CENTRAL VISAYAS FISHERFOLK DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC. ADVOCACY PAGE

Renewable Energy Summit - The Green Economy Series

2011-03-03T13:45:00.004+08:00

Rationale

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For reference:

The Secretariat

Hon. Ma. Nida C. Cabrera, Cebu City Councilor (Chair- Environment Committee)
(032-2551655, 032-2532206)

A2D Project—Research Group for Alternatives to Development
c/o Kaira Zoe Alburo, Executive Director (09202709388)

Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center
c/o Vince Cinches, Executive Director (09228463900)

Philippine Earth Justice Center
c/o Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, Executive Director (09189111267)

COAL IS EXPENSIVE.

2010-08-14T15:25:00.002+08:00

August 14, 2010

Press Statement

COAL IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.

Vince Cinches
Coordinator, Visayas Climate Action Network
Executive Director
FIDEC Inc.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

• Seven-year income tax holidays for RE developers
• Exemption from VAT and duty-free importation of equipment and machinery
• Reduction of corporate income tax after the expiry of the income tax holiday, to 10 percent of net income
• Zero percent VAT rate for the sale of power from RE
• Duty-free importation of equipment
• Tax credit on domestic capital equipment and services
• Special realty tax rates, income tax holidays, net operating loss carry-over, accelerated depreciation and exemption from the universal charge and wheeling charges.
• Exemption from all taxes of the proceeds from the sale of carbon credits.
• Assurance to investors in wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river hydropower and biomass in electricity generated from these clean sources through feed-in tariffs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We have an option, and one that is without coal in it.##

Sources Philippine Electricity Demand Projections, by Maitet Diokno-pascual
True Cost of Coal – Greenpeace International

Ecogov releases book on reef management

2010-07-04T08:45:00.000+08:00

Ecogov releases book on reef management

By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez

TO enable fisherfolk to see value in coastal resource management, a project has published a guidebook on community reef monitoring.

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.

“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.

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The other authors are Andre Uychiaoco, Stuart Green, Margarita dela Cruz, Paulyn Gaite, Hazel Arceo and Alan White.

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.

“(I hope) this will be useful to other partners in establishing MPAs,” Jatulan said.

Arunkumar Abraham, EcoGov2 chief of party, said copies of the guidebook will be distributed to local government units.

Jatulan said a copy can also be downloaded from www.oneocean.org.ph.

Abraham said the guidebook aims to promote a participatory or community-level approach in coral reef management by simplifying highly technical information.

It is also a practical tool to use since it advocates a step-by-step process in management.

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.

It is also significant since the country is the leader in the Coral Triangle.

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.

“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.

Anabelle Trinidad, Conservation International’s representative to the Coral Triangle Support Program, said the guidebook is “relevant and timely.”

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.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 4, 2010.

NEW OIL SURVEY OPPOSED

2010-03-13T14:47:00.001+08:00

NEW OIL SURVEY OPPOSED 3/13

Fisherfolk fear effect of seismic survey in Cebu, Leyte, Bohol waters
By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Senior Editorial Assistant

Her family relies on three kilos of fish that her husband would catch on a good day.
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.
“Pamugas ra ning amo (We use the money to buy rice),” she said.
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.
At a press conference, Gomersindo said he fears the survey would distrub the sea and affect his only source of livelihood.
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.
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.
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.
The survey period in Borbon will “take only a total of about 15 hours” over two to three days.
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.
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.
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.
He was joined by other leaders of fishermen's association and environmental lawyers in Cebu City.
“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.
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.
The present plan involves a wider range.
In 2008, NorAsian planned to explore natural reserves at least seven km off the coastlines of Langtad, Argao in western Cebu.
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.
For the current activity in the Camotes sea, the scope of the survey reaches about 900-line kilometers.
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.
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.”
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).”
The project violates the preferential right of small fisherfolk as the marine resources in intertidal areas or shallow waters are affected.
“Do we sacrifice the marine ecosystem for a small amount of oil?” asked lawyer Benjamin Cabrido.
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.
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.
“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.
“Sa among understanding nakasabot sila (We believe they understood the exploration activity),” he added.
Labios also said DOE consulted the officials and residents of Borbon town in four visits and orientation sessions.
“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.
“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.
Labios said payaws that will be compensated must be certified by the municipal agricultural and fisheries office.
“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.
He said marine mammal scientists from Australia will be present during the activity.
“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.
“The boat can stay in an area for seven hours, but the seismic survey is only for 2.5 hours,” he said.
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.
He said the study showed that fish yield dropped from six to 11 kilos to zero to 2.5 kilos.
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.”
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.

