Environmental Protection, Conservation, and Rehabilitation

[newgabskii]

Watch at Youtube

Earth Hour 2009 setting new records in climate concern

Already twice the participating countries of Earth Hour 2008
Archbishop Desmond Tutu leads call for action on climate change
Obama artist Shepard Fairey likens flicking switch to climate vote

With eight weeks still to go, citizens, businesses and public authorities in 375 cities across 74 countries have already committed to turning off their lights for one hour at 8.30pm on 28 March in a graphic show of support for decisive action on climate change.

The list of cities confirming their participation in Earth Hour 2009 includes 37 national capitals and some of the great cities of the world, including London, Beijing, Rome, Moscow, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Athens, Buenos Aires, Toronto, Sydney, Mexico City, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Manila, Las Vegas, Brussels, Cape Town and Helsinki.
The WWF-sponsored event continues to show amazing momentum, from being a Sydney, Australia awareness-raising event in 2007, to the astounding 371 cities across 35 countries total last year. As participation for Earth Hour 2009 storms past this level of municipal involvement in more than twice the number of countries, discussions are under way or nearing completion in hundreds of other cities.

WWF Director General, Mr James Leape, said he is optimistic about the campaign’s potential to drive key decision making on the issue of climate change.

“With hundreds more cities expected to sign up to switch off in the coming months, Earth Hour 2009 is setting the platform for an unprecedented global mandate for action on climate change,” he said.

Along with the great metropolises of the world, Earth Hour 2009 will also see the lights go out on some of the most recognised landmarks on the planet, including Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Merlion in Singapore, Sydney Opera House, CN Tower in Toronto, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the world’s tallest constructed building Taipei 101.

A host of high profile ambassadors across the world have also lent their support to the campaign, most notably Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett.

Shepard Fairey, the artist noted for his graphic portrayals of Barack Obama during the recent US Presidential Election, has likened flicking the switch to casting a vote on climate change in artwork for the Earth Hour campaign.

Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley, said the 2009 campaign as an opportunity for the people of the world to cast their vote on this important global issue.

"Earth Hour by its very nature is the essence of grassroots action. This is the opportunity for individuals, from all corners of the globe to unite in a single voice and demand action on climate change”, said Mr Ridley.

2009 is a critical year for action on climate change, with the world’s leaders due to meet at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December to sign a new deal to supersede the Kyoto Protocol.

Earth Hour
© WWF
Related links
Earth Hour website
05 Feb 2009

[dinabaw]

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo interacts with Hedcor chief operations officer Rene Ronquillo during her visit at one of the project sites of the P5.1 billion 42.5-megawatt Sibulan Hydropower Project at barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on Thursday, Feburary 26, 2009. Also in the photo are Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas and son Mark, 1st Distric Representative of the province. The project, which is developed by Aboitiz Power, is expected to be completed by October this year. AKP Images / Keith Bacongco

One of the project sites of the 42.5 megawatt Sibulan Hydropower Project at barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. The project, which is developed by Aboitiz Power, is expected to be completed by October this year. AKP Images / Keith Bacongco

[tonight]

Arroyo sets Fridays as ‘green day’

MANILA—In President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's calendar, Friday is green day.

Every Friday, Arroyo will be riding out of Malacañang to go around Metro Manila and the countryside to preach the gospel of clean, carbon-free environment among government officials.

"Every Friday is anti-climate-change day. It is the day when I devote my own activities to making sure that we promote the work that has to be done to mitigate climate change,'' she told Japanese and Filipino business leaders.

And part of her job, Arroyo said, was to make sure that all government agencies "across the board'' have their own solid waste management facilities.

"After this event, I will be going to the Manila Police District to make sure that they work on that,'' she said, as she congratulated Japan for its pioneering work on mitigating climate change, particularly the Kyoto Protocol.

The President spoke at the joint meeting of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (Philjec) and the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee at The Peninsula in Makati City.

After her address, Arroyo motored to the Manila Police District's headquarters in Manila to inspect the district's closed-circuit TV cameras, and listen to a briefing on climate change.

Last Thursday, Arroyo made a fresh pitch for clean energy in Davao del Sur after inaugurating a P5.1-billion hydropower project, saying this was crucial for security and environmental reasons.

