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STRATEGIC UPPER PAGE 1 DANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION 45 STORY STORY mailso INITIATIVES PAGF LOWER ,..•••••mr SERVICE Standard DATE 'DENR officials must lead in seedlings survival'

By Rio N. Araja d NVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday vowed to sanction field officers who F would fail to meet the required 85 percent survival rate of planted tree seedlings.

"I would like to let somebody take the CENROs as plantation managers," he command responsibility for these areas," said. he told provincial environment and natu- Under the expanded national greening ral resources officers, and community en- program, a frontline field officer must be vironment and natural resources officers. able to meet the 85 percent survival rate "I am designating the PENROs and of planted rate seedlings being contracted

to a people's organization. the program this year. "It's very simple. I will relieve you if "I would like to let somebody take you cannot fulfill that. Yes, it's a tall or- the command responsibility for these der. Even if you have to go there at least areas," Cimatu said. every two weeks," he warned. From 2011 to July 2019, almost 2 He expressed his disappointment million hectares have been planted with over the low survival rates for seedlings 1.7-billion tree seedlings. planted in some people's organization- It generated 4.73-million jobs ben- contracted areas ranging only from 35 efiting more than 670,000 upland to 50 percent. dwellers. Most of the planted sites Because of the low survival rates, the have been contracted to POs. Department of Environment and Natu- From 2016 to 2018 alone, people's ral Resources suspended the scheme of accounted for 573,735 hectares, con- contracting people's organizations for sisting of 24,672 plantation sites.

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Cimatu warns DENR men over `green' program ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu yesterday sources Officers (CENR0s) as plantation managers in warned his men of sanctions if they fail to hit the their respective areas. government's greening program target. "It's very simple, I will relieve you if you cannot According to Cimatu, he will immediately order fulfill that. Yes, it's a tall order. Even if you have to go the relief of the agency's frontline field officers who there at least every two weeks," Cimatu told his men. will not meet the required 85 percent survival rate of The DENR suspended the scheme of contracting planted tree seedlings contracted to peoples organiza- POs for the ENGP this year and focused on the rehabil- tions (Ptis) under the Expanded National Greening itation and protection efforts in PO-contracted planta- Program (E-NGP). tion sites established before 2019. The warning was issued following his disappoint- From 2011 to July this year, almost two million hect- ment over the low survival rates for seedlings planted ares have been planted with 1.7 billion tree seedlings. in some PO-contracted areas, ranging only from 35 to National Greening Program contracts with POs 50 percent. cover a three-year period, during which the NGP The DENR chief said he designated the Provincial partners enjoy compensation for seedling production, Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PEN- site preparation, tree planting, maintenance and pro- R0s) and Community Environment and Natural Re- tection. Joel dela Tom

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DENR chief calls for litter-free Undas' BY JONATHAN L. MAYUGA during annual celebrations, like # @jonlmayuga Christmas and New Year, in this case, Undas which many consider a once-a-year opportunity to re- "We can unite, with family. make the observance "The LGUs [local government of Undas more units] need to step up their imple- meaningful if mentation of RA 9003 as people we keep the continue to generate huge volumes final resting of garbage during Undas, practically place of our turning graveyards into littering loved ones litter-free." sites," Cimatu said. —Cimatu At the same time, the environ- ment chief called on administrators of memorial parks and public cem- eteries to install properly labeled garbage bins to encourage visitors S Filipinos troop to the cem- to segregate their trash. etery to pay homage to their HealsourgedvisitorstobringtrIsh Adearly departed in obser- bags to be used for waste segregation, vance ofAll Saints' DayandAll Souls' andto place their foodin reusable con- Day, Environment Secretary Roy A. tainers instead of buying food packed Cimatu urged the public to keep me- on plastic and aluminum foils. morial parks and public cemeteries Visitors were also advised to bring clean and garbage-free. their own water containers or jugs "We can make the observance instead of buying water in plastic of Undas more meaningful if we keep bottles, and to avoid using plastic the final resting place of our loved utensils. ones litter-free," Cimatu said in a The use of hanig or woven mats, news statement ahead of the week- and foldable tables and chairs will end holidays. also limit the use of newspapers Showing respect for the dead, he and plastic sheets for seating and said, also means keeping cemeteries eating. Cimatu also reminded LGUs clean. of their duty to enforce Republic Act "Let us honor our departed loved 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste ones the proper way and that is to Management Act of 2000. leave them with our prayers and not "LGUs have the primary task of with our trash," Cimatu said. enforcingtheprovisions of RA9003: An estimated 30,000 tons of he pointed out. garbage is generated in the coun- Under the law, a person caught try every day, with 8,000 tons littering could be fined from P300 produced in Metro Manila alone. to P1,000, or render community The volume shoots up especially service.

gra STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY LII BANNER COMMUNICATION 11900111MINIVIFORPOdinieMws( UPPER PAGE I EDITORIAL CARTOON ALI STORY STORY INITIATIVES PAGE 1811880/111.1.1r SERVICE S.1, INQUIRER 10 -31-19

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DENR: Cleanliness in cemeteries honor the departed The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on the public to maintain cleanliness in cemeteries as a form of respect for the dead. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu also reminded local government units (LGUs) to enforce the Eco- logical Solid Waste Management Act to prevent the accumula- tion of garbage alongside huge crowds. "Let us honor our depart- ed loved ones the proper way, that is to leave them with our prayers, not with our trash," Cimatu said. LGUs "need to step up" in their implementation of the law. —JmEssrr 0. E NANO Silt ATM; IC Prvii umiso I I Snarvi-orctr:521 f I 1 r.A611 I-1 r C(7AIMIJNICATII IN "-----1- urrra RAIM_WA MORIN. CARI00/1 t1011 Y STORY •••••••••••••••, I NI rinTivEs 1110•141•1011".MW 7win ..ini,00111111, aERVICE MANILMMULLETIN THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER 1 0 31 It ' "Air Cemex cited for waste management programs

Cement manufacturer Cemex and Best Environmental Technol- Holdings Philippines recently won its ogy categories conferred during the second Department of Environment 4th Annual Environmental Summit and Natural Resources (DENR)— themed, "Beat Air Pollution: Manag- Environmental Management Bureau ing Solid Waste toward a Pollution- (EIVIB) Award for its waste manage- Free Environment," held at Taal ment solutions and for the Tamang Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City. Segregasyon Para Sa Kalikasan It was first recognized for the (TSeK) program services that are DENR-EMB award in 2017 for its being offered to communities across commitment as donor partner to the CALABARZON region. the government's Adopt-a-River The company was recognized Program. under the Best Available Practice Over 400 participants witnessed

At the 4th Annual Environmental Summit are Cemex representatives, from left: Quarry leader & PCD Francisco Esteban, alternative fuel resource manager Rowell Pefiaflor, energy director Kristine Gayem, environmental engineer/ PCB Rochelle Vicencio; energy management analyst Jevan Dalisay, and Cemex Philippines Foundation executive director Chita Maniago. Right photo: Cemex solid cement plant director Normandy than environmental engineer! pollution control officer Rochelle Vicencio, and Cemex energy director Kristine Bayern receive the DE.NR-EMB Award given by DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, EMB 4A regional director Noemi Paranada, and former DENR Undersecretary Rolando Metin. STRATENIC IC LU I ItIVF omit rAGE 1 -1 1-1 Cf IAIM If NIC NI 111N DAIIIIER t0110111AL cniitoori G6 11.11111 STORY inmer•••••••••• 1Ni1IA1IVES DER VICE MANILAVOLLETIN THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER 1 0 - 21 - 19

