There is definetely a huge environmental problem in the country from waste management to loss of natural ecosystems and there doesn't seem to be alot of really strong government policies on this issue .

Just take Metro Manila and Laguna lake there are virtually no large pristine forests left whitin this region the closest place that responds to this is perhaps la mesa reservoir and it's catchment area, meanwhile Laguna has been turned into some kind of giant fishpen just imagine how many fish dung falls into those water daily and over time, and of course raw sewage from humans and god knows what other types of uncontrolled pollution and it's quite sad to see other parts of the country following in the NCR's disastrous footsteps .

I think the country should start with the rehabilitation and restoration of green zones and the ecology of the NCR's region and it's vicinity before thinking of matching "first world standards in eco architechture", there should be a push to save the remaining unbuilt lands and turning them into protected forested preserves and to create laws that would make cities set aside a specific % of their territories as public parks and green spaces and this does not mean a few swings and sari sari stores and then a few pot's of plants .

Alot of land can be set aside especially if some subdivisions or parts thereof are simply scrapped and replaced with modern low rise appartment blocs which could house a higher density and free up space for public green spaces, i would aknowledge that places like BF homes and Ayala Alabang and so on do have gardens and often have lots of trees and green lawns, the aggregate of which i suppose equals that of a a large park but im talking more about places like Tondo and other more highly dense area's where this isn't the case . uh huh :yes: yea, I like the way you think...For Laguna lake to become fully free of fish pens adding a complete ban on commercial fishing activities, instead the entire lake should be transformed into a nature preserve and rehabilitated to a good, clean and natural state aswell as turning Talim island into an eco park and nature preserve, the only industries that should be allowed imo to exploit the lake and most of it's shores should be a responsible and well regulated tourism industry and of course transport services.If the Philippines could harness its Biggest Lake and make it work that would be somethin. Let's concentrate on Laguna de Bai.

Yes, all fishpens and commercial fishing activities should be banned for the interim. Meaning, let the lake recover for 5 years before individual fishermen on small non-motorized sailboats can go back to their traditional livelihood. Meanwhile, the fat cats with their big commercial fishpens should be banned altogether.

A one kilometre (ballpark figure, if anyone can suggest a better figure let him speak) buffer between the lakeshore and the nearest human habitation/ town should be strictly enforced (by electric fence if need be). The Buffer Zone should be planted with a dense forest, or dense tropical jungle. (Taking the cue from Skybar :lol:, if we need to import Bengal Tigers to patrol the buffer zone, then maybe we should.) We can always feed old carabaos and horses to these predators. :D or the occasional corrupt general and politican as human sacrifice.

Since I believe the flow of water is outward from Laguna lake to the Pasig River, thence pollution from the Pasig should be minimal, else we could put up a lock or a gate like those used in Amsterdam canals. NAWASA should handle the Lake as the biggest source of freshwater for the entire Metro Manila area and the surrounding areas. So that we will no longer here of pathetic subdivisions in Las Pinas and Paranaque that have to "import" water on trucks :lol:

The lake bed should be dredged by professional dredgers and the silt loaded onto trucks and taken away to fertilize farmlands (since it was mentioned that the lakebed is full of fish poo and human poo.) The remainder can be treated by NAWASA over a curing period of 5 years. The lakebed should be planted with all kinds of freshwater plants to clean it up. Why, we can even import sturgeons so we can have our own Philippine Caviar.

In Singapore, they do allow surface water sports and activities in their small lake reservoirs like kayaking and boating but not swimming. This can be enforced on Laguna de Bai as well. Which is why I emphasized only sailboats and non-motorized boats. NAWASA should set up its HQ somewhere along the lake edge maybe in Taguig, Muntinlupa or Rizal. Be careful of the Bengal Tigers though. :lol:

Talim island can be converted into a 5 star freshwater resort and posh casino to handle the money making venture. Florida Key West style landbridges can connect Talim island to the nearest mainland in Rizal or Cainta. Foreign guests can have free flowing Laguna Caviar served with lambanog.

There is a very small island which can be viewed from Los Banos, the name is Crocodile Island but I guess it's privately owned judging from the nice houses and swimming pools I saw on satellite pics.
Alot of these big problem issues are tied togheter housing, economic growth and jobs can be solved if linked to a strong comprehensive policy with a strong environmental or green component in it, getting rid of the fishpens and rehabilitating the lake for example imo would create more and better paying jobs than what these fishpens produce aswell as profits obviously and generate taxes, just think hotels, water sports and leisure services and activities, and shuttle ferry service and cargo transport barges linking these places with the metro and so on .

As for fish lovers well they could simply develop the not so far away located Infanta Quezon on the east coast as a fishing port where a couple of deep sea trawlers can ply the Pacific ocean and probably match the production of the lake or simply use the Pacific coast instead for fish pens .

Btw my dad used to own fishpens in the lake as a little side investment amongst other businesses he had in the country back in the 80's, he sold it after a while because of the occassional "red tides" and other problematic issues which in his opinion didn't really make them worthwhile investments .I forgot to mention about that other lake nearby, the beautiful but often forgotten Lake Caliraya in the highlands of Cavinti. Its waters also flow into Laguna de Bai. Hand in hand, Lake Caliraya should also be developed as a major tourist attraction. I do know there are several private resorts there. The weather there is fantastic and cool during summer. :cheers2:

Construction of dam, reforestation areas northeast of Metro Manila sought
By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=730994&publicationSubCategoryId=63)) Updated September 26, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo yesterday called for the construction of a dam and reforestation of areas northeast of Metro Manila as well as a unified action by local governments to prevent a repeat of the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy” in 2009.

Quimbo made the call as residents in Metro Manila and Rizal recalled Ondoy’s wrath that left nearly 500 people dead.

Marikina City was the hardest hit and registered the highest number of casualties.

“The resilience of Marikenyos made it possible for us to bounce back after Ondoy but we constantly live in fear of another Ondoy unless intermediate, comprehensive and effective strategies to address flooding in our city are adopted,” Quimbo said in a statement.

“It has been two years since Marikina was brought to its knees by Ondoy, and no major flood control project has yet been thought of or is in the drawing board to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy,” he said.

He recognized the move initiated by President Aquino, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino to rehabilitate the Nangka River System and two major creeks in his district.

But he called for a more comprehensive plan to address flooding in Marikina City and nearby cities and municipalities like Pasig, Antipolo, San Mateo, and Montalban, both in Rizal.

He said 90 percent of the floodwater that Marikina City catches comes from Antipolo and Montalban.

“Whatever diligence Marikenyos do in terms of waste segregation, cleanup and rehabilitation of our drainage and creek system, if our neighbors do not cooperate, we will continue to suffer,” Quimbo said.

He also called for the reforestation of the Marikina watershed, which straddles Antipolo City, Montalban and San Mateo.

“To make the watershed effective in preventing floods, at least 25 million trees need to be replanted considering that almost 80 percent of the 28,000 hectare watershed is already denuded. And it will probably take at least 10 years to do that,” he said.

Quimbo said putting up a dam in Montalban is the quickest solution to ensure that the destructive flooding two years ago will not happen again.

The latest storm and flooding is showing how crucial green spaces are as rain water has a hard time penetrating the ground due to the large amount of concrete the metro has become covered in .

Construction of dam, reforestation areas northeast of Metro Manila sought
By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=730994&publicationSubCategoryId=63)) Updated September 26, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo yesterday called for the construction of a dam and reforestation of areas northeast of Metro Manila as well as a unified action by local governments to prevent a repeat of the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy” in 2009.

Quimbo made the call as residents in Metro Manila and Rizal recalled Ondoy’s wrath that left nearly 500 people dead.

Marikina City was the hardest hit and registered the highest number of casualties.

“The resilience of Marikenyos made it possible for us to bounce back after Ondoy but we constantly live in fear of another Ondoy unless intermediate, comprehensive and effective strategies to address flooding in our city are adopted,” Quimbo said in a statement.

“It has been two years since Marikina was brought to its knees by Ondoy, and no major flood control project has yet been thought of or is in the drawing board to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy,” he said.

He recognized the move initiated by President Aquino, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino to rehabilitate the Nangka River System and two major creeks in his district.

But he called for a more comprehensive plan to address flooding in Marikina City and nearby cities and municipalities like Pasig, Antipolo, San Mateo, and Montalban, both in Rizal.

He said 90 percent of the floodwater that Marikina City catches comes from Antipolo and Montalban.

“Whatever diligence Marikenyos do in terms of waste segregation, cleanup and rehabilitation of our drainage and creek system, if our neighbors do not cooperate, we will continue to suffer,” Quimbo said.

He also called for the reforestation of the Marikina watershed, which straddles Antipolo City, Montalban and San Mateo.

“To make the watershed effective in preventing floods, at least 25 million trees need to be replanted considering that almost 80 percent of the 28,000 hectare watershed is already denuded. And it will probably take at least 10 years to do that,” he said.

Quimbo said putting up a dam in Montalban is the quickest solution to ensure that the destructive flooding two years ago will not happen again.

It's easy to say but it's hard to do.

Have they calculated the productive land that will be inundated if ever some crazy, know-nothing high official believes in that idea? It's kinda "reactive" counter-measure, IMHO.

The rains will always come. Run-off is a function of rainfall amount less the soil absorption. If too much run-off occurs and you don't have a catchment area or drain channels, you will expect "flooding". But didn't we say "rainfall amount less absorption"? Why can't we address the activities to increase the "soil absorption" factor? Planting trees, yes.

Or planning the community properly such that fast-water channels can drain those flood-prone areas and avoid run-off to accumulate at dangerous levels in low-level areas? Maybe they should consider other factors well before saying a dam is the best solution!

Wala kasi control ang gobyerno sa informal settlers. You see, pati watersheds eh binabahayan nila.

The gov't should have a blue print on where houses and commercial areas are allowed and where they are offlimits (as in no human population living by!).

A simple look at google earth and one can see the total haphazardness of urban sprawl, there doesn't seem to be any real urban planning aside from the wealthy neighbourhoods and CBD's, urban planning based on housing needs, economic needs, and environmental needs should be taken more seriously by the authorities .

^^ The phil gov't does not even have urban planning in most CBDs. A barong barong is beside a fancy mall. Definitely not urban planning

Good day gentlemen, anyone knows if Cebu city has any plans for a waste water treatment facility at par with what Manila water utilities provider doing now?

^^Sir, you may course through your inquiries to Sir Paul known in this forum as zidlakan.

Thank you for your reply brother, I hope sir Paul can enlighten us on the subject.

Phl to start ODS phaseout
By Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star) October 06, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government will finally start to put an end to the use of harmful substances that deplete the earth’s ozone layer by 2013.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje announced the other day that a freeze order on the importation of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) more than a year from now.

He said the ban on ozone-depleting substances (ODS) is pursuant to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, to which the Philippines is a signatory.

“Starting 2013, we are putting a cap on the importation of HCFC to 2,644 metric tons (MT) — the country’s average import of HCFC from 2009 to 2010,” Paje said.

From the base level of 2,644 MT, the HCFC import will be gradually reduced by 10 percent, to 2,3796 MT by 2015; 35 percent to 1,718.6 MT by 2020; then 67.5 percent, to 859.3 MT in 2025.

Paje said that from 2030 to 2039 the DENR would allow the import of the substance to only 66.1 MT annually, representing 2.5 percent of the base level, for the continued use of the servicing sector.

HCFCs are a group of ODS controlled by the Montreal Protocol and comprise the last of eight ODS groups to be phased out pursuant to the Protocol.

The other ODS that have already been phased out in the country include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 11, 12, 113, 114, halon 1301 and 1211, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroforms.

HCFC consumption in the Philippines is attributed to HCFC-22, more commonly known as R-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-123 and blends of HCFC-225.

HCFCs are commonly used as substitutes for CFCs in the foam blowing, refrigeration, fire extinguishing, solvent and servicing sectors.

Of these HCFCs, Paje said the DENR will prioritize the phaseout of HCFC-141b because it has the most ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of 0.11 as compared with HCFC-22 or R-22 with an ODP of .055 only, HCFC-123 with 0.02 and HCFC blends, from .025 to .033.

He said phaseout would initially cover the foam sector, particularly the polyurethane rigid foam in appliances, panels and sprays.

A total of 364.34 MT of HCFCs is projected to be phased out under the project, which is being implemented by the DENR through the Environmental Management Bureau in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Paje said a total of $2.26 million was granted to fund the project from Japan and the Multilateral Fund.

Near-extinct Philippine eagle shot dead (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/10/07/11/near-extinct-philippine-eagle-shot-dead)

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 10/07/2011 6:05 PM | Updated as of 10/07/2011 6:05 PM

MANILA, Philippines - An endangered Philippine eagle, one of only a few hundred left in the world, has been shot dead, a conservation group that had previously rescued the bird said Friday.

The 2-year-old female raptor was found last month with a bullet embedded in its carcass in a forest in the southern island of Mindanao, according to Dennis Salvador, head of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

Villagers who found the carcass -- which had been tagged with a radio transmitter by the foundation -- turned it over to Salvador's group this week, he told AFP.

In a press statement, the PEF said the eagle’s transmitter, leg band and some feathers and bones were first discovered by a forest guard on the banks of the Binagyuhan Creek in Sitio Mangilit, Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog.

Officials of the PEF and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources investigated the site and found more bones and feathers, the frame of the head, sternum and tail feathers, the leg and tarsus.

However, the eagle’s radio transmitter that was fitted prior to its release remains missing.

PEF said Hagpa’s satellite transmitter that was recovered had a “bullet-sized hole”, leading authorities to suspect that the eagle was shot.

The bird of prey, also popularly known as "monkey-eating eagle", is a one-meter (3.3-foot) raptor found only in the Philippines and whose numbers have declined due to hunting and deforestation.

"Even with all our hard work, if there is just one guy with a gun who decides to shoot the bird, he can undo everything," Salvador said.

He warned that the species, one of the world's largest and most powerful eagles, could become extinct within 20 years unless stronger measures are taken to protect the eagle and its habitat.

A farmer had captured the eagle in May 2010 when it tried to prey on his puppy.

He handed the bruised bird over to the foundation, which nursed it back to health and released it back into the wild tagged with the transmitter, Salvador said.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the animal as "critically endangered" and estimates that there may be only 670 birds left.

The PEF has released 6 eagles -- either bred in captivity or rehabilitated after injuries -- but 4 of them have since died, at least 3 of after being shot.

The eagle is the country's national bird and harming or capturing it is against the law, but people still hunt the creature for food or sport, Salvador said. - with a report from Agence France-Presse

West Tower's Rejoinder (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=735755)
BIZLINKS By Rey Gamboa (The Philippine Star) Updated October 10, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)

We are reprinting a letter that residents of West Tower Condominium and Barangay Bangkal sent in reaction to an article that appeared in another newspaper quoting claims made by First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) on the ongoing cleanup of the petroleum products that leaked from its Batangas-to-Pandacan pipeline.

The letter, sent to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was signed by Hector Z. Reyes on behalf of the Board of Directors of West Tower Condominium Corp. and Thelma D. Santos representing 250 Barangay Bangkal residents.

The rejoinder deals on several points raised by FPIC as written by Tina Santos for the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Sept. 30. Here are the salient points in the letter:

““…its waste treatment contractors are accredited and duly licensed wastewater treaters.”

“This is a lie. Check DENR’S website, www.emb.gov.ph/ hazardous/Treater, click on the List of Registered Treatment /Storage/Disposal (TSD) Facilities for Hazardous Wastes, one will see that both CH2MHILL and WSMSI are NOT accredited treaters by DENR.

““…FPIC has passed the bureau’s wastewater discharge analyses.”

“This is a lie. We took samples of the discharge into the estero and had the samples analyzed by an accredited DENR third-party laboratory, the same laboratory used by FPIC in its reports to DENR.

Direct to the estero

“The results showed these discharges direct to the estero contained large volumes of benzene, toluene, and xylene. The residents decried the fact the benzene is a carcinogenic chemical and that its disposal into the estero and into Manila Bay is a blatant violation of the Supreme Court mandate prohibiting the pollution of Manila Bay.

““Prior to any discharge, the hydrocarbon tainted water, which is estimated to have less than 0.1 percent hydrocarbon … is treated ….”

“This is misleading and has no basis in fact. FPIC claim is not backed by any actual laboratory report. On the other hand, we have submitted a complete set of laboratory reports in our complaint letter to Mr. Sheen of DENR. The report indicates that total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in substantial quantities are present in FPIC’s discharge to the estero.

Disregard for health and safety

“FPIC and DENR claim that “the laboratory tests of their discharge samples passed the allowable limits” set by DENR’s Mr. Sheen.

“The limits imposed in the Special Water Discharge Permit issued by Mr. Sheen to FPIC did not test for petroleum hydrocarbons. While it is public knowledge that the pollutant is fuel from FPIC’s leaking pipeline, DENR, strangely, imposed test parameters that only address typical effluents from industrial plants. It is not surprising, therefore, that the discharge passed these parameters since tests for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons were not included.

“Please note that the West Tower residents and now the Barangay Bangkal community have banded together to deplore this utter disregard for their health and safety by FPIC and now by the government’s DENR. We were already displaced by FPIC’s fuel spill, now the whole community is slowly being killed by their discharge of carcinogenic chemicals.

“We lament the fact that, all these months, DENR have allowed and continue to allow FPIC, et al to discharge petroleum hydrocarbons into the city sewers and the estero which result in the contamination and pollution of other communities in Pasay, Parañaque, and ultimately to Manila Bay.”

----------------------------------------------------------

We all know who the majority owner of this company. The sad thing is we don't hear anything about it in the mainstream media that they own.

West Tower's Rejoinder (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=735755)
BIZLINKS By Rey Gamboa (The Philippine Star) Updated October 10, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)

We are reprinting a letter that residents of West Tower Condominium and Barangay Bangkal sent in reaction to an article that appeared in another newspaper quoting claims made by First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) on the ongoing cleanup of the petroleum products that leaked from its Batangas-to-Pandacan pipeline.

The letter, sent to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was signed by Hector Z. Reyes on behalf of the Board of Directors of West Tower Condominium Corp. and Thelma D. Santos representing 250 Barangay Bangkal residents.

The rejoinder deals on several points raised by FPIC as written by Tina Santos for the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Sept. 30. Here are the salient points in the letter:

““…its waste treatment contractors are accredited and duly licensed wastewater treaters.”

“This is a lie. Check DENR’S website, www.emb.gov.ph/ (http://www.emb.gov.ph/) hazardous/Treater, click on the List of Registered Treatment /Storage/Disposal (TSD) Facilities for Hazardous Wastes, one will see that both CH2MHILL and WSMSI are NOT accredited treaters by DENR.

““…FPIC has passed the bureau’s wastewater discharge analyses.”

“This is a lie. We took samples of the discharge into the estero and had the samples analyzed by an accredited DENR third-party laboratory, the same laboratory used by FPIC in its reports to DENR.

Direct to the estero

“The results showed these discharges direct to the estero contained large volumes of benzene, toluene, and xylene. The residents decried the fact the benzene is a carcinogenic chemical and that its disposal into the estero and into Manila Bay is a blatant violation of the Supreme Court mandate prohibiting the pollution of Manila Bay.

““Prior to any discharge, the hydrocarbon tainted water, which is estimated to have less than 0.1 percent hydrocarbon … is treated ….”

“This is misleading and has no basis in fact. FPIC claim is not backed by any actual laboratory report. On the other hand, we have submitted a complete set of laboratory reports in our complaint letter to Mr. Sheen of DENR. The report indicates that total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in substantial quantities are present in FPIC’s discharge to the estero.

Disregard for health and safety

“FPIC and DENR claim that “the laboratory tests of their discharge samples passed the allowable limits” set by DENR’s Mr. Sheen.

“The limits imposed in the Special Water Discharge Permit issued by Mr. Sheen to FPIC did not test for petroleum hydrocarbons. While it is public knowledge that the pollutant is fuel from FPIC’s leaking pipeline, DENR, strangely, imposed test parameters that only address typical effluents from industrial plants. It is not surprising, therefore, that the discharge passed these parameters since tests for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons were not included.

“Please note that the West Tower residents and now the Barangay Bangkal community have banded together to deplore this utter disregard for their health and safety by FPIC and now by the government’s DENR. We were already displaced by FPIC’s fuel spill, now the whole community is slowly being killed by their discharge of carcinogenic chemicals.

“We lament the fact that, all these months, DENR have allowed and continue to allow FPIC, et al to discharge petroleum hydrocarbons into the city sewers and the estero which result in the contamination and pollution of other communities in Pasay, Parañaque, and ultimately to Manila Bay.”

----------------------------------------------------------

We all know who the majority owner of this company. The sad thing is we don't hear anything about it in the mainstream media that they own.

Sad indeed. But we'll just live with it; any information that the mainstream media doesn't want you to know, they'll just spike it!

:ohno::bash:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312109_291713614172930_117645804913046_1279911_138761484_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=291713614172930&set=a.118102668200693.18299.117645804913046&type=1&ref=nf)

we need more creative campaigns like this.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/316170_281389621880559_100000285709750_1104185_1173383869_n.jpg

Art Exhibit Protest against Obando Landfill
(OBANDO LANDFILL; The recently approved Obando Landfill converting 44.4
hectares of Salambao River in Obando Bulacan to a garbage dump.)

Opening - Oct 23, 2011 Sunday 6 PM
Km 0. Kanlungan ng Sining Rizal Park, Manila
(ART ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES)


-------------------------------------------------
Poster designed by: Mr. Wilfredo Offemaria Jr.
-------------------------------------------------
For Additional information please contact:
Mark Louie Gonzales
Mobile Number : 09473041080
-------------------------------------------------

mabuhaynews (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=281389621880559&set=a.281389508547237.75693.100000285709750&type=1&ref=nf)

Biologists discover seven new mice species in Luzon
QUEZON CITY, Philippines—A group of Filipino and American scientists have discovered seven previously unknown mammal species in Luzon.

The seven species are forest mice belonging to the genus Apomys and live only in a small part of Luzon. The discovery increased the number of native mammals – excluding bats – in the country’s largest island from 42 to 49, or up by 17 percent.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the discovery shows the diversity of species in the Philippines.

The international community has recognized that our country has among the highest rates of discovery in the world,” Paje said. “Filipinos should be aware of such discoveries, to show a collective pride and give a more positive meaning to the expression, ‘only in the Philippine

Two of the species live in, or are endemic to, Mt. Tapulao in Zambales; two in Mt. Banahaw; another two in the Mingan Mountains of Aurora Province; and the remaining specie in the Sierra Madre mountain range of northeastern Luzon.
http://mindoropost.com/2011/06/27/biologists-discover-seven-new-mice-species-in-luzon/

Skeptic finds he now agrees global warming is real
By SETH BORENSTEIN



WASHINGTON (AP) — A prominent physicist and skeptic of global warming spent two years trying to find out if mainstream climate scientists were wrong. In the end, he determined they were right: Temperatures really are rising rapidly. The study of the world's surface temperatures by Richard Muller was partially bankrolled by a foundation connected to global warming deniers. He pursued long-held skeptic theories in analyzing the data. He was spurred to action because of "Climategate," a British scandal involving hacked emails of scientists.

Yet he found that the land is 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) warmer than in the 1950s. Those numbers from Muller, who works at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, match those by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA.

Source (http://news.yahoo.com/skeptic-finds-now-agrees-global-warming-real-142616605.html)


Just an update about our anti coral/ endangered shell trade advocacy - as expected - govt is not moving its ass. BFAR is useless. And some environmentalist hangers-on are gone. We will go rogue and start releasing our data to the media and to everyone. We will release all the communications as well.

Skeptic finds he now agrees global warming is real
By SETH BORENSTEIN





Source (http://news.yahoo.com/skeptic-finds-now-agrees-global-warming-real-142616605.html)


Just want to highlight this portion of the article--the irony is just too amusing.

What's different, and why everyone from opinion columnists to "The Daily Show" is paying attention is who is behind the study.

One-quarter of the $600,000 to do the research came from the Charles Koch Foundation, whose founder is a major funder of skeptic groups and the tea party. The Koch brothers, Charles and David, run a large privately held company involved in oil and other industries, producing sizable greenhouse gas emissions.

(Background on the Kochs: in the US earlier this year the Koch brothers unexpectedly found themselves in the spotlight when they were accused of being behind the Wisconsin governor's efforts to eliminate the collective bargaining rights of the unions in that particular state (which, ironically again, was the first US state to provide such rights to public employees). Unions, by the way, tend to vote Democratic, and Democrats in turn typically support regulations (especially environmental) and raising taxes, both of which are viewed unfavorably by businesses in general.)

Next step for Dr. Muller--proving that AGW is occuring.


Just an update about our anti coral/ endangered shell trade advocacy - as expected - govt is not moving its ass. BFAR is useless. And some environmentalist hangers-on are gone. We will go rogue and start releasing our data to the media and to everyone. We will release all the communications as well.

When? Anyway, I wish you good luck--your steadfast commitment to this issue is admired and appreciated :)

:ohno::bash:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312109_291713614172930_117645804913046_1279911_138761484_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=291713614172930&set=a.118102668200693.18299.117645804913046&type=1&ref=nf)

we need more creative campaigns like this.

^^^^
so true there's a lot of environmental issues which people don't mind... great idea that through this colorful and heart-awakening campaigns people would do realize how important our environment.
http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1362148005508&id=9f8a9ce53d4a3dcaee68a7ff06fc3b9e

How Metro Manila smog caused New Year haze
By Dharel Placido, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - Record levels of air pollution from firecrackers worsened by the lack of wind and rains caused a blanket of smog to envelope a large portion of Metro Manila until the afternoon of New Year's Day, according to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Paje said that on New Year's Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources measured 2 levels of particulate matters or tiny solid particles suspended in air small enough to enter a person’s lung and cause serious respiratory ailments.

He said normal levels of particulate matters 10 (PM10) and 2.5 (PM2.5) are at 150 micrograms and 65 micrograms per cubic meter. But on New Year's Day, he said the PM10 levels reached as high as 950.

"There was no rain, no wind and there was really a lot of pollution....This is why up to 3 p.m., we still had smog. This is probably the reason why flights were diverted," he said in a radio dzMM interview.

The environment chief said he is planning to suggest a total ban on the public use of firecrackers by next year.

“Pinu-push talaga namin, at sinusuportahan ako ni President Aquino dito na kung pu-pwede, yung pag-celebrate ng New Year at pasko next year, ay wala nang paputok. At kung meron man, it has to be managed by the LGUs (local government units) only,” he said.

“Katulad sa ibang bansa, isang lugar lang, at yung LGUs lang ang pwedeng magpaputok. At manunuod na lang yung mga tao,” he added.

Paje noted that animal manure used as extenders in some firecrackers is to blame for the foul odor in the smoke.

Hyundai Asia Resources sustains reforestation activities
Jan 2 2012
http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/hyundai-asia-resources-sustains-reforestation-activities
Environment group Haribon Foundation has named Hyundai Asia Resources (HARI) as the highest single donor to the organization's reforestation efforts.

HARI, official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, planted 15,000 tree seedlings and made a donation to reforest a portion of Brgy. Cuyambay in Tanay, Rizal.