In late January, Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 774 reorganizing the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change, with her acting as chair and Cabinet secretaries as members.

The order also mandates the creation of task groups on solid waste management, watershed protection, rainwater conservation, water recycling, atmospheric activities, fossil fuels, information, fisheries, among others.

In her first act as environment czar, she inspected Malacañang's own material recovery facility (MRF) which recycles and composts wastes from her official residence.

She has been visiting MRFs in the metropolis and the countryside since then. The idea is to drill into local officials' mind the wisdom of conservation, protection and restoration.

From the MPD headquarters, Arroyo proceeded to the Manila Metropolitan Theater to check the progress of its restoration.

During the inspection, she ordered the National Commission on Culture and Arts and the city government of Manila to expedite the restoration of the MET in time for its soft opening in June.

NCCA executive director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez assured Arroyo the theater would be open to host the 8th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day on June 9.

The President had released P50 million to NCCA for the restoration of the MET and an additional P50 million for its full operation by December 2009.

[tonight]

Laguna De Bay as water source for Metro

MANILA, Philippines -- Water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is eyeing to tap Laguna De Bay as a water source for the cities of Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Bacoor in Cavite.

Maynilad is now seeking the approval of the Laguna Lake Development Authority to use the lake as a domestic water source for the four cities, which largely constitute its “unserved” area, the LLDA said in a statement.

In order to arrest a forthcoming shortage of potable water in the future, it said, the water firm has asked permission to extract about 300 million liters per day from the lake.

According to the LLDA, a study conducted by the government of the Netherlands for the lake agency has shown that Laguna De Bay, being the largest lake in the Philippines and strategically located in the heart of Calabarzon region, is the most viable source of water for Metro Manila’s west zone.

Maynilad is the authorized water concessionaire of the Manila Water Sewerage System (MWSS) for the western part of Metro Manila.

At present, according to Maynilad, it supplies water to about 703,519 customers, or only 71 percent of its total concession area. The rest of the west zone does not have enough water supply -- mainly comprising the areas of Muntinlupa, Parañaque, and Las Piñas.

In its proposal to the LLDA, Maynilad said it plans to take over operations of the existing water treatment plant in Putatan, Muntinlupa, which currently extracts 180,000 cubic meters per month of lake water and then supplies it to the Ayala Alabang subdivision for the residents’ domestic use.

Maynilad then plans to gradually implement the 300-million-liters-per-day extraction of water from the Lake. The first 100 million liters per day, said the LLDA, will be made available to the west zone of Metro Manila in 2010 and then water extraction will be increased to 200 million liters in 2011, and then 300 million liters per day by 2014.

[tonight]

DA exec backs aerial pesticide spraying
By Dennis Jay Santos

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A government expert defended the aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations, saying it was the only viable means for the industry to thrive.

“The lifeline for many of the banana companies rest on eradicating the most common problem in banana production, which is the fungal Sigatoka disease and pesticides use is but indispensable,” Dario Sabularce, deputy executive director of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) on the sidelines of a biotechnology workshop at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao here, Sabularce said aerial spraying was the only viable way to rid banana plantations of pests since these cover huge tracts of land.

Sabularce said aerial spraying has always been an “approved procedure” and that the pesticides used were not dangerous to humans or to the environment. He dared critics to prove otherwise.

“If there is a concern, why don’t you show us your studies? (The FPA) is the proper agency that should look into this matter,” he said.

Sabularce added: “These are hard times and if we don’t allow aerial spraying, we are at risk of losing the market to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, which are also into banana production.”

Sabularce's statement in favor of aerial spraying came after the Court of Appeals decided in favour of trashing a city ordinance that banned the practice.

The city council had banned aerial spraying after studies revealed that the practice had been endangering the health of residents living near banana plantations here.

The study was conducted by both government and non-government health organizations in 2006.

The ban on aerial spraying in banana plantations here was the second of its kind in Mindanao, after Bukidnon province.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), a grouping of banana companies here, had asked the CA in January to rule against the ban, enraging residents.

"It was as if heaven fell on us,” said Rosita Bacalso, a member of the Davao-based Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS).

“The CA only proved that they take good care of the welfare of the rich and powerful, never mind us poor," Bacalso said.