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the 2019 awarding ceremonies led it is key to sustainable development. recovering or reusing waste materi- by DENR Undersecretary Benny We hope to encourage more people to als to manufacture cement. Antiporda, EMB section chief Cora- take the simple yet important steps Co-processing is considered to zon Gasapos, EMB regional director that can really make a big difference, be safer for the environment zad Noemi Paranada, and EMB assistant such as segregating wastes," said more cost-efficient than other waste director Engr. Vizminda Osorio. ChitoManiago, director for corporate treatment processes. - "It is an honor to be recognized communications and public affairs This method reduces solid waste for making a positive impact on the at Cemex Philippines and executive and decreases carbon emission be- environment, particularly through director of Cemex Philippines Foun- cause it lessens the use of fossil fuels promoting proper waste manage- dation, Inc. from cement kilns. ment at the community level. Pro- Its waste management program The TSeK program, on the other tecting the environment is an advo- at its facilities involves the method hand, is an initiative driven by a cacy we'd like to strengthen because of co-processing, which is a way of multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote waste segregation, educa- tion on proper waste disposal, and recycling of dry plastics through seminars and information cam- paigns. - The TSeK program is currently being implemented in the province of Rizal where community resi- dents are encouraged to surrender properly segregated wastes to their municipality. Cemex only accepts segregated residual plastic wastes listed as acceptable wastes under the DENR Administrative Order 2010-03. The TSeK initiative aims to mo- tivate residents to become more mindful about their surroundings and take responsibility in keeping their community clean. Cemex con- tinues the TSeK program by part- nering with other local government units in the CALABARZON region to boost the sustainability of the pro- gram among households.

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Garbage back to South Korea by Dec. CAGAYAN DE 0110 CITY: The remainin ing equipment to be utilized for 5,000 tons of garbage in Misamis Simon said the second batch, the total cleanup of the dockyard. Oriental would be sent back to which arrived late October in Emano said the garbage would South Korea before the year ends, 2018, was immediately shipped be put in the tonnage bags and Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano back after environment officials would be piled in a 40-footer van said Wednesday. from South Korea found out to prepare it for shipment. Ernano made the announce- that the shipment were garbage District Customs Collector John ment following the turnover of materials. Simon of the Port of Cagayan De 4,000-tonnage bags to Bureau of The owner and officials of the Oro City said the South Korean Customs officials 'Puesday. Verde Soko, the company that government would provide the Tonnage bags would secure transported the garbage, are now cargo vessel that would transport the 5,000 tons of garbage depos- facing charges for violating the the garbage back to its origin in environmental laws. ited in the 4-hectare yard in the Pyongteak, South Korea. Phividec Industrial Estate in Sta. He said Charles Chu, the Verde He said the garbage was the Cruz, Tagolo-an. Soko owner, and some Filipino first of the 6,200 tons of garbage The provincial government has associates, were expected to ap- disguised as "recyclable materials" approved a P2-million budget to pear in the local court at a hearing that arrived in Misamis Oriental in scheduled in November. hire personnel and rent earth-mov- July 2018. CRIS DIAZ STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY 1 1= 1=1 1PPER PAGE I &ANNE. EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION *WA 4:tbatLessi views STORY STORY INITIATIVES GE TOWER SSW" SERVICE -mar INQUIRE 10 -31-19

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—1111114.P.MIIIMIMIr 337 ANIMAL$ IN TIGHT CAGES SEIZED IN TANDAG CITY MANILA-BOUND WILDLIFE SHIPMENT INTERCEPTED

By Erwin M. Mascarifias @ingtnindanao 1111111111 BUTUAN CITY—Environment €911115111e-a507MErSglin officials have determined that a wildlife shipment intercepted irallIEZWItto by policemen in Tandag City on 'are ietr r -Ingians; Sunday consisted of animals not endemic to Mindanao, sug- Saws= Zigrifinta gesting these were smuggled in to the country. The 337 animals—mostly

birds like cockatoos, parrots, _ hornbills and cassowary and a few reptiles and marsupi- TRAFFICKED BIRDS These birds were among the animals als—were believed to have smuggled from Indonesia and New Guinea that the police seized on been trafficked from Indonesia Sunday in Tandag City. Three suspects said the wildlife came from 6 and New Guinea. Mati City, Davao Oriental province. —PHOTOS courrrEsy oF PNP CARAGA Twenty-four of them died ILLEGAL TRADE The birds while being transported in tight in cages were found in two cages. gators that the wildlife came (Cenro) conducted an inventory vehicles bound for Metro Caraga police intercepted from Mati City, Davao Oriental of the animals and found 14 Manila. the animals while these were province, and were bound for species. being transported in cages by Pasay City. "None ... are from the Philip- land to Metro Manila in two pines," said the Cenro's Ruel under the Department of Envi- high-end vehicles. DENA inventory Efren. ronment and Natural Resources, Lt. Col. Christian Rafols II, On Monday, personnel from Its findings, Efren said, were in Quezon City, suggesting that regional police spokesperson, the Tandag City Environment confirmed by the Biodiversity the animals were trafficked from said three suspects told investi- and Natural Resources Office Management Bureau, an agency Indonesia and New Guinea, to

where these were endemic. against the suspected traffick- Among the rescued species ers, identified as Dante Toledo, were the Southern Crowned-Pi- Joel C. Demoral and Jory C. De- geon (Goura scheepmakeri), Sul- moral, at the Tandag city prose- phur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua cutor's office for illegal trans- galerita), Black Palm cockatoo port of wildlife under Republic (Probosciger aterrimus), Great- Act No. 9147 billed parrot (Tanygnathus Mindanao has become a megalorynchos), Black lory transshipment for wildlife from (Chalcopsitta atra), Eclectus par- Indonesia and neighboring rot (Eclectus roratus), Coconut countries. lorikeet (Trichoglossus haema- On April 8, around 450 ani- todus) and D'Albertis python mals with an estimated value of (Bothrochilus albertisE) Po million in the local market were seized by authorities in Wallaby Mati City, Davao Oriental. Others that are yet to be ac- These consisted of different curately classified are a wallaby, species of endangered birds, Blue-tongue skink, imperial pi-. lizards and mammals that were 1i geons, hornbills, cassowary and poached from the jungles of In- monitor lizards. donesia and Papua New Guinea. According to the Interna- Illegal wildlife trade is big tional Union for Conservation business in the Philippines. of Nature, the animals are found The value of the trade in the on the Solomon Islands, parts of country is about P5o billion ev- Indonesia, and New Guinea. The ery year, according to Theresa D'Albertis python, for instance, Mundita Lim, executive direc- is endemic to New Guinea. tor of the Asean Centre for Bio- On Monday, a case was filed diversity. INQ

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P2-B giant clams seized in GenSan

ANATIONM Bureau of Investigation ageserchas the stockpileof/Aloha (giaatclams}foundlna olin Pusok London, Baramjay flawing InGena alas (ity,to Moadayalteineon (October 211, 2019). The confiscatedWant dams, esaatedat 120,000tans, wore valuedat P113111101.116MOSIMUIMITAISISMO