Hyundai planted the trees in two tranches--August 26 and September 3, 2011. With each HARI volunteer planting 33 trees, 12 hectares that was devastated by Typhoon Ondoy was covered with trees.

"We celebrate our partnership with Haribon and thank them for having given Hyundai this opportunity to serve our country in an enduring way," HARI president Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said.

Hyundai Asia Resources sustains reforestation activities
Jan 2 2012
http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/hyundai-asia-resources-sustains-reforestation-activities

Environment group Haribon Foundation has named Hyundai Asia Resources (HARI) as the highest single donor to the organization's reforestation efforts.

HARI, official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, planted 15,000 tree seedlings and made a donation to reforest a portion of Brgy. Cuyambay in Tanay, Rizal.

Hyundai planted the trees in two tranches--August 26 and September 3, 2011. With each HARI volunteer planting 33 trees, 12 hectares that was devastated by Typhoon Ondoy was covered with trees.

"We celebrate our partnership with Haribon and thank them for having given Hyundai this opportunity to serve our country in an enduring way," HARI president Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said.
You see, it's okay to be selling more gas-guzzling, smoke-belching automobiles if you just give to envi groups!

Pollution by Cars is Harming Our Environment More Than You Think
Posted: Jun 10, 2010

Pollution by cars is a major issue for most of modern-day societies. The pollution in air is comprised of many environmental attributes. It contains carbon monoxide, nitrates, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead, secondhand tobacco smoke and particulate matter. Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, is comprised of liquid and solid particles in the air. It is produced from road dust, tire fragmentation, vehicle emissions, power generation and industrial combustion, smelting and other metal processing, construction and demolition activities, residential wood burning, windblown soil, pollens, molds, forest fires, volcanic emissions and sea spray. These particles vary significantly in size, composition and origin.
Overloaded and busy streets of the USA contribute much to the deterioration of the air pollution issue. Carbon monoxide is a biggest constituent of air pollution. It is highly toxic, odorless and colorless gas. It is connected with incineration reaction in cars and other vehicles same with cigarette smoke. Carbon monoxide is dangerous due to the fact that when our body consumes it, the level of oxygen diminishes. Higher ranges of carbon monoxide is a danger to one's life. Minimal levels of CO if inhaled by the body in a long extent of time will still cause respiratory sickness. Too much exposure may lead to harmful health issues.. . . . more (http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/pollution-by-cars-is-harming-our-environment-more-than-you-think-2603997.html)

You see, it's okay to be selling more gas-guzzling, smoke-belching automobiles if you just give to envi groups!

^^
glad to know this news, automobile companies aiming for reforestation and taking concern in our environment.

Pollution by Cars is Harming Our Environment More Than You Think
Posted: Jun 10, 2010
more (http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/pollution-by-cars-is-harming-our-environment-more-than-you-think-2603997.html)

^^
on the other hand this seems sad but true :ohno:

Congress okays law against illegal logging

By Alexander Villafania

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Under House Bill 5485, those who have illegally occupied forest land or using it for commercial or business purposes will also be held liable.

In an effort to stem the destruction of the country's forest cover, the House of Representatives have recently approved in its third and final reading House Bill 5485 that seeks to impose life imprisonment against illegal loggers.

Also called Sustainable Forest Management Act filed by Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro), the bill provides protection, rehabilitation and sustainable management of the country's forests.

Full story here... (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/congress-okays-law-against-illegal-logging-041610986.html;_ylt=AqRdfPmt7CcZEJwsuFboNNvmV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTNkYnVra2thBG1pdAMEcGtnAzIxM2VhNzdjLWIwMDktM2E0MS05YWEzLTYwNzEzNjdlOGM1MQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbG5fbG9RYWxfZ2FsBHZlcgNmZjk5ODU1MC0zNzUzLTExZTEtOWI3YS02NTM5MDBmMTA3Njg-;_ylv=3)

Philippines seizes butchered pangolins

Wildlife authorities seized a huge shipment of meat and scales from up to a hundred slaughtered pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, officials said on Friday.
Their meat and scales were probably destined for China to be used in culinary delicacies, traditional medicine and handicrafts, the officials said.

No one was arrested in the seizure operations this week at Puerto Princesa airport on the island of Palawan, the only area where they can be found in the Philippines, said local conservation official Alex Marciada.

“We suspect, considering the volume of the scales, that between 80 to 100 individual (pangolins) were butchered,” Marciada, spokesman of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, told AFP.

The pangolin, which eats termites and ants, is a protected animal in the Philippines where it is considered “near-threatened” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to extensive hunting and habitat loss.

Full story here (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/123541/philippines-seizes-butchered-pangolins)

^^ Tsk2x...

Question here as well: How can the Philippines be environmentally sustainable or how can we care our environment when our neighbor is the biggest polluter in the world?

Philippines seizes butchered pangolins



Full story here (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/123541/philippines-seizes-butchered-pangolins)

No offense to the Chinese, but they have a voracious appetite for anything that is rare or endangered and it sucks that they have to go to other countries to sustain this most odorous cultural practice. People, rape and pillage your own fucking environment cause we're obviously doing a good enough job of that, that we don't need your help...

Congress okays law against illegal logging

By Alexander Villafania

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Under House Bill 5485, those who have illegally occupied forest land or using it for commercial or business purposes will also be held liable.

In an effort to stem the destruction of the country's forest cover, the House of Representatives have recently approved in its third and final reading House Bill 5485 that seeks to impose life imprisonment against illegal loggers.

Also called Sustainable Forest Management Act filed by Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro), the bill provides protection, rehabilitation and sustainable management of the country's forests.

Full story here... (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/congress-okays-law-against-illegal-logging-041610986.html;_ylt=AqRdfPmt7CcZEJwsuFboNNvmV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTNkYnVra2thBG1pdAMEcGtnAzIxM2VhNzdjLWIwMDktM2E0MS05YWEzLTYwNzEzNjdlOGM1MQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbG5fbG9RYWxfZ2FsBHZlcgNmZjk5ODU1MC0zNzUzLTExZTEtOWI3YS02NTM5MDBmMTA3Njg-;_ylv=3)



Wow, i'd love to see how they enforce this piece of legislation. The Philippine congress is soooo good at reacting but so pathetic at following up it may as well not enact any legislation at all.

Begging whale sharks stir debate in Philippines

Whale sharks begging for food in the central Philippines have sparked a debate on whether feeding the giant fish may ultimately be hurting the creatures, officials said on Saturday.

While the mayor of the coastal town of Oslob insists that the practice of feeding the whale sharks does no harm and is good for tourism, environmentalists have recommended that it be halted.

Fishermen in Oslob in the central resort island of Cebu have been feeding whale sharks with baby shrimp since the 1980s and now use this feeding to make the creatures rise to the surface of the water for the amusement of tourists.

Full story here (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9R-WJV3bznzj1lxOoKnsDN3aRzQ?docId=CNG.36c3f163965af959290ee2127d710e65.181)

Globe seen to be ‘greenest’ in Asean
BY MYLA IGLESIAS
http://www.malaya.com.ph/01062012/busi4.html

GLOBE Telecom Inc. yesterday said it will use alternative sources of power and renewable energy to power its state-of-the-art mobile cellsites to generate fuel savings of up to 60 percent.

Once the network modernization program is completed, Globe will have one of the "greenest" network infrastructures in the ASEAN region using solar and wind-energy-powered cellsites.

The company has started its modernization program, which involves network and IT transformations, to resolve issues on dropped calls, delayed text messages and slow broadband connections.

This will boost energy savings through reductions in its carbon footprint and power consumption, generating fuel savings of up to 60 percent.

Globe seen to be ‘greenest’ in Asean
BY MYLA IGLESIAS
http://www.malaya.com.ph/01062012/busi4.html
I never knew Globe employs "mobile cell sites"! Nyyyyyaaaaaakkkk!

Globe seen to be ‘greenest’ in Asean
BY MYLA IGLESIAS
http://www.malaya.com.ph/01062012/busi4.html

^^
this is great, having good intention in helping our environment and at the same time pursuing better commitment to a swift and reliable service.

ARMM, DENR ink reforestation pact

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2011/05/ramon_paje-298x224.jpg
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm “Sendong,” the national government and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have agreed to reforest some 2,500 hectares of denuded land in the ARMM, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and ARMM OIC Mujiv Hataman on Monday signed an agreement to reforest 2,500 hectares under the National Greening Program. The project, with a budget of just under P50 million, is the first joint undertaking between the national government and the ARMM since Hataman assumed the post of officer in charge last month.

Full story here (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/125407/armm-denr-ink-reforestation-pact?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

^^
kung ganito na lang sana lagi ang mga balita good joint projects sa pagtulong sa pagbangon sa pananalanta ng nagdaang kalimidad eh di mas maganda. sana ma-retain ang pagsasamahan nito at patuloy ang update ng sa gayon hindi mapabayaan ang nasimulang magandang hangarin :yes:-:yes: (http://www.dmcihomes.com/)

^^
kung ganito na lang sana lagi ang mga balita good joint projects sa pagtulong sa pagbangon sa pananalanta ng nagdaang kalimidad eh di mas maganda. sana ma-retain ang pagsasamahan nito at patuloy ang update ng sa gayon hindi mapabayaan ang nasimulang magandang hangarin :yes:-:yes: (http://www.dmcihomes.com/)
Hindi mo ba alam na meron ding mga balita na hindi lumalabas sa mainstream media dahil mismong may-ari ng mga medya o ang mga galamay nila ang tatamaan? When mainstream media doesn't want people to know, they just spike it!

Buti gov't press release ito, kung hindi, malamang dun sa kangkungan ma publish.

Donsol's mangroves: Conserving nature's resources

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3504/agri2.jpg

Three very different creatures are known to converge in the municipality of Donsol in Sorsogon: the most celebrated of course, are the whale sharks – largest of all fish and delightfully crisscrossed with bars and spots.

Next come fleets of tiny fireflies, dancing and drifting like ephemeral clouds of light.

Finally, legions of people trudge each summer to chance upon both the largest and smallest denizens of Donsol.

All three creatures intertwine, seemingly held in perfect balance.

“Whale sharks congregate in Donsol because of all the plankton,” according to WWF-Philippines project manager Raul Burce.

“Plankton consume nutrients discharged by Donsol’s still-healthy rivers, one of the few habitats where fireflies still thrive. Remove mangroves and the fireflies shall be driven off. Without the healthy rivers needed by fireflies, plankton populations cannot bloom – and the whale sharks will migrate elsewhere. If one component crashes, the others follow suit. This can be catastrophic for the people of Donsol,”Burce warned.

Tourism has transformed Donsol into a boomtown.

A total of 24,191 local and foreign visitors swam with the gentle giants from December to June 2011.

Donsol’s Municipal Tourism Office estimated that the 2010 season alone generated over P100 million ($2.3 million) from transportation, food, lodging, registration fees, plus whale shark, mangrove and firefly tours.

Around P20 million ($465,000) was retained by the local government, bolstering incomes and improving lives.

Jasmine Yanson, a 36-year old mother of seven, admitted, “Malaking tulong ang turismo sa mga taga-Donsol. Nakabili kami ng bangka, kagamitan sa bahay at nakatapos rin ng pag-aaral ang mga anak ko.” (Tourism gave us a big boost. We were able to buy an outrigger boat, household appliances, plus my children were able to finish school.)

It is, thus, important to conserve not just whale sharks, but mangroves and other critical ecosystems which ensure the livelihood of Donsolanos.

Full story here (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=767807&publicationSubCategoryId=77)

Shangri-La hotels drop shark fin from menu

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 01/17/2012 6:44 PM | Updated as of 01/17/2012 6:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines -- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced on Tuesday that it would stop serving shark fin dishes in its 72 hotels and resorts as part of its "sustainable seafood policy."

The Hong Kong-based hotel chain said it would also phase out blue fin tuna and Chilean sea bass in all its operated restaurants within the year.

"The new policy is a continuation of Shangri-La's journey toward environmental support," Shangri-La said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/01/17/12/shangri-la-hotels-drop-shark-fin-menu

Hindi mo ba alam na meron ding mga balita na hindi lumalabas sa mainstream media dahil mismong may-ari ng mga medya o ang mga galamay nila ang tatamaan? When mainstream media doesn't want people to know, they just spike it!

Buti gov't press release ito, kung hindi, malamang dun sa kangkungan ma publish.

^^
thanks for the info bro! :)

Shangri-La hotels drop shark fin from menu

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 01/17/2012 6:44 PM | Updated as of 01/17/2012 6:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines -- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced on Tuesday that it would stop serving shark fin dishes in its 72 hotels and resorts as part of its "sustainable seafood policy."

The Hong Kong-based hotel chain said it would also phase out blue fin tuna and Chilean sea bass in all its operated restaurants within the year.

"The new policy is a continuation of Shangri-La's journey toward environmental support," Shangri-La said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/01/17/12/shangri-la-hotels-drop-shark-fin-menu

^^
glad to hear this, one of the country's well-known hotel Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts having ethical standards in serving their dishes (sustainable seafood policy) within the year. Hoping that other business establishment would also have a policy that help conserve our environment in their own little way. :yes:-:yes: (http://www.dmcileasing.com/)

Philippines pushes tobacco – for fish farming

Agence France-Presse
6:11 pm | Thursday, January 19th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has launched a new campaign promoting tobacco — not for smoking but for fish farming, a government tobacco agency official said Thursday.

Over six months, about 400 fish-farmers in the northern coastal province of La Union will be using “tobacco dust” to kill mollusks and other predators that prey on fish, said Rex Teoxon of the National Tobacco Administration.

“We are going to train the fisher folk and the whole community on sustainable aqua culture using the tobacco dust,” said Teoxon, head of the agency’s corporate planning department.

The drive is part of an effort to find alternative uses for the crop in the face of the global anti-smoking campaign.

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/40395/philippines-pushes-tobacco-for-fish-farming

Endangered sea turtles lay 1.44M eggs in Tawi-Tawi

MANILA, Philippines--It's a baby boom in Turtle Islands as conservation efforts broke a 28-year record to produce 1.44 million green turtle eggs in a protected sanctuary in Tawi-Tawi, Conservation International (CI) Philippines on Friday.

A total of 14,220 green turtle nests were recorded on Baguan Island in 2011, up from the 12,311 nests recorded in 1995, CI Philippines, citing figures obtained from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), announced.

An average of 101 eggs are laid per nest and with 14,220 nests in 2011 an estimated 1.44 million eggs of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were laid last year, Orlando Maliwanag, CI Philippines official for its Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape Project told INQUIRER.net.
CI Philippines said the number of laid eggs was an all-time high since recording of nesting started in 1984.

"With an average of 90 percent hatching success and 1 percent survival rate up to sexual maturity, Baguan in 2011 alone could contribute up to 13,000 to the adult turtle population," Trono said.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/24121/endangered-sea-turtles-lay-1-44m-eggs-in-tawi-tawi

.

House inquiry to pin down Lanao execs on illegal logging

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is set to conduct an inquiry into the reported involvement of local government officials, environment officers and police and military forces in the unabated illegal logging operations in Lanao del Sur despite the total logging ban.

The inquiry was prompted by House Resolution 2042 filed by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City), Maximo Rodriguez (party-list Abante Mindanao) and Vicente Belmonte Jr. (Iligan City) that also extended the appreciation of the people of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities for President Aquino’s move to create a task force that will look into the cause of the devastation wreaked by tropical storm “Sendong” in Northern Mindanao.

Heavy rains brought about by Sendong caused major rivers to overflow, triggering flashfloods that killed over 1,200 people in the two cities and left more than a thousand others missing.

Rodriguez said officials responsible for the illegal logging operations in Lanao del Sur, which aggravated the flashfloods, must be held accountable.

Read more here... (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/house-inquiry-pin-down-lanao-execs-illegal-logging-160042382.html;_ylt=ArJytG2_xWAdzvBfKFr7KjDmV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTNnMHNnZmhoBG1pdAMEcGtnAzI4Nzk4ODJkLWMwMDEtM2ZiMi04ZTY5LTBmMzlkYjE3ZWY2NQRwb3MDNgRzZWMDbG5fUGhpbFN0YXJfZ2FsBHZlcgM2NGY2OWRiMC00YTkyLTExZTEtOTY1NS0zNjM5YjdjNTMwMjQ-;_ylv=3)

Read more here... (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/house-inquiry-pin-down-lanao-execs-illegal-logging-160042382.html;_ylt=ArJytG2_xWAdzvBfKFr7KjDmV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTNnMHNnZmhoBG1pdAMEcGtnAzI4Nzk4ODJkLWMwMDEtM2ZiMi04ZTY5LTBmMzlkYjE3ZWY2NQRwb3MDNgRzZWMDbG5fUGhpbFN0YXJfZ2FsBHZlcgM2NGY2OWRiMC00YTkyLTExZTEtOTY1NS0zNjM5YjdjNTMwMjQ-;_ylv=3)

That's the usual thing in our country! There are laws that don't get implemented. Since laws are supposed to be for the good of the citizenry, officials should have followed these to the letter. But they kept a blind eye on those violations.Then we loose lots of lives!

Sort of just knee-jerk reactions of our officials when disasters happen! When will we be proactive enough?

Related:

"Philippines Tops Natural Disasters List"

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/349474/philippines-tops-natural-disasters-list

‘Pyramids’ planted to revive corals off Boracay

9:04 pm | Thursday, February 9th, 2012

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2012/02/boracay-300x210.jpg

MANILA, Philippines—Thousands of small “pyramids” are being planted off the Philippines’ famous Boracay resort island in an effort to bring its nearly destroyed coral reefs back to life, an environment group said Thursday.

Over 300 of the structures were planted this week off Boracay’s coast and eventually about 5,000 will be placed in the sea, according to Sangkalikasan (Nature) which is behind the effort.

“This is like putting garden soil for ideal growth on land. We are doing the same concept in the sea,” Jose Rodriguez, vice chairman of the group, told AFP.

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/25445/pyramids-planted-to-revive-corals-off-boracay

WWF launches Earth Hour 'dare campaign' for Filipinos

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SBloowO9pdQM5fYLNzxhzA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zODQ7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-PH/News/loQal/yahoo-feb15-story1-wwf1.jpg
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) follows a more personal approach in launching Earth Hour 2012 with a campaign that empowers Filipinos to perform a personal dare by asking everyone to do their part to save the planet.

Dubbed the “I Will If You Will” campaign, it uses the YouTube video platform to urge people worldwide to take a creative leap from the annual lights out event, said Earth Hour Philippines national director and lawyer Gia Ibay.

The concept of “I Will If You Will” centers around the fulfillment of a “social contract between two parties.”

It aims to connect one person, business, or organization to a “promise to reduce carbon footprint” and their friends, family, customers or members to a “personal dare or challenge”—uniting them behind the common goal of creating a positive environmental outcome.

The promise can range from recycling, to switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, turning off your mobile charger when not in use, or signing up for paperless banking, explained Ibay.

Read more here... (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/wwf-launches-earth-hour-dare-campaign-filipinos-051407296.html;_ylt=AkUKuJzOZYSODb5swyv7yG7mV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTN2cGU0dHYwBG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gTmF0aW9uYWxTU0YEcGtnAzc0ZTEwZGRhLWZhYjEtM2NmYy1hMGQxLTNlMGNlOGU4NTg0OQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDanVtYm90cm9uBHZlcgNlYmU0MDk0OC01N2FiLTExZTEtYmZhZi1hYmFjY2E1NWRlNmQ-;_ylg=X3oDMTF2M3NpaDUyBGludGwDcGgEbGFuZwNlbi1waARwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANwaGlsaXBwaW5lcwRwdANzZWN0aW9ucwR0ZXN0Aw--;_ylv=3)

Which is which?

Global Cooling is Here
Evidence for Predicting Global Cooling for the Next Three Decades

by Prof. Don J. Easterbrook

Global Research, November 2, 2008
Department of Geology, Western Washington University

INTRODUCTION

Despite no global warming in 10 years and recording setting cold in 2007-2008, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC) and computer modelers who believe that CO2 is the cause of global warming still predict the Earth is in store for catastrophic warming in this century. IPCC computer models have predicted global warming of 1° F per decade and 5-6° C (10-11° F) by 2100 (Fig. 1), which would cause global catastrophe with ramifications for human life, natural habitat, energy and water resources, and food production. All of this is predicated on the assumption that global warming is caused by increasing atmospheric CO2 and that CO2 will continue to rise rapidly.http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/glcool1.jpg
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/globalcool2.jpg
Figure 1. A. IPCC prediction of global warming early in the 21st century. B. IPCC prediction of global warming to 2100. (Sources: IPCC website)
However, records of past climate changes suggest an altogether different scenario for the 21st century. Rather than drastic global warming at a rate of 0.5 ° C (1° F) per decade, historic records of past natural cycles suggest global cooling for the first several decades of the 21st century to about 2030, followed by global warming from about 2030 to about 2060, and renewed global cooling from 2060 to 2090 (Easterbrook, D.J., 2005, 2006a, b, 2007, 2008a, b); Easterbrook and Kovanen, 2000, 2001). Climatic fluctuations over the past several hundred years suggest ~30 year climatic cycles of global warming and cooling, on a general rising trend from the Little Ice Age.

PREDICTIONS BASED ON PAST CLIMATE PATTERNS

Global climate changes have been far more intense (12 to 20 times as intense in some cases) than the global warming of the past century, and they took place in as little as 20–100 years. Global warming of the past century (0.8° C) is virtually insignificant when compared to the magnitude of at least 10 global climate changes in the past 15,000 years. None of these sudden global climate changes could possibly have been caused by human CO2 input to the atmosphere because they all took place long before anthropogenic CO2 emissions began. The cause of the ten earlier ‘natural’ climate changes was most likely the same as the cause of global warming from 1977 to 1998.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/globalcool3.jpg
Figure 2. Climate changes in the past 17,000 years from the GISP2 Greenland ice core. Red = warming, blue = cooling. (Modified from Cuffy and Clow, 1997)
Climatic fluctuations over the past several hundred years suggest ~30 year climatic cycles of global warming and cooling (Figure 3) on a generally rising trend from the Little Ice Age about 500 years ago.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/globalcool4.jpg
Figure 3. Alternating warm and cool cycles since 1470 AD. Blue = cool, red = warm. Based on oxygen isotope ratios from the GISP2 Greenland ice core.

Relationships between glacial fluctuations, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and global climate change.

After several decades of studying alpine glacier fluctuations in the North Cascade Range, my research showed a distinct pattern of glacial advances and retreats (the Glacial Decadal Oscillation, GDO) that correlated well with climate records. In 1992, Mantua published the Pacific Decadal Oscillation curve showing warming and cooling of the Pacific Ocean that correlated remarkably well with glacial fluctuations. Both the GDA and the PDO matched global temperature records and were obviously related (Fig. 4). All but the latest 30 years of changes occurred prior to significant CO2 emissions so they were clearly unrelated to atmospheric CO2.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/globalcool5.jpg
Figure 4. Correspondence of the GDO, PDO, and global temperature variations.
he significance of the correlation between the GDO, PDO, and global temperature is that once this connection has been made, climatic changes during the past century can be understood, and the pattern of glacial and climatic fluctuations over the past millennia can be reconstructed. These patterns can then be used to project climatic changes in the future. Using the pattern established for the past several hundred years, in 1998 I projected the temperature curve for the past century into the next century and came up with curve ‘A’ in Figure 5 as an approximation of what might be in store for the world if the pattern of past climate changes continued. Ironically, that prediction was made in the warmest year of the past three decades and at the acme of the 1977-1998 warm period. At that time, the projected curved indicated global cooling beginning about 2005 ± 3-5 years until about 2030, then renewed warming from about 2030 to about 2060 (unrelated to CO2—just continuation of the natural cycle), then another cool period from about 2060 to about 2090. This was admittedly an approximation, but it was radically different from the 1° F per decade warming called for by the IPCC. Because the prediction was so different from the IPCC prediction, time would obviously show which projection was ultimately correct.

Now a decade later, the global climate has not warmed 1° F as forecast by the IPCC but has cooled slightly until 2007-08 when global temperatures turned sharply downward. In 2008, NASA satellite imagery (Figure 6) confirmed that the Pacific Ocean had switched from the warm mode it had been in since 1977 to its cool mode, similar to that of the 1945-1977 global cooling period. The shift strongly suggests that the next several decades will be cooler, not warmer as predicted by the IPCC.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/globalcool61.jpg
Figure 5. Global temperature projection for the coming century, based on warming/cooling cycles of the past several centuries. ‘A’ projection based on assuming next cool phase will be similar to the 1945-1977 cool phase. ‘B’ projection based on assuming next cool phase will be similar to the 1880-1915 cool phase. The predicted warm cycle from 2030 to 2060 is based on projection of the 1977 to 1998 warm phase and the cooling phase from 2060 to 2090 is based on projection of the 1945 to 1977 cool cycle.


HERE (http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10783)

its better to cool down than to heat up... right? but i think the major impacts are the countries lying near our earth's poles?

its better to cool down than to heat up... right? but i think the major impacts are the countries lying near our earth's poles?

It's better to have a bit of a stable temperature or slow, minute changes in the environment so as to allow the human race to adapt by way of the normal mutation.

As to which areas are impacted most, it depends on which way the temp trends will be. Cooling will trap most of the water in the polar caps and the seawater levels to drop; warming gets to drown some low-lying areas as the waters rise.

mutations?

I'm gonna have scales and gills when sea level reaches Mayon peak:D


or thick feathers, I mean fur when Manila snows:D

mutations?

I'm gonna have scales and gills when sea level reaches Mayon peak:D

or thick feathers, I mean fur when Manila snows:D

Parang xmen may mga aliases sila base sa mga powers nila

What's your power?

The ability to bend my gender.

Ok, I'll call you a Gender bender :lol:

Ok, how bout you?

I can botch brain surgeries

Ok, you'll be the Malpractice. :lol:

And you?

I have the power to spread gossips at both ends of the milky way galaxy.

So you'll be the Gossip Queen. :lol:

mutations?

I'm gonna have scales and gills when sea level reaches Mayon peak:D


or thick feathers, I mean fur when Manila snows:D
Stocked-knowledge from school years of long ago!

Since you are at a loss, I tried surfing the web for you:

Lamarck's theory:
(Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de la Marck (Bazentin, Somme, 1 August 1744 - Paris, 18 December 1829)
Read as: Jan batiste Piyar Antwan de Mone, Tsuvalye du la Mark "In essence, a change in the environment brings about change in "needs" (besoins), resulting in change in behavior, bringing change in organ usage and development, bringing change in form over time — and thus the gradual transmutation of the species."

Just found this on the internet..Amazing transformation! anything can be done!

Pasig River Beautification Project
http://i.imgur.com/fRPOE.jpg

Question:

Do we need to create artificial reefs to conserve our natural reefs?

Question:

Do we need to create artificial reefs to conserve our natural reefs?
Bigat mo namang magtanong dyan!

Hindi ako marine biologist ha, pero sa ganang akin lang, reefs are important for the marine life to grow in number. Kakapit dyan yang mga halamang dagat na siyang nagbibigay din ng shelter at food source ng ibang mga isda at iba pang animals dyaan. Kung masira ang mga iyan, dapat punan upang hindi mawawala ang mga isda at iba pang marine life.