LGUs need to address climate issues

2009-12-23T09:42:00.000+08:00

LGUs need to address climate issues
By Garry A. Cabotaje

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.

“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.

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.

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Cinches recommended that the LGUs tie up with other sectors to implement programs aimed at minimizing the disastrous effects of climate change.

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.

Christine Homez, city planning and development coordinator, said Talisay City has to come up with measures as it is vulnerable to floods and landslides.

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.

Homez said the storms served as a wake-up call for the city to initiate plans against natural calamities and disasters.

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.

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.

The budget, she said, was supposed to be used for the CLUP’s “climate change sensitive” program.

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.

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.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 20, 2009.

Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan

2009-12-14T13:32:00.000+08:00

FIDEC Inc. Won the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan Award for Organizations

2009-12-11T08:19:00.003+08:00

Awards for unsung environmental heroes launched

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.

"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.

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:

* · 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.
* · 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.
* · 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.

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:

* · 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.
* · 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.
* · 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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

Reference: Frances Quimpo, Executive Director, CEC-Phils., 09178846325.

Sangtuwaryo: A fisherfolks’ tale

2009-11-21T12:05:00.000+08:00

We are selling this film.

Sangtuwaryo: A fisherfolks’ tale
By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco
Cebu Daily News First Posted 15:05:00 08/16/2009 Filed Under: Cinema

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.

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.

“These, ladies and gentlemen,” said environment lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. “are naturals.”

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.

“I was enthusiastic about the project because of my tatay,” said Archie Modequillo, the director.

“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.

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.

He said his father would have learned more about caring for the environment if a similar film had been made years ago.

“But he would remind us not to destroy the pagatpat (mangrove seedlings),” said Modequillo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The film revolves around the life of a family living in Duyong, a poor fishing village on an islet.

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.

He and wife Gaya have two boys and a baby girl.

But one day, Lito’s youngest child, Inday, gets sick with dengue and has to be taken to the hospital in the town.

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.

“I asked the producers who was the target audience. I said the people may not be ready for this,” Modequillo recalled.

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.

Modequillo handled the camerawork.

“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.

The crew and cast ended up having to act and do production work at the same time.

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.

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.

“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.

Ribo was also the film's props man and assistant director in charge of preparing the small roles or extras.

The leading man, Aljoy Sayson, the tall, deeply tanned, serious fisherman in the film was the project’s biggest discovery.

He was playing basketball when the director pulled him aside and asked him to read some lines of the script.

His “quiet dignity” and even voice convinced Modequillo he had found the right “Lito”.

Melino Potong, described as the “best and bravest” blast fisher in Sta. Fe town on Bantayan Island, had a cameo role.

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.

“Blast fishing disturbs the fish, the people on the island. Today, nobody uses blast fishing. Especially after we got caught,” he said in Cebuano.

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.

As director, Modequillo said he wondered about the quality of the film they had finished.

“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.

To the movie audience, Modequillo said there is a world begging for our attention and love.

“I hope the film can move us to do our share and respond to that call,” he said. With Eileen Mangubat

cebu for 350

2009-10-26T11:23:00.003+08:00

SINULOG FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND 350 UNLIGHTED CANDLES!

What is this about?

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.

This is one of the many actions we take to tackle fossil-fueled commerce.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you.
JOIN US AND CONTACT US. Visayas.can@gmail.com 2561365 350.org/cebu
VISAYAS CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK – GLACC, FIDEC, FARDEC, SIBAT, CERNET, FPE, UC COLLEGE OF LAW, UP POLITICAL SCIENCE

350 CLIMATE ACTION IN CEBU

2009-10-24T22:25:00.004+08:00

Tañon unlike any worldwide

2009-10-22T07:38:00.001+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/ta%C3%B1-unlike-any-worldwide

Tañon unlike any worldwide

By Liberty A. Pinili

THERE’s another reason to protect Tañon Strait.

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.

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.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

“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.

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.

Too special

“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.

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.

Carpenter noted that while the Tañon Strait has been declared a national protected area, enforcement of protection laws has been wanting.

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.

“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.

He stressed the importance of establishing a network of MPAs and strict enforcement of laws against destructive fishing practices.

Economic sense

He said communities and local governments tasked to manage MPAs should use the fees collected from divers to finance maintenance and protection measures.

He stressed that protecting the country’s marine environment also makes economic sense with long-term benefits.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carpenter is one of the scientists assessing the threatened species list for the Coral Triangle area.

