IDIS, Partners Discuss Plantations and Aerial Spray Issues
The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) together with the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority, Sustainable Integrated Area Development Initiatives in Mindanao-Convergence for Asset Reform and Regional Development (SIMCARRD), Offices of Councilor Maria Belen Acosta and Councilor Ralph Abella, and officials of Barangay Sirib and Lacson, discussed issues and concerns on plantations and the revival of the Aerial Spraying Regulation in Davao City last October 23, 2020. The round table discussion tackled various issues concerning the operations of agri-business monocrop plantations like banana and pineapple and the resumption of aerial spraying practice in other barangays in Davao City. IDIS through Atty. Mark Peñalver discussed the highlights of the Supreme Court decision declaring the Ban Aerial Spray Ordinance of Davao City unconstitutional in 2016. EnP Lemuel Manalo also presented the highlights and policy recommendations of the study – Mapping of Banana Plantations in South-Central Mindanao conducted in 2019. FPA XI shared that there is a memo released mandating the use of drone for aerial spraying which will somehow manage impact and minimize pesticides drift but plantation companies are yet to adopt it because of the cost efficiency concern. The participants also discussed the strict and full implementation of buffer zones in plantations. The existing local and national laws require plantations to implement buffer zones in between plantations and other land uses such as residential, institutional and protected areas. Highlights of agreed action points include promotion of anti-aerial spray policy in affected local communities or barangays and lobby the same to their respective cities/municipalities. Further, the revival of Multi-partite Monitoring Team (MMT) in plantations was also emphasized. The FPA suggested that the Barangay Officials will be deputized as local MMT, strengthen self-monitoring of plantations, and include the City Agriculture Office to monitor good and negative plantation practices. For this to be fast tracked, and Executive Order to be issued by the City Mayor was identified as a possible option. Chinkie Pelino-Golle, IDIS Executive Director, advised the barangay officials present to check their barangay health centers records with regard to the possible effects of pesticides and aerial spray to the health of their constituents. Barangay Officials were also urged to lead in drafting their own regulative resolutions and ordinances especially on the plantations risk management measures, land-use management and crop conversion regulations, exact corporate social responsibility from plantation companies operating in their respective barangays, come-up with list of incentives and benefits on both plantations and barangay, and mandate plantation companies to ensure proper installation of road and drainage systems. Finally, the Office of Councilor Ralph Abella, which is also the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture of the Davao City Council, committed to sponsor the passage of a policy that will address the issues and concerns on plantations in Davao City in accordance with the existing Organic Agriculture Ordinance, Watershed Code, and other related local and national policies.
IDIS Guidelines for Work and Field Activities
The declaration of General Community Quarantine allows full operation of the non-government organizations despite the shifting schedule and alternative work arrangements. These guidelines aim at ensuring the resumption of office work while protecting all staff against COVID-19 pandemic until public health emergency is lifted. Please read/download the Guidelines for Work While IDIS is implementing alternative work arrangements such as skeleton structure and work-from-home, we see the importance of continuing some field activities that will continuously promote environmental protection and management. However, there is a need to develop guidelines that will ensure the protection of both our employees and partners. Hence, these guidelines will be used as bases for the conduct of activities with partners, policy targets and networks in the field. Please read/download the Guidelines to Conduct Activity with Community Partners
PRESS RELEASE: Environmental groups in Davao join global brand audit 2020
PRESS RELEASE/10.05.2020 The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc., together with other environmental non-government organizations like Break Free from Plastics, Ecowaste Coalition, and Sustainable Davao Movement, Bantay Bukid and Bantayo Aweg volunteers, and barangay officials of Tawan-Tawan joined the river clean-up and global brand audit last September 26, 2020 at Panigan-Tamugan Watershed in Baguio District, Davao City. Read / Download the entire PRESS RELEASE: Environmental groups in Davao join global brand audit 2020
WEBINAR: YOUTH FOR NATURE/WRITE AND DESIGN FOR NATURE
