In the Balabac Strait Marine Biodiversity Conservation Corridor, CI is working with Tanggol Kalikasan Foundation, Inc. (TK) to orient local stakeholders in environmental laws. TK conducted two Law Enforcement Trainings for local stakeholders in the Balabac Strait Corridor, one of the hotspots for various illegal activities in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape. The first training was conducted on August 28-31, 2006 and participated in by 52 people coming from the Municipal Government of Balabac, members of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coastguard stationed in the area, members of the Philippine National Police, including Barangay Captains (elected village leaders), who all play important roles in the enforcement and implementation of environmental laws. The training included an orientation on the Philippine Fisheries Code and the Wildlife Act as well as other relevant laws. It also gave the trainees the opportunity to learn how to examine fishes caught by illegal means such as bombing (dynamite) and poisoning (sodium and cyanide). Sessions on the proper way of arresting, seizure, boarding the boats and detention of violators, including the use of arms and communication equipment were conducted.
Spotting an illegally caught fish - by poisoning or by blasting — is part of the training organized by Tanggol Kalikasan to orient local stakeholders about environmental laws.
A second round of enforcement training was conducted for fishermen groups such as members of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) along with other volunteer groups called Bantay Dagat (Guardians of the Sea) who are deputized and may implement citizens’ arrest against violators of environmental laws. This was conducted on September 20-24, 2006, also in the municipality of Balabac. 70 participated in this training course.
On-the-ground law enforcement training for MFARMC officials and Bantay Dagat (Guardians of the Sea) Volunteers in Balabac.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Anti-logging drive in Quezon yields hot lumber
Source: Copyright 2006, Philippine Inquirer
Byline: Delfin Mallari Jr.
The weeklong antilogging operation in the Sierra Madre mountains in Quezon province yielded more than 117 cubic meters of illegally cut forest products.
Dubbed “Oplan Baykuran,” the operation that ended Friday also yielded one illegal band saw found deep in the forest.
More than 94 cu m of square logs, flitches and sawn lumber of the red-lauan and almaciga, two banned species, had been counted and were put under the custody of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Real town, said Jay Lim, program coordinator of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog (TK-ST).
“We still have some pieces to retrieve from the log pond in the upper parts of the mountain,” Lim said in a mobile phone interview from Infanta town.
“Most of the confiscated wood products belong to illegal loggers from the lowlands,” Nilo Tamoria, director of the DENR-Special Concern Division and leader of the raiding team, told the Inquirer on Wednesday.
Tamoria said the seized items were found in a big log pond in Sitio (sub-village) Mabilog in Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar town.
The raiders, composed of personnel from the DENR-National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (Naectaf), the military and TK-ST, also found an illegal band saw hastily buried along the banks of the Agos River in Mabilog.
On Wednesday, Environment Undersecretary Roy Kyamko, Naectaf deputy head, visited the sites of the operation and inspected the confiscated forest products.
“We will sustain these operations. This is just the first phase. There will be more,” Kyamko told newsmen.
Tamoria said another big stock of illegally cut forest products were discovered in Barangay Lagmak in the upper portion of the forest with an estimated volume of at least 70 cu m.
But he admitted that the operatives face the difficult task of retrieving the lumber from the said place which could only be reached in two days and one night of walking.
He said the illegally cut wood could not be brought out of the mountain without being noticed by government operatives and volunteers.
The multisectoral forces have been combing the Sierra Madre mountain ranges since a week ago in what could be considered one of the biggest anti-illegal logging operations in the area in recent times.
The massive operation was preceded by a reconnaissance by volunteers guided by an unidentified “informer” who tipped off the locations of several log ponds atop the mountain which is maintained by an illegal logging syndicate.
The forest products were hauled down by at least 30 log haulers or “magbubulaog.” The TK-ST paid the haulers using funds granted by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation.
Copyright 2006, Philippine Inquirer
Byline: Delfin Mallari Jr.
The weeklong antilogging operation in the Sierra Madre mountains in Quezon province yielded more than 117 cubic meters of illegally cut forest products.
