tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77834293426810042962024-02-25T15:29:25.741+08:00CENTRAL VISAYAS FISHERFOLK DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC. ADVOCACY PAGEFIDEC is a non-stock, non-profit service institution for the marginal fisherfolk in region 7. It was established in 1985 as the Fishermen’s Development Center, Inc. In keeping with modifications made to its orientation in 1995, its name and territorial scope was changed. Since then FIDEC is referred to as the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center, Inc.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-51393524028481359052011-03-03T13:45:00.004+08:002011-03-03T13:48:33.601+08:00Renewable Energy Summit - The Green Economy Series<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wgx5Li2BCzd8QFM7pwE1Ut5-b_QBzj1qmlIf4z1LXhZz7VHY2Thu4osr1Z5gOc-aXSXl3hwRwYa_RnZ1f6AvecW6ys-10SpYhthz9uLe14YZZrMYV2HjdfWLecYtMNx4tKba8oJWwQk/s1600/poster+resize.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wgx5Li2BCzd8QFM7pwE1Ut5-b_QBzj1qmlIf4z1LXhZz7VHY2Thu4osr1Z5gOc-aXSXl3hwRwYa_RnZ1f6AvecW6ys-10SpYhthz9uLe14YZZrMYV2HjdfWLecYtMNx4tKba8oJWwQk/s320/poster+resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579726394340882738" /></a><br />Rationale<br /><br /><br />With issues of climate change and environmental degradation brought into the limelight, calls for a shift in policy frameworks, development paradigms and lifestyles become ever more urgent. Such issues highlight a global problem with increasingly felt local impacts: heavier rains, flashfloods, sea-level rise, spread of infectious diseases, and scarcity of resources with heavy reliance on unsustainable fossil fuel for energy needs.<br /><br />Taking in these concerns, there is growing international consensus on the urgency of developing low carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive economies as expressed in an emerging “Green Economy” framework. This poses a critical challenge to existing development models that measure progress only by looking at the GNP and GDP as indicators, without considering the sustainability of societies. The message of the “Green Economy” model is simple: not all investments are good investments! In fact, most of our society’s economic wealth has been generated through the overexploitation and pollution of our environment, at the expense of the most vulnerable sectors which bear the brunt of the impacts. Taking sustainable development as a guiding principle, a “Green Economy” framework requires the strengthening of three inseparable pillars: economic development, social development and environmental protection. <br /><br />The search for local solutions to these problems led to the formation of the Cebu Green Economy Series, a string of events that allows stakeholders to discuss relevant issues linking environment, society and economy. Its aim is to explore “rapid but low risk” alternatives to the destructive ways in which society has carried out developmental projects that exploit the environment and marginalize the poor. Under the Cebu Green Economy Series, we address themes such as: 1) clean and alternative energy; 2) green jobs and investments; 3) food security; 4) sustainable transportation; 5) sustainable waste management and resource conservation; 6) eco-friendly built environment and architecture, and 7) liveable cities and urban environment, to name a few.<br /><br />To start the series, we are organizing a Renewable Energy (RE) Summit with the theme “Meeting the Challenges of Sustainable Energy Development in Central Visayas” on March 7-8, 2011 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall, Cebu City. <br /><br />Through this summit, we aim to achieve the following objectives: 1) to develop mechanisms and infrastructure for enabling a market for RE; 2) to map out resources and potentials for RE development in Central Visayas; and 3) to formulate an action plan for promoting RE as the best alternative to heavy and unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels for energy needs. <br /><br />To meet these objectives, this multi-stakeholder event, involving key representatives from local government units, civil society and business sectors, will provide a venue for plenary and panel discussions on topics such as the power situation of Central Visayas, the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and public-private partnerships on RE projects, within the larger framework of promoting “Green Economy”. There will also be a two-day exhibition highlighting best practices for the implementation of RE programs in communities, LGUs and NGOs. Companies, banks, financial institutions and other organization that have products and services that advance the development of renewable energy are welcome to join the exhibition. The activity will be capped by a keynote address hopefully to be delivered by Department of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Details of the program will be disseminated.<br /><br /><br />For reference:<br /><br />The Secretariat<br /><br /><br />Hon. Ma. Nida C. Cabrera, Cebu City Councilor (Chair- Environment Committee)<br />(032-2551655, 032-2532206)<br /><br />A2D Project—Research Group for Alternatives to Development<br />c/o Kaira Zoe Alburo, Executive Director (09202709388)<br /><br />Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center<br />c/o Vince Cinches, Executive Director (09228463900)<br /><br />Philippine Earth Justice Center<br />c/o Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, Executive Director (09189111267)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-34795490165655649412010-08-14T15:25:00.002+08:002010-08-14T16:39:33.549+08:00COAL IS EXPENSIVE.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr9Tlaq6oHR2sah_J4aSdSNjVAocJByiEpUptszQE0DcsYS7YqACnJgpbJxkok3y_SklimlY938WUv9UcA21liy_4vRiYPS_wAVWdKHk5fi-3vadGE9ImzL2h3rYp99t0u38voquT89c/s1600/P8180524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr9Tlaq6oHR2sah_J4aSdSNjVAocJByiEpUptszQE0DcsYS7YqACnJgpbJxkok3y_SklimlY938WUv9UcA21liy_4vRiYPS_wAVWdKHk5fi-3vadGE9ImzL2h3rYp99t0u38voquT89c/s320/P8180524.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505164343698208914" /></a><br /><br /><br />August 14, 2010<br /><br />Press Statement<br /><br />COAL IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.<br /><br />Vince Cinches<br />Coordinator, Visayas Climate Action Network<br />Executive Director<br />FIDEC Inc.<br /><br />The governor may have been ill-informed when she said that renewable energy may be costly for ordinary household-level electricity consumers. This may be true years ago when a law-governing investment and development in the RE sector is nowhere to be found.<br /><br />On the contrary, a 10-year sustainable energy roadmap of WWF-Philippines showed that if we shift to tapping renewable resources will result in lower power costs in the long term and will save the country a whooping $2.3B dollars annually, a savings that would mean a lot in providing social services, such as health and education, and not for posters of politicians plastered in government projects.<br /><br />It is expected that the cost of oil and coal will go up in the coming years by as much as 64% while costs for RE technology will go down as it matures.<br /><br />High costs in terms of taxes, tariffs, VAT, import duties among other things in operating renewable sources of energy is a thing of the past. <br /><br />The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Philippine Renewable Energy Act or Republic Act No. 9513 signed into law last December, is aimed at accelerating the development and use of the nation’s vast renewable energy resources through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for investors, among which are:<br /><br />• Seven-year income tax holidays for RE developers<br />• Exemption from VAT and duty-free importation of equipment and machinery<br />• Reduction of corporate income tax after the expiry of the income tax holiday, to 10 percent of net income<br />• Zero percent VAT rate for the sale of power from RE<br />• Duty-free importation of equipment<br />• Tax credit on domestic capital equipment and services<br />• Special realty tax rates, income tax holidays, net operating loss carry-over, accelerated depreciation and exemption from the universal charge and wheeling charges.<br />• Exemption from all taxes of the proceeds from the sale of carbon credits.<br />• Assurance to investors in wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river hydropower and biomass in electricity generated from these clean sources through feed-in tariffs.<br /><br />The current bias of the provincial government towards coal is a violation of such law, it provides that we need to allocate a certain portion from clean, home-grown renewable energy sources, Cebu have vast renewable energy potential specifically in HYDRO POWER for Argao and Ginatilan, WIND POWER for Carmen and Oslob(wind park), BIOMASS for Bogo, and Solar everywhere. The DOE has revealed that the country’s renewable energy potential is vast – with 4,531 MW from geothermal; 13,097 MW from hydropower, 277 MBFOE from biomass; 5.0-5.1 kWh/m2/day from solar; 76,600 MW from wind; and 170,000 MW from oceanic waves. <br /><br />The provincial government should look into the sustainable opportunity that we are offering and should not be antagonistic in their stance just because we don’t agree with their development paradigm. They should open their eyes and look at the valid merits of our objectives.<br /><br />It is our duty as taxpayers and stakeholders to correct governmental policies that we deemed unsustainable and wrong. This is governance, and they should now do their part.<br /><br />The current market price of electricity in the province is already expensive as it is: in fact we rank next to Japan. The government’s power development plan will cost consumers more. Nationwide it is going to cost us an extra $4.7B, because of over capacity due to flaws in demand projections. Their basic overly optimistic assumption is that GDP will grow by 5.7 % each year, however National Statistical Coordination Board says that annual average growth is on the average of 3.6 percent. This is what happened when agencies refused to include other stakeholders in developing energy needs.<br /><br />We know that having no electricity is going to be bad for the economy, the same thing as having too much will result to high rates due to Purchased Power Adjustments. In the end this will punish the common household-level electricity consumers, by paying for the excess energy. We have an installed capacity of almost 16,000 MW and a peak demand of 9,069 mw, so technically we are paying for both actual consumption and for unutilized energy. <br /><br />On the other hand the market price of coal is only half the story, if we are going to include “external costs”. In terms of carbon emission budget / climate change, mining, combustion, waste disposal, environment, human health, food security, contamination of water supplies, heavy metals, coal now becomes the most expensive energy source, one that we pay with our lives and with the very fabric of our existence.<br /><br />The baliligate was due to greed and poor value judgement, we have seen how it causes misery, how it divested the people with 100 million of taxpayers’ money. We don’t want it to happen again. <br /><br />We have an option, and one that is without coal in it.##<br /><br /><br /><br />Sources Philippine Electricity Demand Projections, by Maitet Diokno-pascual<br />True Cost of Coal – Greenpeace InternationalUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-37465679883916258592010-07-04T08:45:00.000+08:002010-07-04T08:46:29.183+08:00Ecogov releases book on reef management<a href="http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/ecogov-releases-book-reef-management">Ecogov releases book on reef management<br /></a><br /><br />By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez<br /><br />TO enable fisherfolk to see value in coastal resource management, a project has published a guidebook on community reef monitoring.<br /><br />The second edition of the “Coral Reef Monitoring for Management” was launched recently by the Philippine Environmental Governance Project (EcoGov2), the Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest Project (Fish) and the authors, represented by Dr. Porfirio Aliño, a professor of the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines.<br /><br />“We hope to launch a thousand miracles of MPAs (marine protected areas),” Aliño said during the launch of the guidebook at the Parklane International Hotel.<br /><br />Click here for Election 2010 updates<br /><br />The other authors are Andre Uychiaoco, Stuart Green, Margarita dela Cruz, Paulyn Gaite, Hazel Arceo and Alan White.