Pero, ang hindi ko makuha yung sabi mong "to conserve our natural reefs". Sira na nga, iko-conserve mo pa? Artificial reefs will ultimately be gone, replaced by natural reefs which should have grown in time when the artificial ones get worn-out.

^what I meant by the phrase "to conserve our natural reefs" is to prevent further devastation. If we have artificial reefs then tourists, divers, and fisherfolks can come to them instead of the natural ones.

^what I meant by the phrase "to conserve our natural reefs" is to prevent further devastation. If we have artificial reefs then tourists, divers, and fisherfolks can come to them instead of the natural ones.

I think there is no relationship between dropping artificial reefs from "preventing further damage" to the natural reefs. The provision of artificial reefs are done to supplement what was damage and useless natural ones, hence give the marine life a lease.

If I were to do a cause and effect analysis, I would point out eradicating dynamite fishing, bottom-scraping drag nets, etc. (as causes) and then our natural reefs will not get damaged anymore (effect)

Parang xmen may mga aliases sila base sa mga powers nila

What's your power?

The ability to bend my gender.

Ok, I'll call you a Gender bender :lol:

Ok, how bout you?

I can botch brain surgeries

Ok, you'll be the Malpractice. :lol:

And you?

I have the power to spread gossips at both ends of the milky way galaxy.

So you'll be the Gossip Queen. :lol:
gender bender, nice parang gusto ko na gamitin. LMAOOOOOOO:lol:
I prefer Gossip Prince:lol: pag queen kasi need mo pa hihingi ng pahintulot mula kay XP

I think there is no relationship between dropping artificial reefs from "preventing further damage" to the natural reefs. The provision of artificial reefs are done to supplement what was damage and useless natural ones, hence give the marine life a lease.

If I were to do a cause and effect analysis, I would point out eradicating dynamite fishing, bottom-scraping drag nets, etc. (as causes) and then our natural reefs will not get damaged anymore (effect)

You are right with the cause and effect thingy. However, you forget that there are OTHER causes of damage as well.

If we have artificial reefs on top of natural reefs (cause) then fishermen, tourists, divers, etc. will have OTHER places to go to OTHER THAN the natural reefs (effect).

This implies we PRESERVE natural reefs and divert all human activities to artificial reefs.

Anyways, this debate aside. Do we need to put up additional artificial reefs?

You are right with the cause and effect thingy. However, you forget that there are OTHER causes of damage as well.

If we have artificial reefs on top of natural reefs (cause) then fishermen, tourists, divers, etc. will have OTHER places to go to OTHER THAN the natural reefs (effect).

This implies we PRESERVE natural reefs and divert all human activities to artificial reefs.

Anyways, this debate aside. Do we need to put up additional artificial reefs?

Yeah, you didn't spell it out like that the time you posted. I can only imagine what you meant when you said dropping artificial reefs!

Those questions of yours really need marine biologists to weigh things on what to do. I was talking about generalities and please don't take my replies as the only right answer. Perhaps other posters well-versed with these things can help answer your questions.:cheers:

Yeah, you didn't spell it out like that the time you posted. I can only imagine what you meant when you said dropping artificial reefs!

Those questions of yours really need marine biologists to weigh things on what to do. I was talking about generalities and please don't take my replies as the only right answer. Perhaps other posters well-versed with these things can help answer your questions.:cheers:

Sorry for not being more detailed in my initial post.

Do we have marine biologists in this forum?

Mining areas 'poorest' in country

| More |
Friday, March 2, 2012

MANILA -- Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN foundation, said Friday that the poorest areas in the country are those engage in mining.

Lopez, in the conference on Mining's Impact on Philippine Economy and Ecology, said Filipinos can get out of poverty if they invest in their islands and not in mining.

"Poorest areas in the country are mining areas ...so what track record does mining have to speak of?" she said.

People in mining areas don't benefit from it, she added.

"We're 7,107 amazing islands. We can get our people out of poverty if we invest in our islands.

Lopez also said our country can address poverty by investing in eco-system, backing sustainable tourism as an alternative to mining.


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/02/mining-areas-poorest-country-209142

Dear Friends,

I have posted simllar below write-ups in Agriculture Threads, but wish to touch base with the issues herein as I some readers my not browse through.
==============

Water or water coming from rain should be a welcome phenomena and not a curse as what is now happening to our homes, subdivisions, cities etc., Flooding, here and there and everywhere rain strikes causes so much misery and problems, millions of property lost and damaged.
This natural, renewable resource abundant and provided by mother nature should be harnessed and managed properly to ensure that this "free resource" is utilized to the fullest.
Once people realize that there is so much value in these rain water - through the use of Aquaponics systems, I believe that our outlook towards water conservation will change. Every drop of rain will be valued when we propagate the concept of aquaponics.
Green plants absorb energy from the sun and can influence weather and climate change. That means the more we plant the more we are able to speed up absorption of energy and transform these energy into green plants and food itself. The government has always worked on tree-planting and reforestration. However, we can do our part within backyard, housing units and our communities as well so that we can give our forest the chance to heal itself.
Aquaponics for those who are not familiar with this concept is the production of fish and vegetables/greens. It is a combination of hydroponics(soiless production of plants) and aquaculture. In short the plant "feeds" the fish and the fish feeds the plant. This concept and the many practical application of which can and should be used in designing green buildings or site development and urban planning.
Green Building focus mostly has been on energy savings and efficiency, however, adaption of this concept will enhance energy savings considering that utilizing aquaponics in food production (healthy, fresh, organic) in the building/residences can already start a distributed system of food production as opposed to "Centralized Farming or Fishing". In aquaponics - production of fish and vegetables are already done nearest to the cosumer/end user.
Hence, there is no need to transport food all the way down to the consumers as hi-density quality-fresh food production is readily available within the community itself.
Issues related to climate change, floodings, are one of the many aspects that can be addressed when incorporating the concept of aquaponics. Apart from the concept of food production (decentralized) it can provide localized jobs and address socio-economic problems such as job opportunities, illegal-gambling,drugs,fishing(overfishing) etc., which is a result of having no work opportunities.
Likewise, the environmental impact - forest, seas, lakes and rivers can now be addressed if people are given an alternative source of income and job opportunity.
Fiinally, eco-tourism can be promoted vigorously consider we are a clean and green country. Tourish are provided, fresh, clean, organic, chemical free, pesticide free, fish and vegetables.
Check us out at facebook.
www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics

Just found this on the internet..Amazing transformation! anything can be done!

Pasig River Beautification Project
http://i.imgur.com/fRPOE.jpg


Beautiful results from concerned citizens, I don't know much about this program and updates but my query is if this beautification is sustainable?

By sustainable, what I mean is that the river can clean itself (???) Fish may start to thrive, how is this system maintained (??) If we want nature to work for us, we have to give nature the "framework" to work by itself.

Congress okays law against illegal logging

By Alexander Villafania

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Under House Bill 5485, those who have illegally occupied forest land or using it for commercial or business purposes will also be held liable.

In an effort to stem the destruction of the country's forest cover, the House of Representatives have recently approved in its third and final reading House Bill 5485 that seeks to impose life imprisonment against illegal loggers.

Also called Sustainable Forest Management Act filed by Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro), the bill provides protection, rehabilitation and sustainable management of the country's forests.

Full story here... (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/congress-okays-law-against-illegal-logging-041610986.html;_ylt=AqRdfPmt7CcZEJwsuFboNNvmV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTNkYnVra2thBG1pdAMEcGtnAzIxM2VhNzdjLWIwMDktM2E0MS05YWEzLTYwNzEzNjdlOGM1MQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbG5fbG9RYWxfZ2FsBHZlcgNmZjk5ODU1MC0zNzUzLTExZTEtOWI3YS02NTM5MDBmMTA3Njg-;_ylv=3)


Illegal logging, illegal fishing, illegal drugs, illegal gambling, illegal prostitution, illegal squatters, topping up with 4.5 million involuntarily hungry filipinos, I hope that the Philippine Government will oneday look into the simple solution of using aquaponics technology and educate the people towards a better way of producing fish and vegetables.

If people are provided assistance and have an alternative I believe so much "illegals" can avoided and putting in resources to "watch" this illegal can now be utilized to other productive and beneficial activities.

Teaching people how to fish(with vegetables) instead of giving them "fish", that is what aquaponics is all about.

I have visited government agencies - BFAR, DA, LGU's, and no one seems to be interested in this method of food production. It was a tremendous waste of time, money and resources on my part-more losses. Land Bank rejected my loan, because according to them there are no proven success of aquaponics in the Philippines. No proven success, no loans.

I hope through these forums here I can introduce this "simple technology" that works on sustainability, renewability and green(environmental protection). As I wrote to Land Bank, not all the things in life that counts can be counted (MONEY).

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z365/esoylegaspi/News%20related/th_LBNEWS-DA-TELLSTOGROWVEGETABLES-EASYSAIDTHANDONE.jpg

Many believe that eating vegetables is the right way to healthy living. However there are insidious things that go into our vegetables. Can DA 7 protect us?

DA 7 - (In Cebu) warns about purchase of vegetables and tell us to grow our own vegetables to be safe...easy said than done as the expression goes. On the other hand, we now have a chance to grow our own vegetables the easy way, no watering, no weeding, no fertilizer, no digging. Learn Aquaponics.

Beautiful results from concerned citizens, I don't know much about this program and updates but my query is if this beautification is sustainable?

By sustainable, what I mean is that the river can clean itself (???) Fish may start to thrive, how is this system maintained (??) If we want nature to work for us, we have to give nature the "framework" to work by itself.

ito ba yung sa may quiapo?dapat alisin nila lahat nkatira sa riverbanks, yung sa baclaran malapit sa mia mukhang madumi na naman uli,..

ito ba yung sa may quiapo?dapat alisin nila lahat nkatira sa riverbanks, yung sa baclaran malapit sa mia mukhang madumi na naman uli,..

Indeed, sustainable and renewal strategies to start with ourselves, each and every Filipino.

Those who have put all the efforts for cleaning the environment had very good ideas, however once implemented but cannot be sustained. In another thread, I saw a post of the great "filipino minds" and their contributon to science. Great ideas and wonderful, but the beneficiaries are other people or other countries. With 90 million filipinos, that is a handful that have brought honor to our country - including a boxer from the slums...

A foreigner once commented that Filipino homes are neat and clean, but how come when they go out, they make a garbage of their surroundings. Honestly, those creating those bad impressions are not really that many, perhaps 10 % of the population, but this 10 % is enough to destroy our image and the work that has been done by the 90%.

Aquaponics know-how provides some basic working principles on sustainable and renewable thinking. It poses a challenge to the practitioner and explores endless possibilities.

In Aquaponics, water is conserved and the only water that is lost is through evaporation. Those people who have fresh water fish aquarium in their homes maintain water quality by changing and throwing the water, in aquaponics, water "processing" is done naturally and works with the principles of nature. This is no rocket science and water can be conserved.

I believe that we have many great minds and great ideas that can tackle how to maintain and sustain and even improve on what has been started.

Are you ready to ask what you can do for your country and not what your country can do for you ????? This country can be far better than Singapore, there are only 10% people who are destroying our image because the 90% are divided and fragmented. We can really do effect a change..

Indeed, sustainable and renewal strategies to start with ourselves, each and every Filipino.

Those who have put all the efforts for cleaning the environment had very good ideas, however once implemented but cannot be sustained. In another thread, I saw a post of the great "filipino minds" and their contributon to science. Great ideas and wonderful, but the beneficiaries are other people or other countries. With 90 million filipinos, that is a handful that have brought honor to our country - including a boxer from the slums...

A foreigner once commented that Filipino homes are neat and clean, but how come when they go out, they make a garbage of their surroundings. Honestly, those creating those bad impressions are not really that many, perhaps 10 % of the population, but this 10 % is enough to destroy our image and the work that has been done by the 90%.

Aquaponics know-how provides some basic working principles on sustainable and renewable thinking. It poses a challenge to the practitioner and explores endless possibilities.

In Aquaponics, water is conserved and the only water that is lost is through evaporation. Those people who have fresh water fish aquarium in their homes maintain water quality by changing and throwing the water, in aquaponics, water "processing" is done naturally and works with the principles of nature. This is no rocket science and water can be conserved.

I believe that we have many great minds and great ideas that can tackle how to maintain and sustain and even improve on what has been started.

Are you ready to ask what you can do for your country and not what your country can do for you ????? This country can be far better than Singapore, there are only 10% people who are destroying our image because the 90% are divided and fragmented. We can really do effect a change..

We really don't need to argue long on a very clear problem as "solid waste management". People knew what the source of the problems are, people know how to solve the problems, but we don't want to solve it!

We really don't need to argue long on a very clear problem as "solid waste management". People knew what the source of the problems are, people know how to solve the problems, but we don't want to solve it!

90% of the people know that 10% of people are the problem. However, evil continue to exist and persist because the 90% do not do anything about it. For Evil to exist and prevail it is enough that good men/women do nothing.

Everybody hopes that somebody would do the job nobody would do. This ends up to nobody doing a simple job that anybody could do.

The simple promise can range from recycling, to switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, turning off your mobile charger, or vowing to go paperless. Let us all support "I WILL IF YOU WILL"!

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422034_385121278165678_381246948553111_1528404_1603977117_n.jpg

Beautiful results from concerned citizens, I don't know much about this program and updates but my query is if this beautification is sustainable?

By sustainable, what I mean is that the river can clean itself (???) Fish may start to thrive, how is this system maintained (??) If we want nature to work for us, we have to give nature the "framework" to work by itself.

you're right... those greeneries are just pure aesthetics... kapag umulan at bumaha mawawala rin yan at maaanod.

what we need is permanent transformation. we have to remove all the obstacles... including squatters and unwanted plants that can cause overflowing of rivers..

mainam ding solusyon ang pagpapalalim muli ng mga ilog to accommodate huge amount of water during rainy season.

you're right... those greeneries are just pure aesthetics... kapag umulan at bumaha mawawala rin yan at maaanod.

what we need is permanent transformation. we have to remove all the obstacles... including squatters and unwanted plants that can cause overflowing of rivers..

mainam ding solusyon ang pagpapalalim muli ng mga ilog to accommodate huge amount of water during rainy season.

As I am based in Cebu, I have no idea what is being done about this river but what I do know is that your suggestion is the first of the thousands of steps we have to go through.

The river is a valuable resource just like the roads and highways. That river has to be engineered-managed-maintained and not just the aesthetics that have been put in place. And this is true not only of Pasig but all rivers in the country. We have so many many many bright minds that are not put to use how to "engineer-manage-maintain" this river system.

The solution is in each and everyone of us waiting to be unleased. We don't have to work hard at it but just work smart. We can make this system cleaner than Singapore. The political will should start with us, because we are the BOSS.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422034_385121278165678_381246948553111_1528404_1603977117_n.jpg

The first step would be access to cleaner tap waters.

The first step would be access to cleaner tap waters.

Cleaner Tap Water - That is what you want and most people want, but how to get there begins with the political will in each of us to be the BOSS. To take charge and not let other people managed this for us.

Clean Tap Water will be the result of your being the BOSS to direct change and changes that you want.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422034_385121278165678_381246948553111_1528404_1603977117_n.jpg

I WILL, YOU WILL, is not GOOD ENOUGH, it is just another symptomatic treatment to the cancer, treating the symptoms. This must be, I WILL HAVE AND YOU WILL HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO BE THE BOSS. The power is in you to be the boss, you might not have realized that, the tools are in front of you.

Cleaner Tap Water - That is what you want and most people want, but how to get there begins with the political will in each of us to be the BOSS. To take charge and not let other people managed this for us.

Clean Tap Water will be the result of your being the BOSS to direct change and changes that you want.

point is: how can you convince people to abandon bottled water that are purified or distilled when you get high percentage of chlorine and much sediments from the tap water?

Do not forget that it is the government that supplies, controls, rations tap water. People are just the receiving end of it.

You cannot tell people to stop using this if you cannot offer better/safer alternatives.

How about YOU lobbying for safer tap water so that people will naturally and eventually abandon bottled water?

Water supplied to businesses are residential comes from ground water, not rivers, definitely not oceans

Propose a CONCRETE action. Not something too abstract.

Joel, I have seen your posts in other threads and you are TROLL promoting your BUSINESS!!!! In disguise of "environmental" facade.

just like how the "natural organic products" businesses based the mineral oil and petroleum jelly products.

bad, bad, bad marketing!

point is: how can you convince people to abandon bottled water that are purified or distilled when you get high percentage of chlorine and much sediments from the tap water?

Do not forget that it is the government that supplies, controls, rations tap water. People are just the receiving end of it.

You cannot tell people to stop using this if you cannot offer better/safer alternatives.

How about YOU lobbying for safer tap water so that people will naturally and eventually abandon bottled water?

Water supplied to businesses are residential comes from ground water, not rivers, definitely not oceans

Propose a CONCRETE action. Not something too abstract.

As I said, are you ready to be the BOSS and have the POLITICAL WILL to direct and effect changes, then I will tell you what to do next.

What an abstract rhetoric!

You are here for business, not for AWARENESS.

Troll!

Hello Everyone,
I started my aquaponics training program here in Mactan, Cebu. For a small fee, anyone interested to learn can come visit us for a half-day session enough to get you started.

Genuine people who genuinely care for the environment do not ask for a fee!!!

We don't have to work hard at it but just work smart. We can make this system cleaner than Singapore. The political will should start with us, because we are the BOSS.

I definitely agree with you ;) we are the real BOSS here and as a boss, our responsibility is to determine the right direction of our company. a bad boss is absent of the ability to lead by example...a bad boss shows no passion and provides little to no direction to his employees...it hinders real development as a whole and deprive their employees from room to grow.

we better act as one

I definitely agree with you ;) we are the real BOSS here and as a boss, our responsibility is to determine the right direction of our company. a bad boss is absent of the ability to lead by example...a bad boss shows no passion and provides little to no direction to his employees...it hinders real development as a whole and deprive their employees from room to grow.

we better act as one

If you are serious, get ready to kick some ass!!( Just kidding), That is two of us now..

Genuine people who genuinely care for the environment do not ask for a fee!!!

For you my special friend, it is free...

What an abstract rhetoric!

You are here for business, not for AWARENESS.

Troll!

An Internet troll is someone who posts offensive, controversial, or divisive material on an Internet community. Trolls are an unfortunately common occurrence on many communities across the Internet, and there are various steps which can be taken to combat them. If you are currently struggling with an Internet troll, the best thing to do is to walk away, since trolls feed on attention, and they will usually disappear if they are ignored.
======= My friend NABARTEK, can you please show me my post that is defined as offensive, controversial, divisive...===========

I like the statement at the start of this thread by the moderator - if you agree raise your hand, if you do not like my post - raise your standards...

An Internet troll is someone who posts offensive, controversial, or divisive material on an Internet community. Trolls are an unfortunately common occurrence on many communities across the Internet, and there are various steps which can be taken to combat them. If you are currently struggling with an Internet troll, the best thing to do is to walk away, since trolls feed on attention, and they will usually disappear if they are ignored.
======= My friend NABARTEK, can you please show me my post that is defined as offensive, controversial, divisive...===========

I like the statement at the start of this thread by the moderator - if you agree raise your hand, if you do not like my post - raise your standards...

You are troll because you are promoting your business here.

ha, advice for a small FEE.

There are many orgs there that I could get advice from for FREE not for a FEE

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16631/four-pangasinan-areas-affected-by-red-tide

Red Tide – Is this not the same “technology” used by the “Heavens” against the Egyptians during the time of Moses. Plague after plague due to stubbornness of the Egyptians to release the Isralites. We forget history and are bound to repeat the mistakes done by others.

The “Heavens” work with nature – our transgressions are our own makings. STD’s, Herpres, Gonorhea, Syphilis, AID’s etc., are the Heavens punishments against our “transgressions”. All these problems are self-induced, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. Nature only reacts and responds to our abuses against Mother Earth. This is no different when we get flooded. Abuse of our forest and trees and we get punished by the “heavens”. Lots of collateral damage from our greed, many innocent people have to pay for the greed of the few.

As skeptics would say - “The great flood could have been just mythical and imagination of some dubious authors ??”

Microalgae lamp that can absorb CO2 in the air 150x more than a tree

wuWDex5mh5Y

Malolos City bans use of plastic
by: Dino Balado
philstar.com (http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?articleid=791542)


MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Sale and use of plastics is now banned in Bulacan.

This after Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, styrofoam and related products in the province.

Alvarado described the new ordinance as a step to protect the environment, adding, “we inherit our environment from the previous generations of Bulakenyos, and we are duty-bound to preserve it.”

He added that the new ordinance will be implemented soon after the approval of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

The ordinance came about six months after Alvarado urged the Sangguniang Panglalawigan to pass a law banning use of plastic bags in public markets in the province.

The Sangguniang Panglalawigan expanded the measure to cover both public markets and all the 569 barangays in the province.

The ordinance carries the penalty of P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, for any violators.

Board Member Felix Ople, the author of the new ordinance, said the ordinance aimed to show that Bulakenyos care for the environment.

Ople also said the ordinance intends to remind both officials and citizens about the dangers posed by continued use of non-biodegradable plastics.

Malolos City bans use of plastic
by: Dino Balado
philstar.com (http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?articleid=791542)


MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Sale and use of plastics is now banned in Bulacan.

This after Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, styrofoam and related products in the province.




Good job Malolos!

More and more cities and towns are getting on board banning the use of non-biodegradable PLASTIC>

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16829/seafood-giant-sees-5bn-revenue-in-2015-via-growth

How can Thailand forecast to export 5 Billion USD in seafood while we are sleeping… Exporting OFW’s…

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16801/rm2-billion-lobster-farm-for-sabah

Malaysia setting up so 2 Billion RM lobster farm…while we are sleeping…opportunities "sleeping-away"

I know plenty of shallow-minded people who would prefer malls over trees but...

SM Started The Unthinkable at the Expense of the Trees
April 10, 2012 By Watwatworld

A few hours ago, we shed tears…

http://watwatworld.com/wp-content/uploads/122.jpg

After receiving a message that trees were already being cut by SM Employees, we immediately proceeded to SM, it was 12′oclock midnight. When we arrived, a group of young and old were already there trying to talk to the “tree cutters”. From a distance we could hear the sound of numerous “popping” hammers. The entire balcony of SM Baguio was covered with big ply woods. Luneta Hill was also surrounded with big GI Sheets, Ply woods and plastic covers. The SM Guards were armed and kept flashing their flashlights to the protesters.

By 1:00am, we heard heavy machines. There was an excavation going on in front of University of the Cordilleras (UC). The group ran in front of UC and started shouting and begging for the operators of the machines to stop. But nobody listened.Then suddenly, around 20 – 30 SM employees came down the hill and went to the area where Alnus Trees were planted. It was near the front area of COMELEC. When the branches of the Alnus trees started to shake, we knew that was it. The group ran again near the tree cutters and begged and begged and begged but to no avail. When the first Alnus tree fell… we cried. I saw tough young people cry. Some just sat down and started sobbing, some stayed tough but their tears were running down. It was a sorrowful early morning.

http://watwatworld.com/wp-content/uploads/210.jpg

After the first tree went down, it was followed by another…then another… The protesters shouted and begged. They “banged” the GI sheets to create noise but no one threw stones. After a few minutes, the police came. They talked to the protesters. I saw some of the youth leaders crying in front of them, explaining what they are doing. With the blessings of the Angels, it seemed that the Police understood them for the time being.

What is very ironic is the timing of the “drainage project” along Gov. Pack Rd. (the road leading to COMELEC and UC). The entire road was closed to traffic. The buses were relocated at the Baguio Convention Center. This move was simultaneous with the massive fencing of the Luneta Hill. People are already speculating that there was indeed a “sweetheart deal” between SM and the City Government.

This issue may end the political careers of some politicians and will leave their names tarnished forever. Unless they do some “pogi points” now to help save the trees. The people of Baguio City will never forget.

Remember, this generation is the “empowered” generation. Information is free flowing and “Gift Certificates” can not be hidden forever.

To the residents of Baguio City… WAKE UP! Your trees are being killed in your own backyard!

SOURCE: http://watwatworld.com/?p=2172

http://howtobuildthehouse.com/design-phases-and-stages

There should be a nationwide boycott of SM Malls... This is too much greed.

According to the articles of ABS-CBN, they have restraining orders to postpone cutting, yet they continued. And they are claiming that SM will "regreen" the area? It does not make sense

Ang nakakatawa, yung mall ng SM Baguio eh UMUUGA...lalo kapag may nagcoconcert tapos nagtatalunan mga tao.... :lol:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/search/node/sm%20baguio

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16883/researchers-find-evidence-of-banned-antibiotics

I do hope this is not happening to our food products in the Philippines. I hope that our BFAD are doing their part to protect us. The wise learn from the others, the fool learns from himself. For me, let us not make ourselves as the fool being used by “wise” to learn from the consequence of what “wise” will do to others before the “wise” does it to himself.

Scary indeed to know what goes into our food and all the consequences it would bring. If these can happen in the US what more to us in the Philippines, so help us God.

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16385/marine-life-decline-costs-philippines-35b


All these dramatic losses that our country is suffering, there is an option to provide for our people while addressing climate change, poverty, environment and provide a livelihood program for our people. I hope that someone influential can look into the solution of using the concepts of aquaponics to help alleviate our situation.
If only someone can take this to the attention of President Aquino, we have solution that can work that other countries have been using since time immemorial.

I know plenty of shallow-minded people who would prefer malls over trees but...

SM Started The Unthinkable at the Expense of the Trees
April 10, 2012 By Watwatworld

A few hours ago, we shed tears…

http://watwatworld.com/wp-content/uploads/122.jpg

After receiving a message that trees were already being cut by SM Employees, we immediately proceeded to SM, it was 12′oclock midnight. When we arrived, a group of young and old were already there trying to talk to the “tree cutters”. From a distance we could hear the sound of numerous “popping” hammers. The entire balcony of SM Baguio was covered with big ply woods. Luneta Hill was also surrounded with big GI Sheets, Ply woods and plastic covers. The SM Guards were armed and kept flashing their flashlights to the protesters.

By 1:00am, we heard heavy machines. There was an excavation going on in front of University of the Cordilleras (UC). The group ran in front of UC and started shouting and begging for the operators of the machines to stop. But nobody listened.Then suddenly, around 20 – 30 SM employees came down the hill and went to the area where Alnus Trees were planted. It was near the front area of COMELEC. When the branches of the Alnus trees started to shake, we knew that was it. The group ran again near the tree cutters and begged and begged and begged but to no avail. When the first Alnus tree fell… we cried. I saw tough young people cry. Some just sat down and started sobbing, some stayed tough but their tears were running down. It was a sorrowful early morning.

http://watwatworld.com/wp-content/uploads/210.jpg

After the first tree went down, it was followed by another…then another… The protesters shouted and begged. They “banged” the GI sheets to create noise but no one threw stones. After a few minutes, the police came. They talked to the protesters. I saw some of the youth leaders crying in front of them, explaining what they are doing. With the blessings of the Angels, it seemed that the Police understood them for the time being.

