EDC to spearhead National Greening Program

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY ,July 19 (PIA).....Forging manpower and resources for a Green Philippines , the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Energy Development Corporation (EDC) , the leader in geothermal energy will spearhead the call of government for a National Greening Program (NGP).

Anchored on the environmental greening landmark project of EDC, BINHI, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and  EDC Chairman Emeritus (CE) Oscar Lopez signed a Memorandum of of Agreement  (MOA) last May 11, 2011 to seal the national greening program of the country under the  Public- Private Partnership (PPP) component strategy of the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

Engr. Leo Zancho  A. Mago,Senior Superintendent of  EDC- Environmental Management Department  (EMD)  receiving this year's DENR RO 5  Saringaya Special Award  2011 for and in behalf of their company  in  the implementation of a sustainable green environment of the 250,000 -hectare reservation area of the EDC-Bacman here, said, "We at the EDC have always been motivated and inspired by our top management to be creative and innovative in the care of our environment".

Under the auspices of the BINHI program, Mago said that the EDC through DENR will implement  a systematic , meaningful and sustainable reforestation program in support of the NGP of the national government..

"The EDC environmental reforestation project here in the province of Sorsogon within our area has been well- implemented . We have even value-added it with tourism attractions like the presence of our Butterfly Garden, the development of our Wildlife Conservation Area , the presence and conservation of the Bac-Man  Bat Sanctuary and presence of the  natural ecotourism sites now conserved and provided accessibility ", Mago said.

"Here at the EDC-Bacman with the DENR RO 5 initiated program, we will also be planting and reforesting our areas with endemic fruit trees like the Baligang and Gumihan, two of the several kinds of trees that will fall under the BINHI -Tree for Food Program", he said.

The BINHI program  has been implemented by EDC in all their geothermal power plant  sites all over the Philippines since 2008.

Meanwhile, Mago said that through their EDC CE, Oscar Lopez, spelled out was the company's Corporate Social Responsibility thrusts to help government alleviate poverty, achieve food security, preserve and enhance biodiversity and address the problems of Climate Change through the implementation of the NGP.

According to Mago, the BINHI program  launched four years ago was specifically a goal of their organization to address the concerns on the vanishing premium native trees endemic in each area where the geothermal power plant is located.

Creatively, the enhancement of the BINHI as their banner strategic greening program will also answer several components of a sustainable environment , the provision for food, shelter, recreation ,mitigation and adaptation aside from ensuring the future of the next generation by creating a green community.

The BINHI program as the company's greening strategy have also provided their various communities a learning opportunity to appreciate what they have, educate basic communities within their geothermal site in the care of the environment through planting of trees endemic within the sites.

"Now part of our reforestation program here implemented in Bac-Man is to identify those trees endemic to the area.Seedlings of these endemic trees found here are now being planted in our nursery  and will be planted for reforestation of our area and can also be given to local government units needing planting materials for tree parks", he said.

The BINHI program of EDC  according to Mago is  one of the best reforestation strategy already implemented by their corporation for  almost four years now with four basic components: Tree for the Future, Tree for Life,Tree for Food and Tree for Leisure.

"Receiving this year's Saringaya  Special Awards 2011 for the care of the environment implemented by our EMD is a commitment of our company to continually partner and support the national government's greening program.

With the four year implementation now of our BINHI program, the company  through the BINHI-Tree For the Future and Tree for Leisure  program  aims to  establish tree parks of rare and endemic trees with their collaboration with local government units.

Meanwhile  here at EDC-BacMan, the planting of Pili trees (Canarium Ovatum) under the  Tree of Life and Tree of Food has been one of the continuing program of the company also to provide livelihood to the basic communities living near the reservation sites according to Mago. (PIA-SORSOGON)

SPDRMO aktibo kaugnay ng pagdiriwang ng National Disaster Conscioussness Month

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, July 16 (PIA) – Inilatag ng Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (SPDRMO) ang mga aktibidad na ginawa nito kaugnay ng pagdiriwang ng Disaster Consciousness Month ngayong buwan ng Hulyo.

