DENR MATUNGKOS SA PAGPANGATAMAN KAN REKURSOS KAN KADAGATAN PARA SA OCEAN MONTH, BIODIVERSITY DAY

Bicol News

SYUDAD NIN LEGAZPI, May 8 – AN YAMAN KAN NASYON SA BUHAY-ILANG O BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SA KADAGATAN AN MAGIGIN TAMPOK SA SELEBRASYON KAN BULAN NIN MAYO BILANG OCEAN MONTH SAKA MAYO 22 BILANG INTERNATIONAL DAY OF BIODIVERSITY (I-D-B-D).

SINABI NI ENVIRONMENT SEC. RAMON PAJE NA AN TEMANG "BUHAY DAGAT, BUHAY NATIN" PARA SA SELEBRASYON KAN NATIONAL MONTH OF THE OCEAN DANGAN "MARINE BIODIVERSITY" PARA SA I-D-B-D, IYO AN MATAO NIN DOON SA PAGBALANGIBOG KAN IMPORTANSYA KAN RECURSOS SA KADAGATAN KAN NASYON SA PAGSUSTENIR KAN BUHAY, KUN SAEN AN PAGDANAY KAN SARO NAKA-ATANG SA IBONG NA LADO.

IDINAGDAG PA NIYA NA AN DOBLENG SELEBRASYON SARONG PAAGI KAN PAGPALANGKAW KAN KINABATIRAN KAN PUBLIKO SA RELASYON KAN KADAGATAN SAGKOD TAWO.

TINAWAN NIN DOON NI PAJE NA AN PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE BUREAU (P-A-W-B) IYO AN NAG-OORGANISA NIN SARONG BULAN NA AKTIBIDADES NA MATUNGKOS SA MGA ISYU NA NAKAPALIBOT SA KONSERBASYON ASIN PANGANGATAMAN KAN REKURSOS BUDA BUHAY SA KADAGATAN ASIN MAS PINAKUSOG NA PRAKTIKAL NA LAKDANG ENTRI KAN MGA KABORONYOGAN O STAKEHOLDERS.

AN SELEBRASYON POPONAN SA MAYO 2 SA NINOY AQUINO PARKS AND WILDLIFE CENTER SA SYUDAD NIN QUEZON SA PAAGI NIN BIRISIKLETAHAN O AN TOUR OF THE FIREFLIES KAN FIREFLY BRIGADE. AN PAMAYO KAN D-E-N-R MANGENGENOT SA AKTIBIDAD KON SAEN INI MASULOT NIN AZUL NA BADO PARA SA "BLUE DAY CAMPAIGN" NA SARONG AWARENESS CAMPAIGN PARA SA KADAGATAN.

MAGKAKAIGWA MAN NIN UNDERWATER PHOTO CONTEST NA BUKAS SA GABOS NA AMATEUR SAKA PROFESSIONAL NA RETRATISTA NA KUN SAEN IPAPAHILING NINDA SA PAAGI NIN RETRATO AN KONSEPTO NIN OCEAN CONSERVATION. SA PAGTATAPOS KAN KICK OFF CEREMONY, SARONG EXHIBIT MAN AN IPAPAHILING SA PUBLIKO NA PAPARTISIPARAN KAN WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL, CORAL TRIANGLE INITIATIVE SAKA ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY.

KAIBANAN PA SA MGA AKTIBIDAD NA GIGIBUHON IYO AN SERYE NIN LEKTURA MANONGOD SA MARINE BIODIVERSITY, SAKA WORKSHOP SA MANAGEMENT PLANNING KAN MANILA BAY REGION SA MAYO 3-4, GREEN FINS CODE OF CONDUCT FOR RESPONSIBLE DIVING SA MAYO 10-11, NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE COASTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MANUAL SA IKA-16 DANGAN UPDATE SA STATE ON THE COAST REPORT SA MAYO 28-29.

MIENTRASTANTO SA KABIKOLAN, ITATAMPOK MAN AN DUWANG ALDAW NA EXHIBIT SA MARINE BIODIVERSITY SA SM MALL NAGA CITY SA MAYO 22-23.

AN DEKLARASYON KAN BULAN NIN MAYO BILANG BULAN NIN KADAGATAN NAKAPALAMAN SA PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 57 NA PINIRMAHAN NI DATING PRES. ESTRADA KUN SAEN IPIG-ATANG SA D-E-N-R BUDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE SA PAAGI KAN BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES AN PANGENGENOT SA MGA AKTIBIDAD NA MATUNGKOS SA PAGPROTEHIR ASIN PAGMANEHAR KAN RECURSOS KAN KOSTALES DANGAN KADAGATAN. (Ruby Mendones, DENR V/PIA Sorsogon)

Bontod Reef in Masbate City is 2nd most resilient reef in Central Philippines, gains support for the local’s ecotourism-based livelhood

LEGAZPI CITY, May 8 – Masbate City’s Bontod reef has been showing its “excellent ability to recover and return to its desirable state following a disturbance” or its resilience. In Central Philippines in fact, among 18 reefs assessed by a group of marine scientists comprised of Abner Bucol, Angel Alcala, Jasper Leif Maypa and Doris Dalanon, Bontod Reef ranked 2^nd  most resilient while Bugsayon Reef, both in Masbate Pass, ranked first.

