tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25962490749811135272024-03-14T02:46:57.741-07:00Tanggol Kalikasan News CenterTanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-78470565409471121822012-05-20T20:18:00.000-07:002012-05-20T20:21:10.505-07:00Illegal sand, rock mining back in Sariaya<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2596249074981113527" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3268ca; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3268ca; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">, </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3268ca; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a>
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May 21, 2012<br />
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SARIAYA, Quezon— Four persons were caught hauling illegally sourced sand aboard two trucks in Barangay Castañas in Sariaya, Quezon, on Friday, a move expected to stop rampant illegal sand quarrying in the town.</div>
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“The extracted sands are often hauled to hollow-block makers and construction projects in nearby towns and Batangas province,” said lawyer Sheila de Leon, chief of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog.</div>
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De Leon and her staff members joined members of the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board, police and Army soldiers in an operation in Sariaya on Friday.</div>
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Barangay Councilor Apolinario Rivarez said illegal quarry operators from Batangas had been digging for sand in the shallow portion of Tayabas Bay fronting their village for several years now.</div>
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The unabated sand quarrying had caused the sea water to advance about 300 meters and occupied a sizeable portion of coconut farmland.</div>
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To show the grave effect of long years of beach quarrying, Rivarez said the calm sea water fronting his hut used to be the village’s softball playing field.</div>
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Rivarez pointed to several uprooted coconut trees along the coast, which, he said, were the effect of inland invasion of sea water. He said more than 50 coconut trees had been uprooted due to sea water invasion.</div>
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He said illegal sand quarrying stopped after it was reported on TV last month. “But lately, the sand haulers are back. They operate at night,” said another villager.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Illegal quarrying</strong></div>
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A truck was seen at a distance being loaded with sand quarried along the coastline.</div>
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In Castañas, the group caught a truck being loaded with sand from the river under the newly constructed concrete bridge.</div>
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The truck driver, Reynaldo Endrinal Jr. from San Juan, Batangas, said they bought the sand for P550 per truck from a local resident engaged in sand quarrying using a spade.</div>
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Endrinal pointed to a village councilor in Alupay in Rosario, Batangas, as the owner of the truck. “We have no more sand to quarry in our place that’s why we’re buying them here in Sariaya,” Endrinal told the Inquirer.</div>
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The group also flagged down another truck loaded with sand along the Quezon-Batangas ecotourism road in Castañas.</div>
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The truck driver, Jurning Teope from Tiaong, Quezon, pointed to one Edwin Ardena also from the same town as the owner of the cargo.</div>
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The truck drivers and their helpers were brought to the barangay office for custody. De Leon said the suspects would be charged with illegal quarrying.</div>
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De Leon said they have also been receiving reports that destructive rock mining operations have returned at the base of Mount Banahaw in Sariaya.</div>
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“The man-made rivers from illegal mining activities pose a serious danger in case of flash floods,” De Leon said.</div>
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The local government has been limiting quarry operations to the natural riverbed.</div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-20083526129237977902012-04-12T02:08:00.000-07:002012-04-12T02:09:44.126-07:00Mt. Banahaw still closed to trekkers, open to pilgrims<a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">By</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">, </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">, </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/kristine-l-alave" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Kristine L. Alave</a><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/xico_date.gif.pagespeed.ic.xplWQTa4Cm.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">1:45 am | Wednesday, April 4th, 2012</span></div><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/xico_date.gif.pagespeed.ic.xplWQTa4Cm.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Large areas of Mt. Banahaw will remain closed to trekkers for another three years, as the mountain has yet to fully recover from environmental degradation, but officials are keeping certain areas open to pilgrimages and other religious activities this Holy Week.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reported that Mt. Banahaw, the tallest mountain in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region and considered a holy, mystical site, has shown signs of improvement after a respite of seven years from ecological disturbances such as pollution and incessant hiking.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Encouraged by the improvements, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) for Mts. Banahaw and San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) has decided to extend the closure for another three years, or until 2015, to give the mountain sufficient time to recover.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This Holy Week, however, pilgrimage to the mountain will be allowed, though confined to designated areas. The PAMB will charge pilgrims a fee of P20 for access to those areas.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Park superintendent Salud Pangan said visitors would be required to register before they could gain access to the mountain.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">A curfew will be enforced. Pangan said pilgrims would have to leave the mountain after 10 p.m.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has said that the decision to extend the closure came after a research team that studied the ecology of Mt. Banahaw, a protected area, reported that the mountain had shown “some remarkable improvements” as a result of the moratorium, but it needs “more time … to recuperate some more, if not completely.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The research team headed by Dr. Lope A. Calanog has found the area “highly susceptible to landslide, erosion and flash flood.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Calanog’s team also has found that the campsite, worship areas and common bathing places for devotees in one of so-called sacred rivers on the mountain in Dolores, Quezon, have exceeded their carrying capacities.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Mt. Banahaw straddles the municipalities of Lucban, Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria and Dolores in Quezon province and parts of the towns of Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw and Majayjay and San Pablo City in Laguna province.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Most parts of the 2,177-meter mountain, which spans 11,133 hectares, remain restricted to the public. In Dolores, the closed areas start from Cristalino Falls and stretch up to Dungaw, Tatlong Tangke and Kinabuhayan village. In Sariaya, areas closed to the public are the Pagbug site in Bugon village and Dulong Ilaya in the villages of Concepcion Pinagbukuran and Concepcion Banahaw. Mountainsides in the towns of Tayabas and Lucban are also closed to the public.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">200 volunteers</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Pangan said 200 mountaineers had volunteered to help the government regulate the movements of pilgrims and other visitors to keep them from slipping into restricted areas. She said the mountaineers would come from groups like Ugnayan ng Mamumundok ng Banahaw; San Pablo Mountaineers; Tanaka-Laguna, Buhawi, Tayabas Montaineers; and the Banahaw Dolores Outdoor Club.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“We will be patrolling the whole protected area throughout the Holy Week, in cooperation with the local government units, the police force, volunteer groups, radio groups and many more,” Pangan said.</p></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-78523536555836004122012-04-12T02:06:00.000-07:002012-04-12T02:07:38.861-07:00Banahaw, San Cristobal mountains closed to trekkers till 2015<a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">By</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/ico_date.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">9:55 pm | Friday, February 17th, 2012</span></div><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/ico_date.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">DOLORES, Quezon—The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) for Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal has declared the two mountains as still off limits to trekkers for the next three years.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In a meeting on Thursday, the PAMB tasked by the government to monitor state-declared protected areas adopted the recommendation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) to extend the closure of the mountains until Feb. 16, 2015.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“Our collective decision is for the benefit of Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal. The place is not yet ready for public intrusion. We have to protect and sustain the gains from its past closure,” Salud Pangan, DENR-Protected Area Superintendent for Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal, said in an interview after the meeting.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The two mountains cover 11,133.30 hectares straddling several towns of Quezon and Laguna were declared protected under Republic Act No. 9847 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Dec. 11, 2009.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Mt. Banahaw, which used to be visited by about half a million people during the Holy Week, was sealed off to the public since 2004 to resurrect the mountain resources damaged by slash-and-burn farming and the irresponsible conduct of mountaineers, religious pilgrims and nature trippers who littered the place with their trash. Its 8-year closure was supposed to have ended on Jan. 29, 2012.