ENERALSANTOSCITY—Agentsof the personnel from the NISI Sarangani/General National Bureau of Investigation08BI) Santos district office. Gseized about P2 billion worth of giant The operation was backed by personnel of clamsdocally knownas sok/050in anoperation the Philippine Coast Guard station here and at a seaside village here on Monday, the Bureauof Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Excel Hernandez,NBI 11 (Davao)assistant (BFAR) 12 (Soccsksargen), director, said they found a stockpile of giant "We found a huge stockpile of giant clams clams in a property in Purok London, Baran- upon reaching the site and we immediately . gayBawing, allegedlyownedby a trader of the confiscated them: Hernandez told reporters, endangered marine species. noting that the site was already abandoned Hernandezsaid theyearlierreceivedrepurts when the team arrived and was thus not able Promo local informants about the presence of to make any arrest, piled giant clams in the area. Jose Andrew Abello, BFAR-12 fishing regu- A team from NBI 11, which is based in lation officer, said the recovered clams, esti- Davao City, launched the raid at about 3 mated at 120,000 tons, repoitedly came from p.m. on Monday along with augmentation various areas. He said these are sold in the area at P2,000 per kilogram And are reportedly used in making jewelry, cosmetic products and even medicines. Abello said the violators could face impris- onment of five years to eight years and a fine of P300,000 to P3 million. The BEAR had declared the catching and collection of giant clams as illegal because they are considered as among the endangered marine species,aslisted by theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of , Wild Fauna and Flora, andset in Fisheries Ad- ministrative Order 208. Linden Republic Act 10659, or the Philip- pine Fisheries Code, the "fishing or taking, gathering, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting, exporting, forwarding or ship- ping out" of giant clam is deemed unlawful. Hernandezsaid they were preparingthe fil- ing of charges against the owner of the prop- ertyand othersinvolved in the trading...NUM clams, whom he declined to identify, However, Rey Benitez, BA angay Bawing chairman, confirmed in a radio inter view that the slants were found in a property owned by the family of Abubakar Palalisan. But he said he had no prior information about the business activities ofthe Palalisans, whom he described as a big family in the area. "Based on reports from an informant, they are allegedly engaged in the stock buying of toklobo for over a year now," he said. Benitez acknowledged that some resi- dents previously applied for permits from his office for the trading of giant clams hut he turned them down as it is prohibited by the law. Ms STIt ATE( at Di LI 31 PANNE!i r),IF)RIA :/0110031 M RI GNI( 'ATION MORT WAY 64.„,„„,,,m,isacia INITIATIVES SARVII T Q 31 - is

RAH PAGE 3/ Mining, oil firms given until Jan. 1 to disclose real owners Gov't stepping up antimoney laundering campaign, addressing corruption problem

By Ben 0. de Vera sure in the country is an enormous Memorandum Circular No. ultimately owned or controlled @bendeveraINQ task but we appreciate its value in 15, s. 2019 issued by the SEC in or exercised ultimate effective curbing illicit financial activities. July required all registered stock control over a corporation. To ensure that dirty money can- We are glad that the SEC is with us and nonstock Filipino-led cor- The beneficial ownership not enter the country through ex- in this undertaking," Assistant Fi- porations to disclose their bene- declaration form, meanwhile, tractive industries, the govern- nance Secretary Maria Teresa ficial owners by submitting a re- requires the following informa- ment requires mining and oil Habitan said in a statement. vised general information sheet tion: complete name, nationali- firms to disclose their beneficial Habitan is also the alternate (GIS) that now included a benefi- ty, percentage of ownership or owners as mandated under a re- chair and focal person for the cial ownership declaration form, voting rights, residential address cent rule issued by the Securities Philippine Extractive Industries PH-EITI noted in a statement and tax identification number. and Exchange Commission (SEC). Transparency Initiative (PH- It defined "beneficial own- All domestic corporations "Beneficial ownership disclo- EITI) multistakeholder group. ers" as the natural persons who must submit their GIS, which

now included the beneficial ternational campaign to counter ownership declaration form, to or prevent the use of anonymous the SEC yearly. shell companies to hide or laun- PH-EITI said MC 15 formed der money and conceal potential part of the government's anti- conflicts of interest within the money laundering drive. extractive sector," it said. "The PH-EITI, the govern- On Oct. 18, the Department of ment's transparency initiative Finance-led PH-EITI and the for the extractive sector, re- Chamber of Mines of the Philip- quired the reporting of benefi- pines (COMP) held a work- cial owners of mining and oil and shop to discuss the SEC's 72 gas companies in line with an in- beneficial ownership rule, D

MINING, OIL FIRMS GIVEN UNTIL JAN. 1 TO DISCLOSE REAL OWNERS

which was attend- confidence in our local compa- the Philippines must ensure that beneficial ownership reforms," FROM B1 ed by over ito com- nies, thereby helping improve all firms with participating inter- the EITI said. panies from the the investment climate. More ests in extractive assets should This is in line with the goal gas, oil and mining industries. importantly, it can help prevent have had disclosed beneficial to address corruption risks, "There is a global shift to- corruption and illicit financial ownership information by Jan. avoid conflicts of interests for ward increased disclosure of flows, and can increase trust and next year, the EITI website said. politically exposed persons, beneficial owners, and COMP is accountability in the mining sec- "The deadline for these dis- improve the business climate, committed to taking a lead role tor," COMP executive director closures highlights the need as well as prevent use of shell in this direction through the PH- Ronald Recidoro was quoted by for greater cross-sectoral, firms to perpetrate bribery, il- EITI. We see the benefits of in- the PH-EITI as saying. cross-jurisdictional collabora- licit financial flows and money creased transparency in benefi- Under the 2016 EITI Standard, tion between government laundering in the extractive cial ownership—it enhances countries involved in EITI such as agencies tasked to implement sector, it added. INCZ

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Group urges MGB to halt mining in Mindanao

By JONATHAN I....MAYUGA V gjonlmayuga

NETWORK of mining and mining-affected communi- Aties on Wednesday urged the MinesandGeosciencesBureau(MGB) to stop all mining activities in Mind- anao and conduct a quick assessment of thestabilityofruineareas following the recent earthquakes that hit the Mindanao region this month. In a news statement, the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) said with the mag- nitude6.6 earthquake inCotabatoaf- fecting areas as far as Davao City and IliganCity,thestructuralandgeologi- cal stability of mine areas and mine facilities must be established by the MOB to prevent potential disasters. The area surrounding South Co- tabato, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat, the group said, are areas of concern because of the earthquakes on October 16 and 29.2019. This is the same area covered by the Tampakan Copper-Gold Min- ing Project, owned by Sagittarius Mines Inc. and the Tampakan Min- ing Group, ATM said. In a case review of the Environ- mentalImpactStatementfortheTam- pakanMiningProject,environmental and mining experts have previously raisedissuesabout the faultlines that will allegedlyimpact someof the mine facilities inside the mine area. ATM believes that the MOB should prioritize first a geologic as- sessment review before promoting additional mining projects in the region. Without thisgeologicassess- ment, theTampakan MiningProject must continue to be suspended. MOB DirectorWilf redo Moncano was quoted in media reports last Oc- tober 25, 2019, that the Tampakan Mining Project isexpectedtooperate in the nearf uture,as IVIalacananghas ordered the reinstatement of its en- vironmental compliance certificate, or ECC. Former Department of Environ- ment and Natural Resources secre- tary,thelateGinaLopez, canceledthe ECC of the Tampakan Mining Proj- ect last 2017, after failing to secure permitting requirements from local government and indigenous peoples. It is also in the interest of the min- ing companies and their operators that the safety and welfare of bath their employees and communities around their mines are assured, the statement read.