In the context of local fisheries and how it is affected by disturbances the extent by which we can anticipate fisheries decline and therefore prepare for what lies ahead is largely hinged on the resilience of its coral reefs. Fortunately Masbate City shows it has a fighting chance in the way its Buntod Marine Reserve, a shoal 10 m deep functions, Tito Velza, chief City Coastal Resources Management Office declares.

He cites three reasons: “We have thriving conch shells locally known as budyong, a widely acknowledged predator of crown of thorns sea star that has feeds on coral reefs”. In as show –and tell manner Mr. Velza showed four helmet shells freshly obtained from the waters of Buntod reef to prove his point. Second, strict protection from fishing caused the shift from the area being heavily covered with brown algae, Sargassum  to its live coral cover now at 30-40 percent. With strict protection done in the last five years, parrotfishes and surgeonfishes increased and fed on brown algae. Third, is the reefs’ proximity to deep water in Masbate Pass, a deterrent to growing fishing effort commonly occurring in shallow municipal water.

The City Mayor of Masbate, Hon. Socrates Tuason ardently supports the Bontod Reef protection. In an interview he acknowledges ecotourism –based livelihood assistance  recently extended by the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project  ( ICRMP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) “in order to support the communities that were once dependent on the Bontod Marine Reserve for their sustenance”, Mayor Tuason said.

The reef adventure which will enable tourists to enjoy viewing the thriving helmet shells in their natural habitat for a minimum fee is a joint venture of the City Government of Masbate and the people’s organization, Samahang Mangingisda ng Puro-Sinalikway (SAMAPUSI) and is supported by DENR. The three parties have forged an agreement that stipulates the management of the Buntod Marine Sanctuary. The Coastal and Marine Management Division (CMMD) of the DENR, which prepared the business plan of the marine sanctuary underscored the need for the ecotourism-based livelihood enterprise that would actively involve the said people’s organization, the City Government, and national agencies including DENR that lends support to this venture.

The proposed ecotourism enterprise will offer travel packages that suit the budget and the needs of both local and international tourists. Part of the tour packages are activities like swimming, snorkeling, boating, and a trek into the mangrove forest.

The Buntod Marine Sanctuary is located at 12.37142 ^○N and 123.65034 ^○E on the western portion of Brgy. Nursery, Masbate City. It is a shoal with an approximate depth of 10 meters and the gradual slope of up to 30 feet, occupying 52 hectares (ha) of core zone and 100 ha of buffer zone.

A variety of marine life forms inhabit the sanctuary including hard and soft corals, target species (e.g. coral breams, parrotfish, snappers, goat fish, among others) and green sea turtle. (Ruby Mendones, DENR V/PIA Sorsogon)

Clonal nursery to boost NGP implementation in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, May 8 – A more rigorous implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) in the region is seen by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol with the new and improved clonal nursery being constructed on the grounds of the Ecosystem Research and Development Service (ERDS) in Brgy. 2 EM’s Barrio South, Legazpi City.

This was stressed by DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada adding that the initial seedlings that would be produced by the nursery will be used to green urban and production forests sites in the region.

Director Fragada said the clonal facility will be operational by the end of May, which consequentially will boost the NGP implementation in Bicol.

“The structure is already completed as well as the working shed, only an improved water system is lacking for the clonal facility to be operational” ERDS Regional Technical Director William Palaypayon said.

RTD Palaypayon assured that seedlings being bred at the clonal facility will have 80-90% survival rate since they will be taken from a wider genetic base, and selected from the finest mature trees.

He explained that this can be achieved through enhanced cloning techniques that the ERDS will be utilizing, such as application of rooting hormones as well as an area with controlled environment and where newly harvested rooted potted seedlings are placed to allow gradual recovery and development of roots and shoots. He added also that a mini-hedge garden complements this cloning process.

RTD Palaypayon said that among trees that they will breed at the clonal facility are sacat, batino, sambulawan and dipterocarp trees like white and red lauan, guijo and guisoc.