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">For the coming Holy Week, the PAMB will also promulgate restriction for religious devotees and urban mountaineers who annually troop to Kinabuhayan to pray and camp out at the allowed areas.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">She said campers, religious pilgrims and vendors would be assigned in two separate areas. “The campers will also be required to pay a certain fee before they can be allowed to put up their tents,” Pangan said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">A study of the ERDB shows that the camping site, worship areas and the common bathing place for devotees in one of the “sacred” rivers in the village had already exceeded their carrying capacities.</p></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-11302846167494241132012-04-12T01:59:00.000-07:002012-04-12T02:02:00.871-07:00Dead ‘butanding’ in town raises questions<a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">By</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">LUCENA CITY—An 11-ton whale shark, locally known as butanding, was found dead Monday by fishermen in waters off Mauban, Quezon, 157 km southwest of Manila.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Erly Reasonda, head of Mauban municipal environment and natural resources office, said the 27-foot long and 7-foot wide whale shark was reported by fishermen to a town employee at around 11 a.m.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">“We immediately rushed to the site just a kilometer away from the town shoreline and found the huge whale shark already dead,” said Tonton Pansacola, tourism office staffer, in a phone interview.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Lawyer Sheila de Leon, executive director of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog (TK-ST), said she received a message in her Facebook account on Monday informing her that the whale shark was hit by a large commercial fishing boat which is banned in Lamon Bay.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">She urged local officials and national government agencies to conduct an extensive investigation to find the true cause of death of the butanding, the world’s largest fish known for its gentleness.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">“The local government should search for that boat and file a criminal case against its owner,” the lawyer said over the phone.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">De Leon said TK-ST has been receiving reports about unlawful commercial fishing activities being rampant again in Lamon Bay.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">She said, however, that the dead whale shark bore no signs of physical harm. “We found no bruises, wounds or contusions after our thorough inspection of the body” she said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Reasonda said the whale shark was a female.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Chuckie Rivera, community relations officer of power firm Quezon Power Ltd. which owns and operates the 440-megawatt power generating plant in Mauban, said the butanding was towed by a boat to the plant’s pier yesterday.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The plant’s pier is the only facility in the area with a crane capable of hauling the whale shark out of the water.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Rivera said the whale shark’s carcass was already foul-smelling when found.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">By noon yesterday, the whale shark was buried at the sanitary landfill of Mauban.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long. They feed only on planktons, acting as living filters to improve overall water quality in the seas.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Whale sharks are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as “vulnerable” to extinction and are protected by Philippine laws under Republic Act No. 8550 and Fisheries Administrative Order No. 193.</p></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-71118793344684037202012-04-10T02:16:00.000-07:002012-04-10T02:17:30.135-07:00World’s biggest flower abloom anew on mystique mountain, but…<h1 class="singlePageTitle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-weight: normal !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -2px; line-height: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; ">By</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; "> </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; "><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; "></span><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/xico_date.gif.pagespeed.ic.xplWQTa4Cm.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">5:52 am | Tuesday, April 10th, 2012</span></div><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/xico_date.gif.pagespeed.ic.xplWQTa4Cm.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">LUCENA CITY—Eight years after pilgrims and trekkers were barred from Mount Banahaw in Quezon province, exotic wildlife species—including the rare “rafflesia” which is considered the world’s biggest flower—have begun to reappear in the hills and gullies of the mystic mountain.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Members of an environmental watchdog, who made an inspection hike to Banahaw during the Holy Week, were ecstatic about their find but lamented that the Cristalino Falls in Dolores town had practically dried up.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; "></strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">Drying up</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“The rafflesia has returned to Mt. Banahaw and there were no more recognizable mountain trails due to the return of thick vegetation,” Efrelyn Escultura-Calabano, special project officer of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog (TK-ST), told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">However, Calabano said water from the Cristalino Falls was barely trickling beneath vines and shrubs. She recalled that in 2009, the Cristalino Falls was a beautiful sight with cool gushing water.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Salud Pangan, park superintendent for Banahaw and the adjacent Mount San Cristobal, said the “rafflesia” could reach a diameter of nearly a meter and weigh up to 11 kilos in full bloom.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The rare flower has also been spotted in Mounts Makiling in Laguna, Isarog in Bicol and Apo in Davao.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">Disappearing flora</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Considered a parasitic flowering plant with a distinctive rotten smell, the rafflesia was discovered in the Indonesian forests by a native guide working for an expedition in 1818. It was named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Calabano cited records showing that the “rafflesia” had long been a part of the mountain’s rich forest flora. It slowly disappeared and became almost extinct as more and more religious pilgrims and picnickers descended on the mountain, which they believe is a mystical place. Widespread destruction is usually noted after the annual Lenten Week, which draws even more visitors. Banahaw is home to many spiritual and religious cults.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“The rafflesia flower that we last spotted in 2006 eventually wilted and died,” Calabano said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The drying up of Cristalino Falls, on the other hand, could be the result of climate change, the hotter summer season as well as “manmade” stresses, said lawyer Sheila de Leon, TK-ST executive director.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“Definitely, we will recommend further investigation,” she said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The TK staff noted the absence of the usual throng of devotees and mountain trekkers who usually come during the Holy Week break. They are now restricted to a campsite at the foot of the mountain.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“There were only a little more than 2,000 registered mountain visitors this year,” Calabano said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">Sacred spot</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">During the inspection, the inspectors found some devotees had sneaked into a “sacred spot” near the Cristalino Falls, which has been declared off-limits to the public.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“We just allowed them to finish their prayers before they were ordered to return to the pilgrimage area at the base of Banahaw,” she said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In 2004, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) installed barbed wire to seal off several trails leading to areas in the bosom of Banahaw to start a program to rehabilitate the mountain’s natural resources.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In February, the PAMB declared Banahaw and San Cristobal off-limits until 2015 to allow more time for recovery.</p></span></div></h1>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-17462622020297698872012-04-10T02:14:00.000-07:002012-04-10T02:15:55.840-07:00World’s biggest flower returns to Banahaw; but waterfall runs dry<a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">By</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/xico_date.gif.pagespeed.ic.xplWQTa4Cm.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">3:19 pm | Saturday, April 7th, 2012</span></div><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/xico_date.gif.pagespeed.ic.xplWQTa4Cm.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Eight years after Mt. Banahaw was sealed off to human intrusion, exotic wildlife species have begun to show life once more along the foothills and gullies of the mystic mountain, including the rare “rafflesia,” considered the world’s biggest flower.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">An inspection and assessment hike conducted during the Holy Week by an environmental watchdog group, however, found that the majestic Cristalino Falls located on the mountain side of Dolores, Quezon, was now again left with only a trickle water beneath its vines and shrubs.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“Rafflesia has returned to Mt. Banahaw and there were no more recognizable mountain trails due to the return of thick vegetation,” Efrelyn Escultura-Calabano, special project officer of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog (TK-ST), told the Inquirer.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">However, not all was rosy for Mt. Banahaw.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“In 2009, Cristalino Falls was a beautiful sight with its cool gushing water. Now, the water is gone,” said Escultura-Calabano.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Salud Pangan, park superintendent for Mount Banahaw and adjacent Mount San Cristobal, who joined TK-ST in the inspection trip, said “rafflesia” could reach a diameter of nearly a meter and weigh up to 11 kilos in full bloom.