His visit to Cebu was part of the assistance pledged by the US to the Coral Triangle Initiative.

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.

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.

Groups eye Naga plants

2009-10-20T13:18:00.003+08:00

Groups eye Naga plants

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20091020-231121/Groups-eye-Naga-plants

CEBU-based environmental groups recently joined an international campaign aimed at curtailing the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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.

“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.

He said the country's carbon dioxide level now stands at 387 ppm.

Groups vow to push fight vs. power firms

2009-10-19T16:46:00.001+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/groups-vow-push-fight-vs-power-firms

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.

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.

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.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

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.

The groups will hold the conference in celebration of the International Day of Climate Action.

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.

Paid

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.

“The Naga people who are pro-environment reported that to us. We are investigating it,” Cinches said.

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.

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.

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.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 19, 2009.

Immediate Climate Action Needed to Prevent Future Destruction

2009-10-02T09:52:00.003+08:00

Typhoon Ketsana Highlights Vulnerability of Developing Countries
Immediate Climate Action Needed to Prevent Future Destruction

Nature will not wait for Copenhagen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
Pacc.secretariat@gmail.com /Tel. Nos. 0890683517

FISHERFOLKS APPEALED FOR A GENUINE AND BINDING CLIMATE POLICIES AT UNFCCC TALKS

2009-09-30T10:50:00.005+08:00

PRESS STATEMENT

September 29, 2009

APPEAL FOR A GENUINE AND BINDING CLIMATE POLICIES AT UNFCCC TALKS

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

FIDEC Inc.
Sri Lankan Fisherfolks Federation
Southern Thailand Fisherfolks Federation
National Association of Fishermen Andhra
PAMALAKAYA Philippines
Students Federation of Thailand
Philippine Climate Watch Alliance

BALILI ISSUE, COAL DEPENDENCE WILL BE OUR CENTRAL AGENDA AT BANGKOK UNFCC MEETING

2009-09-27T15:26:00.002+08:00

Press Release

September 27, 2009

BALILI ISSUE, COAL DEPENDENCE WILL BE OUR CENTRAL AGENDA AT BANGKOK UNFCC MEETING

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.

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.”

“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.”

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.”

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”

“ 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. “

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.

“ 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.”

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 .

Released by:

Ghianne Rada

Education and Training officer

FIDEC Inc.

256-1365

Casting the Net for Sustainable Development: An NGO’s Work and Experience in the Fisherfolk Sector of Central Visayas

2009-09-21T11:51:00.002+08:00

(An excerpt from Ms. Kareen Kristeen Valmoria's paper on FIDEC)

SUMMARY

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

REFERENCES

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.

Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center. 2007. Documents, including Annual Report, Operations Manual, Brief History of FIDEC, and Student Internship Program.

Cinches, Vince. Powerpoint presention on the Save Tanon Strait Citizens’ Movement at forum in University of San Carlos, Cebu City, March 2008.

Hilhorst, Dorothea. 2003. The Politics of NGO-ing. The Real World of NGOs. pp. 1-27. Ateneo de Manila University Press.

Olofson, Harold and Tiukinhoy, Araceli. 1992. Plain Soldiers: Muro-ami fishing in Cebu. Philippine Studies 40 (1): 35-52.

Seki, Koki. 2004. Maritime Migration in the Visayas: A Case Study of Dalaguetenon Fisherfolk in Cebu. Ateneo de Manila University Press.

Fisherfolks group seeks coal-fired plants’ moratorium

2009-09-18T01:13:00.002+08:00

Fisherfolks group seeks coal-fired plants’ moratorium

By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Editorial Assistant

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.

The group, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center (Fidec) Inc., also called on the government to instead harness the country's renewable energy sources.

The call came amid the expanding campaign of different groups across the country for a moratorium on coal-fired plants.

“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.

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.

Cebu Daily News tried to get the side of KSPC, but as of press time there was no official statement released by the company.

“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.

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.

Meggie Nolasco, PCWA spokesperson, said the Arroyo administration was pursuing at least nine coal-fired power plant projects in the country.

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.

The government also issued 44 coal mining contracts in the country.

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.

“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.

She said there is an expanding campaign from the moratorium on coal power plants in the Philippines.

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.

She said there will also be a signature campaign to show the ire of the people against the environmentally disastrous projects.

Dr. Giovanni Tapang, of science activist group AGHAM, said coal power plants are now being packaged as a clean technology.

“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.

