Riparian Forest planned at watershed
DAVAO CITY – The Watershed Management Council (WMC) and its member-organizations are planning to set up a riparian forest corridor at the Tamugan- Panigan watershed that will connect the watersheds to the city’s coastal areas. A riparian forest is the area of land and vegetation immediately next to bodies of water such as streams, rivers, or lakes, said Mary Anne Fuertes, head of Interface Development Interventions (IDIS), the non-government organization representative of the project. “Riparian forests help in filtering wastes, they absorb that instead of the runoffs from the uplands going to the river or water supply,” Fuertes said. She added that apart from the ecological development of the watershed, riparian forests also serve as livelihood opportunities for communities in the area who will also be their partners in developing and managing the forest corridor. “Ecotourism can flourish in the forest corridor. There can be barangay parks, picnic areas, and there are species of trees that can be used for livelihood,” added Fuertes. Riparian forest corridors also attract different endemic wildlife, she said, both in the forest areas and the bodies of water they will be connected to, encouraging wildlife diversity. The setting up of the riparian forest corridor project has no schedule yet, she said, but stakeholders from the immediate community also met yesterday at Lispher Inn in Juna subdivision for the implementation planning. “We want to meet with the schools, barangay leaders, to determine what is feasible for everyone,” she said. The Foundation for the Philippine Environment has set aside P2 million in two years for the project. “This is not solely for the river banks projects. But with that amount, there are plenty of projects that can be started,” Fuertes said. Additionally, Fuertes said there are five “Bantay Bukid” volunteers set for training this year to monitor the areas. The volunteers will be coming from the barangays located around the Tamugan-Panigan Watershed, such as Tambobong, Tamugan, Wangan, and Wines. The volunteers will join the 42 Bantay Bukid personnel trained last year, and Fuertes said they are compensated through provision of insurance, and equipment for their work in the area. (Salud Isabel Petalcorin, MINDANAO TIMES)
Eagles fly for Lunhaw Awards 2014
DAVAO CITY – Coming off from the success of last year’s fundraising activity for the Lunhaw Awards, this year’s edition of the Flight of the Eagles, Davao’s annual 40-km fun ride cycling event, continues its support to raise funds for the award-giving activity which recognizes green initiatives in Davao City. With the theme, “Bike Safety: Share the Road”, this year’s route will start from Magsaysay Park at 7:00 am and will end at the Malagos Watershed Park near the Philippine Eagle Center. Cycle for Life convenor Monica Ayala, one of the co-organizers of the fun ride, said that the theme was selected in order to highlight the advocacy of the bicycle enthusiasts in Davao City. “Cycling is a practical activity that most Dabawenyos should take part in because it doesn’t emit carbon fumes which pollute our urban air. This makes it one of the best ways for anyone eager to do their own share for the environment because it reduces one’s own carbon footprint.”, Ayala said. Lunhaw Awards Co-Organizer Mary Ann Fuertes, of the Interface Development Interventions, said that the Awards Organizers were pleased to be one of the beneficiaries of the 12th Flight of the Eagles fun ride. “This will go a long way in providing funds so that the Lunhaw Awards can recognize more deserving green initiatives in Davao City.”, Fuertes said. Other than the Lunhaw Awards, funds from this event will also go to reforestation initiatives in the Talomo-Lipadas area, which the annual activity has been supporting for the last ten years. A part of the proceeds will also go to the installation of bike racks in Magsaysay Park. Registration fee is at Php 500, inclusive of jersey shirt, lunch pack, and raffle ticket. Pre-registration is open until October 4, 2014 at the Office of Councilor Avila at Room 212, SP Building, San Pedro St., Davao City. The activity is organized by the Cycle for Life, Davao City Water District (DCWD), Federation of Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts (FORCE), Interface Development Interventions Inc. (IDIS, Inc.), Philcycling, Office of Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III, Watershed and Environmental Protection Coalition of Davao (WEPCD), Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC). Various Cycling organizations from Davao City and Region XI will also participate in this event. (#)
Environmental groups: Spare trees along Dakudao Avenue
ENVIRONMENTAL groups opposed the proposed plan to cut down the trees along Dacudao Avenue, the only major thoroughfare in Davao City shaded with mature trees, insisting that the idea is “too extreme and alternative options have not been explored.” In a statement sent to Sun.Star Davao, the Interface Development Interventions (Idis) said such proposal was revealed by City Environment and National Resources Office (Cenro) Forester Chris Asibal during the Rainwater Harvesting Forum organized by the Idis and the Davao City Water District on March 24. The planting of falcata trees that line up Dacudao Avenue was an initiative of a civic organization sometime in the early 1990s. According to Asibal, the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) plans to remove the trees to improve the main drain canal which is situated at the aisle of the road. “They plan to improve the canal so they filed a request to remove the trees. As Cenro technical officer, I recommended not to cut down the trees because the avenue is the heart of the city which gives us fresh oxygen,” Asibal said. He also revealed that the CEO is also planning to replace the trees with other plants. However, he said replacing trees would be “wasteful.” “Once trees reach 10 years or more, their capacity to absorb pollutants and carbon dioxide is increased,” he said. “There is a need to assess the area; they can replace the over-mature and defective trees but not all. The structure of the canal can just be improved so that it can stay and serve longer,” he added. Idis executive director Ann Fuertes also called the CEO to cease its proposal. “Dacudao Avenue is the only major thoroughfare in Davao City shaded with mature trees. It is in stark contrast to the rest of Davao’s major streets which are all concrete and asphalt; all the more we should preserve it,” Fuertes said. “It is extremely short-sighted to sacrifice what little greenery we have at the expense of a little convenience. She said she recommends the CEO that “instead of cutting the trees, they should remove the silt and accumulated waste in the canal so that the run-off will not overflow in the lower lying areas.” Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries Inc. (DCCCII) former President Sofronio Jucutan, who also attended the forum, pointed out that the main drain canal does not need any improvement because it can sufficiently handle the run-off coming from Bajada and Buhangin. As a matter of fact, he said that when the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) sent their engineer to study the problem, he found out that there is no problem with the structure. “There is no issue with the canal; the issue is with the outlet, right after the overpass. So the plan should be reassessed and whenever possible, wag putulin ang kahoy,” Jucutan said. (Arianne Caryl Casas, SUNSTAR DAVAO)
Groups urge DA to stop GM Rice production
AFTER a court banned the field trials for the genetically modified eggplants in the country, environmental advocates are now calling the Department of Agriculture (DA) to halt the production and commercialization of the genetically modified crop “Golden Rice”. The golden rice is a new type of rice that contains beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A. It is a variety of Oryza sativa rice that is being developed through genetic engineering to biosynthesize beta-carotene as a potential new food-based approach to improve vitamin A – which has been a serious health problem globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 250 million children suffer from vitamin deficiency. It also said that around 250,000 to 500,000 children go blind every year due to malnutrition with half of them dying within a year after being blind. Reports said the golden rice is now undergoing multi-location field trials in different sites in Luzon. It needs to pass several tests before it will be commercialized. However, a lot of people are not convinced on genetically modified crop. Go Organic Mindanao (GOM) coordinator of the Social Action Center Diocese (SACD) of Marbel, Fr. Joy B. Pelino, in a media briefing on Anti Go Mindanao Organic (GMO) Rice at Hue Cafe – Ateneo Business Center on Tuesday, said there is no proof that the golden rice is really good for the health. “There’s no sufficient data in terms of its safety. In fact, independent studies revealed that there are possible negative effects from the rice on human health. This will also contaminate the natural diversity of island’s native rice varieties,” Pelino said. Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray president and Go Organic Davao City (GoDC) member Dagohoy Magaway also said that if the golden rice will be introduced into the markets, there is a significant risk of the genetically modified gene crossing over to the indigenous varieties, destroying the purity of the organic rice farms. Diego dela Cruz Jr. from the Masipag Mindanao said aside from the risk of the genetically modified crop, the farmers will also face problem on companies of the modified crop taking control of agriculture at the expense of poor farmers. Sr. Nelda L. Balaba, of the SAC-Marbel, added that they believe that there are other ways to resolve the issue on vitamin A deficiency. She added that there are a lot of organically farmed vegetables that naturally contain beta-carotene. “Marami pa namang pagkain that contains vitamin A. Hindi naman necessary ang golden rice just to solve the issue on vitamin A deficiency. So our position is to stop the field testing, production and commercialization of the rice,” Balaba said. The groups claimed that eating genetically modified organic product could cause new allergies in people. The fact that the crop has not been tested on human, Geonathan Barro, advocacy officer for Masipag Mindanao, added. At least 50 varieties of the native Philippine rice are grown throughout Mindanao, using indigenous organic farming techniques. These are often marketed as heirloom rice and command high prices in organic markets. In line with the celebration of the Earth Day, the environmental advocates also called on the Mindanawons to reject genetically modified crops like Golden Rice. They are also asking the DA to support organic farming, instead, as provided for by the National Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. “If we consumers will all stand up and reject pesticide-intensive and GMOs’ dependent agriculture in favor of organic farming, we could put our island, and our country-on the path to a sustainable future and ensure a healthier future for everyone,” Pelino said. The advocates also urged the DA to uphold the integrity of Republic Act 10068, or The Philippine Organic Agriculture Act, which seeks to develop and protect the organic agriculture nationwide by stopping the entry of genetically modified organisms into Philippine agriculture. Third World Network associate and GOM member Atty. Lee Aruelo said that similar actions have been initiated across the country. He added that this is to show to government that there is a significant opposition to the GMOs and Golden Rice. “In the interest of our farmers and food security, genetically modified organics should be banned from being introduced into our country’s farmlands,” Aruelo said. ( Ivy Tejano, SUNSTAR DAVAO)
IDIS and ECOWASTE expose illegal sale of mercury-laced cosmetics in Davao City
