DENR ERDB Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 3 July - September 2009 DENR Sec. Atienza opens flora and fauna exhibit at WTC ENR Sec. Jose L. Atienza led the opening of the DENR Exhibit on the Philippine Endemic Flora and FaunaD at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City last July 17, 2009. Among the guests during the occasion were: Ms. Grezilda Adie Adelantar, Miss Philippines Earth Runner- up and Miss Camille Villar, daughter of Senator Manny Villar, and other DENR officials and staff. A short video entitled “Pilipinas kong Mahal” was shown to guests and a ceremonial toast was led by Miss Ecotourism. In his speech, Sec. Atienza mentioned that our country DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr. and Miss Philip- has rich natural resources. He said “we have 15,000 pines Earth Runner-up, Ms. Grezilda Adie Adelan- flora and more than 57% of these are endemic to the tar during the opening of the DENR Exhibit on the Philippines”. For the fauna, he mentioned, “more than Philippine Endemic Flora and Fauna at the World Trade half of these are also endemic to the Philippines.” Center (WTC) in Pasay City on July 17, 2009 (Photo by Nestor Leviste) “Our flora and fauna must be utilized for the benefit of Among the participants in the exhibit were: Villar the future generation so that we will develop confidence Foundation Inc., EDSA Garden House, Philippine Nature and we will use these resources for everybody’s benefit.” Plant Conservation Society. Philippine Horticultural We should all work hard in performing our individual Society, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources duties so that the future generation will harvest the fruits (BFAR), Green Peace Southeast, Asian Regional of our labor”, he added. Ü page 2 Director’s Engagements ERDB, FPRDI employees attend Seminar on July 2009 30 - Aug 1 - PCAMRD Governing Council Meeting, Sultan Kudarat August 2009 Disaster Preparedness 5-6 - National Bamboo Congress, Maria Cristina Hotel, Iligan City 12-13 - Bicol Region Visit of ITTO Project Site n the observance of the National Disaster 18-21 - Bangkok, Thailand, APN-SPG Meeting Consciousness Month, the 151st Battalion of the 28 - Airport Courtesy Meeting, UNIDO PhilippineI Army headed by Capt. Rommel H. Marquez September 2009 conducted the Seminar/Demonstration on Disaster 1 - PCCRD (Philippine Coordinating Council for Research and Response Preparedness and Management on 30 July Development) Interagency Meeting, Department of National Defense 2009 at the ERDB. The group came from Fort Bonifacio 7-8 - Airport Courtesy, UNIDO Taguig, Metro Manila. 10-12 - INBAR-3rd TWG Meeting, Beijing, China 14-15 - Budget Hearing, Batasang Pambansa The seminar had two parts: Part I was a lecture 17 - Bañamos Festival, Los Baños on disaster management while Part II consisted 22-23 - Budget Dry Run, Senate Issues of a demonstration on disaster preparedness and 24-25 - In-House Review, ERDB management. 30 - PCAMRD Governing Council Meeting, DOST, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila Ü page 2 INSIDE: 3 GDAERD spearheads Seminar-Workshop on Grazing Lands n 4 ERDB team evaluates ERDS-5 projects n 5 LBSCFI celebrates 2009 NST week n 5 Uncovering ERDB Zoo lab n 6 DENR field personnel attend biosafety and biosecurity seminar n 6 Bagacay mines, abandoned no more- DENR-ERDB n 7 ERDB employees attend lecture series on Magna Carta of Women ERDB Newletter Vol 3 No.3.indd 1 10/12/2009 4:02:45 PM 2 Vol. 3 No. 3 DENR Sec. Atienza ... from page 1 Miss Philippines Ecotourism Adie Adelantar led the ceremonial toast of the juice extracted from wheat grass Technical University, East West Seed Company, Manila prepared by the EDSA Garden House. It was a toast for Bulletin Publishing Corp., EWK aviaries and other “protecting Mother Earth”. pets shops; DENR-ERDS Regional offices (Reg. 1- CAR), and other small and medium enterprises. Other Dir. William Ragos and other representatives from the employees of the DENR such as ERDB (Ecosystems DENR led the offering of plants. On the other hand, the Research and Development Bureau), PAWB (Parks and representatives of the youth sector led by Bonju Reyes Wildlife Bureau), EMB (Environmental Management released the young ostrich to symbolize the youth. Bureau), and MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) distributed publications during the exhibit. The expo was opened to the public from July 12-19, 2009. Marla V. Cambay, TDD ERDB, FPRDI Employees ... from page 1 The emcees during the program were: Mr. Chris Delon D. Lozano and Ms. Zhiela A. Alcantara of the TDD while For. Gregorio D. Reyes gave the welcome remarks. For. Jun Santos of the CZFERD introduced the guest speaker. He also thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for sending over their representatives. Ü page 7 Some members of the rescue team of the Philippine army demonstrating some rescue strategies while saving a victim from a high-rise building by rapelling at the ERDB’s wall. ERDB News ERDB Newletter