Government's Climate Program

2009-09-03T10:46:00.001+08:00

An overview: Climate change and its impact under RP settings
By Reynaldo L. Lanuza / Ecosystems Research and Development Service DENR-7 (The Freeman) Updated September 03, 2009 12:00 AM

Major threats and challenges, management gaps

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Role of DENR and Institutional Framework on National Policy

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.

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.

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.

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.

Strategies in combating climate change

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.

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.

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 FREEMAN

Cebu fishermen join protest vs NY dinner

2009-08-20T11:15:00.000+08:00

Cebu fishermen join protest vs NY dinner
By Iste Sesante Leopoldo
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 01:32:00 08/19/2009

Filed Under: Food, Restaurants & catering, Government, Travel & Commuting, Protest
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.

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.

“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.

He said the meal that his group ate was the fishermen’s usual fare.

He said fishermen usually skip breakfast and dinner because of extreme poverty.

“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.

The National Statistical Coordinating Board has identified the fishing sector as among the poorest in the country.

The board said a family of five needs P6,274 a month to survive.

UN takes cognizance over oil explorations in Visayas seas

2009-08-08T03:15:00.001+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=494161&publicationSubCategoryId=107

UN takes cognizance over oil explorations in Visayas seas
(The Freeman) Updated August 08, 2009 12:00 AM

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

“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)

Environmentalists: Study long-term effects of coal ash

2009-08-06T13:08:00.000+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=493485&publicationSubCategoryId=107

CEBU NEWS
Environmentalists: Study long-term effects of coal ash
(The Freeman) Updated August 06, 2009 12:00 AM

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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)

Ecology lawyers question Naga ash waste deal

2009-07-08T21:52:00.002+08:00

Ecology lawyers question Naga ash waste deal
By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Editorial Assistant

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?

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.

“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.

Cabrido said they were informed that 40 percent of the property is submerged in water.

“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.

The health risks of coal-fired plants were also raised by the lawyers.
“This is not ordinary ash that you get when you burn firewood. This is a fossil-based fuel coal,” said Cabrido.

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.

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.

Arsenic, lead and mercury are toxic heavy metals.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

Under the Local Government Code, LGUs should prioritize funds for health, sanitation and environment, said Ramos.

“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.

“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.

With Reporter Doris C. Bongcac

Fishermen send rotten fish to protest oil explorations

2009-06-30T13:23:00.004+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=482412&publicationSubCategoryId=107

Fishermen send rotten fish to protest oil explorations
Updated June 30, 2009 12:00 AM

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.

Labios reportedly received the fish, which was placed in a brown envelope.

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.

“Sila man unta ang naa sa authority nga mu-protektar sa kinaiyahan, sila naman hinuon ang nag-daot,” Angco said.

The fishermen who joined yesterday’s rally at DOE said their catch has reportedly decreased since the oil explorations commenced.

The group will also hold a lightning rally to cap the observance of environment month this June.

“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.

Angco said the protests will continue until the government stops the explorations.

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)

Legal petitions to mark Env’t Day today

2009-06-05T15:51:00.001+08:00

http://cdn.ph/photostore/news_details.php?id=2695

Legal petitions to mark Env’t Day today 6/5

By Ma. Bernadette Parco, Editorial Assistant

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.

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.

“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.

“We would like to start to put an end to environmental problems experienced by Cebuanos,” he added.

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.

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.

Cinches said the inconsistent weather is one result of bad environmental care.

“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.

“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.

FISHERFOLKS AND CLIMATE ACTIVISTS TO DEMAND MORE ACTIONS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

2009-05-10T14:27:00.001+08:00

Philippine Climate Watch Alliance
#26 Matulungin St. Central District, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel.: +63 2 9248756 fax: +63 2 9209099 email:philclimatewatch@gmail.com

FISHERFOLKS AND CLIMATE ACTIVISTS TO DEMAND MORE ACTIONS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
UP Dilliman, Quezon City - A few days after the Supreme Court concluded their forum on environmental justice, fisherfolks from all over the Philippines who attended the 1st National Grassroots Conference on Climate Change organized by Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA) are worried about the accelerating impacts of warming planet.

Vince Cinches the Executive Director of Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Inc. (FIDEC INC.) one of the many convenors of Philippine Climate Watch alliance in their paper presented during one of the workshops in the conference on the impacts of climate change to coastal communities, fisheries and fisherfolks, said that “Climate Change becomes an additional and more sustained burden of poor fisherfolks nationwide. Even before we felt the impacts of climate change, we have been marginalized by off-shore mining, commercial fishing, privatization of sea waters, reclamation projects, and fishery laws among others. We should remember that such projects are carbon intensive that contributes to increase in global warming gasses”

“Climate change has further marginalized the poor coastal people, through massive decline of fish catch, rising cost of fishing, and collapse of ecosystem among others, being poor diminishes capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change, the change in climate is accelerating, the community cannot keep up with the pace.”