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Aside from Mt. Banahaw, it can also be found on Mt. Makiling in Laguna, Mt. Isarog in Bicol Mt. Apo in Davao as well as Antique on the island of Panay.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Rafflesia, considered a parasitic flowering plant with a distinctive rotten smell, was discovered in the Indonesian forests by a native guide working for an expedition in 1818 and named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the group.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Escultura-Calabano cited records of known Mt. Banahaw species which showed that “rafflesia” has long been a part of the mountain’s rich flora.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">However, it slowly disappeared and became almost extinct after throngs of religious pilgrims and picnickers left widespread destruction in climbs to the mountain, especially during Holy Week.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“The rafflesia flower that we last spotted in 2006 eventually wilted and died,” she said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The drying up of Cristalino Falls, on the other hand, could be the result of climate change, hot summer season or “man-made” activities, said lawyer Sheila de Leon, TK-ST executive director.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“Definitely, we will recommend an investigation,” she said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The TK staff noted the absence of the usual throng of devotees and urbanite mountain trekkers who usually came on Holy Week but were only restricted to the pilgrim’s campsite at the foot of the mountain.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“There were only more than 2,000 registered mountain visitors this year,” Escultura-Calabano said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">During their inspection, she said, they found some devotees who managed to sneak into the supposedly sacred spot near the Cristalino Falls, which has been declared as off limits to the public.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">“We just allowed them to finish their prayers before they were ordered to return to the pilgrimage area at the base of Banahaw,” she added</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In 2004, the Protected Area Management Board sealed off with barbed wire several trails leading to areas in the bosom of Banahaw to start the rehabilitation program that aims to revive the mountain’s natural resources.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Last February, the PAMB declared the two mountains would remain off limits until 2015 to give them more time to recover.</p></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-60071116441837801912012-02-22T17:54:00.000-08:002012-02-22T17:55:18.385-08:00Sariaya coast haven for rare sea turtles<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">By</a> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br /><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">LUCENA CITY—The shores of Tayabas Bay in Sariaya town in Quezon have been called “haven of baby sea turtles” after Tuesday’s release of 92 Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricate) in Barangay Guisguis.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Only last week, 123 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings were released in nearby Barangay San Roque, Ernesto Amores Jr., municipal agriculture officer, said by phone yesterday.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Similar events took place in other coastal villages last year but most went undocumented by the municipal agriculture office, he said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“The fishermen and coastal villagers were fully aware of the law prohibiting possession and killing of endangered marine species,” Amores said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species deems it illegal to import or export turtle products, or to kill, capture or harass the sea turtle listed as “critically endangered.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Republic Act No. 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and RA 9147 or the Wildlife Act punish people who fish and take rare and threatened species, and destroy their habitats.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Coastal villagers and owners of several beach resorts are “in solidarity” with the local government in promoting Sariaya as a sea turtle haven. Together with representatives of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), they witnessed how the gentle creatures, locally known as pawikan, crawled toward the bay waters before sunset on Tuesday.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Amores cited the effort of a resort owner, Rene Panganiban, who received technical help from the local government when he initiated a campaign to protect sea turtles waiting for their eggs to hatch along the coast for a period of 58 days.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Amores urged business establishments along the bay to actively participate in such campaigns as these promote the local government’s tourism thrusts.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Sariaya coastline, host to many beach resorts and other tourist-oriented businesses, serves as sanctuary to turtles that usually come to lay and hatch their eggs from October to December.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Along with the DENR in Quezon, the municipality plans to establish a turtle hatching site in San Roque.</p></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-40375310658907362522012-02-20T00:31:00.000-08:002012-02-20T00:38:53.640-08:00Mt. Banahaw protected landscape closed for 3 more years<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorname.aspx?AuthorName=By%20Michelle%20Zoleta" title="Displays articles written by this author" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(27, 117, 187); ">By Michelle Zoleta</a> The Philippine Star Updated February 20, 2012 12:00 AM</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><p>Dolores, Quezon, Philippines – The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has passed a resolution extending for another three years the closure of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape to continue its rehabilitation and conservation of habitats and biodiversity.</p><p>In a meeting last Thursday in Barangay Kinabuhayan this town, members and representatives of the PAMB agreed to close Mt. Banahaw to mountaineers and religious groups planning to conduct activities at the so-called “Holy Mountain’’ this coming Lent.</p><p>“The area will continue to undergo massive reforestation to bring back its former grandeur,’’ said Sally Pangan of the PAMB.</p><p>PAMB representatives hail from areas having jurisdiction over Mt. Banahaw such Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Liliw and Rizal towns and San Pablo City, all in Laguna, and Dolores town in Quezon.</p><p>The meeting focused on various programs on how to protect Mt. Banahaw, which is usually visited by pilgrims and mountaineers during the Holy Week.</p><p>The Ecosystem Research Bureau headed by Dr. Lope Calanog will spearhead the program called “Eco-Tourism for Mt. Banahaw’’ aimed at identifying the potentials of its geographical area.</p><p>Calanog said they would also assess the mountain’s biodiversity.</p><p>Banahaw and San Cristobal have been declared protected areas under Republic Act 9847.</p></span></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-23075988035268246662012-02-20T00:29:00.000-08:002012-02-20T00:31:02.506-08:00Govt body urges continued closure of Mts. Banahaw, San Cristobal in Quezon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><div class="article-tools clearfix" style="font-size: 12px; display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; width: 620px; clear: both; color: rgb(171, 171, 171); position: relative; height: 16px; "><div class="article-meta" style="font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 434px; float: left; text-transform: uppercase; "><span class="createdate" style="font-size: 11px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/templates/businessmirror2.0/images/vline.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">SUNDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2012 18:08 </span><span class="createby" style="font-size: 11px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; text-transform: uppercase; ">JOHN BELLO / CORRESPONDENT</span></div><div class="buttonheading" style="font-size: 12px; position: absolute; top: -25px; right: 0px; width: 62px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; "><span><a href="http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&link=00fd5c092eb34341fcc534115de36d8fc8fa10d8" title="E-mail" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/templates/businessmirror2.0/images/emailButton.png" alt="E-mail" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: right; " /></a></span><span><a href="http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/23452-govt-body-urges-continued-closure-of-mts-banahaw-san-cristobal-in-quezon?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=" title="Print" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/templates/businessmirror2.0/images/printButton.png" alt="Print" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: right; " /></a></span><span><a href="http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/23452-govt-body-urges-continued-closure-of-mts-banahaw-san-cristobal-in-quezon?format=pdf" title="PDF" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/templates/businessmirror2.0/images/pdf_button.png" alt="PDF" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: right; " /></a></span></div></div><div class="article-content" style="font-size: 12px; "><div align="justify" style="font-size: 12px; ">DOLORES, Quezon—A body overseeing the protection of Mount Banahaw and Mount San Cristobal, the two legendary mountains straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon, is calling for the continued closure of the two mountains to tourists and visitors for another three years. <span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; "> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">At the regular meeting held last Thursday in Barangay Kinabuhayan here, members of the Protected Area Management Board of Mts.<span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; "> </span>Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape (PAMB-MBSCPL) unanimously agreed to close the two mountain for three more years.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">Lawyer Sheila de Leon, head of the environment advocacy group Tanggol Kalikasan (TK),<span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; "> </span>said the action made by PAMB is for the further protection of Mt. Banahaw and for the benefits of the communities surrounding it.<span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; "> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">A research conducted by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau<span> </span>headed by Dr. Lope Calanog said the carrying capacity for the areas of worshipping, camping, parking and bathing has exceeded its limit. They said Mt. Banahaw needs to be closed for three more years so that the PAMB can conduct an assessment of its biodiversity and put in place a visitors’ management scheme.