08 JUL 2019 DATE
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1111E PAGE 1/ DATE p- Demystifying the vanishing Palawan pangolin
STORY BY JONATHAN L. MAYUGA v@jonlmayuga ITH great enthusiasm, Shiela, Elvie and JR, young Wresearch assistants of the Katala Foundation Inc., have been braving the wilderness of Southern Palawan for months in search of the elusive pangolins. NELSON DEVANADERA, executive director of the Palawan Council for Sustainable empirical data that would suggest Development.JoemeeNLMAYeGe the accuracy of their claim, as far Their mission: to know more This is because the Palawan as the upland communities are about the pangolins before they pangolin is one of the least stud- concerned, the Palawan pangolins become extinct. ied species of pangolin and there Carrying nothing but backpack are vanishing. is very little scientific information Commissioned to do research loaded with extra shirts, a tow- available to properly manage its on the Palawan pangolins by the el, water, food, a notebook, pen remaining population. Protect Wildlife Project that is and the all-important global- The study aims to determine funded by United States Agency positioning satellite device and a the mammal's rate of exploita- for International Development satellite phone, plus camera traps, tion and abundance in the wild to (USAID) in Southern Palawan, they trek unfamiliar terrains, come up with policy recommen- conservation efforts are focused climb trees, crawl under thick dation and plan of action that on the Palawan pangolins because shrubs and tall grasses, cross will help protect and conserve of the threat of illegal wildlife rivers and streams, night or day, this vanishing species. trade, with the hope of saving looking for signs—scratch mark, So far, the study is focused on the critically endangered species tracks or footprints, even feces Vic toria-Anepahan Mountain before it becomes extinct. left behind by the little-known Range, which has a total land The Katala Foundation Inc. scaly anteater or pangolin (Mattis area of 510,520.66 hectares. The is expected to complete the re- culionensis de Elera) that can only Vic tor ia-Anepahan Mountain search and come up with policy. be found in Palawan. Range straddles Puerto Princesa The Philippines, an archipelago recommendation to save the van- City, Aborlan, Narra and Quezon comprising of 7,641 islands and ishing Palawan pangolin by the towns. The area has been identi- islets, is one of the megadiverse end of the year. fied as an important habitat for countries in the world. However, biodiversity and endemic Palawan it is also one of the so-called bio- Mysterious mammal diversity hot spots because of the species, such as the pangolin. IN funding the "Study on the The Palawan Council for Sus- rapid rate of biodiversity loss. Indicative Presence and Abun- Experts sfrybecatThe ofbiodiver- tainable Development (PCSD) dance of the Palawan Pangolin in and the Palawan State University sityloss that's aggravated by illegal Southern-Central Palawan," Pro- wildlife trade, highly vulnerable are also embarking on research to tect Wildlife Project Communica- know more about the diet of the endemic species the Philippines tions Manager Lawrence San Diego is known for may have become ex- Palawan pangolin, to aid in man- said the Palawan pangolin is the aging its population and, hope- tinct even before their discovery. only pangolin species endemic to Previously thought to be the fully, come up with ways to boost a single country. its population on the island. Malayan or Sunda pangolin, (M. "The Philippine pangolin is a javanica), the Palawan pangolin priority species for conservation remains a mystery even to the of the Protect Wildlife Project," indigenous people of Palawan, he said. considered the country's last eco- logical frontier. While there is no
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Nelson Devanadera, PCSD ex- The ground surveys showed management specialist and one ecutive director, said samples of that slash-and-burn farming, of the anti-illegal wildlife trade pangolin's feces will also be sent charcoal making and timber operatives of the Philippine Op- to Australia for laboratory testing. poaching continue in forest erations Group on Ivory and Illegal He said knowing the diet and nu- habitats where the pangolins Wildlife (Task Force Pogi) of the trients of the pangolin's—basi- are recorded. Department of Environment and cally, ants and termites—will help Natural Resources (DENR) said explain why it is now the most 'Most illegally traded animal' the fact that two of the suspects sought-after animalbecause of the ACCORDING to the Environmen- are from Roxas town is proof that belief that its meat and scale have tal Investigation Agency (EIA), locals are in cahoots with the mem- pangolins are the most illegally medicinal value, hence, is now be- bers of the syndicate. ing hunted to extinction. traded animal in the world. More important, he said, know- 'Hunted for their meat and Deeper investigation ing what plant species the ants and scales for use in traditional medi- THE Task Force Pogi said the in- termites eat, must be identified cine, these shy nocturnal mam- vestigation on the illegal pangolin in order to protect and conserve mals may become extinct faster trade is without letup. them from various threats, and if than elephants, tigers, rhinos and "We are still conducting a fol- possible, propagate them in other other iconic animals, whether in low-up investigation. What we areas, to help protect and conserve Africa or Asia. want is to identify the buyers and the pangolin. There are eight known species catch them," Demelletes said. of pangolins, four are found in In the meantime, he said PCSD As for the arrested suspects Africa and four in Asia. from Tagaytay City, Demelletes is working closely with various All pangolin species were listed said authorities have so far initi- law-enforcement agencies to pre- in Convention on Internation- vent illegalwildlife trade, not only ated inquest proceedings but cases al Trade in Endangered Species have yet to be filed. of pangolin but other threatened (Cites) of Wild Fauna and Flora species of Palawan. Askedwhat willbe the next step Appendix! in 2016. The inclusion for the DENA Task Force Pogi and in Appendix I means the pango- its partner-law-enforcement agen- What locals know lins—all eight Species including WHILE very little is known about cies, he said: "We need to cut down the Palawan pangolin—are threat- at least one of the participants in the species, the Palawan State ened with extinction. the trade cycle." University has held interviews Under Cites Appendix I, the Ricardo Calderon, the DENR's and focus group discussions with trade in specimens of these species assistant secretary for Staff Bu- upland communities to gather in- are permitted only in exceptional formation on sightings and pres- reau and concurrent Director of circumstances. the Biodiversity Management Bu- ence of pangolins in their areas, According to MA as many as 1 its traditional uses and hunting reau (BMB), underscored the im- million pangolins have been il- portance of combatting the illegal techniques; and known practices legally traded within Asia in the trade on pangolin in Palawan. on its collection and trade.. past 10 to 15 years. According to local communi- He said the DENR continues ties, poaching and Megal trade of to strengthen the capacity of Organized crime law-enforcement agencies, in- pangolin meat and scales persist. IN the Philippines, the Palawant cluding its own, and is coordi- The meat can fetch for $3 to $5 a pangolin is also the most illegally kilogram, while the scales can be nating with concerned govern- traded animal and the perpetra- ment agencies and institutions sold for $130 to $190 a kilo. tors are well organized. Anti- While communities are aware to stop illegal wildlife trade, illegal wildlife trade operatives with particular focus on the that hunting and trade of pango- believe that organized crime syn- lins are illegal, they continue to Palawan pangolin. dicates are behind the lucrative "We are strengtheningour wild- persist. pangolin trade and are in cahoots Meanwhile, the field research life enforcement in our seaport. with local communities. In Palawan, we are coordinating team from Katala Foundation Just last month, authorities had so far conducted ground sur- with PCSD as they have jurisdic- arrested two fishermen and a van tion over Palawan as per Wildlife eys in 12 200-hectare plots in driver for transporting 10 live pan- Act. Wildlife trafficking is now a . the wilderness of the Victoria- golins in Barangay Mendez Cross- transnational crime and we have Anepahan Mountain Range, en- ing East, Tagaytay City. law-enforcement coordination at tailing actual search, recording ArrestedwereSimfrosoCauntay the regionallevel among 10 Asean and measurement of pangolins Salazar, 53, driver And aresident of member-states," he said. in the wild and observing their Kilometer 115 Talisay, Calatagan, Pangolins are very vulner- forest habitats. Batangas; Jorlan Libertino Tor- able. While they appear to be a Initial results of the study re- requinada, 39, and Victor Cabu- sturdy species, these nocturnal, vealed that from September to niag Equiza, 40, of P. Mabuhay very shy mammals, are sure to December 2018, the team recorded Abaroan, Roxas, Palawan. die in captivity. 14 pangolins—two of which are Rogelio Demelletes, a senior pregnant—in a total surveyed area of 800 hectares.