“What is alarming on the other hand is that the warming planet has opened up new fronts of vulnerability in the community, we have stronger and frequent storm surges, seas are inundating our homes because of rising sea level, breeding grounds of marine species are collapsing because of acidity and warm waters. We no longer have potable waters to drink because of salt water intrusion.”

Fernando Hicap, the National Chairperson of the activist fishers group PAMALAKAYA said“Governments and their cohorts in big monopoly businesses are the main culprits why the planet is ailing and we the poor are paying dearly since we don’t have the capacity to adopt and respond to climate change. The poor should rely on each other to rescind anti-people and anti-environment policies.”

“This grassroots meeting is an important venue for us not just to strongly register the position of community people in the current discourse regarding global warming but to consolidate our ranks and turned it into a decisive force in making culprits accountable while dramatically reducing our carbon footprint”

Mr. Vince Cinches, executive director of FIDEC and convenor of PCWA said that the conference is not just first in the country but in the whole Southeast Asia as well.

He added that the conference is an important contribution of the Filipinos in the ongoing global initiatives against climate change especially that the Kyoto Protocol will soon end and will undergo renegotiation. “We wanted to ensure that the provisions of international policies regarding climate change should have more teeth against polluters, have more binding policies and responsive to the needs of the poor people around the world.”

On April 22, Earth Day, the group will hold a protest action to demand accountability from government and corporations and to demand real actions against the specter of climate change.##

Released by: Ghianne Rada ,
Program Officer,
FIDEC inc.
09069048009

LGUs urged to endorse sustainable investments

2009-04-25T16:37:00.000+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=68294

LGUs urged to endorse sustainable investments
Updated June 18, 2008 12:00 AM

With the influx of high net worth investments in the province posing high social impacts to the immediate locality, civil groups call for the local government units to enhance their evaluation process to only approve sustainable investments amenable to the community.

“It will be much more responsible for LGUs in the province to seek out sustainable investments, environmentally sound projects and at the same time responsive to the community’s needs,” said Vince Cinches, Executive Director of the Central Visayas Fisherfolks Development Center Inc. and one of the advocates of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement.

He said that non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil groups in Cebu are very much active because the local government still has several things to improve especially in addressing the basic needs of the community and in their evaluation process of projects.

“There should be a change of mindset for government officials so they can adopt a more appropriate concept of sustainable development. Development is not only physical infrastructure but social and political infrastructure should first be in place,” he stressed.

Cinches argued that the local government sector has seemingly adopted a backward concept for progress because of its continued pursuit for destructive projects, which is rather opposite to that of the public’s increasing understanding and awareness on sustainable development.

He said that example of destructive project recently pursued by the government include the contested Tañon Strait Oil exploration by the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX). After constant vigilance from some social and environmental organizations which was led by the Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement, the JAPEX operation has been successfully blocked.

However Cinches’ group is now lamenting over another possible threat in the face of a new potential investor called as NorAsia, an Australian oil and gas explorer.

He said that if NorAsia will be given required endorsements by the provincial board to operate in Argao, it will surely pose possible threat to our natural environment.

“We hope the provincial board will not endorse the project. We should learn from the Japex experience. There should be clear-cut feasibility studies to come up with an objective and informed decision so to avoid gray areas in its implementation,” he further added.

He also stressed that participation of people in policy making is very important to empower communities.

At the moment, social organizations still have very limited engagements with the public sector. But he argued that if both parties will be able to renew their processes, engagements could take place even outside the Regional and Provincial Development Council, Cinches said.

The development council is a decision-making body for different economic development undertakings composed of the government sector as well as representatives from multi-segmented stakeholders in the community.

“We are very willing to sit down and help the public sector become a model of “responsive development.” Partnership could be a very effective means to bridge agreement and there are a lot of social organizations that can be tapped to draft guidelines in projects and identify inherent problems within our locality,” underscored Cinches.