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Mining, oil firms asked to disclose real owners By Julito G. Rada The activity centered on the new requirement for corporations to declare their beneficial owners as THE government is requiring mining, oil and part of the general information sheet that all domes- , gas companies to declare their beneficial or tic corporations are mandated to file annually with "real owners" as part of a new transparency the Securities and Exchange Commission. rule in line with an international campaign to The SEC issued Memorandum Circular No.

prevent the use of anonymous companies to 15, s. 2019 on July 26, 2019 that revised the hide or launder money and conceal potential GIS to include a beneficial ownership decla- conflicts of interest within the extractive sector. ration form, requiring all registered stock and More than 40 companies from the mining, oil non-stock domestic corporations to disclose and gas sectors participated in a workshop on their beneficial owners. beneficial ownership organized by the Cham- Beneficial owners are defined as "the natural per- ber of Mines of the Philippines and conducted sons who ultimately own or control or exercise ulti- by the Department of Finance—Philippine Ex- mate effective control over a corporation". tractive Industries Transparency Initiative on It was approved as a policy measure to assist in Oct. 18 in Makati City. the anti-money laundering efforts of government. The Chamber of Mines, an active member The PH-EITI, the government's transpar- of PH-EITI, recognizes the merits of transpar- ency initiative for the extractive sector, also ency in benefirial oWnership specially for the required the reporting of beneficial owners of extractive sector. mining and oil and gas companies.

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rmti i/ DATE Mining firms pressed for more transparency

BY ANGELA CELIS

THE Philippine Extractive In- dustries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI), the government's transparency initiative for the extractive sector, has required the reporting of beneficial owners of mining and oil and gas companies, in line with an international cam- paign to counter or prevent the use of anonymous shell companies to hide or launder money and con- ceal potential conflicts of interest within the extractive sector. According to a Department of Finance (DOE) statement yester- day, on July 26,2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Memorandum Circular No. 15, s. 2019 (MC 15) that revised the General Information Sheet (GIS) to include a beneficial own- A view of nickel-ore mine SR Metals in Tubay, Agusan del Sur. (Reuters photo) ership declaration form, requiring all registered stock and nonstock Mines of the Philippines (COMP) domestic corporations to disclose curbing illicit financial activities. We are glad that the SEC is with and conducted by the DOE-PH- their beneficial owners. EITI on October 18 in Malcati City. The SEC issuance defines ben- us in this undertaking," she said. The revised GIS under SEC COMP, an active member of eficial owners as "the natural PH-EITI, recognizes the merits of persons who ultimately own or MC 15 mandates corporations to fill out a beneficial information transparency in beneficial owner- control or exercise ultimate effec- ship specially for the extractives tive control over a corporation." declaration form that asks for nine It was approved as a policy categories of beneficial owners and sector, the DOE said. The activity centered on the new measure to assist in the anti-money their information, including com- plete name, residential address, na- requirement for corporations to laundering efforts of government, declare their beneficial owners as the DOF said. tionality, tax identification number, and percentage of ownership or part of the GIS that all domestic Ma. Teresa Habitan, DOE as- corporations are mandated to file sistant secretary, related how voting rights. annually with the SEC. challenging yet important the The DOE said more than 40 companies from the mining and "There is a global shift towards exercise was. increased disclosure of beneficial "Beneficial ownership disclo- oil and gas sectors participated in sure in the country is an enormous a workshop on beneficial owner- See MINING > Page A6 task, but we appreciate its value in ship organized by the Chamber of

MINING

owners, and COMP is commit- climate," Ronald Recidoro, COMP ted to taking a lead role in this executive director, said in the direction through the PH-EM. DOE statement. We see the benefits of increased "More importantly, it can help transparency in beneficial owner- prevent corruption and illicit ship — It enhances confidence financial flows, and can increase in our local companies, thereby trust and accountability in the helping improve the investment mining sector," he added. STRATEGIC UPPE PAGET BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION STORY STORY INITIATIVES I I PAGE ER "SIII SERVICE 1Q-31 -19

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GEOLOGIC ASSESSMENT SOUGHT IN MINDANAO GROUP SEEKS HALT TO MINING IN QUAKE-AFFECTED AREAS

Tulunan, Cotabato province, concerned about areas in South By Karl R. Ocampo on the island and immediately which struck on Oct. 16, was fol- Cotabato, Davao del Sur and @kocampo I NQ conduct assessments to deter- mine the stability of mine areas. lowed on Tuesday by a more Sultan Kudarat, which suffered serious damage from the two An antimining group is pressing "With the recent magnitude powerful 6.6-magnitude tem- quakes. the government to halt all min- 6.6 quake in Cotabato affecting blor that damaged buildings areas as far as Davao City and Ili- and other structures in sur- The area is covered by the ing operations in Mindanao Tampakan Copper-Gold Mining pending a geologic assessment gan City, the structural and geo- rounding provinces. logical stability of mine areas and Project owned by Sagittarius after two strong earthquakes hit Mines Inc. and the Tampakan the region over the past two mine facilities must be clearly es- Areas of concern tablished by the MGB, so that the Scientists say both tremors Mining Group. weeks. Officers of Tampakan could Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) on safety of communities around could have been caused by the 12 people not be reached for comment Wednesday called on the Mines the mine sites are ensured," the same fault At least group said in a statement were killed. and the Chamber of Mines of and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) the Philippines declined to react to suspend mining operations A 6.3-magnitude quake near ATM said it was particularly

"ATM believes that the MGB to the ATM statement. MGB Director Wilfredo Mon- should prioritize first a geologic cano had been quoted in media assessment review before pro- reports as saying that the project moting additional mining projects was expected to operate soon af- in the region. Without this geo- ter the Office of the President re- logic assessment, the Tampakan instated Tampakan's environ- mining project must continue to mental compliance certificate. be shelved," the group said. In a case review of the pro- "It is also in the interest of the ject's environmental impact mining companies and their op- statement, however, issues erators that the safety and wel- were raised pertaining to fault fare of both their employees and lines that could affect some of communities around their mines the mining company's facilities. are assured," it added. usx1 STRA1 ;?:AirjaCrffi Xocr: jriltitniTh$010.11-k F-1 Lill= LI COMMUNICATION OneINElt ElluORIAL CARICION IN iTiA v Numpar SEA VIC E. DIANILANIIILLETIN THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPER

IIA t Suspension of mining operations in Mindanao sought following quakes By MADELAINE B. MIRAFLOR mining operations in Mindanao and im- mediately conduct assessments to deter- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau mine the stability of mine areas (MGB) has been urged to suspend all in the region in the wake of the 01.13

Suspension of mining operations... 11 recent earthquakes and the series of "The MGB and the mining com- geological stability of mine areas aftershocks. panies are aware that after every and mine facilities must be clearly But MGB Director Wilfredo Mon- major events like earthquakes, as- established by the MGB so that the cano said assessment of the stabil- sessment of the integrity of tailings safety of communities around the ity of their facilities after a series storage facilities, mine sites, waste mine sites are ensured. of earthquakes is something that dumps, mine buildings, under- The group said it is particularly mining companies have already been ground tunnels and other mine re- concerned with the area surround- doing automatically. lated support structures," Moncano ing South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, "It is almost automatic even further said. and Sultan Kudarat, which received without the need of a call," Moncano With the recent 6.6-magnitude serious damage from the earth- said in a text message, responding to quake in Cotabato affecting areas quakes that hit on October 16 and the call of anti-mining lobby group as far as Davao City and Iligan City, October 29. Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM). ATM noted that the structural and But Moncano said the epicenter

of the earthquake was far from the billion copper-gold mining project mining region of Caraga and the of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) in intensity was considerably lesser Tampakan, South Cotabato. in the mining areas of Surigao and The Tampakan project, the larg- Agusan. est stalled mining venture in the You will note that there are country, has been put on hold since no operating large scale mines in 2010 after the local government unit Cotabato area and Davao Sur, thus (LGG) of South Cotabato in MM- negating the need to suspend and danao banned open-pit mining in review the mining operations in the province. Mindanao," Moncano further said. Then in 2017, the late former Meanwhile, MGB recently recom- Environment Secretary Regina Paz mended the lifting of the suspension Lopez proceeded to cancel the En- of the environment clearance of what vironmental Compliance Certificate could be one of the world's largest (ECC) of Tampakan project, citing copper and gold mines - the S5.9- environmental concerns. STRATEGIC Lii PEER PAGET BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMUNICATION A9 STORY STORY ....00111111111111111 INITIATIVES ea PAGE TOWER 110111011111"1"P SERVICE

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Quakes may be a warning on Kaliwa Dam, say critics

LUCENA CITY—Noting the Cotabato and parts of Mindanao other dam breaks because of an earthquakes that continue to on Wednesday, right after a earthquake, it could trigger a rock the country, critics of the powerful temblor left at least repeat of the zoo') destructive Kaliwa Dam have seven people dead on Tuesday. floods in northern Quezon. asked President Duterte and The tremors struck two In 2004, the Agos River be- dam proponents to stop the weeks after a 6.3-magnitude tween Infanta and General project earthquake jolted the same Nakar overflowed because of Fr. Pete Montallana, chair area on Oct. IS. Late last heavy rains from three succes- of the Save Sierra Madre Net- month, a 6:4-magnitude quake sive typhoons. More than goo work Alliance Inc. (SSMNA), shook the Davao region. people in Infanta died while fa- said the quakes were Mother On April 22, Earth Day, a talities in General Nakar Earth's means of warning peo- 6.1-magnitude quake struck reached several hundreds, iii- ple about activities that harm Castillejos, Zambales, leaving cluding more than leo Agta the environment and put hu- 16 people dead. tribal members. man lives at great risk. "Nature has her own way of Mr. Duterte on Monday "These series of deadly talking to us. And God is now warned that he would use all earthquakes could be one of warning us," Reyes said. the powers of the presidency her messages, which the dam In an open letter to Mr. to ensure the construction of proponents should seriously Duterte in November, the SSM- the 1318.7-billion China-funded consider," Montallana said NA and other civic groups not- Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon in a phone interview on ed that as Manila prepares for and Rizal provinces. Wednesday. the so-called "Big One," "the The Department of Envi- "Hear and feel the trem- proposed Kaliwa Dam will be ronment and Natural Re- bling grounds. Clearly, Mother constructed within a zone of sources had already granted an Earth is angry and we should two active tectonics—the "environmental compliance beware," activist priest Fr. Philippine Fault Zone and the certificate" to the project de- Robert Reyes said in a separate Valley Fault System." signed to solve the water short- phone interview. The environment advo- age in Metro Manila and nearby Two earthquakes rocked cates expressed fears that if an- areas. -DELFIN T. MALLAN JR. INQ Ilti. II f.P I I firm, 1111 I 7; 1 LcIPINIMPI',1111 )11 rAt.:r AFIrIrn PliiPARIAI T.Axlintfl 11r my 6vomplar."°_•••' 1,1111/111 \ I IP ...... temotr- Shit 111 VT.li rt,7 10 - 31 -19

lives and livelihoods. welfare of the people affe by Water firm reaffirms "We have a right to our water shortage. ancestral domains. Instead "There are many alterna- support for Kaliwa Dam of protecting our rights, the tives that can alleviate water President and the govern- By LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON shortage in Metro Manila. ment are the first to violate Instead of borrowing billions them," said Henry Borreo of from China, why doesn't the West zone concession- of Kaliwa Dam amid the the indigenous peoples' orga- aire Maynilad Water Serv- persistent supply crunch government turn its atten- nization Pigtaanan ni Dumaget tion to existing dams like ices Inc. maintained that that affects residents of Remontado di General Nakar the controversial P18.7- Metro Manila. the Wawa Dam and Umiray Quezon. Dam," Borreo said. billion China-funded "The government has The tribes also fear that Ka- "The Kaliwa Dam is not for Kaliwa Dam is a viable claimed responsibility liwa Dam will worsen the cli- long-term solution to the for the development of the poor like us. Its purpose is mate crisis in the Philippines. to fatten the pockets of busi- current supply shortage raw water sources, but "We can already feel the amid continued calls to we have been working nessmen," Rutuqeio added. effects of climate change. Sea- The Metropolitan Water- stop the project. with them to expedite sons have been interchanging. The Pangilinan-led wa- the process because we works and Sewerage System If they construct the dam, they recently secured its environ- ter utility said it supports understand the urgency will kill thousands of trees in the government's move to of meeting the supply mental compliance certificate Sierra Madre, and this will af- (ECC), a requirement needed push for the completion Turn to Page 8 fect not only us Dumagat and by any project in the country Remontado but millions and that poses potential envirow millions of Filipinos," Agta mental risk or impact. captain Meleng Rutuqeio said. The ECC granted to MWSS Duterte noted that violations covers the construction and on environment and indigenous operation of a gravity dam rights are not enough reason along Kaliwa River located in ater From Page 1 W to stop the project, stressing the towns of Teresa and Tanay that his primary concern is the in Rizal province and General needs of our customers," Angat Dam, Maynilad add- Maynilad said in a statement. ed 300 million liters per day "As a water distributor, we (MLD) to its water produc- can only distribute the water tion capacity following the volume that we receive from construction of its treatment existing raw water sources," facilities sourcing raw water it added. from Laguna Lake. Nalcar and Infanta in Quezon and power crises, labor groups Maynilad's current supply "We intend to further boost The dam will be 60 meters tall yesterday pressed the govern- shortage is primarily due to this by another 150 MW sup- with a riverbed elevation of 100 ment to re-nationalize public lack of rainfall over Angat ply. We continue to aggressively meters. Its reservoir surface area utilities amid what they called Dam, which is still the only implement our non-revenue will cover some 291 hectares at primary raw water source water reduction program, reac- a failure of a privatized system full supply level volume of 57 in improving the delivery of for Metro Manila and nearby tivate deep wells as needed and million cubic meters. services for more than two provinces. deploy mobile treatment plants Kaliwa Dam is meant to be decades. Maynilad said it has been to source additional raw water an additional raw water source "The cost is among the doing its part in implementing from dams in Cavite," it said. that will augment the supply the necessary water infrastruc- President Duterte has said highest in the region and in from Angat i Dam, which sup- the world, yet about 10 mil- ture enhancements to meet he will not hesitate to use plies about 96 percent of Metro the supply requirements of an extraordinary powers to pro- lion Filipinos are still without Manila's water requirement. access to electricity, while ever-growing population. ceed with the construction of With the ECC approval, the Kaliwa Dam. nearly seven million out of 105 Maynilad is currently maxi- MVVSS is awaiting just one more However, indigenous tribes million Filipinos rely on unim- mizing the limited supply so permit which should come from of the Agta-Dumagat-Remon- proved, unsafe and unsustain- it can mitigate the impact of the National Commission on the current reduced allocation tado in Quezon and Rizal able water sources and more Indigenous Peoples (Nall. from Angat Dam. emphasized that proceeding than 24 million lack access to As an alternative source to with Kaliwa will destroy their Once the NCIP permit is improved sanitation," Wilson secured, China Energy En- Fortaleza, Partido ng Mang- gineering Corp. will submit gagawa (PM) spolcesman, said. the engineering design for He said the World Bank ad- approval of the MVVSS Board. vised the Philippines to em- brace privatization and liber- Nationalization alization so that these crises, of public utilities including chronic poverty, pushed will end. To avert the looming water — With Mayen Jaymalin, Ramon Efren Lazaro