Sa Kapitolyo Week-end Report ng provincial government, inisa-isa ni SPDRMO OIC Head Jose Lopez ang mga isinagawa nilang aktibidad kung saan nagkaroon ng banal na misa noong unang araw ng Hulyo bilang panimulang aktibidad.

Nakibahagi din diumano ang SPDRMO sa dalawang araw na School Mitigating, Adapting Risk and Threat (SMART) School Design at Camp Management and Coordination sa pakikipagtulungan ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Sorsogon, kung saan napili ang Balogo bilang pilot barangay upang pagtayuan ng permanent evacuation site.

Ayon pa sa kanya, nagsagawa din sila ng talakayan at pagsasanay sa isangdaan dalawampu’t limang (125) elementary school pupils na naging kalahok din sa isinagawang earthquake drill sa tulong ng Search and Rescue Service ng Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) noong nakaraang linggo, Hulyo 17.

Nagkaroon din ng Informant Interview sa SPDRMO ang World Vision, isang non-government organization na aktibong katuwang din ng PDRRMC, para sa isa pang paparating na programa nito para sa Sorsogon.

Ilan pa sa mga ginawang aktibidad ay ang kalahating araw na assessment para sa walong “disaster prone barangays” ng lungsod upang tukuyin ang kahandaan ng mga ito matapos ang kanilang Community Based Disaster Risk Management Training (CBDRMT); Program Planning bilang panimulang pagsasakatuparan ng pinagtibay na mga programa ng World Food Program para sa lalawigan; at ang pagkakabit ng mga signage o babala sa paligid ng Bulusan Volcano at pamamahagi ng dust masks sa mga apektadong bayan ng pag-aalburuto ng Mt. Bulusan partikular sa Casiguran at Irosin sa pangunguna ng Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) at Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol, sa pakikipagtulungan sa PDRRMC/SPDRRMO.

Ayon pa kay Lopez, tiniyak din nilang lahat ng mga aktibidad na ginawa nila ay alinsunod sa ipinalabas na kautusan ni OCD V Regional Director at RDRRMC Chairman Bernardo R. Alejandro IV sa lahat ng mga PDRRMC dito sa Rehiyon kung saan dapat na ang mga aktibidad ay may kaugnayan sa pagsasakatuparan ng R.A. 10121, kasalukuyang mga resulta ng Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM), at Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).

Tema ngayong taon sa pagdiriwang ng National Disaster Conscioussness Month ang “Makialam: Sa Pagsugpo ng Panganib, May Maitutulong Ka.”

Samantala, nakatakda namang magsagawa ng seminar ang National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Bicol tungkol sa paksang “Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)” mula Hulyo 20-22 na dadaluhan ng SPDRMO. (VLabalan/PIA Sorsogon)

Mga Sorsoganon hinikayat na magnegosyo sa halip na mamasukan

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, July 16 (PIA) – Patuloy na hinihikayat ng Department of Trade and Industry at ng tanggapan ni Sorsogon 2^nd District Congressman Deogracias Ramos, Jr. ang publiko na magnegosyo sa halip na mamasukan upang magkaroon ng mapagkakakitaan.

Ito ay bunsod pa rin ng ginagawang pagpapaigting pa ng Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development hindi lamang dito sa lalawigan kundi maging sa buong bansa.

Ayon kay DTI Provincial Information Officer Senen Malaya, dibdiban ang pagsuporta ng pamahalaan sa mga maliliit na negosyo sapagkat kung mapapalago ang mga negosyong maliliit, lalaki din ang oportunidad ng trabaho sa bansa.

Matatandaang noong huling buwan ng Hunyo ay isinagawa sa lalawigan ang Work on Wheels-MSME Caravan kung saan nagbigay ito ng libreng seminar upang turuan ang mga mamamayan lalo na sa mga kanayunan kung paano magnegosyo at kung paanong mapapalago ito.

Maging si Congressman Ramos ay masigasig ding sinusuportahan ang mga MSME sa lalawigan partikular sa ikalawang distrito kung kaya’t nagpalabas din ito ng P1.5 milyong pondo mula sa kanyang congressional fund upang matiyak na mapapasigla at maisusulong ang pagpapalago ng iba’t-ibang mga produksyon sa Sorsogon.

