine Star no one wants to act on it because it would highlight the report). It also brought damages to inefficiencies of the system. People are dying, properties infrastructure and agriculture that reached P4.2 billion are lost families are buried in the ground and houses (according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and destroyed. These are disasters coming and going, year in Management Council or NDRRMC). and year out but to this day our leaders haven't seem to What exactly worsened Usman's death toll? According to have gotten the right formula to protect the people. Talk disaster scientist and Project NOAH Di rector Mahar Lagmay, about governance. Susmariosep! it was a wrong forecast, late warnings and a lack of hazard Dr. Lagmay's record shows that on average, hydromet awareness that caused the situation. According to Lagmay disasters happen once a year and at most twice per year. the forecast on December 28 to 29, 2018, was moderate Now it's 6 in the span of one year! He said, "It can't be like (light blue) to heavy (dark blue) rainfall in Bicol. But what this with us just waiting for the next disaster to happen. happened was the rainfall was intense (yellow) to torrential Something is wrong and it does not seem to be connected (red), the latter being the highest amount of rainfall. to Climate Change." Lagmay added that there is a big difference, especially Come to think of it. Are all these national disasters since moderate rainfall measures 25 to 7.5 mm/hr; heavy natural or man-made? Dr. Lagmay, in his scientific re- rainfall 7.5 to 15mm/ hr; intense 15-30 mm /hr; and torrential port titled, Lessons from Disasters in the Philippines, wrote: 30 mm./ hr. At that time in Bicol, the intense and torrential 'There's no such thing as a natural disaster because all rainfalls lasted for several hours. He pointed out that the disasters are caused by human error. All disasters are warnings from NDRRMC on December 28 and 29 also came man-made; they are never natural. It is the people's poor late. The orange alert rainfall warning was sent at 8 pm on understanding on how to address hazards and failure to December 28, then a red alert at 11 pm, and another red alert use appropriate science and technology as well as hazard at 5 am on December 29 for possible landslides and possible mitigation plans that create disasters." flooding. By this time, it was too late. Much of the responsibility for lowering disaster risk In the past, there had been measures taken to avert falls on LGUs. But we know how they are in the imple- disasters. In the study "Lessons from tropical storms mentation of building codes and land planning. When the Urduja and Vinta disasters in the Philippines," Project local government choose to ignore warnings on "no-build NOAH underscored the execution of Pre-Disaster Risk zones", disaster is sure to happen. When LGUs allow the Management (PDRA) from 2014 to 2017 by the NDRRMC. so-called the "rape" of the environment in mining, illegal These assessments prevented mass loss of lives in many logging, dynamite fishing; and construction of structures severely-impacted areas because of hazard-specific, area- in "no-build zones" then the problem begins. And guess focused, and time-bound warnings. what? Government officials easily get away from such The study also suggested that the PDRA must reinstate crimes. No one is penalized or jailed. Sanamagan! specific calls, where mayors of communities are informed There are many structures in "no-build zones" that by phone hours in advance of imminent danger, to prompt need to be demolished to the deaf cars of owners and and ensure immediate action. The PDRA was institution- city officials. This is also why political dynasties thrive in alized in June 2014 to provide risk analysis and constant , the country — to protect their structures, their mines, their monitoring of hydrometeorological hazards. These actions. kingdoms. But this is another. • . story. Abatigan! are supported by scientific information from PAGASA, , Project NOAH, and the MGB. Unfortunately, Project NOAH was taken out of NDRRMC in mid-2017 before the 6 recent disasters happened. As a result, advisories became too broad and general. - I I ,Jrrrl rA(,r I 15115 017-15151 cArnocw r 11 sirn'y 5101.5

..1 niir11./nlmnI tismess 'ror 14 JAN Zulu cummioncAiir)1 I II IIIIA Al 'nth bytattrld ;brunt Ivor Climate change: Complex challenges for agriculture