He likewise conveyed that along production forest species, the ERDS will also be breeding seedlings suited for coastal areas and urban greening. (Ruby Mendones, DENR V/PIA Sorsogon)

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CLONAL NURSERY MAS MAPAKUSOG SA IMPLEMENTASYON KAN GREENING PROGRAM SA BICOL

BICOL NEWS:

SYUDAD NIN LEGAZPI, May 8 – POSITIBO AN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT ADN NATURAL RESOURCES (D-E-N-R) BICOL NA MAS MAGIGIN KOMPREHENSIBO AN IMPLEMENTASYON KAN NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM O N-G-P SA REHIYON SA PAAGI KAN PIGPAPAGIBONG CLONAL NURSERY FACILITY SA COMPOUND KAN ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (E-R-D-S) SA BRGY 2. EM'S BARRIO SOUTH, LEGAZPI CITY.

INI AN TINAWAN NIN DOON NI D-E-N-R REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOSELIN MARCUS FRAGADA SA PAGSASABING AN INISYAL NA BANHING MAGOGONO SA PASILIDAD IYO AN GAGAMITON SA PAGPAHI’BOG NIN KAKAHOYAN SA MGA SYUDAD ASIN KABUBULDAN SA KABIKOLAN.

SAIYANG SINABI NA AN PASILIDAD MAGIGIN OPERATIONAL SA KATAPUSAN KAN BULAN NIN MAYO NA IYO MAN AN MAKAKAPAKUSOG SA N-G-P SA REHIYON.

SINABI MAN NI E-R-D-S REGIONAL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR WILLIAM PALAYPAYON NA AN ISTRAKTURA NAHIMO NA BUDA AN WORKING SHED, SOLAMENTENG AN AREGLADONG WATER SYSTEM NA SANA AN KULANG PARA DAGOS NANG MAGIN OPERATIONAL AN PASILIDAD.

TINAWAN NIN ASEGURASYON NI PALAYPAYON NA AN MGA BANHI NA PAPATAMBOON SA CLONAL NURSERY MAGKAKAIGWA NIN 80 HASTA 90 PORSYENTONG SURVIVAL RATE MALA TA PIGGOGONO AN MGA PAPATUBUAN SA PINAKAMARAHAY NA KLASENG POON NIN KAHOY GIKAN SA MAHIWASANG GENETIC BASE, APUERA PA SA PAGUSAR NIN GROWTH HORMONE NA MAS MAPAGAYON KAN TUBO KAINI.

AN MGA POON NIN KAHOY NA PAPATAMBUAN SA PASILIDAD IYO AN POON NIN SAKAT, BATINO, SAMBULAWAN SAKA MGA MATATAGAS NA KLASE NIN KAHOY O DIPTEROCARPS AROG KAN PUTI DANGAN PULANG LAUAN, GUIJO SAGKOD GUISOC. (Ruby Mendones, DENR V/PIA Sorsogon)

NGCP alerts the public of kite-flying risks

Ref: Nelson S. Bautista, South Luzon CorpComm (nsbautista@ngcp.ph)

May 7 – As part of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP’s) line safety program in communities, the country’s power grid operator reminds the public to observe safety when near high-voltage transmission lines.

A major concern of NGCP during the summer months is the occurrence of electrocution incidents due to kite flying since most children on vacation resort to this past time. Residents living near transmission lines and substations are advised not to risk their safety and their lives by flying kites in close proximity to the transmission facilities.

At the Colon Substation of NGCP in Naga, Cebu, reports of kite strings getting entangled to the conductors and insulators of the switchyard are becoming a cause for concern. These occurrences may cause the tripping of transmission lines, which are experienced as brownouts or power interruptions by ordinary power consumers in the province.

NGCP enjoins the public to avoid kite-flying near its high-voltage structures. Other practices such as building fires, planting trees and constructing houses and installing antennas near transmission facilities are also prohibited, according to NGCP.

Cebu City Ordinance No. 1471 prohibits kite flying in roads, streets and places near electrical structures. At other parts of Cebu without a law prohibiting kite flying in dangerous areas, NGCP exerts more effort to educate the public of the hazards of said activity. NGCP hopes that through its continuous safety information campaign through the mass media, incidents of tripping, power outages and electrocution caused by kite-flying will be reduced. (NGCP/PIA Sorsogon)

3 NPA rebels die in Donsol encounter

SORSOGON CITY, May 8 – Three NPA extortionists were killed in an encounter with government troops in a remote village in Donsol, early morning today, a military official said in a text message.

The cadavers of the communist rebels are yet to be identified.

Ltc. Teody Toribio, Commanding Officer of the 31^st Infantry Battalion said that the three bandits died in a clash with his troops at about 5:14am today. Toribio said that he sent troopers from Bravo Company led by its Commanding Officer, 1Lt. Randel L. Wandag after receiving a tip-0ff from a concerned resident in Sitio Nagmara, Bgy. Pinamanaan, a remote village in said town.

