Land use plan gets final council nod
AS EXPECTED, the Davao City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) got the final approval by the City Council Monday afternoon. The council passed the measure on third and final reading, with the title “An ordinance approving and adopting the zoning ordinance of Davao City for 2013-2022, incorporating as integral part thereof, Volume 1, which is the Clup, and volume 3, which is the sectoral studies.” It garnered 23 votes from all the council members who were present Monday. Councilor Melchor Quitain was the presiding officer. Incoming Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was on vacation leave, while Councilors Karlo Bello and Paolo Duterte were on official business. Councilor Bernard Al-ag failed to vote because he arrived late. Meanwhile, around 100 environment advocates broke into cheers as the ordinance was finally approved. The amendments included the declaration of conservation zones and the establishment of buffer zones between conflicting zones like commercial and residential zones or industrial and agricultural zones. A minimum of 10 meters of buffer zone planted with trees is mandated in this amended Clup. “In behalf of the civil society who actively and substantially provided inputs in the drafting of the revisions to the Clup, we would like to thank the councilors for approving the ordinance after so many deliberations,” said Idis Executive Director Ann Fuertes. Despite some last minute fears of an intense lobby by subdivision developers against the proposed zoning of Shrine Hills into an Urban Ecological Enhancement Sub-zone, the ordinance was quickly approved by all the councilors present. It was their first agenda on this last day of their council session. Fuertes, however, said that while this is a victory for the advocates of the Green Davao vision, there are still lots of work to be done. Also included in the amended Clup is the addition of the Water Resource Areas, as well as the declaration of Marine Protected Areas in the city. The zoning ordinance also provides the no-reclassification policy within five years for all areas identified under general zone (agriculture, conservation, water resource, and non-tillage) and three years for sub-urban zone (residential, industrial and commercial). However, should property developers want to reclassify a zone that has been approved under the Clup, they would need at least 75 percent or 21 votes of the City Council. The city’s Water Resource Zone has also been mapped out. The special use permit already issued to two memorial parks that are to be built in identified Water Resource Zone in the city may also be revoked “subject to the requirement of due process of law and when public interest so requires.” “The next challenge is to sustain the engagement of the civil society in the implementation and monitoring of the ordinance. We won’t expect it to be easy but then as long as we are all united in seeing through our vision of a Green Davao City, the challenges will be surmountable,” Fuentes said. (Ara Casas, Sunstar Davao)
Shrine Hills now a protected zone
ENVIRONMENTALISTS participating in the revisions of Davao City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) welcomed the City Council’s decision to protect Shrine Hills from further urbanization by designating it as a protected zone. Idis policy advocacy specialist Chinkie Pelino lauded the move as a “strong exercise of political will” as the City Council in a special session last Thursday moved to declare Shrine Hills as an Urban Ecological Enhancement Sub-zone. “What this means is that further subdivision development will be prohibited along the hilly terrain in order to protect its ecological value as the city’s nearest green park,” she said. The City Council has zeroed in on the proposed Clup, conducting several special sessions, and prioritizing contentious issues on the proposed updated zoning ordinance. The council considered the item on proposed Clup vital, discussing it effectively by holding special sessions during the first two weeks of June. Among the controversial issues settled during the special sessions were declaring Shrine Hills as protected zone and not double low density residential zone as proposed earlier; and the possibility of revoking the special use permit already issued to two memorial parks that are to be built in identified Water Resource Zone in the city. Councilor Arnulfo Cabling said these were the two “opposing issues” under volume 2 (proposed Updated Zoning Ordinance). The possible revocation of the two memorial parks with special use permit issued was agreed on June 10, leading to the rewording of the Section 7.3 of the proposed ordinance as: “Subject to the requirement of due process of law and when public interest so requires, special use permit granted for cemeteries and memorial parks or areas within the water resource zone as provided within may be recalled and revoked.” The Shrine Hills issue, on the other hand, was also settled on June 13. On Tuesday afternoon (June 18), the City Council will tackle anew the proposed Clup embodying the updated Sectoral and Land Use Plans of the city and the draft updated zoning ordinance. Cabling earlier said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has certified it as urgent in order for the City Council to approve the measure before her term ends. Pelino, who attended the council session on the Clup amendments, also said that the City Council had agreed that upon the approval of the amendments to the zoning ordinance, all existing