Forum on CCA-DRR to be conducted in Butuan City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) -- The Regional Forum
on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Collaboration
Workshop for the Agusan River Basin is set to be conducted on August 23, 2012
at Almont Hotel's Inland Resort, this city.
The Office of Senator Loren Legarda, in
partnership with the Agencia EspaΓ±ola de Cooperacion International para el
Desarrollo (AECID) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government
through the Local Government Academy (LGA) will conduct the forum, anchored on
the theme “Building Climate Adaptive and Disaster Resilient Communities.”
In a statement, Senator Loren Legarda,
chairperson on Senate Committee on Climate Change and Regional Champion for
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said
the collaboration workshop will bring together over 300 participants from
contiguous local government units (LGUs) in the periphery of the 18 major river
basins (MRBs) in the country consisting of 47 provinces.
“It aims to provide a platform for cooperation
in addressing the threats of disasters and climate change …. We hope that this
workshop will help LGUs to be at the forefront, collaborate and plan their
actions towards the attainment of an efficient river basin-based approach for
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” said Legarda.
The workshop will also be valuable to Legarda’s
proposed Philippine River Basin Administration Act of 2012 as input to its
strategic operationalization.
Participants on the workshop already have a
working knowledge on the basics of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate
change adaptation (CCA), and there is a need to emphasize the need for
collaboration among the LGUs in MRBs to efficiently address disaster and adaptation
issues.
The participants include the governors and vice
governors; the chairman of the environment committee of the sanggunian
panlalawigan from the provinces; the sangguniang kabataan (SK) provincial
federation president; ABC provincial federation president; PDRMOs; private
sector (NGOs, CSOs, business, local academic institutions, church
representatives from the provinces); and members of the Regional Development
Council of the region.
Also, the proposed topics during the one-day
workshop are divided into three modules, to wit: Module 1, Harmonizing
Initiatives Towards DRR and CCA Mainstreaming in Local Governance; Module 2,
Moving Forward Towards a Common Path; and Module 3, Defining the Roadmap for
the River Basins: The Way Forward.
The final module solicits the creation of a
common action agenda among LGUs in the MRB. It also attempts to draft MRB’s
management mechanism, structure, financing scheme, and monitoring and
evaluation.
The 18 MRBs per the River Basin Control (RBCO)
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are Cagayan River
Basin, Mindanao River Basin, Agusan River Basin, Pampanga River Basin, Agno
River Basin, Abra River Basin, Pasig-Laguna de Bay, Bicol River Basin, Abulug
River Basin, Tagum River Basin, Ilog-Hilabangan, Panay River Basin, Tagoloan
River Basin, Agus River Basins, Davao River Basin, Cagayan de Oro River Basin,
Jalaur River Basin and Buayan-Malungun. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
MOA-signing held for Claver seawater quality,
coral condition assessment
By Fryan E. Abkilan
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Aug. 9 (PIA) -- Government
and company officials have signed a memorandum of agreement with partner
institutions to undertake an assessment of the seawater quality and coral
condition in Barangay Urbiztondo, Claver town, this province.
The partnership was formalized after Adnama
Mining Resources, Inc. (AMRI), one of the mining companies currently operating
the area, tapped the expertise of the University of San Carlos Water Resources
Center Foundation, Inc. to embark on the assessment of the ambient water
quality along the coastal area within the 10-kilometer radius of Barangay
Urbiztondo and determine its general water classification as siltation and
water discoloration in the area have been an issue for quite a long time.
“Together with the province of Surigao del
Norte, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Environmental Management Bureau
(EMB-13), they will also assess the status of coral reef conditions along the
areas and recommend measures to mitigate potential threats or scheme for
rehabilitation and identify potential diving site for eco-tourism,” said AMRI
Vice President for Legal Affairs lawyer Ulfredo Tuyac.
Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas
acknowledged the effort of AMRI in pushing for the environmental agenda.