Dubbed “Oplan Baykuran,” the operation that ended Friday also yielded one illegal band saw found deep in the forest.
More than 94 cu m of square logs, flitches and sawn lumber of the red-lauan and almaciga, two banned species, had been counted and were put under the custody of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Real town, said Jay Lim, program coordinator of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog (TK-ST).
“We still have some pieces to retrieve from the log pond in the upper parts of the mountain,” Lim said in a mobile phone interview from Infanta town.
“Most of the confiscated wood products belong to illegal loggers from the lowlands,” Nilo Tamoria, director of the DENR-Special Concern Division and leader of the raiding team, told the Inquirer on Wednesday.
Tamoria said the seized items were found in a big log pond in Sitio (sub-village) Mabilog in Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar town.
The raiders, composed of personnel from the DENR-National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (Naectaf), the military and TK-ST, also found an illegal band saw hastily buried along the banks of the Agos River in Mabilog.
On Wednesday, Environment Undersecretary Roy Kyamko, Naectaf deputy head, visited the sites of the operation and inspected the confiscated forest products.
“We will sustain these operations. This is just the first phase. There will be more,” Kyamko told newsmen.
Tamoria said another big stock of illegally cut forest products were discovered in Barangay Lagmak in the upper portion of the forest with an estimated volume of at least 70 cu m.
But he admitted that the operatives face the difficult task of retrieving the lumber from the said place which could only be reached in two days and one night of walking.
He said the illegally cut wood could not be brought out of the mountain without being noticed by government operatives and volunteers.
The multisectoral forces have been combing the Sierra Madre mountain ranges since a week ago in what could be considered one of the biggest anti-illegal logging operations in the area in recent times.
The massive operation was preceded by a reconnaissance by volunteers guided by an unidentified “informer” who tipped off the locations of several log ponds atop the mountain which is maintained by an illegal logging syndicate.
The forest products were hauled down by at least 30 log haulers or “magbubulaog.” The TK-ST paid the haulers using funds granted by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation.
Copyright 2006, Philippine Inquirer
Saturday, July 15, 2006
PNP, Bantay Dagat on-guard against bird hunters
Just watch but don’t catch.
Mayor Hernani A. Braganza recently ordered the Bantay Dagat, Tourism personnel and the City PNP to be on the lookout for more local bird catchers at the Hundred Islands.
Local authorities here were alerted anew following the apprehension of three grade schoolers from nearby town of Anda for collecting eggs and having in possession a young night heron locally known as “doroco” a week ago.
Ava Sharon Batay-an, Tanggol Kalikasan Area Director, who de-briefed the offenders at her office, said the latter violated provisions of RA 7586 or the NIPAS Law.
Under Sec. 20 of the NIPAS Law, hunting, destroying or mere possession of any plant or animal or products derived therein without a permit from the Management Board is strictly prohibited.
The three confessed they were not aware of the consequences of their actions and have been catching birds for quite a long time for food and as a source of livelihood.
But since they are still minors, they were sent home after having undergone de-briefing and counseling even as they promised that they will stop from this old and illegal practice.
A total of 61 eggs are now under the custody of the City Veterinary Office and City Agriculture Office. Report coming from said offices last Monday revealed that at least 6 eggs were successfully hatched through an incubator.
All the rest is expected to be hatched this week while the young night heron will be released at the Hundred Islands soon it has fully recovered from its poor health condition.
Thousands of Philippine birds of various species have found a perfect refuge at the lush green islands for several months now.
And there presence at the islands has stirred excitement among local and foreign tourists.
The Mayor, including the Tanggol Kalikasan, a public interest Environmental Law Office based in the city, though, expressed fear over the possibility of disturbing the flock of birds due to illegal activities like bird hunting, bonsai and egg collection and even blast fishing which creates deafening sound.
“This loveable creatures need to be protected from potential dangers, said Braganza said.
To enjoy more of these picturesque views and in order to disturb the birds, the Mayor has advised guests and visitors to bring their binoculars and cameras or videos and watch the birds from a safe distance.
In fact, more and more tourists are getting interested on bird-watching that they extend few minutes touring around the park to see the birds with colorful feathers fly in the sky.