<br /><br />William Jatulan, deputy chief of party of Fish, said the second edition was released due to the clamor for an improved management of coral reefs and marine protected areas MPAs in general.<br /><br />“(I hope) this will be useful to other partners in establishing MPAs,” Jatulan said.<br /><br />Arunkumar Abraham, EcoGov2 chief of party, said copies of the guidebook will be distributed to local government units.<br /><br />Jatulan said a copy can also be downloaded from www.oneocean.org.ph.<br /><br />Abraham said the guidebook aims to promote a participatory or community-level approach in coral reef management by simplifying highly technical information.<br /><br />It is also a practical tool to use since it advocates a step-by-step process in management.<br /><br />The publication is also supported by a range of articles and position papers and is produced by the “best and the brightest” in the Philippines.<br /><br />It is also significant since the country is the leader in the Coral Triangle.<br /><br />According to the World Wildlife Fund website, the Coral Triangle covers nearly 2.3 million square miles of ocean across all, or parts of, the seas of six countries in the Indo-Pacific—Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.<br /><br />“This vast area of the Indo-Pacific region harbors 75 percent of all known coral species, more than half of the world’s reefs, 40 percent of the world's coral reef fish species, and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle,” it added.<br /><br />Anabelle Trinidad, Conservation International’s representative to the Coral Triangle Support Program, said the guidebook is “relevant and timely.”<br /><br />The publication is supported by The United States Agency for International Development, EcoGov2, Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Fish Project and the Coastal Resource Management Project-Philippines.<br /><br /><br />Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 4, 2010.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-66513989831652619852010-03-13T14:47:00.001+08:002010-03-13T14:49:22.431+08:00NEW OIL SURVEY OPPOSED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktCMyKDPOjOTC-dR1UsNcdoeO_cvlu_txEjjnILjSwqGF2ifrCI7WHb-N9-6CLvDFRNxn6jlCiDD8AzSYcN1dU-DYP5pZz_u8nbTx19GXQA9O2UBriphOE7nxuYjb-OkW3iaFEPGN3aI/s1600-h/new+op.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktCMyKDPOjOTC-dR1UsNcdoeO_cvlu_txEjjnILjSwqGF2ifrCI7WHb-N9-6CLvDFRNxn6jlCiDD8AzSYcN1dU-DYP5pZz_u8nbTx19GXQA9O2UBriphOE7nxuYjb-OkW3iaFEPGN3aI/s320/new+op.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448006791834494578" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cdn.ph/photostore/news_details.php?id=5392">NEW OIL SURVEY OPPOSED 3/13</a><br /> <br /><br />Fisherfolk fear effect of seismic survey in Cebu, Leyte, Bohol waters<br />By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Senior Editorial Assistant<br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br />Her family relies on three kilos of fish that her husband would catch on a good day.<br />If they don’t have food on the table, they sell the day's catch for P120 per kilo to buy what they need, said Elisa Bransuela, 43, of Borbon town, northern Cebu.<br />“Pamugas ra ning amo (We use the money to buy rice),” she said.<br />Her husband, Gomersindo, traveled 83 kilometers to Cebu City yesterday to join other leaders of Borbon fisherfolk groups to oppose a seismic survey that will be conducted this month by NorAsian Energy Limited.<br />At a press conference, Gomersindo said he fears the survey would distrub the sea and affect his only source of livelihood.<br />When NorAsian did a similar sea survey in the west coast of Cebu in 2008, fisherfolk groups also complained that their fish catch dropped and fish pens were destroyed.<br />The Department of Energy (DOE) assured yesterday that the survey, which uses sound waves to check for possible oil and gas reserves under the sea, will not harm the fish, whales or dolphins.<br />A Chinese vessel, the BGP Challenger, will cover a total of 100 line kilometers in Borbon waters or at a distance of at least 2 kilometers from the town’s shoreline.<br />The survey period in Borbon will “take only a total of about 15 hours” over two to three days.<br />But the total coverage of the seismic survey is two offshore sites in waters off Cebu, Leyte and Bohol starting the first week of March.<br />The survey, which will take two weeks in all, was approved by the Department of Energy under Petroleum Service Contract No. 69 awarded in 2008.<br />Gomersindo, who heads the Magay Fishermen's Association, signed a letter addressed to the local executives of Bohol, Tacloban City in Leyte, Maasin City in Southern Leyte and Cebu, asking them to oppose the proposed seismic survey and exploration activities at the Camotes and Bohol Seas.<br />He was joined by other leaders of fishermen's association and environmental lawyers in Cebu City.<br />“As citizens and stakeholders of the Philippines and the provinces, cities and municipalities of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Southern Leyte, we are outraged at the gross, willful and continuing defiance and violation of our Constitution, various laws, Supreme Court rulings on the environment and governance, international conventions and the people's rights to life health and a healthy environment,” the group said in the letter dated March 4, 2010.<br />This would be the second attempt by NorAsian Energy Limited, an Australian offshore mining company, to conduct a sea exploration for possible gas and oil deposits.<br />The present plan involves a wider range.<br />In 2008, NorAsian planned to explore natural reserves at least seven km off the coastlines of Langtad, Argao in western Cebu.<br />Argao fisherfolk opposed the activity and reported a decrease in fish yield due to the oil exploration activities of NorAsian Energy Ltd. at the Cebu-Bohol Strait.<br />For the current activity in the Camotes sea, the scope of the survey reaches about 900-line kilometers.<br />This raised fears that it would have adverse effects on the Danajon Bank, which is a rare double barrier reef off northern Bohol.The reef is one of only three such sites in the Indo-Pacific area.<br />The protest petition was signed by environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, who cited the Fisheries Code of the Philippines that “implements this constitutional mandate by ensuring that the municipal waters are for the preferential use of subsistence fisherfolk, excluding commercial fishing vessels therefrom.”<br />The group also noted that the same law states that “No person, natural or judicial, shall undertake any development project without first securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Secretary of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources).”<br />The project violates the preferential right of small fisherfolk as the marine resources in intertidal areas or shallow waters are affected.<br />“Do we sacrifice the marine ecosystem for a small amount of oil?” asked lawyer Benjamin Cabrido.<br />A DOE bulletin about the project said no ECC is needed for the sea survey at this stage. The environment department will require one only when there is commercial production of offshore oil and gas.<br />Antonio Labios, DOE regional director for the Visayas, said he met with members of the Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvest (FISH project), which is one of non-government agencies involved with towns within the Danajon Reef.<br />“They (FISH project) requested for an orientation from our team. We spent four hours explaining, the group was composed of experts, marine biologists,” Labios said.<br />“Sa among understanding nakasabot sila (We believe they understood the exploration activity),” he added.<br />Labios also said DOE consulted the officials and residents of Borbon town in four visits and orientation sessions.<br />“We assured them that there are measures undertaken. The EMB has issued a CNC, that means we are complying with EMB on the Environmental Impact Assessment law,” he said.<br />“On the safety of mariners, all the ships that would pass through the (seismic survey site) will see notices. On the socio-economic aspect, the fishermen will be compensated for the payaws (fishpens) in the site,” he added.<br />Labios said payaws that will be compensated must be certified by the municipal agricultural and fisheries office.<br />“We excluded marine protected areas from the survey. This is also not the first time we conducted a seismic survey along the Camotes and Bohol Seas. So far, based on our presentation, there is no effect (on the marine resources),” he said.<br />He said marine mammal scientists from Australia will be present during the activity.<br />“The sound frequency is between 230 and 260 only, which is equivalent to 170 decibels to 270 decibels. The sound of the fast craft is stronger (than the seismic waves),” said Labios.<br />“The boat can stay in an area for seven hours, but the seismic survey is only for 2.5 hours,” he said.<br />Vince Cinches, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. executive director, said they conducted a study of the fish yield in Bohol following the seismic survey conducted by then Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (Japex) in 2007.<br />He said the study showed that fish yield dropped from six to 11 kilos to zero to 2.5 kilos.<br />In May 2008, Japex announced that decided to relinquish its service contract effective June 20, 2009 “because of the lack of commercial oil and gas discovery as a result of exploration work including drilling of one exploration well.”<br />Environment groups filed went to court on behalf of the resident mammals of the Tañon Strait in what was described as a landmark case. They argued that the oil drilling would harm whales, dolphins, porpoises and other cetaceans that populate the Tañon Strait protected seascape between Negros and Cebu islands.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-82610006806424233002009-12-23T09:42:00.000+08:002009-12-23T09:44:17.574+08:00LGUs need to address climate issues<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7783429342681004296">LGUs need to address climate issues</a><br />By Garry A. Cabotaje<br /><br />AN official of a fisher-folk group has lamented that most of the local government units (LGUs) in Cebu have not acted on the threat of climate change.<br /><br />“The problems on climate change are already here, but most of the LGUs in Cebu have not done anything yet to cushion the impact of this global phenomenon,” said Vince Cinches, executive director of the Fisher Folk Development Center Inc.<br /><br />Cinches participated in a climate change forum and workshop at the Talisay City Hall last Monday. The forum hosted by Talisay City is in line with the ongoing international conference on climate change in Copenhagen.<br /><br />For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter<br /><br />Cinches recommended that the LGUs tie up with other sectors to implement programs aimed at minimizing the disastrous effects of climate change.<br /><br />He said that local officials should not take lightly the effects of climate change because more than 100 state leaders have been discussing ways to address its worldwide ill effects.<br /><br />Christine Homez, city planning and development coordinator, said Talisay City has to come up with measures as it is vulnerable to floods and landslides.<br /><br />When typhoons and a southwest monsoon hit Talisay two months ago, more than 50 families in the coastal villages of Mohon and Poblacion were rendered homeless by big waves.<br /><br />Homez said the storms served as a wake-up call for the city to initiate plans against natural calamities and disasters.<br /><br />The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has declared some of the city’s upland villages as landslide-prone, while areas near the riverbanks are also prone to flooding based on past incidents.<br /><br />Homez lamented, though, that the P500,000-budget for the City Planning and Development Office’s (CPDO) comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) was removed from the newly-approved 2010 budget of P437.6 million.<br /><br />The budget, she said, was supposed to be used for the CLUP’s “climate change sensitive” program.<br /><br />Homez, also the city disaster coordinating council officer, said her office needs to identify disaster-prone areas in Talisay to prepare them for any eventualities.<br /><br />She said the CPDO needs devices like the global positioning system and a geographic information system for the disaster mapping project. The CPDO has requested the mayor’s office to provide funds for the project.<br /><br />Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 20, 2009.