Vol 3 No.3.indd 2 10/12/2009 4:02:46 PM Vol. 3 No. 3 3 GDAERD spearheads Seminar-Workshop on Grazing Lands During the workshop proper, Dr. Welllington Z. Rosacia provided a brief presentation of the project. Highlights of the seminar-workshop are the: (1) presentation of standardized Assessment Tool which incorporate (a) Suitability, (b) Performance, and (c) Sustainability, done by Dr. Wellington Z. Rosacia (ERDB) and For. Elpidio Molinyawe (FMB); (2) review of existing DENR Grazing Lands Regulations; and (3) preparation of the Action Plan by region in relation to the assessment activity to be conducted during the second semester of CY 2009. In addition, lectures on the Determination of the Carrying Capacity and Use of Soil Test Kit on Soil Fertility test were done by the project leader and Dr. Evangeline T. Ms. Adoracion T. Guy ( 2nd from right) of the UPLB Castillo. Likewise, a demonstration on the use of soil test Soil Department demonstrates the use of the Soil Test kit, and establishment of minimal area and harvesting Kit. herbage sample were conducted. he Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) through its Grassland Hydrology & ERDB Director Adeluisa G. Siapno cited the success of ManagementT Section (GHMS-GDAERD) spearheaded the seminar-workshop during her closing remarks. For. the conduct of the National Seminar-Workshop on the Florita E. Siapno and Mr. Juan B. Ebora served as the DENR Assessment Procedures for Grazing Lands held emcees/moderators of the said activity. last 30 June to 02 July 2009 at the ERDB Auditorium. This seminar-workshop is the one of the major activities The project is composed of the following staff: For. of the project “Rationalization on the Disposition of Levi V. Florido (Project Coordinator), For. Ma. Lourdes Pasture and Grazing Lands in the Philippines” which a C. Wagan (Co-Project Coordinator), Dr. Wellington Z. collaborative undertaking of the ERDB and FMB. This Rosacia (Project Leader), For. Elpidio M. Molinyawe project primarily aims to determine the current status of (Co-Project Leader), Dr. Evangeline T. Castillo, For. the pasture leases, review the renewal and cancellation Florita E. Siapno, Mr. Juan B. Ebora, Ms. Marilou system and violations of the Forest Land Grazing Avanzado, For. Marita Briz, For. Juliet Tolentino, For. Eva Lease Agreement (FLGLA) and Forest Land Grazing Guzman and For. Edna Nuestro. Marita Briz, GDAERD Management Agreement (FLGMA) to improve the productivity and environmental soundness of pasture and grazing areas. Twenty-eight (28) representatives from FMS and ERDS in selected regions including CAR, Regions 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13 attended the seminar. It started with the welcome remarks from the ERDB Assistant Director, Dr. Lope A. Calanog, who stressed the need for the rationalization on the disposition of pasture and grazing areas in our country. He said that DENR should be more responsive to address the issues/ concerns pertaining to grazing land management and development through the development of a standard assessment procedure and rationalization of the permitting system. For. Levi V. Florido discussed the rationale/importance of the seminar-workshop and suggested that the group should come up with inputs for the amendment or revision of the current regulation on grazing lands to bolster the standardization of the Dr. Willie Z. Rosacia (leftmost corner) demonstrates how guidelines in assessing our grazing areas. to establish the appropriate quadrat size by minimal area plot. ERDB News ERDB Newletter Vol 3 No.3.indd 3 10/12/2009 4:02:46 PM 4 Vol. 3 No. 3 ERDB team evaluates ERDS-5 projects under the various banner programs implemented by the DENR - ERDS V. Thirty minutes were allotted for each project: 10 minutes for the presentation and 20 minutes for the open forum. Presentors followed the NARRDS format for completed and ongoing projects. Powerpoint presentations were rendered by the project leaders or presentors. Out of the eleven (11) RDE projects that were presented, three (3) were completed with terminal reports and eight (8) Participants of the RDE evaluation and monitoring are still ongoing. The eight ongoing projects were held at DENR Region 5 Multipurpose Credit recommended for continuation. Cooperative Hall in Rawis, Legaspi City on August 18, 2009. One development project on agroforestry was likewise presented highlighting the technical assistance provided by ERDS V to the DENR – he Agency In–House Evaluation Team for DENR- Forestry Service on the implementation of the ERDS Region 5 composed of For. Gregorio D. Tao – Kalikasan Foundation of the Philippines Reyes,T team leader, together with Dr. Aurora S. Jose, (TKFPI). For. Monette S. Santos, and Mr. Roberto Devanadera from PCARRD evaluated the researches and extension The project on Carrying Capacity of Mt. Mayon activities of ERDS Region 5 in Bicol. The evaluation won the 3rd place on the best research paper was held at the DENR Region 5, Multipurpose Credit during the program.