Davao City/Quezon City. – Skin whitening cosmetics containing dangerous levels of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, are being sold in Davao City in brazen violation of the law. The Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) and the EcoWaste Coalition, which are based in Davao and Quezon Cities, respectively, made the discovery after obtaining 7 skin lightening products with mercury up to 6,633 parts per million (ppm), way above the 1 ppm limit under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive. Ann Fuertes, IDIS Executive Director, deplored the sale of mercury-tainted cosmetics as “a direct affront to the right of consumers to non-hazardous products,” stressing that “stopping such illegal trade will help in reducing the amount of mercury that gets into our bodies and the environment.” “We therefore urge the local government and police authorities to get to the bottom of this wicked trade of poison cosmetics in the city and bring violators to justice,” she said. Fuertes added that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) should actively disseminate its recall advisories to inform and guide cosmetics vendors and consumers, as well as help law enforcers in performing their duties. For her part, Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator, prodded the public to be extra careful when buying cosmetics promising fairer skin complexion and reject unauthorized and insufficiently labeled ones, including those that do not truthfully disclose their chemical ingredients. She pointed out that “brown is beautiful” and that the quickest way for consumers to avoid mercury exposure in cosmetics is for them “to be satisfied with their natural skin tone and not to use synthetic means to whiten the skin.” The groups procured the 7 skin whitening cosmetics, costing P75 to P150 per product, from several shops located at Chinatown and other places in test buys conducted on July 28-29 in Davao City. In addition, the groups also obtained a number of cheap skin whitening products sold for P20 each that have no market authorization from the FDA. Using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, a device that can measure the concentrations of heavy metals in consumer products and other media, the groups detected high levels of mercury in the following products: 1) Erna Whitening Cream with 6,633 ppm 2) Jiaoli Miraculous Cream with 5,508 ppm 3) S’Zitang (golden yellow box) with 4,828 ppm 4) Jiao Li 7-days Specific Eliminating Preckle AB Set with 4,071 ppm 5) S’ Zitang 7-days Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set with 3,409 ppm, 6) White Magnolia Powerful Spot Remover Repair Essence with 3,406 ppm, 7) Jiao Li Speckle-Dispelling & Whitening Cream with 3,042 ppm The FDA has yet to ban Erna and White Magnolia, while Jiaoli and S’Zitang are among the 93 skin whitening products banned by the agency for containing mercury above the allowable limit. According to the FDA, “there have been cases of adverse health effects brought about by highly toxic mercury in cosmetic products, such as kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring. Chronic use reduces the skin’s normal resistance against bacterial and fungal infections.” “The transfer of mercury to fetuses of pregnant women may manifest as neurodevelopment deficits later in life,” the FDA warned The manufacture, importation, selling or offering for sale of cosmetics without FDA approval or found to contain harmful or toxic substances is in direct violation of Republic Act No. 9711 , the Food and Drug Administration Act, and Republic Act No. 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines. (#)
Ban on GM rice pushed
IN THE wake of the Court of Appeal’s (CA) landmark decision to outlaw the field trials of the genetically modified Bt eggplant, members of the Go Organic Davao City (GoDC), a Davao-based network of organic farming practitioners and advocates, are now training their sights on their next target: the genetically modified golden rice. “While we are happy with the CA decision, this does not mean the end of the public vigilance against genetically modified vegetables since there are other GM crops which are being prepared for widespread market release,” GoDC member Ling Castro said. Castro is referring to the golden rice, which the farmer-scientist group Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag identified as a GMO crop that has been “artificially inserted” with genes coming from bacteria and corn to produce beta carotene, a key component in the formation of Vitamin A. Proponents of the golden rice have been saying that this variety is the answer to the problem of Vitamin A deficiency among Filipino children, emphasizing that the technology is harmless and free for the Philippine market. But organic farming advocates are concerned that this may be just a “Trojan horse” to entice the general public to support the entry of other genetically modified crops in the country. “The issue here is whether there is really a need for alternate sources of Vitamin A other than what Nature provided for us,” said Idis executive director Ann Fuertes. Fuertes said a steady consumption of fresh vegetables can meet the average daily requirements for Vitamin A among Filipinos. “A daily diet of green and yellow vegetables and fruits, including kamote, is enough to ensure that our bodies get the right amount of Vitamin A,” she said. Masipag cited available data from the Philippine National Nutrition Council that cases of children suffering from Vitamin A deficiency have already declined from 38 percent in 1998 to only 15.2 percent cases in 2008. This downward trend is also reflected among pregnant women (9.5 percent) and lactating mothers (6.4 percent). Masipag national coordinator Dr. Chito Medina said the absence of sufficient feeding tests to rule out any danger from consumption of golden rice should be a grave concern for everyone. “No safety test was done to first establish its potential for allergencity, toxicity or even, the anti-nutritive properties of too much beta carotene consumption,” Medina pointed out. Fuertes called for the passage of a national policy to prevent the spread of GMOs in the country. “Now that the government has the National Organic Agriculture Act, it makes sense for a more encompassing national policy to ban GMOs nationwide since the principles of organic farming and genetically modified organisms are incompatible,” she said. (SUNSTAR DAVAO)