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Demelletes said three of the 10' recovered pangolins have already died because of stress. "In the next few days, the re- maining seven may also die be- cause pangolins are hard to feed. But because they are evidence in court, we cannot just return them to Palawan: he lamented. As authorities step up the vari- ous initiatives to know more about the little-known species; they are also racing against time to prevent the illegalwildlife trade to prevent
A RESEARCHER of !Wale Foundation Inc. shows pangolin. The project was commissioned by the LIM-funded Protect Wildlife Project. KATA LA FOIADATION/USAID PROTECT WILDLIFE PROJECT
PALAWAN pangolin KATAIA FOUNDATION/MAID-PROTECT WILDLIFE PROJECT
STRATEGIC LIPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY STORY gal INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER SERVICE BusinessMiffor Nums•••••Ile 14 4414 PrI 08 JUL 7019
DATE TITLE PAGE I/ DENR probes Ifma over ancestral domain { of Mindanao tribal groups
Manobo Sidaf Claimants Organiza- BY JONATHAN L. MAYUGA Agreement (Ifma) the DENRaward- tion (Tamasco). @jonlmayuga ed to a private agricultural company in Southern Mindanao. Tamayo said he has referred the case to the DENR Regional Office to HE Department of Environ- In an interview, Director Nonito ment and Natural Resources M. Tamayo of the DENR's Forest look into the complaint. Tamayo, who led a review of all (DENR) will look into the ap- Management Bureau (FMB) said the T existing DENR land deals, includ- pealof agroup of indigenous peoples review of the Ifma held by M&S Co. ing Ifmas in 2017 and 2018, said for the cancellation of a 28-year-old began after the filing of a petition they found no violation on the part Integrated Forestry Management for cancellation filed by the T'boli-
and their supporters trooped to the of Ifma holders, including that of for its cancellation. DENR Central Office last week to M&S Co. M&S Co., a holder of Ifma cover- "That was last year. Now, be- ing about 29,000 hectares of public file the petition. Allegedly the Ifma, a government cause of the complaint, we are lands for 28 years now, operates the contract awarded to a private sector referring the case to the region Dawang Coffee Plantation in South for the use of public lands, expired for review and recommendation," Cotabato and Sultan Kuda rat. Together with leaders of several in 2016 but was allegedly extended , Tamayo said. without the consent of the concerned Gross violation of the terms and nongovernment organizations un- conditions of the Ifma is a ground der Task Force Tamasco, the group IP community. STRATEGIC TIPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 1-1 sum STORY INITIATIVES PAGE LOW El is SERVICE 08 JUL 2019
Dia PAGE V DATE
SLOW IMPLEMENTATION COST GOV'T PI10.7M COA CITES 2 DENR PROJECTS FOR DELAY By Patricia Denise M. Chiu 76.15-percent accomplishment change for the lender agreeing @PDMChtuINQ rate; vis-à-vis its 98.58-percent to set aside the amount of the target for the end of the year. loan, instead of utilizing it for The slow implementation of other purposes, which could two foreign-funded projects of 38% completed potentially earn income. the Department of Environment Meanwhile, the Inremp, Both projects are overseen by and Natural Resources (DENR) funded by the Asian Develop- the DENR's Foreign-Assisted and has resulted in the government ment Bank, accomplished only Special Projects Services (RASPS). paying P10.707 million in com- 38 percent, compared to its In addition to costing the mitment fee, the Commission year-end target of 78 percent government money, the COA on Audit (COA) revealed. completion. said that the delay also "defeats In its annual audit report of Due to the delay in the im- the project goals of inclusive the DENR, the COA found that plementation of the projects, the growth and poverty reduction the Forestland Management government was forced to pay a for the Inremp and integrating Project (FMP) and the Integrat- total of 1310.707 million in com- conservation and development- ed Natural Resources and Envi- mitment fees, of which P6.927 oriented activities with full par- ronmental Management Project million went to the Inremp and ticipation and capacitation of lo- (Inremp), both foreign-assisted P3.78 million for the FMP. cal communities for the FMP." projects, reported low physical According to the report, a The COA recommended progress, which caused the gov- commitment fee is paid by a that the DENR instruct its ernment to pay a commitment borrower to a bank or lender in FASPS office to "conduct peri- fee of P10.707 million for 2018. exchange for the agreement to odic reviews to ensure that bot- The FMP, which is funded by grant the loan at a later date. tlenecks and issues affecting the Japan International Cooper- The fee serves as compen- the project implementation are ation Agency, only posted a sation to the lender in ex- immediately addressed." INQ L TITIF PAGE I/ DALE Bulacan airport project gets DENR clearance 0 BA N DO, BU LACAN —The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) , has issued an environmental MALOLOS *SANTA A IA compliance certificate (ECC) to MANIL4111 the company that will put up a LIAGONOY BULAKAN, P734-billion international air- BULACAN port in Bulacan province. Lormelyn Claudio, DENR di- rector in Central Luzon, said she approved on June 14 the ECC of 'MANILA Silvertides Holdings, a contrac- tor of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), to develop' 2,070 hectares in the NEW GATEWAY coastal villages of Bambang and Taliptio in Bulakan town. IN BULACAN An ECC is issued to certify RR:MINT graphics that a proposed project will not cause a significant negative envi- ronmental impact as validated answer to the worsening air by Silvertides. by DENR's environmental impact traffic congestion at Ninoy Local officials said Silver- assessment review committee. Aquino InternationalAirport tides already acquired about Silvertides has not specified The ECC issued to Silver- 2,000 ha of fishponds in Bu- the project that it will build in tides required the company to 'akar'. Residents in the project the area but Inquirer sources strictly observe mitigating mea- site raised concerns of heavy said the company had been con- sures it presented in the envi- flooding and loss of livelihood tracted by SMC to acquire the ronmental impact assessment when the construction for the fishponds from private owners Silvertides was also asked project starts. to give way to the airport pro- to come up with measures to According to Philkairos Inc., ject dubbed "Aerotropolis.h address dust dispersion during which conducted the environ- the development mental impact assessment, the International gateway Claudio said the construc- site is situated on a low ground SMC earlier said it was tion's spoils and debris, includ- and is flood-prone. The group readying construction teams ing hazardous waste generated has recommended building for its proposed international during construction and devel- drainage canals during land de- air gateway in Bulacan. It said opment phase, should be prop- velopment to mitigate flooding. the project was the company's erly managed and disposed of —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE INQ STRATEGIC UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 64 STORY STORY tffameg/IMIBEIN INITIATIVES PAGE OWET 11 .1.11111111F BusinessMirror NIIMINEEM.11. SERVICE 20":9 DATE TITLE PAC I! ACB LAUDS ASEAN ADOPTION OF BANGKOK DECLARATION ON COMBATTING MARINE DEBRIS / T HE recent adoption by the Mean biodiversity is already evident with the plastics heads of governments of the Bangkok being found ingested by migratory marine Declaration on Combating Marine species that travel across seas in the Southeast Debris demonstrates the commitment of the Asia and adjacent areas. 10 Asean member-states in protecting and "The Declaration substantially contributes conserving the region's rich marine resources." toward the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity This was emphasized by Dr. Theresa Target 8, on bringing pollution to levels that Mundita S. Lim, executive director of the Asean are not detrimental to ecosystem function and Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), as she lauded biodiversity; and StrategicGoal C, on improving the Mean's call for collaborative actions to the status of biodiversity by safeguarding prevent and significantly reduce marine debris, ecosystems, species and genetic diversity. It particularly from land-based activities. requires regional efforts to combat marine During the 34th Asean Summit held in debris, and considering that our rich marine Bangkok on June 22, the heads of states of biodiversity in the region contributes to food Brunei Darussa la m, Cambodia, Indonesia, security, climate-change mitigation, and Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, increased disaster resiliencyfor the people of the Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, through Asean, the Declaration provides more impetus the Bangkok Declaration, recommended an and guidance for the ACB and development integrated land-to-sea approach to prevent partners to strengthen our efforts to support and reduce marine debris. the Asean member-states and the region to help The Declaration also called for the ensure that this sincere resolve is reflected in strengthening of national laws and regulations, cross-sectoral policies, and operationalised and as well as enhancing regional and international realised on the ground," Lim explained. cooperation, including on relevant policy She added that the Declaration will be dialogue and information sharing. an excellent benchmark in crafting Mean's Lim said that marine pollution is a contributions to the post-2020 global transboundary issue and its impact on marine • biodiversity framework. • Lim said the Bangkok Declaration promotes mainstreaming of biodiversity 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle). and ecosystem conservation as it calls for Lim cited the Bangkok Declaration for 'Coordination among Asean sedge' bodies its call on strengthening research capacity taliffectively address the multidimensional and application of scientific knowledge to and far-reaching negative effects, as well as combat marine debris; accelerating advocacy sources of marine debris pollution. and actions to increase public awareness and She added that the Declaration enhances participation; and enhancing education for the multista ke holder ccrordina tion and behavioral change toward preventing and cooperation, including implementing joint reducing marine debris. • actions and partnerships for addressing The Bangkok Declaration, she noted, such challenge; and encourages private- demonstrates the complementarity of the sector engagement and investment in Asean Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint preventing and reducing marine debris, 2025 which promotes the protection, restoration and sustainable use of coastal including partnerships between public and and marine environment. private sector through various mechanisms [unsaid it responds and deals with the risk and incentives. of pollution and threats to such ecosystems, The Bangkok Declaration also calls for the with the United Nations's Sustainable 'prbmotion of innovative solutions to enhance Development Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda for plaitics value chains, and improve resource Sustainable Development: to conserve and efficiency by prioritizing approaches such as sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and its Target 14.1 which seeks, by 2025, to "prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land- based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution." UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY PNLIPINO A WiWO MATRON NI OTA C TIOTTO COIROORATTOn PAGE LOWER aarna.maosa vrai r 08 JUL Department of Environment and alktyral Resources IRROR. mq STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE - SALAMIM NO KATOTOHANAN - DATE RASURA SA BAGUIO NABAWASAN BENGUET — MAKARAANG maselyohan zing kasuncluan ng Department of Environment and Natu- ral Resources (DENR) at ang pamahalaang-lungsod rig Baguio, unti-unti nang nuinipis ang tambak na basura sa lungsod. Una nang sinabi kamakailan ni DENR Usec. Benny Antiporda, naplantsa na ang, Rang isyu sa basura noong tango sa Baguio City. Kabilang sa ikinokonsidera ay matapos ang corn- posting ma- chine at dapat isa ng ecological-tourism park ang tambakan. Bukod dito, dapat ay nalinis na rin ang mga non-biogredable na basura sa 'agar at nadala na ang alga ito sa sanitary landfill sa Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Magugunita na naglabas ng cease and desist order ang DENR-Environ- mental Management Bureau Cordillera sa operasyon ng frisan dumpsite dahil sa kaliwalt kanan na paglabag sa Solid Waste Management Act. lnanunsiyo rin ni Antiporda na kabilang ang Baguio City sa mga tourist destinations na sasailalim sa rehabilitasyon katulad ng sa isla ng Boracay. PMRT STRATEGIC PPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION V GORY STORY wis,./WNSWI INITIATIVES ea PAGE LOWER NSEInmiginne SERVICE wwwwIWIMIE 08 JUL 7019 DATE TITLE: PAGE I/ PAGAWAAN NC KAILDENO, KINANDADO NC DEN PINASARA ng Department na ni Regional Director Lorme- of Environment and Natu- lyn Claudio, napatunayang ral-Resources-Environmen- may paglabag sa Environ- tal Bureau (DENR-EMB) ang ment Compliance Certificate pabrika ng kaldero na nag- any pagawaan. tapon fly masangsang na Agad na naglabas ng kemikal sa Marilao, Bula- cease and desist order any can kamakallan. DENR-EMB sa naturang pa- Nakilala any factory na gawaan habang binigyan ng Silver Bridge Metal Manufac- tatIong araw para magbigay turing Corporation matapos ng remediation plan tungkol sa umalingasaw any kemikal na pagtatapon ng masangsang at itinapon nila sa bakanteng Iota hazardous waste. ng Brgy. Patubig. Ani Claudia, nakitaan ng Base sa report, natukla- paglabag any pagawaan da- san any pagtatapon ng hil hindi dumaan sa tamang masangsang na kemikal mate- treatment any aluminum slug pos maamoy ng humigit ku- bago ipahakot sa Service pro- mulang 1,227 pamilya 04,750 vider. na residenle na malapit sa Sinabi ni Ronald Gamit, lugar. production manager ng pa- Agad na nagsagawa ng gawaan na susunod sila sa imbestigasyon any kinauuku- utos ng DENA para mapana- Ian sa pangunguna ng DENR tili ang operasyon nib. at mga lokal na opisyal, kasa- Patuloy any ginagawang ma any pulisya sa pangungu- monitoring ng DENR sa natu- na ni Lt. Col. Amado Mendo- rang pagawaan at iba pang za. kompanya para protektahan Sa imbestigasyon fly ang kalikasan. DENR-EMB 3 sa pangungu- DICK MIRASOL III I X iLl cstk. PAGE I BANDER EDITORIAL VOTE -litriTti,biot_ lit-P-911!!ILIPpiiii---___1110011 morn STORY 81110 "-- 141011 MIX LOWER 08 JUI ?nig apartment ur Environment and Natural neSoto tee MANILAVERLETIN MIMIC COMMUNIcAl ION INITIATIVES SlilTVlE TUE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER Angat Dam's water level drops to 161.34 meters By FREDDIE C. VELEZ more than 200 meters by this time. the 180 meters of the dam's minimum and ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ Citing Provincial Disaster Risk Re- operating level and in the high water duction and Management Office headed level of 210. CALUMPIT, Bulacan - Despite by Liz Mungcal, Alvarado said that from The water level of Ipo Dam last rains brought about by the southwest 161.69 water level last Friday and 161.45 Sunday was 99.50 meters, while Bustos monsoon, the water level of Angat Dam last Saturday, the Angat Dam's water Dam was 14.80 meters. Their normal dropped to 161.34 meters on Sunday. level dropped to 161.34 meters as of 8 water levels are 100.00 meters and 17.00 Vice Governor Wilhelthino M. Sy- a.m. on Sunday. meters;.respectively. Alvarado said that with the rains, the He said, although its above the 160- Humid days ahead water elevation of Angat Dam should be meter critical level, it is still way below Warm and humid mornings STILL CRITICAL - The water level at Angat Dam continues to be closely monitored. Days of monsoon rains failed to bring the level back to normal. (EPA-EFE) Angat Dam's water... with chances of rain showers will pre- ing, the Angat Dam's level was down to vail over the entire country in the next 161.22 meters on Sunday morning, from two to three days due to the persistence 161.45 meters last Saturday. of an anti-cyclone weather system. It was above the 160-meter critical According to Philippine Atmo- level, but still way below Angat Dam's spheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical 180-meter minimum operating level and Services Administration (PAGASA) 210-meter normal high water level. weather specialist Gener Quaffing, the The National Water Resources weather bureau does not see the forma- Board (NWRD) is expecting the water tion or entry of a low-pressure area or suppy to normalize during the peak of tropical cyclone inside the country's southwest monsoon or habagat season area of responsibility until mid-week. between July and September but the The ridge of a high-pressure area, public is still encouraged to continue an anti-cyclone weather system, will conserving water to help in the Angat bring warm weather apart from isolated reservoir's water level recovery. rain showers throughout the country This month, two to three cyclones he said. usually enter or form inside the coun- However, PAGASA advised the pub- trys area of responsibility, which either lic that rains, especially during severe move west or northwest of Luzon, based thunderstorms, could trigger possible on the PAGASeYs historical record. flash floods or landslides over low-lying PAGASA said the weak El Nino epi- and mountainous areas. sode, which brought way below normal' Due to the lack of rain, Angat rainfall over most parts of the country Dam's water level further declined on will likely prevail through August, and Sunday. has a chance to continue until the end Based on the PAGASA's monitor- of 2019. UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY Malaga 131 I I PAGE LOWER mmin11011001.1 nuienitala 0 8 JUL 2019 Department of Environment and Natural Resources STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE BUSirleSS Inst DATE Angat water level on the decline anew BY VICTOR REYES DUE to minimal rainfall, water level at Angat Dam, the main source of Metro Manila's water, has been on the decline for the last three days, according to the Phil- ippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Ad- ministration. PAGASA said Angat's water level was at 161.22 meters as of 6 a.m. yesterday, down by .23 meters from last Saturday's mark. The agency's monitoring showed Angat's water level as of Saturday was at 161.45 meters, from last Fri- day's level of 161.69 meters, which was also down,. from Thursday's mark of 161.86 meters. The dam's water level rose cm June 30 up to Thursday. last week due to rains brought by the south- west monsoon, enhanced by tropi- cal depression "Egay" and other recent tropical cyclones. Before June 30, Angat's water level had been on steady decline over the past months due to the El Nino phenomenon, a develop- ment that forced authorities to implement rotational water inter- cr ruptions. Angat's current elevation is just See ANGAT > Page B2 * FROM PAGE SI, • June 29. The darn registered the ANGAT all-time lowest water level in July 1.22 meters above the critical level 2010, hitting 157.56 meters during of 160 meters. The dam's mini- a similar El Nifio phenomenon. mum operating level is 180 meters PAGASA said Metro Manila which officials may be attained if and the rest of the country will two to three tropical cyclones will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies come and bring rains. with isolated rain showers mostly Angat's all-year low level of in the afternoon or evening due to 157.96 meters was recorded last localized thunderstorms. main Vi Eli ED I= CI 6. sc:,0,,,,,,,,zicICATION UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON in STORY STORY A INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER kilit 2019 toollIME'S SERVICE te Nanita 'DM --er PAGE it Angat Darn below criticra NOT ENOUGH WATER The water level of Angst Dam remains below its minimum operating level at 180 meters prompting BY DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ water concernaires to limit water supply to its customers. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ NGAT Dam could once again slide below the critical level of 160 me- Aters if the "monsoon break" lasts for a week, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronom- ical Services Administration (Pagasa). On Sunday, Pagasa recorded saga pag-ulan sa watershed kaya Angals water level at 1.61.22 me- nagkaroon ng pagbaba mull doon ten, slightly lower than the 161.45 sa elevation ngAngat (For the past week, it is possible that Angat will is observed to help the dams re- meters the previous day. This came days, there had been no rain over the hit 160 meters again if there are cover, as they are still far from the after the southwest monsoon Angat watershed. Elevation at Angat no rains in over the watershed),. 180-meter minimum operating moved away from the country on has decreased as the rains around Abelardo added. level and the 210-meter normal Thursday, signaling the start of the the watershed have stopped)," The water level at La Mesa Dam operating level. Water concession- monsoon break. Abelardo said. in Quezon City also went down aires have implemented schedule Pagasa hydrologist Ailene Abe- 'Hong elevation na ito ay ma- slightly on Sunday at 72.36 meters. service interruptions after the lardo expects Angat's water level baba pa. So, 'Pag nagParuloY po The Angat and La Mesa Dams NWRB reduced Metro Manila to to continue declining while the ito, possible siguro, more than one supply most of the water needs of 40 cubic meters per second (cms) monioon break persists. week, bababa mutt 'yungelevation Metro Manila. allocation on lune 19 and to 36 'For the past days ices], walang niya to 160 (meters] kapag wala In light of these developments, cins on June 22. nangpag-ulan sa watershed ngAn- pang pag-ulan dun sa mismong the National Water Resources According to weather special- gat. Yung pagtaas rdya Si noong watershed (The current elevation is Board (NWRB) announced that ist Benison Estareja, the weather nakaraanglinggo debt! d'un sa mga still very low. So, if [the monsoon no adjustments would be imple- will be generally fair and that no pag-ulan sa area, and nagstop 'yung breaki persists for more than one mented until a steady increase heavy rains were expected across the country for the next few and that it e, was uncertain when th Meanwhile, water le;ls— southwest monsoon would return. of the other dams in Windi po Benin also in Luzon have ma-a-aassure also decreased except for the oghan Ambuklao soon break and San Roque and s(nosk, npehnd twehu d eal ' Magat Dams, which increased by sgWa ea tiPmagesel rat ;n ll 0.0.5 sonan: _12ctg ediPsahYl 11 PallMpati a meters, 0.02 meters, meters and 0.37 respectWely. On g (hung& Sunday or pwedeng water level at /po was recorded at sure 99.50 meters, Ambuk/ao at 741.86 Willma last, meters, Binga at 569.69 meters, 11171 blanutgthcbe0n(We San.Roque ar Southwcannmoreest 232.21 soon is currently in the West Philip-op-t meters, Pan- tabangan at 191.24 meters and pine Sea So, it could come near or Magat at 181.20 meters. stay out there)," Estareia said WITH REPORTS F FRANCIS EARL RON, CUETO