Matugas said she has made strong headways in her
environmental agenda mainly because of the support of the mining companies,
without any strings attached but mainly keeping the shared commitment to give
meaning and significance to responsible mining.
The MOA was signed Aug. 7 between AMRI President
Fernando Borja, Gov Matugas, and engineer Charlo Basadre of MGB, engineer
Renato Tacubao of EMB and Director Fe Walag of University of San Carlos Water
Resources Center Foundation, Inc. (RER/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Local gov't, civil society organizations hold
outreach program
By Junesther Jean S. Iway
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) -- The local
government has conducted an outreach program 2,054 residents in the city.
The ‘Programang Pangkatawhan, Gasa Pasalamat’
was organized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Office of the Vice Mayor Mayor
Lawrence “Law” Fortun, government agencies, private sector groups and
non-governmental organizations.
The outreach program has been implemented for
almost five years now. This year’s program provided medical services, including
eye, dental and blood pressure check-ups; blood tests, legal services and free
haircut among others.
The outreach program was also made possible
through the support and cooperation of the following individuals and agencies:
Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand “Jun Amante, Jr; Hon. Virgilio Nery, Jr; Atty.
Yvette Samper; Atty. John Gil Unay; Mr. Ferdinand Nakot; Dr. Federico O.
Caniga; The Punong Barangays of Diego Silang, J.P. Rizal, and Rajah Soliman;
The Butuan Medical Center; City Health Office; City Civil Registrar’s Office;
Department of Health – Caraga Regional Office; PAMET – Agusan del Norte
Chapter; Public Attorney’s Office; Agusan National High School; The Philippine
Dental Association; Youth Leaders Forum; The Philippine National Red Cross;
Captain Barber’s Shop; Eye Browse; Bombo Radyo-Butuan; and 95.1 Love Radio.
(Office of Butuan City Vice Mayor/PIA-Caraga)
Watershed code approved
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) -- The Sangguniang
Panglungsod has approved the Watershed code of Butuan City.
It is also called “An Ordinance Addressing the
Protection, Conversation, Rehabilitation and Management of the Watersheds
within the Jurisdiction of Butuan City, Creating the Watershed Management
Council therefore, and for other purposes”.
Principally authored by Vice Mayor Lawrence
“Law” Fortun, the ordinance primarily aims to implement a comprehensive program
that would protect, preserve, rehabilitate and rationally manage all the
identified and soon to be identified watersheds in Butuan City.
To date, only the Taguibo Watershed has been
proclaimed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a
source of water supply in the city of Butuan. However, explorations revealed
that there are more watersheds existing in at least 14 barangays in the city.
Through the measure, all watershed areas or
conservation areas and agro-forestry/non-tillage areas is declared as
environmentally critical areas which will prohibit anybody from 1) converting
it to whatever classification; 2) conducting commercial tree farming not in
conformance with the plans and programs related to reforestation, and/or
watershed management plan; 3) perform water drilling except for household use;
4) hunting, destroying, disturbing or mere possession of any plant or animal or
products derived there from without permit it from the Watershed Management
Council; 5) dumping or disposing of any waste products detrimental to plants
and animals and inhabitants thereon; 6) using of motorized and mechanical
equipment that can adversely affect these areas without permit from the
Watershed Management Council; 7) mutilating, defacing, destroying objects of
natural beauty, burial grounds, religious sites, artifacts or other objects
belonging to cultural communities; 8) damaging or destroying roads and trails;
9) squatting, mineral exploration or illegal occupation; 10) constructing or
maintaining any kind of structures intended for the conduct of any business
enterprise; 11) altering, removing, destroying or defacing boundary marks or
signs; and 12) Exploitation of quarry resources and commercial sand and gravel
resources.
The ordinance also calls for the creation of a
Watershed Management Council which shall have the primary task of the
protection, preservation and management of all the watersheds in Butuan City
and all watersheds that may be identified later by the council.
It shall also create a Watershed Multipartite
Monitoring Team which will be tasked to ensure the strict implementation of the
said Code. Separate Management Councils will also be created in the different
Barangays who are within the declared watersheds under the code.