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NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Maynilad backs Kaliwa Dam project MAYNILAD WATER Services, Inc. has backed the development of Kaliwa Dam, calling the new water source as a "viable long-term solution" to the shortage suffered by Metro Manila resi- dents. The China-funded project, which has been issued an environmental compliance certifi- cate by the Department of Environment And Natural Resources, faces opposition from local communities, environmental groups and some legislators. Maynilad's expression of support for Kaliwa Dam comes after the company started implementing water rationing last week as the water in Angat Dam has fallen below normal level. "M a water distributor, Maynilad can only distribute the water volume that it receives from existing raw water sources. The govern- ment has claimed responsibility for the development of raw water sources, but we have been working with them to expedite the process because we understand the urgency of meeting the supply needs of our customers," the water concessionaire serving the west zone of Metro Manila said on Wednesday. Maynilad also said it is maximizing the limited supply to allow it to mitigate the impact of the current reduced allocation from Angat Dam. The company has also added 300 million liters per day (MLD) to its water production capacity after the construction of its treatment facilities sourcing raw water from Laguna Lake. "We intend to further boost this by another 150 MLD supply. We continue to aggressively implement our Non-Revenue Water reduction program, reactivate deep wells as needed, and deploy mobile treatment plants to source additional raw water from dams in Cavite," Maynilad said. — VidorV.541'Jan

STRATI:A:IC fCmcFcrl'Vigireininnant01-,\.- irF111G " COMMUNICATION ir BARntR[M EuGORIAl.1—= CARTOOIN TO Y WAY INITIATIVES Ii reemige•••••• IDWIR ,....•••••Ir SERVICE MANILAMULLETIN THE NATION'S LEAIHNO NEWSPAPER 10 - 31- 19 1/7 IIATE Manila Water may tap Marikina River to ease water supply woes

By MADELAINE B. MIRAFLOR Metropolitan' Waterworks and Sewerage System and (MWSS) may consider allowing Manila Water Company, ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ Inc. to tap water from Marikina River to address its tight supply. Hit This move involves the setting Concerns against the Kaliwa Dam up of a portable treatment plant that include the displacement of com- will have a capacity to draw as much munities of indigenous people (IP) as 40 million liters of water per day in these provinces, the destruction (mid) from Marikina River, MWSS of Tinipak Spring and Tinipak White Deputy Administrator for Engineer- Rocks in Rizal, massive flood that ing and Operations Jose Alfredo B. could drown Infanta, Quezon, among Escoto Jr. said. others. "It's a complete [water treat- But Manila Water and Maynilad ment] system that will be connected both support the development of to the river," Escoto said, adding that Kaliwa Dam. as much as 300,000 individual Ma- It is set to benefit 3 million con- nila Water customers could benefit sumers, they said. from this. Meanwhile, the only sure water The target, according to him, is to project to come online within this have this proposal approved by the administration is the Wawa Dam MWSS Board of Directors and then project of port magnate Enrique be completed within the first three Razon. months of next year. In September, the MWSS con- Since Metro Manila's major dams ducted a series of public consultation are not getting enough rains and on the possible tariff impact of the there's no new water sources coming project to the customers of its lone online, Manila Water and Maynilad off-taker, Manila Water. Water Services, Inc. are both having The Wawa Dam project, seen to supply issues right now. be operational by 2021, will have a The metropolis currently gets capacity to treat 8o mid and is among its water supply from the Angat- the new water sources eyed for Ma- Ipo-La Mesa water system. Of this, nila in the medium term. Angat Dam supplies 97 percent of Approval of the Wawa dam proj- the people's needs, releasing about ect was fast-tracked after Manila four mid. Water faced a water crisis in March, As of Wednesday, the water level which triggered public outrage. at Angat Dam is at 186.63 meters, which is way lower than its spilling Angat Dam level of 217 meters, while Ipo Dam improving is at 100.23 meters, also below its As this developed, the water spilling level of tot meters. level at Angat Dam has increased The water level at La Mesa, on by more than a meter due to rains the other hand, currently stood at over the watershed area in Bulacan 77.32 meters, likewise lower than its after falling consistently in the past spilling level of 80.15 meters. few weeks. Both Manila Water and Maynilad Based on the Philippine Atmo- are now implementing their respec- spheric, Geophysical, and Astro- tive rotational water service inter- nomical Services Administration's ruptions, which may last until next monitoring (PAGASA), Angat's water year if the water level at Metro Ma- level rose by 1.21 meters to 186.63m nila's major water sources will not Wednesday. improve over the next few months. Authorities have been closely Because of this, President Du - monitoring the level of dam since it terte said he will exhaust his "ex- is still below the desired 210-meter traordinary powers" allowed by normal high water level by the end the Constitution in order to get the of 2019. This is to ensure that by the controversial China-funded Kaliwa year-end the dam can supply Metro Dam project going. Manila, and have enough for irriga- He said this after the move of tion and energy at least until the first Department of Environment and half of 2020. Natural Resources (DENR) to issue Angat is the main water source of the project much sought Environ- Metro Manila. mental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Rainfall plays a critical role Was faced with strong opposition by for the dam and so far there is no environment gronps. weather disturbance that could raise Located in Quezon and Riz al its level some more. province, Kaliwa Dam is expected to As of Wednesday morning, the have a capacity of 60o mid. low pressure area (LPA) that had

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Manila Water may tap... 14 brought rains to Palawan and Visayas The neophyte senator told his fellow comprehensive and integrated water had moved farther away from the lawmakers not to focus on short-term resources development and manage- country. solutions and instead look beyond the ment in the country. The LPA was estimated to be 895 inefficiencies of water concessionaires. Under his bill, the proposed depart- kilometers west of Southern Luzon He repeated his warning of a "na- ment shall assume all the obligations and has intensified into a storm. tionwide water shortage" in 2050 of all government agencies on water; PAGASA weather specialist Lone- should the government fail to resolve such as the National Irrigation Admin- din dela Cruz said the storm will not the issues in the country's water man- istration, National Water Resources directly affect the country. agement, citing an Asian Development Board, Metropolitan Waterworks and Meanwhile, a weak LPA was lo- Bank study. Sewerage System, River Basin Control cated 865 km east of Davao City on "That's why it is important that Office, Manila Bay Coordinating Office, Wednesday morning. we have our own Department of Water Local Water Utilities Administration, So far, it is not expected to be- so we could address not only our cur- Metro Manila Development Author- come a tropical depression. rent problem but our long-term water ity, Department of Public Works and The easterlies, or warm and hu- needs," Tolentino said. Highways, Department of Environment mid winds coming from the Pacific, "We might face worse problems if and Natural Resources, the Department will be the prevailing weather system we do not prepare for it," he added. of the Interior and Local Government, over the eastern parts of Northern, Tolentino is pushing for the passage Laguna Lake Development Authority, Central, and Southern Luzon. of his Senate Bill No. 208, proposing the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commis- It could bring cloudy skies with creation of the Department of Water sion, and Water Resources Regional scattered showers and thunder- Resources Management which shall be Offices. (With a report from Vanne P. storms to Albay, Catanduanes, Ca- the primary agency responsible for the Terrazola) marines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Aurora, Quezon, Cagayan, and Isabela. The northeast monsoon or ami- han, on the other hand, will continue to blow over extreme Northern Lu- zon, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains to Batanes and Babuyan islands. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will likely have cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunder- storms. Residents in these areas were warned of possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunder- storms, particularly in the afternoon or evening.

Department of Water Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino has reiterated the need for a Department of Water amid the looming water crisis in Metro Manila and other areas in the country. Tolentino called on his col- leagues in Congress to prioritize the measures that would create a single department to consolidate all exist- ing government agencies on water regulation and distribution. The proposed agency, he said, would be a long-term solution to the recurring water supply problems not only in Metro Manila, but also in other regions of the Philippines. "This is a priority bill of the Pres- ident. Maybe, we should prioritize this, because as I have been saying, this does not only concern Metro Manila. This is not an issue confined to the areas supplied by Maynilad Water Services, Inc. or Manila Wa- ter Company," Tolentino said in an interview over DZRH Tuesday. s,101161( UPP PAGE I BANNER EINTORIAt CARTOON CUMMING. A I ION GORY STORY ea, INI I IAI ICI PAGE NS/MrSi.gvil I Standard 10-31-19 DATE HUE. PAGE 1/

Maynilad backs water source THE water supply shortage besetting Metro Manila residents stemmed from the lack of rainfall over Angat Dam, which is the primary raw water source for Metro Manila and nearby prov- inces, according to Maynilad Water Services Inc. While Maynilad supports the cre- ation of additional water infrastruc- ture, it said in a press statement it could only distribute the water volume that it received from existing raw water sources. The government has claimed responsibility for the development of raw water sources, but "we have been working with them to expedite the process because we understand the ur- gency of meeting the supply needs of our customers." Maynilad said it supported the government's move to push for the completion of infrastructure enhance- ments like Kaliwa Dam. "We believe it is a viable long- term solution to the supply shortage that has been affecting residents of Metro Manila." Maynilad, in its statement, said it had been doing its part in implement- ing the necessary water infrastructure to meet the supply requirements of an ever-growing population. Maynilad is currently maxim izing the limited supply so we can mitigate the impact of the current reduced al- location from Angat Dam. It said: "As an alternative source to Angat Dam, we have added 300 mil- lion liters per day to our water produc- tion capacity following the construc- tion of our treatment facilities sourcing raw water from Laguna Lake. "We intend to further boost this by another 150 MLD supply. We continue to ag- gressively implement our Non-Reve- nue Water reduction program, reacti- vate deep wells as needed, and deploy mobile treatment plants to source addi- tional raw water from dams in Cavite."

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On wastewater provision I. Manila Water is compliant with Section 8 of the POSTSCRIPT Clean Water Act and has connected households with FEDERICO D. PASCUAL Jr. sewage lines to sewerage systems available in 2009, or five years from the effectivity of the Clean Water Act. We have emphasized this in our Motion for Reconsideration submitted to the Supreme Court on Oct. 2, 2019. Based MWCI gives side on our understanding, Section 8 does not provide any timefrarne for the completion of a centralized sewerage on water, sewerage system and does not even require the establishment of a complete centralized sewerage system. Note that the ELOW is a letter trom Jose Supreme Court also issued an extended resolution on the Rene Gregory D. Almendras, Manila Bay Case requiring concessionaires of the MWSS Bpresident/CEO of Manila to submit their plans and projects for the construction Water Co. Inc., one of two giant of wastewater treatment facilities and the completion firms raking in billions in profits period for said facilities, which shall not go beyond 2037. yet failing in their basic obligations We would like to clarify that the 780 percent in- to provide sufficient potable water crease in tariff refers to how much the tariff would have and an adequate sewerage system increased if all wastewater programs were completed for their customers in Metro Manila. ' during the period 2004-2009. We did not state that this Much of what the MVVCI boss is an impending tariff increase. Any tariff adjustment, says has come out in their press releases, but we still whether upward or downward, will have to be recom- quote him verbatim below: mended by the MWSS Regulatory Office and approved This has reference to your column entitled "Water by the MWSS Board of Trustees. firms' failure in supply, sewerage" published on Oct. 29, We are currently on track in the implementation 2019, in The Philippine STAR. Please allow us to clarify of the MWSS-approved Service Improvement Plan to . several points you have raised: spread implementation of wastewater projects until 2037 On water supply provision to mitigate any potential tariff to customers. The mandate of Manila Water, as agent and contrac- Over the past 20 years since we started, Manila Wa- tor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System ter has spent P38.5 billion for wastewater infrastructure for its East Service Area is to operate, treat and distribute and recovered only P36.9 billion in the form of collections water that has been allocated to us from Angat Dam. For from tariffs. more than 40 years now, we have been dependent on When MWSS employed Manila Water as contractor Angat Dam as the major source of water. The develop- and agent in 1997, there were only 2 sewage treatment ment of new sources rests on government. plants in the East Zone with a capacity of 40 million liters As early as 2009, we have included in our Service Im- per day. Since then, Manila Water has constructed and provement Plan, submitted to our principal, the MWSS, now operates 40 sewage and septage treatment plants our proposed water source projects to meet the demand with a combined capacity of 310 million liters per day of increasing population and economic development. benefiting almost two million in terms of population. Unfortunately, these projects were not approved. It was Manila Water continues to provide desludging only during the recent water shortage during summer or septic tank cleaning services at no additional cost to that medium-term source projects were approved by the consumers via a fleet of 66 desludging trucks and ensure MWSS such as the Wawa-Calawis Water Supply Project proper disposal and treatment of septage through the in Antipolo and East Bay Water Supply Project which company's two modern septage treatment plants. will draw water from Laguna Lake. While we would Ile to fast track implementation Since 1997, the Angat allocation to the concession- of all wastewater plans and programs, it is physically aires coming from the National Water Resources Board impossible to build a complete sewer network in the next through MWSS has remained at 46 cubic meters per five to years as these would require large tracts of land second. Currently, we have been receiving 40 cu.m./ sec for wastewater treatment plants and lay more than 500 which is less than the normal allocation. We have been kilometers of additional sewer lines. This is the reason the doing our best to evenly distribute this supply to about approved SIP for wastewater has been spread until 2037. 7 million residents of the MWSS East Service Area which We are 'cognizant of the impact as costs to the is more than double the population of 3.1 million when consumer will be exorbitant. The total expenses to treat we started in 1997. wastewater is about P12/ cu.m. which is about four times We have absolutely control over the situation in the cost to treat water at P3/ cu.m. Angat Dam which has continuously declining due Laying and installing new and rehabilitating and! to insufficient rains. If this trend continues, Angat Dam or replacing old sewer lines would require digging up will not reach its ideal yearend level of 210-212 meters to all streets in the MWSS East Service Area which will ag- ensure sufficient supply for next year particularly in the gravate the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis. summer months. This is the mason that in coordination with MWSS and NWRB, we have begun 4-10 hours of NOTA BENE: Postscripts are archived at manilamail.com. rotational service interruption at night. Author is on Twitter as @FDPascual.Email feedback to fdp333@ Since 1997, Manila Water has: yahoo.com Provided 24/ 7 water from only 26 percent in 1997 to ' 100 percent of its central distribution system with more than 1.8 million residents from low-income communities benefitting from the company's flagship program Tubig Para Sa Barangay. Reduced system losses f_RAIL 63 percent to the cur- rent 10 percent and recovered about 700 million liters of water a day that were re-distributed to formerly unserved i and underserved areas even without a new water source. ,I Water recovered is equivalent to the volume in a medium- sized dam had government built one. i c. Improved water quality and consistently complied with the stringent standards of the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.