ra STRATEGIC e UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STOP Y STORY INITIATIVES PAGE IIMIMIallir" SERVICE 08 JUL nig TITLE: PAGE If DATE FORECAST PAGASA SEES FAIR WEATHER FOR MOST OF THE WEEK By Jhesset 0. Enano cal level of 16o meters, but were forecast to affect the VhessetEnanoINQ rainfall brought by Tropical, country in the next 4 days, Pa- DePression "Egay" and the gasa said in a weekly weather The low-pressure area off southwest monsoon, or "haba- outlook posted on its website. Palawan has dissipated and the gat," helped the dam's water to But a moderate surge of the ridge of a high-pressure area top the critical level. southwest monsoon will bring will bring generally fair weath- However, the water level cloudy skies and scattered er for most of the week, the is still far from its minimum rainshowers and thunder- Philippine Atmospheric, Geo- operating level of 18o meters, storm over Zambales and the physical and Astronomical Ser- and Manila Water said rota- western section of northern vices Administration (Pagasa) tional water service interrup- Luzon. said on Sunday. tions for its customers will The rest of the country will /With the absence of rain, continue. be partly cloudy to cloudy the water level in Angat Dam, "Customers may continue with isolated rainshowers or Metro Manila's main source of to experience low water pres- thunderstorms. water, has dipped to 161.22 me- sure to no water because of By Thursday and Friday, Pa- ters at 6 am. of Sunday, from emergency adjustments being gasa expects the southwest 161.45 meters on Saturday undertaken due to low reser- monsoon to weaken temporar- morning. voir levels," Manila Water said ily with the ridge of a high- The dam's water level had in a Facebook post. pressure area becoming the earlier dipped below the criti- No weather disturbances dominant weather system. INQ STRATEGIC I 4/A I • PAGEEl I I=BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON UPPER COMMUNICATION STORY STORY „....01:MMLINI INITIATIVES PAGE TOWER ISISR....1Mit Ima••ir SERVICE TITLE: PAGE I/ ESTADO NC ANGAT NG INVONc. DAM AT SITWASYON LINGKOD NC TUBIG ANG antas ng tubig ng Angat soon, kaya isinasaalang-alang DR. HILDA C. WIG Darn noong ka-4 ng Hulyo na walang masyadong ulan (8:00AM) ay nasa 161.85 sa timog-kanluran mula Hulyo magtaposngtaong ib at mad- gay ng dalawang bagong metro, mas tumaas ng ba- 3 hanggang Hulyo 16. gum kaya itong matustusan grants na nagIcakahalaga ng hadya tatIong metro kaysa sa Ang pagpapanatili rig 36 ang mga multi-requirement Php20 milyon upang makatu- pinakamababang elevation sa metro kubiko Rada segundo pea sa domestic supply, patu- long sa pagprotekta at pagpa- taong bp. Nakabawi Ito noong aJokasyon para sa buwan ng big at enerhiya, hindi twang panatili ng kapaligiran sa da- nakaraang linggo dahiLtu- Hulyo ay bang paraan upang para sa taong ito, dapat may gat ng Pihpinas. loy-tuloy ang mabigat na ulan matiyak na ang deposit° ng sapat na supply hanggang sa Mg Deputy Chief of Mis- sa mismong lugar ng Angat tubig o natitirang tubig mula sa unang kalahati ng 2020. sion ng US Embassy sa Pi- Dam. Angat Dam ay mai-secure Ayon kay Dr. Sevillo Da- tipinas na siJohn law at DENR Gayunman, ang Techni- ang pangangailangan lab na vid, Jr. Executive Director ng Undersecretary Benny Anti- cal Working Group sa Angat sa domestic use at sa patubig NWRB, ang label ng tubig as porda ang mangunguna sa Darn Reservoir Operations ay para sa natitirang bahagi ng of July 6, 6am ay nasa 161.45, pagbibigay ng mga gawad sa nagpasyang panatilihin ang taon. Kung patuloy ang pag- bahagyang bumaba dahil mga bkal na organisasyon sa paglalaan ng 36 metro kubiko taas ng label ng tubig, ang masyadong maulan sa may ika-9 ng Hulyo, magsisimula kada segundo (CMS) sa Met- alokasyon ay iakma nang lug& ng Angat Dam. Angie-- ng 10:00 to 11:00 ng umaga ropolitan Waterworks and naaayon. bel ng tubig sa Ipo Dam ay sa Bukvagang Ninoy Aquino Sewerage System (MWSS) Ito ay isang prayoriciadng nasa 99.56m at 72.38m sa La ng DENR Biodiversity Ma- para sa domestic water sup- technical working group na Mesa Dam. nagement Bureau sa Quezon ply sa Metro Manila ngayong binubuo ng National Water -oo0oo- City. buvian ng Hulyo. Resources Board (NWRB), US. GOVERNMENT Ang mga gawad ay ba- Mg kasalukuyang antas MWSS at mga konsesyonar- AWARD NEW GRANTS hagi ng United States Agency ay medyo mababa at malayo yo nito, National Inigation Ad- FOR for International Develop- sa 180 meters minimum ope- ministration (NIA), National REDUCING PLASTIC ment's (USAID) Municipal rating water level (MOWL). Power Corporation (N PC). at WASTE IN PHILIPPINE Waste Recycling Program na Tulad ng iniulat ng Philippine Angat Hydropower Corpora- OCEANS sumusuporta sa solid waste Atmospheric, Geophysical tion (ARC), sib ang naatasan Ang U.S. Embassy sa Pi- management at water re- and Astronomical Services pamahalaan ang tubig sa lipinai at ang Department of cycling efforts ng mga kasa- Administration(PAGASA),mas Angat Darn upang matiyak na Environment and Natural Re- ping bansa, kabilang ang Pi- hihina ang southwest mon- may na sapat na tubig bago sources (DENR) ay magbibi- hpinas. STRATEGIC THE RHII_IPPINE I /1 UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY STORY INITIATIVES Li PAGE LOWER IMOMISIIIIF SERVICE 08 JUL ?nig PAGE I/ DATE Utilizing waterways The government is service between Sang- speeding up the de- EDITORIAL ley and Metro Manila, velopment of Sangley ranarsomma6emairairmerrau integrated with the Airport in Cavite to Pasig River ferry ser- absorb general aviation and certain vice, which is being revived. Ferry domestic flights from the congested service can ease traffic congestion in Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Metro Manila, but the Pasig River The next problem that must be con- and Manila Bay have yet to be fully fronted is transporting plane passen- utilized for this purpose. gers from Sangley to Metro Manila Ten agencies are currently work- and nearby destinations. ing on the Pasig River Convergence Sangley, where the Philippine Air Program, with P2 billion allotted Force has a' base, is located on the this year for reviving the river ferry northern tip of the Cavite peninsula. service. Seventeen stations are being The Manila-Cavite Expressway or constructed, in addition to the 12 al- CAVITEX, which connects Las Films ready operational along the 25-kilo- to Bacoor City and Kawit in Cavite meter stretch of the river from Manila over Bacoor Bay, has drastically cut to Marikina. Smaller commuter boats travel time between the two points, are also being procured. although the toll of P60 for just 'Like trains, ferry services have 14 kilometers has kept away most the advantage of being unimpeded motorists, and traffic remains heavy by road traffic. They can also dra- along the old highway. From the matically cut travel time between CAVITEX exit in Kawit, however, it two points. People can commute to will be a slog to Sangley, with traffic jobs and schools in Metro Manila, for also heavy on Cavite roads. example, even if they live in Bataan If the government wants to maxi- if there is an efficient ferry service in mize the use of Sangley as a secondary Manila Bay. airport, it must be developed into an Traveling to and from Sangley integrated transportation hub. Pro- Airport will be faster and can even viding train and point-to-point bus be enjoyable on a ferry through the services for plane passengers going to bay. Ferry stations can alsb stimulate Metro Manila and neighboring areas commercial activity. Waterways are must be considered, even if such proj- underutilized for mass transporta- ects may take years to finish. tion in crowded Metro Manila. The One proposal that can be realized mega city and Sangley can use a ferry in a shorter time is a commuter boat service. STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY INMATIVES PAGE SERVICE s'Ta '08 HINDSIGHT JUL ?niq DATE F. SIONIL JOSE • Why plant a tree h, those venerable Chinese five years old and still had not borne any sages, their standards are so fruit, I told it: If this year you still have no Ahigh and they are so demand- fruit, I'll cut you down. Sure enough, it ing. They say one is not a man until he did bear fruit, and with such abundance has achieved three goals - sired a son, that there was more than enough to written a book, and planted a tree. give to neighbors and friends. The fruit, But as that poet Joyce Kilmer said, greenish-maroon and as big as an apple, "Only God can make a tree." is sweeter than the native variety. Whatever, I think these perilous In the village where I grew up, the times demand that each of us plant a tallest tree was the Dalipawen. It had a tree. trunk three times thicker than that of a I read in the papers the other day coconut, and it was much taller, too, than that the denudation of the moun- the coconut, with short branches at the tains forming the watershed of the very top. Its flowers have a strong scent. Angat Dam, Manila's main source of Martins made their nests at the top and, water, has caused the water short- at night, fireflies ignited it. age in Manila. Again, this illustrates Spirits were supposed to live in the the wanton nature of Filipinos, how tree and, every so often, when someone we have become our worst enemy. A got sick in the vicinity, prayers and of- national effort now to plant trees not ferings were made to it. The atang or of- only in the Angat area but elsewhere fering was usually a plate of gelatinous is perhaps a little too late. Alternative rice cooked in coconut oil, and topped sources of water must either be found with a hard-boiled egg, betel nut, and or constructed immediately and will, a hand-rolled cigar. After the devotee of course, be very expensive. had left we kids feasted on the atang, Trees, water - they are so vital in daring the spirit of the tree to make us life. Now and all through history, ill. It never did. agrarian societies instinctively know Way back in the 1950s, as the Baguio why trees are important. The Ilokanos visitor climbed up Kennon Road, they almost always surround their houses were greeted with the scent of pine per- with marunggay or fruit trees. Legend fuming the air. Baguio then had so many has it that one of the first Ilokano im- pine trees, which have since been felled migrants to Hawaii brought with him but not replaced. The Baguio govern- a marunggay stick, claiming it was a ment is now engaged in replanting. But cane. He plailted it, and that explains it's not Baguio only that needs replanting the abundance of marunggay trees in but also the entire Cordillera range. those islands. The preservation of our forests is Marunggay leaves are now eStab- the responsibility of the Department of lished as one of the best sources of the Environment and Natural Resources. It minerals that the body needs. Way back is hampered by corruption and incompe- in the 1950s, when I was traveling all tence, its forest guards often threatened over Mindanao, much of that island and killed. The present DENR Secretary, was forested. I went up the Agusan retired General Roy Cimatu, needs as- River to see huge forest trees had been sistance and more champions like Gina cut down and floated down the river as Lopez. Espousing tree planting brings logs, for direct export to Japan. Some neither votes nor money. Filipinos got rich despoiling our natu- The Balete is an unusual tropical tree ral resources without replanting the native to SoutheastAsia. Its scientific name barren land. It was the same in North- is Ficus Benjamina Linn. I used it as a motif ern Luzon. And so today, our forest and symbol in my novel, Tree. A story of cover is a mere 20 percent. growing up in a small Filipino town, Tree is The Japanese, a very disciplined people, the second novel in terms of chronology take good care of