DENR Caraga chief seeks protection, conservation
of 3 rare species found in Lake Mainit
By Johny S. Natad
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA) – Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 regional director Nonito M. Tamayo
sought for the protection and conservation of the three rare species found at
Lake Mainit Key Biodiversity Area (LMKBA) in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del
Norte provinces.
These are the species of Rufous hornbill,
Rafflesia, and Goby.
The three species of LMKBA were identified to be
significant according to the current biological study conducted in the area by
the Biodiversity Partnerships Projects (BPP).
“Based on the result of the biological assessment
and the environmental and economic significance of the three species, the
'hornbill,' 'rafflesia' and 'goby' were selected as the icon flora and fauna
species in Lake Mainit,” Tamayo said.
“The Rufous hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax), a bird
locally called as 'kalaw' is found in the mountainous area of Zapanta Valley,
Bangayan, Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte. It is classified as vulnerable specie
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The hornbill is
also called the mountain clock,” he added.
The chief of Protected Area, Biodiversity and
Eco-tourism Josephine L. Araojo considers the Rafflesia (Rafflesia mixta) as
one of the large flowers in the world. It is found thriving at the high plains
of Cantugas, Mainit in Surigao del Norte. This specie is said to be a mixture
of other species and classified as critically endangered by IUCN.
Araojo said Goby (Glossogobius giuris), a fish
locally called as 'Pidjanga' or 'Pijanga' is endemic in Lake Mainit. “This fish
specie has significant economic importance because of its abundance in the lake
ecosystem. The goby is the lifeblood of the lake fishers and could be a
legitimate symbol of the Lake Mainit,” she said.
The LMKBA has identified these important flora and
fauna as their priority or icon species for conservation. LMKBA is one of the
key biodiversity areas (KBA) in the world and a recipient of the Biodiversity
Partnerships Projects (BPP) funded by the United Nations Development Program –
Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) through the DENR-Biodiversity Management
Bureau and DENR-13 Protected Area, Biodiversity and Eco-tourism as the
responsible partner and implemented by Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA).
DENR and LMDA have requested the mayors in the
municipalities surrounding the KBA to adopt the icon species and install
mechanism including fund allocation to ensure the protection of these rare
flora and fauna. (DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga hosts 1st River Basin Summit in PH
By Maria Catherine M. Gonzaga
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA) - The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Regional Office in
collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) held the
first-ever River Basin Summit in the Philippines on September 3-4, 2015 in one
of the convention centers here.
The summit was focused on the Agusan River Basin
which is considered as the third largest River Basin in the country with a
total drainage area of 11, 936.55 km2 and 350 kilometers river length. It
originated from the mountains of Pantukan in Compostella Valley traversing
northward all the way to the Butuan Bay in Agusan del Norte.
“I am very much impressed about this very first
River Basin Summit in the country and this group has already set a high
standard for the other river basin summits to follow,” Executive Director of
the DENR Central River Basin Control Office (RBCO) Jacob Meimban Jr. said.
“The summit aims to popularize and create the
Agusan River Basin Master Plan. One significant output of the summit is the creation
of the official ARB Organization headed by Bishop Juan de Dios D. Pueblos. This
is a good start in putting into realization the plans for the basin,” said
Agusan River Basin Technical Working Group head Forester Maritess M. Ocampo.
A total of 220 participants from Regions X, XI and
XIII graced the event bringing with them the hopes of finally succeeding with
the finalization of the Agusan River Basin Master Plan.
The guests during the event include National
Advisory Council World Wide Fund Philippines vice chairman Jose Maria Lorenzo
Tan, MinDA chairperson Luwalhati R. Antonino, Dir. Tamayo, Agusan del Norte
governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, and Dir. Meimban. (DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
SILG seeks more help from DSWD, DOH for displaced
villagers in SurSur
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 9 (PIA) –
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday had to seek more help from the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as from the
Department of Health (DOH) upon seeing firsthand the plight of the displaced
villagers taking refuge at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center here on Tuesday
after fleeing their homes for fear of their lives since September 1.