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-31573758518778304692009-12-14T13:32:00.000+08:002009-12-14T13:33:19.344+08:00Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PeHvBNgA4A&feature=player_embedded"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-49373721107090238172009-12-11T08:19:00.003+08:002009-12-11T08:24:10.334+08:00FIDEC Inc. Won the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan Award for Organizations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruOqZxaRN_vrmGBHJdZD9YfO65Na7KOQr1FDjQrno06mMu7stnP1wTAvThg9ExjiRErO1m46DXCea-FqswOhrqU8whE_OVYwvSWqaJ5XkMzc6MfjXhqQuF6yhon69rIrtGZvU7F97LA4/s1600-h/PLAC4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruOqZxaRN_vrmGBHJdZD9YfO65Na7KOQr1FDjQrno06mMu7stnP1wTAvThg9ExjiRErO1m46DXCea-FqswOhrqU8whE_OVYwvSWqaJ5XkMzc6MfjXhqQuF6yhon69rIrtGZvU7F97LA4/s320/PLAC4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413767234640315234" /></a><br />Awards for unsung environmental heroes launched<br /><br /><br /><br />In its 20th year, the Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippine s launched the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan and presented the awards to the seven remarkable individuals and organizations who have launched notable actions and programs to defend the environment, lives, and rights of Filipino people.<br /><br /><br /><br />"Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan is our way of honoring the natural nurturers of the environment and promoting the kind of environmentalism that sees the oneness of the environment with the political, economic and cultural aspects of society." said Ms. Frances Quimpo, executive director of CEC-Phils.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Gawad sa mga Indibidwal (Award for Individuals) are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability and effort to uphold the environment and people’s welfare, whether in the form of advocacy, campaigns, education, research, technology development, community services, mass media or cultural work. The recipients of the awards are:<br /><br />* · Datu Guibang Apoga of Davao del Norte, a tribal chieftain who united 83 Ata-Manobo villages within the Talaingod ancestral land to fight the commercial logging operations in their province.<br />* · Professor Margarita dela Torre-dela Cruz, an educator, researcher and development worker committed to the promotion of quality education, research and development, and community service.<br />* · Emmanuel Calonzo head of EcoWaste Coalition and promotes environmental justice in the country and helps communities to uphold their rights to a clean, toxic-free environment and future.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Gawad sa mga Organisasyon (Award for Organizations) are awarded to top peoples' and community organizations and institutions that have demonstrated unity in upholding the welfare of the people and of the environment by exemplary actions and advocacy, campaigns, education, research, technology development, community services, mass media or cultural work. The recipients of the awards are:<br /><br />* · Cordillera Poeple's Alliance (CPA), an independent federation of progressive peoples organizations, most of them grassroots-based organizations among indigenous communities in the Cordillera Region, Philippines that is committed to the promotion and defense of indigenous peoples’ rights, human rights, social justice, and national freedom and democracy.<br />* · Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center, Inc. (FIDEC) that was conceived and organized, with the primary role of assisting in the organizing process and alliance formation of fishing communities in the Visayas.<br />* · SEAMANCOR Eco-Devopers, Inc, manages a 112 hectare natural mangrove forest and rehabilitated another 267 hectares of mangrove plantations whose reforestation efforts contributed to the preservation of the natural flora and fauna of Sorsogon.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Natatatanging Gawad (Most distinguished award) is awarded to either an individual or organization in recognition of being an inspiration and example to the Filipino people for offering time and talents for the defense of the environment and advancement of the people’s welfare. The award went to Eliezer "Boy" BIllanes, a staunch anti-mining activist in South Cotabato who was killed for his convictions and activities making him, the 20th anti-mining activist killed under the Arroyo administration.<br /><br /><br /><br />The CEC-Phils also hopes to promote a strand of environmentalism that views environmental problems in the context of the struggles of communities for equal rights to the protection and wise utilization of the natural resources and the analysis that the current Philippine environmental crisis is just a reflection of the social inequalities that beset the nation.<br /><br /><br /><br />"The Philippines has become a haven for massive natural resource extraction and toxic waste dumping by local and largely foreign corporations facilitated by our own government's economic programs without a solid blueprint on how this sale of our national patrimony will develop the country and improve people’s marginal lives. " Ms. Quimpo explained.<br /><br /><br /><br />She furthered that hopefully through the GBK, people may be inspired to be heroes of the environment and the people and take part in the environmental movement whose ultimate vision is for the majority of the Filipino people to enjoy access and control of the resources and the fruits of their toil, instead of being enjoyed only by a few foreign corporations and the local elite.<br /><br /><br /><br />A 2-day lecture series by the GBK awardees was held from December 8-9 at the UP Balay Kalinaw and capped by the awards ceremonies on December 10 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.<br /><br /><br /><br />Reference: Frances Quimpo, Executive Director, CEC-Phils., 09178846325.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-88197737603096188482009-11-21T12:05:00.000+08:002009-11-21T12:06:15.955+08:00Sangtuwaryo: A fisherfolks’ taleWe are selling this film.<br /><br />Sangtuwaryo: A fisherfolks’ tale<br />By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco<br />Cebu Daily News First Posted 15:05:00 08/16/2009 Filed Under: Cinema<br /><br /> <br />In three weeks of summer, a cast of fishermen and Bantayan folk who had never acted in their life took direction for a one-of-a-kind movie.<br /><br />In the premiere of “Sangtuwaryo” (sanctuary) last Friday at SM Cinema 1 in Cebu City, some of the actors went up on stage to receive applause from an audience who rose to their feet, after 80 minutes through a film that invited tears, bursts of laughter, and deep silences with the story of a poor family’s struggle with dynamite fishing in an islet village of Cebu.<br /><br />“These, ladies and gentlemen,” said environment lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. “are naturals.”<br /><br />The actors hope to drive home the message that community effort is needed to revive and nurture the seas that have been long abused by illegal fishing techniques and human neglect.<br /><br />“I was enthusiastic about the project because of my tatay,” said Archie Modequillo, the director.<br /><br />“My father (Adelaido) was a fisherman. Using a baroto, Tatay would go out to sea at night and in the morning we would have sud-an (viand) for the whole day,” he told CEBU DAILY NEWS.<br /><br />Modequillo, who hails from Borbon town in north Cebu, is a film director and a correspondent filmmaker for the National Geographic Channel in Southeast Asia. He finished his Master's degree on Film Making in the United States.<br /><br />He said his father would have learned more about caring for the environment if a similar film had been made years ago.<br /><br />“But he would remind us not to destroy the pagatpat (mangrove seedlings),” said Modequillo.<br /><br />The project set out to be a documentary film on marine resource conservation. It delivers a full-length drama with family love and quarrels, death and second chances.<br /><br />Copies of the film, a joint production by the Law of Nature Foundation, Visayan Sea Squadron and the School of the SEAs (Sea and Earth Advocates), will be shared with schools and other organizations as a takeoff for discussion about marine sanctuaries and conservation.<br /><br />The Department of Tourism helped finance the film, produced on a shoestring budget of P300,00. The first P100,000 was donated by Antique Gov. Sally Saldivar–Perez.<br /><br />Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, who attended the premier with Saldivar-Perez, said he wanted the Cebuano language film dubbed in Tagalog and English so it could be entered in international film fests.<br /><br />The film revolves around the life of a family living in Duyong, a poor fishing village on an islet.<br /><br />Lito, a fisherman, doesn't resort to blast fishing despite its rampant practice in the village because his own father died in a blast fishing accident.<br /><br />He and wife Gaya have two boys and a baby girl.<br /><br />But one day, Lito’s youngest child, Inday, gets sick with dengue and has to be taken to the hospital in the town.<br /><br />Cash is a big problem among the people in the village. Lito is torn between holding to his ideals or getting quick cash through blast fishing to buy medicines.<br /><br />“I asked the producers who was the target audience. I said the people may not be ready for this,” Modequillo recalled.<br /><br />Fund sources were limited and came in slowly. But this didn’t dampen the the enthusiasm of partners, who included veterans in radio-TV drama and theater who accepted the modest compensation.<br /><br />Modequillo handled the camerawork.<br /><br />“If we hired a cameraman that would mean paying him P3,000 per day. We did not have a monitor, which I would need to review the shots because that would cost us at least P2,500 per day,” he said.<br /><br />The crew and cast ended up having to act and do production work at the same time.<br /><br />Cora Rosales-Jayma, the script writer, also played the mother of the leading man. She’s a veteran in radio-TV drama in GMA 7. Her daughter, a former teleseries actor now working abroad, played the role of Gaya. A grandson, played the role of the fisherman’s wide-eyed youngest son.<br /><br />Paolo Mercado, a director of a TV network, was the film’s community organizer. A major role was played by 35-year-old Cloyd Anthony Ribo, whose experiences include playing Jesus Christ at the Holy Week play of Buhing Kalbaryo and was Lapu-Lapu at one production of Kadaugan sa Mactan.<br /><br />“I was once a fisherman, so I know the kind of life they live,” said Ribo, who essayed the role of “Makoy” the dynamite supplier in Duyong village. He was chosen during auditions in Madridejos town.<br /><br />Ribo was also the film's props man and assistant director in charge of preparing the small roles or extras.<br /><br />The leading man, Aljoy Sayson, the tall, deeply tanned, serious fisherman in the film was the project’s biggest discovery.<br /><br />He was playing basketball when the director pulled him aside and asked him to read some lines of the script.<br /><br />His “quiet dignity” and even voice convinced Modequillo he had found the right “Lito”.<br /><br />Melino Potong, described as the “best and bravest” blast fisher in Sta. Fe town on Bantayan Island, had a cameo role.<br /><br />Potong, together with Adriano Ilustrisimo, Rosendo Rosalejos, and Edgar Desabille are all on probation after they were caught in 2005 by the Bantay Dagat for illegal fishing. The group now works as fish wardens and assist at Oposa’s School of the SEAs.<br /><br />“Blast fishing disturbs the fish, the people on the island. Today, nobody uses blast fishing. Especially after we got caught,” he said in Cebuano.<br /><br />The other actors include Sta. Fe native Jessie Batiancila and his wife Nelly; Ligaya Yuliongsio also appeared with her son Vincent – who played the role of a gay and worked as the make up artist and costume assistant.<br /><br />As director, Modequillo said he wondered about the quality of the film they had finished.<br /><br />“When we finished editing it I purposely did not watch the film. I watched it again after a few days, and I cried,” he said.<br /><br />To the movie audience, Modequillo said there is a world begging for our attention and love.<br /><br />“I hope the film can move us to do our share and respond to that call,” he said. With Eileen MangubatUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-75789556581106146032009-10-26T11:23:00.003+08:002009-10-26T12:02:22.751+08:00cebu for 350SINULOG FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND 350 UNLIGHTED CANDLES!