their forests and trees. of the five-novel Rosales saga. For centuries, they have always used wood The Balete Tree grows as a slender for their houses and their magnificent sapling. I don't know where they come temples. In fact, the use of wood defines from but soon vines surround the sap- and gives character to their architecture. ling. They grow big, close in on the Very old trees, some several hundred years sapling, eventually suffocating it. The old, still stand in that country, the object of vines then become the trunk of the tree much love and veneration. itself, for which reason the Balete is In contrast, we have very few old often called the strangler tree. It is an trees. Three of them - all acacias - were apt and fitting symbol for people and in Padre Faura, in Ermita, Manila. Dur- for institutions, even for nations, that ing the liberation of Manila, they were are strangled to death by impoverish- blasted by cannon fire. A couple of them ment and decay. simply rotted with age and neglect, and The Balete Tree is indeed an object fell last year. metaphor for so many of us, and particu- Sometime back, the agriculture cham- larly for our leaders who, when elected, pion and guru, Zacarias Sarian, gifted me start green with promise and noble with a macopa sapling from Malaysia. intentions. But within a few years, they The tamarind and jackfruit trees I had are surrounded by panderers, by hypoc- planted in my yard had to be cut down risies, and by grasping, greedy friends when my wife enlarged the house to fit and relatives. They are then strangled, . our seven children. I planted the sapling never realizing they had betrayed not in a hole about more than a foot deep. just themselves but also their country. It grew quickly, and when it reached STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PER RAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY INITIATIVES EOPLES JOURNAL PAGE LOWER SERVICE p Ever ybody's Newspaper TITLE PAGE I/ 08 IA alg Poison in our midst NAPAULAT ang usok-lason po- ronmental experts such as Dr. Jorge lusyonna gating sa bansang Tsina BANGON KALIKASAN Emmanuel and others. This is just na tinangay ng "taught papurttang an unsolicited advice for the good 'locos Norte, ayon sa isang pag- mayor. aural na ginawa ng UP Diliman. The company needs to continu- Ito ay lawn. ously haul garbage to have enough Bago ito, may pag-aaral din na from which to get methane to gen- inilabasna hindina ligtas ang hang- erate enough electricity and make ing hinihinga ng mga nakatira sa the business viable. When the exist- Kamaynilaan. Hindi ba matagal na ing garbage is processed, more itong nangyayari lcaya hincli nga garbage will be needed and if the tumitigil ang ubot't sipon ng mga garbage from Baguio will not be Filipino? enough, other local governments Sumunod naman ang ulat na ng mga eksperto sa rain catching might seek to bring their garb-age kailangan ng trilyong puno sa technology at baka puwedeng to Baguio. buong mundo ang dapat itanirn gawin ang sistemang ito sa larger Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon upang malabanan ang palubha scale? City should also think a million nang palubhang global warming. Umangat na raw sa critical level times before considering an incin- Matagal nang ginagawa ito ngunit ang tubig sa Angat Dam. Ibig erator also in the dosed Payatas 'di naman mapigilan ng parnaha- sabihey bumuti na. Ngunit marami garbage dumpsite which the previ- laan ang illegal logging hanggang pa raw walang tubig ang mga gripo ous administration entered into ngayon. Pati mga watershed ay nila sailangbahagingMetroManila. with a local company. It is also inaangkin ng mga magnanalcaw Marami nang naglalako nang dubbed as "waste-to-energy" or ng lupa! "waste-to-energy"sa mga bagong an incinerator in disguise. Tag-ulan na naman sa Pilipirtas upong pirtuno ng lokal na pamaha- What I humbly suggest is mas- ngunitnapalcainit,napaka-alinsan- laan. Ang Baguio City ay inalok na sive composting of bio-waste and gan pa rin ng panahon. Sa Metro ng isang kumpanyang Haport. Hin- strict compliance withRepublic Act Manila, may tatlong bahagyartg di raw burn technology ang 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste malalakas rtgunit sandali lamang produkto nila. Ngunit ang tawag Management Act of 2000 and the na Tllanangdumalaw samgakalun- nila sa kanilang incinerator ay Clean Air Act. RA 9003 invokes surang ito. waste-to-energy. waste prevention and reduction Madalas na marinig na kailan- Mga halo-halong basura magig- through household- and barangay- gan daw na sa tnismong Angat ing enerhiya? Is it clean energy, based segregation and compost- Dam dapat burnagsak ang malala- tomodachi? I don't think so. How ing—environment-friendlypractic- kas na ulan. Kailangan bang "iu- can mixed, dirty garbage release es which "waste-to-energy" facili- rong" ang Angat Dam sa Metro clean energy? ties would diecourage. Manila kung may malalcas na pag- Baguio City Mayor Benjie Mag- The other young new mayors ulan na mararanasan ang Kamay- along should think ten times before should be careful with "waste-to- rtilaan? Lintik naman! he accepts the offer of the Japanese energy" peddlers. Hindi ba puwedeng pag-aaralan company. He should talk to envi- ([email protected]) STRATEGIC Li igah DANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON PPP PAGE I COMMUNICATION STORY STORY INITIATIVES LOWER IMII.M.1.1 SERVICE Nms.". 08 JUL 7019 TIRE: PAGE I/_ DATE Boracay bridge deal inches closer By Miguel R. Camus nounced that SMC, a food, land, but will be provided with emiguelrcamusINQ drinks and infrastructure giant, loading/unloading areas on both had submitted all the required ends to process the movement of Conglomerate San Miguel Corp.'s documents for the bridge pro- commuters, solid waste, goods (SMC) offer to build a bridge to ject. The DPWH's certification and supplies," the DPWH said. Boracay Island could soon move was made on Jan. 29, 2019. The project will cost P9.48 bil- forward with a key endorsement The project was described as lion, including right-of-way, and from the Department of Public a "ted access bridge infras- will be undertaken by San Miguel Works and Highways (DPWH). tructure project" that would link Holdings Corp., SMC's infrastruc- SMC is clue to bag an original the main island of Panay in ture arm. proponent status from the DP- Malay, Aldan and Boracay, a SMC also operates the Bora- WH within this quarter, said an popular destination for local and cay Airport in Panay through official with knowledge of the international visitors that was concession-holder TransAire De- matter. closed for six months last year velopment Holdings Corp. As original proponent, SMC under a rehabilitation program SMC Holdings' other assets will have the right to match bet- ordered by President Duterte. include toll roads such as the ter offers and win the project in a The project is not meant to South Luzon Expressway, Metro Swiss Challenge process. The significantly increase the tourist Manila Skyway, Naia Expressway, company will also need to obtain load in the island but to instead Star Tollway and the Tarlac Pan- the final approval from the board allow the easier flow of supplies gasinan La Union Expressway. Its of the National, Economic and and the removal of waste. other projects include the Bula- Development Authority, which is "The bridge is not envisioned can Bulk Water project, the Metro chaired by President Duterte. to cater to vehicular through- Rail Transit Line 7 and the Manila The DPWH previously an- traffic, so as not to congest the is- North Harbor project INQ I:2( IA I I UPPER PAGE I WRIER EIMOMAI CAM nfiSA,1/2jfii-wQ-0-01- ti4 ixr0110,131-71-ri I I 910nT MOM 81/1111E 1d11111 PAGE WWM 08 JUL 7r" eportment RI EnvIr Oil lie nI cod No tur nI Rowwoes MANILAPBULLETIN RATEME COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE TII1 NATJON'S LEADING NEWSPAPER DATE Second mining audit still pending By MADELMNE B. MIRAFLOR is out, the MICC — led by the Department of Environment and The second round of Natural Resources (DENR) and government-led mining audit, the Department of Finance (DOE) which aims to go after big mining — will start drafting the work plan companies, already has a budget for the mining audit. butthememorandumof agreement The DENR and the DOF are (MOA) between the Mining expected to release PIO million Industry Coordinating Council each to carry the review. (MICC) and the Development A DENR official said before Academy of the Philippines (DAP) that budget was "holding the is still being finalized. continuation" of the audit "The discussion with DAP During the first round of is still ongoing," Environment MICC-led mining audit, the DOF Undersecretary for Mining requested a budget of P50 million Concerns Analiza Rebuelta-Teh from the Department of Budget said. "We will know the start date and Management (DBM) for the of the audit as soon as the MOA conduct of the review with DAP is finalized". As much as 17 mining lb recall, MICC has also tapped. companies will be reviewed in the the expertise of DAP to implement second batch of MICC audit. Of and manage the review process this, 12 mining companies already for the 26 mines ordered closed passed the audit carried by Lopez or suspended under the term of in 2016. former Environment Secretary Based on the list provided by Regina Paz Lopez. the DENR, mining companies Aside from handling the review, to be reviewed in the second DAP also facilitated the screening round of audit include Philex of consultants and experts who Mining Corporation, Agate Mining comprised the members of the Ventures, Inc., Rio Tuba Nickel five technical review teams (TRTs) Mining Corporation, SR Metals, that assessed various aspects of Inc., Apex Mining Company, the mining operations that were Cagdianao Mining Corporation, under scrutiny and Atlas Consolidated Mining Teh said that once the MOA and Development Corporation. [ [ UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY etik LOWER 08 JUL 7019 Department of Environment and Natural Resources STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION INITIATIVES SERVICE Isko pinuri ng DILG sa bagong programa at polisya sa Maynila PINURI ni Interior Secre- na kalsada sa Maynila, na kthirapan ang pinaka- tary Eduardo Alto ang gayondin ang pagpapa- malaking hamon para sa mahigpit na pagpapa- tupad ng iba pang kam- administrasyon ni Moreno tupad ni Manila City panya. dahil sa dami ng illegal Mayor Isko Moreno sa Kabilang rito ang settlers sa Maynila. mga bagong polisya at pagtanggal sa illegal Kaugnay nito nana- patakarart sa siyudad. street vendors sa Divi- wagan si Atio kay Moreno Ayon sa kalihim, soria, waste management na makiisa sa Manila Bay niagandang simula ang program, at kampanya rehabilitation program paggamit ni Moreno sa kontra ilegal na pagsu- dahil karantihan sa water- Inahigpit na political will sugal. ways na dinaraanan ngpo- para linisin ang rnasisikip Aminado ang kalihim lusyon ay nasa Mayru4. 6. iii s I RATECIIC BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON ( .11BISIIINICATION STORY STORY ....,...,„, INITIATIVES ...... 