Sister Esperanza Magana of the Association of Women Religious under the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro called the court's decision “a work of evil.”

"Anything that lessens the quality of life, anything that curtails life is evil. In that context we are against aerial spraying," Magana said as soon as the Court of Appeals handed down the decision.

Erminstan Pimentel, vice-president for administration of the Xavier University in Cagayan, said he could not understand how the Court of Appeals found the ordinance banning aerial spraying as unconstitutional.

"Aerial spraying goes against sustainable development. One cannot help but question the wisdom of the justices in favoring its continued use," he said.

Wendell Avisado, Davao City administrator, said the fight was not over yet because the city government filed an appeal against the Court of Appeals ruling.

[tonight]

DA exec backs aerial pesticide spraying
By Dennis Jay Santos

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – (UPDATE) A government expert defended the aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations, saying it was the only viable means for the industry to thrive.

“The lifeline for many of the banana companies rest on eradicating the most common problem in banana production, which is the fungal Sigatoka disease and pesticides use is but indispensable,” Dario Sabularce, deputy executive director of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) on the sidelines of a biotechnology workshop at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao here, Sabularse said aerial spraying was the only viable way to rid banana plantations of pests since these cover huge tracts of land.

Sabularse said aerial spraying has always been an “approved procedure” and that the pesticides used were not dangerous to humans or to the environment. He dared critics to prove otherwise.

“If there is a concern, why don’t you show us your studies? (The FPA) is the proper agency that should look into this matter,” he said.

Sabularse added: “These are hard times and if we don’t allow aerial spraying, we are at risk of losing the market to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, which are also into banana production.”

Sabularse's statement in favor of aerial spraying came after the Court of Appeals decided in favour of trashing a city ordinance that banned the practice.

The city council had banned aerial spraying after studies revealed that the practice had been endangering the health of residents living near banana plantations here.

The study was conducted by both government and non-government health organizations in 2006.

The ban on aerial spraying in banana plantations here was the second of its kind in Mindanao, after Bukidnon province.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), a grouping of banana companies here, had asked the CA in January to rule against the ban, enraging residents.

"It was as if heaven fell on us,” said Rosita Bacalso, a member of the Davao-based Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS).

“The CA only proved that they take good care of the welfare of the rich and powerful, never mind us poor," Bacalso said.

Sister Esperanza Magana of the Association of Women Religious under the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro called the court's decision “a work of evil.”

"Anything that lessens the quality of life, anything that curtails life is evil. In that context we are against aerial spraying," Magana said as soon as the Court of Appeals handed down the decision.

Erminstan Pimentel, vice-president for administration of the Xavier University in Cagayan, said he could not understand how the Court of Appeals found the ordinance banning aerial spraying as unconstitutional.

"Aerial spraying goes against sustainable development. One cannot help but question the wisdom of the justices in favoring its continued use," he said.

Wendell Avisado, Davao City administrator, said the fight was not over yet because the city government filed an appeal against the Court of Appeals ruling.

[tonight]

DENR allots 746 hectares for upland dev’t program
By Mike G. Crismundo

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur – In support of the 2009 Upland Development Program (UDP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is setting aside some 746 hectares for farm production.

Aguan del Sur Gov. Ma. Valentina Plaza learned about this development during a recent consultative meeting with top DENR officials led by UDP Coordinator for Mindanao Vicente S. Paragas and PENR Officer Sixto C. Badua at the Governor’s Office at the provincial capitol here.

It was gathered that this UDP program, which is currently implemented by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose “Lito” L. Atienza, Jr. nation-wide, is also in full support of President Arroyo’s economic resiliency program dubbed “Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program” (CLEEP).
Badua said that the objective of this program is to create employment opportunities and additional income for poor and upland households and people’s organizations in reforestation and agro-forestry.

“This is also part to our continuing greening activity in watershed idle and private lands,” said Badua.
At least 406 hectares are being targeted for the UDP program in San Francisco town; 229 hectares in Bayugan town; 65 hectares in Talacogon town; and 50 hectares in Loreto town, Badua said.

He said the program will establish nurseries and plant fruit-bearing and forest trees, development of individual upland farms through agro-forestry, reforestation of grassland areas, reforestation of degraded areas, implementation of assisted natural regeneration in appropriate areas, conduct of enrichment plantings in sparsely-wooded grasslands, mangroves and tidal flats, re-vegetation of streambanks, development of forest parks and tree planting projects.

