Aquino fails to deliver promise for environment
MEMBERS of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (Maas) gives President Benigno Simeon Aquino III a failing grade. Dagohoy Magaway, Maas president, said the failing grade reflects the dismal record of the President for not fulfilling the promises he made during his electoral campaign, especially the banning of aerial spraying in banana plantations in the country. Magaway said it has been two years since Aquino assumed his post but until now, he has not yet handed down an Executive Order banning aerial spraying which is pending before the Supreme Court. “We’re very disappointed because until now thousands of rural communities are continuously suffering toxic pesticide drift coming from these spraying planes, while we await the court ruling,” Magaway said. Magaway said according to National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS), a national network of support groups backing up their campaign, the Department of Health (DOH) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have already reaffirmed their positions on the matter so that there is no reason for Aquino to ignore their request. Chinkie Pelino, specialist of the Interface Development Interventions (Idis) Police Advocacy, said at the executive level, Aquino tasked the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) to consolidate all government actions related to this issue. “But during the course of the consultation-workshop, the Maas was not invited to air their stand on the matter,” Pelino said, adding that this poses a concern for Maas as their position in banning aerial spray might be set aside in favor of the banana agricultural companies. Magaway added that their members have already witnessed the resumption of aerial spraying in agricultural districts in Calinan, where Maas does not have a strong membership base. Magaway recalled that in 2001, they received reports of three barangays in the Third District which use aerial spray. The Maas and Idis reiterated their call to the President to fulfill his promise and stop the dangerous practice of aerial spraying in the country. Magaway said if Aquino wants to be known in history as a President who stuck to the straight road, he should fulfill his campaign promises to bring environmental justice to the countless Filipinos. (Ivy C. Tejano, Sunstar Davao
Upland communities conduct 3D mapping of Davao’s watersheds
DAVAO CITY – For the first time, a detailed three dimensional (3D) map of the Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas watersheds will be created, with representatives from the upland communities taking an active part in its design and creation. Around 78 representatives from 53 local barangays and the Barangay Watershed Management Council (BWMC) turned up at the Tawantawan ElementarySchool in Barangay Tawantawan, Baguio District in Calinan, last Monday to attend an orientation on participatory 3D modelling and land use coding. The activity, which was organized by the environmental non-government organization Interface Development Interventions (IDIS), signalled the launch of the two-week 3D modelling and land use coding activity which aims to creat a model showing the extent of land use activities in the Talomo-Lipadas Watershed, which is the present source of water for Dabawenyos, and the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed, the future source of the city’s drinking water. IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes said that this activity will strengthen Davao City’s efforts to implement the Watershed Code. “The output of this activity, which is a 3D relief model of the two watersheds, will further help the city’s efforts to delineate the environmentally critical areas of our watersheds by giving a “bird’s eye view” of the whole environment, enhancing analytical skills and broadening viewpoints , particularly on how the upland is interconnected with the lowland.”, she said. “This will be particularly helpful in dealing with issues and conflicts associated with territory and resource use, especially in the implementation of the Watershed Code.”, Fuertes said. Using USAID funds coursed through the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), IDIS commissioned the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development Foundation (PAFID) to facilitate the activity. The PAFID, a nongovernment organization assisting indigenous communities, have long excelled in participatory 3d modelling, having used it with their partner indigenous communities for decades. As a community-based tool, the Participatory 3D modelling combines Geographic Information System (GIS)-generated data and the local community’s indigenous knowledge to create a stand-alone relief model. This provides stakeholders with an efficient and user friendly model which can be used as a basis for planning and management of the watershed areas. Tawantawan Barangay Captain Danny Gumapac, who welcomed the guests to the activity, said that he cannot help but be excited for this activity since this will help clarify issues of land use among upland communities. “ I hope this will be able to help the delineation activity but the success of this modelling is dependent on the cooperation of all the barangays present in the watershed areas. Together, we can make this model as realistic as possible with our total cooperation for this activity.”, he said. The use of 3D models in the context of collaborative natural resource management is not new. Since 1997, 3D models have been used to support the Ancestral Domain Claims of various indigenous groups. The Philippine government also uses this tool for its projects; currently, 8% of the initial 209 components of the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) have their own 3D models. “When completed, the model will also be an excellent tool for raising awareness on the hydraulics of watershed systems”, Fuertes added, referring to the upstream-erosion and downstream-sedimentation effects. Once finished, the 3D model will be turned over to the City Government which plans to display it in the People’s Park. (#)
18 container vans of logs held in Davao
DAVAO CITY—Operations against illegal logging continue, leading to the seizure on Friday of at least 18 container vans packed with hot lumber at a major port in this city. The National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force seized the container vans at Sasa Wharf following the seizure of dozens of container vans with illegal lumber in Manila recently. Louie Ceniza, intelligence officer of the task force, said the seized container vans here could be part of a bigger shipment of illegal lumber destined for Manila. Authorities stepped up the campaign against logging after an angry President Aquino, during the anniversary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), declared war on logging syndicates, saying an executive order that he issued putting a stop to all forms of commercial logging is being challenged by logging syndicates. The President said he was “accepting the dare” of the syndicates. Last week, 55 container vans of hot lumber shipped from Davao were intercepted at North Harbor in Manila. Ceniza said the seized lumber on Friday was estimated to be worth at least P4 million. “The joint operation was a follow up to the one in Manila. The team will continue with the investigation and trace the consignees of the confiscated lumber,” Ceniza said. Following the President’s statement on logging, authorities intensified the government’s campaign against illegal logging, focusing on logging syndicates operating in Southern Mindanao and Caraga. More than 30 officials of the DENR in the two regions have been fired after Mr. Aquino said in his DENR speech that he knew of the connivance between logging syndicates and some DENR officials. The environment group Panalipdan, however, said the sacking of the DENR officials in Mindanao did not translate into “pogi points” for the President. Francis Morales, a leader of Panalipdan, said if the President really wanted to make a difference, he should start by removing Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. Morales said the government’s campaign to protect the environment would not be effective if only the small fry were removed from office. Ann Fuertes, executive director of the group Interface for Development Interventions, said her group was “happy” that there was an investigation going on and that it hoped justice would prevail for the environment and for innocent people. “It is high time that we strengthen our monitoring system, to involve the barangays and the local communities. Customs [officials] should be investigated, too, and be involved in the monitoring,” she said. (Ayan Mellejor and Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao)
Groups launch the 2012 Lunhaw Awards for Davao’s best green initiatives
DAVAO CITY – The Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS), the Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS), City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO), the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Davao City Water District (DCWD) are launching a citywide search to recognize outstanding practices in organic farming and environment-friendly initiatives. Named after the Cebuano word for ‘green’, the Lunhaw Awards seeks to recognize individuals, groups or communities which use innovative and sustainable ways of living which protect and nurture the environment. “This award seeks to recognize and honor the initiatives of the ordinary Dabawenyo, who believes in the vision of Green Davao, and thus finds ways to make the vision a reality.”, said Mary Ann Fuertes, IDIS Executive Director. A maximum of fifteen (15) awards will be given. Winners will be selected from three categories: individual household categorys (small), community-based/association (medium), and institutions/malls/hotels (large). Winning entries will be judged according to the following criteria: environmental benefits, economic benefits, use of renewable energy, replicability, durability and continuity, and innovation. The contest is open to Dabawenyos currently living in Davao City. Candidates may nominate their own green practices or else submit other entries which fit the search criteria. “We will award the winners during the citywide celebration of Organic Day in December 2012.”, said Fuertes. “The winners will receive P5,000.00 and a trophy, plus their stories will be promoted as green initiatives worth replicating in the City.” “We hope to sustain this as a yearly activity. In time, we hope to create a Davao City’s Hall of Fame for Best Practitioners in Environmentally Sound/ Sustainable Lifestyles where consecutive winners of the Lunhaw Awards will be enshrined.”, she added. “This will underscore the fact that Green Davao goes beyond the buzzwords and is actually a city of best green practices.” (#)
Organic farming advocates work with CAO to plan for the future of the Davao’s organic agriculture
DAVAO CITY – The future of Davao City’s organic farming is being laid out at the City Agriculturist Office. Organic farming practitioners and their advocates are meeting with the city’s Technical Committee on Organic Agriculture/ Organic Agriculture Management Council (TCOA-OAMC) this week to determine how to mainstream organic farming in the next five years. The most pressing questions include how to sustain the production of high quality organic products, and how to make organic farm produce more accessible to the public. Go Organic Davao City network member Ling Castro, of the Interface Development Interventions, said that they hope to have the 5 year strategic plan in place before the year ends. “Having a strategic plan for organic makes it even more of a commitment for Davao City to establish itself as the organic center in Southern Mindanao where organic farming communities are producing a sufficient supply of affordable organic produce and where these communities are patronized and supported by the local government and the public.”, she said. “This will also contribute to Davao’s vision of a green city where there is a confluence of sustainable initiatives and environment-friendly lifestyles.”, Castro added. Davao City already has more than 100 farmers practicing organic agriculture, excluding the indigenous upland farmers who grow crops using traditional techniques without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. That number is expected to increase with implementation of the strategic plan as it will pave the way for the institutionalization of LGU support for organic farming. This includes the development and popularization of indigenous based organic farming techniques as well as the integration of organic agriculture promotion in local school curricula. Of late, Davao City’s agricultural lands have been drawing the interest of investors. Last month, CAO Officer in Charge Leo Avila revealed that Chinese investors are interested in establishing a vegetable farm in the areas of Waan, Mandug and Tigatto, and a dried mango processing plant. Go DC members are hopeful that these investments will be in the area of organic farming so that Davao’s small vegetable farmers,which comprise the bulk of organic farming sector, will be able to benefit from this as they will be able to touch base with the export market. Castro is optimistic about the results of the strategic planning. “Even if we’re just starting it now, the organic farming movement has already accomplished a lot in partnership with CAO. We’ve already begun to identify the initial organic farming zones as well as organic centers. These are small steps, to be sure, but this is why we are participating with the formulation of the OA strategic plan. We want to make sure that the policies are in place to ensure sustainability of Davao’s organic agriculture for years to come.”, she said. (#)
RESEARCH SPECIALIST APPOINTED AS IDIS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DAVAO CITY – The Interface Development Interventions, Inc., an environmental advocacy group for the protection of Davao’s watersheds, proudly announces the selection of its erstwhile Research Specialist, Ms. Ann Fuertes, as its new Executive Director today. Fuertes brings two decades of experience in environmental research and development work , including a teaching stint at UP Mindanao. Fuertes’ background is an ideal fit for the IDIS, now on its 13th year. She has a Masters in Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines in Los Banos and has a proven track record of conducting environmental research and implementing city-wide advocacy and development projects. In her most recent post as Research Specialist, she was head of the program team which provided support for the community-led campaigns against Bt Talong and Aerial Spraying. IDIS , under Fuertes’ helm, will continue to move forward in advocating environmental justice, protecting people’s health and environment particularly in the context of watershed management. Fuertes is a strong advocate of stakeholder collaboration in the pursuit of a green and healthy Davao City and will continue to push this message in all of IDIS future engagements. The IDIS’s Board of Trustees, along with their newest member, Ms. Lia Jasmin Esquillo, thanks its partners and the general public for the support throughout the years. It is looking forward to Fuertes continuing many more years of active engagement by IDIS for the environment. (#)