0....."0 SERVICE PAGE LOWER Pa34 Pte 08 JUL ?Mg DATE PAGE I/ BAGONG MUKHA NC MAYNILA SA Ni: Mb UNANG LINGGO NI MAYOR ISKO Billones Hwy° 1 Matapos a ng kanyang Hulyo 2 State of the City Address, agad Sinuyod ni Mayor Isko ang Divisoria na pinaldlos ni Moreno ang mga para tiyaking walang nakabalandrang tauhan upang linisin ang alga ba- mga vendor sa kalsada. Ibinunyag din niya sura sa Lawton. Umabot sa 20 truck na may nag-alok sa lcanya ng PS milyon ng basura ang nahakot sa tinawag na lcapalitng pagpayag niy-ang malcaball ang bagong Smokey Mountain. mga vendor sa mga kadsada ng lungsod. Iprinisinta niya sa media aug dalawang nagpapakilalnng empleyado diumano ng dry hail na nangongotong sa alga vendor sa lumentritt sa Sta. Cruz. Ganut angpekeng resibo, naniningil ng P35 kada vendor sina Wilma Cortez, secre- ngBagong Maynila Develop at Jeffree Solomon, dahil umano sa utos ng karulang organizer na si 'Puzon'. Hulyo 4 Binisita ni Moreno ang Manila ZOO at tiniyak - nitong makildpag-ugnayan sila sa Department - of Environment and Natural Resources para * mull itong mabulcsan sa publiko. Ibinigay din nito sa mga nakakulong na ha- rp ang mahigit 400 kilo ng botcha na nalcum piska sa Paco market. Hulyo 5 Muting hinawakan ni Moreno ang maso para wasakin naman ang is- truktura na nakahambalang sa side- walk at nahaharangan din umano ang estatwa ni Roman Ongpin sa Binondo. Hzd3 Pinangunahan ng aficalde kasama Si Ma- nila P/BGen. Danao artg pdgwasak sa higit 70 video katCta na nakumptslca sa lungsod. Nakipagdiyalogo si Moreno sa mga vendor na naapektuhan ng clearing opera- tion. Nangako Ito na may nalcahanda Sang rograma para sa Icanilang ilcabubuhay na aindi naman masisira ang Maynila. Hulyo 6 Binuo nag Manila Public Information Office complaint desk fining saan maaaring magsumbong ang mga residence. Isang linggo pa lang ang nalcahlipas pero naisakatuparan ng ;amide ang mkaboary na hindi umano nagawa ng mga nagda- tang lider ng I . Nagpasalamat ito sa mga suportang tinatanggap nila Icasabay ng pangakong hindi siya mananawa sa pagpapatupad rig mga pagbabago. Para sa video ng report kaugnay sa mga unang linggo ni oreno bilang alkalde, pumunta sa website ng Abante at nip media account nito. EJEflJ ela STRATEGIC UPPIEX PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY COMMUNICATION LOWER INITIATIVES ;arida Zitile5 PAGE M.ISIMPSIMIM.gmiar SERVICE flit 08 JUL zolg DATE PAGE IL Tarlac residents say'No' to cement factory BAMBAN, Tarlac: At least 4,000 here Big Boss Cement Factory in Sitio will suffer," Figueroa said. staged a massive protest over the Panadaldtan in Barangay Dela Cruz. The area where the proposed weekend against a proposed cement She said they were not against cement factory will be built was factory, citing the risk it would pose progress, but putting the health of once an irrigated rice field that was to the environment and the health of their children at risk and the envi- said to have been reclassified as an residents, especially children. ronment in danger would push them industrial zone. Diane Figueroa, president of the to "go out and show our resistance." Residents are also worried about Concerned Citizens of Bamban, led "Once that cement factory is es- the dangers the factory could bring the protest against the operation of tablished, the children of Bambang to nearby agricultural areas and the risk it would pose to their health cement company was allowed to since the factory will be just about construct its facilities. 300 meters from their residences. Bamban officials have yet to Meanwhile, the Department of make a statement on the issue. The Environment and Natural Resources Manila Times has been trying to get will hold a public consultation as a the comments of the owner of Big result of the series of protests. Boss Cement Factory, but he has not Reports have it that there was replied as of this writing. no public consultation before the JERRY M. HERNANDEZ air&STRATEGIC UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY STORY INITIATIVES PAGE TOWER 111.11.1.1lainiff SERVICE Eimmil"—els"mr 08 JUL mg TITLE : PAGE I/ DATE 59.7B sachets may soon flood Metro Coalition warns that lack of laws reducing consumption of single-use plastics may leave residents drowning in garbage By Mari* S. Ramos The total number of sachets of our legislators, even the execu- @MariejoRamosINQ generated in a year alone could tive [department], have been cir- leave Metro Manila's 63,600 cumventing existing laws because If policymakers do not push for hectares under a foot deep of they benefit from the garbage and a legislative agenda to reduce sachets, said Beau Baconguis, plastic problem," he added. consumption of single-use plas- GALA regional plastics coordi- tics, Metro Manila will soon be nator who presented the report Incineration not the solution drowning in 59.7 billion plastic during a forum in Quezon City For Paul Comet, an Ameri- sachets, a coalition of environ- on Friday. can environmental chemistry mental groups has warned. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos and toxicology expert, incinera- A plastic waste generation Zarate pledged to prioritize the tion was not a sustainable solu- data report from the Global Al- zero waste vision in the itith tion to the country's waste dis- liance for Incinerator Alterna- Congress, but he said he would posal problem. tives (GAIA) showed that daily, need to build alliances with Connett said that there were the Philippines generated more similar-minded legislators. associated risks that could arise than 163 million sachets, 48 mil- "We hope we can craft legisla- from current waste incinerator lion carrier bags, 45 million tive measures to protect our envi- proposals in Cebu, Davao, translucent or film bags and 3 ronment. We really have to con- Baguio and Quezon City. million disposable diapers. front this problem because some "If a politician in the Philip- pines talks about sustainability, message of Zero waste," he said. paign manager of No Burn Pilip- talks about the need to shift to a Connett is in the country for inas, said they welcomed the circular economy, he cannot a week-long lecture series on pronouncement of local chief and should not talk about incin- emerging technologies on zero executives in Manila, Man- eration. That's pretty straight- waste management, which aims daluyong, Las Piiias and Pasay forward," he stressed. to engage lawmakers, local offi- to prioritize waste management Connett instead pushed for cials, lawyers and academicians in their respective areas. community responsibility—or on the issue. "We have high hopes that practicing reduce, reuse, recy- these newly elected mayors will cle/compost—and industrial Devastating effect uphold the Ecological Waste responsibility, which includes "It's not a question of going to Management Act and the Clean redesigning the processing and Manila Bay and taking all the plas- Air Act in their pursuit to addresS packaging of products. tics out there and taking them to a the garbage woes. We also hope "The trend in the 21st centu- landfill to be fed to incinerators. the others will follow suit and not ry is not to find better ways to No. The solution is to stop making succumb to quick fix and false sci= destroy discarded materials but plastics which have no value and lutions being peddled by compa- to stop making packaging and will only end up in rivers—to dev- nies proposing waste-to-energy products that have to be de- astating effect," he said. incineration facilities in the coun- stroyed—and that is the central Glenn Ymata, senior cam- ty," he added. INQ STRATEGIC I • 1 UPPER PAGEL BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 111 A- .4 STORY STORY ...... „..... I NITINT'll'ES PAGE LOWER ....J.'Te SIOIVICE -.... 08 JUL 71110 DATE EDITORIAL' Timely legislation ENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has materials, because waste importers used them as an filed a bill seeking to ban the importation of excuse to seek permission to S waste to the Philippines, a timely measure in bring their garbage into the the wake of recent events that show the country has country. Under the proposed law, all become a dumping ground for garbage generated by waste imports must be returned other nations. immediately to its country of origin at the expense of the In 2013, for example, a private Other countries such as consignor or importer. Canadian company shipped 103 Australia, South Korea, Hong The group Global Alliance containers with about 2,500 Kong, and Japan have also made for Incinerator Alternatives tons of waste—mislabeled the country "a cross-boundary (GAIA) observes that countries, as recycling plastics—to the disposal site" of unwanted and especially in Southeast Asia, Philippines. Customs inspection, toxic garbage. that do not have policies banning however, revealed that two-third "These incidents indicate that we imports of plastic waste are at of the shipment to be ordinary have become a dumping ground risk of being toxic dumpsites. household garbage, including for waste generated by other A report released in April electronic waste and used diapers. nations. We must fix our laws that 2019 shows plastic waste from Efforts to send back the garbage allowed that to happen," Drilon highly-industrialized nations are took all of six years and put a strain said. "We must then prohibit the rerouted to developing countries on diplomatic relations between importation of all kinds of waste after China imposed a ban on the Philippines and Canada, whose or scrap including recyclable importing and processing plastic government seemed in no hurry to materials. We should never allow waste in 2018. take back the waste. In the end, the our country to be a dumpsite." Greenpeace, meanwhile, reports Philippines prevailed and most of Senate Bill No. 18, or the 178.88 patent jump in trash the waste material was shipped "Waste Importation Ban Act of imports to the Philippines from back to Canada, but only after 2019," imposes hefty fines of up 2017 to 2018—indicating that the fetid garbage languished in a to P15 million and jail terms of the time for legal and institutional Philippine port for six years, and up to 12 years to make shipping action is now. We trust the 18th 34 containers had been disposed garbage to the Philippines a most Congress gives this environmental of locally, despite the objections costly proposition. protection measure the priority it of local environment groups. The bill also targets recyclable deserves. STRATEGIC UPPER PAGE I BANNER COMMUNICATION Manila 10 STORY STORY „..,,,,o,t,!!! INITIATIVES LOWER SERVICE Standard. 08 JUL 7m9 DATE TIRE 11410-9 t,t(FIPrf) PAGE 1/ 21)- STRATEGIC I IX 1=1 UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION Ma STORY STORY L,...asesthe INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER SI/RVICE Standaid -0 8 JUL 7019 TITLE: PAGE I/ DATE AUL. Natives of Nasugbu gather fine lack sand using improvised rafts. These will e sold to nearby gravel and sand dealers at. n Poll In.Batarvas.E Arzisio *er STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY El PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION SW* ; h STORY STORY INITIATIVES /N. PAGE LOWER wsOmor SERVICE INQUIRER 08 AIL nig PAGE I/ DATE Junior lawmakers urged to support bid to oust Duterte By Jhesset 0. Enano Section 21 of the 1987 Constitu- be endorsed to Senate. Under @JhessetEnanoINQ tion, which states that no the 18th Congress, this trans- treaty or international agree- lates to at least lot lawmakers. A militant fisherfolk group has ment shall be valid and effec- Mr. Duterte has threatened called on junior lawmakers to tive, unless concurred by at to jail anyone who would seek support their bid to impeach least two-thirds of the Senate. his ouster. President Duterte, whom they The administration's failure He has repeatedly defended accused of violating the Con- to protect its waters, particular- his softened stance against stitution with his alleged ver- ly the EEZ, was also in violation Beijing's aggression as his way bal deal with Chinese President of the government's duty as to steer the country away from Xi finping that supposedly al- stated in Article 12, Section 2. war, although Beijing has yet to lowed Chinese fishermen in "This treasonous verbal categoricailly say if such con- the countty's exclusive eco- agreement between Mr. Duterte flict will indeed arise between nomic zone (EEZ). and Xi has resulted to intensified the two nations. harassment among the Filipino Violation of Constitution fishers, massive