DENR ILULUNSAR AN ECO-TOURISM PROJECT SA MASBATE CITY

LEGAZPI CITY, May 1 – NAKATALAAN NA BUNGSUDAN KAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (D-E-N-R) AN SARONG ECO-TOURISM PROJECT SA BUNTOD MARINE SANCTUARY SA SYUDAD NIN MASBATE SA ABRIL 25, 2012. SARONG MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT MAN AN PIPIRMAHAN ENTRI KAN IPIGBUBUSOL KAN D-E-N-R, GOBYERNO LOKAL KAN SYUDAD NIN MASBATE DANGAN AN PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION NA SAMAHANG MANGINGISDA NG PURO-SINALIKWAY (SAMAPUSI).

AN NASAMBIT NA PROYEKTO SARONG LAKDANG NA MATUNGKOS SA SUSTENABLENG PANGANGATAMAN SA BUNTOD MARINE SANCTUARY. SINABI NI D-E-N-R REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOSELIN MARCUS FRAGADA NA AN SIRING NA PROYEKTONG ECO-TOURISM MABAYABAY KAN SUSTENABLENG PAGGAMIT KAN BAHURA O SANTUARIO, DULO NA TA AN BUNTOD MARINE SANCTUARY NAKABUGTAK SA IKA-DUWANG PWESTO BILANG PINAKA-NAIINAT NA BAHURA SOSOG SA BROAD-SCALE SAKA LOCAL-SCALE FACTORS.

IPINAHAYAG MAN KAN MGA BIOLOGIST NA NA-ATANGAN SA PAGHIMO KAN PROYEKTO NA AN PAGBISITA SA BUNTOD MARINE SANCTUARY BAKO SANA MANONGOD SA PAGKARIGOS SA DAGAT BUDA PICNIC, KUNDI DAPIT MAN SA PAGDISKUBRE, PAG-AARAM SAGKOD PAG-APRESYAR SA MARINE BIODIVERSITY O BUHAY-ILANG SA KADAGATAN.

AN MGA PWEDENG AKTIBIDAD NA GIBUHON SA NAUNAMBITANG SANTUARIO IYO AN PAGLALANGOY, SNORKELING O PAGSISID, PAGLULUNAD SA BAROTO DANGAN PAGTATANOM NIN BAKAWAN.

AN BUNTOD MARINE SANCTUARY MATUTUPARAN SA SULNUPAN NA LADO KAN BRGY. NURSERY, SYUDAD NIN MASBATE. INI SARONG BAHURA NA MAY RAROM NA MAABOT SA 10 METROS SAKA DIIT-DIIT NA MARUKBURUKAN NA SUNDO SA 30 PIYE, MAY SAKOP NA 20 EKTARYAS (ha) NA CORE ZONE DANGAN 100 ha NA BUFFER ZONE. (Ruby Mendones, DENR/PIA Sorsogon)

Nominations for Saringaya Awards on-going

LEGAZPI CITY, May 1 – The search is ongoing for nominees of this year’s Saringaya Award, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Bicol’s recognition for exemplary individuals, groups organizations and corporate entities who made a niche in environmental protection, conservation and management.

On its 12^th year now, Saringaya Award is given to industries, non-government organizations, people organization, local government units, groups or associations, other government agencies, the Academe and other entities in the Bicol region who, as a group, corporate body or individuals have supported DENR Bicol through the establishment and implementation of the program towards protection, conservation, and safety of the environment.

DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada had earlier ordered all operating units of the DENR V such as the line bureaus, sectoral services, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) to identify the potential nominees from industries, NGOs, POs, institutions among others, that may be cited for the award in their respective area of responsibility.

Last year’s winners were: 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 Philippine Air Force (PAFTOG) through 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).

Nomination forms may be obtained from all Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the DENR Legal Division.

Saringaya is a Bicol term for abundance of growth, lush, and healthy environment teeming with green trees and mountains ideal for biodiversity and a well balance ecosystem.