subdivision projects and structures at Shrine Hills will be declared “existing but non-conforming.” Under the amended Clup, the Urban Ecological Enhancement Sub-zone is defined as “areas intended for massive greening program for ecological enhancement in major urban zone as precautionary and pro-active approach to climate change adaptation and part of risk reduction management against flooding,” particularly in areas prone to landslides. A previous Mines and Geosciences Bureau study has identified some portions of Shrine Hills as highly susceptible to landslides and flooding. Because of these amendments, all the Preliminary Approval on Locational Clearances (Palcs), which were granted to the high class subdivisions currently being developed in the area, will be revoked. “Only climate mitigating and adapting development will be allowed in the area, subject to the approval of City Council and based on the guidelines that will be developed by the City Engineer’s Office,” Pelino said. Despite the early victory, environmentalists are still keeping their fingers crossed as a lot can still happen during the days leading to Tuesday’s regular session, when the council is expected to adopt the amendments during the second reading of the proposed ordinance. Idis executive director Ann Fuertes called on Dabawenyos to show their support for the ordinance, adopting the amendments to the Clup. “Now more than ever, we need to support this city’s development direction by showing up at the SP (City Council) session and help push for the approval of this ordinance,” she said. Once the ordinance is passed and the amendments adopted, Fuertes said green groups are looking forward to a participatory and multi-sectoral approach in developing Shrine Hills into a green park. (Arianne Caryl Casas, Sunstar Davao)
Organic farm advocates hail CA ruling on GMOs
DAVAO CITY—Euphoric over the Court of Appeals (CA) ruling against the field testing of genetically modified Bt eggplants, organic farming advocates are calling for a ban on a genetically modified breed of rice known as Golden Rice. Golden Rice contains beta carotene as a source of Vitamin A and is being developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Alfie Pulumbarit, advocacy officer of the nongovernment Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-Unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag) based in Los Baños, Laguna, said the IRRI is “done testing the Golden Rice in five sites and is moving on to the efficacy tests, meaning on humans, but without testing it first on animals or conducting toxicity tests to make sure it’s safe.” “Is there really a need for alternate sources of Vitamin A other than what nature provided us?” said Ann Fuertes, executive director of the Interface for Development Intervention. Proponents touted the Golden Rice as the “answer” to Vitamin A deficiency among children but Fuertes said a steady consumption of fresh vegetables is effective as well. “A daily diet of green and yellow vegetables and fruits, including sweet potato, is enough to ensure that our bodies get the right amount of Vitamin A,” she said. The Philippine National Nutrition Council reported that the number of children suffering from Vitamin A deficiency has declined from 38 percent in 1998 to only 15.2 percent in 2008, Masipag said. Organic farming advocates expressed concern that Golden Rice may just be a “Trojan horse,” paving the way for the entry of other genetically modified crops in the country. Dr. Chito Medina, Masipag national coordinator, said the absence of sufficient tests should be a grave concern. Fuertes said the country should adopt a national policy to prevent the spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “Now that the government has the National Organic Agriculture Act, it makes sense to have a more encompassing national policy to ban GMOs nationwide,” Fuertes said. “The principles of organic farming and genetically modified organisms are incompatible,” Fuertes added. “Many countries have in fact already declared a moratorium on GMOs. It’s about time that the Philippines follows suit,” she said. The Inquirer on Monday tried to seek comment from Dr. Desiree Hautea, one of the lead scientist-proponents of Bt eggplants, but she was unavailable for an interview. Aside from Bt eggplants, Masipag also opposes the testing of other genetically modified crops, such as corn, abaca, cassava and papaya, which are separately being conducted by government and private agencies. (Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao and Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon)
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)
Davao reefs in ‘dismal state’
DAVAO CITY — Silt coming from the deforested upland slopes along Davao’s watershed areas is putting the coastal biodiversity in peril, according to a watershed profile study commissioned by the Interface Development Interventions (Idis). In a statement emailed to Sun.Star Davao, Idis said siltation, previous blast fishing, and wave action have been identified as the reasons why the reefs of the seven coastal barangays belonging to the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan watershed system are in a “dismal state.” “Based on the documents we have reviewed for this study, the coastal resources of these communities, particularly in five of them, is in poor condition,” said Philippine Eagle Foundation (Pefi) Conservation Director Jayson Ybanez, who presented the study at the Ateneo de Davao University last month. The communities identified were Bago