Among those who have expressed appreciation and happiness seeing the rare and migratory birds at Hundred Islands were the Barangay Chairmen and city legislators who joined the Mayor in a brief familiarization tour just recently. (CIO)
Mayor Hernani A. Braganza recently ordered the Bantay Dagat, Tourism personnel and the City PNP to be on the lookout for more local bird catchers at the Hundred Islands.
Local authorities here were alerted anew following the apprehension of three grade schoolers from nearby town of Anda for collecting eggs and having in possession a young night heron locally known as “doroco” a week ago.
Ava Sharon Batay-an, Tanggol Kalikasan Area Director, who de-briefed the offenders at her office, said the latter violated provisions of RA 7586 or the NIPAS Law.
Under Sec. 20 of the NIPAS Law, hunting, destroying or mere possession of any plant or animal or products derived therein without a permit from the Management Board is strictly prohibited.
The three confessed they were not aware of the consequences of their actions and have been catching birds for quite a long time for food and as a source of livelihood.
But since they are still minors, they were sent home after having undergone de-briefing and counseling even as they promised that they will stop from this old and illegal practice.
A total of 61 eggs are now under the custody of the City Veterinary Office and City Agriculture Office. Report coming from said offices last Monday revealed that at least 6 eggs were successfully hatched through an incubator.
All the rest is expected to be hatched this week while the young night heron will be released at the Hundred Islands soon it has fully recovered from its poor health condition.
Thousands of Philippine birds of various species have found a perfect refuge at the lush green islands for several months now.
And there presence at the islands has stirred excitement among local and foreign tourists.
The Mayor, including the Tanggol Kalikasan, a public interest Environmental Law Office based in the city, though, expressed fear over the possibility of disturbing the flock of birds due to illegal activities like bird hunting, bonsai and egg collection and even blast fishing which creates deafening sound.
“This loveable creatures need to be protected from potential dangers, said Braganza said.
To enjoy more of these picturesque views and in order to disturb the birds, the Mayor has advised guests and visitors to bring their binoculars and cameras or videos and watch the birds from a safe distance.
In fact, more and more tourists are getting interested on bird-watching that they extend few minutes touring around the park to see the birds with colorful feathers fly in the sky.
Among those who have expressed appreciation and happiness seeing the rare and migratory birds at Hundred Islands were the Barangay Chairmen and city legislators who joined the Mayor in a brief familiarization tour just recently. (CIO)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Banahaw finds rest for 2 years
Philippine Daily Inquirer
By Delfin T. Mallari Jr.,
PDI Southern Luzon Bureau
DOLORES, QUEZON- Mt. Banahaw was at peace for two years. A move to ban urbanites from trekking the mountain for nature trips disguised as a pilgrimage during the Lenten season apparently worked. Two years after the ban was imposed, the people of Barangay Kinabuhayan, at the bosom of the mountain, are at peace with their mountain again, saying that the mystery of Banahaw is no longer disturbed.
"The sacred aura of Mt. Banahaw is now beginning to show again. It's now peaceful and quiet just like the old days when this place was not yet known to non-devotees," said Supremo Jose Illustrisimo, leader of religious sect "Tatlong Persona Solo Dios" based in the village. He recalled how it was in 1936 when his late father, Agapito Illustrisimo, founded the religious sect as well as a settlement near the river, which they now revere as holy. Almost all residents in Kinabuhayan belong to "Tatlong Persona Solo Dios."
"I was then 7 years old. The place was surrounded by huge forest trees," the religious leader recalled. Illustrisimo recalled that when the Kinabuhayan river near the sect compound was still crystal clear, devotees washed their feet there before starting the trek to different sacred spots atop the mountain.
He remembered the times when former President Manuel Quezon visited the place to meditate. "He usually arrived here in the company of the provincial governor. He visited the different puestos to pray and meditate," the religious leader said. The religious Supremo said that during the Holy Week, sect leaders from across the country return to Kinabuhayan to renew their ties with their spiritual roots. Gloria Diala, 69, also a member of the religious sect and long time inhabitant of Kinabuhayan, reminisced about the first time she set foot in the serene village in 1958.