Meanwhile, in full support of the government’s environment preservation and forest protection project, Plaza issued Executive Order No. 04-09 creating the “Provincial Task Force on Natural Resources Protection and Utilization to Save Agusan.”

It was learned that the objective of the order is to “ensure the proper enforcement and compliance of existing forestry laws, rules and regulations concerning the utilization and transport of forest products, mineral and other minor forest products in the province.”

[tonight]

Nat’l economic-environment study pushed
By Melody M. Aguiba

The government is embarking on a "National Economic and Environmental Development Study" (NEEDS) to plan out financing and policy support for battling climate change’s effects.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is coordinating a more comprehensive planning for a Philippine program on climate change in support of the efforts of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Participating in the study are the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change (IACCC) and financing institutions including the United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, GTZ of Germany, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Australian Agency for International Development.

"With the Philippines being one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, it is critical that the pipeline for development and climate change funding continues to be unabated. NEEDS will serve as a catalyst in initiating a national dialogue that will determine the full costs of mainstreaming climate change into government planning," said DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza.

The country has supported reduction in greenhouse gas emissions even if it is not an Annex I country under the Kyoto Protocol. Annex I countries have an obligation to cut greenhouse gas emission.

The Philippines established on May 8, 1991 the IACCC, a consultative body which has 15 members from government and non-government organizations who give technical advice on the climate change-related objectives.

The country has implemented measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission as early as in 1997.

The country’s effort to cut greenhouse gas emission under the Kyoto Protocol revolves around the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which enables companies or specific carbon emission reducing projects to raise fund by earning certificate of emission reduction (CER) or carbon credits.

Under the CDM, the Environmental Management Bureau-DENR has issued letters of approval for 10 projects as of February last year which should generate $2.1 million in CER.

Local companies are expected to take advantage of the capital-generating facility under CDM whose accounting process is hoped to be extended beyond the 2008-2012 original period.

A Conference of Parties is expected to follow up on the Bali Roadmap which discussed the proposal to extend the accounting period for the CDM process.

Among the companies with LOA for CDM registration are those engaged in waste water treatment plants, biogas production, and biomass production.

Among the companies that will reduce greenhouse gas emission are FR Cement Corp. in Bgry. Sibulan, Teresa, Rizal which will cut emission by 57,036 metric tons (MT). It will replace use of fossil fuel by rice husk biomass in the production of portland cement.

The Biomass Boiler Projects in Quezon City and Muntilupa City which have a lumped CER of 38,858 MT. The Makati South Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade will cut emission by 28,729 MT with its project through the Magallanes Bio-Energy Corp.

The CER-holding companies also include the Anaerobic Digestion Swine (ADS) waste water treatment plant (WWTP) with on-site power of the Filbrid Livestock Agricultural Corp. in Brgy. Partida, Norzagaray Bulacan which will cut carbon dioxide emission by 4,603 metric tons (MT). Bonview Farms Inc. in Tanauan, Tanza, Cavite has a similar carbon-reducing WWTP that will cut greenhouse gas emission by 16,199 MT.

In Pilapila, Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac, Hacienda Bio-Energy Corp. also has the same ADS-WWT, 5,790 while Asian Livestock Corp. has the same facility at Gumaod, Claveria, Misamis Oriental, 2,844 MT.

The rest of the other ADS-WWT projects that are prepared to use CERs are Cathay Farms in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan,7,518 MT; Tarlac by Enviroprime Corp. in Sto. Rosario, Capas, , 8,259 MT; and Sorosoro Ibaba Devt. Coop. in Taysan, Batangas, 2,237 MT.

[venntro]

Semirara folk score pollution of coastal resources
02/28/2009 | 04:40 PM

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Semirara Island in Antique province decried the pollution of their coastal resources from wastes supposedly coming from coal mining operations on the island.

Online news site The News Today (www.thenewstoday.info) reported that residents of Sitio Bigo of Barangay Alegria are now seeking help from environmental groups.

"We have sought action from local officials and repeatedly called the attention of the company. But the problem persists," said village chief Ronald Lavega of Alegria.

