We, in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, welcome with much joy and hope in our hearts President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision for the Philippines to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the Philippines cannot abandon its commitment in addressing the single greatest threat facing our planet. We are one with the world in tackling the threat of climate change.
By ratifying the Paris Agreement, we will be able to maximize our climate-adaptation and mitigation efforts to protect the Filipino people, among which include the Enhanced National Greening Program, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program, solid waste management, pollution control management, to name a few.
There is also no doubt we will be able to fully transform our communities toward climate resiliency, and embracing the principle of sustainable integrated area development as the way forward to achieving a green economy.
The Paris Agreement will definitely bring a silver lining of hope to our sons and daughters—the Filipinos of the next generations—that they may continue to enjoy the country filled with bountiful natural resources and beautiful environment while having enough knowledge and wisdom to utilize them and be fully prepared for the “new normal” that is climate change. ###
The Philippines once again demonstrated its strong commitment to the global fight against illegal wildlife trade after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) formally turned over on Monday its seized stockpile of rhinoceros horns to the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The turnover of the contraband -- estimated to be worth P74 million in the black market -- was done in simple rites at the BMB office inside the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City. BMB Director Theresa Mundita Lim received the seized horns from the BOC, represented by its Environmental Protection Unit head Lt. Angelito Cruz.
Lim said the turnover of seized rhino horns to the BMB, the agency responsible for the implementation of the Philippine commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), was a reaffirmation of the country's resolve to end illegal wildlife trafficking and trade.
The Geneva-based CITES is an international treaty developed in 1973 to regulate commercial trade in certain wildlife species, including the critically endangered rhinoceros.
“We may not have rhinoceros in our country, but this does not mean we will allow others to use them and other such wildlife for unscrupulous gains and contribute to their extinction as a species,” Lim said.
Lim disclosed that the BMB would coordinate with the country of origin, Mozambique, for the possible return of the specimens.
Should the African state refuse to accept them, they would be disposed of properly or possibly destroyed, she added.
The horns were seized by the BOC in September 2012 at the Manila International Container Port. They had been declared as cashew nuts and shipped by Chistevas Import and Export from Maputo City, Mozambique.
The BMB had been coordinating with the BOC for the turnover of the specimens since their seizure. The process was put on hold as the BOC management underwent some changes.
The rhinoceros population is listed under Appendix I of the CITES, which means that its international trade and that of its by-products are strictly prohibited.
CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that the survival of wild animals and plants is not threatened by international trade. The BMB is the CITES Management Authority for terrestrial species in the Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, designates the BMB’s Wildlife Rescue Center as depository of seized wildlife specimens, their derivatives or by-products.
It can be recalled that in June 2013, the DENR destroyed at least five tons of smuggled elephant tusks using a road roller, making the Philippines the first country in Asia to conduct physical destruction of massive ivory stockpile in support of global efforts to stamp out illegal wildlife trade.
The pulverized tusks were later on cremated in a government incinerator to ensure complete destruction, and the ashes were added as material in an elephant monument installed at the NAPWC.
As for the rhino horns, Lim said that the contraband’s country of origin suggests that the rhinos are African in species.
There are two African species – the white and black rhinos. Both have two horns. A subspecies of the white rhino, the northern white, is facing certain extinction as there are only five left in captivity and none in the wild.
The rhinoceros is the world’s second largest land mammal next to the elephant, and is ranked as one of the planet’s most endangered species.
This herbivore’s survival is threatened by extinction due to poaching for its horns, which, like the elephant, is a source of ivory. Some cultures also believe that its horn, when ground into dust, contains therapeutic properties.
Aside from the African species, other rhino species are Asian – the Sumatran, Indian, and Javan rhinos.
The two-horned Sumatran rhino, the smallest of the species, can be found in Indonesia and Malaysia. The single-horned Javan rhino can be found in Indonesia and Vietnam, while the Indian or great one-horned rhino is only found in India and Nepal. Sadly, the estimated population of the Sumatran and Javan species also indicate that they are facing extinction. #
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has embarked on a comprehensive consultation and engagement with communities affected by the mining audit recently conducted by the agency.
The consultation kicks off in the Caraga region, where majority of mining operations ordered closed by the DENR are located.
In a special order she signed on February 20, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez authorized the conduct of simultaneous community consultation and engagement in the provinces of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur on February 20-24.
Lopez said the exercise was meant to assist the communities and households affected by the mining audit, "particularly ensuring that they will be able to transition well from being mining workers or mining communities to an empowered social entrepreneur or a vibrant community enterprise, impelled by the principles of ecosystems integrity and social justice."
