Earth Day 2008 Celebrated Vietnam Hosts Asia-Pacific Forestry Week
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Vol.6, No. 2 March - April 2008 Vietnam Hosts Asia-Pacific Forestry Week PWPA with Philippine Delegation ietnam hosted the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week last 21-26 April 2008 at its National Convention Center Me Tri, Tu Liem, Hanoi. V Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, the event was the largest and most important forestry-related events in the Asia- Pacific region in 2008. About 500 delegates from governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, regional and international networks, UN agencies and the private sector who attended the event were provided with a unique opportunity for sharing perspectives and seeking solutions to the most challenging issues facing forests and Trio in Hanoi. (l‐r) Dr. Florentino Tesoro, former Department of Science and Technology undersecretary, Forester Jose Lorenzo, PWPA forestry today. (Continued on page 2) adviser and Forester Romeo Acosta, Forest Management Bureau direc‐ tor and head of Philippine delegation. Earth Day 2008 Celebrated PWPA and EDNP Sponsor Pontifical Mass n concluding the April-long Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNP) mangrove tree species. Earth day celebration, the sponsored the Pontifical Mass held PWPA donated 500 seedlings of Philippine Wood last April 22, 2008 at the Manila Cathe- bakauan which were distributed to the Producers Association dral, City of Manila. Earth Day 2008 public for planting after the mass. (PWPA) and the Earth Day has the theme: “Tubig ng Buhay Ating I Pagyamanin at Linisin.” The Earth Day started very early that morning with a fluvial parade The mass was celebrated by His dubbed, “Paglalayag, Paglalakbay at Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal Pagtitipon,” with about a hundred Rosales and attended by represen- decorated boats - half of them coming tatives from different sectors of soci- from Plaza Mexico in Manila and the ety including incumbent and former other from Bacoor, Cavite - converging heads of the Department of Environ- at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. ment and Natural Resources: Jose Atienza Jr. and Angelo Reyes, On land, about 100 members of Michael Defensor, Elisea Gozun the DENR bicycle club, riding on the and Heherson Alvarez, respectively. theme, “Padyak para sa Kalikasan,” pedaled-off from the Ninoy Aquino PWPA chairman Antonio Olizon Parks and Wildlife Nature Center in was one of the offerors during the Quezon City towards the SM Mall of An Offering. PWPA Chairman Antonio Olizon mass presenting a bakauan Asia. offered a bakauan seedling during the Pontifical (Rhizophora spp.) seedling, a Mass last April 22, 2008 at the Manila Cathedral. (Continued on page 2) WoodStock Industry & Environment News Vietnam Hosts... DENR - NCR Regional WPP (Continued from page 1) Rationalization Plan Reviewed Plenary sessions were focused on the three pillars of sustainable development: social, environ- n line with the Department of Environment and Natural mental, and economic. Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2007-13 - The social agenda, “forests and poverty,” high- I lifting the moratorium on the issuance of new WPP lighted the issues on resource tenure and access, permits for sawmilling purposes using only raw materials from decentralization, livelihood and community participa- planted species and directing all regions to prepare and submit tion. their respective Regional Wood Processing Plan (RWPP) for approval by the Secretary - the DENR-NCR and the Philippine “Forests and climate change” topped the envi- Wood Producers Association (PWPA) and the Philippine Lumber ronment agenda that discussed the role of forestry in Merchants Association (PLMA) met on April 30, 2008 to discuss or mitigating climate change and how forestry will adapt review the region’s proposed WPP rationalization plan. to climate change. (Continued on page 10) The “economic” agenda tackled the issues on trade, timber certification, forest law enforcement and governance, and forestry investment. The Philippine delegation, headed by Forest Management Bureau director Romeo Acosta, consisted of representatives from different govern- ment agencies, local government units, non- government organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector. The Philippine Wood Producers Association was represented by Forester Jose Lorenzo, its forestry and environment adviser. Asia-Pacific Forestry Week was anchored Towards Wood Processing Rationalization. (l‐r) DENR‐NCR division chief Rolly around the 22nd Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Malamug, PWPA director Ramon Uy, DENR‐NCR foresters Genalin Flaminiano Commission, one of six regional forestry commis- and Diana Romero, DENR‐NCR RED Cora Davis, PWPA F&E coordinator Maila sions supported by the Food and Agriculture Organi- Vasquez, former PWPA director/PLMA director Felix Sy, PWPA executive director zation (FAO) of the United Nations. Leonardo Angeles and PLMA director Aquino