What is very ironic is the timing of the “drainage project” along Gov. Pack Rd. (the road leading to COMELEC and UC). The entire road was closed to traffic. The buses were relocated at the Baguio Convention Center. This move was simultaneous with the massive fencing of the Luneta Hill. People are already speculating that there was indeed a “sweetheart deal” between SM and the City Government.

This issue may end the political careers of some politicians and will leave their names tarnished forever. Unless they do some “pogi points” now to help save the trees. The people of Baguio City will never forget.

Remember, this generation is the “empowered” generation. Information is free flowing and “Gift Certificates” can not be hidden forever.

To the residents of Baguio City… WAKE UP! Your trees are being killed in your own backyard!

SOURCE: http://watwatworld.com/?p=2172

ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE. SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS, VERY DEARLY...AND LOTS OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE...AS ADDED SACRIFICES...

Paje: NGP on track to plant 1.5B trees by 2016

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje is confident of achieving its target of planting 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land by 2016 as part of the ambitious National Greening Program (NGP).
Paje, issued the statement confident that the government and its private sector partners can produce enough planting materials for the ambitious program with the establishment of a clonal facility scheduled from groundbreaking on Thursday, April 12, at the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) compound in General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City.

The environment chief, along with Science Secretary Mario G. Montejo will lead the groundbreaking ceremony. As far as seedlings production is concerned, Paje said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is on track. Planting materials will be made available before the rainy season when the planting season starts, he said.

....
Some 69.3 million tree seedlings have been planted under the NGP in more than 118,000 hectares so far. Of the total planted seedlings, five million consisted of indigenous species like yakal, kamagong, mayapis, molave, tindalo. toog and Philippine teak.

For this year, the NGP aims to raise about 114 million seedlings to be planted in over 200,000 hectares. Of the total seedlings, 14 million will consist of native tree species, according to Tamoria.

link (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/25652-paje-ngp-on-track-to-plant-15b-trees-by-2016)

the Oligarchs with their incompetent Yellow Puppet in position are getting to be abusive.

Aquino chided on lackluster environmental program (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/180849/aquino-chided-on-lackluster-environmental-program)

MANILA, Philippines—Two years into his presidency, President Aquino’s track record on environmental issues remains dismal and unimpressive, according to environment groups.

Greenpeace, in a statement to mark Earth Day on Sunday, said Aquino’s term so far featured broken promises and lackadaisical enforcement of environmental laws. In a separate statement, Kalikasan—People’s Network for the Environment—said the Aquino administration should step up in efforts to stop various forms of environmental degradation.

“So far, the government’s environmental performance under President Aquino remains unimpressive. While we laud the President’s efforts to seriously curb corruption in public service, which itself has a positive impact on environmental governance, such gains are being eroded by the lax enforcement of existing policies such as the Clean air Act and the Renewable Energy law,” said Von Hernandez, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Greenpeace also pointed out that the President, who promised to push renewable energy during his term, has been slow in fulfilling his campaign platform. Greenpeace lamented that Aquino’s Department of Energy has delayed the full implementation of the Renewable Energy Act by allowing discussions on the feed-in-tariff (FIT) rates for renewable energy to drag on, while permits were being given to investors in coal-fired power plants.

“Moreover, instead of pushing for the massive uptake of renewable energy as he promised, he is exacerbating the country’s dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels. His administration’s aggressive pro-coal agenda for Mindanao at the expense of clean, renewable alternatives is the biggest disappointment,” Hernandez said. :bash::bash:

(snipped)

70% of Philippine towns, cities flood-prone -- DILG

MANILA, Philippines -- Almost 70 percents of cities and towns in the country are susceptible to flooding and to motivate local governments to put disaster preparedness on top of their priority development agenda, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched the Seal of Disaster Preparedness for Floods (SDP) that will recognize the performance and efforts of local governments in institutionalizing disaster preparedness for floods.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said the Seal will be conferred on a local government which demonstrates an acceptable level of disaster preparedness and disaster preparedness response before and during floods, as an official symbol of excellence.

“Through the SDP program, we will not only provide incentives to LGUs that fared well on disaster preparedness, we will also be able to assess performance gaps, provide policy or program intervention based on the identified gaps, and monitor performance progress,” said Robredo.

The DILG Secretary said that covered under initial assessment for the SDP are the provinces, cities, and municipalities identified as high risk to flooding, with priority of assessment on local governments located in the 18 major river basins.

"We are focusing on the level of preparedness of LGUs on floods since flooding is a common incidence in the country,” he said.

Data obtained from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Mines and Geosciences Bureau and River Basin Control Office) show that 1,127 out of 1,634, or 69% of cities and municipalities are susceptible to river or flashfloods.

From 2009 to 2011 alone, more than P55-billion worth of infrastructure and properties were damaged by Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Sendong. Around 1,200 Filipinos, mostly in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, also perished during Storm Sendong in 2011.

Robredo said the Seal has two levels of assessment: the first level looks into disaster preparedness before a flood occurs; and the second focuses on disaster preparedness response during a disaster brought about by a high intensity flood.

To be assessed in the first level of assessment are the following: Leadership Structure (organization of the disaster risk reduction and management council and the disaster risk reduction and management office); Guide to Action (risk assessment and mapping, and institutionalized planning and budgeting); Disaster Preparedness (contingency planning, early warning and evacuation alert system, preemptive evacuation, stockpiling and equipping, technical competency and community awareness).

On the other hand, LGUs that qualified for the second level of assessment shall be evaluated based on the following criteria: Search and Rescue (trained personnel, response time, equipage, and zero casualty); Evacuation Center Management (adequate temporary shelter for evacuees, power, food and water supply, health and sanitation, counseling, and trained center management personnel).

Local governments who pass the first level assessment shall be given a Certificate of Recognition and are qualified for the level 2 assessment. Those who passed the second level shall be conferred with the Seal plus a Disaster Management Fund or disaster equipage.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30364/70-of-philippine-towns-cities-flood-prone----dilg

I don't know if it's already posted here.
Consider this... you be the judge
http://youtu.be/7EFMgBFxqbY

I don't know if it's already posted here.
Consider this... you be the judge
http://youtu.be/7EFMgBFxqbY

Even without SM, Baguio City has lost its tree cover since. They have planted house after house on those majestic green mountains! The problem has been overselling the place with no urban planning to guide its development, IMHO.

See for your self how Baguio looks:
http://www.freewebs.com/baguiobarkada/photos/Photo%20Gallery/baguio%20aerial%20view%201.jpg

Even without SM, Baguio City has lost its tree cover since. They have planted house after house on those majestic green mountains! The problem has been overselling the place with no urban planning to guide its development, IMHO.

See for your self how Baguio looks:
http://www.freewebs.com/baguiobarkada/photos/Photo%20Gallery/baguio%20aerial%20view%201.jpg

:ohno: talagang nakakapanghinayang

I thought I heard it 2x from Foxnews or CNN that according to their scientists the Arctic or Antarctic glaciers, but most of all the ones in central Asia are growing?

Meralco Taking The 'Smart Deal' For Power Grid, Electric Vehicles


Special Feature
By MYRNA M. VELASCO
May 2, 2012, 2:13am

As to bringing down the cost of the EVs, he noted that there are certain strategies and formulas to be followed. “If you want to roll it out with a critical mass, you have to determine what the critical mass would be able to afford. And therefore, you have to design the inputs that will enable you to achieve that. And once you’ve decided on the technology design, you have to look for a partner who would be able to work with you and that there should be an assurance of a market,” he stressed.

Ultimately, Meralco clings to a concept of being able to develop EVs that the Philippines or the company can claim to be its own – akin to what Mitsubishi has done for its i-MiEV plug-in electric car or Nissan with its Leaf. Only, in the case of the domestic power utility firm, it is something that it wants to create for the country’s public transport sector.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/358534/meralco-taking-the-smart-deal-for-power-grid-electric-vehicles

Davao's share of saving mother nature...

Davao bans plastic bags starting June 28

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By Antonio L. Colina IV
Tuesday, May 8, 2012

DAVAO CITY -- Non-biodegradable plastic bags and polystyrene foam as food and beverage containers will no longer be allowed in this city starting June 28, this year.

Polystyrene foam is more commonly referred to as Styrofoam and is widely used as fastfood container.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

City Councilor Melchor Quitain said in his privilege speech that this move abides by Section 7, Article V of the Ordinance 0361 series of 2010 or the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2009.

According to the ordinance, only recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable containers are allowed to be used as food and beverage containers.

"Starting June 28, 2012, the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and polystyrene foam as food and beverage containers is completely, totally, and absolutely banned in our city," Quitain said.

Also, Section 10, Rule VI of the ordinance’s implementing rules and regulations encourages the food and packaging industry to develop a more environmentally friendly container to replace the non-biodegradable ones.

Quitain said those who violate the implementation of the ordinance will face criminal liabilities and penal sanctions.

"No one can avoid criminal prosecution and conviction by claiming unawareness of the provisions of the ordinance, because ignorance of the law excuses no one," he said.

He also urged business establishments in the city to secure beforehand a substitute to the plastic and polystyrene plastic bags that they use for packing, so that they can better prepare when this ordinance takes effect next month.

"That way, there will be no hassle and abrupt disruption of business activities in the city," he said, adding that by doing this, violations against Ordinance 0361 can be avoided as well.

Quitain said he will also propose to the City Council the passage of a resolution to involve the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the City Legal Office, Business Bureau, and the Waste Management Board in the information drive to inform the public about the new ordinance

http://specials.sunstar.com.ph/tellittosunstar/

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16829/seafood-giant-sees-5bn-revenue-in-2015-via-growth

How can Thailand forecast to export 5 Billion USD in seafood while we are sleeping… Exporting OFW’s…

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16801/rm2-billion-lobster-farm-for-sabah

Malaysia setting up so 2 Billion RM lobster farm…while we are sleeping…opportunities "sleeping-away"

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/17229/viet-nams-fisheries-sector-sets-target-for-2012 (http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/17229/viet-nams-fisheries-sector-sets-target-for-2012)

Targeting billions of USD while we (Filipinos) are sleeping, dreaming while Vietnam is acting on their dreams.

www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics (http://www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics)
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics (http://www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics)

Obando SLF magiging ‘sementeryo’ ng kontaminadong burak

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS—Kinukunsidera ng Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) ang panukalang Sanitary Landfill (SLF) sa baybayin ng Obando bilang ‘sementeryo’ ng mga burak na konataminado ng nakakalasong kemikal na huhukayin mula sa kailugan ng Marilao at Meycauayan.

Ngunit nilinaw ng EMB na ang nasabing plano ay kailangag sumailalim sa intensibong environmental impact assessment (EIA) upang matiyak na ligtas ang pagdukal at paglilipat ng mga burak sa panukalang SLF na matatagpuan sa islang barangay ng Salambao sa Obando.

Samantala, ipinagmalaki ng EMB na gumanda na ang kalidad ng tubig sa kailugan ng Marilao at Meycauayan na noong 2007 ay napabilang sa 30 pinakamaruruming lugar sa buong mundo o “Dirty 30.”

Ayon kay Lormelyn Claudio, direktor ng EMB sa Gitnang Luzon, kinukunsidera nila ang panukalang Salambao SLF upang paglagyan ng huhukaying burak sa kailugan ng Marilao at Meycauayan dahil malapit lamang ito.


Gayunpaman, sinabi ni Claudio sa esklusibong panayam na “its not final yet, but we are considering the Obando Sanitary Landfill.”

Ipinaliwanag niya na kailangan pang makapasa sa isasagawang EIA study ang nasabing SLF bukod pa sa kailangang amyendahan ang environmental compliance certificate (ECC) nito

Sa kasalukuyan, sinabi ni Claudio na batay sa ECC ng panukalang Salambao SLF, ito ay maaari lamang tumanggap ng domestic wastes o mga basurang nagmumula sa mga tahanan.

Ipinaliwanag ng direktor na kung sakaling payagang tumanggap ng mga toxic o nakakalasong basura ng Salambao SLF, kailangan pang magtayo ng pasilidad para sa nasabing uri ng basura.

Ito ay upang matiyak na hindi kakatas at tatapon sa tubig ang kontaminadong burak na huhukayin mula sa kailugan ng Marilao at Meycauayan.

Noong nakaraang Marso, inihayag ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang planong dredging project sa nasabing kailaugan na nagkakahalaga ng P1.9-Bilyon.

Sa panayam ng Mabuhay kay Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson noong Marso 20, tiniyak ng kalihim na magihing ligtas ang paghukay sa ilog.

Ipinagmalaki niya na ito ay gagamitan nila ng makabagoing teknolohiya katulad ng tube technology, ngunit hindi niya ipinaliwanag kung paano iyon gagawin.

Matatandaan na ang kailaugan ng Marilao at Meycauayan ay napabilang sa inilathalang “Dirty 30” ng Blacksmith Institute noong 2007.

Batay sa pagsusuri ng Blacksmith Institute na naka-base sa New York, ang burak ng nasabing kailaugan ay kontaminado ng mga nakakalasong kemikal tulad ng mercury, chromium, lead at iba pang mga kemikal na nasa kategoryang heavy metal.

Ayon sa Blacksmith Institute, ang mga nasabing kemikal ay ay posibleng nagmula sa mga pabrika ng mga alahas, nga tanneries na gumagawa ng sapatos, at maging sa pabrika ng ng nareresiklo at gumagawa ng baterya.

Ito naman ay kinumpirma ng noo’y pamahalaang lalawigan ng Bulacan na nagsabing ang polusyon sa kailugan ng Marilao at Meycauayan ay sanhi ng mahigit 100 taong kapabayaan at kawalan ng ng malinaw na pamamahala.

Matapos namang ilabas ng Blacksmith Institute ang kanilang ulat, kumilos ang noo’y pamahalaang panglalawigan ng Bulacan sa pangunguna ni dating Gob. Joselito Mendoza.

Nagsagawa ng pag-aaral para sa rehabilitasyon at binuo ang Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando Rivers System (MMORS) Water Quality Management Area (WQMA).

Isa sa sa mga naging rekomendasyon sa MMORS-WQMA ay ang paghukay ng burak sa ilalim ng nasabing kailugan.

Ngunit hindi pumayag si dating Gob. Mendoza dahil sa hindi pa natutukoy noon ang teknolohiyang gagamitin.

Sa kanyang pahayag, sinabi ni Mendoza na kung hindi akma ang teknolohiya, posibleng pinsala ang ihatid ng paghuhukay sa ilog sa halip na rehabilitasyon.

Ito ay dahil sa ang mga burak na kontaminado ay iaahon at kung walang tamang paglalagyan, mas malaki ang posibilidad na makapinsala ito sa kalusugan ng mamamayan.

Samantala, ipinagmalaki ni Claudio na gumanda na ang kalidad ng tubig sa nasabing kailugan partikular na ang bio-checmical oxygen demand (BOD).

Sinabi nya na ito ay dahil sa mga interbensyon ng mga pabrika ng katad at alahas na nagsaipaglagay ng mga pollution control devices.

Bukod dito, ipinagmalaki rin ni Claudio ang pagtatayo ng sewerage facility sa Lungsod ng Meycauayan sa pangunguna ni Kint. Linabelle Villarica; at ang pagsasara ng mga open dumpsite sa gilid ng ilog ng Marilao at Meyvcauayan.

Gayunapaman, hindi matiyak ni Claudio kung bumaba na rin ang polusyon hatid ng mga heavy metals sa ilog dahil hindi pa sila muling nakapagsagawa ng pagsusuri.

Sinabi niya nab ago matapos ang taon ay muli silang magsasagaw ang pagsururi para sa heavy metal contents ng tubig mula sa MMORS. (Dino Balabo)




http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDyRYzXpXeE/T8F547fZzEI/AAAAAAAAA-s/36GWhnXM_ds/s1600/2011+salambao+slf+tutol.JPG


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YShTxEE0i-o/T8F20_U0fiI/AAAAAAAAA-g/YPDxAcdEHKg/s1600/2011+salambao+land+fill.JPG
Makikita sa larawan ang dalawang bangkero habang dumadaan sa gilid ng palaisdaan sa Brgy. Salambao, Obando kung saan itatayo ang Bulacan
Sanitary land fill. Ang Larawang ito ay kuha noong Agosto 2011.

mabuhaynews (http://mabuhaykalikasan.blogspot.com/2012/05/obando-slf-magiging-sementeryo-ng.html)

Aquaponics is planned to be used in conjunction with Vertical Farming and Renewable Energy to achieve ZERO WASTE or almost zero waste. That is in the US. Can we do something similar to this in the Philippines?? Fully integrated, self-sustainable, energy efficient system. Singapore - has built their ZERO Energy Building. Can we beat them to it by introducing a self-sustainable energy and food production included?

Please check out side below.

http://www.thebioenergysite.com/news/11083/vertical-farm-produces-zero-waste (http://www.thebioenergysite.com/news/11083/vertical-farm-produces-zero-waste)

www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics (http://www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics)
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics (http://www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/178955_366853083380403_732206298_n.jpg

Davao's share of saving mother nature...
Davao bans plastic bags starting June 28
http://specials.sunstar.com.ph/tellittosunstar/

Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/156127/albay-to-ban-plastic-smoking-coco-tree-cutting)

Same here in Albay:cheers: nice to know that little by little Philippine cities are starting to walk the green path.

Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/156127/albay-to-ban-plastic-smoking-coco-tree-cutting)

Same here in Albay:cheers: nice to know that little by little Philippine cities are starting to walk the green path.

May we know what's your substitute for plastic bags?

I believe Muntinlupa and many Laguna cities had already been using those brown paper bags for quite sometime now. For heavier grocery stuff, clerks use cardboard boxes.

^^ ... and customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable (green) bags :)

I believe Muntinlupa and many Laguna cities had already been using those brown paper bags for quite sometime now. For heavier grocery stuff, clerks use cardboard boxes.

Huh? "paper" in lieu of plastic? Meaning, we choose to use paper (from the trees in the forest) over plastics (processed petroleum)! Either way, the environmental impacts are the same.

It could only help unclogging waterways.

I hope those paper bags are made from recycled materials.

It could only help unclogging waterways.

I hope those paper bags are made from recycled materials.
Yep, I understand. The problem is waste management, IMO. But if we continue to cut trees for paper, the volume of runoff will be greater. even without clogged waterways, floods will be a constant thing in the future. Are we asking the wrong questions resulting into a counter-measure that's so backwards? The problem is, as always "people with bad habits".

dapat ibaon sa basura ang mga nagkakalat ng matauhan:D

sa Antipolo bawal na don plastic since nov. 2011 puro mga plastic people na lang natitira..hehehehe

^^ ... and customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable (green) bags :)Oh yes thank you, I forgot to point out that one as well. This might be the best & most practical option under the circumstances. No paper nor plastic is thrown to the bin. :D
Huh? "paper" in lieu of plastic? Meaning, we choose to use paper (from the trees in the forest) over plastics (processed petroleum)! Either way, the environmental impacts are the same.
True, I was about to include that in my post but thought you might point it out. Which you did. The officials need to find a more reasonable balance between chopping down more trees to using more plastic.
It could only help unclogging waterways.

I hope those paper bags are made from recycled materials.
True. Plastics are def non-biodegradable. It's a good thing that paper can indeed be recycled. However, we do not see any real recycling policy or ethic amongst the local folks. It's not really there yet.
Yep, I understand. The problem is waste management, IMO. But if we continue to cut trees for paper, the volume of runoff will be greater. even without clogged waterways, floods will be a constant thing in the future. Are we asking the wrong questions resulting into a counter-measure that's so backwards? The problem is, as always "people with bad habits".
I had heard that some farmers do plant fast growing commercial trees specifically for paper. Is that true? Tree farms in a controlled sort of way without resorting to slashing down more forest. Or an alternative as amigo suggested would be to recycle paper. But I had noted that people dont really have that recycling ethic yet. It's either paper is burnt or paper is thrown along with the rest of the biodegradables. So there is no recycling, if there is, kakaunti lang.

But back to your first post, maybe someone from government can draw a graph as to the optimum usage of paper vis-a-vis plastics whilst at the same time encouraging people to bring their own grocery bags. (bayong, tampipis anyone. :lol: :lol: no offense po to my wonderful friends at the prim and proper airport threads :hilarious)

Errrm *regaining composure* aaah yes, where was I.

You're quite right, we cannot do away with plastics altogether. Because plastics is still being used to wrap items like frozen meat, frozen fish, cheese, etcetera or those which require refrigeration.

May we know what's your substitute for plastic bags?

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.115.403.403/p403x403/64841_375781835774923_301955049_n.jpg

Eco-bags, Paper bags and the native abaca bags. here's a sample.

here http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430561_10150726029701756_652921755_11512654_532151564_n.jpg

big establishments like shopping malls, foodchains, department stores, bakeshops were obliged to provide eco-bags and paper bags as substitute to plastic. In the case of the public market, dapat may dala kang eco-bag pag mamimili ka.

40 new ant species found in the Philippines
By Jojo Malig, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 06/27/2012 7:27 PM | Updated as of 06/28/2012 2:22 AM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sites/default/files/a_images/animals/ants_isarog.jpg
Some of the new ant species discovered on Mt. Isarog by researchers from
Palawan State University and Harvard University. ZooKeys photo

Deforestation threatens unique ant species

MANILA, Philippines - Researchers have discovered 40 new ant species in the Philippines.

However, the discovery could be short-lived as deforestation and the destruction of the insect's natural habitat threaten ant species in the Philippines that are found nowhere else in the world, David General and his colleagues at the Palawan State University and Harvard University said in their paper published in ZooKeys science journal.

General told the OurAmazingPlanet website that the 40 new species of ants belong to 11 various genera (plural of genus), bringing the total number of genera to 92, which is twice the number of genera found in biodiversity-rich Madagascar.

One of the new species has a unique mouth and mandibles, which may have evolved for the ants to manipulate their environment, he added.

General and Harvard University's Gary Alpert said in their paper that there are 474 ant species and subspecies known from the Philippines and at least 100 other unidentified species based on museum specimens and recent collections.

"The total size of the ant fauna is no doubt much larger, almost certainly more than 1,000 species are present," they said.

The new ant species were discovered on Mt. Isarog, a dormant volcano in Camarines Sur province.

Guardian blogger GrrlScientist, an evolutionary biologist and ornithologist, told ABS-CBNNews.com on Wednesday about the discovery of the new ant species.

Biodiversity hotspot

In their paper, General and Alpert described the Philippines as a biodiversity hotspot.

"The Philippines is so ecologically diverse that it is very difficult to characterize the country in a single paragraph," they said, citing the different climate and weather systems in the country that change because of the country's varying topography.

"This complex blend of climatic diversity and opportunity for geographic isolation has likely led to high levels of endemism, a phenomenon that deserves much further exploration," they said.

In their paper, the scientists raised the specter of unique animal species being wiped out because of human activities.

"The Philippines is considered one of the hottest of the biodiversity hotspots because of the severe human pressure on its highly endemic native flora and fauna," they said.

"Time is running out for the the remaining primary forests. Despite decades of regulation and reforestation, forests continue to dwindle," they added.

The paper said all the privately reforested narra trees in their study site in 2003 and 2004 were poached by 2009, "wiping out 27 years of stewardship of the area."

"Even the stumps were removed. Forest destruction seems to go on unabated, exacerbated by new large-scale mining projects that seem to target the mineral resources under primary forests," it added.

Invasive species also threaten native ants, the researchers said.

They added that much is yet to be discovered by scientists undertaking ant research in the Philippines.

"The Philippine ant fauna is very poorly explored and records are few and spotty at best. A researcher can essentially choose a mountain among several hundred mountains, get the necessary permits and be the first one to study the ants on that mountain. However, that mountain may also be very disturbed or degraded, leaving only the tramp species that abound in disturbed habitats," the said.

"In addition to environmental damage, there is also an active communist insurgency and other serious security threats to researchers in the field. Other areas may harbor malaria mosquitoes and other serious health threats. Hence, local collaboration is quite necessary to minimize the risks of field work in the Philippines," they added.

Source (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/06/27/12/40-new-ant-species-found-philippines)

^^ Since we are into ants, I am tempted to quote Edward Wilson, one of the most influential biologists of the twentieth century, preeminent authority on ants and ardent naturalist.

“If human beings were to disappear tomorrow, the world would go on with little change. Gaia, the totality of life on earth, would set about healing itself and return to the rich environmental states of 100,000 years ago. But if invertebrates were to disappear, it is unlikely that the human species could last more than a few months. Most of the fishes, amphibians, birds and mammals would crash to extinction about the same time. Next would go the flowering plants and with them the physical structure of the majority of the forests and other terrestrial habitats of the world. The soil would rot. As dead vegetation piled up and dried out, narrowing and closing the channels of the nutrient cycles, other complex forms of vegetation would die off, and with them the last remnants of the vertebrates. The remaining fungi, after enjoying a population explosion of stupendous proportions, would also perish. Within a few decades the world would return to the state of a billion years ago, composed primarily of bacteria, algae, and a few other very simple multicellular plants.”

http://www.amazon.ca/In-Search-Nature-Edward-Wilson/dp/155963216X

We need Green Infrastructures like this. Awesome engineering from the Philippines. :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2:

Toll road to collect water, generate power
Philippine Daily Inquirer
9:59 pm | Saturday, July 7th, 2012

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/grapix_Tollway-2.jpg

It’s a road, a water catchment and a power generator all rolled into one.
The proposed North Luzon East Expressway seeks to cut travel time from Quezon City to Nueva Ecija by a third, collect water that can provide a week of Metro Manila’s needs and generate electricity of up to 120 megawatts (MW).

These features will make it the country’s first toll road with zero-carbon footprint, says its proponent, Ausphil Tollways Corp.

Its first stage of 18.9 kilometers will connect Commonwealth Avenue to Norzagaray, Bulacan. The second stage of 36 km is expected to reduce travel time to Cabanatuan City from Quezon City to just 45 minutes from 2 ½ hours.
It is estimated that the faster travel time would save motorists P1 billion in fuel and maintenance costs in one year. The road itself will become a huge impounding system that will collect and channel water through a series of ponds into the La Mesa reservoir. Before the water reaches the reservoir, it will be filtered by plants to eliminate pollutants.

The road is proposed to be built on the 60-meter-wide right of way where huge pipes underground carry water by gravity from Angat Dam all the way to the La Mesa reservoir in Quezon City.

Low-friction turbines are to be installed in the BNAQ6 line where 200-meter sections drop 12 meters, enough to provide head pressure to power a turbine that can generate 5 MW to 10 MW per section. Ausphil plans to build four turbine chambers along the 3.6-m diameter high-pressure steel pipe of BNAQ6.
Ausphil says the turbines can generate electricity that is substantially cheaper than the rates of Manila Electric Co. and may push down the cost of cement by 30 percent. Ricardo L. Penson, Ausphil president and CEO, says that three cement plants in Norzagaray, the initial target market of the road’s electricity, produce 70 percent of the country’s cement.

Should the project push through, it can help ease traffic congestion in Quezon City, save motorists time and money, provide drinking water to residents of Metro Manila and generate electricity for industry. Juan V. Sarmiento Jr.