He both called up DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and
DOH Secretary Janet Garin, relaying immediate needs and also the scenario of
worsening sanitation.
Aside from health services, Roxas suggested that
“food for work and livelihood assistance” have to be extended.
The DILG chief was also informed of a death that
occurred inside the sports center’s compound at 4:00 a.m. on September 8—a
certain Reynabel Enriquez, 4 years old, who succumbed to asthma but declared
dead on arrival (DOA) when brought to Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center
(ASTMMC).
Around the same time, a woman-leader identified as
Josephine Pagalan went to Roxas’s side, telling the secretary about their basic
needs as well as their desire to return to their respective abodes as soon as
possible.
Afterwards, the secretary gave instruction to
P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero, provincial
police chief, to speed up restoration of law and order in the abodes of the
displaced villagers for their immediate return, particularly in Km. 16, Sitio
Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town, 90 kilometers south, this city, where
the murder of their kin took place.
In return, Verdadero assured the DILG chief of
what the police was expected to do, adding that criminal charges have already
been filed against the three suspects—siblings Bobby and Loloy Tejero, Garito
Layno, and 20 John Does.
It can be recalled that the mass evacuation was a
result of the murder of Emerito Samarca, IP school director of Alternative
Learning Center for Agricultural Development (Alcadev); Dionel Campos, chair,
Malahutayong Pakigbisug alang sa mga Sumusunod (MAPASU); and Aurelio Sinzo, a
civilian, were brutally murdered by alleged rogue members of Magahat-Bagani
Forces at the said place early morning of September 1. Allegedly, Samarca
suffered from a cut throat and stab wounds while Campos and Sinzo instantly
died from bullets wounds.
Also, a structure in the area was reportedly
burned down.
In his brief visit to Tandag City, being the guest
of honor and speaker during the opening program yesterday for the 393rd Fiesta
celebration, Roxas who suddenly veered away from his itinerary, had to delay
his departure for almost an hour to Bislig City, 175 kilometers down south, to
see for himself the situation of the evacuees.
To date, according to the Provincial Social
Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) headed by May Navidad Salinas, the
number of evacuees has already reached up to 598 families or 3,227 individuals.
(NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Cebuano News: Surigao Norte PHB nagtigom
Ni Mary Jul Escalante
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 9 (PIA) –
Mga miyembro sa Provincial Health Board (PHB) sa probinsya mipahigayon bag-ohay
pa lamang sa ilang tigom didto sa PGO
Conference Hall, ning syudad.
Ang maong panagtigom gipanguluhan ni Gobernador
Sol F. Matugas uban ni Regional Director Jose Llacuna sa Department of Health
(DOH) Caraga regionn ug mitambong usab sila Mayor Lalaine DomiΓ±os sa munisipyo
sa San Isidro, Mayor Fernando Dolar sa Sta. Monica, mga representante sa
nagkadaiyang cluster sa Area Health Zone ug uban pang mga miyembro sa
provincial health board.
Atol sa maong panagtigom gipasabot ni Dir. Llacuna
ang mahitungod sa Hi-5 Impact Programs sa DOH nga diin gikatakdang ilunsad sa isla sa Siargao.
Matud pa ni Dr. Llacuna kining maong programa naglangkob
sa pagkonhod sa child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS
malaria ug uban pang mga sakit, ug improve service delivery network.
Samtang si Dr. Cosnarie Seguis iyang giprensentar
ang Public Health Program sa probinsya ug ang report sa Surigao del Norte
Provincial Hospital gipresentar ni Dr. Ralphtrin Hermosisima.
Dugang gihisgutan atol sa maong tigom ang
mahitungod sa Prevention of Blindness Progam diin gipresentar kini ni Ma.
Rosana Enano ang health coordinator sa Provincial Health Office. (SDR/PIC-SdN/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