— Rhia de Pablo

Cebu gov hit over oil, gas exploration pact

2009-04-25T09:01:00.001+08:00

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090424-201202/Cebu_gov_hit_over_oil,_gas_exploration_pact

Cebu gov hit over oil, gas exploration pact
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 12:39:00 04/24/2009

Filed Under: Mining and quarrying, Protest, Agreement (general)
MANILA, Philippines—Militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya, National Forces of the Fishers’ Movement of the Philippines) has questioned an agreement between the Cebu local government and an Australian mining firm to explore the Cebu-Bohol Strait for oil and gas.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said on Thursday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by officials of the Australian offshore mining group NorAsia Limited and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia last April 15 was “a recipe for tragedy and a memorandum for destruction of Cebu-Bohol Strait.”

He added that the agreement went against the livelihood and interest of Cebuano and Boholano fisherfolk and that Garcia committed “a heinous crime against the environment and against the fisherfolk.

“This is totally revolting and extremely reprehensible. The MOU is a recipe for an across-the-strait destruction of people’s environment and livelihood in Cebu-Bohol Strait. The Governor of Cebu, her bosses in Malacañang and the Department of Energy, including NorAsia should be held responsible and accountable for whatever damage and destruction their offshore mining stint would create,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Pamalakaya said the far-reaching effects of oil and gas explorations even during its exploratory or prospecting stage prior to production and extraction would be detrimental to the marine environment and to the fisherfolk’s livelihood.

The group said many studies showed that offshore mining could cause a significant amount of air pollution. Each offshore oil platform generates approximately 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year. An average exploration well for natural gascould generate 50 tons of nitrogen oxides, 13 tons of carbon monoxide, six tons of sulfur dioxide and five tons of volatile organic hydrocarbons, according to studies cited by Pamalakaya.

In addition, oil and gas drilling operations produce huge amounts of water waste ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 metric tons of highly toxic water waste materials per drilling. The seismic tests, which are part of the exploration stage, damage the hearing organs of marine species, cause hemorrhage in body tissues, and damage their reproductive organs.

Pamalakaya said seismic blasting could cause behavioral modifications and reduce or eliminate available habitat for breeding, spawning, foraging and migration. Seismic noises can alter fish distribution by tens of kilometers and can elicit physiological stress on neural-immune responses in marine organisms.

“Recent findings also revealed that oil and gas exploration activities could lead to massive production of other toxic waste materials such as cadmium which causes lung cancer; lead which causes gastrointestinal diseases, blood and kidney disorders, mental retardation and affects the nervous system; chromium which causes lung and liver cancers, kidney and other respiratory illness,” the militant group added.

The group also said the offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait and other parts of the Visayan basin would affect the livelihood of not less than 100,000 small fishermen and 500,000 dependents.

Hicap said they have been consulting with lawyers on available legal remedies to nullify the agreement.

The agreement allows the Australian company to explore 7,400 square kilometers of marine waters encompassing the Cebu-Bohol Strait, a narrow sea strait separating the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, and parts of Leyte in the East Visayan basin.

The group’s leader also scoffed at the P500,000 assistance fund provided by NorAsia for the fisherfolk and residents of Argao and Sibonga, two of the affected municipalities in Cebu, where the exploration has been set to take place.

In 2008, leaders of Pamalakaya wrote Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd requesting the Australian prime minister to persuade its’ offshore mining company—NorAsia Energy Limited to back off from oil and gas exploration project in Cebu-Bohol Strait. But the premier did not act on the matter, the group said.

A whale of a difference

2009-04-25T08:58:00.001+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/whale-difference
A whale of a difference

A PETITION filed on behalf of sea mammals before the Supreme Court, in relation to the 2007 search for oil in the Tañon Strait, will stretch the limits of the law.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno said so himself, in a speech at the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City last April 16. The forum focused on environmental justice.

In Puno’s speech, a copy of which was sent toSun.Star Cebu, the chief justice discussed the implications of the novel case involving the “resident sea mammals of the Tañon Strait, which include toothed whales, dolphins, porpoises and other cetacean species,” suing a Japanese company and government agencies in relation to the oil exploration off the shores of Pinamungajan town.

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“The intriguing issue is whether a dolphin or whale can sue an oil exploration firm. If I cite this case, it is only to stress the ongoing attempts to further open the doors of courts to plaintiffs who are non-humans alleged to be entitled to a healthy environment,” Puno said in his speech.

The forum, “Upholding the Right to a Balanced and Healthful Ecology,” aimed to draft recommendations for better actions on environmental issues brought before the Supreme Court.

This gave Puno, the keynote speaker of the event, a chance to talk about locus standi, or standing, in terms of filing cases.