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Sierra Madre forest rangers on alert LUCE NA CITY—With the coming Christmas season, forest rangers have been alerted on a surge in illegal logging activities in the northern Quezon section of the Sierra Madre ranges. Rexmel Telan, forest technician at the community environment and nat- ural resources office in Real town, said the illegal activities have become a source of easy money for illegal loggers and their pro- tectors. He also appealed to government to provide forest rangers with firearms for their safety and protection. —DELFIN NIALLARI JR.

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TITLE NASA kalagitnaan ng lin- dol sa Mindanao ang UL- TIMATUM noong Oktubre 15, 2019. Magnitude 6.3 ang pwersa ng lindol na lu- mikha ng intensity 7 na pagyanig sa ibabaw ng lupa. Nasaksihan, napun- TABANG MINDANAO AT tahan at naramdaman nibo ang hirap ng mga bik- KORAP AT MANDARAMBONG tima. lmadyinin na lang. ya? KORAPSYON. Giba 0 bumitak ang Diyos tang ang nakaa- PANDARAMBONG mga tahanan, ang mga alam ngunit sana wala nang Muh, ipaalaala natin $a gusaling pribado at pam- susunod pa. mga opisyal at empleyado pamahalaan, ang mga lpagdasal nating sanaN ng gobyerno at mga ma- eskwela, ang mga sim- wala nang lindol pang ma- mamayang kasama nila bahan at iba pa. gaganap. ang tapat na pagsa- May nasunog na mall TABANG MINDANAO sabuhay ng Tabang Min- at isang bahay. Libo-libo talaga ang na- danao. May mga namatay at siraan ng buhay at ari-adan Sana, hindi na tayo nasugatan at may mga hindi lang para sa isang ling- makarinig pa ng mga nawalan ng trabaho dahil go kundi maaaring para sa kwento ukol se mga ba- sa sunog, sirang ne- ilang buwan o taon o maa- ngungot mula sa korap- gosyo, sirang eskwela at aring dekada. syon at pandarambong. iba pa. Kaya naman, narirlyan Sana, walang masa- Para sa mga nama- ang mga nakataas at naka- sayang na kahit sentimo o tayan o nabaldahan na bukas na palad ng mga bik- hibia ng mga donasyon at mga miyembro ng pamil- tima na humihiling ng tu- maihatid nang buo ang ya ng haligi ng tahanan, long, ng pagkalinga hindi mga ito sa mga kaawa- matagel bago sila maka- lang mula sa pamahalaan awang biktima. rekober o muling maka- kundi mula sa ating lahat na Okay tayo sa pagma- tayo sa normal na buhay. hindi tinamaan ng grabeng masalakit sa pamamagi- Ang mga nawalan ng kalamidad. tan ng mga social media puhunan sa pagkasira ng May naitatabi ba tayong na nagpapaabot ng ka- kanilang puhunang gusa- piso o isang latang sardinas nilang mga condolence, paninda at serbisyo, na- isang takal na bigas? prayers at good luck. ririyan ang pagkalugi na May naitatabi be tayong Pero higit nating kail- maaaring tuluyan nang mga tent, yero, kumot, da- angan na ihatid sa mga nawalan. mit, tsinelas, panluto at iba biktima ang kanilang mga Naririyan ang mga pa? kailangan. nawalan ng hanapbuhay May naitatabi ba tayong Sila'y nauuhaw, nagu- at hind basta makahanap mga gamot, wheelchair at gutom, nabalda, nahuba- ng kapalit na trabaho na iba pa? ran, nawalan ng masisi- matatag. Mayroon ba tayong na- lungan at iba pa. Tiyak na aabutin ng itatabing barya para sa mga Sila nakulong sa ka- siyam-siyam bago ma- kabataang mag-aaral na walan, maging sa pag-asa ging normal ang pamu- nawalan ng masisilungan, sa kinabukasan. muhay ng mga biktima. ang mga imbalidong ma- Bigyan natin ng tunay IKALAWANG UNDOL tatanda, maysakit at may ka- na buhay ang Tabang Min- Kamakalawa, lumin- pansanan? danao. dol ulit at mas malakas Tingnan at kapain natin HAMLIN SILA ,on. ang ating mga bulsa, dib- Mararning gusali at im- 'Yung pinagmulan ng dib at katawan at kaluluwa prastraktura ang nasira, lindol noong Oktubre 15, natin. lab na ang mga pag-aari siya ring pinagmulan ng Kung meron tayo kahit o kontrolado ng pamaha- magnitude 6.6 na lindol at isa o dalawa sa mga na- laan lokal hanggang nas- umabot din sa intensity 7 banggit na pupwedeng itu- yunal. ang pagyanig. long sa mga biktima, kumi- Nasira ba sila dahil Kung bumitak lang los tayo para makarating sa pawang mga substandard ang mga tahanan at gu- mga biktima ang mga ito. na bunga ng pagbulsa ng sali sa unang lindol, tulu-, Ang mga simbahan, mga taga-pamahalan ng yan na silang nagiba at sana, mag-alay rin sila ng mga pondong bayan na gumuho sa ikalawang lin- kanilang mga koleksyon sa ginamit sa pagtatayo at dol. misa at iba pang sakramen- paggawa sa mga ito? Higit ding napinsala to at pagsamba. Panahon nang masi- ang mga imprastraktura. Kung magagawa nating mulan ang paghahabol Kabilang sa mga tu- magbigay ng kahit malilirt na sa mga korap at man- luyan nang gumuho ang bagay, sa rami nating Pinoy darambong sa buwis ng tatlong eskwelahan, ilang na kilala sa pagiging ma- mga mamamayan na gi- simbahan, ospital at mga pagmahal at mapagmala- namrt sa pagtatayo at pag- tahanan. sakit, walang dahilan upang gawa ng mga substan- Kaya naman, higit ang hindi makaahon sa abang dard, marurupok at siraing pinsala sa ikalawang lin- kalagayan ang mga biktima mga eskwela, ospital, tu- dol para sa iba habang at magkaroon mull ng pag- lay, kalsada, barangay hall nagdugtong ang paghihi- asa sa buhay. at iba pa. rap ng mga biktima mula Tara, bigyan natin ng bu- Anomang reaksyon o sa una hanggang ikalawa hay ang Tabang Mindanao reldamo, iparating sa 092- para naman sa iba. Tulong.sa mga taga-Min- 284033330 i-email sa ban- May susunod pa ka- danao. tiporda@ yahoo. corn.