Youth around the globe are seizing the opportunity to commemorate World Environment Day by initiating awareness events and sharing ideas with family and community members on how to protect the environment. Youth are increasingly using the power of their collective voice to advocate, lobby, and lead campaigns towards adopting environmentally-friendly practices and policies. As more youth grow up in a world characterized by advanced technologies and information sharing, many are harnessing this opportunity to create innovative, sustainable environmental solutions. This digital method of influencing and expressing advocacy is further intensified because of the global pandemic which forced us to physically distant ourselves and making outdoor campaigns nearly impossible to be done. Youth can be valuable partners and resources in helping protect our environment and in addressing environmental concerns. They have the power to make a difference in their communities, but often need the encouragement of people before taking on the challenges of environmental stewardship. IDIS as an environmental NGO has been working on encouraging youth to take part and action in our advocacy thru activities such as tree growing, water monitoring, and other events that promote environmental awareness. In celebration with the Philippine Environment Month, IDIS hosted its first #GreenQuarantine Webinar Series entitled, “Youth for Nature: Envisioning a Better Tomorrow” which discussed different environmental topics to educate and encourage environmental stewardship among the youth. There were invited speakers from all over the Philippines who talked about sustainable agriculture, sustainable transportation, mitigation and adaptation on climate change, sustainable lifestyle, and proper waste management. This activity was attended by almost 100 youth. Talks were given by Agr. Justin Paolo Interno (Campaigner at I Am HampasLupa Ecological Agriculture Movement Inc.), Luna Maria Dominique Acosta (Legal Staff of the Office of Councilor Mabel Acosta), Ms. Maria Jaya Ariola (Founding Member of Linghod Organization in Negros Island), Mr. John Leo Algo (Program Manager of Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative), Mr. Alexis Sebote (Founder of TrikEco Tour: Sikad Para sa Limpyong Dagat) Professor Deign Frolley Soriana, Faculty of UP-Baguio Department of Biology, called for youth action. He said that we are all connected to nature and we need to protect not only the flora and fauna but also the people and community. Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., Chair for Committee on Environment, also joined the webinar and gave his solidarity message. He said that webinars such as these are important because not everybody feels a sense of urgency in fighting for the environment. The Dean of College of Law of USEP and incoming member of IDIS Board of Trustee, Atty. Jesus Villardo III also emphasized the need to protect and conserve our environment since we just borrowed it from the future generation. Below is the recorded video of the webinar Besides, IDIS also held an essay writing and infographics making competition for the secondary school students of Davao City. The Write and Design for Nature provided an avenue for our youth to write or create infographics on different aspects of the environment such as Healthy Watersheds, Wildlife Protection, Urban Livability, and Forest Conservation. The online activity received 21 entries for essay writing and 5 entries for infographics. With the help of our credible and esteemed judges, we were able to determine this year’s winners. Jose Neil Andrew Tumulak’s essay entitled Cities of the Future from ADDU-SHS won the first place in essay writing while Aqua Matters written by Hannah Alpha from Mintal Comprehensive High School and Jose Gabriel Cinches’ Urban Progress: A Commute Through Time from ADDU (SHS) placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively. 4th place: The Heirs: How the Youth can Embrace the Role as the Successor of Environmental Problems (Stella Marie Ballega-UM Ilang High School) 5th place: Into the Woods: Sanctuary’s Secured Survival (Xyza P. Facun-F. Bangoy National High School) 6th place: Revisit the Future: Intergenerational Responsibility (Leovir John P. Banguran-University of Mindanao) 7th place: Beat a Retreat: Exiting from an Eco-catastrophe (Assumption College of Davao) 8th place: Pangangalaga sa Kagubatan (Jonjon Panungcat-Maa National High School) 8th place: Feathers of a Bird (Aya Shikinah Hibaler-Mintal Comprehensive High School) 9th place: Youth: The Hope of Nature (Kharylle Isabelle Navaluna- Maa National High School) 9th Place: Youth: Wildlife’s Golden Voice (Joricel Tarnate-Maa National High School) 10th place: Desires of the Untamed: The Youth Call on Wildlife Protection (Cheene Jean Languido-Univesity of Immaculate Conception) 10th place: One Last Generation, One Final Stand (Kevin Roy Tee-Davao Christian High School) For the infographics making contest, Jeselle Cambalon from UIC got the first place while Leandro Ramirez from DCNHS and John Kennith Ballega from UM Ilang HS settled at 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. They were awarded with certificates, cash, and their outputs will be published on Mindanao Times paper – the official media partner of IDIS for the activity.