Saringaya Award, which is in the form of a plaque and certificate, is done during the culmination program of the Environment Month celebration in June. (Ruby Mendones, DENR/PIA Sorsogon)

CENRO awards 100-has of land to Sorsogon PO for mangrove development

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, May 1 (PIA) – One hundred (100) hectares of tidal mudflat was awarded by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here to the Seaweed Grower and Aquaculture Association of Sorsogon, Inc. (SEAGRASS) in Brgy. Gimaloto, Sorsogon City.

The SEAGRASS, a people’s organization composed of fisher folks and farmers in Brgy Gimaloto, West District, in this city, was chosen by the CENRO in coordination with the Sorsogon City Agriculture Office as beneficiary in line with the National Greening Program being implemented by the national government.

According to SEAGRASS president Redentor Lasay, the 100 has mudflat is currently dominated by mangrove species like bakawan, pagatpat, miyapi, lapis-lapis and nipa, among others.

“As per the initial agreement, the SEAGRASS will serve as the steward of the site for mangrove development for 25 years starting upon the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Inclusive of the agreement is for the SEAGRASS to protect and develop, as well as, benefit from the said area, where members will be allowed to harvest pruned branches of mangroves and nipa shingles as well as aquasilvi culture yeilds, under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),” Lasay explained.

CENR Officer Krisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez said that the MOA is underway and will immediately be signed upon compliance of the prescribed requirements by the concerned parties.

She also added that this week, BFAR in coordination with Community ENRO will conduct assessment and survey of the said mangrove project to determine the type of mangrove species suitable to the 50 has out of the awarded 100 has mudflat.

Propagules to be planted in the site will be bought directly from the SEAGRASS members, and the growing of mangroves will be monitored and taken good care by the members themselves for the span of six months as per the agreement.

City Agriculturist Adeline Detera said, the City Agriculture Office is set to establish a one-hectare Mangro-vetum, a mangrove propagule nursery in Barangay Gimaloto for sustainability of the mangrove project and to showcase at the same time a rare package of mangrove species both for tourism and educational enhancement.

Meanwhile, SEAGRASS is currently a beneficiary of aquasilvi culture project grant of BFAR which includes seaweed farming and green mussel (tahong) production which is soon to harvest anytime in May this year. The project amounts to P150,000.

Aside from this, BFAR has also established “hilay”, a fish breeding and shelter area which at the same serve as protection against troll and dynamite fishing and any other form of illegal fishing activities.

SEAGRASS was also granted by BFAR with 6.5 horse power motorized banca and a nipa hut for the convenience and smooth management of the members of the organization. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

Mga progresibong grupo muling naglunsad ng pagmamamartsa kaugnay ng Araw ng Paggawa

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, May 1 (PIA) – Tulad ng inaasahan tuwing Araw ng Paggawa o Labor Day, muli na namang naglunsad ng pagmamartsa ngayong araw ang mga progresibong grupo dito upang manawagan sa mga lider at sa pamahalaan kaugnay ng ilang mga isyung may kaugnayan sa Paggawa.

Ayon kay Jing Dolot, spokesperson ng mga militanteng grupo, sa pagdiriwang ng ika-126^th taong anibersaryo ng Araw ng Paggawa, kalahating araw silang magsasagawa ng mga aktibidad ngayon.

Bago mag-alas-otso ng umaga nang magsidatingan ang ilang mga jeep at bus mula sa iba’t-ibang mag munisipyo dito lulan ang mga kasapi ng mga progresibong grupo kabilang na rin ang ilang mga kabataan at bata. Pasado alas-nueve na ng umaga nang simulan ang programa sa Capitol Park Kiosk bago ang aktwal na pagmamamartsa sa kahabaan ng Rizal at magsasysay St., lungsod ng Sorsogon.

Panawagan nila ang P125 wage increase, pagrebisa sa Electric Power Industry Reform (EPIRA) Law, mga isyu ng pagmimina sa ilang bahagi ng Sorsogon, pagbabasura ng 12% Expanded Value Added Tax at sa Oil Deregulation Law na ayon sa mga ito ay ginagawang sangkalan ng mga malalaking kumpanya upang makabentahe sa kanilang mga negosyo na nagpapahirap naman sa mga ordinaryong manggagawa.