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">TK and other environment nongovernment groups have been complaining of the continued deterioration of Mts. Banahaw and San Cristobal due to pollution from trash and other environment abuses caused by thousands of mountain trekkers, vacationers and devotees of the sacred Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal, especially during Holy Week.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">This prompted the PAMB to pass a resolution on March 9, 2004, closing some areas in Mount Banahaw for five years.<span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; "> </span> The closure covered areas in the side of Dolores and Sariaya, Quezon. Included were the sacred shrines called Puestos in Barangay Kinabuhayan from Cristalino Falls to Dungaw down to Tatlong Tangke and back to Kinabuhayan here.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">In Sariaya, Quezon, the closed puestos were from Barangay Bugon-Pagbuga and Dulong Ilaya in Barangay Concepcion Pinagbakuran and Concepcion Banahaw.<span style="font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; "> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">In a regular meeting of PAMB on Jan. 29, 2009, a resolution was passed extending the closure of Mt. Banahaw for three more years.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">Hobart Dator Jr., president of Save Mt. Banahaw Movement, called the attention of the authors of Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Areas law-Sen. Pia Cayetano and then-Quezon Second District Rep. Proceso Alcala—in light of the frequent occurrence of calamities in the country that could hit the two mountains and endanger thousands of lives and properties in various communities in Laguna and Quezon.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">“That’s why I am pressing for the creation of a Mt. Banahaw Preservation Authority [MBPA] to oversee and put in place the necessary measures and regulations for the protection of Mounts Banahaw and Cristobal and thus for the protection of precious lives and property that could be wasted in case an environment tragedy hit the two protected mountains,” said Dator who first asked President Aquino in September 2010 to create the MBPA in the aftermath of a kilometer-long landslide in the slopes of Mt. Banahaw triggered by Typhoon Basyang which hit the country July that year.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; ">Dator said concrete actions and not mere palliatives have to be done to ensure environment protection and the preservation of the two mountains in view of the climate-change phenomenon gripping the whole world.</p></div></span>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-34127338374446630562012-02-19T18:07:00.000-08:002012-02-19T18:08:44.575-08:00Banahaw, San Cristobal mountains closed to trekkers till 2015<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">By</a> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br /><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">DOLORES, Quezon—The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) for Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal has declared the two mountains as still off limits to trekkers for the next three years.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">In a meeting on Thursday, the PAMB tasked by the government to monitor state-declared protected areas adopted the recommendation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) to extend the closure of the mountains until Feb. 16, 2015.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“Our collective decision is for the benefit of Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal. The place is not yet ready for public intrusion. We have to protect and sustain the gains from its past closure,” Salud Pangan, DENR-Protected Area Superintendent for Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal, said in an interview after the meeting.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The two mountains cover 11,133.30 hectares straddling several towns of Quezon and Laguna were declared protected under Republic Act No. 9847 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Dec. 11, 2009.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Mt. Banahaw, which used to be visited by about half a million people during the Holy Week, was sealed off to the public since 2004 to resurrect the mountain resources damaged by slash-and-burn farming and the irresponsible conduct of mountaineers, religious pilgrims and nature trippers who littered the place with their trash. Its 8-year closure was supposed to have ended on Jan. 29, 2012.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">For the coming Holy Week, the PAMB will also promulgate restriction for religious devotees and urban mountaineers who annually troop to Kinabuhayan to pray and camp out at the allowed areas.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">She said campers, religious pilgrims and vendors would be assigned in two separate areas. “The campers will also be required to pay a certain fee before they can be allowed to put up their tents,” Pangan said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">A study of the ERDB shows that the camping site, worship areas and the common bathing place for devotees in one of the “sacred” rivers in the village had already exceeded their carrying capacities.</p></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-45797335576898064132012-02-10T23:45:00.000-08:002012-02-10T23:46:22.362-08:00'Pawikans' Released At Tayabas Bay<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">By DANNY ESTACIO</span><div><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">MANILA BULLETIN</span></div><div><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">SARIAYA, Quezon, Philippines — A total of 123 hatchlings of the olive ridley turtle endangered species or “pawikan” were released Friday by environment groups at Tayabas Bay, here.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Tanggol Kalikasan-Timog Katagalugan (TK-TK) Special Project Officer Efrelyn N. Escultura Calabano said the sea turtle eggs were discovered by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and the Bantay Dagat last November and then cared for by concerned public and private agencies.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The olive ridley sea turtle is most commonly known as Pacific Ridley and considered vulnerable because of large scale commercial exploitation and trading of their skin, Calabano said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Sariaya Mayor Boyet V. Masilang ordered the municipal agriculture office to conduct a seminar for coastal village residents for the proper handling and caring of sea turtles since the place has become a favorite breeding ground and hatching area of marine turtles.</p></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-52707172425283388692012-02-10T23:41:00.000-08:002012-02-10T23:42:31.664-08:00Baby turtles sent back to their home<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Written by : </span><span class="rt-article-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(142, 136, 119); line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">BELLY OTORDOZ AND ANTHONY BAYARONG</span><div><span class="rt-article-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(142, 136, 119); line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">MANILA TIMES</span></div><div><span class="rt-article-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(142, 136, 119); line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="rt-article-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 11px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(142, 136, 119); line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong>SARIAYA, Quezon:</strong> One hundred twenty-three (123) newly hatched baby sea turtles of the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys Olivacea) species were released yesterday, February 10, into the sea – their natural habitat – in Barangay San Roque of this town.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br />Rodante Pabellar, a Bantay-Dagat volunteer here told The Manila Times he found in November last year the 241 sea turtle eggs embedded along the coastline. While 123 hatchlings had been released,118 eggs aren’t yet hatched.<br /><br />He said he transferred the eggs to a safe place and contacted the Municipal Agriculturist of Sariaya, Ernesto Amores Jr. for the eggs’ proper disposition and caring.<br /><br />Before the hatchlings’ release yesterday, Amores briefed the residents on the importance of sea turtles or ‘pawikan’ in the eco-system.<br /><br />He said the sea turtles help the sea grass bed thrive by eating and thus replenishing the sea grass bed.<br /><br />Also, the sea turtles’ waste, Amores added, serves as nutrients to other sea creatures, thereby maintaining the healthy eco-system of the ocean.<br /><br />The hatchlings were released five meters from the water’s edge, affording the baby turtles to retain familiarity of the area, for they tend to come back after 20-25 years to lay their eggs.<br /><br />Lawyer Shiela de Leon, area director of Tanggol Kalisakan-Timog Katagalugan also informed the residents of the consequence should they intentionally capture sea turtles, which belong to endangered species.<br /><br />She said 12 to 20 years’ imprisonment awaits those who capture sea turtles; a penalty of P100,000, six years imprisonment and a fine of P300,000 awaits those who sell or make sea turtles their pet without permission from the authorities.<br /><br />Over at SUBIC Bay Freeport, All Hands Beach Resort helped out 60 students from an international school release more than 100 turtle hatchling, all named ‘PNoy Pawikan’ Wednesday, in honor of President Benigno Aquino’s birthday last February 8.<br /><br />The resort has become an instant tourist attraction after several batches of marine turtles were released since December.<br /><br />The company has already taken measures to make the beach resort into a sea turtle nesting site.<br /><br />“We have already contacted the Ecology Center of the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) and have asked their support in helping these animals,” resort owner Mark Dayrit said, adding that the resort staff was given proper training in taking care of the turtles.<br /><br />He also said that the Ecology Center has given them five tags to identify the mothers that lay their eggs on the resort’s beach. The center also gave them a chart to record the number of eggs laid along with a guide on how to relocate the eggs to a safer place within the beach. </p></span></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-40587109310997107902012-02-10T23:39:00.000-08:002012-02-10T23:40:29.952-08:00123 baby turtles released in Tayabas BayBy Delfin T. Mallari Jr. Inquirer Southern Luzon<div><br /></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">LUCENA CITY—Environmentalists and local officials have let loose some 123 Olive Ridley sea turtle (pawikan) hatchlings to their natural habitat at Tayabas Bay in nearby Sariaya town early morning on Friday.