WEBINAR: Tradition of Conservation: Sharing Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices based on Traditional Conservation of Nature
In celebration with the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, IDIS conducted a webinar entitled “Tradition of Conservation: Sharing Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices based on Traditional Conservation of Nature” last August 20, 2020. The webinar aims to educate the people on the indigenous knowledge in the conservation of the environment from three different tribes – Teduray, Aetas, and Matigsalug. It also aims to raise awareness in breaking the discrimination amongst indigenous peoples. The invited speakers were Mr. Allan Ollubalang of Teduray Tribe, Mr, Julieto Dalagma of Matigsalug Tribe, and Mr. Melvin Guilleno of Manobo-Agusan Tribe. They featured their indigenous knowledge and best practices in helping to conserve and protect the environment. Moreover, Mrs, Thelma Ubod, Bantay Bukid Volunteer, also shared her experiences and effort in protecting the conservation areas of Panigan-Tamugan Watershed and Mt. Tipolog as well. Moreover, Atty. Geroncio Aguio, Regional Director of National Commission of Indigenous Peoples XI, also gave his message calling all people to help in the conservation of traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples. You can watch the full video of the webinar below.
WATERSHED NEWS: RAINFORESTATION FARMING TECHNOLOGY TRAINING
The concept of Rainforestation farming has been promoted as a strategy to rehabilitate degraded lands in order to restore the tropical rainforests. This concept is being implemented by IDIS and community partners in the rehabilitation of Panigan-Tamugan Watershed since 2012 when the UCARE project was implemented with funding support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment. Rainforestation. This was also adopted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a national strategy to order the integration of rainforestation farming strategy in the development of open areas and denuded forests to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in protected areas and other appropriate forest lands. (Asio, 2019) To update the knowledge of Bantay Bukid volunteers on this technology and check their actual implementation, the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) conducted a training last July 31, 2020 at Purok Sumpitan, Barangay Tawantawan, Davao City. Following the Local Government Unit’s guidelines against COVID-19, the Bantay Bukid volunteers convened together with IDIS staff and shared various experiences relating to previous and present rainforestation projects and how it impacted their lives and the environmental situation in the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed and Mt. Tipolog. Bantay Bukid volunteers also learned essential techniques on bamboo propagation and production from Mr. Mark “Sultan” Gersava, Founder and Chief Executive Farmer of Bambuhay. The training was centered in the rainforestation with the integration of bamboo production in which Mr. Gersava demonstrated to the participants how to properly grow a bamboo tree. He also explained the advantages of growing bamboos in rainforests especially in mitigating the impact of soil erosion and effective carbon sequestration. He also emphasized that bamboo grows easily and can be developed into various eco-friendly products that can help prevent plastic pollution and deforestation. The training also served as an avenue for the Bantay Bukid volunteers to convey their problems and challenges while patrolling. Each cluster leader also reported some development on their areas such as the additional species of animals on the forest and fishes on the river that they observed. At the end of the activity, IDIS turned over to the volunteers the backpacks that the Davao City Water District donated. A total of seventy-one backpacks were distributed which they can use on their daily patrols. Moreover, three smartphones were also given to three chosen volunteers. The phones were already installed with different applications that can be used during their monitoring. Those phones were donated by one of the Adopt-a-Riverbank Program adapters, Ms. Jennifer Vicente. Bantay Bukid volunteers are continuously supported by IDIS with partners – Davao City LGU, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, DKA Austria and Misereor Germany.