<br /><br />What is this about? <br /><br />This is a creative action to inspire local and international community. We have representatives from Fardec, GLACC, Visayas Action Network, human rights organization, and fisherfolk groups to show we’ve joined 350.org. This means we representatives press for an International climate treaty that lowers atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million. We also support local action that decreases Visayas’ fossil fuel dependency and vulnerability to climate change. The Visayas Climate Action Network is a Cebu-based network of various schools, universities, and other civil society organizations. It supports climate change re-skilling, environmental law enforcement, business partnerships, alternative policy development. <br /><br />This is one of the many actions we take to tackle fossil-fueled commerce.<br /><br />Why 350? This is the number that leading government-supported climatologists say is the safe upper limit for atmospheric carbon dioxide. As it stands our global atmosphere is concentrated with 390 parts per million.<br /><br />Why do we hold posters saying Abandon Coal and offshore mining ? Because VCAN supports environmental law enforcement. And local coal and offshore mining do not comply with environmental laws. We do not reward large scale polluters. VCAN and its constituent orgs support suits against large scale polluters who endanger public health and again bring us farther from attain a safe upper limit of 350ppm. We honor data from real-world observation, climate models and international studies that conclude the more we burn COAL, OIL AND GAS the more damaging climate change will be. Visit 350.org or contact VCAN at visayas.can@gmail.com / 2561365 if you want to learn more about climate change.<br /><br />Climate change will only compound the individual drivers of environmental disasters and injustice. If we don’t aim for 350ppm, you can expect more unexpected droughts, threatened access to water supply, declining crop yields, rising sea levels, severe storms, and the public’s permanent displacement. <br /><br />Again, this is one of the many actions Visayas Climate Action Network supports. We invite you to research climate change for yourself. We invite the diversity of alternatives to tackle to climate crisis. We also invites all environmental groups, schools, labor groups, businesses and their form of climate change resistance. We’re interested in your food security strategies, policy alternatives, sustainable business practice, and environmental law enforcement. We invite you, your skills and knowledge to build communities resilient, not vulnerable, to climate change disasters.<br /><br />Thank you.<br />JOIN US AND CONTACT US. Visayas.can@gmail.com 2561365 350.org/cebu<br />VISAYAS CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK – GLACC, FIDEC, FARDEC, SIBAT, CERNET, FPE, UC COLLEGE OF LAW, UP POLITICAL SCIENCE<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxEWy6rAfDEQpfEBtIZWCmo2xtIy5CO5QY_te5GqhUK2zkh_Y4uRda3u8SSJKd54x1w_cMhUKzOToC0bCy-xA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlK-dEjgMKXFUYUfU5N22tYnihPNfs7hfNovMyf4Dgi0o6ahpRZobsKdkQW0EP_dH15eLYL68H97_EemWABQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-47720150265554788272009-10-24T22:25:00.004+08:002009-10-24T22:53:05.969+08:00350 CLIMATE ACTION IN CEBU<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrF6ow38TA-xPozAGgNl6huqCy21WgX3UZv-zW0DzMurzis2elSHByX9WAkrTuYmz-YOO8zPbf3ZF6aqSfJRpzbdnhJlee5y9HSST9-TAOWiPjau1g2oC5ZbywfLFULNuLFNuqgfdOx0/s1600-h/cdn2+10-24-09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrF6ow38TA-xPozAGgNl6huqCy21WgX3UZv-zW0DzMurzis2elSHByX9WAkrTuYmz-YOO8zPbf3ZF6aqSfJRpzbdnhJlee5y9HSST9-TAOWiPjau1g2oC5ZbywfLFULNuLFNuqgfdOx0/s320/cdn2+10-24-09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396179456946659570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrseYyYTxr_076LOL3V9XFX8ynRHsL-6GnKkCndbbQsZRk4Hby6XidPNkJpheaUGIeKmCLHN4xUNwbg5R-Uj1T1behkJn9aoR58ZlT2S_jRlhT1JWN85LgivjhhYlCg9QqWV9rG66mL4/s1600-h/cdn3+10-24-09+ed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrseYyYTxr_076LOL3V9XFX8ynRHsL-6GnKkCndbbQsZRk4Hby6XidPNkJpheaUGIeKmCLHN4xUNwbg5R-Uj1T1behkJn9aoR58ZlT2S_jRlhT1JWN85LgivjhhYlCg9QqWV9rG66mL4/s320/cdn3+10-24-09+ed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396179455856981490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2c94LWFnqbVX0wyVqCF3Z-PrVLWCGXyc1V83T-1yFdUTt7mt5e4xZxDYV-ZWhe5FGuyVm7msp7XF8ljwx5k94_kTRg8S8NI5aZQeW6IaQU6v6xE-CG-QlAYMbMNYgvyOYdPrWwHgHXc/s1600-h/tempo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2c94LWFnqbVX0wyVqCF3Z-PrVLWCGXyc1V83T-1yFdUTt7mt5e4xZxDYV-ZWhe5FGuyVm7msp7XF8ljwx5k94_kTRg8S8NI5aZQeW6IaQU6v6xE-CG-QlAYMbMNYgvyOYdPrWwHgHXc/s320/tempo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396176019112212066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRp3tBitlvX7TChhMT6ulng3RL2g7fb3P_BJfkwfRTBpeGVmtY7VhhxfXjt5ByO2_Tig2mcxE5ha3CGJxiStYyCvn4VzD5zwEBI-tC2becjdC5jsPMThTvoI_yjebyD7libE2iu4iJCNE/s1600-h/sunstar21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRp3tBitlvX7TChhMT6ulng3RL2g7fb3P_BJfkwfRTBpeGVmtY7VhhxfXjt5ByO2_Tig2mcxE5ha3CGJxiStYyCvn4VzD5zwEBI-tC2becjdC5jsPMThTvoI_yjebyD7libE2iu4iJCNE/s320/sunstar21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396176012545998242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfJjGByllCjhgFQW6M-a3zrrxsey5fxSjP8i136tKERu2_-bfF6qBHaDUNGf1a2Q57o9RjmsxaWVlOpK7mw9TFOJ428owgrB-wyBlHqRvkQMKtbSaSoCH4JADxncH0fzt9LPm8Uu-UJM/s1600-h/freeman1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfJjGByllCjhgFQW6M-a3zrrxsey5fxSjP8i136tKERu2_-bfF6qBHaDUNGf1a2Q57o9RjmsxaWVlOpK7mw9TFOJ428owgrB-wyBlHqRvkQMKtbSaSoCH4JADxncH0fzt9LPm8Uu-UJM/s320/freeman1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396176004383896050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0tbQeGcKjNlsfKex7vYicb_VoCj8JCQcNfeRMabHXKKN7pAqU65LD-8O0SCdiIgORnjp_CPDiDpKINek5NZel4LVT7fa2GUimkBBW3ThMruvMHmfUfEK8BFV4pPX9dxsefUgZXPUBao/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0tbQeGcKjNlsfKex7vYicb_VoCj8JCQcNfeRMabHXKKN7pAqU65LD-8O0SCdiIgORnjp_CPDiDpKINek5NZel4LVT7fa2GUimkBBW3ThMruvMHmfUfEK8BFV4pPX9dxsefUgZXPUBao/s320/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396175999551550098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgdZwvdF95ko9hVwBSXsWzC9-WxfboNDgHPt_IXYpppKKUY-0YF-ixgemsgAfmzv1hV-lqSlDFasUqffLh_SqLjTwIMwFAqZMINGbwAu4RUSuO6UdwHQn-Vowz6ZyDftasWlDYw2NDGM/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgdZwvdF95ko9hVwBSXsWzC9-WxfboNDgHPt_IXYpppKKUY-0YF-ixgemsgAfmzv1hV-lqSlDFasUqffLh_SqLjTwIMwFAqZMINGbwAu4RUSuO6UdwHQn-Vowz6ZyDftasWlDYw2NDGM/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396175998037907586" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-59980973281141995252009-10-22T07:38:00.001+08:002009-10-22T07:40:58.438+08:00Tañon unlike any worldwide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg92_uW4ncf4iGDTLXeVu1BiCO7Z180pfTROAeuOWWv8CQLuS3yd8w6MPb6J2egLgOuuL2Dd7WVQdxwoX1zcQFCBXculbzKl8rtpcULBYm7aBKXgnFfNlzzH7LUbXi-1vz1f0jpWzS_xs/s1600-h/OILRIG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg92_uW4ncf4iGDTLXeVu1BiCO7Z180pfTROAeuOWWv8CQLuS3yd8w6MPb6J2egLgOuuL2Dd7WVQdxwoX1zcQFCBXculbzKl8rtpcULBYm7aBKXgnFfNlzzH7LUbXi-1vz1f0jpWzS_xs/s320/OILRIG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395202392327863618" /></a><br /><br /><br />http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/ta%C3%B1-unlike-any-worldwide<br /><br />Tañon unlike any worldwide<br /><br />By Liberty A. Pinili<br /><br />THERE’s another reason to protect Tañon Strait.<br /><br />American marine biologist Kent Carpenter said Tañon Strait, the narrow stretch of sea between the southern end of Cebu and Oriental Negros, may offer answers on why and how certain marine organisms are resilient to climate change.<br /><br />Aside from this, Tañon Strait’s geology can be considered the “most unique in the world” as it was formed when two islands—Cebu and Negros—which used to be far from each other, moved closer.<br /><br />Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy<br /><br />“Over 55 million years ago, Cebu started to move from where Papua New Guinea is now while Negros came from the opposite direction. The strait must have accumulated an extremely unique group of marine organisms,” said Carpenter, who has studied the Philippines’ marine waters for about 30 years and has declared the seas around the Visayas to be the richest in biodiversity.<br /><br />He said that during the Ice Age, the Tañon Strait was cut off from other seas so organisms in the area must have evolved differently.<br /><br />Too special<br /><br />“It’s too special a place to tamper with,” he said, reacting to plans to explore oil in the Tañon Strait. He added that the strait needs to be considered as a national heritage.<br /><br />He said he plans to conduct a study on the species of marine organisms in the strait. He plans to start the study within a year or two.<br /><br />Carpenter noted that while the Tañon Strait has been declared a national protected area, enforcement of protection laws has been wanting.<br /><br />Still, he commends the Philippines for having the most number of marine protected areas in Asia. In Cebu, he cited the marine protected areas (MPAs) off Gilutongan Island in Cordova, Sam-boan, Sumilon (Oslob) and Moalboal.<br /><br />“But only a small percentage of Philippines MPAs are well-managed. It’s not perfect but I’m hopeful that some environments will be preserved over a long period of time,” he said.<br /><br />He stressed the importance of establishing a network of MPAs and strict enforcement of laws against destructive fishing practices.<br /><br />Economic sense<br /><br />He said communities and local governments tasked to manage MPAs should use the fees collected from divers to finance maintenance and protection measures.<br /><br />He stressed that protecting the country’s marine environment also makes economic sense with long-term benefits.<br /><br />Carpenter was in Cebu last week to talk to students in different universities about the importance of protecting the biological diversity of marine life in the Philippine seas.<br /><br />His talks with Cebu students were part of the Coral Triangle Initiative, a joint project of six countries (Indonesia, Malaysia (Sabah), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste), their neighbors (Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu) and partners, including the United States, United Kingdom and the World Wildlife Fund.<br /><br />The initiative aims to come up with national and regional (within the Coral Triangle) action plans to protect and manage the marine diversity in the Coral Triangle.<br /><br />Scientists report that the Coral Triangle is home to more than 500 species of corals and 3,000 fish species. It holds 53 percent of the world coral reefs and has the greatest extent of mangrove forest than any region in the world.<br /><br />Carpenter is one of the scientists assessing the threatened species list for the Coral Triangle area.<br /><br />His visit to Cebu was part of the assistance pledged by the US to the Coral Triangle Initiative.<br /><br />The United State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and the US Agency for International Development have committed a total of $4.35 million to the initiative.<br /><br />The initiative involves strategies to enhance the capabilities of seascapes; an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, where fisherfolk are given alternative livelihood; establishment and protection of marine protected areas; climate change adaptation; and threatened species assessment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-69708876339292486242009-10-20T13:18:00.003+08:002009-10-20T13:24:17.023+08:00Groups eye Naga plants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxSUO7ab8IFVxLoLeU-Bk-L9QOEt5OBaJDznKxbqHwUypU8ihpDEMIyhjAokCGO4ushT3HckG071mgrfJdgd9XaE_PYSNsLWxaAVt3IP4f4wd4bx97vgHAmGzQB0V2oUT3dI4d2s-gUI/s1600-h/photo+op.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxSUO7ab8IFVxLoLeU-Bk-L9QOEt5OBaJDznKxbqHwUypU8ihpDEMIyhjAokCGO4ushT3HckG071mgrfJdgd9XaE_PYSNsLWxaAVt3IP4f4wd4bx97vgHAmGzQB0V2oUT3dI4d2s-gUI/s320/photo+op.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394547793283116930" /></a><br />Groups eye Naga plants<br /><br />http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20091020-231121/Groups-eye-Naga-plants<br /><br />CEBU-based environmental groups recently joined an international campaign aimed at curtailing the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.<br /><br />Vince Cinches, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. (Fidec) executive director, said their commitment to the group 350.org, consists of campaigning against coal-fired plants like those being set up in Naga City.