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Ernesto Amores Jr., Sariaya municipal agriculture officer, said the baby turtles were hatched in a nestling site in Barangay San Roque fronting the 40-hectare municipal fish sanctuary.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">He said another batch of 103 baby turtles from another nestling site in Barangay Guisguis would also be released back to the sea in the next few days.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">“This is not our first release and definitely would not be our last,” Amores told the Inquirer.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The event was witnessed by local officials, staff from environmentalist group Tanggol Kalikasan (TK), fishermen, fish wardens (bantay dagat) and students.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">“This is another historical event in our common mission to protect and resurrect Tayabas Bay from its long years of destruction and abuse,” said Zenaida Bernal, community coordinator of TK-coastal and marine program.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Bernal said TK staff brought along their children to witness the momentous occasion.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">“Most of the kids turned emotional. One of my children shed tears of joy as she watched how the baby turtles struggled back to the sea,” Bernal said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Amores said the Sariaya coastline had long been the favorite site of turtle nestling and was now being protected by the local government with help from coastal villagers and resort owners.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Olive Ridley was listed under Appendix One of the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species which stated that commercial trade of the species was prohibited.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Republic Act No. 9147 (Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) prohibited the hunting, selling and killing, as well as collecting of the eggs of endangered species like sea turtles.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The local government aimed to promote the pristine coastline of Sariaya, host to numerous beach resorts and other tourist-oriented business, as “home of sea turtles,” Amores said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">He said turtles arrived at the Sariaya coast to lay eggs from October to December and stayed at the beach for 58 days to hatch the eggs.</p></div>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-88780883370977178262012-01-23T19:05:00.000-08:002012-01-23T19:06:51.230-08:00DENR seeks to extend Banahaw closure<a>By</a> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari-jr" rel="tag">Delfin T. Mallari Jr.</a><br /> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a> <span class="postDate">7:41 pm | Monday, January 23rd, 2012<br /><br /></span><p>The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) planned to extend for eight more years the public closure of Mt. Banahaw to protect its gains from its being off limits to trekkers for almost a decade.</p> <p>Salud Pangan, DENR park superintendent for Banahaw, on Monday said the mountain’ 8-year closure would end on Jan. 29, but Banahaw would need five to eight more years of closure to complete its healing process.</p> <p>Pangan, in a phone interview, said she would recommend the mountain’s continued closure to the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the multisectoral body tasked by the government to monitor state-declared protected areas.</p> <p>Religious pilgrims trek to Banahaw, known as a “sacred mountain,” to experience something divine particularly during the Lenten season, as they believe it is inhabited by heavenly spirits.</p> <p>Before its closure, about half a million people regularly visited the mountain during Holy Week.</p> <p>Pangan said her office lacked the manpower that would safeguard Banahaw from the influx of <a id="KonaLink0" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline !important;position:static;font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;" href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/133059/denr-seeks-to-extend-banahaw-closure#"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">mountaineers</span></span></a> and pilgrims should it be declared open by January 29.</p> <p>She said at least 12 personnel are needed to assist visitors and effectively guard the mountain but her office has only six people guarding Banahaw (4 in the Quezon side and 2 in the Laguna side).</p> <p>The influx of outsiders would also “jeopardize” the newly planted trees that need at least three years to survive, she said.</p> <p>Last year, Governor David Suarez launched a reforestation project dubbed “Plant and Grow One Million Trees Securing Quezon’s Future” and allocated P1 million a year for the next 15 years to rehabilitate Mt. Banahaw.</p> <p>Pangan also noted that the towns in Quezon and Laguna surrounding Banahaw have no concrete plans to cope with the reopening of the mountain.</p> <p>Mt. Banahaw covers 11,133.30 hectares straddling the municipalities of Lucban, Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria and Dolores in Quezon and parts of the towns of Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw and Majayjay and San Pablo City in Laguna.</p> <p>Lawyer Sheila de Leon, head of environmentalist group Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Luzon, supported Pangan’s plan, saying the PAMB was not yet prepared to handle the sudden influx of people who would want to enter the mountain after its long closure.</p> <p>Joel Suministrado, a mountaineer and environmentalist, also welcomed an extension of the closure, recalling the huge amounts of garbage they had to remove from Banahaw during their annual cleanups when it was still open to the public.</p> <p>He advised DENR to start formulating guidelines and structures on how the mountain climbing activities at Banahaw could be regulated once it reopens.</p> <p>In 2004, the PAMB started a five-year program to rehabilitate the mountain damaged by slash-and-burn farming and by trekkers who littered the place with trash.</p>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-16038316884735311372011-10-17T19:55:00.000-07:002011-10-17T19:56:30.062-07:00Rare turtle rescued in Tayabas Bay<p>By: <strong><em>Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon</em></strong></p><p>A 40-kilo green turtle was found drifting near the shoreline of Tayabas Bay in Sariaya town in Quezon province on Friday and was eventually released back to the sea, an official of an environmentalist group said.</p> <p>The green turtle was 63 inches long and 61 inches wide, according to Zenaida Bernal, coordinator of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Luzon.</p> <p>It is considered an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the Convention on International <a id="KonaLink0" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline !important;position:static;font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;" href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/77837/rare-turtle-rescued-in-tayabas-bay#"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">Trade</span></span></a> in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.</p> <p>Bernal said a fisherman named Luisito Diones found the turtle struggling to reach the shore of Barangay San Roque. Diones reported his discovery to village fish wardens.</p> <p>Before the turtle was released back to the sea on the same day, Mel Camara of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office attached a copper tag “PH 0301” to the right flipper of the turtle for documentation and monitoring, Bernal said by phone on Sunday.</p> <p>Aside from the coastline of Sariaya, <a id="KonaLink1" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline !important;position:static;font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;" href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/77837/rare-turtle-rescued-in-tayabas-bay#"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">sea </span><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">turtles</span></span></a> are often found and rescued off Alabat and Atimonan towns in Lamon Bay and off Agdangan and Unisan towns in Tayabas Bay, according to Shiela de Leon,</p> <p>TK-SL executive director.</p> <p>Late last year, Sariaya officials released 47 Olive Ridley <a id="KonaLink2" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline !important;position:static;font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;" href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/77837/rare-turtle-rescued-in-tayabas-bay#"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">turtle </span><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">hatchlings</span></span></a> back to their habitat at Tayabas Bay.</p> <p>Once a marine habitat ruined by destructive fishing practices, the Tayabas Bay off Quezon, Marinduque and Batangas is now a sanctuary for <a id="KonaLink3" class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline !important;position:static;font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;" href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/77837/rare-turtle-rescued-in-tayabas-bay#"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">endangered </span><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">sea </span><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family:inherit !important;font-weight:inherit !important;font-size:inherit !important;position:static;">turtles</span></span></a> locally called as “pawikan” after Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, then a businessman-environmentalist, initiated the bay’s rehabilitation and the “Save the Endangered Species Campaign” in 2003. <strong><em></em></strong></p>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-40897436334961349082011-09-20T11:40:00.001-07:002011-09-20T11:40:33.285-07:005 Korean, 12 Filipino mountaineers arrested in Mt. Banahaw<p>An environment official and policemen arrested five South Koreans and 12 Filipino mountaineers inside the prohibited areas of Mount Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon, on Sunday.</p> <p>Salud Pangan, park superintendent for Banahaw, identified the foreigners as Hak Su Kim, Eob Kyo Lee, Yanug Su Kim, Nak Si Ji and Chang Yong Lee, all of Barangay (village) Iruhin in Tagaytay City. They were members of one of two mountaineer groups found in an area which was still closed to outsiders, she said.</p> <p>“They claimed that they were not aware that Banahaw is still closed (to the public). But it is impossible for any mountaineer not to know that,” Pangan said by phone.</p> <p>The Filipino mountaineers with the Koreans were identified as Jeffrey del Rosario, Dave Dela Cruz, Bryan Maglalang, Roderick Perez, Aries Ilocario and John Paul Dulan.</p> <p>Pangan said she received information on Friday that two groups of mountaineers, including some foreigners, would sneak into the mountain.</p> <p>“I immediately alerted our forest guards to monitor the entrances, but the trespassers eluded my men when they sneaked very early (morning) and under cover of darkness,” Pangan said.</p> <p>Police said the first group was composed of five Koreans and six Filipinos, while the second had 17 Filipinos from Metro Manila.</p> <p>The 17 were identified as Wilson Labrador, Jonorie Boticario, Jaybee Laurel, Feil Gulane, Feves Estacion, Mark Arnold, Vilson Gahoy, Anne Estipona, Ronald Tugade, Dana Alarcon, Jan Ann, Rommel Anthony Britana, Michael Joseph Abalos, Jedeah Mariz Claro, Serlina Surian, Dennis Pensotes and Alfred Lazona.</p> <p>The climbers were brought to the Dolores police station and were expected to be transferred to Lucena City on Monday. They will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 9847 or the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) Act of 2009.</p> <p>The offense is punishable by a fine of P5,000 to P500,000 or imprisonment of one to six years or both.</p> <p>Pangan warned mountaineers and religious devotees that they would be arrested if they entered the prohibited mountain spots. They could only go as far as areas identified by billboard signs, she said.</p> <p>In February, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stopped pilgrims and mountaineers from sneaking into the closed areas through the backdoor being offered by several resorts at the foot of Banahaw.</p> <p>In 2004, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) started a a five-year program to resurrect the mountain’s resources which were damaged by slash-and-burn farmers and visitors who littered the place with trash.</p> <p>With barbed wires, the PAMB sealed off several trails leading to certain areas in the bosom of Banahaw.</p> <p>In 2009, it extended the closure period by three years to sustain the mountain’s rehabilitation. <strong><em>Delfin Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon</em></strong></p>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-7969013533784619622011-09-19T01:37:00.000-07:002011-09-19T01:38:28.104-07:00BFAR: Overstocking caused fish kill<div class="label">By MARVYN N. BENANING</div><div class="label">June 1, 2011, 3:30pm</div> <p>MANILA, Philippines — Overstocking of fish in cages caused the fish kill in Taal and Pangasinan. </p> <p>This was the gist of the report made by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on the loss of 700 metric tons (MT) of tilapia in Taal and between 50 MT and 70 MT of milkfish in Bolinao and Anda towns of Pangasinan. </p> <p>Newly appointed BFAR national director Asis Perez said consumers should not really worry about the scarcity of fish in the National Capital Region (NCR), saying the lost fish account for only 0.015 percent to the total production, which is 5.6 million MT.</p> <p>Perez said fish kill can have natural or man-made causes, with reduced oxygen that snuffs out fish due to factors like drought, algal bloom, overpopulation or a sustained increase in water temperature and pollution.</p> <p>In the case of Taal Lake, which also hosts the rumbling Taal Volcano, a natural phenomenon known as water overturn or upwelling occurs as a result of weather or climate changes – from long dry spells to sudden strong rains, among others. </p> <p>The lack of dissolved oxygen in the water due to natural upwelling complicated the situation in the lake. </p> <p>Perez said violations of BFAR’s prescribed Code of Practice for Aquaculture and local government ordinances on proper fish cage management also contributed significantly to the fish kill in Taal Lake.</p> <p>“It was found out that some fish cages had been overstocked and the depth of the fish cage increased from the prescribed 5 meters to 15 meters. These wrong practices exacerbated the fish kills,” the BFAR chief said.</p> <p>The fish kill in the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda is due to man-made causes, particularly improper fish cage management and overcrowding of fish in the cages, Perez added. </p> <p>“For closed water system such as lakes, the prescribed stocking density is 20 fish/cubic meter. For open waters, stocking density could go up to 30 fish per cubic meter or more depending on water circulation among others,” he said.</p> <p>The farm gate price of fish in affected areas dipped by nearly 50 percent. </p> <p>Perez said fish cage operators have been told to harvest their fish quickly and bring their fish to nearby fish ports. BFAR will shoulder the cost of cold storage. </p> <p>The bureau will also provide fish fry and/or fingerlings to affected fish farmers, especially the marginalized ones. A set of criteria has been set out to determine who would be qualified for the assistance.</p>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-57299830986434677642011-06-14T19:41:00.001-07:002011-06-14T19:41:24.088-07:00Green lawyers offer services to help BFAR<span></span> <a>By</a> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-mallari-jr" rel="tag">Delfin Mallari Jr.</a>, <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><br /> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> <div class="metasingle"> <span class="postDate">8:47 pm | Monday, June 13th, 2011 </span> </div> <div class="metasingle"> <span class="fb_recommend"></span> <div id="sharefeature" style="float: right;"> <span class="google_plus_one"></span> <span class="st_twitter_hcount"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration:none;color:#000000;display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;"><span><span class="stTwbutton"> </span><span class="stArrow"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble"><span class="stBubble_hcount"></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span class="st_sharethis_hcount"><span class="stButton" style="text-decoration:none;color:#000000;display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;"><span><span class="stButton_gradient"><span class="chicklets sharethis">share</span></span><span class="stArrow"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble"><span class="stBubble_hcount"></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div> </div> <p>LUCENA CITY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is gearing up for court battles against environmental criminals with the help of an army of volunteer lawyers from the private sector.</p> <p>Director Asis Perez said he had received many offers of legal assistance from fellow lawyers in and out of the country following the recent seizures of tons of precious and semiprecious corals in the ports of Manila and Zamboanga </p> <p>“I was overwhelmed. There were lots of text messages from colleagues, mostly environmental lawyers, all volunteering their help in the prosecution. Some of them are even trying to form an international team of lawyers to help the BFAR,” Perez said in an interview here on Saturday. </p> <p>Welcome development</p> <p>This is a welcome development, he said, noting that the bureau did not have enough lawyers to handle the volume of cases that it would file against environmental offenders. </p> <p>“We have to show these environmental criminals that we really mean business. We need all available legal resources to help in the prosecution,” Perez said. </p> <p>He said he would distribute all volunteer lawyers to different regions. </p> <p>Before his current post, Perez, was executive director of Tanggol Kalikasan (TK), a public interest law office with advocacy on environmental protection. He was also a member of the special committee that crafted the new Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases for the Supreme Court. </p> <p>His appointment as BFAR head was reported in the website of the US-based Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (Elaw), which is composed of 300 green lawyers from 70 countries. </p> <p>Perez said he had also received offers of donations of some six million “bangus” (milkfish) fingerlings from the private sector to replenish the areas affected by the recent fishkills in Batangas and Pangasinan. </p> <p>“I was informed by Agriculture Secretary (Proceso) Alcala that Manny Pacquiao will also donate fingerlings. My problem now is to find the places where to temporarily keep the fingerling donation,” he said. </p> <p>He said the fingerlings would be distributed free to the fishermen. “But operators of illegal fish cages will be excluded,” Perez said. </p> <p>Coral reef preservation</p> <p>Perez reiterated that his main focus as BFAR chief would still be on educating the people on the importance of preserving the country’s fragile marine resources, particularly coral reefs. He noted that the prohibition on trading of precious and semiprecious corals started in 1998 but the information had yet to reach the general public. </p> <p>“Villagers in the coastal areas were not aware of the prohibitions. The only thing that they knew is that the corals are saleable items. The illegal traders were the only one aware of the law, though I cannot discount the possibility that some government people in the area are actually tolerating the underground business,” he said.</p>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-76702870845693482112011-05-26T19:26:00.000-07:002011-05-26T19:27:53.527-07:00Incoming fisheries chief vows to stop coral reef destruction<a>By</a> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/delfin-t-mallari" rel="tag">Delfin T. Mallari</a>, <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/byline/jr" rel="tag">Jr.</a><br /><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a> <div class="metasingle"><span class="postDate">6:20 pm | Thursday, May 26th, 2011 </span></div> <div class="metasingle"> <div id="sharefeature"><span class="st_twitter_hcount"><span class="stButton"><span><span class="stTwbutton"> </span><span class="stArrow"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble"><span class="stBubble_hcount">1</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="st_sharethis_hcount"><span class="stButton"><span><span class="stButton_gradient"><span class="chicklets sharethis">Share</span></span><span class="stArrow"><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble"><span class="stBubble_hcount">55</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div> <p>LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Environmentalist lawyer Asis Perez, the incoming director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, vowed on Thursday to stop the destruction of coral reefs in the Philippines seas, which he described as rampant.</p> <p>The coral reef “is the most abused eco-system not only because of the lucrative coral collection trade, but mostly due to actual destruction as result of continuous irresponsible fishing methods like dynamite fishing,” Perez said in a telephone interview. </p> <p>Perez said he would focus on “educating the citizenry” on the importance of preserving the country’s fragile marine resources, particularly coral reefs.</p> <p>“Most of our people are not yet aware of the importance of our corals. We have to seriously address that problem. The first step toward the a creation of a balanced environment and the preservation of our precious natural resources is to have an enlightened citizenry,” said Perez, former executive director of Tanggol Kalikasan (Defense of Nature), a public interest environmental law office.</p> <p>He said most of the people are likely to follow the law if they know, and understand what it is all about.</p> <p>Perez said the cost of educating the citizens about the importance of the environment was modest “but its impact on the environment would be immeasurable.”