URICH, Switzerland—The causes additional problems, as includes locallyadapted and robust well, including large-scale defores- plant varieties andanimal breeds. unusually hot summer of 2018 tation, immense water consump- Efficiency-enhancing measures, showed that climate change tion, soil compaction and erosion, such as irrigation systems, are chemical pollution of the environ- becoming increasingly important. affects a central part of our lives: ment and biodiversity loss. At the societal level, fair-trade This exacerbates the overex- conditions and market access for agriculture. The severe drought in ploitation of natural resources all producers are important, as is and increases climate change responsible governance. The latter Liechtenstein led to large losses in the vulnerability. is necessary to coordinate and is- hay harvest. sue appropriate political policies. Carrying on like in the past no longer an option Acting at all levels "INDUSTRIAL agriculture has A BREAKTHROUGH for agroecol- reached a dead end—there is no ogy principles will require dia- option to continue as before," logue between all actors involved. warned Hans Rudolf Herren, Only then can the course of agri- winner of the World Food Prize culture change toward a joint sus- and longtime president of the tainable future. Biovision Foundation. This is the aim of the Biovi- The renowned agronomist sion Foundation's advocacy team. and entomologist urges global Togethet with an alliance of goal- agriculture to embrace organic, oriented organizations andstates, multifunctional, healthy and sus- these agroecology advocates suc- tainable practices that take agro- ceededill establishing the demand ecological principles into account, for sustainable agriculture as part rather than striving for the higl test of the UN's 17 sustainabilitygoals possible yields. in New York in 2015. This option is now also re, og- . The Biovision Foundation sup- IN the project "Food security In rural Ethiopia" by nized by the UN Food and Agricul- ports the achievement of these Biovision and Caritas Vorarlberg, the villagers of Siraro ture Organization as a response goals both for agriculture and for district dig erosion control ditches, to preserve and to the many challenges of climate climate protection at three levels. enhance natural resources. PETER LOTHI/BIOVI51141 change. It for uses on raising public awareness for sustainable con- In countries of the Global South, system are not only victims but Diversity increases resilience sumption and on establishing a the consequences of climate change also causes of climate change. CLIMATE change is a complex arealreadymuchmoredrastic.In Af- network to implement sustain- The term "food system" refers problem involving various factors. ability goals. rica, for example, extreme weather to the entire food cycle, fritrn This calls for holistic solutions. At the international level, the conditions threaten food security production to harvesting, stor- These include agroecologyadapted for millions of people. advocacy team discusses agroecol- age, distribution, consumption to the local political, social and ogy with interested country repre- East Africa has encountered and disposal. natural conditions. droughts at increasingly shorter sentatives to position agroecology This cycle produces signifi- An importantprinciple of agro- principles in the UN Framework intervals in recent years, most re- cant amounts of greenhouse-gas ecology is the promotion of diversi- Convention on Climate Change. cently in 2005, 2006, 2009, 20:11, emissions. Paradoxically, modern ty. The more diverse an ecosystem 2014, 2015 and 2017. In the project "Advocacy for industrial agriculture aims to in- is, the more flexible it can react to Agroecology," Biovision supports Apart from drought, the con- tensify operations to compensate changes, recover from disturba ditions for agriculture are also countries with concrete recom- for the loss of production caused es and adapt to new conditions. mendations for action and a co- becoming increasingly diffi- by climate change. Diversified agroecosystems ordinated policy dialogue to plan cult due to the gradual rise in However, using ever more fos- use synergies from mixed cultiva- temperature, salinization and climate-Et iendly agroecological sil fuels, synthetic fertilizers and tion or agroforestry systems and measures. changing rainy seasons. agrochemicalsincreasesemissions rely on natural fertilizers from Through various grassroots Serious consequences include of climate-damaging gases instead compost and manure. projects i n Africa, Bioinsion has decreasing availability of food of reducing them. Agroecology combines tradi- demonsttated various concrete and increasing conflicts over Industrialized agriculture tional and new knowledge. This examples of successful application water—both obstacles to de- of these measures. Liechtenstein velopment opportunities of the affected states and possible trig- L Industrial agriculture has reached Development Service's support gers for migration. fi to train and inform smallholders w a dead end--there is no option to is of crucial importance for farm- Agriculture is also the cause continue as before."—HERREN ers to have the ability to prepare themselves for the consequences AGRICULTURE and the food of climate change. In PAGF I PArstril 0111(.1111A1 CAR100 , J 5101a STORY 14 FM ?013

Depailment of Environment 01111 Halm nt Resources

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE DATE SMC opens P244 water projecl