<br /><br />“An additional power plant would produce two parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide which is a type of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere,” Cinches said.<br /><br />He said the country's carbon dioxide level now stands at 387 ppm.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-47427394844511323022009-10-19T16:46:00.001+08:002009-10-19T16:49:55.192+08:00Groups vow to push fight vs. power firms<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXhLF0evUGKPT9tpnvKXgLKRx1k0TTj7ayoMs7jyPB5mWyrEqpCM5WvijYLYYcvCdWpgyy4OFSRn75lY6H6swnbaRcMMkltlyWVPpFbMBYGvFUWDCxLr2l7U8gBpL9IMgaNAbNrjgebw/s1600-h/PLAC3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXhLF0evUGKPT9tpnvKXgLKRx1k0TTj7ayoMs7jyPB5mWyrEqpCM5WvijYLYYcvCdWpgyy4OFSRn75lY6H6swnbaRcMMkltlyWVPpFbMBYGvFUWDCxLr2l7U8gBpL9IMgaNAbNrjgebw/s320/PLAC3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394230541478446594" /></a><br />http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/groups-vow-push-fight-vs-power-firms<br /><br />FOUR environmental groups said they will expand their opposition against the construction of two coal-fired power plants of the Korean Electric Company-SPC Power Corp. (Kepco-SPC) consortium.<br /><br />The move showed the groups were unfazed by the rally in the City of Naga last week, where about 1,000 people expressed their support to the projects.<br /><br />The Global Legal Action against Climate Change (GLACC), Fisherfolk Development Center (Fidec), Farmers Development Center (Fardec)) and the Naganhong Parokyano alang sa Kaluwasan sa Banay sa Naga (Nagpakabana Naga) said they will not only block the entry of Kepco-SPC but will also work on having the existing plants shut down.<br /><br />Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy<br /><br />The four groups will hold a press conference today to announce a series of mass protests and actions related to offshore mining, climate change and the Balili Beach Resort controversy.<br /><br />The groups will hold the conference in celebration of the International Day of Climate Action.<br /><br />Fidec executive director Vince Cinches said the Balili issue was accidentally discovered because they questioned why Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia entered into an agreement with Kepco for Capitol to dispose of the toxic waste of the Korean firm.<br /><br />Paid<br /><br />He said they received reports from their supporters in Naga that those who joined the rally were paid by somebody who is close to Kepco at P150 each.<br /><br />“The Naga people who are pro-environment reported that to us. We are investigating it,” Cinches said.<br /><br />But Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong refused to comment on the matter. He said no amount of explanation can change the mind of Cinches and the others because they have another agenda.<br /><br />Inoboran, Naga Barangay Captain Rodolfo Tomada Sr. said he and his constituents joined the rally in favor of Kepco because nobody has died of pollution-related diseases in Naga and Kepco will improve the town’s economy.<br /><br />Lawyer Benjamin Cabrido of GLACC said they are now polishing their petition to the Supreme Court for the High Tribunal to stop the construction of coal-fired plants in Cebu.<br /><br />Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 19, 2009.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-40326420701265038322009-10-02T09:52:00.003+08:002009-10-16T15:26:29.933+08:00Immediate Climate Action Needed to Prevent Future Destruction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFXjInZSwuVpNbNaNDxSsYbQncHfdhP7H3FwBXXnsozMvddSqZhBm0E8bCXuCikvZXTcXsqzHaSa83Hf04AeEMep1Cu98HWR85cyp29zLg-wpOrqrg9bvN9WivWG-XYd0gADu0Cr8Qx8/s1600-h/clip_image006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFXjInZSwuVpNbNaNDxSsYbQncHfdhP7H3FwBXXnsozMvddSqZhBm0E8bCXuCikvZXTcXsqzHaSa83Hf04AeEMep1Cu98HWR85cyp29zLg-wpOrqrg9bvN9WivWG-XYd0gADu0Cr8Qx8/s320/clip_image006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387815016182004274" /></a><br />Typhoon Ketsana Highlights Vulnerability of Developing Countries<br />Immediate Climate Action Needed to Prevent Future Destruction<br /><br />Nature will not wait for Copenhagen. <br /><br />This situation was made more clear as Typhoon Ketsana left widespread flooding in many countries, unleashed unprecedented rainfall in Metro Manila and caught a lot of people unprepared both in the Philippines and Vietnam. <br /><br />In the face of increasing frequency and strength of these weather events, the lack of proper infrastructure and planning in cities and towns of developing countries puts their urban population at risk. Developing countries lack the capacity to adapt to climate change induced rains and flooding. Their food security is threatened as their crops are destroyed by typhoons and their lives and homes destroyed by landslides, flooding and strong winds.<br /><br />Climate change already aggravates other environmental problems that communities have to face as a result of globalization's ever increasing destruction of our ecology. The poor communities that have long been struggling economically are unable to cope with this threat. <br /><br />The foot-dragging of the UNFCC in the intercessional meeting currently being held in Bangkok must stop. It is no longer a question that human activity has produced dangerous climate interference. The member countries of the UN, especially those from the developing countries, should not let the US and the G8 sabotage the negotiations for their benefit. Our goal should be to avoid catastrophic effects that could affect more than half of the world's population that are most vulnerable to climate change. <br /><br />Immediate climate action is needed now. We should insist that emitter nations, such as the US and other industrialized countries, indemnify communities and nations like ours so that we may be able to adapt to extreme weather events and other disasters that may come in the future.<br /><br />We should strive for a post-Kyoto climate agreement that will truly contain scientific and real solutions away from market based mechanisms to address global warming and climate change related concerns of the people of the world. <br /><br />We should strengthen our people's movements and mobilize our communities not only to adapt to the effects of climate change but to reject the current world system that brought us here in the first place. <br /><br />International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS)* Ibon International*APWLD *350.org* ECOT* Kalikasan PNE* SDF* Peace for Life*AGHAM* Roots for Equity* AGHAM* PAN-AP* APRN* AIPP* Asian Peasant Women’s Network* CANGO* FIDEC* COP* EILER* KMP* NGO COD* SEA OilWatch* TCJWG<br />Pacc.secretariat@gmail.com /Tel. Nos. 0890683517Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-22857385048853580282009-09-30T10:50:00.005+08:002009-09-30T17:56:40.886+08:00FISHERFOLKS APPEALED FOR A GENUINE AND BINDING CLIMATE POLICIES AT UNFCCC TALKS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCXGgFyY2Gxw6j86u7iCC4drTpynNpk7oDwcX4i-_ujZoIIPDzQG0iB4gilE5oiZiBAwkhK4xEubywA_SBcJnYbEYa2siMBs5fYkOZKnKY0_uZNl6GXsJgw0tnjMDuwgQ04kz6Eo9Hgc/s1600-h/DSC06452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCXGgFyY2Gxw6j86u7iCC4drTpynNpk7oDwcX4i-_ujZoIIPDzQG0iB4gilE5oiZiBAwkhK4xEubywA_SBcJnYbEYa2siMBs5fYkOZKnKY0_uZNl6GXsJgw0tnjMDuwgQ04kz6Eo9Hgc/s320/DSC06452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387087834827348834" /></a><br /><br /><br />PRESS STATEMENT<br /> <br /><br />September 29, 2009<br /><br /> <br />APPEAL FOR A GENUINE AND BINDING CLIMATE POLICIES AT UNFCCC TALKS<br /><br /> <br />We fisherfolks coming from different organizations in Sri Lanka, India, Philippines, and Thailand are here in front of United Nation ESCAP to dramatize our plight caused by the worsening impacts of climate change to marine ecosystems and our communities.<br /> <br /><br />Climate change has drastically altered our fishing ground. Our life is becoming harder and more miserable as we experience declining fish catch and production in our region.<br /> <br /><br />We are already experiencing the impacts affirmed by the Fourth Assessment Report of the UN-IPCC, that the unprecedented concentration of Global warming gasses is causing the rise of global ocean temperature leading to coral bleaching, calcification and death of marine species abundant I various waters found in our regions. <br /><br /> <br />Rising global temperatures does not only affect our food sources but is also making the sea level to rise, Millions of us are force out of our communities to seek higher grounds and in order to protect ourselves from frequent storm surges.<br /> <br /><br />Based on recent scientific data from various institutions, million hectares of coastal areas in Asia and South-East Asia such as India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, including the Coral Triangle consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippine archipelago considered as the center of global marine biodiversity will be heavily impacted by climate change related disasters.<br /><br /> <br />Worst irony of all, national governments in these regions, like the Philippines failed to protect its fishing communities and marine ecosystem and is accelerating the destruction of our lives and livelihood by pursuing globalization. This thrust is making fishefolks among the poorest in the country and most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. <br /><br /> <br />Fisherfolk leaders who were present at the protest action at UN agreed that “Climate negotiation should always put first the needs and rights of poor people like the fisherfolks in Southeast Asia and not the interest of northern rich countries like the United States, European Union and Japan. National governments in the region should learn from its experience in pursuing globalization policies like liberalizing the fishery sector does not lead to economic development but to widespread poverty and devastated environment.”<br /><br /> <br />The UNFCCC intersessional meeting here in Bangkok should lead to an international agreement that will genuinely address climate change and stop marine degradation in the region. In order to do this national governments should unite in opposing carbon intensive globalization policies in the region.<br /><br /><br />FIDEC Inc.<br />Sri Lankan Fisherfolks Federation<br />Southern Thailand Fisherfolks Federation<br />National Association of Fishermen Andhra<br />PAMALAKAYA Philippines<br />Students Federation of Thailand<br />Philippine Climate Watch AllianceUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-24499981008823726942009-09-27T15:26:00.002+08:002009-09-27T15:33:35.970+08:00BALILI ISSUE, COAL DEPENDENCE WILL BE OUR CENTRAL AGENDA AT BANGKOK UNFCC MEETING<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOo8NR-IFe1CoZxAdCI7c_9eFCG3eiDhp1qyAtVIbiFHaFzuuUn6_EW5n2Vln-SMLFrjQ3MxRqwHof3mWyN4-1Eb3jyi9Q748kRZLxp5efSvG75N1E2925aLWsMDebu21avpV3tXxVVk/s1600-h/pic-09270241370269.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOo8NR-IFe1CoZxAdCI7c_9eFCG3eiDhp1qyAtVIbiFHaFzuuUn6_EW5n2Vln-SMLFrjQ3MxRqwHof3mWyN4-1Eb3jyi9Q748kRZLxp5efSvG75N1E2925aLWsMDebu21avpV3tXxVVk/s320/pic-09270241370269.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386045928216030178" /></a><br />Press Release<br /><br /> <br /><br />September 27, 2009<br /><br /> <br /><br />BALILI ISSUE, COAL DEPENDENCE WILL BE OUR CENTRAL AGENDA AT BANGKOK UNFCC MEETING<br /><br />Cebuano environmental activist and the Executive Director of FIDEC Inc. in an emailed statement said that he will personally enure that the issue of coal-fired power plant construction in Cebu province will be included in various climate meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, including one inside the mini session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change starting tomorrow.<br /><br />Vince Cinches one of those nominated to sit as observer in the negotiation said that “We already requested meetings with negotiators to discuss with them proposed ways to cut our country’s GHG emission drastically.”<br /><br />“Our presence in Bangkok will ensure that Philippine Government’s representatives will toe the line of truth, and counter any of their moves for more coal-fired power plants in our Country that they are passing as climate friendly technology.”<br /><br />He added that a discussion on KEPCO and EDC coal-fired power plants is co-organized by Thai environmental activists, including the corruption issue involving the provincial government. “Climate Change has various contributors, one of which is corruption such as the Balili Issue in the Municipality of Naga.”