Lopez tasked Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director Ricardo Calderon to head the DENR team that will conduct the consultation. Calderon will be assisted by DENR Caraga acting regional director Charlie Fabre and Director Nonito Tamayo.
Other members of the consultation team are personnel from the DENR central office, FMB, DENR-Caraga and consultants.
The team will be supervised by DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Philip Camara and Assistant Secretary for Field Operations-Mindanao Marcial Amaro Jr.
The output of the community consultation and engagement will be presented during the plenary session with Cabinet officials and representatives of affected communities on February 25-26 in Butuan City.
On February 2, Lopez ordered the closure of 23 mining operations and suspension of 5 others found to have committed serious environmental violations. Fifteen of these mine operations are in the Caraga region.
Just last week, Lopez announced her plan to cancel 75 mineral production sharing agreements or MPSAs for mine sites within or near watershed areas. ###
I have been told that there is a kitty of P50 million for every congressman that votes against me. This is not based on ANY evidence whatsoever, and should not implicate ANY congressman in the slightest way. It’s just talk.
I have met some congressmen and know of others, and my experience has been good – in fact, very good. I continue to hope that they will vote according to the highest principles of truth, service, and the common good – and wish them well.
I would also like to add that as of now there are no mining operations that have stopped because the process is they can go on appeal after receiving the notice of suspension or closure. There are NO jobs that have been lost because mining is seasonal, and as of now, operations are at a standstill because of the rains so there are no jobs to lose. And in the event that a closure order will take place, I am confident that with government’s help, we will be able to bring on a much more stable economy.
At the DENR, what we want is that the mining firms follow the laws pertaining to the protection of the environment for future generations. #
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Luzon has reported that two areas within the Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) complex in Limay town are no longer used as bottom ash dump facilities.
In its latest inspection report, the EMB said that both the temporary ash disposal facilities of PLT Cove and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are now covered with soil, compacted and sprinkled with water to prevent ash dispersion and deposition to nearby communities.
The report even noted that the PLT Cove area had already been planted with frog grass.
The EMB is a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The result of the EMB inspection was revealed during a recent meeting by the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) formed by the provincial government, held in Balanga City.
In that meeting, Petron disclosed that so far around 3,550 metric tons (MT) of ash have been hauled out and 7,950 MT have been treated.
It said that newly generated ashes are being washed to reduce its corrosivity, after which sampling of the washed bottom ash is undertaken. The MMT only allows the ashes to be hauled out when sampling pass the DENR standard for corrosivity.
Treated ash is transported to SMC subsidiary Northern Cement Consolidated in Pangasinan, where it will be used as material for cement manufacturing.
At the same time, Petron revealed its remediation and rehabilitation plans for the PLT Cove area, mitigation measures for odor nuisance, and relocation of affected families.
Aside from the EMB Central Luzon and company representatives, the MMT meeting was attended by Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia, Congressman Enrique Garcia, a representative from the Department of Health-Region 3, and officers of the Limay Concerned Citizens Inc. or LiCCI.
The provincial government gave assurance that there would be available housing for 250 affected families within the next three to five months. Governor Garcia said informal settlers within the SMC's buffer zone would be given priority.
The establishment of Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) was also discussed during the meeting. The fund would be used for epidemiological study or health assessment that will be done in affected communities.
The cost of the study would be sourced from the EGF of Petron and SMC, pursuant to existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) rules and regulations.
The EMB Central Luzon, on the other hand, will continue to assess the environmental quality on affected communities in Limay.
According to EMB Acting Director Jacqueline Caancan, the result of the assessment will help determine effectiveness of anti-pollution interventions already done in the area and ensure compliance to environmental policies by those concerned.
Meanwhile, a series of tests have been done to ensure that the air and water in the area are safe.
A 24-hour monitoring for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was conducted from January 26 to 27. The sampling was conducted by CRL Environmental Services and was witnessed by the MMT members, LiCCI representatives and concerned local government units.
Results of the said sampling showed that VOCs and H2S were not detected at the sampling stations identified by the LiCCI.
The coastal water along PLT Cove was found as not contaminated with substances that could be attributed directly to Petron's dumping of bottom ash in the area, the results further showed.
The result of the sampling conducted at the monitoring well, which was installed to monitor the water quality in the area, was within acceptable pH levels.
In January, a series of ambient air sampling for total suspended particulates and sulfur dioxide at PEX Site and Carbon Site at the Lamao Port was conducted by EMB Region 3 personnel. The results were all within the National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values. #