He lamented the pollution has persisted despite a letter sent to Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. last September.

The island is host to 21 mangrove species or 60 percent of the total 35 species of mangroves in the country, according to scientists specializing on mangroves.

Mangroves and marine resources there are still recovering from a massive oil spill that hit the area on December 2005

Some 113 hectares of mangrove forests were contaminated after a power barge of National Power Corp. (Napocor) ran aground 200 meters from the island, spilling some 364,120 liters of bunker fuel off the coast of the island.

In a letter to Atienza dated September 2008, the residents alleged that coastal resources including mangroves have died or have been contaminated by wastes from the coal washing plant of the Semirara Mining Company (SMC).

SMC has been operating one of the biggest coal mines in Asia for more than 20 years on the 5,500-hectare Semirara Island.

The report said Semirara is one of the nine islands comprising Caluya town in Antique at the northern end of Panay Island.

In a petition, the residents said their livelihood has been affected because the coal wastes have contaminated the water and marine resources.

Lavega said at least 100 residents had signed the petition.

"A wide area of our seas where we depend our livelihood is slowly being destroyed because hectares of our mangroves and seagrass are slowly dying," they said in their petition.

Residents said silt has covered their coastline and mangroves as waste coming from the company's coal washing plant goes directly to the sea because the siltation pond has not been operational.

The washing plant would have removed soil and rock coal before it is utilized or marketed.

Also, Lavega said mangrove trees have already died because the silt that has covered the waters has reached more than a foot deep.

"The residents here rely on fishing, shell gathering and seaweed farming for their livelihood. We would naturally be affected if the waters and plants are polluted," he said.

The village has around 1,300 residents with most of them affected by the alleged contamination of the coastline and marine resources.

Residents had asked the DENR in their letter to help them by transferring or repairing the coal washing plant.

They also sought the implementation of a rehabilitation program for the affected areas and provide alternative livelihood for the residents.

Also, the residents are seeking indemnification from the company and other measures provided by the law.

For his part, Atienza said he is unaware of the issue but said he will look into it.

Lavega said around five hectares of mangroves have been affected. But he said that last week, the company bulldozed the area with dead and dying mangroves and planted coconut trees there.

He said a sign declaring the area has also been put up and is now off limits to residents.

"They do not want the public to see the dead mangroves and we have not been allowed to go near the area because it is already guarded," he said. - GMANews.TV

[venntro]

DENR seizes ‘hot logs’ from Manila's port area – report
03/02/2009 | 01:43 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized illegally-cut logs Monday noon at a Manila port, a radio report said.

Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said DENR authorities blocked the entry of the logs at Pier 18 in Manila's Port Area.

The report said Secretary Jose “Lito" Atienza led the DENR operation. - GMANews.TV

[venntro]

Mining firm eyes fertilizer production
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 03/02/2009 1:22 PM


To help the country meet its fertilizer requirements, mining and exploration company Intex Resources Phils. Inc. has redesigned its nickel processing facility in Mindoro province to be able to produce fertilizer as a by-product.

In a statement, Intex President Atty. Leo Cleto Gamolo said the company's move to produce ammonium sulphate and cobalt compounds will also result in foreign exchange savings "in terms of fertilizer that will no longer have to be imported."

Citing data from the National Statistics Office, Intex said the country has imported some $524.02 million worth of fertilizers for the first 11 months of 2008. Of the total amount, $182.1 million represented importations of urea fertilizer, while the remaining $341.92 million were for non-urea fertilizers, under which ammonium sulphate is categorized.

"In addition to ammonium sulphate, the reconfigured Mindoro Nickel Project will be able to produce another by-product: cobalt compounds in the form of sulphates, carbonates, hydroxides and oxides," Gamolo said.

In agriculture, cobalt compounds can be blended with fertilizer or used as a dietary supplement for livestock. The substances are also used in the production of rechargeable batteries for cellular phones: a consumer product that is in great demand especially in countries like the Philippines.

In producing nickel and by-products, Gamolo said Intex will be generating its own power in an environment-friendly manner, mostly using carbon-free energy instead of using fossil fuels. This means Intex will not be depending on Mindoro's power for its plant requirements.

"In fact, there is the possibility that we will be generating more power than we actually would need. Initially, we will be generating around 50 megawatts, which will subsequently increase to 80 megawatts. The excess can be passed on Mindoro's powergrid," Gamolo said.

[tonight]

DENR seizes ‘hot logs’ from Manila's port area – report

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized illegally-cut logs Monday noon at a Manila port, a radio report said.

Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said DENR authorities blocked the entry of the logs at Pier 18 in Manila's Port Area.

The report said Secretary Jose “Lito" Atienza led the DENR operation.

[venntro]

Grand Utopia official lashes back at Palafox


SUBIC BAY Freeport: A top official of the controversial $120-million hotel and casino that has become the subject of environmental concern has finally lashed back at its former architect who turned into the project’s No. 1 critic after being sidelined from the project.

In a statement, Executive Manager Eric Ghi-Buhm Park said that Grand Utopia Inc. is deeply disappointed that their former architect Felino Palafox Jr. began criticizing their Subic Project in the media using documents of their company.

“By coming out in the media and speaking before various public gatherings [while] criticizing our Subic project, the architect has committed a breach not only of the provisions of the subcontract agreement but also of professional ethics,” Park added.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza also inspected the project site last January and confirmed that the trees remained intact at the project site.

“If architect Palafox, as our professional local architect, was sincerely concerned about the trees from the very beginning, wasn’t it his responsibility to advise his client Grand Utopia of an alternative solution instead of publicly criticizing his client’s project in an unethical way with all exaggerations?” Park rued.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza in a separate statement is urging the critics of the project to be objective and stop sensationalizing the issue that has only delayed the project.

“We still think that this project would be beneficial to the Subic Bay Freeport, especially with the projected manpower hiring of about 5,000. It’s a project proposal that we have to evaluate objectively,” Arreza said.

Arreza made the appeal after the Special Committee on Bases Conversion of the House of Representatives on Tuesday conducted its initial hearing on two resolutions seeking to investigate claims made by noted architect Palafox.

The project remained on hold since November last year after Palafox’s claims triggered protests from environmental groups concerned about trees at the project site.

The SBMA official also bared project proponent Grand Utopia Inc. has already asked the SBMA to give them an alternate location since the allegations have caused the project much delay.
--Anthony Bayarong

[venntro]

DENR seizes P3.7 million worth of 'hot lumber'
By Marianne V. Go Updated March 04, 2009 12:00 AM


Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza leads the apprehension of 11 container vans loaded with P3.7 million worth of illegally sourced lumber and flitches at Pier 18 in North Harbor, Manila last Monday. Atienza has placed Manila North Harbor under the DENR’s tight watch as a critical port of entry for illegal logs and other forest products.
MANILA, Philippines - Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose L. Atienza led recently the apprehension of 11 container vans loaded with P3.7 million worth of illegally sourced lumber and flitches at Pier 18 at the North Harbor in Manila.

According to Atienza, “we are placing Manila North Harbor under the Department’s tight watch as this is the port of entry of illegal logs, lumber and other forest products from various parts of the country. These illegally sourced lumber and flitches may find their way to lumber dealers in Luzon.”

This year has been declared by the DENR as law enforcement year to put a stop or, at least, minimize the wanton destruction of the country’s forests by greedy and unscrupulous few who flagrantly violate environmental laws.

The 11 container vans, Atienza said, were allegedly shipped by Arcela Mini Sawmill and consigned to MV Lumber Construction Supply, Inc., in Baliuag Bulacan.

The forest products reportedly originated from Cotabato and Agusan provinces. Based on initial findings of the environment law enforcement task force, the vans contained lumber and flitches with thickness of six inches, which is now allowed.

“This whole thing is highly irregular. For one, the flitches vary in sizes, some as thick as six inches or even thicker, while some bear markings indicating that the logs were sourced from carabao logging,” Atienza said.

[venntro]

Binay: Looming power crisis no excuse to reopen BNPP

03/04/2009

The looming power crisis is not an excuse to reopen the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant or consider nuclear energy, Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay said.

Instead, the government should explore geothermal energy since the Philippines has the second highest geothermal capacity in the world at the moment, he added.

“Nuclear energy poses a lot of safety questions that have not been answered fully. Instead of engaging in a protracted discussion on nuclear power, we should explore our full potential for geothermal power,” he said.