Lee. Earth Day 2008... (Continued from page 1) Asia, where DENR secretary Jose tribute to the healing of planet Earth,” A clean-up along the Manila Bay Atienza, Jr. delivered his Earth Day’s Atienza said. shoreline near the Cultural Center of call to action: “Hamon ng Bayan para the Philippines (CCP) complex in sa Kalikasan.” Atienza also lead the re-launching Pasay City was undertaken by artists of “Industrial Eco Watch Program,” a and employees of the CCP. “Earth Day is an opportune time public disclosure about the perform- for us to reflect on what we, humans, ance of industries as to their compli- Before the mass, a special Earth have done to our planet. Our theme, ance with air and water standards. Day program entitled “Pagtitipon, gives us the chance to correct the Ugnayan at Pamamahayag” was held wrong we have done to our water, our With chair Olizon were president at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of air, and our land, so that we can con- Fernando Lu, directors Alex Ong and Aristeo Puyat and the PWPA staff. EDITORIAL BOARD E-mail us at : WoodStock Fernando A. Lu, Chairman of the Board [email protected] [email protected] or Bi-monthly publication of the Antonio C. Olizon, President L.D. Angeles, Managing Editor [email protected] Philippine Wood Producers Association for your comments, feedback M. R. Vasquez, Newsletter Editor or letters to the Editor Page 2 WoodStock Industry & Environment News On The Sustainable Forest Management Bill Lower House’s TWG Finalizes Review of the SFM Bill tion of the civil society of banning com- Angeles summarized the PWPA’s he Technical Working mercial logging in the natural forest comments and recommendations on Group (TWG) of the and the use of native tree species in the bill which were supported by the Lower House’s Com- reforestation. DENR/FMB and considered favorably mittee on Natural by the TWG. In response to the Haribon’s posi- TResources conducted its 3rd and final tion, Forest Management Bureau di- However, the DENR-PWPA pro- review of the bill on Sustainable Forest rector Romeo Acosta explained the posal of creating the Wood Industry Management Act (SFMA) last April 2, evolution of the bill from total logging Board, accordingly, may have to be 2008 at the House of Representatives, ban (during the 8th Congress) to raised to the Committee for its consid- Batasan Complex, Quezon City. today’s SFM (this 14th Congress) en- eration. Messrs. Acosta and Angeles The House’s committee secretary suring the allocation of protection and said that if it would cause a delay in (ComSec) said the bill has already production forestlands. approving the bill, an executive order been approved by the Committee and for the purpose could be promulgated. The issues raised by Haribon, that the purpose of the TWG was according to the ComSec, may be The ComSec said the Commit- merely to fine tune it. taken up during the House plenary tee’s final draft bill will be referred to Notwithstanding the statement of session when the bill shall have been the House’s Committee on Ways and the ComSec, Dr. Tabaranza of the presented for its second reading. Means for its own conduct of a sepa- Haribon Foundation presented for the rate public hearing on the tax and PWPA executive director L. D. first time to the TWG the alleged posi- incentive provisions of the SFM bill. Senate’s Joint TWG Initiates Review of the SFM Bill • Increase the role of the local government; he joint Technical Working Group (TWG) of the committees on Environment and Natu- • Apply SFM even in titled lands; and ral Resources; Local Government; Ways & • Use of the terms: watershed continuum, as a planning Means; Cultural Communities; Constitu- framework and watershed unit, as a management tool. Ttional Amendments, Revision of Codes & Laws; and Finance was convened last April 14, 2008 at the Senate of PWPA executive director Leonardo Angeles mani- the Philippines, Pasay City, to fine-tune the Senate’s bill on fested the PWPA’s support for the bill and informed the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). TWG that a PWPA position paper and comments on the bill were earlier submitted to the Committee on Environ- The TWG was presided by Atty. Karen Sarinas of the ment and Natural Resources secretariat and office of office of senator Pia Cayetano with support from 1) Atty. Senator Cayetano. DeeGee Anastacio, chief legislative officer of senator He suggested that definitions should conform with Cayetano, 2) Environment and Natural Resources Commit- those officially approved and/or accepted by government tee secretary Redia Atienza, 3) Ms. Nova Navo of the and the international organizations as well as those found office of senator Jamby Madrigal; and 4) Ms. Desiree in existing laws, which the TWG noted. He also recom- Guason of the office of senator Miguel Zubiri. In atten- mended the transfer of the definitions of protection and dance were resource persons from the DENR/FMB, production forestlands to the substantive provision or DepEd, League of Municipalities and Cities, the Haribon section of the bill which was accepted by the TWG.