1. WATER CATCHMENT

60-meter-wide right of way of the 18.9-km stage 1 from Quezon City to Norzagaray, Bulacan, equivalent to 114 hectares, will become a collection area.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/MAP_Roadway.jpg

It will generate, after absorption, a minimum of 15.3 million cubic meters
of rain water for the La Mesa reservoir.

A 16-meter wide concrete and 44-m wide earthwork design will collect and channel into ponds rainwater all by gravity. The water collected in ponds will go through a swale filtration system using a plant species that produce enzymes to eliminate pollutants in the rainwater.

The first 30 to 35 percent of water in the catchment is absorbed into
the ground and the rest channeled into a series of holding ponds. When
the assigned volume in the ponds is reached, water is gravity-fed or pumped into the La Mesa reservoir or the local water districts.

The initial 114-hectare catchment will cover 7 to 10 days of water
consumption of Metro Manila.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/MAP_WetLands.jpg

3. LOW-FRICTION TURBINES

There will be four turbine chambers along the BNAQ6 aqueduct line (underground, not along the road), which acts as a penstock to the hydro turbines.

Each turbine has a 1×5 MW (front) and 1x 2.5 MW (back) tandem or a total of 30 MW initially for four chambers. A 5-MW turbine is to be built in Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal.

One section is 200 meters long with a 12-meter fall or technical head pressure of 4,000 mld or 166 million liters per hour or 2.7 mlm (per minute) on a 3.6-meter diameter high-pressure pipe. The pressure is equivalent to 45,000 liters per second, enough to power 120 MW. Ausphil opted for just 35 MW.

Cheaper

Rule of thumb for generating power: $1 million/MW
Napocor Angat: $1.34 million/MW
Ausphil: $600,000/MW

Savings: $12 million for four
turbines

Initial target market: 3 cement plants in Norzagaray that produce 70 percent of the country’s cement (30 percent of their cost is power from diesel-fed generators). Ausphil says it can probably push down the cost of cement by P30 per bag.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/Graphics_Roadway.jpg


2. ROAD

Stage 1: Commonwealth-Norzagaray
–18.9 km at a cost of P7.25 billion
Stage 2: Norzagaray-Cabanatuan
–36 km at a cost of P4 billion

Savings for motorists:

–TIME: 45 minutes vs 2 ½ hours
from Quezon City to Cabanatuan

–MONEY (gas and oil maintenance):
P1 billion, according to the DENR, at 69,000 vehicles yearly
Carbon footprint: Zero

Unsolicited build-operate-transfer proposal submitted to the Philippine government in 2001. Rights of way from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System were obtained in 2003. Swiss challenge conducted in 2006 and the project was awarded to Ausphil in 2007.

Declared a toll road project by the Toll Regulatory Board in 2009.
Got a special mention from President Aquino in his first State
of the Nation Address in 2010.

Given the Green Infrastructure Award by Asia Infrastructure in 2004 and selected as one of the three transformational engineering projects
at the World Infrastructure Summit in Paris in 2011.

Source (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fopinion.inquirer.net%2F32185%2Ftoll-road-to-collect-water-generate-power&h=IAQEVMy2a)

I believe Muntinlupa and many Laguna cities had already been using those brown paper bags for quite sometime now. For heavier grocery stuff, clerks use cardboard boxes.

That is right. In some Laguna towns they reuse newspaper. Another suggestion is to buy bayong or some reusable bags. Here in Hanoi, everyone is still using plastic. I reuse the plastic for garbage.

We need Green Infrastructures like this. Awesome engineering from the Philippines. :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2:

Toll road to collect water, generate power
Philippine Daily Inquirer
9:59 pm | Saturday, July 7th, 2012

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/grapix_Tollway-2.jpg

It’s a road, a water catchment and a power generator all rolled into one.
The proposed North Luzon East Expressway seeks to cut travel time from Quezon City to Nueva Ecija by a third, collect water that can provide a week of Metro Manila’s needs and generate electricity of up to 120 megawatts (MW).

These features will make it the country’s first toll road with zero-carbon footprint, says its proponent, Ausphil Tollways Corp.

Its first stage of 18.9 kilometers will connect Commonwealth Avenue to Norzagaray, Bulacan. The second stage of 36 km is expected to reduce travel time to Cabanatuan City from Quezon City to just 45 minutes from 2 ½ hours.
It is estimated that the faster travel time would save motorists P1 billion in fuel and maintenance costs in one year. The road itself will become a huge impounding system that will collect and channel water through a series of ponds into the La Mesa reservoir. Before the water reaches the reservoir, it will be filtered by plants to eliminate pollutants.

The road is proposed to be built on the 60-meter-wide right of way where huge pipes underground carry water by gravity from Angat Dam all the way to the La Mesa reservoir in Quezon City.

Low-friction turbines are to be installed in the BNAQ6 line where 200-meter sections drop 12 meters, enough to provide head pressure to power a turbine that can generate 5 MW to 10 MW per section. Ausphil plans to build four turbine chambers along the 3.6-m diameter high-pressure steel pipe of BNAQ6.
Ausphil says the turbines can generate electricity that is substantially cheaper than the rates of Manila Electric Co. and may push down the cost of cement by 30 percent. Ricardo L. Penson, Ausphil president and CEO, says that three cement plants in Norzagaray, the initial target market of the road’s electricity, produce 70 percent of the country’s cement.

Should the project push through, it can help ease traffic congestion in Quezon City, save motorists time and money, provide drinking water to residents of Metro Manila and generate electricity for industry. Juan V. Sarmiento Jr.

1. WATER CATCHMENT

60-meter-wide right of way of the 18.9-km stage 1 from Quezon City to Norzagaray, Bulacan, equivalent to 114 hectares, will become a collection area.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/MAP_Roadway.jpg

It will generate, after absorption, a minimum of 15.3 million cubic meters
of rain water for the La Mesa reservoir.

A 16-meter wide concrete and 44-m wide earthwork design will collect and channel into ponds rainwater all by gravity. The water collected in ponds will go through a swale filtration system using a plant species that produce enzymes to eliminate pollutants in the rainwater.

The first 30 to 35 percent of water in the catchment is absorbed into
the ground and the rest channeled into a series of holding ponds. When
the assigned volume in the ponds is reached, water is gravity-fed or pumped into the La Mesa reservoir or the local water districts.

The initial 114-hectare catchment will cover 7 to 10 days of water
consumption of Metro Manila.

:cool: interesting article.

If I may, I'm also most interested in rehabilitating Laguna de Bai itself so that its water can be fit for human consumption again. It can be done with today's technology. Goodness, it's the biggest freshwater lake in the country. It's even far bigger than Singapore, yet the city state can generate more than enough water to supply all its expats, all its casinos, swimming pools, airport, townships, private clubs, central business district, hotels, zoos, etcetera. And we often hear of water shortages (the irony) in nearby Lake towns like Las pinas, paranaque, muntinlupa, that is inexcusable. Consider Fitness First Platinum Alabang, the water from its showers usually come in trickles or in low pressure whilst all Fitness First clubs in Singapore have strong water pressure.

Laguna de Bai = 911 km2 (352 sq mi)
Singapore = 704 km2 (272 sq miles)

We need Green Infrastructures like this. Awesome engineering from the Philippines. :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2:

Toll road to collect water, generate power
Philippine Daily Inquirer
9:59 pm | Saturday, July 7th, 2012

http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2012/07/grapix_Tollway-2.jpg



i like this project too... that's what I call "maximizing"

XPyjj0duObY

The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), also known as the golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare megabat and one of the largest bats in the world. In fact, the bat's wings are so long that it is often seen with them wrapped around the body like a cloak. The wings can end up being up to five feet wide when fully displayed and weigh about 2 ½ pounds. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction because of poaching and forest destruction. The only home of the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying-Fox is in the Philippines.

We must save these gorgeous creatures!:ohno:

:cool: interesting article.

(snipped)
Goodness, it's the biggest freshwater lake in the country. It's even far bigger than Singapore, yet the city state can generate more than enough water to supply all its expats, all its casinos, swimming pools, airport, townships, private clubs, central business district, hotels, zoos, etcetera.
(snipped)
IMO, it is becoming to be the biggest wastewater catchment basin in the country! Unless the government implements the Clean Water Act of the country, this once beautiful lake will be lost!

I am going rogue.

The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), also known as the golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare megabat and one of the largest bats in the world. In fact, the bat's wings are so long that it is often seen with them wrapped around the body like a cloak. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction because of poaching and forest destruction. The only home of the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying-Fox is in the Philippines.

We must save these gorgeous creatures!:ohno:

Indeed they are gorgeous! A pleasant surprise to me that we have another faunal species in our country that is so beautiful. The appearance is a giveaway that the bat is a mammal (not a bird); it looks like a fox or a dog.


This clip made me curious to see if there is a video of the tamaraw, and indeed there is one, uploaded October 2011.

NV3F7ziTnWw


But the accompanying text said that as of May 2011, there were only 274 individuals in the wild, compared to 374 in April 2010. And there is no success in the captive breeding program. It is sad that these magnificent species are near the brink of disappearing forever.

^^ If I were those officials concerned from DENR, I would really, really be alarmed. Compare those dismal numbers (274 down from 374)??? WTH. Genetic diversity anyone?

Compare that with the alarm bells raised by Cheetah conservationists. To date, the wild cat cheetah population ranges between 9,000 to 12,000 felines. Yet scientists are extremely worried about cheetah inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity despite those thousands of numbers. Yes, in almost all sites about the wild cat, the cheetah is in the endangered category; how much more for those paltry tamaraw numbers?? And here we are just watching our own national animal slide further down to oblivion, in typical pinoy lackadaisacal fashion, the bahala na. :ohno:

I dont mind the GGCFF (giant golden crowned flying fox) as a second national symbol. Gives a whole new twist to the Foxy Filo flying. :cool: :cool:

:cool: interesting article.

If I may, I'm also most interested in rehabilitating Laguna de Bai itself so that its water can be fit for human consumption again. It can be done with today's technology. Goodness, it's the biggest freshwater lake in the country. It's even far bigger than Singapore, yet the city state can generate more than enough water to supply all its expats, all its casinos, swimming pools, airport, townships, private clubs, central business district, hotels, zoos, etcetera. And we often hear of water shortages (the irony) in nearby Lake towns like Las pinas, paranaque, muntinlupa, that is inexcusable. Consider Fitness First Platinum Alabang, the water from its showers usually come in trickles or in low pressure whilst all Fitness First clubs in Singapore have strong water pressure.

Laguna de Bai = 911 km2 (352 sq mi)
Singapore = 704 km2 (272 sq miles)

Belgians was kicked out of Laguna De Bay to favor Chinese...poor Laguna Lake they may dam it as proposed and get damned the whole Capital Region.:ohno:

^^ If I were those officials concerned from DENR, I would really, really be alarmed. Compare those dismal numbers (274 down to 374)??? WTH. Genetic diversity anyone?

I dont mind the GGCFF (giant golden crowned flying fox) as a second national symbol. Gives a whole new twist to the Foxy Filo flying. :cool: :cool:

The absence of news, press releases and updates on the current plight of the tamaraw, the tarsier and other endangered Philippine species is puzzling, and alarming. It might even be the case that no government agency has assumed direct responsibility of safeguarding and protecting these animals. Very dire indeed.

The last news item about Laguna de Bai and unsustainability of the methods used by those big fishpen operators in the Lake. A portent of things to come. Did anyone ever wonder why the Oxygen got depleted? And if they had come around to that, are they taking any steps to enhance the oxygen supply of the Lake? Yea right, I guess not. Oh, that cockamamie alibi blaming the "weather" pushing down surface water and bottom water rising does NOT hold water, no pun! Coz we didnt see any fishkill in Taal Lake and other lakes within the same area such as Caliraya and the Seven Lakes of San Pablo. Weather my foot, geeeez. So the "weather" was only cruel in particular to Laguna de Bai?

Now for the nth time, the proper name is Laguna de Bai, original term Lake of the Laguna town called Bai. Do not confuse Bai, the old spanish named town, with the english word Bay. For the simple reason that the Lake is not a Bay, it is a Lake, for heaven's sakes a lake is not a bay, a bay is not a lake. The spanish Bai is not equal to bay. Hard? :ohno:



Dead tilapia found in Laguna de Bay
By Maricar Cinco
Inquirer Southern Luzon 10:50 pm | Friday, May 25th, 2012
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/200579/dead-tilapia-found-in-laguna-de-bay#close

SAN PEDRO, Laguna—The agriculture office in Calamba, Laguna province, on Friday ordered fish pen operators in their coastal area to bury the tons of dead tilapia plucked out from Laguna de Bay.

This was while they were waiting for the results of the water sampling tests by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) at the onset of a fishkill that hit parts of the lake. Results of the water test are expected to come out next week.

Calamba City agriculture officer Severino Caraan said that as of Friday, about 10 metric tons of dead tilapia were recovered from the Laguna Lake, particularly in the coastal villages of Masili and Sucol.

“The fish pen operators said the fishkill started last week but our office only received their reports on Monday,” Caraan said.

He said the fishkill has affected more than 20 fish pen operators, who reported losing around 60 kilos of tilapia daily in the past two weeks, equivalent to about P250,000 based on the farmgate price of P25 per kilo.

LLDA information officer Elsie Mistica said fishkills were also reported in Jala-jala, Rizal, and Pangil, Laguna, last week.

Oxygen depletion

Lake officials initially suspected oxygen depletion due to sudden weather changes in which the surface water is pushed down and the bottom water surfaces.

The same had happened in Taal Lake last year killing more than 700 metric tons of milkfish.

“However, we still have to wait for the water test results to conclude this,” Mistica said.

BFAR regional Inland Fisheries Reasearch Station chief Leah Villanueva, on the other hand, dispelled reports that the fishkill was linked to the proliferation of the knife fish in the lake.

The BFAR earlier confirmed the presence of the knife fish, an ornamental but carnivorous fish competing with the endemic tilapia and milkfish in the lake.

Fish cage operators in Taal Lake said there would be enough tilapia supply in the market, although they were worried about a massive “fish scare” which may also affect their produce from Batangas province.

“People may not distinguish which came from Laguna de Bay and which from Taal Lake,” said Mario Balazon of Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance Inc. To be on the safe side, he said, “one has to check the gills (they have to be red) to see that the fish is not spoiled.”

ito mga screen capture mula sa i-witness, uploaded via photobucket:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/b_dos/2-1.jpg


http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/b_dos/1-1.jpg

SANA MAGKAROON NG AWARENESS PARA SA KALAPASTANGANANG ITO!!! AANHIN NATIN ANG PROGRESO SA ISABELA KUNG GANITO ANG KAPALIT?!

post ko ito from isabela thread. unti-unti ng nasisira ang ilang bahagi ng sierra madre... sana maagapan natin bago tuluyang maubos ang isa sa mga natitirang matandang kagubatan sa pilipinas.

^^ A few details/links would help.

Roxas Boulevard trash flooding a grim reminder of lessons not learned (http://www.eco-business.com/news/roxas-boulevard-trash-flooding-a-grim-reminder-of-lessons-not-learned/)

A waste and pollution watchdog said Thursday that the mountains of garbage swept onto the Baywalk area along Roxas Boulevard in Manila Wednesday by a storm surge were proof that despite people’s unforgettable experience from Typhoon Ondoy, the community is still in the process of learning proper garbage disposal.

EcoWaste Coalition said many Filipinos—from all walks of life—have yet to unlearn the bad habit of indiscriminate trash disposal.

“The sea sent back the garbage from the land as if telling off pigheaded people that whatever you throw will return to you,” Edwin Alejo, EcoWaste Coalition coordinator said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Attorney Francis Tolentino said 48 garbage trucks have been collected from Roxas Boulevard after Wednesday’s water surge. :|:|

In an ocular inspection, MMDA crewmen said the “carpet” of garbage were a mix of “plastic bags and scraps, food wrappers, polystyrene materials, slippers, cigarette butts, plant and wood discards,” among other items.

“Discarded plastic bottles and other recyclable plastics and tin containers were quick to disappear from the piles as enterprising waste pickers collect and even fish them out of the sea with their improvised net trap,” the group noted.

EcoWaste cited statistics from the National Solid Waste Management Commission which says that of the 35,000 tons of waste the whole country produces each day, 8,400 tons are from Metro Manila.

“Improper waste disposal . . . is a threat to human health and the environment. . . It’s a precursor for other societal problems such as poor hygiene and sanitation, infectious diseases, chemical exposures, contamination of surface and ground waters, marine pollution, bleak tourism and even economic losses,” Alejo said.

(snipped)

:ohno::ohno::ohno:

Garbage piles up on Roxas Boulevard seawall (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/image/nation/metro-manila/08/01/12/garbage-piles-roxas-boulevard-seawall)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sites/default/files/a_images/events/calamities/20120801_roxas_flood-rem.jpg

:puke::puke:

buti wala pa naglagay ng more fun:D

Manila Yuck Club:

http://www8.gmanews.tv/webpics/v3/2012/08/640_seaoftrash.JPG


kulang talaga sa disiplina! :bash::bash: kung saan saan kasi tinatapon ang basura :bash::bash:


MMDA, nakahakot na ng 200 truckloads ng basura mula sa Roxas Blvd (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/268380/ulatfilipino/balitangpinoy/mmda-nakahakot-na-ng-200-truckloads-ng-basura-mula-sa-roxas-blvd)

Umabot sa 200 truckloads ng basurang isinampa ng malalaking alon sa Manila Bay sa Roaxas Boulevard ang nahakot ng Metro Manila Development Authority noong Biyernes.

Ito'y ayon kay Engineer Francis Martinez, hepe ng Metro Parkway Clearing Group ng MMDA sa programa ng ahensiya sa dzBB.

Ayon kay Martinez, may naiwan pa umanong 30 porsyento ng mga basurang ikinalat ng mga alon ang nakatakdang hakutin ng mga kawani ng MMDA, kasama ang iba pang volunteers na naglilinis sa Roxas Boulevard.

(snipped)

Garbage piles up on Roxas Boulevard seawall (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/image/nation/metro-manila/08/01/12/garbage-piles-roxas-boulevard-seawall)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sites/default/files/a_images/events/calamities/20120801_roxas_flood-rem.jpg

:puke::puke:
Ang dami naman niyan! Siguro yang dami ng garbage na yan noong panahon pa iyan ng panunungkulan ni GMA! Kasalanan ni GMA yan at hindi niya pinalinis ang Manila Bay!:bash::ohno::lol::nuts:

^^ ano kaya ang pwedeng isampa na kaso laban kay GMA para maikulong na ulit? :lol::nuts:

littering?:D

littering?:D

Hndi! "Noynoying" during her term/s!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-gatesfoundation-toiletsbre87e01k-20120814,0,1598091.story

Bill Gates is betting the toilet of the future for the developing world will be solar powered.

The world's leading private philanthropist handed a $100,000 prize to the California Institute of Technology on Tuesday for its work on a self-contained, sun-powered system that recycles water and breaks down human waste into storable energy.

His foundation announced $3.4 million in new funding on Tuesday for toilet projects being worked on by various organizations, bringing total investment in its "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge" to about $6.5 million.


fdwvuTrycYU&feature=plcp

_________________________________

Sign up! Free online courses from the most prestigious universities!!

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Renewable resources are important for power generation so we have to manage it for future needs.We provide professional management services for every phase of a power project and for nearly every conventional and alternative energy technology and are completely dedicated to the professional management of thermal and renewable power generation assets. And conservation of these energy resources are based on environmental protection.

power plant operational issue (http://www.sterling-energy.com/)

Cleaning Manila Bay of trash becoming impossible (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/08/27/12/cleaning-manila-bay-trash-becoming-impossible) :puke::puke:
ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel have been working non-stop since typhoon Gener to clear the garbage that has accumulated in Manila Bay, but their task seems insurmountable.

As of Monday morning, workers are still scooping up trash. Despite a massive cleanup last weekend, they said tons of plastic, wood, styrofoam, rubber, and other debris keeps on coming back.

The MMDA personnel are still hopeful that they will be able to rid the iconic landmark of garbage little by little. They said most of what they collect are old trash that have been floating around the bay and the surrounding breakwaters.

They concede however that if people keep throwing their trash indiscriminately, the problem will just keep coming back.

:ohno::ohno:

featured on Shanghai Daily:

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/NewsImage/2012/2012-08/2012-08-26/20120826_510150_01.jpg
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/World/2012/08/26/Tackling%2Btyphoon%2Bgarbage/

matuto na sana ang mga manilenyong kulang sa disiplina

:puke:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-gatesfoundation-toiletsbre87e01k-20120814,0,1598091.story

Bill Gates is betting the toilet of the future for the developing world will be solar powered.

The world's leading private philanthropist handed a $100,000 prize to the California Institute of Technology on Tuesday for its work on a self-contained, sun-powered system that recycles water and breaks down human waste into storable energy.

His foundation announced $3.4 million in new funding on Tuesday for toilet projects being worked on by various organizations, bringing total investment in its "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge" to about $6.5 million.


fdwvuTrycYU&feature=plcp




A solar powered toilet.... wait, are we gonna poo outside? :lol:


Kidding aside, if this projects succeed, this is really ground breaking. Who knows, household poo could eliminate expensive monthly electric bills :lol:

Sting forces venue switch in Philippines tree row

Agence France-Presse
October 20, 2012 | 1:47 am

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/entertainment.inquirer.net/files/2012/09/300x175wsting-1-300x175.jpg.pagespeed.ic.d54nLFK83D.webp
Sting

MANILA, Philippines—Rock superstar Sting has forced organisers to move his planned one-night show in the Philippines to another Manila venue amid a spat over pine trees involving the original hosts, it was announced Friday.

The Manila leg of his “Back to Bass Tour” on December 9 will now be hosted by Araneta Coliseum, instead of Mall of Asia Arena as originally announced, said his official website www.sting.com.

Earlier in the day, the local concert promoters informed the Arena that Sting had called off his show there, Arena general manager Arnel Gonzales said.

Read more: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/63734/sting-forces-venue-switch-in-philippines-tree-row

So what? Is climate heating up or cooling down? (http://forestindustries.eu/content/so-what-climate-heating-or-cooling-down)

For years there has been a strong divide between those that believe mankind is causing global warming and those that don't.

Now there is evidence that leading global warming scientists have been misleading the world for years, hiding - and possibility erasing - data that provides the earth has been cooling for the last 10 years.

Background
The Climatic Research Unit (CRU) is a component of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Founded in 1972, the CRU has been one of the leading institutions studying the study of natural and anthropogenic climate change (i.e. caused or produced by humans).

The small group of scientists who work with the CRU have been the most influential group driving the worldwide alarm over global warming. The CRU has reported the average temperature of the globe has been rising for the last 150 years. The have predicted that the world will warm to catastrophic levels unless trillions of dollars are spent to avert it. Their work is at the heart of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

What recently happened
The CRU collects climate data from sources around the world, but has never shared the raw data with the public.

Over the last year, the CRU has received numerous Freedom of Information requests for the raw data that all of the CRU's science and dire warnings were based upon. No raw data has been released.

This month, hackers broke into a server at the CRU and stole a large quantity of data, including more than 1,000 emails and more than 2,000 other documents, dated from March 1996 to November 2009.

The stolen emails, now public, document how the scientists kept contrary views out of peer-review literature, and worse yet, conspired to manipulate data to strengthen the evidence for anthropogenic climate change.

The University of East Anglia has confirmed the server's security breach. Dr. Phil Jones, Director of the CRU, has now confirmed that all of the leaked emails appear to be genuine.

What did the emails say?
In the emails, Dr. Jones mentions he was willing to delete the climate data file rather than sending it to a pair of skeptics that were interested in reviewing the research.

Here are some excerpts that were put together by the National Post:
From Phil Jones, head of the Climatic Research Unit at East Anglia University, to Ray Bradley, Michael Mann, and Malcolm Hughes, three U.S. scientists who have produced the controversial “hockey-stick graphs” that purport to show rapidly increasing temperatures in recent decades. Nov, 16, 1999.
“I’ve just completed Mike’s Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (i.e. from 1981 onwards) and from 1961 for Keith’s to hide the decline.”
From Kevin Trenberth, a lead author with the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to Michael Mann, on Oct 12. 2009. The email, titled “BBC U-turn on climate,” laments a BBC article that reversed its long-held position on man-made global warming.
“The fact is that we can’t account for the lack of warming at the moment and it is a travesty that we can’t. ... Our observing system is inadequate.”
From: Michael Mann, Oct 27, 2009
“Perhaps we’ll do a simple update to the Yamal post... As we all know, this isn’t about truth at all, its about plausibly deniable accusations.”
From: Edward Cook, June 4, 2003
“I got a paper to review (submitted to the Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Sciences), written by a Korean guy and someone from Berkeley, that claims that the method of reconstruction that we use in dendroclimatology (reverse regression) is wrong, biased, lousy, horrible, etc. ... If published as is, this paper could really do some damage … It won’t be easy to dismiss out of hand as the math appears to be correct theoretically (...) I am really sorry but I have to nag about that review — Confidentially I now need a hard and if required extensive case for rejecting.”
From: Tom Wigley, Sep 27, 2009
“So, if we could reduce the ocean blip by, say, 0.15 C, then this would be significant for the global mean — but we’d still have to explain the land blip. I’ve chosen 0.15 here deliberately. This still leaves an ocean blip, and i think one needs to have some form of ocean blip to explain the land blip (via either some common forcing, or ocean forcing land, or vice versa, or all of these).”
From: Phil Jones, Feb 2, 2005
“The two MMs [Canadian skeptics Steve McIntyre and Ross McKitrick] have been after the CRU station data for years. If they ever hear there is a Freedom of Information Act now in the UK, I think I’ll delete the file rather than send to anyone.”
From: Phil Jones, May 29, 2008
“Can you delete any emails you may have had with Keith re AR4? Keith will do likewise. He’s not in at the moment – minor family crisis. Can you also email Gene and get him to do the same? I don’t have his new email address. We will be getting Caspar to do likewise.”
From: Keith Briffa, Sep 22, 1999
“I know there is pressure to present a nice tidy story as regards ‘apparent unprecedented warming in a thousand years or more in the proxy data’ but in reality the situation is not quite so simple. We don’t have a lot of proxies that come right up to date and those that do (at least a significant number of tree proxies ) some unexpected changes in response that do not match the recent warming.”
From: Michael E. Mann, Mar 11, 2003
“I think we have to stop considering Climate Research as a legitimate peer-reviewed journal. Perhaps we should encourage our colleagues in the climate research community to no longer submit to, or cite papers in, this journal. We would also need to consider what we tell or request of our more reasonable colleagues who currently sit on the editorial board.”
From: Tom Wigley, Apr24, 2003
“Mike’s idea to get editorial board members to resign will probably not work — must get rid of von Storch too, otherwise holes will eventually fill up with people like Legates, Balling, Lindzen, Michaels, Singer, etc.”
From: Phil Jones, July 5, 2005
“If anything, I would like to see the climate change happen, so the science could be proved right, regardless of the consequences. This isn’t being political, it is being selfish.”