He recalled the “benchmark” case of Oposa versus Factoran, where unborn children and “future generations” were given a locus standi to sue, especially in cases involving the environment.

“We recognized the budding principle of inter-generational equity, which assures each generation the right to receive the planet in no worse a condition than received by the previous generation, and views the environmental and resource conservation obligations of the present generation from that perspective,” said Puno.

In the case of the mammals, it is still ongoing.

The petition was for certiorari with mandamus and injunction, filed in a bid to stop offshore explorations by the Japan Petroleum Exploration Company Ltd. (Japex).

How far?

Japex ended the oil exploration by early 2008. They never made it to a full-blown oil drill, with the company saying the available oil was not of commercially viable volumes.

Government agencies were impleaded in the Supreme Court petition for allowing the exploration to happen in the first place.

Oil explorations, said the petitioners, would damage their habitat. The mammals were represented by lawyers Gloria Estenzo-Ramos and Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio, acting as their guardians.

“Exactly how far the rule on standing is to be liberalized is the question,” Puno said in Thursday’s speech.

The chief justice noted, though, that relaxing the rule on locus standi has its disadvantages.

“Fears are expressed that this will open the floodgates to environmental litigation, many of which may be groundless, especially those filed by bounty hunters. They can drive away investment companies and they can contribute to the overclogging of our green court dockets,” Puno also said.

Environmental champions may even be sued for damages for initiating complaints to discourage them from pursuing it.

“Our task is to craft a rule that will strike the proper balance between the need to encourage citizens’ suits and the danger that unregulated citizen’s suits may bring about nuisance cases,” Puno said.

Some environmentalist-lawyers who attended a related forum in Iloilo City expressed optimism in the Tañon Strait mammals’ case.

They attended the “Forum on Environmental Justice: Upholding the Right to a Balanced and Healthful Ecology” in Iloilo City, an event the Supreme Court organized.

“This activity encourages us to actively pursue more actions to protect our environment. Truly the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Puno now remains as the only institution who stood by the people, under attack by oppressive anti-environment policies of the government,” said Vince Cinches, executive director of the Fisherfolks’ Development Center (Fidec) Inc.

In a press statement released by Ghianne Rada, Fidec described the forum as “most welcome in a time where global climate change is wreaking havoc on our lives.” (JGA/EOB)

Lava Island reclamation residents fear project's effects on the environment

2009-03-21T15:55:00.000+08:00

http://www.philstar .com/Article. aspx?articleId= 450556&publicationSubCateg oryId=107

Lava Island reclamation residents fear project's effects on the environment
Updated March 21, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Residents and environmentalists who attended yesterday’s public hearing on the proposed 60-hectare reclamation project on Lava Island, Cordova raised concerns on the possible effect of the project to the environment.

One of the participants to the public hearing said the proponent of the project should include in its environmental impact assessment the protection of the seabeds, corals and other marine specie because many of the local residents are dependent on fishing as their means of livelihood.

The project has seven components that include causeway reclamation, golf course, villa, clubhouse, hotel, dredging and electrical.

Engr. Fe Walag, one of the invited speakers, said one of the aspects for the success of reclamation project is the water supply, and external effect of the reclamation should be needed.

Based on the project rationale presented, she assured that the project would have no negative impact on the environment.

For his part, Vince Cinches, executive director of the Fishermen’s Development Center asked about the possible social impact and social dimension of the project that the proponents failed to address. He suggested they should be included also in the study.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said the proposed reclamation project, which will feature a golf course as its main tourism facility, said the development is a municipal project that would be funded by a private entity. “Wa’y usa ka daku nga makuha sa munisipyo,” he added.

The municipality has received an unsolicited proposal to develop Lava Island from the private firm Golfsalang Phil. Inc. The project will be covered by a 20-year period contract, which is assumed as the project’s lifespan.

Present during the public hearing were local officials from Cordova, provincial government headed by Board Member Victor Maambong, chairman of the PB committee on environmental conservation and natural resources, Dr. Danilo Largo of the office of the research of the University of San Carlos, environmentalist and lawyer Benjamin Cabrido, residents and fisherfolk of the town. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)

Lawyers, groups eye action vs. local authorities

2009-03-15T10:34:00.001+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/lawyers-groups-eye-action-vs-local-authorities

Lawyers, groups eye action vs. local authorities

LAWYERS and nongovernment organizations are “outraged” over the way government agencies handled the case involving
a vessel that ran aground and damaged the protected fish sanctuary in Talisay City.

Government agencies will be held accountable, said lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines–National Environmental Action Team (IBP – Neat).