HE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage to four areas in Bulacan name- System has cited San Miguel Corp's P24.4-Billion ly Obando,Meyeauayan City, T Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project, a public-private Marilao and Bocaue." partnership project of Luzon Clean Water Development Ang said the water project is aimed at providing millions of Corp. and K-Water Resources Corp., as it starts commercial residents from 24 localities in Bu- operations among selected and ready water districts under laean ready access to fresh, potable Stage 1 today, Jan. 14, 2018, following its milestone surface water while balancing the completion ahead of schedule. competing needs of .a growing pop- ulation; industry, agriculture, and MWSS Administrator Reynaldo good wqrking relations between the environment in the province. V. Velasco lauded SMC Chairman MWSS and Luzon Clean Water "The Bulacan Bulacan Bulk Wa- and CEO Ramon S. Ang for the that will surely benefit the people ter is just one of the many projects speedy completion of the flagship of Bulacan. While the Bulacan that SMC has in 'store under the project, the first major water project Bulk water project was started by Duterte administration," says Ang to be completed and inaugurated un- the Aquino administration in 201.2, adding that "with our financial re- der the Duterte administration. it is the first major •water project sources and technical capabilities, "We congratulate SMC,, K-Wa- to be completed during Duterte's we promise to deliver several proj- ter and Mr. ,Ang for the landmark term." ects that support our fast economic completion of the BBWPS last Luzon Clean Water President grawth." One of SMC's new proj- December 17, one month ahead of Ang says, "The BBWSP started ects is a new international airport its contracted completion," says its thy run operations last Dec. to be constructed in Bulacan. Velasco. "This underscores the 17, initially giving free water The BBWSP consists of three

stages. Stage 1 covers six water districts consisting of San Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan, Bo- cane, Obando and Balagtas while Stage 2 covers seven water districts consisting of Guiguinto, Caltunpit, Bitiakan, Plaridcl, Sta. Maria, Pabmbong and Malolos. Meanwhile, the construction of Stage 3 which 'covers the remain- ing 11 municipalities of Balivag, Plaridel, Pandi, Hagonoy, San Ra- fael, San Miguel, Norzagaray, Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad, San fide- fonso, and Bustos, has not yet started. Before the construction of the BBWSP, the province of-Billacan sources water from deep wells pro- vided by the water districts, which are government-wwned and—con- trolled corporation . In recent years, howeverr, the deep wells are slowly running out of water.

I I I-1 I-I I I F- I 110111157 EIMORIAI 1 510111 SIORY

1,1“imiiim,a1MaitriWI Sansatazaw.miLinail ,wriwio"Air

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

TRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE DATE

Ownership over abandoned river bed

Dear PAO, through the effects of the current My family has been occupying a of the water; and 3) that the land portion of land since 1996. We DEAR PAO where accretion takes place is tried to apPly forks registration; adjacent to the banks of rivers." however, the government agency PERSIDA However, if the land which is concerned informed us that ACOSTA the subject of your dispute with the land cannot be registered John is really an abandoned river because it is classified as a river. from the effects of the current of bed, the provision of Article 461 The subject land is actually an waters." of the same code will apply: abandoned river bed. John, the It is stated in the case entitled, "River beds which are aban- owner of a tided land adjoining Republic of the Philippines vs. doned through the natural the old river, now claims that The Court of Appeals, et al., change in the course of the the land is an accretion; hence, (CR. No. L-61647, Oct. 12,1984, waters ipso facto belong to he owns the same. Is he correct? Ponente: Honorable former As- the owners whose lands are Carl sociate Justice Hugo Gutierrez, occupied by the new course Dear Carl, ff.) that the article quoted above in proportion to the area lost. Accretion is governed by Article "requires the concurrence of three However, the owners of the 457 of the New Civil Code of the requisites before an accretion cov- lands adjoining the old bed Philippines which states that "to ered by this particular provision is shall have the right to acquire the owners of lands adjoining the said to have taken place. They are the same by paying the value banks of rivers belong the accre- 1) that the deposit be gradual and thereof, which value shall not tion which they gradually receive imperceptible; 2) that it be made exceed the value of the area oc-

cupied by the new bed." not correct if the subject land 1987 Constitution which states In the case of Republic of the is an abandoned liver bed. An that "all lands of the public Philippines vs. Santo's ill, et al, abandoned river bed is not the domain, waters, minerals, coal, (Gil. No. 160453, Nov.12, 2012), same as accretion where John, petroleum, and other mineral the Supreme Court through Chief being the riparian owner, can oils, all forces of potential en- Justice Lucas P. Bersamin stated: claim ownership. The owner- ergy, fisheries, forests or tim- "By law, accretion - the grad- ship over the abandoned river ber, wildlife, flora and fauna, ual arid imperceptible deposit bed will depend if the new and other natural resources are made through the effects of course of the river occupied owned by the State." the current of the water- be- a portion of the land of John. We hope that we were able to longs to the owner of the land If so, then John may own the answer your queries. This advice adjacent to the banks of rivers abandoned river bed in,pro- is based solely on the facts you where it forms. The drying up portion to the area of his'prop- have narrated and our appre- of the river is not accretion. erty which was lost because ciation of the same. Our opinion Hence, the dried-up river bed of the natural change in the may vary when other facts are belongs to the State as property course of the waters. However, changed or elaborated. of public dominion, not to the if the new course of the river riparian owner, unless a law did not occupy any portion of Editor's note: Dear PAO is a vests the ownership in some the property of John, then the daily column of the Public Attor- other person." state owns the abandoned river ney's Office. Questions for Chief Applying the above cited de- bed. This is in consonance with Acosta may be sent to dearpaog cision in your situation, John is Section 2, Article XII of the manfiatnnes.net 123 Li I fA017 I nnolorn nmunim c AT IOC SIORY STORY immarrinivirr."""a vauvialoorwoora'