The ordinance was strongly pushed by the
Environment and Natural Resources Council (ENRC) for which Vice Mayor Fortun is
the Chairman. The council was reactivated by Fortun after almost two decades of
dormancy. (Office of Butuan City Vice Mayor/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: DTI-Butuan mamimigay ng ICC
stickers para sa mga helmet ng mga motorista
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Agosto 9 (PIA) -- Pangungunahan ng
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ang libreng pamimigay ng Import
Commodity Clearance (ICC) na ilalagay sa mga helmet ng mga motorista hanggang
Setyembre 30, 2012.
Nakasaad sa Republic Act 10054 o “Motorcycle
helmet Act of 2009” ang kautusan sa paggamit ng mga motorista ng standard
protective motorcycle helmets kung sila ay nagmamaneho.
Ayon kay DTI-Agusan del Norte Provincial
Director Gay Tidalgo, ang mga nagmamay-ari ng mga motor ay kailangang magpunta
sa pinakamalapit na tanggapan ng DTI upang ipasa ang kanilang helmets para sa
inspeksyon at balidasyon, pati na ang paglalagay ng mga ICC stickers sa helmet.
Kinakailangan ding magdala ang mga aplikante ng isang government-issued ID,
gaya ng driver’s license.
Idinagdag din ng opisyal na ang mga aplikante ay
maaaring kumuha ng application form sa tanggapan ng DTI o i-download ang form
sa DTI-Bureau of Product Standards’ (BPS) weblink, www.bps.dti.gov.ph/downloableforms.html.
Sinabi rin ng tanggapan na ipagbigay alam sa
kanilang tanggapan ang mga hindi awtorisadong pagbebenta ng application form at
ICC stickers, o maaari silang tawagan sa numerong 342-5221 o 342-5615.
(RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Lokal na pamahalaan dapat
nangunguna laban sa kalamidad ayon sa Pangulo
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
MANILA, Agosto 9 (PIA) -- Binigyan diin ni
Pangulong Aquino ang papel ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa
publiko sa panahon ng kalamidad kagaya ng pagbaha.
“Alam niyo po napakalaking bagay kapag merong
ganitong mga trahedya, malaking bagay ang lokal na pamahalaan,” ani Pangulo
Aquino.
“Siyempre sila ang unang nasa lugar, sila ang
unang reresponde,” dagdag ng Pangulo.
Pinuri naman ng Pangulo si Quezon City Mayor
Herbert Bautista, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte at Representative Winston Castelo
dahil sa mabilis na aksyon na kanilang ginawa sa mga lugar na lubhang
naapektuhan ng pagbaha.
“May kapanatagan ang loob namin na inaasikaso
nila ang ating mga kababayan,” anang Pangulo. (RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: MalacaΓ±ang mianunsyo nga mibalik
na ang trabaho sa mga opisina sa gobyerno ug pribadong sektor
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Agosto 9 (PIA) -- Gianunsyo sa
MalacaΓ±ang nga mibalik na ang trabaho kagahapong adlawa, Agosto 8, 2012, sa
nasyunal nga mga opisina sa gobyerno ug pribadong sektor, matud sa opisyales sa
palasyo kagahapon Miyerkules.
"On the basis of the best available
information at the present time, and the recommendation and the forecast of
Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration), the Office of the President will not issue a memorandum circular
suspending work for government or the private sector today, August 8,"
matud ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda sa iyang pamahayag.
Matud pa ni Lacierda nga ang deklarasyon sa
pipila ka mga national agencies, sama sa Commission on Audit, nga suspendido pa
ang trabaho kagahapon, ug kadtong mga anunsyo nga gihimo sa mga lokal nga
pangagamhanan kalabot na sa suspensyon sa trabaho ug mga klase sa ilang
hurisdiksyon, magpabilin pa gihapon.