Read all of the e-mails:
Alleged CRU Emails - Searchable (http://www.eastangliaemails.com/index.php) [8]

The files that were leaked also include the Fortran code the CRU's climate models are based upon. Now that this code is public, people worldwide are pulling the code apart and coming to the same conclusion - the computer models themselves appear to be jerry-rigged and deeply flawed.

Why would the scientists and the CRU lie?

Why would Dr. Jones want to convince the world that global warming is real? Only Dr. Jones knows the answer. Was it a case of believing something so much he was willing to manipute data to support an idea? Some believe the answer is in the $22.6 million Dr. Jones has collected in research grants since 1990.

What now?

The CRU has now said they will release any data they have, but that most of the original data was deleted in the 1980's. Due to a lack of data storage availability, the CRU opted to save only “value-added” data, that is, numbers that have been manipulated. If this is true, and no original climate raw data exists, it is now impossible for anyone to replicate the findings of the CRU.

If all anthropogenic global warming theories are based on data and models that are now proven to be worthless, or non-existent, what does that mean now?

Does it mean we don't have to fear the dire warnings that the polar ice caps are melting? That the polar bears will soon be extinct? What about carbon credits?

Media coverage

Now being dubbed "Climategate", editorials in newspapers around the world are questioning why politicians and the UN have yet to acknowledge the damning evidence that man-made climate change science is bunk.

Lorrie Goldstein, of the Toronto Sun, wrote:

If you're wondering how the robot-like march of the world's politicians towards Copenhagen can possibly continue in the face of the scientific scandal dubbed "climategate," it's because Big Government, Big Business and Big Green don't give a s*** about "the science."

They never have.

What "climategate" suggests is many of the world's leading climate scientists didn't either. Apparently they stifled their own doubts about recent global cooling not explained by their computer models, manipulated data, plotted ways to avoid releasing it under freedom of information laws and attacked fellow scientists and scientific journals for publishing even peer-reviewed literature of which they did not approve.

Read more: Why 'climategate' won't stop greens" (http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/lorrie_goldstein/2009/11/26/11929676-sun.html)[9] (Toronto Sun)

Most of the outcry about ClimateGate is appearing in editorials, blog posts, and alternative news websites, most of the mainstream media has completely ignored this story despite the growing public outcry.
(snipped)

^^ Global Warming is a natural phenomenon. Worsening the precarious situation with further folly of manmade pollution like coal plant that you're a lapdog with is the culprit. Already Global warming induced warm sea surface temperatures SST furthermore exacerbated by thermal waste water flushed from your coal plants may trigger drastic and alarming consequences as water at high temperature expand at molecular level intesifying typhoons and worsening floods at record level, just as what occurred with the Sendong tragedy.

Philex spill ‘biggest mining disaster’ in PHL, surpassing Marcopper – DENR

(Exclusive) After months of recurring leakages, the Philex mine spill in Benguet has become the “biggest mining disaster” in the Philippines in terms of volume, but the company is seeking a clean-up option instead of paying the hefty fine of P1 billion, officials said.

Some 20 million metric tons of sediments have flowed into water channels from the Philex tailings pond in Itogon since its drainage tunnel was breached last August, according to a report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR).

This is ten times more than the volume of mine tailings that spilled out of the Marcopper mine in 1996 in Marinduque, which dumped some two million metric tons of waste into the Boac River and is still considered the worst mining disaster in terms of toxicity. Residents along the 27-kilometer Boac River lost their fishing livelihood and diseases have afflicted the community after the incident.

“In terms of volume, ito [Philex mine tailings spill] ngayon ‘yung biggest mining disaster in the Philippines,” MGB chief Leo Jasareno told GMA News Online in an exclusive interview last Friday.

Philex spokesperson Atty. Eduardo Aratas affirmed the statement: “Because of the volume [of the leak], it is really the biggest. But on the toxicity, it is not.”

Mining officials are still studying the toxicity levels of the wastes from the gold and copper mine that were deposited in nearby waterways after heavy monsoon rains led to a major breach in its drainage tunnel last August 1. About five "minor" recurrences have been reported since then, Jasareno said.

This week, the bureau is set to conduct a socio-environmental impact assessment of the tailings pond leak to determine the extent of the damage.

The DENR has slapped a hefty P1-billion fine, almost as much as the mining firm's taxes last year, on one of the country’s largest producers of gold and copper.

But Philex is reluctant to pay up, arguing that, “forces of nature cannot be prevented 100 percent.”

Aratas asserted, “Ang sinasabi ng management, sige if you fine us tapos na dapat [‘yung responsibility]. Or, if you order us to clean up, then gagawin namin ‘yun.”

The MGB chief is standing pat on the penalty. “Ang contention kasi ng Philex pagka-force majeure hindi sila dapat magbayad ng P1 billion. [Pero] dun sa provision ng Mining Act na kung saan namin hinugot yung parusa… wala namang nakalagay na hindi ka magbabayad kung force majeure,” Jasareno explained.

Balog Creek ‘biologically dead’

The penalty for violating other environmental laws – such as the Clean Water Act – will be imposed separately on Philex, Jasareno said. This will cost about P50,000 per day, in addition to a clean-up plan for the rehabilitation of damaged waterways.

The company has said that torrential monsoon rains caused a breach in its Tailings Pond 3 -- the largest in the country at 80 hectares -- which can hold up to 160 million metric tons of wastewater and sediments from the mining operations.

The leakage in what is currently the only operating tailings pond of Philex spilled waste into nearby water channels, particularly Balog Creek, which flows into the Agno River.

Last October, an environmental investigative mission declared Balog Creek "biologically dead" after it suffered the worst of the discharge, which was deposited along the 2.5-kilometer water channel.

The creek had turned gray, with the riverbed full of mud and the water brownish in color. There were no signs of frogs, dragonflies, aquatic plants or moss. The water was too murky to spot any fish.

According to the Philex spokesperson, the company is aware that the mining leak weighs heavily on the public’s perception of mining operations in the country.

“Ang face ng mining will be at stake [dito]. Ayaw din namin na i-fail,” said Aratas. “Hindi lang Philex kasi ito. We are carrying the burden of proving that mining is really responsible.”

Trust fund for communities

Jasareno said the fines would be placed in a trust fund that will be used to pay for the claims of affected residents or communities.

The MGB director added that the 57-year-old company would not be allowed to continue its operations “unless they are able to undertake the necessary remediation measures provided by law.”

“Dapat i-remedy nila, otherwise di [sila] bibigyan ng permit,” he pointed out.

According to Aratas, the company managed to plug the leak last September, but its operations remain suspended pending the clean-up of the mining spill.

In early October, President Aquino referred to the mining disaster, without naming Philex directly, when he told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines that reforms were needed in the mining law:
"In terms of revenues, our position is government gets something like less than 10 percent of what they (mining companies) make. But we have a hundred percent if there is a problem that crops up, meaning, for instance, one of the oldest firms – of mining firms – in the country suffered multiple failures of their tailings pond, and that redounds to quite a significant impact on the environment.

"We still stick with our position that there has to be a reformulation of the governing law with regards to the mining industry. And we would rather not continue the situation or also the risks until the remedies or the corrections in the mining laws will be corrected." – YA/HS, GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/281988/news/nation/philex-spill-biggest-mining-disaster-in-phl-surpassing-marcopper-ndash-denr

Philex spill ‘biggest mining disaster’ in PHL, surpassing Marcopper – DENR

(Exclusive) After months of recurring leakages, the Philex mine spill in Benguet has become the “biggest mining disaster” in the Philippines in terms of volume, but the company is seeking a clean-up option instead of paying the hefty fine of P1 billion, officials said.

Some 20 million metric tons of sediments have flowed into water channels from the Philex tailings pond in Itogon since its drainage tunnel was breached last August, according to a report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR).

This is ten times more than the volume of mine tailings that spilled out of the Marcopper mine in 1996 in Marinduque, which dumped some two million metric tons of waste into the Boac River and is still considered the worst mining disaster in terms of toxicity. Residents along the 27-kilometer Boac River lost their fishing livelihood and diseases have afflicted the community after the incident.

“In terms of volume, ito [Philex mine tailings spill] ngayon ‘yung biggest mining disaster in the Philippines,” MGB chief Leo Jasareno told GMA News Online in an exclusive interview last Friday.

Philex spokesperson Atty. Eduardo Aratas affirmed the statement: “Because of the volume [of the leak], it is really the biggest. But on the toxicity, it is not.”

Mining officials are still studying the toxicity levels of the wastes from the gold and copper mine that were deposited in nearby waterways after heavy monsoon rains led to a major breach in its drainage tunnel last August 1. About five "minor" recurrences have been reported since then, Jasareno said.

This week, the bureau is set to conduct a socio-environmental impact assessment of the tailings pond leak to determine the extent of the damage.

The DENR has slapped a hefty P1-billion fine, almost as much as the mining firm's taxes last year, on one of the country’s largest producers of gold and copper.

But Philex is reluctant to pay up, arguing that, “forces of nature cannot be prevented 100 percent.”

Aratas asserted, “Ang sinasabi ng management, sige if you fine us tapos na dapat [‘yung responsibility]. Or, if you order us to clean up, then gagawin namin ‘yun.”

The MGB chief is standing pat on the penalty. “Ang contention kasi ng Philex pagka-force majeure hindi sila dapat magbayad ng P1 billion. [Pero] dun sa provision ng Mining Act na kung saan namin hinugot yung parusa… wala namang nakalagay na hindi ka magbabayad kung force majeure,” Jasareno explained.

Balog Creek ‘biologically dead’

The penalty for violating other environmental laws – such as the Clean Water Act – will be imposed separately on Philex, Jasareno said. This will cost about P50,000 per day, in addition to a clean-up plan for the rehabilitation of damaged waterways.

The company has said that torrential monsoon rains caused a breach in its Tailings Pond 3 -- the largest in the country at 80 hectares -- which can hold up to 160 million metric tons of wastewater and sediments from the mining operations.

The leakage in what is currently the only operating tailings pond of Philex spilled waste into nearby water channels, particularly Balog Creek, which flows into the Agno River.

Last October, an environmental investigative mission declared Balog Creek "biologically dead" after it suffered the worst of the discharge, which was deposited along the 2.5-kilometer water channel.

The creek had turned gray, with the riverbed full of mud and the water brownish in color. There were no signs of frogs, dragonflies, aquatic plants or moss. The water was too murky to spot any fish.

According to the Philex spokesperson, the company is aware that the mining leak weighs heavily on the public’s perception of mining operations in the country.

“Ang face ng mining will be at stake [dito]. Ayaw din namin na i-fail,” said Aratas. “Hindi lang Philex kasi ito. We are carrying the burden of proving that mining is really responsible.”

Trust fund for communities

Jasareno said the fines would be placed in a trust fund that will be used to pay for the claims of affected residents or communities.

The MGB director added that the 57-year-old company would not be allowed to continue its operations “unless they are able to undertake the necessary remediation measures provided by law.”

“Dapat i-remedy nila, otherwise di [sila] bibigyan ng permit,” he pointed out.

According to Aratas, the company managed to plug the leak last September, but its operations remain suspended pending the clean-up of the mining spill.

In early October, President Aquino referred to the mining disaster, without naming Philex directly, when he told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines that reforms were needed in the mining law:
"In terms of revenues, our position is government gets something like less than 10 percent of what they (mining companies) make. But we have a hundred percent if there is a problem that crops up, meaning, for instance, one of the oldest firms – of mining firms – in the country suffered multiple failures of their tailings pond, and that redounds to quite a significant impact on the environment.

"We still stick with our position that there has to be a reformulation of the governing law with regards to the mining industry. And we would rather not continue the situation or also the risks until the remedies or the corrections in the mining laws will be corrected." – YA/HS, GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/281988/news/nation/philex-spill-biggest-mining-disaster-in-phl-surpassing-marcopper-ndash-denr
Yykes! Asan na yung tailings fee na binabayaran bawat taon? Hindi po ba doon papunta yung fees sa fund to pay for damages should their be environmental accidents from tailings dams?

Kung ako si Philiex, gagamitin ko yung fine money to cleanup the creek, not to DENR! Kung gusto ng gobiyerno na sa kanila yung pera, sila ang gagasta dun sa cleanup. Pwede?

5 mine firms bond for spill cleanup

BAGUIO CITY—An official of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) said engineers and geologists from at least five mining companies in the country will help in the rehabilitation of the waterways contaminated by wastes that leaked from the tailings pond of Philex Mining Corp. in Benguet in August.
Louie Sarmiento, PMSEA president, said the mining industry was sad about the situation of Philex, a major gold and copper producer, because the company is considered a model for responsible mining in the Philippines.
In September, Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials said Philex could face about P1 billion in fines for the spills in its Padcal facility in Itogon town. Philex disputed the figure.
Sarmiento said no one wanted the accident to happen.
“As an organization, we are saddened because Philex is one of the most responsible mining companies in the country, and we never wanted that kind of accident to happen. It’s a good thing that we have a committee now that will help address this problem and which offered the technical assistance to them,” Sarmiento said in a press forum on Tuesday to announce the holding of the annual mine safety conference here this week.
Sarmiento said officials of some mining companies were bothered by the Philex incident and suggested that the conference not be held in Baguio.
“A month before the conference, many were asking why we had to hold the conference in Baguio, and we said we do not want to run away from the problem. We are here to reaffirm our commitment,” Sarmiento said.
He said experts from several mining companies have volunteered their services to help in the cleanup of Balog Creek in Itogon, where the wastes were discharged, and in the design and other technical aspects of the waste disposal system of Philex.
Balog Creek is a tributary of Agno River, which is the source of water of San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan.
Sarmiento commended Philex for admitting responsibility for the leak and for exerting efforts to plug the leak in its Tailings Pond No. 3. The firm had also committed to clean up and rehabilitate the waterways where the tailings were discharged.
But on Wednesday, members of militant groups staged a protest rally to condemn Philex and other mining companies for their allegedly unsafe practices that put the environment and communities in danger.
The protesters went to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau office here to submit the initial results of their fact-finding investigation on the impact of the Philex tailings pond leak on the outlying communities and waterways in Itogon.
“As the government and mining companies brag about mine safety during their mining conference this week, we reiterate our position against destructive mining and its accompanying militarization and human rights violations,” said Santos Mero, deputy secretary general of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/307328/5-mine-firms-bond-for-spill-cleanup

PH to bat for cleaner air quicker at climate talks
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will push for a five-year extension of the Kyoto Protocol—the international treaty that binds developed nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions—during the next round of climate change talks in Doha, Qatar, which begins Monday.
Climate Change Commission Executive Director Mary Ann Lucille Sering, who is also CCC vice chair, said the Philippines will seek a shorter second commitment period than the European Union, which has proposed an eight-year extension of the pact.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/57809/ph-to-bat-for-cleaner-air-quicker-at-climate-talks

PH gains support for bid to extend Kyoto Protocol—DFA

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine call for a five-year extension of the international treaty that binds countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions gained support from representatives of over 20 countries as the next round of global climate treaty talks opened in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement, the DFA said Friday that the call to preserve the Kyoto Protocol, mainly directed at developing countries long criticized for slow action on climate change issues, was delivered to the plenary by Philippine Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño.
“We are 35 days away from the end of the first commitment period. A meaningful and effective second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol beginning January 1, 2013, this should be the minimum outcome in Doha,” Saño was quoted as saying in the statement.
Signatories to the treaty are obligated to reduce emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels in a period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012.
In its statement, the DFA noted that the Philippine position was supported by countries representing Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Algeria, Argentina, Malaysia, India and China.
The 18th round of talks in Qatar, which will conclude on December 6, was attended by over 17,000 delegates representing 192 countries, the DFA said.
Saño emphasized that more needs to be done, saying that since the treaty was first agreed in 1992, greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 50 percent.
He argued that developed countries must have new emission targets within the range of 40 to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, while ensuring emissions reduction of at least 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2017.
“Without ambitious action, the great majority of the world’s population is doomed. Inaction is simply unacceptable,” he said.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/583...o-protocol-dfa

Phl stands to lose up to 140,000 hectares of land due to global warming

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – The country’s topography stands to be altered considerably in the face of rising sea levels triggered by warming global temperatures.

Manifestations of climate change observed and gathered over the years point to “increasing air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level,” it was pointed out at the international conference on climate change held from Nov. 21-23 here.

The Philippines stands to lose 90,000 to 140,000 hectares of land if sea levels rise by one meter, as projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Program to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about climate change and to lay the foundations for measures needed to counteract such change.

Cruz was one of the main speakers at the forum organized by the Philippine government-hosted, Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and UPLB.

The international conference, attended by 110 scientists, government policymakers and planners, academicians, and experts from the private sector from across the world, was supported by the Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network, German Academic Exchange Service, University of Mohenheim-Food Security Center in Germany, German Agency for International Cooperation-Philippines through the Climate Change Commission under the Office of the President, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, and Economy and Environmental Program for Southeast Asia.

Continue......http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/12/04/879871/phl-stands-lose-140000-hectares-land-due-global-warming

Illegal logging, mining worsened impact of Philippines' killer typhoon

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
December 06, 2012

http://news.mongabay.com/2012/1206-hance-typhoon-bopha.html#1xxU6JOMayhi6HZx.99


According to Filipino officials, rampant illegal logging and mining were likely a part of the cause for the high casualty count from Category 5 Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), especially in the Compostela Valley where government officials had warned people to stop the illegal activities. So far, 370 people have been found dead on the island of Mindanao with another 400 missing. Waters rose so high even emergency shelters were inundated.

"If you abuse nature, nature will get back at us," Benito Ramos, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said. "This is due to decades of mining and logging. Our forests are already deluded and there are tunnels left by small-time miners."

Illegal logging and mining has stripped many hillsides bare in Mindanao, which has forest cover of only 10 percent. Deforestation means flash floods flow unimpeded, leading to cataclysmic land and mud slides that can bury whole towns.

"The water was as high as a coconut tree," a local farmer, Joseph Requinto, told the Associated Press. "All the bamboo trees, even the big ones, were all mowed down."

Unfortunately these tragic environmental disasters are becoming a recurring theme in the Philippines, less than a year Typhoon Sendong killed over 1,200 people on the same island. The extensive destruction wrought by this storm—which impacted over 300,000 people—was also blamed at least partly on illegal logging.

Logging has banned throughout the Philippines since February of 2011 in order to avert disasters such as this, but illegal logging remains a rampant problem. Yet, while illegal logging and mining certainly worsened the death toll of Typhoon Bopha, there may another component to the storm's wrath: climate change.

Warmer world may equal worse typhoons, hurricanes

"Climate change is now a clear and present danger and a national security concern for our country," Filipino Senator, Loren Legarda, said last year after the devastating Typhoon Sendong.

Scientists continue to debate the connection between climate change and hurricanes and typhoons (both names for tropical cyclones). However a general consensus is emerging that while climate change may not increase the total number of hurricanes, it is likely increasing the extremely intense ones, much like Hurricane Sandy that struck the U.S. East Coast a little over a month ago.

Climate change is intensifying tropical cyclones in a number of ways: rising sea levels create worsening storm surges, while a warmer atmosphere draws in more water from the oceans leading to increased precipitation, worsening the chance for flash floods such as those spawned by Bopha. In addition, unseasonably warms seas may be extending both the tropical cyclone season and its geographical reach: Typhoon Bopha hit a region of Mindano that has never been hit by such extreme cyclones. It also hit late in the season.

"We have never had a typhoon like Bopha, which has wreaked havoc in a part of the country that has never seen a storm like this in half a century. And heartbreaking tragedies like this is not unique to the Philippines, because the whole world, especially developing countries struggling to address poverty and achieve social and human development, confront these same realities," Naderev Sano, climate negotiator for the Philippines, said today in an impassioned speech at the 18th UN Climate Summit in Doha, Qatar, which has been crawling along the last two week. Sano pointed to the disaster as more evidence to move aggressively on climate change at a conference where observers say little progress is being made.

"I appeal to the whole world," Sano continued. "I appeal to leaders from all over the world, to open our eyes to the stark reality that we face. I appeal to ministers. The outcome of our work is not about what our political masters want. It is about what is demanded of us by 7 billion people. I appeal to all, please, no more delays, no more excuses. Please, let Doha be remembered as the place where we found the political will to turn things around."

Anti-poverty and environmental NGOs are largely pointing the finger at wealthy countries—especially the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand—for failing to raise their pledges on emissions cuts and providing little information on where climate financing will come from. The host nation, Qatar, has also come under heavy criticism for bringing little to the table, even though it is the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter per capita.

DENR: 'Pablo' experience justified total log ban

Friday, December 7, 2012
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/12/07/denr-pablo-experience-justified-total-log-ban-257150


MANILA -- Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the government will continue the imposition of the total log ban in light of the devastation caused by Typhoon "Pablo" (international name: Bopha) in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, where cutting of trees remain unabated.

Illegal logging operations in the said provinces might be partly to blame for Pablo's trail of destruction, Paje said, even as other groups also saw mining as potential culprit.

"This is now proving that total log ban is right. Several quarters are criticizing the declaration of a total log ban but look at what happened? It is now proving that we really must stop timber harvesting especially in our natural forests," Paje said.

In February 2011, President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order (EO) 23 that halted all authorized logging operations in natural forests nationwide, virtually stopping timber extraction of about 300 million board feet a year.

Paje said the implementation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of EO 23 has drastically reduced the illegal logging hotspots to 31 from a high of 197.

Incidentally, records show 80 percent of the remaining hotspots are concentrated in Caraga and Davao region, which includes Compostela Valley, where the highest number of casualties and missing victims was recorded.

To add more teeth to the government's fight against illegal logging, the DENR and other agencies recently signed Resolution no. 2012-005 giving the military the power to nab armed groups employed by illegal loggers starting this month.

Paje chairs the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, whose members include Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa.

"We have requested the military to take the lead because the groups in these areas are armed and we have lost so many employees already in these areas," he said.

Environmental group Panalipdan said Mindanao has been vulnerable to natural disasters due to the proliferation of large-scale extractive industries being promoted by the Aquino administration through policies such as Executive Order 79 and the Mining Act of 1995.

"Do we need typhoon Pablo to get the attention of the central government and concerned people about our issues like political killings and environmental destructions caused by big extractive industries and other agribusiness ventures?" asked Sr. Stella Matutina, Panalipdan secretary general.

The group said mining explorations and operations in New Bataan will affect the integrity of various ecosystems in the area such as Mt. Kampalili-Tagub Range Complex and Andap and Caragan watershed that supply ample amount of the water for residential and agricultural uses in the province.

Compostela Valley, which used to boast of being typhoon-free, hosts a 2,139.44-hectare gold and copper mining project of the Canadian-owned Philco Mining which operates in Camanlangan village in New Bataan.



------

then again, nasa huli talaga ang pagsisisi. :ohno:

Ask ko lang: Wala bang editors dya-an sa pahayagang iyan? Andaming mali: "deluded" versus "denuded", "logging has banned throughout the Philippines", "becoming a recurring theme", etc. Kakainis basahin, IMHO.

^^

translated to filipino: ang aming kagubatan ay naging ilusyunado na. :lol::nuts:

nagmamadali lang siguro ang writer... Yale graduate pa naman :)

Mining, logging contributed to 'Pablo' disaster in Mindanao: experts

BY MYNARDO MACARAIG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE December 10, 2012 7:50am

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/285722/news/nation/mining-logging-contributed-to-pablo-disaster-in-mindanao-experts

Unchecked illegal gold mining and decades of indiscriminate logging contributed to the high death toll in the Philippines' worst natural disaster this year, officials and experts say.

Whole towns were washed away or buried by landslides when Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) smashed into a mountainous region on the southern island of Mindanao last week, leaving 548 people confirmed dead and 827 missing.

Poverty, greed and the lure of the precious metal have long drawn thousands of prospectors to the region.

"Mining and logging may have had an effect," said civil defence chief Benito Ramos.

"The mountains have been denuded for decades, and filled with holes by our countrymen who are small-time miners. It pains me to say this, but these are the facts," he said.

The worst-hit southern town of New Bataan is both a center of the devastated banana industry and host to some of the thousands of illegal gold-mining operations in the Mindanao province of Compostela Valley.

Geologists say the mountainous area is mostly unsafe for habitation. But numerous small, illegal or poorly regulated gold mines dot its slopes and the local government says they provide 40 percent of the province's economic output.

Much of the forest cover was also cut down long ago to make way for row upon row of bananas to supply the major markets of China, Iran, and Japan.

The plantations and hopes of striking it rich have drawn hundreds of thousands of poor migrants in search of work. They settle in mountain hamlets around which poisonous mercury, used to extract gold from rock, is routinely dumped into rivers.

The deluge wrought by the strongest cyclone to hit the country this year came despite days of preparations and advance warnings, including an early evacuation of vulnerable areas.

Governor Arthur Uy said 75,000 people, or one in five in the province, rely on the mines and regulation is a sore point.

The environment ministry insists it is the local officials like Uy who are required by law to issue small-scale mining permits and who must ensure people do not settle in areas considered prone to landslides and flash floods.

But Uy protested that the ministry's "geohazard maps" show that 80 percent of the entire province is a danger zone.

"What shall we do? Should we all move from Compostela Valley?" he said.

Uy also said miners had resisted efforts to relocate them, preferring the danger to poverty.

"It is the risk they are willing to take, just to strike it rich. They don't want to move," he said.

Larry Heradez, a technical officer for the Philippine government's mining regulator, said people in New Bataan and nearby gold-rush areas may have known about the danger but sought refuge in the wrong areas.

"There is a problem of information dissemination. The local officials also thought they are evacuating to an area which was safe," he told AFP.

Rescuers said government shelters were among buildings swept by the floods.

In any case, all the elements of a disaster in the making were already there long before geohazard maps came into fashion, said University of the Philippines geology professor Sandra Catana.

"They (have been) living in these areas before technology came about, including the awareness of geohazards in this country which started only in the 1990s," she told AFP.

With Mindanao usually spared by the 20 or so storms that lash the Philippines every year, people may have become complacent and were caught unprepared by the typhoon which struck further south than usual, officials said.

But the head of a government flood control programme, Mahar Lagmay, warned that weather patterns were changing.

"Previously we have had tracks in the last several decades where (storms) were moving more to the north. Now, they say, it is moving towards the south," he said.

Some 1,200 people were killed when tropical storm Washi struck Mindanao's north coast in December last year, but Uy conceded that residents of his southern region never expected a killer storm like Bopha.

"This was the first time this happened to us, we did prepare... but we never felt anything this strong. We were taken by surprise. That is one of the reasons there were so many casualties," he said. —Agence France-Presse

Ask ko lang: Wala bang editors dya-an sa pahayagang iyan? Andaming mali: "deluded" versus "denuded", "logging has banned throughout the Philippines", "becoming a recurring theme", etc. Kakainis basahin, IMHO.

taga India ata ang BPO na a-asign pag edit ng yan:nuts: o baka galing Recto University na Pinoy:D

increasing population of the corrupt/endulged causes deforestation, especially when these criminals steal lands and feeling millionares buy whole towns.