"This place was so beautiful. The climate was cool, birds were chirping and there was fresh flowing water. It was like paradise," she said. She recalled that when the sect members had to urinate, they wouldn’t do it just anywhere. "The visitors have their own canisters for their urine. That's how we respect this place," she said.
"One has to wear extra clothes to keep the body warm especially at night. The grass is always dewy. I always feel good and contented here during those times. We were all religious pilgrims here who flocked here for silent prayers and meditation. There was no mountaineer yet," she recalled.Nowadays, Diala said she wants to spend the remaining years of her life amid very serene and quiet surroundings. "It's alright with me if Mt. Banahaw will stay closed forever," the old woman said in a whisper.
Aside from the "Tatlong Persona Solo Dios," another influential religious sect whose members also climb Mt. Banahaw every Lenten season has also expressed approval of the mountain's closure.
According to the leaders of "Ciudad Mistika de Dios" based in Barangay Santa Lucia, majority of the 80 sects that hold their rites in the mountain would respect the decision to insulate San Cristobal-Banahaw from outside intrusion for much-needed rehabilitation.
Of the 80 groups, 20 are based-or have places of worship-within the area covered by the Protected Area Management Board directive. The mountain forms part of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park, declared as a protected area in June 2003. The park covers the municipalities of Sariaya, Candelaria, Tayabas, Lucban and Dolores, all in Quezon, and Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay and San Pablo City, all in Laguna.
To many, Mt. Banahaw is inhabited by spirits, elements and other-worldly beings. Many believers trek its slopes in hopes of experiencing something divine, particularly during the Lenten season.
In the summer of 2004, several days before the Holy Week, the PAMB sealed off with barbed wires several trails leading to areas in the bosom of Banahaw to start the five-year rehabilitation program that would resurrect the mountain's natural resources.
It was not only slash and burn (kaingin) farming that left a scar on the mountain's surface.
The irresponsible practice of mountain climbers, composed of modern pilgrims and urban nature trippers, have also added to the mounting pressure on the mountain's ecosystem. They leave behind styrofor boxes, empty water bottles and cans at almost every spot of the mountain after the Lenten period. Even enterprising children from Kinabuhayan village were aware of the reason behind the absence of their former mountain-climbing clients. "The mountaineers dump their trash just about anywhere. Even if we reminded them (not to leave trash), they just laugh at us," recalls Baroy Zena, 10; Christian Ele, 9; and Richard Rebamba, 13.
The three friends find employment as guides to first time mountain visitors.
"Each of us used to earn at least P200 a day. We were also given lots of foods and candies," said Rebamba, the veteran tour guide among the three. The guides also fetch water for a fee for the mountaineers on top of Banahaw. During Holy Week, the mountain is like a big set of stairs to most of the children. "We climbed the mountain several times a day. In the evening, we were dead tired in our sleep. But we're happy, we had plenty of money," Rebamba said. "But now, we no longer have money. We were told that the mountain will again open in 2007. Hopefully, it will be true," he said as the group feasted on loaves of breads and big bottles of soft drinks.
In an inspection of Mt. Banahaw conducted last week by the DENR, local government officials and Tanggol Kalikasan staff workers, the group found improvements in the closed areas.
Water has returned to the falls, the trails are no longer recognizable due to the regrowth of vegetation, and wildlife has returned to the area. The sound of flowing river provides an exhilarating acoustic backdrop to the urbanites' ear.
"But despite all these positive changes in Mt Banahaw, it still needs massive reforestation and rehabilitation. We should not let nature just heal itself. There's also a need for human intervention. We owe it to Mother Nature," said Manny Calayag, Dolores environment and natural resource officer.
To preserve the delicate balance of nature and the spirituality of the place, the local government turned down a proposal several years ago from a private resort firm to construct a swimming pool near the Kinabuhayan River.
Undeniably, there's a great potential for tourism to thrive in the place. But any eco-tourism undertaking in the area should seriously consider the revered spiritual history of the place. "So we rejected the proposal," Calayag said.