Deportment of Environment a, ii Noun :II U intim ces 114 JAN 2019

STRAIERIC COMMUNICATION Fill Ini IVES SERVICE DATE

• BULACAN BULK WATER. San Miguel Corp's P24.4 billion Bulacan Bulk Water Project which starts operations today is featured in the cover page of the Water Environment,Journal, the official publication of Philippine Water Works Association— the umbrella organization of the country's water supply in tandem with Media Touchstone Ventures Inc. PAGE BAripE/1 rMIORIAL CAEloori mon 3101 Y F own

1 4 JAN MO Department of Environment and Nato. ol Resources

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INFIlAlIVES SERVICE

Renewed commitment for pawikan conservation THE Aboitiz Group, Foundation and Aboitiz- ports the multi-sectoral Chief Operating Officer through its social devel- Power business unit 011 the other hand, the effort of "pursuing sus- for Distribution Group Davao LG Li, through lo- opment arm Aboitiz Davao Light and Power tainable development Jim Aboitiz who led the Company, renewed its cal ordinance, will within the context of a conglomerate's delega- strengt hen the enforce- commitment to intensi- balanced ecology." tion to the MOA signing. fy conservation efforts ment of existing laws rel- "Davao is truly blessed The DENR will pro- evant to the conservation for the marine turtle to be a nesting site of ma- vide technical assistance, (pawikan) particularly efforts, assist the DENR rine turtles, which is a facilitate information and in -the establishment of the critically endangered keystone specie in mail)- education campaign on hawksbill turtle in Punta Dumalag as a crit- taming the balance in our marine turtle conserva- ical habitat for the marine Davao City. ecosystem. It is clear that tion, and establish Punta Aboitiz signed a Mem- turtles, provide manpow- the government and the Dumalag as critical habi- er support for the project, orandum of Agreement private sector must work tat for marine turtles, (MOA) with the Depart- and furnish DENR with together to protect these among others. boring reports. rnentof Environment and endangered animals be- Natural Resources fore it becomes too late," (DENR) and Davao City said Davao City Mayor local government to es- Sara Du ter te-Carpio. tablish a Pawikan Center, As part of this project, a rescue and hatchery fa- Aboitiz will also contin- cility a t the Aboitiz Clean- ue to plant endemic trees ergy Park. to maintain biodiversity The center has a tem- in the area. porary shelter, clinic, lab- "Today, after more oratory, observation than 13,000 mangrove deck, boardwalks, and seedlings planted and other facilities for the res- more than 3,000 cue, rehabilitation, con- ha tchlings released, we servation, protection and renew our commitment," care of marine turtles in said AboitizPower Exec-. Punta Dumalag. This sup- utive Vice President and

SAVE THE PAWIKAN. AboitizPower Executive Vice Presi- dent and Chief Operating Officer (C00) for Distribution Group Jim Aboltlz (center, kneeling), leads last Jan. 10 the release of a hawksbill turtle (pawikan) on the grounds of the Aboltiz Cleanergy Park in Punta Dumalag, Davao City where a Pawlkan Center (rescue and hatchery facil- ity) Is set to rise. He Is Joined by DENR Mee. Ruth Tawantawan (left, kneeling) and Davao Light COO Rodger Velasco (right, kneeling) while Aboitiz Equity Ventures Adviser for Mindanao Art Milan (2nd from left, standing) and Davao Light Community Relations Manager Fermin Edilion (2nd from right, standing) look on. iirrEn r ACE I IIAMICII E1311010At CA1110011 I I SW/1Y Slott? IONIER

-sakiwivaalWiir 14 JAN 2019 epartment of Environment and Natural Ilir.ources 111110,' nATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES :;ETIVICE DATE