Aplaya, Binugao, Daliao, Lizada, and Sirawan in Toril District. Idis commissioned Pefi, led by Ybanez as the lead researcher, to conduct the Resource and Socio-Economic Profile for the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan watersheds. Funding for this study was made possible through a grant from the United States Agency for International Aid (USAid) under the Foundation for the Philippine Environment’s Upscaling Forest Reforestation Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Project. Other than the coral reefs, Ybanez also said that the area’s mangrove habitats, which used to be dense, are also disappearing. “The earliest data we have is from 1956, when there used to be 154 hectares of mangrove forests. In 2001, this was reduced to 51 hectares,” he said. The threats to these habitats are alarming since it leads to loss of species diversity. Ybanez’s research team has already documented at least two threatened species of mangrove trees. “These two are locally known as Tiduk-tidukan and Piapi,” Ybanez said. The survey team was also able to document the existence of five species of pawikan, which are now classified as “threatened species” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These are the Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead, Leatherback and Green Sea turtles. Idis Executive Director Ann Fuertes said that this situation underscores how extensive the impact of the watersheds is for Dabawenyos. “Because watersheds catch the rain and send it out to the sea together with the accumulated soil, pesticides, garbage and other pollutants, they are good focal points for sustainably managing our city’s coastal resources,” she said. “What we are seeing now is that there is a direct causal linkage between the threats to the upland and marine environments. If there is deforestation in our watersheds, the silt will come down and destroy the corals and mangroves on which our fisheries depend on. Toxic pesticides in the run-off will kill the marine biodiversity which is present in our waters, she added. “Given this scenario, it is imperative to address these linkages and the root causes in a sustainable and comprehensive manner at the socio-economic and policy level so that we can protect and restore what is left of these ecosystems,” Fuertes said. (Arianne Caryl N. Casas- SunStar Davao/Sunnex)
Animals, some rare, now threatened by poisonous chemicals in Davao watersheds
Davao City – A team of wildlife researchers from the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEF) has found that the remnant of lowland dipterocarp forests in the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan (TL-PT) Watersheds, the current and future source of Davao’s drinking water, is the habitat of some twenty eight species that can only be found in the Philippines. “We were able to document 171 vertebrate species, 28 of which are endemic to the Philippines”, said lead researcher PEF Conservation Director Jayson Ybanez who presented the study at the Ateneo de Davao University last April 15, 2013. The survey is part of the TL-PT Watershed Resource and Socio-Economic Profile, which aims to provide technical information to help stakeholders identify and plan the most cost effective way to protect and manage the watersheds. The study revealed that the TL-PT Watersheds is home to the Philippine eagle, the Tarictic hornbill, the rare Mindanao montane racquet tail, the Mindanao scops forest owl, the Mindanao fruit bat, the Philippine flying lemur and the Philippine pygmy squirrel. The team also observed at least two critically endangered tree species as classified by the IUCN. These are the White miranti and the Tanguile species. The Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) which commissioned the study under a grant from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said that the findings underscore the importance of the TL-PT watersheds. “The richness of the biodiversity in the remaining forest cover of the watersheds should impel every Dabawenyo to protect the watersheds. As reservoirs of biodiversity, these forests are essential to the survival of our endemic species.”, said IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes. However, unsustainable agriculture, illegal logging and population pressure continue to threaten these fragile habitats and may force twenty eight of these species into extinction, according to the report. “One of the threats that we found out is that slowly, banana plantations and farms are slowly encroaching towards the forest, even in areas which are considered environmentally critical areas as defined in the Watershed Code.”, said Ybanez. In addition, with only the Malagos watershed as the sole remaining lowland forest that can support these species, it may take some time before the current reforestation initiatives bear fruit and allow these species to thrive again in the watersheds. The proponents of the research urge that a more holistic and inclusive approach should be undertaken in order to conserve the remaining species and habitats and to sustainably rehabilitate the deforested slopes. This include the use of convergence-building efforts which promote open, participative and effective processes in addressing issues of conservation and resource management. “Adaptive management would be a good scheme, wherein interventions are considered experiments where you refine your way of doing conservation and through that, all of your partners learn through doing.”, said Ybanez. ( MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR)