PCA warns public vs. illegal cutting of coco
trees
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, April 28 (PIA) –- The regional
office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Caraga Region is warning
the public against illegal cutting of coconut trees.
According to PCA-Caraga technical staff Manolito
Casapao, under Republic Act 8048, the government regulates the unabated and
indiscriminate cutting of coconut trees.
The law states that for reasons of national
interest, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide for the
growth of the industry by embarking on a sustainable and efficient replanting
program.
RA 8048 also emphasizes that no coconut tree
shall be cut except in the following cases and only after a permit had been
issued therefore: a) When the tree is 60 years old; b) When the tree is no
longer economically productive; c) When the tree is disease-infested; d) When
the tree is damaged by typhoon or lightning and; e) When the agricultural land
devoted to coconut production shall have been converted in accordance with law
into residential, commercial, or industrial areas.
Further, the law stipulates that coconut trees
are allowed to be cut when the land devoted to coconut production shall be
converted into other agricultural uses or other agriculture-related activities
in pursuance to a conversion duly applied for by the owner and approved by the
proper authorities.
However, no conversion shall be allowed by the
PCA until after it shall have been verified and certified that for a period of
at least three years the majority of the coconut trees have become senescent
and economically unproductive or where the coconut farm is not adaptable to
sound management practices on account of geographical location, topography,
drainage and other conditions rendering the farm economically unproductive.
Furthermore, when the tree would cause hazard to
life and property, it is allowed to be cut. The PCA pointed out that no other
causes other than those abovementioned shall be considered as a valid ground
for cutting.
Moreover, the law states that no coconut tree or
trees shall be cut unless a permit therefore, upon due application being made,
has been issued by the PCA, as they have the exclusive authority to grant
permit for the cutting of coconut trees. The authority may be delegated to the
city or municipal mayors as the PCA may determine.
Those found guilty of violating this coconut
preservation act or any rules and regulations issued pursuant hereto shall,
upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than one year but not
more than six years, or a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than
P500,000 or both in the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a corporation or a juridical
entity, the official who ordered or allowed the commission of the offense shall
be punished with the same penalty. However, if the offender is in the
government service, he shall, in addition be dismissed from office.
Meanwhile, the official admitted that they have
been receiving reports that are illegal loggers in the region who are cutting
coconut trees to be used as lumbers. “True to this, from January to March this
year, we have already filed six cases in the court against illegal loggers and
is currently under court litigation,” he said.
With these developments, Casapao calls on
Caraganons to seriously adhere to the law in order not to be penalized and not
to suffer legal consequences that is set forth by the law. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
BFAR-Caraga to train personnel on fish price
monitoring
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, April 28 (PIA) –- To better serve
the public in monitoring the price of fish sold in public markets in the
region, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Caraga is set to
train its personnel.
According to Shane Eviota of BFAR-Caraga, as
forefront government agency mandated to monitor the prices of fish and other
marine products, BFAR personnel must be oriented on market price monitoring to
effectively serve the public by way of monitoring the status of the price of these
products sold in leading public markets in the region.
Eviota further said after the personnel have
undergone such training, they will be assigned to different public markets in
the region to conduct price monitoring of marine products, especially fish.
The official also said through the
orientation-training, data that will be collected by BFAR personnel as to the
prices of fish and other marine products will be made systematically,
accurately, and in place.
Eviota added this will be used for crafting
policies and implement programs to strengthen the services of the bureau to the
public, in support to the good governance of the present administration.
BFAR is a government agency 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). The bureau
is under the Department of Agriculture. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Mga mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte
mas gipili ang organic farming
Ni Danilo Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Abril 28 (PIA) -– “Mas gipili sa
mga mag-uuma sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ang organic farming,” matud ang
usa ka opisyal sa Department of Agriculture (DA).
Sa pagpakighinabi sa usa ka lokal nga sibyahan
sa siyudad, gisaysay ni Alvin Aclan, supervising agriculturist sa DA-Agusan del
Norte nga mas gipili sa mga mag-uuma ang organic fertilizer imbes sa commercial
nga fertilizer tungod kay kini mas barato.
Dugang sa opisyal nga ang mga mag-uuma makabuhat
usab og organic fertilizer sa dali nga pamaagi ug kini sa pagbuhat og mga
compost pit kung diin pipila sa mga materiales niini mao ang mga dugta na nga
prutas o kaha gulay nga mamahimong gamiton nga fertilizers.
Sa laing bahin, si Aclan nagkanayon nga dali ra
makita ang mga materiales nga gamiton alang sa pag-gama og fertilizers,. Dugang
sa opisyal nga kini usab makatabang alan sa pagsustiner sa maayong panglawas
alang sa tanan.
“Sa mga mugamit sa mga agricultural nga produkto
ng nitubo sa organic nga pamaagi makasiguro gyjud ka nga luwas ang nasangpit
nga mga produkto,” si Aclan nagkanayon.
Sa dihang gipangutana kini kung unsa ang epekto
sa organic nga pamaagi sa pagpananom sa palibot, si Aclan nagknayon nga kini
makahimo sa pagpahinay sa epekto sa climate change kung diin ang mga mag-uuma
dili na mugamit og mga chemical products nga makadaot sa palibot.
Samtang, si Kim Leslie sa eHow.com nagkanayon
nga ang organic fertilizers nidalit sa time-release nutrients nga adunay tabang
sa microbes sa yuta, nga mag-mintina sa garden nga dali ug mas epektibo.
Dugang ni Leslie nga ang organic fertilizer
kasagaran fertilizers nga gibuhat og produkto sa, organism. Kini naglakip sa
pagmanure, compost, corn gluten, bone meal, cottonseed meal, blood meal, fish
emulsion, ug seawage sludge. Usa sa wala napil ang urea. Kini gikonsidera nga
synthetic organic fertilizers tungod kay gikan kini sa inorganic materials.
(RER/PIA-Caraga)