Maging ang mga grupo ng kababaihan dito ay iisa din ang ipinapanawagan sapagkat anila’y kadalasan nang sila ang naapektuhan ng mababnag pasahod at patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin.

Partikular din nilang binigyang-tuon ang exploitation at pang-aabuso sa mga kababaihang manggagawa. Kung kaya’t nananawagan din ang mga ito sa mga kababaihan na magkaisa at labanan ang anumang uri ng pang-aabuso sa kanilang sektor.

Nakaalerto naman ang mga kapulisan dito at nagdagdag rin sila ng mga tauhan bilang paghahanda sakaling magkaroon ng mga kaguluhan kaugnay ng Labor Day ngayon.

Samantala, pinuri naman ng ilang mga obserbador dito ang hakbang ni Pangulong Aquino na huwag ilipat sa ibang araw at gawin ang aktwal na pagdiriwang tulad ng Araw ng Paggawa o Labor Day ayon sa orihinal na petsa ng pagdiriwang nito.

Ayon sa mga obserbador nagdudulot ng kalituhan ang paglilipat ng mga orihinal na petsa ng regular at special holiday tulad ng nakagawian noon kaugnay ng ipinatupad na economic holiday at nawawala din umano ang tunay na halaga ng kasaysayan at tunay na kahulugan ng okasyong ipinagdiriwang. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

Four soldiers and a civilian killed as NPA attack Army Peace & Development Team in Camarines Norte

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, April 30 – Four (4) soldiers and a civilian perished when more than 20 NPA rebels attacked an Army Peace and Development Team (PDT) of the 49^th Infantry Battalion at 12:30 this afternoon in the village of Maot in Labo, Camarines Norte.

The 9-man PDT and First Lieutenant Eric Estrevillo were conducting community work when heavy volume of enemy fires stormed the village that instantly killed a civilian identified as Francisco Ruales, 49yo. Another civilian was wounded and identified as Marlo Matibang.

The PDT, which was divided in three different but adjacent locations when the attack happened, was able to engage the NPA rebels in a 40-minute fire fight. Four soldiers were unlucky to make it alive. They were identified as Corporal Amado A. Perillo, Private First Class Paulo Orticio, Private First Class Teodoro C. Ojeda and Private First Class Sonecio D. Potian.

“Corporal Perillo was even holding the Philippine Flag in his chest when we recovered his lifeless body,” said 1^st lieutenant Alfie Lee, one of the first to reinforce in the area.

Another soldier identified as Private First Class Leland L. Besada sustained a gunshot wound in the neck but was safely evacuated with Marlo Matibang at Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Daet for immediate treatment.

According to 1^st Lieut Estrevillo, he and another soldier were at the vicinity of the barangay hall while six soldiers were conducting house to house dialogue nearby. Another soldier was at the village outpost when the attacked happened.

The rebels were able to take with them six M16 rifles, a K3 sub machinegun and a caliber .45 pistol from the soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Epimaco Macalisang, Commanding Officer of the 49^th Infantry Battalion in Labo, Camarines Norte condemned the attack. “My soldiers were doing community work when the NPA rebels attacked. Worse, an innocent civilian was killed.” he said.

Colonel Richard Q. Lagrana, Commander of the 902^nd Infantry Brigade directed the 49^th IB to conduct sustained pursuit operation to track down the perpetrators. He has also directed the deployment of other troops to hunt down the rebels.

The bodies of the victims were brought at St Peter’s Funeral Homes in Daet and is expected to be at the St Martin of Tours Chapel at the Headquarters of the 9^th Infantry Division tomorrow afternoon were honors to will be given to the fallen soldiers.

“They are heroes,” said Major General Josue S. Gaverza, Jr, Commander of the 9^th Infantry Division. He acknowledged the soldiers’ bravery adding “Despite overwhelming number of rebels, The four who died  stood their ground until their last bullet while others were able to occupy an advantage position to repulse the rebels.”

Gaverza also directed the creation of a Board of Inquiry to look into possible lapses incurred in order to improve the conduct of similar future PDT operations. (Maj. AGuzman, PAO, 9ID, PA/ PIA Sorsogon)