Envi org lauds latest Bukidnon LGU resolution against plantation expansion
Davao City – The Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) welcomed the latest resolution from the Municipality of Maramag in Bukidnon calling for a moratorium on the expansion of bananas and pineapple plantations in the area. “More and more Mindanawons are slowly realizing that watersheds are a valuable resource that is vulnerable to contamination from the harmful pesticides that these monocrop plantations use.”, said IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes. Fuertes pointed out that , like Davao City, plantations have been blighting the upland areas of Bukidnon. “Too much reliance on agro-industries like these will result in the irreparable damage to the environment by way of floods and contamination of water aquifers. This effect can be felt even in Davao City because the local watersheds here are part of the Davao River Basin ecosystem, which starts from Bukidnon and ends in Davao.”, she pointed out. The Davao River Basin system is one of the eight major river basins on Mindanao island. So important is this that the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has made it one of its priorities in its island wide program on watershed management and rehabilitation. Fuertes called the Maramag resolution “a step in the right direction.” “ But to give it more teeth, LGUs should follow it up with an ordinance so that this moratorium can be implemented with the full backing of the law.”, she added. On a national policy level, Fuertes said the Aquino administration should repeal Executive Order 807, issued by former president, Macapagal-Arroyo, to stop plantations from further exploiting the precious forest resource. “The root cause for this unrelentless expansion is because the previous administration has lifted the restrictions in the allowable size for banana plantations.”, she said, citing Executive Order 807 which lifted the limits for allowable hectarage for banana plantations. The restrictions on expansion were previously defined by laws (LOI 58 and LOI 709) made during the Marcos era which specifically puts limits to banana plantation areas to protect the country’s agricultural and forest lands. But EO 807 changed all that. “Now we are seeing the effect of unregulated expansion. From problems with pesticide contamination to soil erosion causing floods, by replacing our precious forest with monocrops, we are endangering the lives of our present and future generations.” “If we are to truly protect our watersheds on a long term basis, we should call for the repeal of EO 807 and impose limits on monocrop plantations .”, she said. (#)
Envi groups look forward to continued engagement with DENR on envi issues
DAVAO CITY – A month after the former Regional Executive Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was replaced, local environmentalists are eager to continue their engagement with the agency under its new Executive Director, Joselin Marcus Fragada. Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) Executive Director Ann Fuertes said that the series of discussions begun by DENR earlier in the year should be continued so that the issues and concerns which were identified by environmental civil society organizations (CSOs) would be monitored with regards to their resolution. “Understandably, the regional DENR is in transition , following the assumption of the new Regional Director. But we look forward to the immediate resumption of DENR’s Interfacing Dialogue with CSOs so that we can follow up the agreements previously agreed upon so that we can track if these have been resolved.”, said Fuertes. Last January, the DENR XI had begun an interfacing activity with various environmental CSOs to find ways of collaboration among stakeholders for the management and protection of the natural resources in the region. The output of those discussions was the adoption of a matrix of issues and concerns , with their corresponding action points, which was constantly updated at every interfacing meeting. “There was a positive vibe coming off from that activity because it allowed us CSOs to thresh out and clarify issues with the DENR in a participative and collaborative manner.”, recalled Fuertes. “More importantly, it provided an opportunity for a convergence of activities from both sides, all for the goal of protecting the environment.” Among the issues identified for resolution in the matrix were qualified CSO representation in the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) for banana plantations in Region 11 and access of CSOs to MMT reports submitted to the regional Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-XI) in the past five years. Also in the matrix is a commitment from DENR XI to take care of the remaining budget needed for the Watershed Management Council (WMC) activity of delineating the city’s watershed areas. “With the implementation of the Watershed Code already underway, it is imperative that the delineation of the areas protected by law should begin. Now that the City Government has already provided its own fund counterpart, it is about time that we follow up on the DENR’s commitment to provide its own share of technical and financial support as agreed upon during the discussions.”, said Fuertes.(#)
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. (#)
Watching the waters: the young guardians of Panigan River