Ayon pa kay Malaya, malaki ang potensyal ng food processing, handicraft at furniture industry sa lalawigan, kinakailangan lamang diumano ng lakas ng loob ng negosyante at puhunan upang ganap na mapalago ang yamang makukuha mula dito. (PIA Sorsogon)

DENR recognizes stakeholders, students in Saringaya Awards and Eagle Quiz Contest

 LEGAZPI CITY - In a bid to drum up support of various stakeholders in environmental conservation, protection and management, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently recognized the recipients and winners of the 11^th Saringaya Awards and the 21^st Eagle Quiz Contest in the Environment Month culmination ceremony held at Casa Blanca Hotel, Legazpi City last June 30, 2011.

A Tactical Operations Group, an Environmental Management Department, a corporate network for disaster management, two large scale industries, a university professor and a first class municipality were among this year’s conferees of the prestigious environmental conservation award.

The Saringaya Awardees are: Energy Development Corporation- Bacman Geothermal Production Field, Environmental Management Department thru the leadership of Environmental Superintendent Engr. Leo Zancho A. Mago (Special Category); Amelia B. Gonzales, a professor at Bicol University (Individual Category); Tactical Operations Group 5, 1^st Air Division Phillipine Air Force (PAFTOG) thru the able leadership of Col. Guillermo A. Molina Jr. II (Other Government Agency); Corporate Network for Disaster Response Calabanga, Camarines Sur thru the able leadership of President, Board of Trustees Ramon R. Isberto (PO/NGO Category); Masbate Gold Project of FILMINERA Resources Corp. and Phil. Gold Processing and Refining Corp. for the 1^st award and the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project of Rapu-Rapu Minerals Inc. and Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. for the 2^nd award (Large-Scale Industry Category); as well as the Municipality of Ragay thru the able leadership of Honorable Mayor Ricardo B. Aquino ( Local Government Unit).

Environmental Management Bureau Director Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna, Saringaya’s guest of honor and key note speaker conferred the plaque of recognition to the awardees. He also persuaded them to continue their achievements and advocacy for the good of the environment.

DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada rallied the awardees to continue supporting the green cause, to pursue further excellence in environmentalism and conservation.

“Conferment of Saringaya Awards to anyone should not translate to a plateau, or a lull in their life’s campaign for environmentalism, love of nature as well as conservation… We should see it as a lifetime inspiration to do our share,” he emphasized in a speech at the awarding ceremony.

Saringaya Awards acknowledged the efforts and dynamic support of diverse individuals and entities in ecological conservation, environmental protection and management and sustainable use of natural resources. It also recognized the involvement of individuals, industries, groups, non-government organizations, other government agencies and local government units in the programs of DENR Bicol.

Saringaya is a Bicol term which means lush or abundance of growth. (A synonymous Bikol word is "marambong").

Meanwhile, winners of the 21^st Regional Eagle Quiz Contests were also honored during the culmination event. June Lorenz Capin from University of Nueva Caceres and Chris Gino Mesias from Legazpi Cty High School were awarded with plaques and cash prize after they won in the regional competition held at the Embarcadero de Legazpi Activity Center.

The other winners of the EQC in the elementary category are, Glenn Paolo B. Morales of Daet Elementary School of Camarines Norte (1^st runner up); Catherine C. Valeza of Catanduanes State College Laboratory School (2^nd runner up); while in the secondary category those who excelled were, Raymond A. Odesimo of Camarines Sur National High School Camarines Sur (1^st runner up) and Mara Angeli V. Sarabillo of Vinzons Pilot High School of Camarines Norte (2^nd runner up).

Among the eco-friendly activities in Bicol for the Environment Month observance were tree planting, Media Information Campaign, Let’s Tune Up to Clean Up the Air, Anti-smoke belching campaign with the Land Transportation Office and the “2011 Pataramisan Sagkud Padarakulaan”The Gumihan and Baligang Challenge.