Illegal logging, mining worsened impact of Philippines' killer typhoon

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
December 06, 2012

http://news.mongabay.com/2012/1206-hance-typhoon-bopha.html#1xxU6JOMayhi6HZx.99


According to Filipino officials, rampant illegal logging and mining were likely a part of the cause for the high casualty count from Category 5 Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), especially in the Compostela Valley where government officials had warned people to stop the illegal activities. So far, 370 people have been found dead on the island of Mindanao with another 400 missing. Waters rose so high even emergency shelters were inundated.

"If you abuse nature, nature will get back at us," Benito Ramos, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said. "This is due to decades of mining and logging. Our forests are already deluded and there are tunnels left by small-time miners."

Illegal logging and mining has stripped many hillsides bare in Mindanao, which has forest cover of only 10 percent. Deforestation means flash floods flow unimpeded, leading to cataclysmic land and mud slides that can bury whole towns.

"The water was as high as a coconut tree," a local farmer, Joseph Requinto, told the Associated Press. "All the bamboo trees, even the big ones, were all mowed down."

Unfortunately these tragic environmental disasters are becoming a recurring theme in the Philippines, less than a year Typhoon Sendong killed over 1,200 people on the same island. The extensive destruction wrought by this storm—which impacted over 300,000 people—was also blamed at least partly on illegal logging.

Logging has banned throughout the Philippines since February of 2011 in order to avert disasters such as this, but illegal logging remains a rampant problem. Yet, while illegal logging and mining certainly worsened the death toll of Typhoon Bopha, there may another component to the storm's wrath: climate change.

Warmer world may equal worse typhoons, hurricanes

"Climate change is now a clear and present danger and a national security concern for our country," Filipino Senator, Loren Legarda, said last year after the devastating Typhoon Sendong.

Scientists continue to debate the connection between climate change and hurricanes and typhoons (both names for tropical cyclones). However a general consensus is emerging that while climate change may not increase the total number of hurricanes, it is likely increasing the extremely intense ones, much like Hurricane Sandy that struck the U.S. East Coast a little over a month ago.

Climate change is intensifying tropical cyclones in a number of ways: rising sea levels create worsening storm surges, while a warmer atmosphere draws in more water from the oceans leading to increased precipitation, worsening the chance for flash floods such as those spawned by Bopha. In addition, unseasonably warms seas may be extending both the tropical cyclone season and its geographical reach: Typhoon Bopha hit a region of Mindano that has never been hit by such extreme cyclones. It also hit late in the season.

"We have never had a typhoon like Bopha, which has wreaked havoc in a part of the country that has never seen a storm like this in half a century. And heartbreaking tragedies like this is not unique to the Philippines, because the whole world, especially developing countries struggling to address poverty and achieve social and human development, confront these same realities," Naderev Sano, climate negotiator for the Philippines, said today in an impassioned speech at the 18th UN Climate Summit in Doha, Qatar, which has been crawling along the last two week. Sano pointed to the disaster as more evidence to move aggressively on climate change at a conference where observers say little progress is being made.

"I appeal to the whole world," Sano continued. "I appeal to leaders from all over the world, to open our eyes to the stark reality that we face. I appeal to ministers. The outcome of our work is not about what our political masters want. It is about what is demanded of us by 7 billion people. I appeal to all, please, no more delays, no more excuses. Please, let Doha be remembered as the place where we found the political will to turn things around."

Anti-poverty and environmental NGOs are largely pointing the finger at wealthy countries—especially the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand—for failing to raise their pledges on emissions cuts and providing little information on where climate financing will come from. The host nation, Qatar, has also come under heavy criticism for bringing little to the table, even though it is the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter per capita.

"illegal", as in the small scale (well, it would be hard to remain illegal if they are large scale unless they are bribing the government)? Mas may violations pa nga ata yung mga binigyan nila ng permit...Yung mga Chinese at Korean companies na binigyan nila ng permits eh literally na kinukuha ang lupain natin :bash:

taga India ata ang BPO na a-asign pag edit ng yan:nuts: o baka galing Recto University na Pinoy:D

Alam na alam mo! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:Baka po hindi umabot ng Recto, sa may kanto lang ng Paredes?:D:D

Donald Trump Jr. causes Twitter uproar over Tubbataha

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/53983/donald-trump-jr--causes-twitter-uproar-over-tubbataha

“This is how stupid we are.”

Donald Trump Jr.—the son and namesake of American businessman and television personality—posted this message on his Twitter account regarding the move to dismantle a US Navy ship that remains stuck on the Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef, which is off-limits to any form of navigation, save for tourism and research.

Trump’s tweets—and succeeding Twitter posts—opposed the plan to dismantle the vessel since it was “more important” than a reef that’s “already been run over.” [See: US Navy dismantling plans, Tubbataha damage]

As a result, he caused an uproar among Filipino Twitter users, prompting hundreds to mention him on their own accounts and call him names.

Street artist and activist Carlos Celdran—who’s currently in the thick of a separate controversy himself—called the younger Trump the A-word. [See: Carlos Celdran]

But not all tweets were about defending Filipino patrimony and love of country.

One Twitter user brought up Trump Sr.’s wig, proving that we Filipinos can still see some humor—however arguably inappropriate—in our country's lower moments.

World’s largest crocodile Lolong is dead

TAGUM CITY— Lolong, the world’s biggest reptile in captivity, is dead.
http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/x/newsinfo.inquirer.net/globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2011/11/289x216xLolong-crocodile.jpg.pagespeed.ic.GkK4eYYk5-.jpg
The 20.4-foot (6.12-meter) saltwater crocodile died at its pen in Consuelo village, Bunawan town, Agusan del Sur province, around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to Mayor Edwin Elorde.
“He refused to eat since last month and we noticed a change in the color of his feces,” Elorde told the Inquirer by mobile phone. “Our personnel also noticed an unusual ballooning of the reptile’s belly.”
Rowena Bunawan, media coordinator of Bunawan, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that Lolong was declared dead Dr. Alexander Collantes, animal doctor at the Davao Crocodile Park.
“The croc did not eat his usual meal late last month. Experts will still investigate the cause of death,” she said.
As early as after Typhoon Pablo hit Agusan del Sur and other parts of Mindanao last December, Lolong, showed unusual changes, local officials said.
Captured in the Agusan Marsh on Sept. 3, 2011, Lolong is believed to have eaten a man who went missing in July and bitten off the head of a 12-year-old girl in 2009.
Since its capture and subsequent measurement and confirmation of international crocodile experts that Lolong was the planet’s largest in captivity, Bunawan town has become a tourism draw, with revenues running in the millions of pesos.
Elorde said the crocodile was last observed “as very active” on Saturday night, and its death over the weekend was somehow unexpected.
“We checked him up last Jan. 23 and we thought his condition would improve. We’re very saddened this happened,” the mayor said.
The resort in upland Consuelo village where the crocodile had been kept was drawing hundreds of eager local tourists daily, generating up to P20,000 of gate receipts per day, the mayor said. Elorde ordered the closure of the park on Sunday hours before Dr. Collantes declared the reptile dead.
He had asked Collantes to examine the animal after park personnel reported the crocodile’s condition early on Sunday.
Elorde admitted the crocodile’s death will adversely affect local tourism.
“But we have to move on. Lolong had put Bunawan on the map by being the world’s largest reptile and that’s a record that can’t be erased anymore. Aside from Lolong, we have also been promoting Agusan Marsh (for tourism).
He said experts from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) were expected to arrive in Bunawan on Monday to investigate.
The official suspected that the extreme drop in temperature in Bunawan early this year had an adverse effect on Lolong.
“It was very cold here in Bunawan last month, so that might have affected him,” the mayor said, even as he stressed experts would examine the beast to really ascertain the cause of its death.
Elorde said the local government will ask assistance from the National Museum to have Lolong’s body preserved.
“In that way, people can still look and marvel at him,” the official said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/355995/lolong-worlds-largest-crocodile-dies

see??

He should have not been caged in that little enclosure.... Jeez...

see??

He should have not been caged in that little enclosure.... Jeez...

the enclosure is ugly and substandard. The agusan govt is just greedy unlike Maali, she is very happy and contented in Manila Zoo.

'So long, Lolong'
http://static.rappler.com/images/adam-britton-20130211.jpg

MANILA, Philippines - Dr. Adam Britton, the British zoologist that confirmed Lolong as the world's largest crocodile in captivity, is sad after the massive reptile died on Sunday night, February 10.

"Sadly, Lolong the record-breaking 6.17 m saltwater crocodile caught in the Philippines in September 2011 died last night around 8 pm local time," Britton wrote in his Croc Blog on Monday, February 11.

The expert refused to speculate on the cause of death in his message "So long, Lolong."Read more (http://www.rappler.com/nation/21548-so-long,-lolong)

Peta was right when they said Lolong will die in captivity. So when they say Mali will die in that hell (zooo) she will...

Heads must role for the murder of Lolong!!! Packing goverment, Packing people who exploited Lolong's miseries.

The second largest croc, thats living in AUS is doing well. Despite it being 100 years old! Lolong could have grown bigger and older (hes just 50 years old)


animal abuse? its more fun in the philipiines!!!

Peta was right when they said Lolong will die in captivity. So when they say Mali will die in that hell (zooo) she will...

Heads must role for the murder of Lolong!!! Packing goverment, Packing people who exploited Lolong's miseries.

The second largest croc, thats living in AUS is doing well. Despite it being 100 years old! Lolong could have grown bigger and older (hes just 50 years old)


animal abuse? its more fun in the philipiines!!!

Lolong and Maali had different situation :lol: Maali is happy while Lolong is depressed.
Animal Coalition of Team Kabang Oppose to PETA's advocacy towards Maali. :cheers:
http://www.facebook.com/AnimalWelfareCoalition

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/544041_10151326386817235_1431874408_n.jpg

Maali's Happy Life

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151742252077468

another one.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4331166478173

THREE reasons why Maali should stay and if she's forced to go, why they should start by helping here and now before they move her.

1. Maali’s home is here, Maali’s heart is here.

This is the only life Maali has ever known, and she’s surrounded by people who love her. With the right enrichment programs, it is possible to keep her happy in Manila Zoo. Moving her to a sanctuary will not guarantee her happiness. She was bullied by other elephants when she was younger and may still be bearing psychological scars from those encounters.

While it is true that most elephants are herd animals, they can also form bonds with non-elephants. They’ve been known to also be attached to their mahoots (caregivers) and pine away when separated. Maali has formed very strong bonds here - and separating her from them can be devastating for her.

Elephants have their own personalities, histories and quirks making them as diversely unique as people. She loves the interaction and socialization she gets from meeting zoo visitors - it has been an integral part of her life. Other animals have been “freed” and have died miserably because people refused to look at them as individuals and instead boxed them in with the stereotypes of their wild counterparts.


2. She’s old and may not survive the move.

Maali is 38 years old, the average lifespan of an Asian elephant in a zoo 41 years. In the twilight of her life, is it right to still rip her away from everything she knows and force her to undergo unfamiliar, uncertain and even frightening experiences?

She hates trucks and would exhibit signs of stress each time she sees or hears one. The last time she travelled was over 30 years ago when she moved from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka to the Manila Zoo. She was just a calf and was easily crated. Any move now will entail a long and arduous process which includes sedation, confinement and isolation.

Most people die wishing to be surrounded by their loved ones - why should it be any different for her?

3. Extraditing her to an executioner.

The Thai elephant importations are stringent for a very good reason. They are trying to protect their endemic herds of elephants. If what the activists claims are true - that Maali is sick - then she’ll never pass the quarantine requirements and she will be destroyed (killed). They know this because they also have a copy of the quarantine requirements.An organization that is known for having absolutely no qualms about euthanizing perfectly healthy dogs and cats will most likely have the same regard for an aging, ailing elephant.

Even if Maali wasn’t sick, the regulations stipulate that the elephant being imported should not come from a country that has rampant cases if rabies, tuberculosis and other such diseases. Sadly, the Philippines has its fair share of these illnesses.

The organization behind her move has repeatedly expressed that they will shoulder all costs to transfer her there, but will they transfer her back if she fails the quarantine requirements?

Back stories

There are many backstories behind this bid to move Maali to a “sanctuary” in Thailand. One of them is the closure of Manila Zoo. Sitting on prime property - I’m sure this 5.5 hectare plot of land have caught the eye of many real estate developers. This interest group paired with a left-wing animal rights group means that the zoo’s future may be in great peril.

The proponent of this move is a staunch advocate of euthanizing surplus and rescued animals as well as closing zoos around the world. They seem to think that if they take Maali away, the zoo will be easy to close. It’s no secret that they’d rather see an animal dead than in captivity, even when it is completely possible to make animals content through good environmental and behavioral enrichment programs.

Manila Zoo is not really a zoo in a sense that zoos acquire new animals for display and charge exorbitant entrance fees for its upkeep and improvement. With exception of the two oldest residents at the zoo, every single animal there is a rescued animal. Many of them have been donated by people who have grown tired of them, the more exotic ones usually have pending court cases. It’s a sanctuary for animals who would have otherwise had no place or chance of survival in the wild.

The zoo is subsidized by the City Government so that we too would have a lush haven in this concrete jungle called Manila. It is one of our last remaining parks - and is a important educational center, especially for underprivileged families. Will we resign our children to growing up in malls because we’ve let foreign and commercial organizations take away our parks? Where will the rescued animals go if Manila Zoo closes?

The “sanctuary” they propose to move her to run on donations and ticket sales. It’s not even a government-accredited sanctuary. Hard-pressed for funds, they find themselves soliciting for medicines and other needs. Why move her to a place where her future may be uncertain?

The organization gathering support for her move, collect signatures mostly from people who have never met her. And the few who have, spend a few minutes trying to capture an image that will support a preconceived judgment of her life. They’ve already made up their minds before meeting her - where’s the fairness in that?

If organizations are lobbying to move her to where they think her life may be better, why not start by making her life better here. They can use some of the funds they’ve raised to help with her enrichment programs and training. If the move is inevitable, then helping her here and now with those two programs will allow her to better transition to the proposed location. Help the zoo fix her enclosure so it’s as close to the feel of sanctuary as possible.

It took us three months to introduce the newly renovated section to her. She’ll need time to get used to the feel of soil on her feet, and whatever else she might encounter in the sanctuary. Start now at the zoo so she can get introduced gently, and still be comforted by what is familiar.

The organization should also help with making sure she’ll pass all the necessary health requirements. They’ll need specific data covering a period of at least two years. Let’s not do short cuts that might jeopardize her life. Have a clear plan laid out in the event that she fails quarantine.

The organization behind all this will make her their martyr whether she lives or dies. Maali deserves more than just to be a group’s publicity stunt. Before jumping on the bandwagon, please take the time to get to know her. Not everything written in a press-release is true, especially when its by a group that couldn’t be bothered to spend more than an hour with her before calling up a newspaper to run their story.

Freeing Maali sounds good on paper. The scariest thing in this entire controversy is exactly that some groups are more concern about press and publicity than they actually are about Maali’s welfare. To them, moving her may be a great achievement - but hopefully not at the expense of her happiness or her life.

xHYrWhtXoJ0

Australia's Cassius reclaims world's biggest croc crown
SYDNEY — "Cassius" has reclaimed his crown as the world's biggest crocodile in captivity after his rival for the title died, with the huge reptile's handler in Australia saying Tuesday it will boost business.

The 5.48-metre (17 ft 11ins) crocodile, kept in a park on an island off Australia's Queensland, held the record until "Lolong", a 6.17-metre suspected man-eater, was caught in the Philippines 17 months ago.

But with Lolong's death from a mystery illness on Sunday, Cassius is once again on top.Read more (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iOG1IhPQBzqnDnO6hYmYgcF_Wy-w?docId=CNG.981d42554ba8d4b6cb015800776931f7.41)

kung nailipat kaya siya sa QC tatagal pa ang buhay??:dunno:

wawa naman yung mayor, gustong mag-stay dun si Lolong kaso namatay na rin...

So, youre telling me that Mali is happy here? She havent even felt walking on soil. All she did for the past 30 years was sleep, get out of the shelter, eat food, miscellaneous stuff, then go back inside her shelter. She havent even seen a male elephant. Or experienced becoming pregnant.

Are you really sure she happy at her prison?

So, youre telling me that Mali is happy here? She havent even felt walking on soil. All she did for the past 30 years was sleep, get out of the shelter, eat food, miscellaneous stuff, then go back inside her shelter. She havent even seen a male elephant. Or experienced becoming pregnant.

Are you really sure she happy at her prison?

Very Happy :cheers:

However :cheers:

I notice at the bottom of this page... the tourist paid US$ 1,500 for 4 days in a Cabin at the Boon Lotte Elephant Sanctuary... Thats profit making Sanctuary and they want Maali to be their Main Attraction... Now we know why Boon Lotte needs Maali.
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/535687_408565659237589_573068_n.png

Very Happy :cheers:

However :cheers:

I notice at the bottom of this page... the tourist paid US$ 1,500 for 4 days in a Cabin at the Boon Lotte Elephant Sanctuary... Thats profit making Sanctuary and they want Maali to be their Main Attraction... Now we know why Boon Lotte needs Maali.
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/535687_408565659237589_573068_n.png

Egads! How much was that in Php? P60,000? Or about P15T a day?

Egads! How much was that in Php? P60,000? Or about P15T a day?

Pathetic PETA, right? :ohno:

Fine i ret my case.

But still I believe all animals dont belong in cage.

Have fun looking at mali and company in that hell of a place.

150 sea turtles to be sold to Chinese buyers confiscated in Palawan

By: Elmer Badilla for InterAksyon.com
February 18, 2013 7:55 PM

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY - Abut 150 mostly dead sea turtles were confiscated in Balabac town in Palawan from still unidentified local poachers who were suposed to transport the reptiles and sell them to Chinese buyers.
About 100 dead turtles were found hidden on a hill in Sitio Mansalangan, Barangay Sibaring. Forty-nine others, two of them dead, were found in cages hidden in mangrove trees in Sitio Marabon, Barangay Bancalaan, according to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12.
The Marines conducted a two-week surveillance before they launched an operation against the poachers based on a tip from a local resident. However, the poachers managed to escape.
The live turtles were released Sunday morning in Balabac's Sitio Tabon, Barangay Poblacion IV after the reptiles were turned over to the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resoures for proper disposition and documentation.
In November last year, 123 sea turtles to be transported to China were also rescued from poachers in the same town.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/55337/150-sea-turtles-to-be-sold-to-chinese-buyers-confiscated-in-palawan

Nakatakas na naman ang mga ganid na poachers. Babalik at babalik lang ang mga yan hanggang di napaparusahan.

Forest products take a ‘deep dive’ (http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/special-features/agriculture/24832-forest-products-take-a-deep-dive)


The Philippines losses about 100,000 hectares of forest cover annually.

Its record of forest destruction is more than 23 times worst when compared to other Asia-Pacific countries and about 13 times worse than nations in Africa, according to the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)

The country ranks among the worst 11 cases in 89 tropical countries, said Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan, FPRDI Director, pointing out that forest loss is the major cause of the shortage of raw materials, causing what he calls a “deep dive” for forest-based industries.

There are many factors – such as unsuccessful reforestation and unstable peace and order conditions – that constrains the development of the wood industry. For example, result-oriented policies, strategies and programs are lacking.

“The legal instruments and weak organizational structure of public forest administration and management are inadequate and so is government support, especially in the promotion of export products,” Aggangan said.

The decline of forest resources has caused the serious shortages of forest goods and services, he said, resulting in the heavy reliance on imports. This in turn has led to inadequate livelihood opportunities in upland communities.

Top that up with high production and investment costs, making local production unattractive in the face of stiff competition from imported products.

Still, in 2011, log production totalled 871,126 cubic meters – a notable increase of 56 percent over the previous year’s production.

Logs coming from plantation forests accounted for 98 percent of the total production which were 856,243 cubic meters, of which 721,056 cubic meters or 84 percent were from private plantations.

Production of naturally grown logs shared only 2 percent to total log production – “dramatically dropping by 88 percent from the previous year’s level of 14,883 cubic meters.

Also in 2011, only 28 of about 50 sawmills were active; the remaining sawmills had a daily rated capacity of 1,198 cubic meters and an estimated annual log requirement of 430,652 cubic meters. At the same time, there were 255 mini-sawmills with a combined daily rated capacity of 1,503 cubic meters.

Lumber production slightly declined in 2011 manifesting 371,602 cubic meters or a drop of 2 percent compared to the previous year’s level of 377,428 cubic meters.

Imported lumber in 2011 comprised of 159,974 cubic meters worth $70.2 million. That was a 39 percent rise compared to 2010’s record of $10.5 million worth of imported lumber.

There were 43 plywood companies in 2011 with a daily rated capacity of 2,730 cubic meters and 40 veneer plants with a daily rated capacity of 885 cubic meters.

Plywood’s performance re-emerged from the 2009 to 2010 dip of 32 percent to an increase of 63 percent in 2011 with 39,834 cubic meters worth $24.3 million. Plywood importation significantly increased in 2011 to 94,231 cubic meters valued at $ 69.6 million or 86.8 percent over the previous year’s record of $ 37.3 million.

The Philippines exported $48,304.92 million of wood furniture (40 percent), rattan, bamboo, buri and other forest-based or agricultural materials (40 percent), metal, stones, plastics and a combination of these materials called mixed media.

The annual international market is estimated at $52 billion while annual domestic trade is pegged at P19 billion.

In 2010, the Philippines exported about $1.008 billion worth of builders’ woodworks, increasing from $ 742.01 million in 2007.

Builders’ woodworks are made up of joinery and carpentry of wood such as doors, door gjambs, windows, window jamb, mouldings, balusters, stairs and railings, shingles and shakes, assembled parquets and shuttering for concrete construction.

(snipped)

DENR allots P50M for Pasig River mangrove-planting program

In a bid to fast-track efforts to revive the biologically-dead Pasig River, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) have teamed up for a P50 million mangrove-planting project along its banks.
The deterioration of the river—one of Metro Manila’s most important waterways—started in the 1930s until it was declared biologically dead in 1990 due to pollution from industrial and domestic waste.
In a move geared toward facilitating the “resurrection” of Pasig River, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and PRRC chair Regina Paz Lopez signed on Monday a memorandum of agreement at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City for the planting of mangroves on the banks along its 19-kilometer-long stretch.
According to Paje, the Pasig River Greening Project is part of the government’s national greening program which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees, including mangroves in coastal areas and tributaries, on 1.5 million hectares of land around the country by 2016.
The project will also complement the DENR’s “Adopt-an-Estero project” which seeks partners from the private sector in cleaning up waterways, from major rivers to smaller tributaries such as rivers and creeks nationwide.
“Aside from the obvious benefits we get from mangroves as trees, this greening project is a step toward reviving the Pasig River by improving its water quality and making it viable for more life forms to survive in it. Providing clean water, after all, remains a top priority of the Aquino administration,” Paje said in a statement.
Under the MOA, the PRRC, the sole agency mandated to rehabilitate and manage Pasig River, would be responsible for planting mangroves on its banks from C-5 Road in Pasig City to the mouth of Manila Bay.
The DENR will provide P50 million to the PRRC for the implementation of the project, including the establishment of a mangrove seedling nursery site within the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecosystem.
The PRRC will also carry out all phases of the project from planning to repair or remedial work and regularly submit physical and financial reports to the DENR.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/368553/denr-allots-p50m-for-pasig-river-mangrove-planting-program

IMO, a very crazy idea! A dead river is called "dead zone" because it doesn't support life. The life here means "dissolved oxygen". No matter what you do, if there is no program to clean every effluent going into this river, it will continue to get hypoxic and will continue to be dead. Maybe P50M is just too small to "implement" the clean water act that is also a dead law? Just maybe!

IMO, a very crazy idea! A dead river is called "dead zone" because it doesn't support life. The life here means "dissolved oxygen". No matter what you do, if there is no program to clean every effluent going into this river, it will continue to get hypoxic and will continue to be dead. Maybe P50M is just too small to "implement" the clean water act that is also a dead law? Just maybe!

A hypoxic water environment doesn't support life that needs oxygen like fish. Though there are now fish in Pasig due to an improved water quality. Documented fish catch and an increase of migratory birds that feed on them in the mouth of the river is evidence of this. Though it is also a fact that they are under tremendous stress due to severe pollution.

Mangroves on the other hand thrive in nutrient rich environments. Common sense will tell you that sewage acts as fertilizer for these plants. The only problem is that because of the abundance of nutrients like nitrogen, the plants don't exert a lot of effort in building nutrient up-taking roots. This make them vulnerable to environmental stressors like drought.

It is an established fact that mangroves have some biofiltering capacity. With limited financial resources, currently it is the most cost effective way of onsite treatment of sewage effluents. Aggressive onsite water treatment technologies are expensive. Then they also help mitigate sedimentation. They will act as a bufferzone in the mouth of the river therefore improving the water quality in this part of Manila Bay.

Aside from improving water quality, it will also increase biodiversity in the river (birds, fish, and other creatures). As stated in the article, the project is part of the national greening program. Obviously these mangroves will help tremendously in absorbing those greenhouse gases emitted by the thousands of vehicles in Metro Manila.

I really don't know why you consider this project a CRAZY idea.

I agree with you that water and sewage should be treated first before being discharged to our water system. Fortunately our water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, are now cooperating in the rehabilitation of Pasig river by constructing more sewage treatment facilities.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2012/11/01/862154/maynilad-mla-water-ink-275-m-wb-loan
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/258427/economy/moneyandbanking/275m-world-bank-wastewater-loan-approved-for-maynilad-manila-water

A hypoxic water environment doesn't support life that needs oxygen like fish. Though there are now fish in Pasig due to an improved water quality. Documented fish catch and an increase of migratory birds that feed on them in the mouth of the river is evidence of this. Though it is also a fact that they are under tremendous stress due to severe pollution.

Mangroves on the other hand thrive in nutrient rich environments. Common sense will tell you that sewage acts as fertilizer for these plants. The only problem is that because of the abundance of nutrients like nitrogen, the plants don't exert a lot of effort in building nutrient up-taking roots. This make them vulnerable to environmental stressors like drought.

It is an established fact that mangroves have some biofiltering capacity. With limited financial resources, currently it is the most cost effective way of onsite treatment of sewage effluents. Aggressive onsite water treatment technologies are expensive. Then they also help mitigate sedimentation. They will act as a bufferzone in the mouth of the river therefore improving the water quality in this part of Manila Bay.

Aside from improving water quality, it will also increase biodiversity in the river (birds, fish, and other creatures). As stated in the article, the project is part of the national greening program. Obviously these mangroves will help tremendously in absorbing those greenhouse gases emitted by the thousands of vehicles in Metro Manila.

I really don't know why you consider this project a CRAZY idea.

I agree with you that water and sewage should be treated first before being discharged to our water system. Fortunately our water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, are now cooperating in the rehabilitation of Pasig river by constructing more sewage treatment facilities.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2012/11/01/862154/maynilad-mla-water-ink-275-m-wb-loan
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/258427/economy/moneyandbanking/275m-world-bank-wastewater-loan-approved-for-maynilad-manila-water

Well, you could theorize with all the reports you can gather. But the cold fact is mangroves die if their roots get wrapped/soaked with slick or gooey grease from commercial/ industrial effluent. I've observed it with my own eyes and no amount of theorizing can disprove what I saw and observed. And yes, mangroves also die when excessive nutrient enrichment occurs in their surroundings, especially during dry seasons; here (http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0005600).