What worries the local government now is the danger from landslides and flash floods due to the altered topography of the place. "We now have to conduct regular monitoring on the condition of the soil in the upper part of the mountain whenever there is a strong and continuous rain," Calayag said.
He recalled that Kinabuhayan and the nearby village of Sta. Lucia have already experienced big floods in the past. Sally Pangan, protected area supervisor assigned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to Banahaw, said in her inspection report that the soil erosion between Barangays Sampaloc 1 and Bugon in Sariaya was due to rampant illegal farming in some parts of the mountain.
Pangan discovered that the land in the area had no topsoil. The team also found traces of landslides during previous heavy rains that resulted in the contamination of the town's water supply and also of neighboring villages.
The extent of soil erosion, near the water source downstream, reveals a mismanaged watershed due to uncontrolled farming inside the mountain area. "The slope of Banahaw de Dolores is the same in St. Bernard, except that our place is much steeper. God forbid, but we're not totally discounting the possibility that what happened in St. Bernard could also happen here. The occurrence of landslides and flash floods in these mountainous parts of Dolores is not a remote possibility," Calayag said.
Calayag also pointed to the volcanic and limestone wall at the back of the village."There's always a fire in that wall every four years, which softened the soil structure," he said.
By Delfin T. Mallari Jr.,
PDI Southern Luzon Bureau
DOLORES, QUEZON- Mt. Banahaw was at peace for two years. A move to ban urbanites from trekking the mountain for nature trips disguised as a pilgrimage during the Lenten season apparently worked. Two years after the ban was imposed, the people of Barangay Kinabuhayan, at the bosom of the mountain, are at peace with their mountain again, saying that the mystery of Banahaw is no longer disturbed.
"The sacred aura of Mt. Banahaw is now beginning to show again. It's now peaceful and quiet just like the old days when this place was not yet known to non-devotees," said Supremo Jose Illustrisimo, leader of religious sect "Tatlong Persona Solo Dios" based in the village. He recalled how it was in 1936 when his late father, Agapito Illustrisimo, founded the religious sect as well as a settlement near the river, which they now revere as holy. Almost all residents in Kinabuhayan belong to "Tatlong Persona Solo Dios."
"I was then 7 years old. The place was surrounded by huge forest trees," the religious leader recalled. Illustrisimo recalled that when the Kinabuhayan river near the sect compound was still crystal clear, devotees washed their feet there before starting the trek to different sacred spots atop the mountain.
He remembered the times when former President Manuel Quezon visited the place to meditate. "He usually arrived here in the company of the provincial governor. He visited the different puestos to pray and meditate," the religious leader said. The religious Supremo said that during the Holy Week, sect leaders from across the country return to Kinabuhayan to renew their ties with their spiritual roots. Gloria Diala, 69, also a member of the religious sect and long time inhabitant of Kinabuhayan, reminisced about the first time she set foot in the serene village in 1958.
"This place was so beautiful. The climate was cool, birds were chirping and there was fresh flowing water. It was like paradise," she said. She recalled that when the sect members had to urinate, they wouldn’t do it just anywhere. "The visitors have their own canisters for their urine. That's how we respect this place," she said.
"One has to wear extra clothes to keep the body warm especially at night. The grass is always dewy. I always feel good and contented here during those times. We were all religious pilgrims here who flocked here for silent prayers and meditation. There was no mountaineer yet," she recalled.Nowadays, Diala said she wants to spend the remaining years of her life amid very serene and quiet surroundings. "It's alright with me if Mt. Banahaw will stay closed forever," the old woman said in a whisper.
Aside from the "Tatlong Persona Solo Dios," another influential religious sect whose members also climb Mt. Banahaw every Lenten season has also expressed approval of the mountain's closure.
According to the leaders of "Ciudad Mistika de Dios" based in Barangay Santa Lucia, majority of the 80 sects that hold their rites in the mountain would respect the decision to insulate San Cristobal-Banahaw from outside intrusion for much-needed rehabilitation.