Environment Month is held every June since 1987 when then President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 237 not only as a "gesture of support to the cause of enhancing world ecology but also as a recognition of the imperative need to instill environmental awareness among the various sectors of society." Forests: Nature at Your Service is the theme of this year’s Environmental month celebration. (JESSEL BASANTA/Cindy Balmaceda)

Hakbang sa pagtitipid sa paggamit ng enerhiya ipinatutupad ng DPWH-S2DEO

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, July 15 (PIA) – Tiniyak ni Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sorsogon 2^nd District Engineer Juanito Alamar na mahigpit na ipatutupad ng kanilang tanggapan sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno ang mga hakbang upang makatipid ang pamahalaan sa paggamit ng enerhiya.

Ang hakbang sa pagtitipid sa enerhiya o DPWH-S2DEO Energy Conservation Plan ay isa sa mga pangunahing programa ni Alamar bilang tugon na rin sa ipinalabas na Austerity Directive ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III.

Sa ipinalabas na kautusan ni Alamar, ipapatupad sa DPWH Sorsogon 2^nd District Engineering Office ang pagpatay ng kuryente sa oras ng tanghalian o lunch break mula alas-dose ng tanghali hanggang ala-una ng hapon.

Sinabi ni Alamar na ang ginagawa nilang pagtitipid na ito sa kuryente ay bilang pakikiisa rin sa pagpapababa ng karbon na inilalabas ng mundo sanhi na rin ng iba’t-ibang aktibidad ng mga tao at kontribusyon din nila upang gawing malinis ang planetang ating ginagalawan.

At upang patunayang seryoso siya sa kaniyang adhikain, siya mismo ang pumapatay sa mga gadyet at aparatong kumukunsumo ng kuryente sa loob ng kanyang tanggapan kabilang na ang air-con.

Umaasa siyang sa pamamagitan ng pagiging halimbawa ay kusang-loob na ring susunod ang lahat ng mga tauhan ng DPWH. (Harry Deri, DPWHS2DEO/PIA Sorsogon)

MSME sa ikalawang distrio ng Sorsogon higit pang pasisiglahin

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, July 15 (PIA) – Siyam na mga munisipalidad sa Sorsogon ang mabibiyayaan matapos na pondohan ng P1.5 milyon ng tanggapan ni Sorsogon 2^nd District Congressman Deogracias Ramos, Jr. ang programang magsusulong sa Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) dito sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon.

Ayon kay Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Information Officer Senen Malaya, inilaan ni Cong. Ramos ang P1.5 milyon upang pasiglahin pa ang handicraft industry, food production processing at upang palakasin pa ang kapasidad sa produksyon ng mga MSME sa munisipalidad na sakop ng ikalawang distrito, at sa kalaunan ay mapaunlad pa ang mga aktibidad pang-ekonomiya sa rural na komunidad.

Ayon pa kay Malaya, positibo si Cong. Ramos na sa tulong teknikal na rin ng DTI Sorsogon ay mapapataas pa ang produksyon at kalidad ng mga maliliit na negosyante at mabibigyan din ang mga ito ng kaukulang kagamitan at makinaryang kailangan sa pagpapalago pa ng kanilang produksyon.

Naniniwala din diumano si Ramos na kulang lamang sa puhunan ang mga nagnanais na pumasok sa pagnenegosyo kung kaya’t hindi na rin ito nagdalawang-isip na magbigay ng tulong pinansyal habang ang iba pang mga teknikalidad upang maisulong ang MSME ay ipinauubaya na niya sa DTI.

Sinabi din ni Malaya na nakipagdayalogo na rin sila sa mga punong-ehekutibo at sa mahigit isang-daang mga kinatawan ng MSME mula sa siyam na aydentipkadong munisipalidad na kinabibilangan ng Bulusan, Bulan, Sta. Magdalena, Matnog, Irosin, Barcelona, Prieto Diaz, Juban at Gubat.

Karamihan sa mga lumahok sa dayalogo ay yaong nasa larangan ng negosyo sa pagkain, handicrafts, furniture industry at mga point person ng One Town One Poduct (OTOP) sa ikalawang distrito.

Sa dayalogo, pinag-usapan at napagkasunduan ang paraan ng pamamahagi at paggamit ng pondong inilaan ni Ramos alinsunod na rin sa patakarang sinusunod ng mga punong ehekutibo. (PIA Sorsogon)