"Occasional intense rainfall has been
observed from 8 p.m. last night (Aug 7) to 1 a.m. today (Aug 8), but it is
projected to lessen within the day. Even as the situation remains of concern
for so many citizens affected by the rain and flooding, it is imperative that
we begin returning to normalcy as soon as possible," si Lacierda
nagkanayon.
"This requires government workers to report
to their offices to continue, and accelerate, efforts at rescue, relief, and
rehabilitation. The private sector, too, needs to return to work. Goods and
services must resume so as to speed up the repair of damaged infrastructure,
the circulation of goods and supplies throughout the metropolitan area and
other affected regions," matud niya.
Giawhag ni Lacierda ang katawhan nga magbilin
nga alerto ug mabinantayon sa mga pahimangno gikan sa mga awtoridad kalabot na
sa dili mayong panahon.
Samtang ang nasod nanglimbasog nga masagubang
kining maong emerhensya, mihangyo si Lacierda ngadto sa katawhan nga
huna-hunaon nila nga liboan ka mga Filipino ang nagkinahanglan sa tabang ug
suporta. “We call on our fellow citizens to continue to demonstrate the
empathy, sympathy, cooperation, and can-do attitude that have served us so well
during this emergency,” matud pa niya. (RER/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano news: Gobyerno himoon ang
nagkalain-laing mga pamaagi aron masulbad ang problema sa basura matud ni
Pangulong Aquino
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Agosto 9 (PIA) -- Himoon sa
gobyerno ang nagkalain-laing mga pamaagi aron masulbad ang problema sa paglabog
og basura dinhi sa nasod nga maoy sagad hinungdan sa nagkagrabe nga pagbaha
labi na didto sa kaulohan, matud ni Pangulong Aquino.
“In the future siguro (we can transform) waste
into energy. Nung nasa London tayo may kompanya na nagdeklara na nakapasok na
sila dito at naumpisahan na ang proyektong yan. So pag ang basura nagkaroon ng
halaga, yan na rin ang magiging solusyon hindi na yung punitive, at gagawing
may incentive na. Aayusin yung pagkolekta at pag-dispose,” matud pa ni
Pangulong Aquino sa press conference didto sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
kagahapon Martes.
Gipangunahan sa Pangulo ang usa ka tigom sa
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) aron matubag
ang kasamtangang problema sa pagbaha nga nasinati didto sa Metro Manila ug
silingang mga probinsya.
Sa dihang gipanguta sa mga reporters giunsa
pagdasig sa gobyerno ang katawhan aron ilabay sa tukmang labayanan ang ilang
mga hugaw, miapila ang Pangulo ngadto sa press aron tabangan ang gobyerno sa
pagpakanap sa impormasyon mahitungod sa saktong paglabay sa basura.
“Aapela muna ako, pagtulungan natin. Sabi ko
nga, sa information kayo ang pinaka-conduit namin para ma-inform sila. May
enforcement na binanggit ang ating MMDA chair. Tapos pangatlo nga siguro ito
ngang waste into energy,” dugang pa niya.
Sa samang higayon, ang gobyerno padayon gihapon
pagkab-ot sa pagsunod sa Solid Waste Management Act o ang R.A. 9003 aron
masulbad ang problema. Adunay usab lakang ang matag local government units sa
Metro Manila sa pag-imposar sa zero-use sa mga plastic bags sa ilang mga lugar
aron malikayan ang makadaut nga mga epekto niining maong mga materyales..
Sa ngadto-ngadto ang gobyerno mosalig na sa
teknolohiya aron masulbad ang problema sa basura dinhi sa nasod, matud sa usa
ka opisyales.
Usab, adunay mga sector nga nagsugyot alang sa
semi-incineration apan kini nga mga sugyot gi-estudyohan pa ug medyo madugay pa
ang pag-implementar niini. Ang Supreme Court nagtugot na usab sa pipila sa
paggamit og partial incineration aron masulbad ang problema sa basura dinhi sa
nasod, matud pa sa opisyales. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