Binay added the national government should focus on geothermal power in the light of the looming power crisis, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao brought about by the unprecedented rise in power demand.

He said the Department of Energy had admitted power supply in the Visayas and Mindanao is already tight, with reports of brownouts in these areas last year.

But the national government should go beyond inviting foreign investors to develop the country’s geothermal resources.

In the long term, Binay said harnessing the country’s geothermal potential will attract an increasing number of investors who are looking for locations offering clean and renewable sources of energy for their factories, referred to as “green factories.”

He cited reports that Google, along with Microsoft and Yahoo, are already looking at Iceland to build massive “server farms” because Iceland’s geothermal technology and resources are one of the most highly developed in the world.

“The Philippines is up there with Iceland among countries with the most abundant geothermal resources,” he said. “In fact, we have the second highest geothermal power capacity in the world right now — next to the US. And we have enough geothermal power on our islands to more than double our current capacity,” he said.

He added geothermal power is abundant in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Southern Tagalog, the Socksargen region and Central Mindanao.

“Unfortunately, the Arroyo administration is being short-sighted in approaching the energy issue. Instead of merely looking for investors for geothermal power, national government should develop an investment plan anchored on promoting the Philippines as a location for green factories,” he said.

He urged government to include local government officials in developing an investment incentive plan to bring in green factories.

“Encouraging geothermal energy will not only address our power needs but also provide incentives for new investments. Government should meet local executives to discuss an investment strategy to induce foreign direct investors to build green factories in these regions,” he said.

[venntro]

PCG, Romblon folk shoo whales back to sea
03/04/2009 | 10:44 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday lauded local fisher folk for helping out in the efforts that led to the immediate and safe return of some 100 melon-headed whales stranded off the coast of Romblon on Tuesday.

Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo quoted Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo as describing the local villagers as heroes for coming to the rescue when they spotted the whales off the coast of Odiongan town, a third class municipality in central Romblon.

The latest stranding happened on the heels of an earlier similar incident in Bataan where some 300 melon-headed whales suddenly emerged off the shore off Pilar and Orion towns. Local fishermen and authorities waded into the water and successfully drove the whales away, but not after three whales had died.

Picking up lessons from the Bataan experience, Tamayo said the Coast Guard employed safer and more effective measures to help the mammals make their way back to deeper parts of the ocean.

Tamayo said he has already mobilized his team to troop to the waters and conduct regular monitoring to avoid a similar scenario from happening anew.

The Coast Guard official said he thinks the whales could have lost their way as an effect of global climate change.

Over the weekend, around 200 pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins also found their way off the shorelines of the Narcoopa Beach on King Island, a part of Tasmania. Only around 60 of them were safely ushered back to the sea.

The series of whale stranding has already prompted the International World Ocean Conference to take up the matter when its members convene, the report added.

Perplexed experts have yet to ascertain the actual cause of the unusual behavior of the whales, with some attributing it to a seismic movement beneath the ocean while others saying such whales tend to stay close together at all times. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV

[Porknight]

not really an excuse m hope they won't !

[tonight]

Turn off your lights, for just one hour
By Veronica Uy

MANILA, Philippines—One million Filipinos who switched off their lights for one hour in last year's Earth Hour campaign were able to save at least 54 megawatts of energy, equivalent to the output of one power plant, Earth Hour organizers said Wednesday.

At the launch of this year's Earth Hour, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes urged more Filipinos to join the movement this year and switch off their lights for just one hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 28.

More than the hour of energy saved, the worldwide campaign seeks to instill more environment-friendly lifestyle. It encourages the use of more renewable energy than fossil-based energy.

Reyes said that this year, the Philippine campaign aims to involve 10 million. Worldwide, the target is 1 billion people.

"Worldwide the Philippines was number nine last year. I expect that we will be number one in the world this year," the energy secretary said.

Cathy Maceda, of the Switch Movement, said people can save energy by switching from incandescent bulbs to the more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps. She said every one million such switches is equivalent to 47 megawatts saved.

"One power plant is equivalent to 47 megawatts. If 13 million such switches are made, as Switch's target for this year is, we don't have to put up 13 power plants," she said.

Maceda that various churches have agreed to participate by urging their flock to reflect on how to save energy and therefore save the earth.