<br /><br />He warned that Philippines will see more destruction and catastrophe greater than the one brought by Typhoon Ondoy. “at the center of this problem is the fossil-fuel centered policy of the national government and the Department of Energy, they are the culprit why the nation is suffering”<br /><br />“ I left the Philippines with a heavy heart knowing a lot of Filipinos are dead and displaced due to global warming induced Typhoon Ondoy, we cannot afford more extreme weather events to kill our population, we need to aggressively cut our GHG Emissions, we need to stop our addiction to fossil fuel and chose the path toward renewable and sustainable energy. “<br /><br /> According to the Fourth Assessment Report of United Nations – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Philippines will be among the many countries in South East Asia to be greatly affected by the changing climate.<br /><br />“ We will push for a more binding global climate policy, by putting in place the voices of the poor who are the most vulnerable, having no capacity to respond to climate change. Climate Change is making the poor becoming poorer. If our government cannot act in behalf of the nation because their hands are tied to trans-national and multinational oil and coal corporations, then we in the civil society will do it.”<br /><br />According to the website of UNFCCC, the Bangkok meeting is the first part of the ninth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and the first part of the seventh session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) and will take place between Monday 28 September and Friday 9 October 2009 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, 10200 Thailand .<br /><br /> <br /><br />Released by:<br /><br />Ghianne Rada<br /><br />Education and Training officer<br /><br />FIDEC Inc.<br /><br />256-1365Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-15608874234420454382009-09-21T11:51:00.002+08:002009-09-21T12:01:00.984+08:00Casting the Net for Sustainable Development: An NGO’s Work and Experience in the Fisherfolk Sector of Central Visayas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODEhSTHCbmuvC8dIgy6b9VGLYfJAgnGO0gPmvjJjbnJKMrLHkUlMLktVBtgtUIjZTF21cT9VIJja6AXyCQaoepnEY69t8xDQaCzFAmNjjhArsFrVI8PFU_TPAus2jJsBLYv6ORtNexhc/s1600-h/SITE.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODEhSTHCbmuvC8dIgy6b9VGLYfJAgnGO0gPmvjJjbnJKMrLHkUlMLktVBtgtUIjZTF21cT9VIJja6AXyCQaoepnEY69t8xDQaCzFAmNjjhArsFrVI8PFU_TPAus2jJsBLYv6ORtNexhc/s320/SITE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383765496596760930" /></a><br />(An excerpt from Ms. Kareen Kristeen Valmoria's paper on FIDEC)<br /><br />SUMMARY<br /><br />In a region that straddles four major fishing grounds in the Visayas (Tanon Strait, Cebu Strait, Camotes Sea and Bohol Sea, the existence of FIDEC-CV in the last 22 years has proven to be invaluable not only to the fisherfolk but also for the broader segment of the population. Not only has the NGO been able to effectively campaign for the rights of the fisherfolk to their livelihood and for protection of the local marine resources and ecology, it has also managed to educate other sectors and united them with the fisherfolk on and beyond local social and environmental issues.<br /><br />The long history of successful campaigns and projects is particularly attributable to comprehensive social investigation and study of the sector being serviced, establishment of highly-organized and independent fisherfolk organizations capable of managing local projects and campaigns, and a clear direction that unifies all programs and projects. This is most embodied in FIDEC-CV’s mission for a fisherfolk sector that is empowered to defend their rights and work around the objective of sustainable development. <br /><br />In its latest campaign against offshore mining, this thrust towards sustainable development particularly stands out. Beyond demanding the immediate recourse to fisherfolk whose livelihood is heavily affected through financial assistance and subsidies, FIDEC-CV has united broader sections of society in the fight against long-term ecological damage to Tanon Strait and nearby bodies of water which are also being targeted for oil exploration and offshore mining.<br /><br />However, because of the particular characteristics of the Philippine economic and political structure, the NGO also has an equally long experience with harassment from the state’s agents and armed forces. <br /><br /> The red-scare tactics (labeling as communist) has often proved to make the work of area organizers and coordinators more difficult. Conservative sections easily get intimidated especially because people peddling this black propaganda are police and military agents or assets. <br /><br /> This does not shut down or discourage the staff and organizers of FIDEC though. It’s record of enduring through 22 years of painstaking advocacy work among the fisherfolk is notable. <br /><br />CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br /><br />The Philippines purportedly has the “largest NGO density” in the entire world (Hilhorst, 2003). According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, from 23,800 in 1984, the number of NGO’s rose to 70,200 in 1995. However these figures include those that do not engage in development work. In 1995, when the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), the largest NGO alliance in the country, made a survey and counted 7,000 NGO’s all over the country. This does not even take into account the thousands of people’s organizations (PO’s) which form the social networks that the NGO’s work with. <br /><br />FIDEC-CV is one of these NGO’s and, as its contemporaries have, has moved into development work that is directed towards sustainable development for its beneficiary sector. According to Broad and Cavanagh in a study they conducted on Philippine NGO’s in 1993, most NGO’s in the Philippines define their vision for equitable and sustainable development as an “environmental movement that is a struggle for equity in the control and management of natural resources”. This is because the Philippine model for development is one that is rooted in inequality, with the perpetrating enterprises and individuals having strong political and military connections. For FIDEC-CV, this includes the large commercial fishing enterprises, tourism projects, and lately foreign oil and petroleum companies. <br /><br />In Central Visayas, as well as the rest of the Philippines, environmentalist agenda is always a political agenda for this reason. The marginalized sectors, in this case the fisherfolk, face opponents holding enough power to ignore or bypass laws or even twist them according to their whims. In order to effectively engage them, NGO’s in development work should always have as its closest allies the peoples’ organizations (PO’s). Throughout the long history of FIDEC-CV, it has always upheld that sustainable development is a participatory development. As is obvious by now, NGO work in this country ultimately illustrates the situation that a class society is daily mired in: a struggle for better access to wealth, power, and prestige.<br /><br />According to Dutch researcher Dorothea Hilhorst in her book ‘The Real World of NGO’s’ (2003, Ateneo de Manila University Press), the arena of NGO’s in development work has been traditionally held by the Philippine left since the Martial Law years and in fact many of the NGO leaders and staff went underground at the height of the Philippine communist insurgency in the 1980’s. All throughout the bloody military campaigns that political regimes waged against the insurgency since Aquino’s, NGO’s in development work have been raided and ransacked by state troops, its officers and staff harassed and murdered, and its allied people’s organizations subjected to intensive militarization.<br /><br />“To become an active environmentalist in the Philippines is to risk one’s life.” (Broad and Cavanagh, 1993). This is because FIDEC-CV and similar NGO’s are challenging the most powerful elements of Philippine society. Groups and individuals who are moved to partner with them are therefore increasingly convinced that to fight for the environment is to fight for basic and democratic rights. This has been put forward many times by development workers and leaders: the struggle for sustainable development in the Philippines is intricately linked with the struggle for peace and human rights. <br /><br /> The communist tag and red scare tactics adopted by the state to stop marginalized communities from forming PO’s and aligning with NGO’s is actually ineffective if countered with sustained education on social and environmental issues. Organizers and staff of FIDEC-CV and other NGO’s in development work must be able to clearly articulate the bigger social picture to the beneficiary communities. They must be able to explain in logical and simple terms how they are inextricably connected to the struggle to protect the environment and similarly to the struggle for peace and human rights.<br /><br /> However, NGO’s must give particular attention to socio-economic projects because beneficiaries, though convinced of the issues at hand, cannot sustain without some form of alleviation to their poor economic power. In large scale campaigns like the one against offshore mining, FIDEC-CV must be able to provide solutions and alternatives to the loss of livelihood. This should not be too hard once it has expanded its influence and alliances to sectors with better access to economic resources. This should be high on the list of the agenda for discussion in its Save The Tanon Strait Citizens’ Movement.<br /><br /> Former development worker and social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman said in an interview with Broad and Cavanagh that a balance should be struck with long-term goals for sustainable development and the here and now. The fisherfolk affected by development projects require immediate assistance. <br /><br /> Area development is a painstaking step-by-step process. We cannot expect the people to be able to take control of local resources without a reaction from the powers-that-be from the bureaucracy and their allied foreign and local capitalist enterprises. Most of FIDEC-CV’s successful campaigns in the last two decades have been, at their best, partial victories. Without extensive and intensive changes in the economic and political structure of the country, all the stumbling blocks in the way of sustainable development will stay in place. <br /><br /> However, as a final note in this research, let me just point out that the Philippine NGO sector has been noted to be one of the most dynamic in the whole world. As FIDEC-CV has proven, it has learned its lessons in development work. As long as this culture for improvement is maintained, through even marginal or partial victories, development work in the Philippines will continue to get closer to its vision of equitable and sustainable development. <br /><br /> As we know, even ecologically-destroyed and depleted seas and rivers can be restored through sustained protection policies and campaigns. One day, the fishermen of Central Visayas will cast their nets and find that they are hauling in victories for themselves and for their nation.<br /><br />REFERENCES<br /><br />Broad, Robin and Cavanagh, John. 1993. From Plunder to Sustainability. Plundering Paradise: The Struggle for the Environment in the Philippines. pp. 133-157. Berkeley: University of California Press.<br /><br />Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center. 2007. Documents, including Annual Report, Operations Manual, Brief History of FIDEC, and Student Internship Program.<br /><br />Cinches, Vince. Powerpoint presention on the Save Tanon Strait Citizens’ Movement at forum in University of San Carlos, Cebu City, March 2008.<br /><br />Hilhorst, Dorothea. 2003. The Politics of NGO-ing. The Real World of NGOs. pp. 1-27. Ateneo de Manila University Press.<br /><br />Olofson, Harold and Tiukinhoy, Araceli. 1992. Plain Soldiers: Muro-ami fishing in Cebu. Philippine Studies 40 (1): 35-52.<br /><br />Seki, Koki. 2004. Maritime Migration in the Visayas: A Case Study of Dalaguetenon Fisherfolk in Cebu. Ateneo de Manila University Press.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-23159595409540143922009-09-18T01:13:00.002+08:002009-09-18T01:18:39.356+08:00Fisherfolks group seeks coal-fired plants’ moratorium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KTserttTjRRxM4HkXuO-Ph5uwKS_RIvjpTcpOxFusqYA74HghObKWs6aUruj8SvdwjWyhVmfHePM4FrfQrXXPLuBi5rbRcn9BSYSbzfZ8eyOwIk60GLZWdBGOQEFYC6KVWBApFgUgWE/s1600-h/expansion.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KTserttTjRRxM4HkXuO-Ph5uwKS_RIvjpTcpOxFusqYA74HghObKWs6aUruj8SvdwjWyhVmfHePM4FrfQrXXPLuBi5rbRcn9BSYSbzfZ8eyOwIk60GLZWdBGOQEFYC6KVWBApFgUgWE/s320/expansion.