poaching within ,/Writ of kalilcasan Fernando Hicap, former our fishing territory and environ- Despite the threat, Hicap Anakpawis party list represen- mental plunder and destruction said they would proceed with tative and now Pamalakaya na- of our resource-rich West Philip- the filing of the impeachment tional chair, said his group pine Sea by China? Hicap said. complaint to preserve the re- would lead the filing of an im- maining resources in the West peachment complaint against Sovereign rights Philippine Sea amid the Mr. Duterte when the 18th "We call on the newly elect- Duterte administration's ne- Congress convenes on July 22. ed representatives in Congress glect to protect it. The complaint, he said, will to stand with the Filipino Another group of Filipino be for the President's violation fisherfolk in upholding our fisherfolk had filed a petition of the Constitution, treason and sovereign and territorial rights for writ of kalikasan and writ betrayal of public trust by and to hold President Duterte of continuing mandamus be- "compromising the West accountable:" fore the Supreme Cuurt, seek- Philippine Sea and the rights of The votes of at least a third ing protection for the country's the Filipino fisherfolk to China." of the members of the House of territorial waters while simi- Pamalakaya said the alleged Representatives are needed for larly accusing the administra- verbal deal violated Article 7, an impeachment complaint to tion of neglect. INQ eiva STRATEGIC E:1 LIJ UPPER PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY STORY INITIATIVES A PAGE Ilm.10.1.111". SERVICE 08 JUL 2019 PAGE I / DATE FROM ISLAND RECLAMATIONS TO ILLEGAL FISHING TO MISSILE TESTING-WHAT'S NEXT? THE report about the missile testing of sources? Will we let them continue to rob China in the West Philippine Sea is quite us of about P33.1 billion annually from the disturbing. This action is beyond inter- damaged reef ecosystems at Panatag (Scar- national norms and must be stopped borough) Shoal and the Spratly Islands, soonest The Chinese do not own that mainly due to China's reclamation activi- area. The international community ties and illegal fishing operations? should not be silent on this development Are we going to close our eyes and let that was done on Philippine waters. This them continue with these violations? Are is not disputed anymore, because there's we frightened by the fact that they already a ruling by The Hague that the Philip- have missiles in our territory? I myself do pines owns that territory. not have anything in mind that can stop From the ramming incident of the Fil- Chinese poachers; what I have right now is ipino fishing boat in Recto Bank, to illegal the desire to express a stand to protect our fishing operations, and now this missile territory and let the authorities, the leaders test A lot is at stake here—not only the of this nation, make the necessary actions, state of aquatic resources but the damage which is their duty. They are the ones man- to Filipino lives and livelihoods. dated by our Constitution to protect our And yet the Philippine government has sovereignty. made no concrete actions on this matter. At the end of the day, an ordinary citi- Yes, we have the Coast Guard and Navy pa- zen like me can only submit these concerns trolling in the area. But how about being to the hands of our almighty God. clear about our international policies, if there are any? Are we simply going to REGINE AGAPAY, watch Chinese poachers destroy our re- [email protected] STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY 1 CI UPPERPAGE I BANNER EDIIORIM CAMOON COMMUNICATION ARODIMINIIIIM4(104kftOt ' n STORY STORY a INITIATIVES i PAGE LOWER 1111001101.11.1.11.`11M110111111r SERVICE INQUIRER 08 JUL Z019 — - GREEN TO GRIM The rolling hills in Capes town, Tarlac province, home of the Aeta for generations, are disfigured by heavy equipment carving a golf course as part o She state-initiated R607-billion "smart green" metropolis dubbed New Clark City. -KATHLEEN LEI LIMAY 0/ CONTMEIMOR STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY EPEE PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMM UNICATION ASII01110; Alb STORY STORY AFIVES PAGE LOWER MENNINEE.MMW Si . inici INQUIRER 0,8 JUL ?019 PAGE I/ DATE P607-B Clark I/1 green city' to displace Aeta communities DisFacement is imminent Development aggression for the people who have tilled adding: "Acting on both disaster SPECIAL REPORT But Andre Ortega a research the land for decade, exposing and climate risks also presents fellow from UG who did a field them to the same disasters the an opportunity to improve food investigation of ' areas covered By Mariejo S. Ramos NCC is being built to withstand. and water security, secure and Krixia Subingsubing livelihoods and spur both sus- by the NCC, said the project was a classic case of development @Teaminquirer P607-13 metropolis tainable development and eco- aggression. Located at the Clark Special nomic growth." Satellite images would bear (First of two parts) Freeport Zone in Capas and. That's also the impetus that him out. In the course of 18 Bamban, the NCC is a P607-bil- drives the NCC, Dizon said. Ap- months, NCC contractors man- The plains and mountains of lion metropolis touted as the proved in 2015 during President aged to turn hectares of green Capas, Tarlac, are tied to the country's first "climate-change Benign° Aquino ill's term, the into concrete. stories of the Hungey, said to be resilient" city. project is expected to complete It's why Ortega and his team the oldest Aeta tribe in the This resilience is rooted in Phase i in time for its hosting of began countermapping the de- province. • the master plan governing the the Southeast Asian Games in velopment in November 2018, Casimira Maniego, 68, NCC's entire economy, said November. peeling back the towns' geo- looked out at the fields outside Vince Dizon, chair of the Bases The NCC is designed as an graphical boundaries and bor- her home and remembered how Conversion and Development alternative to highly congested, ders to expose the narratives her parents tended the green Authority (BCDA). At its heart is• poorly planned Manila. Mod- and historical accounts of their that had nurtured her and her clean energy and sustainable eled after green cities in Singa- marginalized people. five children. Everything she practices, which are expected to pore and China, it was concep- "Maps are the product of knows about the earth was transform the way people com- tualized by master planners struggle," Ortega said. "The passed on to her by her father, mute and power their homes. from the Asian Development BCDA has [its] own map and [its] she said, the way it was passed But a truly resilient city Bank, Japan Overseas Infras- on to her forebears. doesn't just manage its re- tructure Network, and Singa- "Our ancestors remain a sources well; it also empowers pore's Surbana Jurong. part of our humanity," she said. the most vulnerable, said Red "The vision [for the NCC] "Their presence is entwined Constantino of the Institute for was to be the first green, smart with our daily lives and our en- Climate and Sustainable Cities. and truly resilient city, [and] the vironment." An archipelago with long, natural quality of the location But their memories of home meandering coastlines and a gives it a strategically green and are in peril as the rapid develop- tropical climate, the Philippines resilient character," Dizon said. ment of the state-initiated New is among the countries most Manila, for one, is at zero to Clark City (NCC)—said to be the vulnerable to both sudden and 8o meters above sea level (masl) Philippines' first smart and slow-onset impacts of climate and sits atop several fault lines. green metropolis—edges closer change, such as sea level rise The NCC, on the other hand, is into their land now being and ocean acidification, Con- over 200 masl at its lowest and claimed as eminent domain. stantino said. Boo at its peak. The NCC is set to be inaugu- Citing the National Urban Unlike Manila's haphazard rated on Not. 6, but tens of Development Housing Frame- land use and development, the thousands of farmers and work, he defined resilience as NCC will develop only 40 per- tribespeople living in the devel- "the ability of a locality and its cent of its land; the rest is for opment area are still ignorant of citizens to withstand impacts open space. the project's extent even as bull- and shocks, and to rebuild, reor- dozers have leveled their crops, ganize or transform itself when according to a research led by necessary." the University of Glasgow (UG) "[It] encompasses the entire- in the United Kingdom and the ty of development, not just in- University of the Philippines. frastructure sturdiness against disasters," Constantino said, s I RATEGIC e PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON ODOM UNICATION Alb STORY STORY INIIINIII/ES PAGE LOWER 1WIS"..". SI ILY ICI, PAGE 1/ n 8 *204019 /3 the ongoing construction for jection maximizes the socioeco- Phase 1, or the National Govern- nomic value while minimizing ment Administrative Center. harm on the ecosystem. . The rice crops in Michael's Dizon said check dams and paddies were nearly ripe for edges along the river would cre- harvest when the backhoes ate a permanent 45-hectare lake ' came in 2018 and laid nearly a midstream, both a renewable wa- hectare of palay to waste. ter source for the city and the He was paid around heart of a central park for Phase 2. P3oo,000 for the land, which But Dr. Yany Lopez, chair of will become part of the ongoing UP's geography department and Capas-SCTEx highway to link Ortega's coresearcher, said the town to the metropolis. But these drastic changes disturbed the lost crops would have been the fragile ecobalance. equivalent to 15o cavans of rice, Residents, especially •kids, he said. have noted that certain birds, Contractors also shaved cer- fishes and prawn, and even tain parts of the forest cover of snakes were disappearing from Mount Dalin itt Sitio Alli, a small the area, she said. PUSHED BACK Aeta Mahawang families, who have called straw-hat mountain where the These changes are expected Mount Dalin home for generations, were pushed back to the Aeta used to plant uhe and tend- to compound the natural vul- fringes of Sitio Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac province, as ed farm animals. nerability of the NCC develop- contractors of New Clark City, said to be the country's first The Aeta consider ment, said assistant professor smart and green metropolis, shaved parts of the mountain's Dalin—"Tela Kaban" in their Ony Martinez, also Ortega's forest cover. -KATHLEEN tEl LIMAYO/CONTRIBUTOR tongue—an ideal place for new- coresearcher. ly harvesterrpalay to dry under For one, Aranguren, Kalan- the sun. The trails are level, and gitan, Maiuglu and Anupul— the summit is good for planting areas covered by the NCC devel- toot crops. opment—are highly suscepti- Like most nomadic tribes- ble to landslides and flooding. people, "Melba," an Aeta Ma- ATo determine this, the team hawang in Kalangitan, equated oferlaid the NCC development comfort with the fieedom to plan oVer the five-year flooding The vision [for the New Clark City] roam and to plant food. and landslide hazard maps by was to be the first green, smart and Then the bulldozers arrived Project Noah of the Department "noong ikatatlo (2017)7 Melba of Science and Technology and truly resilient city, [and] the natural said, and the mountain they the Mines and Geosciences Bu- called home for generations reau. quality of the location gives it a strate- was suddenly "marked"—for- To be fair, the NCC is not gically green and resilient character bidden land. claiming to be climate change- They were pushed back to proof, as Dizon noted. the