Bulacan water project to be launched THE P24.4-billion Bulacan -Bulk Sewerage System (MWSS)Admin- Bulakan, Plaridel, Sta. Maria, Paom- Water Supply Project (BBWSP) for istrator Reynaldo Velasco com- bong and Malolos. Stage 3 will serve Bulacan will be formally launched mended the companies- for the Balivag, Plaridel, Pandi, Hagonoy, by President Duterte on January "speedy completion:s of the project San Rafael, San Miguel, Norzagaray, 28 this year. completion. This developmentile- Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad, San The BBWSP aims to provide picts the 'good working relatiOns Ildefonso, and Bustos. ready access to fresh, potable between MWSS and Luzon Clean Commercial operations among surface water to residents in 24 lo- Water that will surely benefit the selected and ready water districts calities in Bulacan and help them people of Bulacan," he said. under-Stage 1 started on January meet the current water demand. SMC President and Chief-Execu- 14. Dry run operations Were held It will also reduce the usage of tive Officer Ramon Ang said the on Dec. 17, 2018, to initially pro- deep wells to mitigate the adverse BBWSP is one of the many projects vide free water to Obando, Mey- environmental impact of excessive the listed, ebnglomerate has in cauayan City, Marilao and Bocaue. groundwater extraction. store. With, its financial resnurces The BBWSP is the first major Luzon Clean Water Develop- and technical capabilities, Ang said project under the Duterte admin- ment Corp. — a consortium of their SMC promises "to deliver istration's public-private partner- San Miguel Corp. (80 percent) several projects that support our ship (PPP) scheme. It is one of the and Korea Water Resources Corp. fast economic growth", such as agency's two water projects under (20 percent) - sealed the 25-year the new international airport to be the program. The other projects is concession agreement to provide developed in the province. the P18.72-billion New Centennial water to consumers at the rate of Stage 1 of the project covers San Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project P8.50 per cubic meter. The proj- Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan, which aimes to meet the increasing ect's construction started in 2012. Bocaue, Obando and Balagtas) while water demand in Metro Manila. Metropolitan Waterworks and stage 2 has Guiguinto, Calumpit, JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Cji = I = llrrrfl DAGGER E0110E1Al CARIOON c----C" I-1 C10111 SIORY g PAGE 10V/III

apartment of Environment and Natural Itosoul cos

RATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES 5ERVICE 14 JAN 2019 uAIE

OPPO, Bantay Kalikasan launch charity photo contest FOLLOWING its recent release and a partnership with Bantay of the F9 model in Jade Green, Kalikasan brings us closer to that mobile leader OPPO partners with goal," said Jane Wan, OPPO Phil- ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilyds en- ippines VP for Marketing. vironmental arm Bantay Kalikasan The contest brought together to launch its charity photo contest, three photographers who had benefiting the La Mesa Watershed traveled across the Philippines to Reservation, in Quezon City. capture the islands' unique locales, Through the F9's new, unique cultures, stories and people using gradient of white and green, OPPO the OPPO F9 Jade Green: is celebrating the beautiful hues of From this date, the publiecan white-sand beaches, deal- waters, choose their favorite photos, and the lush rainforests of the vote for their choices, and share Philippines as its tribute to the on their respective social media beauty of the Philippine islands. accounts until the end of the "OPPO is inspired to help work contest on Jan. 31. towards protecting and preserv- For more information, visit ing the country's natural beauty, wwwfacebook.com/OPPOPH. Along Ditekl River shot on Oppo F9.

I husirdiltal111 I AGE I ilAririlic EIIIIOVAI CA111'0011 11URY SIORY

)apartment of Environment and Nalurof Rrsuurces

TRATEGIC COMMUNICAIION INITIA1EVE:; SERVICE Tin DAIS

VIZCAYA APPROVES REGULATION OF PLASTIC USE BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: The provincial government approved the Plastic Regulation Ordinance of Nueva.Vizcaya to reduce the use of plastic in the province in support of the Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP). Gov. Carlo01adilla said approval of the plastics ordinance is aimed to lessen plastics pollution and promote environmental protection for the benefit of public health and safety. Other than bio- degradable, the ordinance covers all types of plastics that end up as residual waste. Padilla said the plastics ordinance does not cover those that have economic value through resource recovery and which can be re-used and recycled. These Include those that form part of a product such as semi-conductors and electronic prod- ucts, except as container or packaging material. A fine of P1,000 up to P5,000 plus imprisonment of not more than six months for individuals, and possible cancellation of business license or an institution to operate for one year, will be imposed against violators. Under the ordinance, those who will be found littering, illegally dumping and disposing of plastic wastes and other garbage will also be penalized with a fine or imprisonment or both. LEANDER C. DOMINGO