Of the 80 groups, 20 are based-or have places of worship-within the area covered by the Protected Area Management Board directive. The mountain forms part of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park, declared as a protected area in June 2003. The park covers the municipalities of Sariaya, Candelaria, Tayabas, Lucban and Dolores, all in Quezon, and Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay and San Pablo City, all in Laguna.
To many, Mt. Banahaw is inhabited by spirits, elements and other-worldly beings. Many believers trek its slopes in hopes of experiencing something divine, particularly during the Lenten season.
In the summer of 2004, several days before the Holy Week, the PAMB sealed off with barbed wires several trails leading to areas in the bosom of Banahaw to start the five-year rehabilitation program that would resurrect the mountain's natural resources.
It was not only slash and burn (kaingin) farming that left a scar on the mountain's surface.
The irresponsible practice of mountain climbers, composed of modern pilgrims and urban nature trippers, have also added to the mounting pressure on the mountain's ecosystem. They leave behind styrofor boxes, empty water bottles and cans at almost every spot of the mountain after the Lenten period. Even enterprising children from Kinabuhayan village were aware of the reason behind the absence of their former mountain-climbing clients. "The mountaineers dump their trash just about anywhere. Even if we reminded them (not to leave trash), they just laugh at us," recalls Baroy Zena, 10; Christian Ele, 9; and Richard Rebamba, 13.
The three friends find employment as guides to first time mountain visitors.
"Each of us used to earn at least P200 a day. We were also given lots of foods and candies," said Rebamba, the veteran tour guide among the three. The guides also fetch water for a fee for the mountaineers on top of Banahaw. During Holy Week, the mountain is like a big set of stairs to most of the children. "We climbed the mountain several times a day. In the evening, we were dead tired in our sleep. But we're happy, we had plenty of money," Rebamba said. "But now, we no longer have money. We were told that the mountain will again open in 2007. Hopefully, it will be true," he said as the group feasted on loaves of breads and big bottles of soft drinks.
In an inspection of Mt. Banahaw conducted last week by the DENR, local government officials and Tanggol Kalikasan staff workers, the group found improvements in the closed areas.
Water has returned to the falls, the trails are no longer recognizable due to the regrowth of vegetation, and wildlife has returned to the area. The sound of flowing river provides an exhilarating acoustic backdrop to the urbanites' ear.
"But despite all these positive changes in Mt Banahaw, it still needs massive reforestation and rehabilitation. We should not let nature just heal itself. There's also a need for human intervention. We owe it to Mother Nature," said Manny Calayag, Dolores environment and natural resource officer.
To preserve the delicate balance of nature and the spirituality of the place, the local government turned down a proposal several years ago from a private resort firm to construct a swimming pool near the Kinabuhayan River.
Undeniably, there's a great potential for tourism to thrive in the place. But any eco-tourism undertaking in the area should seriously consider the revered spiritual history of the place. "So we rejected the proposal," Calayag said.
What worries the local government now is the danger from landslides and flash floods due to the altered topography of the place. "We now have to conduct regular monitoring on the condition of the soil in the upper part of the mountain whenever there is a strong and continuous rain," Calayag said.
He recalled that Kinabuhayan and the nearby village of Sta. Lucia have already experienced big floods in the past. Sally Pangan, protected area supervisor assigned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to Banahaw, said in her inspection report that the soil erosion between Barangays Sampaloc 1 and Bugon in Sariaya was due to rampant illegal farming in some parts of the mountain.
Pangan discovered that the land in the area had no topsoil. The team also found traces of landslides during previous heavy rains that resulted in the contamination of the town's water supply and also of neighboring villages.
The extent of soil erosion, near the water source downstream, reveals a mismanaged watershed due to uncontrolled farming inside the mountain area. "The slope of Banahaw de Dolores is the same in St. Bernard, except that our place is much steeper. God forbid, but we're not totally discounting the possibility that what happened in St. Bernard could also happen here. The occurrence of landslides and flash floods in these mountainous parts of Dolores is not a remote possibility," Calayag said.
Calayag also pointed to the volcanic and limestone wall at the back of the village."There's always a fire in that wall every four years, which softened the soil structure," he said.
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