</p> <p>On Tuesday, government authorities reported the confiscation of thousands of black corals which had been taken from a reef complex off Miondanao’s Cotabato area.</p> <p>Bureau of Customs personnel intercepted the contraband two weeks ago and recovered 21,169 pieces of “sea fan” black corals, and hundreds of “sea whip” black corals.</p> <p>Perez lamented that coral reef poaching was still rampant in the country, particularly in the seas off the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Cotabato area.</p> <p>He also noted that in the past corals were used in construction. “Most of our old piers were built with coral foundations,” he said.</p> <p>Perez said one of his challenges when he assumes the BFAR post is the shortage of personnel to enforce the laws meant to protect the country’s marine eco-system.</p> <p>“While BFAR has an enforcement function, we lack enforcement personnel,” he said, noting that the bureau has to rely on other law enforcement units to combat coral reef poachers.</p> <p>He said BFAR was also handicapped in that it had no authority to enforce the law in municipal waters where the coral reefs are often located.</p> <p>The BFAR, which is under the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for the development, improvement, management and conservation of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources. It was reconstituted as a line bureau by Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998).</p> <p>Perez, who was recognized by the Species Survival Network, a global coalition of 82 organizations in more than 30 countries, as a “true protector of wildlife resources,” took his oath of office as BFAR chief last Monday. He will assume office on June 1.</p> <p>He will replace Gil Adora, the officer in charge appointed after Malcolm Sarmiento retired last month.</p> <p>Perez said he would push for more police visibility to keep watch on the country’s municipal waters.</p> <p>“Because even if the people were aware of the law, there are still some of them who would violate it if there’s a chance,” he said.</p> <p>Citing the experience of Tanggol Kalikasan in the campaign to protect and preserve the Sierra Madre section of Isabela, Perez said that after more than a year of continuous operations against illegal loggers, and educating the people about the importance of preserving the forest, at least 90 percent of local residents expressed approval over what the conservationists were doing. </p> <p>“But we still have to face the remaining ten percent of the people as potential violators. Educating the people is one thing, police visibility is another because there are still threats from potential violators,” he said.</p>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-25840611432815355662011-05-23T20:09:00.000-07:002011-05-23T20:11:29.521-07:00Green Lawyer Heads BFAR<div id="sharefeature" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; float: right; background-position: initial initial; 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padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">0</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="st_sharethis_hcount" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; 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"><span class="chicklets sharethis" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/service-icons-sprite.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; display: inline-block; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; background-position: 0px -1080px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Share</span></span><span class="stArrow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://w.sharethis.com/share4x/images/bubble_arrow.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; line-height: 16px; background-position: 3px 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="stButton_gradient stHBubble" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(rgb(213, 213, 213)), color-stop(0.48, rgb(239, 239, 239)), color-stop(0.94, rgb(255, 255, 255))); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(191, 191, 191); border-right-color: rgb(191, 191, 191); border-bottom-color: rgb(191, 191, 191); border-left-color: rgb(191, 191, 191); font-family: serif; border-top-left-radius: 4px 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px 4px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; position: relative; z-index: -1; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="stBubble_hcount" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">12</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><h1 class="singlePageTitle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); font-weight: normal !important; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -2px; line-height: 1em; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Green lawyer heads BFAR, vows to wage war vs illegal fishers</h1><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></span><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/inquirer-southern-luzon" rel="tag" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 104, 202); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Inquirer Southern Luzon</a><div class="metasingle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; width: 630px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: rgb(144, 144, 144); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="postDate" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/News/styles/default/ico_date.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">8:40 pm | Monday, May 23rd, 2011</span></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">LUCENA CITY—The newly appointed director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has vowed to combat destructive fishing methods and the continuous intrusion of commercial fishers into municipal waters all over the country.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Asis Perez, an environmental lawyer from Tiaong town in Quezon, took his oath of office before Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in Manila on Monday morning and will assume office on June 1.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Perez will replace Gil Adora, BFAR officer in charge who succeeded Malcolm Sarmiento, who retired last month.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“Commercial fishers have permits and licenses issued by the BFAR. We will strictly monitor that the rules surrounding their fishing activities are being followed,” Perez said in a phone interview after being sworn in.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">A former executive director of Tanggol Kalikasan (Defense of Nature), a public interest environmental law office, Perez won the 2010 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award. He is the in-country representative of the US Department of the Interior, but will relinquish the post once he takes over the bureau.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Perez also earned the recognition of the Species Survival Network (SSN), a global coalition of 82 organizations from more than 30 countries as “true protectors of wildlife resources.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">As BFAR head, Perez’s top priority will be the strict implementation of fishery laws to protect the country’s remaining marine resources.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The agency “is quite small to meet the task at hand,” he said. To meet the demands of his office, he said he would work to strengthen the capacity of its workers.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The BFAR, which is under the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for the development, improvement, management and conservation of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources. It was reconstituted as a line bureau by virtue of Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998).</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has charged that RA 8550 failed to protect the livelihood of fishermen and the marine environment.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">It has assailed the blatant intrusion of commercial fishing vessels into the 15-kilometer municipal waters which are reserved for small fishermen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon</em></strong></p></span></span>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-83023127105565493242010-09-22T20:21:00.001-07:002010-09-22T21:03:24.313-07:00DENR releases 10 rescued ‘lawin’ back into habitat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB6Mjbdj1Vm6KthJqfpM8zqkARWUHzBfviqFcPuABTn7uFldjrtA3nbvlr3lSWe2_dQ5vJ7aUFFT9G62m_0ifryP0MSVTPePhM-w-JoCtC8RyNUDMOEJ4ZRmy6ewvIzH5HiAsZNKC13Q/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB6Mjbdj1Vm6KthJqfpM8zqkARWUHzBfviqFcPuABTn7uFldjrtA3nbvlr3lSWe2_dQ5vJ7aUFFT9G62m_0ifryP0MSVTPePhM-w-JoCtC8RyNUDMOEJ4ZRmy6ewvIzH5HiAsZNKC13Q/s320/DSC_0213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519954635466573874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</span><br />First Posted 23:53:00 09/22/2010<br /><br />Filed Under: Environmental Issues<br /><br />LUCENA CITY—Environment officials released into the wild 10 Brahminy Kites, locally known as lawin, that had been kept at an animal rescue center in Quezon City following their rescue.<br /><br />Anson Tagtag, project leader of the Philippine raptors conservation program, said the birds of prey, considered endangered, came from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) rescue center in Quezon City. PAWB is attached to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.<br /><br />Tagtag said the birds have been turned over to PAWB by private citizens.<br /><br />He said the birds were released into Mt. Banahaw because it was a protected area and a natural habitat for them.<br /><br />The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) feeds on dead animals, insects and fish. They swoop low over water, ground or tree tops to snatch live prey.<br /><br />To ensure their protection, Tagtag appealed to villagers in Mt. Banahaw to help in preserving the birds of prey.<br /><br />“Our wildlife helps in maintaining a balanced ecosystem,” he said.<br /><br />Hunting, or harming, wildlife is punishable under the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, or Republic Act No. 9147.<br /><br />Lenlen Escultura, of the environmentalist group Tanggol Kalikasan, said one of the birds was reluctant to leave the bamboo cage that had become home to them.<br /><br />She said PAWB staffers would keep watch over the bamboo cage for at least two days because some of the birds were likely to return to it in search of food.<br /><br />“Once the birds get accustomed to their surroundings, they will no longer return to the cage and will start to live on their own,” Escultura said. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon</span>Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-33085402586921166932009-05-17T02:13:00.000-07:002009-05-18T02:15:47.425-07:00Environment activist hurt in Isabela ambushBy Delfin Mallari Jr.<br />Inquirer Southern Luzon<br /><br />Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Armed conflict<br /><br />MANILA, Philippines – An environment activist was wounded in an ambush in the northern province of Isabela, one of his colleagues said Sunday.