“The rebels fired the first shots when we were approaching their temporary camp, triggering a 30-minute firefight, they were about 10-15 rebels and were resting in said place and others are in their hammocks," Toribio said quoting Wandag. The bandits fled leaving behind their three fallen comrades.

Recovered war materials are M16 rifle, 9mm pistol, magazines for M16 and M14 rifles, several ammunitions, 5 backpacks containing personal belongings of the rebels and voluminous terrorist documents containing high intelligence value.

“My troops did not incur any casualties and they are still conducting pursuit operations to hunt down the remnants of the bandit group, if relatives will not claim the cadavers, we will give the fallen rebels a decent burial,” Toribio added in a phone interview.

Col. Felix Castro Jr.,Commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade said "We are not rejoicing over the death of these misguided people. We enjoin the public to help us in convincing the rebels to lay down their arms and cooperate with the government."

   

Bgy. Pinamanaan is 19 kilometers away from Donsol proper. (Maloha Hatoc/PIA Sorsogon)

Kampanya laban sa human trafficking pinaiigting

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LALAWIGAN NG SORSOGON, May 8 (PIA) – Patuloy na pinag-iingat ng mga awtoridad dito hindi lamang ang mga kababaihan kundi maging ang mga kalalakihan na rin lalo na ang mga menor de edad at maging ang mga magulang nito nang sa ganon ay hindi sila mabiktima ng anumang pang-aabuso kabilang na ang panganagalakal sa tao o human trafficking.

Hinikayat din nito ang komunidad na makiisa sa kanilang kampanya laban sa human trafficking sa pamamagitan ng pagiging mapagmatayag sa kanilang kapaligiran at sa mga istrangherong nakikita nila sa kanilang lugar.

Matatandaang nito lamang buwan ng Abril, labingsiyam kataong mga menor de edad ang mabibiktima sana ng human trafficking ang nailigtas ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) sa pangunguna ni PInsp Ricardo Ong at ng Police Intelligence Service ng Sorsogon Police Provincial Office mula sa pagkakapariwara sa pantalan ng Matnog.

Sa naging pahayag ni Ong, sa labingsiyam kataong narekrut mula sa Leyte at ibabyahe sana papunta sa Maynila, anim ay kababaihan at isa ang lalaki na pawang menor de edad, habang mayroong iba pang kababaihang nasa hustong gulang na.

Lahat umano ng mga biktima ay pawang pinangakuan ng magagandang trabaho sa Metro Manila.

Ayon kay Ong, agad din naman nilang naaresto ang apat na suspetsado at nasampahan ng paglabag sa Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act.

Ang human trafficking ay isang makabagong anyo ng karahasan, pang-aalipin, pang-aabuso at krimen laban sa tao kabilang na ang sapilitang prostitusyon, sex trafficking at child labor.

Sa ilalim ng Sec.6 (a) at Sec. 6 (c) ng Republic Act 9208, may kaparusahan ang sinumang mapapatunayang lumabag dito tulad ng pagkakabilanggo ng 20 taon o habangbuhay at penalidad na hindi bababa sa P1,000,000 hanggang P5,000.000.

Sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, ang mga naisasalbang biktima ng human trafficking ay temporaryo at libreng inilalagak sa “Bahay Silungan sa Daungan” sa loob ng anim na buwan hanggang sa maibalik ang mga biktima sa kani-kanilang mga pamilya.

Ang “Bahay Silungan sa Daungan” ay pinamamahalaan ng Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. (VF), isang non-government organization na nangangalaga sa kapakanan ng mga domestic worker at biktima ng sekswal na pangangalakal.

Mayroon ding kahalintulad na halfway house sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa bansa tulad ng Manila International Airport, North Harbor sa Manila, Pandaigdigang Daungan sa Batangas at sa pantalan ng Sasa sa Davao. Ang mga half-way house na ito ay naitayo sa pamamagitan ng rekurso ng Philippine Ports Authority.

Ayon sa pag-aaral, ang mga sumusunod ang kadahilanan kung bakit may mga nabibiktima ng human trafficking: kahirapan, negosyo ng pagbebenta ng mga tao, kakulangan sa edukasyon at impormasyon, internet at modernong teknolohiya at magulong sitwasyon ng pamilya.

Ilan sa mga tip upang maiwasan ang pagiging biktima ng human trafficking ay ang mga sumusunod: Dagdagan ang kaalaman tungkol sa trafficking, makilahok sa mga pulong sa barangay, sikaping mapanatiling mapayapa at puno ng pagmamahalan ang tahanan, maging alerto at mapagmasid, huwag basta-basta maniniwala sa mga pangako lalo na ng mga istranghero, alamin ang mga karapatan at batas, at higit sa lahat maging responsible.

Dapat na i-report ang mga kaso ng trafficking sa barangay, pulisya, DSWD o tumawag sa Action Line (02) 1343 sa mga probinsya. (MLHatoc/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)