Mother Earth's Odette Alcantara said she considers Earth Hour "a holy hour, a sacred hour to listen to the silence, and in the dark, feel the effects of the climate change that we have brought upon ourselves."

[venntro]

Another Earth hour.

[venntro]

House approves P100 million for new Bataan Nuclear Power Plant study
Updated March 06, 2009 12:00 AM


MANILA, Philippines - The House appropriations committee approved yesterday a P100-million allocation for a new study on the viability of commissioning the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, senior committee vice chairman, proposed the new “validation or feasibility” study as a “compromise” to the bill of Pangasinan Rep. Marcos Cojuangco seeking the “immediate rehabilitation and commissioning” of the nuclear plant.

The bill of Cojuangco is facing stiff opposition from many congressmen and civil society groups, as well as from Catholic bishops. The lawmaker is a son of billionaire businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. who has investments in power distribution and oil refining and retailing.

Lagman said a fourth study has to be conducted to determine whether the nuclear plant could still be operated despite its being mothballed since the Marcos years due largely to unresolved safety issues.

He said the results of three previous studies should be used as references by a group of local and international experts who would be commissioned to undertake the new study.

He said the P100-million budget would be taken from this year’s budget of the Department of Energy and the state-owned National Power Corp.

Lagman said a provision in the committee-approved allocation prohibits the commissioning of the plant ahead of the completion of the new study.

Rep. Cojuangco initially frowned upon Lagman’s proposal, saying a “feasibility study” is “politician’s language that connotes inaction and indecision.”

“We should decide once and for all whether we want to operate this plant or to sell it for its junk value,” he said.

He said at present, the government is spending P40 million a year for the upkeep of the plant, which has not generated a single watt of electricity.

Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, appropriations committee chairman, prevailed upon Cojuangco to accept the compromise.

After Lagman’s proposal was accepted, Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque suggested that portions of the Cojuangco bill that are “incongruous” with the compromise be deleted.

Golez said the “incongruous” portions include allowing the National Power Corp. to immediately rehabilitate and operate the nuclear plant.

He said this might be interpreted as an authority for Napocor to operate the plant even while the mandated new feasibility study is still underway.

“If these irrelevant portions are not deleted, this will be a ridiculous and a defective bill,” he said.

Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, a co-author of the commissioning bill, said even if the new study finds the plant to be operable and viable, it would still go through a process of licensing by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“This process alone will take time and is usually more strict and tedious than a validation or feasibility study,” he said.

Protests continue

Groups opposed to the activation of the BNPP vowed to launch more protest actions.

“From now on, the public and the broad social movement against the revival of the BNPP will keep tabs on each legislator’s position, action and/or inaction on the said issue. However, special attention will be given to the 184 legislators who have rendered their support to the bill,” said Emman Hizon of the Freedom from Debt Coalition. Members of the group as well as of the Network Opposed to BNPP or No to BNPP picketed yesterday outside the Batasang Pambansa complex.

“Those who have put their signatures to the Cojuangco bill, their reasons notwithstanding, are now under the watchful eyes of the Filipino public,” Hizon said.

FDC appealed to the pro-BNPP lawmakers to withdraw their signatures, citing the “gross disadvantages” and “monumental folly” of operating the BNPP.

“Like the mothballed BNPP, we appeal to the highest sense of our legislators to also mothball Rep. Cojuangco’s bill. We believe such a detrimental legislative measure has no place in the halls of responsible lawmaking,” Hizon said.

NO to BNPP described the mothballed plant as “tremendously dangerous, economically disadvantageous and utterly defective.”

“The protest parade symbolizes the many reasons why the BNPP revival will bring death to the Filipino people if the bill is not put to a close once and for all,” Dr. Giovanni Tapang, spokesman of NO to BNPP said.

“The Arroyo administration and Cong. Mark Cojuangco are running out of reasons to justify the revival of the Bataan nuke plant. The majority of the people of Bataan and their provincial government have already signified their opposition to the plant revival. Even if it passed legislation, the people of Bataan are sure not to allow it,” Tapang said.

“Moreover, the Catholic Church has taken an anti-BNPP revival position and the general public is against this nuclear scheme of the Arroyo administration.” Tapang added. With Katherine Adraneda