<br /><br />The victim, Estacio Lim, from the Tanggol Kalikasan (TK, Defense of Nature) and his companions were fired upon by unidentified men along the banks of the Bintacan River in Ilagan City at around noon Friday, said Sheila de Leon, TK director for the Southern Luzon region.<br /><br />Lim suffered a shrapnel wound on the right buttock, De Leon said, adding the attackers were armed with M16 rifles and M203 grenade launchers.<br /><br />“The first fire was aimed at my direction but fortunately missed me. It was followed by an explosion from the M-203 and a rapid fire of Armalite [M16] gunshots. I immediately dived for cover, but a piece of shrapnel still hit me,” Lim said in a phone interview.<br /><br />Doctors said the shrapnel could cause “further harm” if operated on, Lim said.<br /><br />Lim’s group had just finished checking sightings of the endangered Philippine Eagle and were carrying four seized chainsaws and were guiding 10,000 feet of freshly cut board wood on the river when they were attacked, De Leon said.<br /><br />Lim said the attack showed the “boldness of environmental criminals.”<br /><br />“They will do everything. They are ready to kill and die,” he said.Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-12911660903574806542009-04-23T08:55:00.000-07:002009-05-21T08:56:46.542-07:00Immediate signing of law protecting Mounts Banahaw, San Cristobal pushedBy Christina Mendez <br /><br />MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Pia Cayetano has called for the immediate enactment of a legislative measure seeking to protect Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal in Southern Tagalog, following reports that the two mystical mountains were desecrated by trekkers during the Lenten break despite a public entry ban enforced in the area since 2004. <br /><br />“The President should immediately sign this bill to spare these mountains from further destruction and as a positive gesture to mark Earth Day,” she said of the measure, “An Act Declaring the Mountains of Banahaw and San Cristobal a Protected Landscape.”<br /><br />The reconciled version of the Senate and House is set to be submitted for signing by President Arroyo after Congress ratified it before the Lenten break last March.<br /><br />The bill’s principal authors are Cayetano and Quezon second district Rep. Proceso Alcala.<br /><br />“While it is widely regarded as a sacred place, the mountains of Banahaw and San Cristobal have not been accorded respect and spared from human greed and exploitation. Some of the visitors to the place, including pilgrims who troop to these mountains during Holy Week, have failed to do their share to preserve its natural environment,” Cayetano said.<br /><br />Cayetano said the public entry points to both mountains were closed and fenced off by the local Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) on March 9, 2004.<br /><br />The ban, which was envisioned to last for five years, was prompted by the discovery of high concentrations of coliform in the mountain’s waters.<br /><br />Tons of garbage were also being retrieved yearly, blamed on tourists and trekkers who dumped their waste indiscriminately.<br /><br />The public ban was recently extended for another three years, or until 2012.<br /><br />Since the ban’s enforcement, there have been evident signs of restoration of flora and fauna in the two mountains. The rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world, started to reappear.<br /><br />Last year, it was also reported that water started flowing again to the once dried-out falls of Kristalino, Suplina and Salaming-Bubog.<br /><br />Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal cover 10,784 hectares and 10,900 hectares, respectively, and span the provinces of Laguna and Quezon.<br /><br />The mountains were declared a protected area through Presidential Proclamation 411 in 2003. Its rich biodiversity includes 578 animal species and 56 plant species.<br /><br />The whole area is a critical watershed that drains into Laguna de Bay and Tayabas. Its water systems support the Botocan hydroelectric power plant in Majayjay and Luisiana, Laguna and provide the water needs of at least one million people.Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-42976836870977634582009-01-21T22:20:00.000-08:002009-05-14T22:21:33.785-07:00Big financier behind Isabela loggingSource: Inquirer.net (Philippines) <br /><br />Lucena City, Philippines - A big-time financier is behind the illegal logging by Quezon natives inside the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Isabela province, an executive of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday.<br /><br />At the same time, Assistant Secretary David Suarez admitted to radio station dwKI-FM here that the DENR has not been able to apprehend all of the migrant tree cutters in its recent operations.<br /><br />"The report that illegal loggers from my province have shifted operations to Isabela was really disheartening. But, sad to admit, more of them are still in the area. Not all of them were apprehended by the authorities," Suarez, a former Quezon vice governor, said.<br /><br />On Monday, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, interviewed by the same radio station, said more than 100 illegal loggers she called "Quezon boys" have been operating in the portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range within her province.<br /><br />According to Padaca, the Quezon boys, mostly from Real and Mauban towns, have either been directly involved in illegal logging or financing it.<br /><br />She said Quezon Governor Rafael Nantes had helped transport apprehended loggers back to their home province.<br /><br />Report say the migrant illegal loggers from Quezon are heavily armed and dangerous.<br /><br />Jay Lim, community coordinator of the Tanggol Kalikasan (Defenders of Nature)-Southern Luzon, who is a member of the government task force in Isabela, explained that most of the migrant loggers from Quezon have settled in Isabela for years now.<br /><br />"Most of them have already brought their families. Some have married Isabela natives," Lim said.<br /><br />He said loggers from the two provinces have a long-running "unholy partnership.<br /><br />Often, illegal logs seized in the coastal towns of Real and Mauban in Quezon are found to have originated from Isabela and Aurora provinces. The two towns have long been the transshipment point of illegal forest products bound for Metro Manila and other Southern Tagalog provinces.<br /><br />Father Pete Montallana, head of Task Force Sierra Madre, reiterated the importance of providing livelihood to thousands of mountain dwellers and other stakeholders.<br /><br />"If the government will continue to ignore the desperate plight of mountain stakeholders and will always turn deaf and blind to the widespread corruption in DENR field workers, the destruction of the country's natural resources will never stop," Montallana said over the phone.<br /><br />Suarez said the government allocated a P2-billion reforestation fund to rehabilitate the country's denuded forest.<br /><br />He said the reforestation contracts would be awarded to mountain stakeholders and that contractors who might only use upland dwellers for labor would be barred from the process.<br /><br />"Our aim is to plant fruit-bearing and endemic trees. For sure, the mountain villagers will not cut fruit trees because [these provide] them with cashable crops," Suarez said.<br /><br />But Montallana was not impressed with the highly funded reforestation program.<br /><br />"There had been several reforestation programs in the past. But what happened? Many just end up in the pockets of corrupt government men," the priest lamented.Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596249074981113527.post-19321386997886716002009-01-15T00:42:00.000-08:002009-05-14T18:49:32.285-07:00Group seeks changes to Mt. Isarog projectWritten by Danny O. Calleja / Correspondent <br /><br />IRIGA CITY - Tanggol-Kalikasan, a non-government organization (NGO) based here, wants to change the way a watershed agro-forestry project in Mt. Isarog is applied. <br />Changes in how the P129-million project is done should make it run in line with policies and guidelines on proper conduct.<br />Otherwise, doubts would continue to plague the project as some quarters are already pointing to questionable dealings in the way it is being implemented, Jim Monge, Tanggol-Kalikasan community coordinator, said.<br />“We wanted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be aware of this so that necessary corrective measures are applied,” Monge said.<br />Perhaps, the President could order an investigation so that the public gets to know what is happening with the reforestation program, he said.<br />The organizational setup and the nature and present status of private contractors should be looked into, Monge said.<br />Mt. Isarog has been divided into zones such as reforestation, strict protection and multiple-use zones that exact locations and specific zones of the projects should be determined, and the actual cost of each contract and bidding results should be made public, he said.<br />Monge said the amount of mobilization funds already released for each project should also be made public, as well as original copies of the memorandum of agreement the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed with contractors.<br />It should be a policy in the reforestation project to plant only indigenous species, not imported varieties, to ensure that the trees would survive, he said.<br />Each project should have gone through deliberations with the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) in the area, he said.<br />Projects that are now ongoing seemed to have ignored requirements under the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act of 1992 casting doubts on the integrity of implementation. “We wanted corrections so that those doubts are erased,” Monge added.<br />Mayor Alexis San Luis of nearby Pili town in Camarines Sur agrees with Tanggol-Kalikasan’s position, saying it may be possible that rules in the implementation of the projects have been violated. A part of Mt. Isarog is in Camarines Sur. <br />“Our local government unit [LGU] is preparing a petition for the DENR and the President with the intention of discussing and properly resolving the alleged irregularities,” San Luis said.<br />His town is among the LGUs of six municipalities and a city that form the Mt. Isarog PAMB—created to protect the environment and forest resources of the dormant volcano.<br />A DENR employee for over 15 years before becoming mayor of this provincial capital, San Luis said his administration is constantly monitoring activities in Mt. Isarog and keeps a standing comanagement agreement with the DENR in undertaking a reforestation project on a 161-hectare watershed area. He, however, bewailed the noninclusion by the DENR of community-based organizations in the reforestation projects in violation of a PAMB resolution that favors awarding project contracts to such groups.<br />“It is essential and significant to tap these organizations in reforestation projects to ensure satisfactory accomplishments,” San Luis said.Tanggol Kalikasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11128908857138416028noreply@blogger.com