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382486803410327666" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.cdn.ph/photostore/news_details.php?id=3705">Fisherfolks group seeks coal-fired plants’ moratorium </a> <br /> <br /> <br />By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Editorial Assistant<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />A NON-GOVERNMENT organization for marginalized fisherfolks is seeking a moratorium on coal-fired power plants because the adverse effects of climate change also affects the marginalized society.<br /><br />The group, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center (Fidec) Inc., also called on the government to instead harness the country's renewable energy sources.<br /><br />The call came amid the expanding campaign of different groups across the country for a moratorium on coal-fired plants.<br /><br />“It is high time for a moratorium especially at this time when we feel the worsening effects of climate change that threatens, in particular, the food security of our country,” said Vince Cinches, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. executive director.<br /><br />He cited the construction of power plants in Cebu, specifically two 400- megawatt power plants operated by Salcon Power Corporation and another plant under construction, which owned by Korean Electric Power Corporation – SPC both in Naga City, Cebu.<br /><br />Cebu Daily News tried to get the side of KSPC, but as of press time there was no official statement released by the company.<br /><br />“To think that the Philippines is the second in the world in terms of capacity to produce geothermal energy. The government is not harnessing the country's renewable energy sources. The government is promoting activities that accelerate the effects of climate change,” said Cinches.<br /><br />Cinches said the members of the Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA) from South Korea had issued a warning against the proliferation of coal-fired project plants in the country.<br /><br />Meggie Nolasco, PCWA spokesperson, said the Arroyo administration was pursuing at least nine coal-fired power plant projects in the country.<br /><br />These were the 300 megawatt (MW) expansion in Pagbilao, Quezon; 100 MW in Concepcion, Iloilo; 165 MW in Iloilo City; 200 MW each in Naga and Toledo Cities in Cebu; 300 MW expansion in Masinloc, Zambales; 300 MW in Olongapo, Zambales; 150 MW in Sultan Kudarat; and 200 MW in Saranggani.<br /><br />The government also issued 44 coal mining contracts in the country.<br /><br />Nolasco called the Arroyo government as the major promoter of pollutive technologies and dirty source of energy in the country because coal has been identified as the dirtiest source of energy and a major contributor to pollution and global warming.<br /><br />“It is thus alarming that majority of the power plants that are poised to be constructed in the country are coal-fired, at the same time the government is very generous in issuing coal mining permits to private corporations,” said Nolasco.<br /><br />She said there is an expanding campaign from the moratorium on coal power plants in the Philippines.<br /><br />The campaign included the rally launched in Sarangani province yesterday, the recent solidarity mission in Cebu, the environmental investigative mission in Iloilo, and the planned protest action in Catanduanes this week.<br /><br />She said there will also be a signature campaign to show the ire of the people against the environmentally disastrous projects.<br /><br />Dr. Giovanni Tapang, of science activist group AGHAM, said coal power plants are now being packaged as a clean technology.<br /><br />“Contrary to many scientific studies and research, coal proponents are promising that these plants are environmentally safe and pose no dangers to public health. But the fact is coal emits large volume of air pollution and produces toxic chemicals that can enter the environment and the food chain,” he said.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-3336789570498194892009-09-03T10:46:00.001+08:002009-09-03T10:46:47.394+08:00Government's Climate ProgramAn overview: Climate change and its impact under RP settings <br />By Reynaldo L. Lanuza / Ecosystems Research and Development Service DENR-7 (The Freeman) Updated September 03, 2009 12:00 AM<br /><br />Major threats and challenges, management gaps<br /><br />CEBU, Philippines - Climate change is defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a change of climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere. It is a climate variability observed globally over a considerable period of time. The adverse effects of climate change indicate alteration of the environment which has significant detrimental effects on the composition, flexibility or productivity of natural and managed ecosystems.<br /><br />The Philippines is one of the developing countries expected to suffer most of the negative effects of climate change. Indeed, climate change is threatening the biophysical environment as manifested by increasing air temperature, rising sea levels, diminishing water tables, and unpredictable weather such as El Niño induced droughts, changing rainfall pattern, frequency and intensity of typhoons resulting to occurrence of flash floods and landslides, surges, biodiversity loss, and losses of properties and lives.<br /><br />Moreover, the effects of climate change also include significant decrease in crop productivity due to incidence of new disease strains and unpredictable climate. Consequently, this will intensify socio-economic problems due low income, high price of basic commodities and may ultimately result to civil unrest.<br /><br />The government is now confronted with great challenges in developing measures and strategies to slow down the effects of climate change. These challenges include the generation of information and development of information systems, intensification of information, education and communication (IEC) campaign, innovation and advancement of environment-friendly technologies, adequate financial support, formulation of effective plans and programs, good legislative agenda, and strong and persistent political will.<br /><br />The management gaps are as follows: a) institution of measures to mitigate the impacts on the most vulnerable areas on the social, economic and ecological systems, and b) sustainability of food production and people’s livelihood.<br /><br />Role of DENR and Institutional Framework on National Policy<br /><br /><br />DENR is the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources. Its mission is to serve as driving force in the pursuit of sustainable development, enabling the stakeholders’ participation in the protection, conservation and management of environment and natural resources for the present and future generations. DENR is adopting the eco-governance concepts and strategies such as transparency, accountability and participation.<br /><br />The Research, Development and Extension (RDE) framework of DENR deals on the conduct of vulnerability assessments, carrying capacity determination, rehabilitation of degraded areas, production of good quality planting materials, biomass and carbon sequestration, ecotourism, biosafety/biosecurity and biotechnology, biofuels and alternative source of energy, and effective technology transfer activities.<br /><br />International experts in climate change recommended the intensification of reforestation of degraded forestlands as one of the measures to sequester carbon from the atmosphere thereby reducing the impacts of climate change.<br /><br />Moreover, the government, through the DENR, should also consider a policy framework for financing climate change adaptation and mitigation mechanism that will address the following: a) capital build-up of a forestry fund for financing people-based restoration activities that are supportive to social and economic infrastructure; b) administration of forestry fund by DENR with multisectoral Board of Trustee; c) establishment of an efficient fund allocation system; and d) institution of a payback system on fund investments.<br /><br />Strategies in combating climate change<br /><br />With the current threats and challenges, there is a dire need to refocus and prioritize research, development and extension activities. There are two ways to address climate change, namely, adaptation and mitigation.<br /><br />Consequently, the current interests will focus on these two ways. Adaptation is characterized by preparedness, increase resilience, employment of coping mechanisms and capitalizing on opportunities. On the other hand, mitigation refers to action that aims to reduce emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through emission avoidance or enhancing carbon sinks and sources.<br /><br />While various initiatives and interventions have been done in line with the improvement of environmental conditions, appropriate mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of climate change may require the generation, application and adoption of methodological and technological innovations. - THE FREEMANUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-60934281600497996152009-08-20T11:15:00.000+08:002009-08-20T11:16:45.545+08:00Cebu fishermen join protest vs NY dinner<a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090819-220958/Cebu-fishermen-join-protest-vs-NY-dinner"><br />Cebu fishermen join protest vs NY dinner </a><br />By Iste Sesante Leopoldo<br />Inquirer Visayas<br />First Posted 01:32:00 08/19/2009<br /><br />Filed Under: Food, Restaurants & catering, Government, Travel & Commuting, Protest<br />CEBU CITY, Philippines—At least 20 members of a militant fisherman’s group shared a set of meal that could be their daily fare but which Tuesday became a symbol of their protest against allegedly excessive spending by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her US trip.<br /><br />Members of the Panaghugpong Sa Gagmayng Mangingisda sa Sugbo (Alliance of Small Fisherfolk in Cebu) ate lunch of rice and dried fish in a protest action in front of the Malacañang sa Sugbo here.<br /><br />“How can they manage to spend lavishly on their meals when the whole country, especially the marginalized sector, cannot afford to have a meal three times a day?” said Victor Lapaz, Pamana Sugbo chair.<br /><br />He said the meal that his group ate was the fishermen’s usual fare.<br /><br />He said fishermen usually skip breakfast and dinner because of extreme poverty.<br /><br />“It’s okay if they don’t have breakfast or dinner as long as they can have lunch so they will have enough energy for work,” Lapaz said.<br /><br />The National Statistical Coordinating Board has identified the fishing sector as among the poorest in the country.<br /><br />The board said a family of five needs P6,274 a month to survive.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-61758418005381295112009-08-08T03:15:00.001+08:002009-08-08T03:15:59.684+08:00UN takes cognizance over oil explorations in Visayas seashttp://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=494161&publicationSubCategoryId=107<br /><br />UN takes cognizance over oil explorations in Visayas seas <br />(The Freeman) Updated August 08, 2009 12:00 AM<br /><br />CEBU, Philippines - The Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. warned local government units and other authorities supporting off-shore mining operation that the international community is now aware of the plight of fisher folk affected by the explorations attempts.<br /><br />Vince Cinches, executive director of Fidec, said that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has responded to the online petition posted last year on the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty website.<br /><br />The petition letter on “hunger and plunder in the seas of central Philippines” was addressed to officials of the government, including the president, as well as the international organization for the protection of the environment. It gained thousands of signatories from supporters around the world.<br /><br />The response from the UN states that “the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right food, Mr. Oliver De Schutter, has received information on the oil and gas exploration projects in the Tañon Strait region in the Philippines. As he examines this information, we would be most grateful if you could provide us with some clarifications.”<br /><br />Ciches said the UN and Fidec are presently coordinating with each other and sharing information on the case. Information is being held confidential until the UN makes it move on the issue.<br /><br />PCFS and Fidec are seeking explanation from the concerned parties over the findings of a recent International Fact-Finding Mission by the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific on the effects of off-shore oil and gas exploration activities in the protected seascape of Tañon Strait and Cebu-Bohol Strait in Central Philippines.