fringes of the sitio. Sudden- But "what kind of resiliency is Vince Dizon ly they were cramped in a small • the BCDA trying to build in this Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chair area with little arable land. "Be- aggressive development, which fore, we didn't think about clobbered the communities' en- these things," she said. "We vironment?"i Martinez said. own master plan, a narrative routines. The team even identi- were free." about how it wants to project fied landmarks that have yet to So Melba sent her two sons, Business-centric the place, and we also have our be mapped but were tied to the aged ig and 22, to work at the And there have been casual- accounts in partnership with residents' lives. NCC construction site as labor- ties. Last May, three young chil- the community. [Counter]rpap- What emerged, Ortega said, ers. But they worry that when dren were discovered dead in a ping is the tool to counterpose was a picture of generations of construction for Phase i is done pond that formed in a quarrying and contradict these narra- lowland farmers and Aeta in in August, they will also be out site for the NCC project. tives." Tarlac: The earth gave them of work. "You're really changing the For six months, Ortega's food, and the mountain covers ecosystem and expecting that it team lived among some of the protected them from the batter- Redirecting rivers would not have an impact on estimated 15,00ct local farmers ing of typhoons. In retracing the residents' the surrounding area," Ortega and 20,000 Aeta and Abeling geographical memories, the re- said. "It's a schizophrenic devel- from around 26 indigenous Forbidden land search team also found that the opment. You're trying to devel- communities likely to be affect- But when the NCC kick- NCC's contractors had redirect- op a green city but you're re- ed by the development started development in 2017, ed the natural flow of Cutcut moving the green." The team listened to the res- productive rice fields like those and Marimla rivers to make way What's clearest from the idents'. stories, and provided of "Michael" in Sitio Kamatis for a 1.4-kilometer river park. NCC development is that it re- • disposable cameras with which were abruptly cemented over to According to the NCC mas- mains business-centric, with to take pictures of places they make way for concrete roads. ter plan, altering the rivers' flow little to no input from the peo- deemed crucial to their daily The sitio is the main site of based on a 500-year flood pro- ple who cultivated the land, he said. STRATEGIC I=1 1=1 UPPER PAGE I WINER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION -% kli STORY STORY INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER ITRIMR.IMMT SERVICE -.2111110P 08 JUL 7019 PAGE I/ DATE INNOvATInN DISTRICT ILINVEST-13COA MIXED-USE DF.YELOPMENT MIX ELL-INCOME HOUSING CAPAS NATIONAL SHRINE METROPOLIS RISING An artist's rendition of the New Clark City's land-use Map.—BASESCONVERSIONAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORMI Those at most risk are me Aeta, already the most dis- placed group in the country, whose livilig conditions and food security are threatened by this development. Dizon said the BCDA had met with an Aeta group accred- ited by the National Commis- sion on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) every month to make sure they "were not excluded from this development." Part of their demands were access to water and roads, and L for the BCDA to build schools In the community, he said. Dizon also issued the assur- ance that no ancestral domain would be affected by the devel- opment, per the NCIP. But this technicality masks the development's blind spot: the people whose stake in the land , transcends state records. iNQ (To be concluded) (Editor's Note: This story was written With the support of In- ternews' Earth f oumatisniNet- work.) STRATEGIC 1=1 COMMUNICATION PAGE I BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON STORY STORY ImminolliMmil INITIATIVES IIMERIONIMM SERVICE woe Busillessliforld 08 JUL noq TITLE: PANE 7/ DATE ! l!table car study zeroing in on Pasig River, Baguio as possible sites THE French government, which is conducting a feasi- The 450,000-euro feasibility study started in No- "Pwedeng private yun... Yun ang pinipilit ko bility study on a cable car system in the Philippines, is vember by French consulting firms MDP Consulting & so kanila. Maghanap sila (It could be priva- looking at the Pasig River and Baguio as possible lo- Engineering and Systra is scheduled to be completed tized. I'm telling them to find local partners)," cations, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said, within the year. Mr. Tugade said. Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told The French government offered to fund and do Earlier, he said he was considering open- reporters last week about the potential locations, the cable car study "just to show they are interested," ing cable car lines in Metro Manila to link "Somewhere (over the) Pasig River, basta Mr. Tugade said. malls, but he said mall owners have yet to ma-address lang yung security ng Palasyo (as long Mr. Tugade noted that once the feasibility study is agree to the plan. as Malacafiang's security concerns are addressed). completed, the DoTr may open the construction of the He also brought up the idea of opening cable That's one... , Yung isang hinag-usapan is Baguio (The cable car facility to the private sector. He added the car routes to link Caticlan, Aklan to Boracay to help other one is in Baguio)," he said. French community is interested in taking part in it as well. boosting tourism in the area. — Denise A. Valdez STRATEGIC [nl UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 6.84a STORY STORY graglIMMMI INITIATIVES PAGE LOWER 7111(1 "e11.111111MMirar SERVICE 08 JUL PAGE I/ DATE Climate scientist pushes for safe high-rise buildings By RAINIER ALLAN RONDA (CCA-DRRM) Strategies on the planning of structures. One of the country's leading climate Banaguas said what happened in Ta- scientists has urged local government cloban after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit units (LGUs) to be at the forefront of en- the city and the entire Eastern Visayas in suring that high-rise structures are safe 2013 should serve as guide. and would not pose a threat in case of He said the LGUs should identify the most typhoons and earthquakes. vulnerable areas and most at risk by checking Glenn Banaguas, executive director of the quality of buildings based on the National De La Salle Araneta University's Envi- Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) that ronmental and Climate Change Research would make infrastructure climate proof. Institute (ECCRI), said that LGUs should Banaguas maintains that to avoid a conduct due diligence on the structural repeat of the Yolanda disaster, high-rise integrity of buildings that have been structures nowadays should withstand adopted worldwide and implement the more than 300 kilometer per hour winds. measures in their localities. To do this, LGUs should be strict in Banaguas cited China as an example, granting building permits. They should where they have implemented new reinforced also be more cautious that only standard bar or rebar standard rules, which also banned materials are used in the construction of quenching and tempering of steel rebars. high rises. According to an article by SP Global, Banaguas says reports of prevalence the new rebar standard, which came into of sub-standard steel in the market are a effect on Nov. 1, 2018 prevents water major concern. cooled bar disguised as hot rolled rebar "Generally, if there are some concerns from circulating in the market. on the methodology or process, it will be The changes in rebar regulations were better to conduct more scientific tests and triggered by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake analyses," Banaguas said. that killed over 69,000 people and injured To ensure the safety of existing quench 374176. The earthquake also rendered ap- tempered steel in the market, Banaguas proximately 11 million people homeless. says there is always a way to do it. Banaguas said that cities and mu- "It haS to be tested more. It has to un- nicipalities have the power to approve dergo a series of tests," he added. or reject the construction of a high-rise It was reported that after the 6.1 magni- structure in their respective jurisdictions if tude earthquake that struck last April 22, it does not adhere to the safety provisions the Chuzon Supermarket that collapsed specifically prescribed in the law. in Pampanga had used quench tempered ' He said that old infrastructure were rebars supplied by a local manufacturer. based on the old national building code Banaguas is an Outstanding Young but there is a need now to incorporate Scientist of the Philippines conferred by the Climate Change Adaptation and the National Academy of Science and Disaster Reduction and Management Technology STRATEGIC IC1 UPPER PAGE 1 BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 44 STORY STORY aINITIATIVES PAGE LOWER IIM.me11.1.111..a SERVICE BusinessMirror 8 JUL 7019 DATE HIRE PAGE 1; Indonesia warns rich countries against exporting toxic waste NDONESIA saiditwillcrack down on had been the world's leading importer trash imported from the world's rich- of recyclables. China last year began to I est countries after closer inspections restrict, and in some cases ban imports showed it's increasingly the recipient of on environmental grounds. toxic waste materials. "China's policy eventually led us to Authorities at ports have boosted tighten our monitoring process, which checks after a random inspection in eventually led us to identify containers May led to the discovery of more than that contain contaminatedwaste," he said. 80 containers containing illegal waste The Sydney Morning Herald and The from the United States, Australia and Age newspapers reported last week Europe. One of Australia's richest men that Visy Recycling, a company owned has been dragged into the furor after a by billionaire Anthony Pratt, was the media report alleged a company he owned exporter of a container that had been was responsible for a shipment that con- impounded in the Indonesian port of tained materials considered toxic under Batam. The shipment reportedly con- Indonesian law. tained plastic waste, which is regarded "This is a serious problem," Deni Sur- as toxic in Indonesia. Visy didn't reply jantoro, deputy director of communi- to requests for comments, according to cations at Indonesia's customs depart- the newspapers, and didn't immediately ment, said in an interview. Indonesian respond to a query by Bloomberg sent via authorities are now planning tougher its web site. measures against companies caught im- Importers of waste have 90 days porting illegal waste, and will announce to return the shipments back to the them as early as this week, he said. The countries of origin from the day of government will also partially identify arrival, Surjantoro said. Failure to companies involved in the illegal trade, comply will result in licenses being Surjantoro said. revoked and the importers will face While toxic or contaminated materials investigations, he said. have been found in containers from the Last month, Malaysia announced it US, Germany, Hong Kong and Australia, was sending more than 3,000 tons of the US had been identified as the worst scrap plastics back to countries, including offender, Surjantoro said. Australia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and China. The Philippines took similar China syndrome action in June, returning dozens of con- SURJANTORO said the problem began tainers of waste deemed illegal back to after a change in policy in China, which Canada. Bloomberg News