Eaglet's birthday a small victory in effort to conserve Philippine Eagle

Exactly a month after the first offspring of “Pag-asa,” the first Philippine eagle hatched and bred in captivity, came into this world, the Philippine Eagle Center (PEF) celebrated its one-month birthday last Saturday in Barangay Malagos, Calinan district in Davao City.

To commemorate the occasion, the center invited those who were born on February 9 to join the celebration., At least three people came: Menchie dela Cruz (birth year: 1977), Leonora Calimbo (1979), and Marilou Natad (1985).

“Besides this being a celebration of Mabuhay’s life, it is also a celebration of PEF’s hard work and selfless dedication for the survival of the Philippine eagles and its conservation efforts. I hope our nation can unite to love and support our country’s wonderful endemic resources,” said an anonymous donor in a text message.


One-month old Philippine Eagle Mabuhay gets to celebrate its birthday with a cake. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

The donor, who shoulders the eaglet’s yearly food, veterinary needs, maintenance, and other expenses, was given the honor naming the eaglet. “Whoever adopts an eagle is given the privilege to give it a name,” says Jayson Ybanes, the PEF’s research director.

“Mabuhay” was chosen, which in Tagalog means “welcome,” “to live,” “live well” or simply “long live.”

Dennis Salvador, PEF executive director, said the benefactor pledged P168,888.88, which was more than the P150,000 required for sponsoring an eagle. The amount could be brought down to P125,000 a year if the adoption would be for five consecutive years.

Mabuhay’s “ninang,” who described herself as an ordinary employee, pledged to adopt the eaglet as long as it lived.

The gender of Mabuhay will be determined when it turns a year old through morphometric (measurements of parts) process as the PEF does not have the facility to immediately determine its sex.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/298791/scitech/science/eaglet-s-birthday-a-small-victory-in-effort-to-conserve-philippine-eagle

http://images.mnn.com/sites/default/files/Engandered_Species.jpg

http://www.calacademy.org/blogs/expedition/?paged=5

The California Academy of Sciences created a blog of their 2011 Philippine expedition. Very informative, and the accompanying pictures are an added treat.

Some interesting passages:

As the bubbles clear the scene beneath the boat opens, exposing one of the great wonders of the world, a coral reef so diverse in shape, and texture and color it is like staring at a canvas by Gauguin. It is hard to determine which part to process and appreciate first, the colors or the brush strokes, the shadows or the subtleties.

Things started off slowly, and we did not find any new species on the first eleven dives we made. I was starting to get a little concerned that maybe the trips here over the last 19 years had finally reached saturation; that we had finally found everything that was here. Boy, was I wrong. The next night dive, we found 8 new species on one dive. It was a shallow dive of only 17 feet, but it was slug city. Most were fairly smallish (about 0.5-10 mm) and several were fairly cryptic, but they were clearly new.

And this one was just :(:

Finally, with respect to this part of my commentary I want to raise awareness of several disturbing events that occurred during May: First, a park ranger from the Mt. Makiling preserve was murdered after reporting illegal squatters and poachers in the forest. This occurred in broad daylight, in front of the courthouse in Los Banos. The work of conservation is highly political and is in direct conflict with lucrative, illegal practices such as poaching. On the slopes of Mt. Banahaw, Dr. Darin Penneys and I came upon a loaded civet (endangered cat) trap in the forest. Later in the week, when the birds and mammals team joined the Botany/Entomology crew on the mountain, mist nets used to catch, tag and release flying animals were stolen.


(Apologies if this has already been posted)

From India, an e-car with zero emission!:cheers:

Mahindra’s e20 All-Electric Car to Launch in India in Mid-March


http://www.mahindracarsindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mahindra-e20-front.jpg
http://www.mahindracarsindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mahindra-e20-front.jpg

By Brad Berman · March 05, 2013

http://www.plugincars.com/sites/default/files/e20-620.jpg
http://www.plugincars.com/sites/default/files/e20-620.jpg
The Mahindra e2O will be India’s first all-electric hatchback to compete against mainstream hatchbacks in the market.

source: http://www.plugincars.com/mahindra-e20-all-electric-car-launch-india-mid-march-126594.html

GOOD DAY SSC! I'm Jules Ives Marion Dema-ala, a Multimedia Arts student and a skyscrapercity reader. I'm currently having my thesis about "Environmental and Sustainable Development in Building Construction" and I'm having a survey about the awareness and the effectiveness of the project I hope I can get more respondents here in SSC because you guys are more aware about the construction boom in the Philippines. Here's the link: http://goo.gl/ugDCC

Thank You guys! God Bless!

Boracay Environmental Problems...

^^ Shut that thing down. If it's from a resort... shut the resort down. :ohno:

Wow mga mukang pera lang talaga. Anong akala nila diyan Manila Bay? :bash:

^^ Shut that thing down. If it's from a resort... shut the resort down. :ohno:

Wow mga mukang pera lang talaga. Anong akala nila diyan Manila Bay? :bash:

Galing daw sa Red Coconut, see this photo (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=469549869756644&set=a.469544963090468.111355.100001049048437&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F415709_469549869756644_1563086801_o.jpg&smallsrc=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-prn1%2F68420_469549869756644_1563086801_n.jpg&size=2048%2C1536)

Galing daw sa Red Coconut, see this photo (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=469549869756644&set=a.469544963090468.111355.100001049048437&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F415709_469549869756644_1563086801_o.jpg&smallsrc=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-prn1%2F68420_469549869756644_1563086801_n.jpg&size=2048%2C1536)

Sira pala coconut nila eh. :weird:

Deretso papunta sa emerald waters yung dumi nila at pinaiitim na siya. Tapos sa gitna pa ng sand gumawa ng drainage outlet at ng open canal running across the white sand beach. Ang nakakaasar pa diyan ay mukang wala man lang pumupuna sa local gov't at pinabayaan na lang ang mga kups na gawin yan? Blatant destruction of that treasured place. Kawalanghiyaan na 'yan ha... hindi na patago at harapharapang binababoy yung lugar.

Ibang klase din ng mga utak nung mayari niyan no? Tigas ng mga mukha. Utak squatter. :bash:

Tubbataha damage assessment to start

MANILA, Philippines - Preparations are underway for the joint assessment to be conducted by the Tubbataha Management Office with the US Navy on the extent of damage to the coral reef caused by the USS Guardian after it ran aground in the marine sanctuary last January.

Tubbataha Park superintendent Angelique Songco said the remaining debris in the area is still being cleaned up, and it will be cleared for assessment by tomorrow.

“We are optimistic that the assessment we’ll conduct will already be final,” she said.

Apart from the US Navy, Songco said that representatives from the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute will help assess the damage caused by the Guardian to the coral reefs.

She said there will be additional scientists joining them on April 8 for their second trip in the area.

The second visit by scientists and experts, to be funded by the Bureau of Aquatic Resources, Department of Science and Technology and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), aims to establish a monitoring protocol as well as determine a restoration plan, Songco said.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/04/02/925932/tubbataha-damage-assessment-start

Parang napaka ironic naman na may pa-assess assess pa tayo sa damage sa Tubbataha pero yong sa Boracay, klarong klaro na, wala man lang aksyon...:bash::ohno:

Sang-ayon ako sa pag-assess sa nasira sa Tubbataha, pero naman, ayosin din natin yong pag-assess sa mga damage na gawa nang mga Pinoy.

Parang napaka ironic naman na may pa-assess assess pa tayo sa damage sa Tubbataha pero yong sa Boracay, klarong klaro na, wala man lang aksyon...:bash::ohno:

Sang-ayon ako sa pag-assess sa nasira sa Tubbataha, pero naman, ayosin din natin yong pag-assess sa mga damage na gawa nang mga Pinoy.
Ang tawag diyan: "Sumasakay sa isyu!":ohno::ohno::ohno:

Sira pala coconut nila eh. :weird:

Deretso papunta sa emerald waters yung dumi nila at pinaiitim na siya. Tapos sa gitna pa ng sand gumawa ng drainage outlet at ng open canal running across the white sand beach. Ang nakakaasar pa diyan ay mukang wala man lang pumupuna sa local gov't at pinabayaan na lang ang mga kups na gawin yan? Blatant destruction of that treasured place. Kawalanghiyaan na 'yan ha... hindi na patago at harapharapang binababoy yung lugar.

Ibang klase din ng mga utak nung mayari niyan no? Tigas ng mga mukha. Utak squatter. :bash:

Walang atang maayos na sanitation system ang boracay? Lumalamon ng Investors and tourists pero palpak ang sanitation system?

Kamusta naman kaya ang DENR, LGU at ang Provincial Government ng Aklan sa environmental Issues ng Isla? :ohno:

Walang atang maayos na sanitation system ang boracay? Lumalamon ng Investors and tourists pero palpak ang sanitation system?

Kamusta naman kaya ang DENR, LGU at ang Provincial Government ng Aklan sa environmental Issues ng Isla? :ohno:
Parang wala lang! "Pwede na yan" ang ipapatupad diyan.:ohno:

Parang wala lang! "Pwede na yan" ang ipapatupad diyan.:ohno:

BTW, nagbabayad ang mga pumapasok dyan ng ENVIRONMENTAL FEE na 25 pesos... Nakaka ilang tourists ang Boracay every year? tapos... my god... :ohno:

BTW, nagbabayad ang mga pumapasok dyan ng ENVIRONMENTAL FEE na 25 pesos... Nakaka ilang tourists ang Boracay every year? tapos... my god... :ohno:
P25 lang naman pala eh! Yung iba P50 per ton of water discharged. Para daw yun gawing fund na gagastusin pag nagka problema sa environment dahil sa effluent galing sa mga kompaniya! Pero kung hahanapin mo yung pera, voila-->di mo makita kung saan na!:ohno::ohno::ohno:

Intensity 5 - Metro Manila

Boracay Environmental Problems...





Here is the response from my friend who owns a resort there.

hi xxxriainxxx
yes mabuhay eon da nga isyu..we no longer dispose our garbage here..may landfill na ang boracay sa mainland malay. we have the best MRF iya...some of the photos taken was during habagat which abo nga basura nga gina dagsa iya sa beach..basura from other neighboring islands brought by habagat..the picture na may pipe and i think concrete gutter was taken somewhere in red coconut..it used to be a creek na tinabunan nila...hay naku! wa man abi it political will ang LGU iya so makaron lang gid dun kung intrahan mo man ikaw pa lumalabas na kontrabida..

Here is the response from my friend who owns a resort there.

Tama ung solid waste management pero pwede silang gumamit ng waste-to-energy system as sustainable resource... kung creek pala yan, dapat alagaan nila ang creek dahit sa dagat ang bagsak... hindi na nakapagtataka kung may mga sewage water na dyan ang bagsak after dumaan ng septic tank... kita kasi sa tubig na affected ito ng human activity...

Tama ung solid waste management pero pwede silang gumamit ng waste-to-energy system as sustainable resource... kung creek pala yan, dapat alagaan nila ang creek dahit sa dagat ang bagsak... hindi na nakapagtataka kung may mga sewage water na dyan ang bagsak after dumaan ng septic tank... kita kasi sa tubig na affected ito ng human activity...

FYI, matagal na pong may batas para diyan: Clean Water Act! Kaso, parang walang may alam kung ipapatupad o hindi!:bash::bash::bash:

New book says 2 PH marine mammals on verge of extinction (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/385701/new-book-says-2-ph-marine-mammals-on-verge-of-extinction)


MANILA, Philippines—Local populations of dugong and Irrawaddy dolphin are on the verge of extinction, according to a new book released this month detailing the conservation status of marine mammals found in the Philippines. :cripes::cripes:

The book, titled “Red List Status of Marine Mammals,” assesses the status of 26 out of 28 marine mammal species and subspecies found in the Philippines, according to a news release from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(snipped)

^^ DENR and BFAR are one of the most useless of all govt agencies in the Philippines.

Funds raised for Marikina watershed

About 150 bicycle enthusiasts from Marikina City and other parts of Metro Manila joined Sunday morning a fun bike ride intended to raise funds for an annual tree planting project in the Marikina Watershed area.

Dubbed, “Rotaride Padyak for Nature,” the fun bike ride for all ages and genders intends raise money to help plant some 5,000 saplings at the Wawa dam in Rodriguez, Rizal, during the rainy season.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marikina, the bike ride started at Marikina Sports Complex, traversed San Mateo, Rizal and ended at Wawa dam in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Rotary Club of Marikina Heights District 3800 President Joseph Aranas said this is the second time that they held the fun bike ride and he expects the activity to grow even more in the next few years.

“This is our second Rotaride Padyak para sa Kalikasan which aims not only to promote good health, but also to raise funds for our tree planting activity at Marikina Watershed. We will be doing that by July of this year and we are targeting to plant about 5,000 trees,”Aranas said.

“With the support of more people, the private sector and government, the event will grow even more,” he added.

Aranas said the bikers had to travel 30 kilometers before reaching their destination. Other participants in the activity came as far as Tondo, Manila.

Aranas said during their first bike ride last year, the group was able to plant some 5,000 bamboo seedlings. He explained that they chose to plant bamboo seedlings because it multiplies rapidly and has a fierce grip on soil.
http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6673&sid=1&subid=3#.UWHeN6JmiSo

Funds raised for Marikina watershed

About 150 bicycle enthusiasts from Marikina City and other parts of Metro Manila joined Sunday morning a fun bike ride intended to raise funds for an annual tree planting project in the Marikina Watershed area.

Dubbed, “Rotaride Padyak for Nature,” the fun bike ride for all ages and genders intends raise money to help plant some 5,000 saplings at the Wawa dam in Rodriguez, Rizal, during the rainy season.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marikina, the bike ride started at Marikina Sports Complex, traversed San Mateo, Rizal and ended at Wawa dam in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Rotary Club of Marikina Heights District 3800 President Joseph Aranas said this is the second time that they held the fun bike ride and he expects the activity to grow even more in the next few years.

“This is our second Rotaride Padyak para sa Kalikasan which aims not only to promote good health, but also to raise funds for our tree planting activity at Marikina Watershed. We will be doing that by July of this year and we are targeting to plant about 5,000 trees,”Aranas said.

“With the support of more people, the private sector and government, the event will grow even more,” he added.

Aranas said the bikers had to travel 30 kilometers before reaching their destination. Other participants in the activity came as far as Tondo, Manila.

Aranas said during their first bike ride last year, the group was able to plant some 5,000 bamboo seedlings. He explained that they chose to plant bamboo seedlings because it multiplies rapidly and has a fierce grip on soil.
http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6673&sid=1&subid=3#.UWHeN6JmiSo
What a pity! The people of Marikina knows what they're doing is just a puny way in trying to mitigate the effects of the ever pesky floods! Do our leaders see a better solution/s?:ohno:

St. Louis Zoo, Missouri

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8631457735_432f34cb02_b.jpg

Chinese vessel runs aground Tubbataha

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/H3HnJUm7wWF54KO7Ilo2rA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDI7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_sg/News/AFP/photo_1365101934090-1-HD.jpg

A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground the Tubbataha Reef late Monday, officials said, only days after the wreckage of a U.S. ship that hit the protected marine park had been removed.

The vessel, which carried 12 people believed to be illegal fishermen, hit the reef before midnight, staff at the Tubbataha Management Office said via phone.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/chinese-vessel-runs-aground-tubbataha-022038005.html

Chinese vessel runs aground Tubbataha

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/H3HnJUm7wWF54KO7Ilo2rA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDI7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_sg/News/AFP/photo_1365101934090-1-HD.jpg

A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground the Tubbataha Reef late Monday, officials said, only days after the wreckage of a U.S. ship that hit the protected marine park had been removed.

The vessel, which carried 12 people believed to be illegal fishermen, hit the reef before midnight, staff at the Tubbataha Management Office said via phone.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/chinese-vessel-runs-aground-tubbataha-022038005.html
Are we to expect the Tubbataha Management Office to conduct another reef damage assessment like what they are doing with the US sweeper?

No special treatment in Tubbataha incidents - Palace

MANILA - Malacanang said on Thursday it is not treating Americans, whose Navy ship ran aground in Tubbataha Reef, with kid gloves compared to Chinese fishers whose boat met the same fate recently.

"First of all, those are two separate incidents. They're not apples to apples," Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters.

"One is a military ship from an allied country [which] is here with our permission, involved in our mutual defense. The other is a private fishing vessel, which was here without permission, which was here for commercial reasons."

"Clearly, the different natures of these vessels would necessitate different responses," he added.

Carandang said that an investigation is ongoing into the grounding of the USS Guardian, which was removed from the reef after three months.

The Chinese fishers, meanwhile, will face charges for poaching, among others.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/11/13/no-special-treatment-tubbataha-incidents-palace

12 Chinese poachers sa Tubbataha, posibleng makulong ng 20 taon (http://dzmm.abs-cbnnews.com/news/National/12_Chinese_poachers_sa_Tubbataha,_posibleng_makulong_ng_20_taon.html)

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/72180_10151437933479620_1456679613_n.jpg

"We are preparing a case. We are still compiling supporting documents (but) it carries a heavy penalty of 12 to 20 years imprisonment,"
ani Adelina Villena, environmental officer sa Palawan.

Dagdag pa ni Villena, kahit hindi narekober ang mga pangolin, ang simpleng pagtataglay ng mga threatened species
ay sapat nang dahilan para magkaso.

Protektado ng international law ang lahat ng walong species ng insect-eating mammal. Nasa "red list" ng endangered species ng
International Union of Conservation of Nature ang Malaysian at Chinese pangolins.


dapat 40 years imprisonment yan.

Coast Guard asks Palawan folk for info on alleged anteater trade

http://www8.gmanews.tv/webpics/v3/2013/04/320_ZZZ_041713_2_b.jpg

The Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday appealed to Palawan folk to help it get to the bottom of the supposed anteater trade, after the discovery of frozen anteaters in a Chinese vessel that ran aground at Tubbataha Reef April 8.

Coast Guard Palawan head Commodore Enrico Evangelista said information residents provide can help the agency protect endangered species like the anteaters (pangolin in Palawan), radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

Evangelista said information on who are behind the trade of the endangered species, who are the ones catching the anteaters, and who are acting as middlemen would be of big help.

Authorities suspect a trade of sorts involving the endangered species is going on with the discovery of 400 boxes of frozen anteaters in the cargo hold of a Chinese fishing vessel that ran aground on Tubbataha Reef.

While the anteaters are considered an endangered species in the Philippines, they are considered by some Chinese as a delicacy and as medicine.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/304403/news/regions/coast-guard-asks-palawan-folk-for-info-on-alleged-anteater-trade

Manila’s first solar pavilion built out of recycled materials
Rouchelle R. Dinglasan,GMA NewsApril 20, 2013 4:20pm

Opened last Saturday, My Shelter Foundation explained in a statement that the solar pavilion was built using recycled plastic bottles placed inside plastic crates, which are in turn supported using plastic ties and scaffolding. The foundation spearheaded its construction.

http://images.gmanews.tv/v3/webpics/v3/2013/04/2013_04_20_16_34_01.jpg
The solar pavilion was built using recycled plastic bottles placed inside plastic crates,
which are in turn supported using plastic ties and scaffolding.

The interior of the pavilion uses a hydroponic design that allows plants to grow without soil, and using only mineral nutrient solutions in water, it read.

A workshop on sustainability and green technology will be held at the solar pavilion from April 20 to June 12 this year, the foundation said.

“Creating sustainable solutions to help ourselves and others around the world is not out of our reach. Flipinos can do it,” said Illac Diaz, founder of My Shelter Foundation.

For his part, world-renowned South African green designer Stephen Lamb, a guest speaker at the launch, noted: “The Solar Pavilion is a great example of combining the needs of people and nature in simple ways and I hope to continue sharing more design ideas to contribute to this campaign of positive change.”

Read full story here (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/304790/scitech/science/manila-s-first-solar-pavilion-built-out-of-recycled-materials)

FYI, matagal na pong may batas para diyan: Clean Water Act! Kaso, parang walang may alam kung ipapatupad o hindi!:bash::bash::bash:

Kahit pa tuparin ang clean water act, hindi natin masasabi na healthy ang natural drainage sa lugar na matao... I think, mas maganda kung gagamit sila ng mas advance na technology for sanitation sa isla since nakapag generate naman ito ng malaking income...

Worth a thought.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/11600_501571509891455_2118326613_n.jpg

Fundraising for Tubbataha
13 March 2013

Read: http://tubbatahareef.org/news/680


World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines launched a fundraising project for the construction of a new PhP20 million ranger station in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

The plan for a new ranger station was initiated to provide the team of seven rangers – who live isolated in Tubbataha for two months at a time, on the frontline of marine conservation – with a more modern living space and up-to-date facilities.


*======================================*
For more information on how to help please contact:
WWF-Philippines: kkp@wwf.org.ph | Tel: (02) 920 7923

Tubbataha Management Office: tmo@tubbatahareef.org

Like WWF to Spread the news.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWF.Philippines
*======================================*

No ‘writ of kalikasan’ yet—SC spokesman

MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said the high court has not issued a “writ of kalikasan” on the matter of the Tubbataha Reef’s destruction from the grounding of the US Navy minesweeper, USS Guardian, last January.
Te was reacting to news reports on Tuesday, including the Inquirer’s, that the Supreme Court had given due course to a petition for a writ of kalikasan.
With such a writ, the high tribunal will direct the Court of Appeals to hold hearings to determine whether the US Navy is criminally and administratively liable and how much it should be penalized for the massive coral destruction in the protected reef.
“The SC has not issued a writ of kalikasan nor has it issued a Tepo (temporary environmental protection order) in GR 206510 (Arigo v. Swift),” Te said in a tweet Wednesday on the official Twitter account of the SC public information office.
Court sources who were not officially authorized to announce the decision said that before going on recess this week, the magistrates had already voted to give due course to the petition filed last week by a multisectoral group.
The Supreme Court has not yet released the resolution.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/73007/no-writ-of-kalikasan-yet-sc-spokesman#ixzz2RSAnAsuw

PCG begins unloading anteaters’ carcasses from Chinese vessel

http://imageshack.us/a/img341/7227/gen6new.jpg

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said that 159 boxes of carcasses of anteaters have been removed from the cargo hold of the Chinese fishing vessel F/B Min Long Yu and transported to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

PCG Palawan District commander Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said they used two M35 trucks from the Naval Forces West and Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command in transporting the dead anteaters (pangolins) to the designated burial site in Irawan, Puerto Princesa City.

“The hauling of the carcasses is still ongoing. There are still other boxes that would be unloaded from the Chinese fishing vessel. We will conduct an inventory of the dead anteaters before they are buried,” Evangelista said.

To contain the stench of the skinned anteaters, they were individually wrapped in black plastic bags during their 30-minute ride from the Port of Puerto Princesa, where the Chinese boat was docked.

The rotting anteaters would be buried in a hole measuring 10 meters x 6 meters x 4 meters.

The 48-meter steel-hulled F/B Ming Long Yu ran aground on Tubbataha Reef on April 8.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/04/28/935736/pcg-begins-unloading-anteaters-carcasses-chinese-vessel

Manila Bay Cleanup Competition 2013

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/397858_536816233023710_577232368_n.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/MMDAPH

Unesco sends marine experts to assess Philippine reef damage

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Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is sending a team of experts to Tubbataha Reef to assess the damage wrought by the grounding of the USS Guardian, a US Navy minesweeper, in January.

This was confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, director of the Unesco Dream centre in Manila and wife of Heherson Alvarez, head of the Climate Change Commission, an agency attached to the Office of the President.

Guidote-Alvarez said Unesco's World Heritage centre was also organising a "five-day meeting of marine experts aimed at strengthening conservation and management practices at Tubbataha Reef National Park."

"The meeting will be held in Puerto Princesa City from May 20 to 24," she said, quoting Dr. Hubert Gijzen, director of the Unesco Regional Science Board for Asia and the Pacific and Unesco representative to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor Leste and Brunei.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/unesco-sends-marine-experts-assess-philippine-reef-damage-040003506.html

SC defers issuance of writ of kalikasan for Tubbataha protection

By Tetch Torres-Tupas
INQUIRER.net
1:25 pm | Thursday, May 9th, 2013

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2013/01/300x225xshark-tubbataha-reefs-300x225.jpg.pagespeed.ic.MGwCP3sMDn.webp
REEFS ON THE ROCKS A diver observes a sleeping shark on a ledge at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Made up of two atolls, Tubbataha’s vertiginous walls are home to 12 species of sharks. Overfished because of the sharks’ valuable fins, Tubbataha offers one of the last guaranteed shark dives in the world. Although protected year-round by armed rangers who are stationed in two-month shifts, the reefs were defenseless against the rude intrusion of a US minesweeper three days ago when it ran aground in the Unesco-named World Heritage Site. YVETTE LEE/CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has deferred the issuance of a writ of kalikasan for the protection of the Tubbataha Reef.

Instead, high court sources said respondents were ordered to comment on the petition filed by environmentalists, church leaders and militant groups who were asking the high court to file criminal, administrative and civil cases against individuals responsible for the grounding of the USS Guardian last January 17.

Respondents in the petition include Scott H. Swift, commandant USS Guardian, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus P. Paje, Vice Admiral Jose Luis M. Alano, Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, Armed Forces Of The Philippines, Admiral Rodolfo D. Isorena, Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard, Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, Philippine Coast Guard Palawan, Major Gen. Virgilio O. Domingo, Commandant Of Armed Forces Of The Philippines Command, Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling, Us Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, And Balikatan 2013 Exercise Co-Director.


Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/74009/sc-defers-issuance-of-writ-of-kalikasan-for-tubbataha-protection#ixzz2Sm5uG1vg
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Manila Zoo - the only place right at the heart of Metro Manila.. A Park... a Zoo.. a learning place. Bonding with the family... with the Children with special needs... sharing experiences with fellow photographers... and cheap too... 20 pesos for Manila residents... 40 pesos non Manila residence... FREE for Senior citizen and PWDs. Let us not give this up without a fight... come this Saturday May 18, 2013... We are ready to make a difference. We have forming the Zoo Volunteer group... get involved... join us on our first meeting... Its Saturday... you might as well bring your family and feed Maali... dont forget to bring Bananas... the entrance if free for you and your family... Feeding time 8-9 am... Zoo tour by Dr. Patrrict Domingo at 9-10... meeting starts at 10 am... Canon Nipa Hut center.

For those who strongly believe that Manila Zoo and Maali should stay, attend the (May 18) Saturday morning meeting at Manila Zoo set by John Chua regarding the issue.

Mayor Estrada Just announced that Manila Zoo will be close down and Maali will send to Thailand this year to support the fight of Americans Greatest Clown Animal Activist PETA.

Quite apart from the question of the “correctness” of PETA’s methods, in the case of the sad plight of the animals in Manila Zoo, I think they have a valid point. These animals are not taken cared of to the degree that they should be.

I doubt if the zoo has the budget and personnel (veterinarians, biologists, animal keepers) that is needed for the proper upkeep and maintenance of this facility.

I don’t think the area should be sold and opened to development though.

Much better to find appropriate sanctuaries for the animals somewhere else and convert this place into a park.