<br /><br />The authors of the petition said Tañon Strait is one of the world’s most unique and important centers for marine biodiversity, a breeding ground for 14 species of cetaceans. Cebu-Bohol Strait, meanwhile, hosts nearby the Danajon Double Barrier Reefs Bank, one of only six double barrier reefs in the world.<br /><br />“However, due to service contracts awarded by the Philippine government to the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) and the Australia-based NorAsia Energy Ltd., environmentally-destructive seismic surveys and drilling operations have been conducted in the area even without prior consultation with local communities and government officials,” the petition reads.<br /><br /> Fish catch reportedly declined by 70 to 80 percent, causing hunger and displacement of thousands of small fisher folk in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.<br /><br />“They have been banned from fishing while exploration activities were ongoing and thus denied of their constitutional rights over municipal waters and their basic right to food and livelihood. A scientific study also indicates that these activities have disturbed the natural habitat of dolphins and whales,” the letter stated further. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-81986526672129402732009-08-06T13:08:00.000+08:002009-08-06T13:09:17.256+08:00Environmentalists: Study long-term effects of coal ashhttp://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=493485&publicationSubCategoryId=107<br /><br />CEBU NEWS<br />Environmentalists: Study long-term effects of coal ash <br />(The Freeman) Updated August 06, 2009 12:00 AM<br /><br />CEBU, Philippines - Environmentalists, in a forum yesterday, gave further explanation on coal ash and other hazardous wastes that contribute to greenhouse gases, emphasizing the “need to delve first into the long-term effects of coal ash to public health, being a worthwhile investment.”<br /><br />Francis de la Cruz of Greenpeace, who tackled on the topic “Coal: Anything but clean,” explained that despite the reports saying that coal-fired power plants will be securing the energy supply of the province, its long-term effects on the health of the people should not be taken lightly.<br /><br />He said that there are always other ways to produce energy from all over the country and conserve it without harming the environment and risking the health of the people.<br /><br />Health implications of these said wastes and coal ash was also discussed by Dr. Romeo Quijano, a toxicologist and a professor of UP, explaining further how high toxicity is found in wastes that could effect to diseases such as in the heart, brain and kidney.<br /><br />Quijano said that people may experience the effect of the toxins immediately or may show in a few years depending on how the person has closely been contaminated by wastes and the allergic reactions these may cause.<br /><br />Lito Vasquez of the Freedom from Debt Coalition-Cebu discussed on the investments made that have added to environmental damage. He stressed on the current issue of the loan asked by the Korea Electric Power Corporation-Salcon Power Corporation to the Asian Development Bank which is said to be approved on August 18.<br /><br />Vasquez said that they will be passing within this week a petition to the bank seeking a stop to the granting of loans. The petition would be signed by various groups.<br /><br />The changes and the negative effects of coal ash produced by coal-fired power plants in the communities, especially those near the plants were also highlighted to raise public awareness on the effects of toxins to public health.<br /><br />Vince Cinches of the Fisherfolk Development Center discussed this to the group citing an area in Toledo City, as an example, where “coal ash is found all over.”<br /><br />The Global Legal Action on Climate Change led by lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, other leading environmental groups, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines initiated the forum participated in by students who mostly are taking up law at the University of the Philippines, University of San Jose-Recoletos, and the University of San Carlos. — AJ de la Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-12607493583858628592009-07-08T21:52:00.002+08:002009-07-08T21:58:37.944+08:00Ecology lawyers question Naga ash waste deal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF6wwnimLSxHKM5bMWsTELoZaugChmXk3RogWs_vJCRBVa4g4-GwpgaIHsnQI-MQ6g59U0I7Y8wfUut_X60laGk6Iv805kzcDS-lqmslCdSwxVPizBQ9k0lvzbUTrpN0_NkxMgeOI0cM/s1600-h/DSC05455.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF6wwnimLSxHKM5bMWsTELoZaugChmXk3RogWs_vJCRBVa4g4-GwpgaIHsnQI-MQ6g59U0I7Y8wfUut_X60laGk6Iv805kzcDS-lqmslCdSwxVPizBQ9k0lvzbUTrpN0_NkxMgeOI0cM/s320/DSC05455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356088338791894914" /></a><br />Ecology lawyers question Naga ash waste deal<br />By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Editorial Assistant<br /><br />Why did the province of Cebu pay P100 million to buy land in Naga town that is partly submerged in water? And what are the health safeguards of using it as a dumping site for ash from coal-fired power plants to be built in Naga?<br /><br />These questions were raised by environmental lawyers following the Cebu provincial government's announced plan to install a coal ash waste facility there and to reclaim five hectares of the 25-hectare Balili beach resort using the waste ash of Kepco’s power plants once they operate in 2011.<br /><br />“Only alienable land of public domain may be conveyed into private ownership,” said lawyer Benjamin Cabrido in a press conference. He was referring to the beach resort bought from the late Engr. Luis Balili last year.<br /><br />Cabrido said they were informed that 40 percent of the property is submerged in water.<br /><br />“That property which includes a mangrove area cannot be titled at all. Why did the province pay P100 million when this is land in the public domain?” he asked.<br /><br />The health risks of coal-fired plants were also raised by the lawyers.<br />“This is not ordinary ash that you get when you burn firewood. This is a fossil-based fuel coal,” said Cabrido.<br /><br />Vince Cinches, Center for Fisherfolk Development executive director, said they measured the volume of heavy metals found in coal ash in Toledo City and Naga town in Cebu.<br /><br />The coal ash contained 1.70 ppm (parts per million) of arsenic, 1.00ppm of chromium, 2.30 ppm of lead and 0.07 ppm of mercury.<br /><br />Arsenic, lead and mercury are toxic heavy metals.<br /><br />Lawyers Cabrido and Gloria Estenzo-Ramos sent a letter of complaint to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez and Provincial Board members yesterday.<br />PB Majority Floor Leader Victor Maambong said they received the “open letter” before yesterday's session and will hold a caucus to discuss its concerns.<br /><br />In the letter, the lawyers sought a copy of the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Cebu provincial government and Kepco and all pertinent documents in the agreement.<br /><br />Cabrido said they asked for a copy of the Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC, the Deed of Sale and a copy of the Statements of Income and Expenditures of the province for the past three years.<br /><br />The lawyers also asked Cebu officials to disclose what programs they implemented to protect the environment in accordance with such laws as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Fisheries Code of the Philippines.<br /><br />Under the Local Government Code, LGUs should prioritize funds for health, sanitation and environment, said Ramos.<br /><br />“People living near coal-fired power plants have a very high incidence of cancer. The plants produce carbon and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. The water is contaminated with heavy metals,” she said.<br /><br />“Has the government purchased equipment to measure the quality of air, water and sea where coal power plants and polluting activities are located?” Ramos asked.<br /><br />With Reporter Doris C. BongcacUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-88071282964990051472009-06-30T13:23:00.004+08:002009-06-30T13:28:00.204+08:00Fishermen send rotten fish to protest oil explorations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQao-nvKe7i3nJmWkQ3nUtgO5h025S1YXI7YCMrDSnbfd5SPB4dv34qQri2VE0WD5LWnpDiRibZzVo3LtAR7qwgslx7PEqAS3B5hVlzcl4cBF85S-9lLfp_SVjoOjhEGUf7vBtswIt2M/s1600-h/5024_1020999302005_1735877228_47342_7147533_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQao-nvKe7i3nJmWkQ3nUtgO5h025S1YXI7YCMrDSnbfd5SPB4dv34qQri2VE0WD5LWnpDiRibZzVo3LtAR7qwgslx7PEqAS3B5hVlzcl4cBF85S-9lLfp_SVjoOjhEGUf7vBtswIt2M/s320/5024_1020999302005_1735877228_47342_7147533_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352987457094775522" /></a><br /><br />http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=482412&publicationSubCategoryId=107<br /><br />Fishermen send rotten fish to protest oil explorations<br />Updated June 30, 2009 12:00 AM<br /><br />CEBU, Philippines – A group of fishermen yesterday delivered rotten fish to Department of Energy Regional Director Antonio Labios to protest the oil explorations in the waters of Cebu and Bohol, which they said is the cause of the deteriorating catch in recent days.<br /><br />Labios reportedly received the fish, which was placed in a brown envelope.<br /><br />Isaias Angco, Vice Chairman of Pamana Sugbo, said the rotten fish symbolizes how the department is “slowly killing” the fishes and fishermen after it allowed the oil explorations in Tañon Strait and in the seas of Argao and Sibonga towns.<br /><br />“Sila man unta ang naa sa authority nga mu-protektar sa kinaiyahan, sila naman hinuon ang nag-daot,” Angco said.<br /><br />The fishermen who joined yesterday’s rally at DOE said their catch has reportedly decreased since the oil explorations commenced.<br /><br />The group will also hold a lightning rally to cap the observance of environment month this June.<br /><br />“Ang amo lang kay dili lang ta nila hilabtan ang panginabuhi sa mga mangingisda,” Angco said, adding, that they hope authorities will realize the damage the oil explorations are giving the environment and the people.<br /><br />Angco said the protests will continue until the government stops the explorations.<br /><br />Angco said they already sent position papers to the office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Human Rights on the issue. — AJ A. de la Torre/JMO (THE FREEMAN)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783429342681004296.post-79132809566275964902009-06-05T15:51:00.001+08:002009-06-05T16:10:03.730+08:00Legal petitions to mark Env’t Day todayhttp://cdn.ph/photostore/news_details.php?id=2695<br /><br />Legal petitions to mark Env’t Day today 6/5<br /><br /> <br />By Ma. Bernadette Parco, Editorial Assistant<br /><br /><br /> <br />THE CELEBRATION of the United Nations’ World Environment Day today will be marked by the announcement of pro-environment legal petitions filed in different parts of the country.<br /><br />An umbrella group of environmentalists, Global Legal Action against Climate Change (GLACC), aims to check the extent of the implementation of environmental laws by government agencies, local government units and public officials.<br /><br />“This (kind of celebration) is an opportunity for communities suffering from environmental problems to stand up and do something. This is a commitment of Cebuanos in coordination with lawyers,” said Vince Cinches, executive director of the Central Visaysas Fisherfolk Development Center, a member of GLACC.<br /><br />“We would like to start to put an end to environmental problems experienced by Cebuanos,” he added.<br /><br />Cinches said that in Cebu, environmental issues include the rehabilitation of the Lagundi Reef in Talisay City, pollution caused by coal-fired power plants, reclamation projects in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City, privatization of water bodies, off-shore mining and deforestation.<br /><br />He also said there is an urgent need to curtail the effects of climate change by promoting an environment-friendly lifestyle among Cebuanos as well as ensure proper implementation of environmental laws.<br /><br />Cinches said the inconsistent weather is one result of bad environmental care.<br /><br />“In other parts of the country, people are experiencing the rainy season but in the Visayas it seems like it is still summer,” he said.<br /><br />“We have classified the petitions under five areas of concern: land, air, water, energy and sea. These are our basic life support system that we are also destroying,” he said.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0