DAVAO CITY – Once every month, on a Saturday , An-an Gumapac wakes up early to go down the river to take water samples. While most kids her age enjoy the extra hour or two in bed, Gumapac and a few of her friends make their way down to the foot of Mt. Tipolog in Barangay Tawantawan, Baguio District to take part in a community endeavour that has already taken three generations of villagers to implement. Their object of concern is the Panigan river. Meandering along the foot of the adjacent Mt. Tipolog, Panigan has been identified by the Davao City Water District as a future source of Davao City’s potable water which has been ranked as one of the best in the world. Locally, however, Tawantawan has long been dependent on Panigan for their domestic and recreational purposes. Long time residents have a deep affection for the river. Carrying a toolbox full of reagents, Gumapac and her group scatter around designated spots along the Panigan river to monitor changes in the river’s temperature and pH. Like any serious environmental scientist, they carefully measure the river’s dissolved oxygen, nitrate and phosphate content and observe the stream’s flow discharge. The data is then carefully tabulated in a notebook for synthesis and collation later. An-an enjoys the task. “ I enjoy the work.”, she said in the dialect. “Through monitoring, I have been able to make practical use of my science lessons at high school. It’s also important that the river stays clean because if it becomes dirty or polluted, we cannot use the water.” Gumapac represents the third generation of water watchers of the Bantayo Aweg. Her generation’s elders were the first batch of volunteers who took on the task of monitoring the health conditions of the river system to help protect the quality of the water. Begun in 2005, the Bantayo Aweg was an offshoot of a series of environmental trainings conducted by the advocacy group Interface Development Interventions. The name, taken from Bagobo dialect, means ‘water guardians’. It is a role that this group has taken into heart, judging by the fact that the monitoring has been consistent, since the year they have been founded. IDIS Environmental Research Specialist Ann Fuertes who, with Dr. Lourdes Simpol from Ateneo de Davao University and Dr. Ruth Gamboa from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao, helped train the pioneer batch in 2006, said that the initiative was to make the local community be better informed about the issues affecting their local river. “They depend on the river for a lot of things. By letting them at the forefront of monitoring efforts, they can best make decisions on how to tackle them.”, she said. But as Bantayo Aweg members usually find out , the monitoring isn’t always easy. Baneng Tiostumban, 24 yrs old, recalled nearly getting carried away by the strong river current, while taking measurements. “ When there is rain, the run-off coming from the uplands make for stronger currents. Sometimes it’ s so cold, that it takes us until noon to finish it all.”, he said. But despite this, Baneng continues to participate in the monitoring because not only does he finds it fun but their efforts have slowly been changing the bad habits of the communities using the river. “It used to be that people would throw broken bottles into the river.”, he said. “ There was also widespread use of chlorine during laundry activities. But since the water monitoring has started, the practice has declined because we convinced people to stop.” Now and then, there would be still be the occasional use of chlorine while washing clothes. “When we see that, we report them to our elders. The elder ones of the Bantayo Aweg are the ones who scold them because we are afraid to do so.”, he grinned sheepishly. To date, Bantayo Aweg has collected 6 years of water sampling data, creating a picture of the river’s quality over time. At a public presentation held at Lispher Inn , last March 22, 2012, the group presented their data to a group of local policymakers, government agencies and civil society organizations to commemorate World Water Day 2012. Aian B. Gumapac, who presented the graphs, pointed out that while most of the parameters measured show Panigan river still conforming to the Class AA standard which is the highest for clean water, the phosphate and nitrate content are of Class B and Class C standards. Under the standards used by the Environmental Management Bureau, Class B and C indicate that the water is only good for recreational purposes. “The river is still clear and has enough oxygen to support fishes but we are concerned about the level of phosphates and nitrates in the water.”, said Yan-yan. Fuertes, who helped Bantayo Aweg consolidate the data, said that high presence of phosphates and nitrates may be traced to the use of fertilizers and pesticides and the popular use of detergents along the upstream portions of the river. “There is a need to survey the different land uses of the areas around Panigan River to identify the possible sources of nitrate and phosphate contamination so that we are better equipped to find solutions to this recurring problem.”, Fuertes said. The area around the Tawantawan community is surrounded by banana and pineapple plantations whose intensive use of pesticides threaten to contaminate the river water through the run-off during the heavy rains which carry the agricultural inputs to the rivers. The absence of buffer zones , planted with proper trees, along the river banks, compound the problem. “Buffer zones are important because their trees absorb the water and silt coming from plantations and denuded areas.”, said Rey Sapid , Advocacy Officer of the Kinaiyahan Amumahon Panggaon ug Protektahan, Inc. (KAPPI). “Their roots trap the pesticides, ensuring that river waters are protected.” The KAPPI is an environmental paralegal group of farmers and lumads from the 3rd district which has taken up the advocacy of buffer