“We will take the lead, we will make them accountable,” she said in a press conference yesterday.

Ramos and lawyer Benjamin Cabrido wrote a letter to Talisay City as well as the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Philippine Coast Guard and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to ask why the mv United was not apprehended.

“There was no marine protest or inquiry or determination,” said Cabrido.

He said they are contemplating on filing a case for damages against the BOC, CPA and the Coast Guard. Since they could not sue the vessel’s owners or operators anymore, which left the Philippine waters, they will go after the agencies that allowed the ship to sail.

The foreign cargo ship mv United ran aground off Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City last March 5, damaging Lagundi Reef’s seabed and corals. The ship is an Athens, Greece-based carrier of Kamtchuka International Limited.

The groups sought Talisay City’s answers to at least 11 questions, including its acceptance of the US$10,000 donation from the ship owner for the immediate rehabilitation of Lagundi Reef.

“Are you aware that considering the circumstances, the act of receiving the amount is a possible violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act?” the group’s letter said.

“Is that some sort of settlement for destroying Lagundi Reef?” Vince Cinches of the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. (Fidec) said.

Marine scientist Danilo Largo said the amount is not even enough to rehabilitate the coral reefs, which is a life support system.

“Why was the vessel allowed to leave when no assessment of the extent of the damage was done?” was another question for the city officials.

IBP-Neat, Fidec, the Knight-Stewards of the Sea and a youth group also asked Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to form Task Force Lagundi, which will investigate last week’s incident.

“We need an independent and multi-sectoral body to look into the incident (and) the scope of responsibilities of the different government agencies,” read the letter addressed to Garcia.

“The mishandling of the destruction of the coral reefs at the Lagundi Reef is, likewise, a telling revelation of the lack of capacity and will of local government units to manage and appreciate the significance or our coasts and marine resources and its failure to coordinate immediately with national government agencies,” the group’s statement also read.

Even Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has joined the call to protect marine resources through a public service announcement that the group showed reporters yesterday.

“We are outraged, we are angry. You don’t like us when we’re angry because this is our passion, it is not about money,” Cabrido warned.

Earlier, concerned Talisay City residents have also asked Garcia to create a task force that will look into the destruction of the Lagundi Reef.

In their letter-appeal, the residents urged Garcia, who is also the Provincial Marine Protection Council chairperson, to create an independent and multi-sectoral body that will probe the incident.

Sought for comment, Capitol information consultant lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda said Talisay City has the primary jurisdiction over the issue. But he said they will coordinate with the city authorities “and move from there.”

The captain of the 31,643-gross ton ship, Chen Guangming, was charged with reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property.

Underwater photos show corals reduced to rubble by the ship’s propeller, the group said. Sun.Star Cebu. (JGA/GMD)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=448377&publicationSubCategoryId=107

Lagundi reef destruction: Environment lawyers eye legal action vs Talisay government
Updated March 14, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Members of several environmental groups disclosed yesterday that they will file a case in court against those who are responsible for the destruction of Lagundi Reef.

Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, chairperson of the National Environment Action Team (NEAT)-Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu chapter, said the local government of Talisay City, together with the Cebu Ports Authority and other agencies should be made accountable for allowing the cargo ship and its crew to leave Cebu without being made to answer for the damage it had cause to the reef when it recently ran aground in the seawaters of Talisay City.

“It is high time for the people to exact accountability on those mandated to protect our life support system. Enough is enough,” Ramos said.

The NEAT-IBP, together with the Global Legal Action on Climate Change-Cebu and Save Tañon Strait Citizens’ Movement with other stakeholders yesterday held a press conference to announce their legal action against those who are responsible for the destruction of Lagundi Reef.

Environmentalists said Talisay City should be made legally accountable for accepting money from the Chinese crew of the foreign vessel and allowing it to leave Cebu without having filed a case against it.

Capt. Chen Guangming of M/V United Majuro was released after undergoing inquest proceedings and paying a P5,000 fines for violating a city ordinance that regulates activities within the Lagundi Reef and giving the city government another $10,000 as donation.

In a manifesto, the environmentalists said they are saddened and perplexed at the way the incident involving the MV united Majuro’s destruction of the corals at the Lagundi Reef was handled by the Talisay City government and pertinent government agencies.

“It is indeed unfortunate that we do not really put a premium on resources conservation and protection,” it said. “Obviously, GMA’s EO 774 on mainstreaming conservation, protection and restoration of the natural world does not make a dent on her executive agencies, including the LGUs.”

They said it is very sad and unfortunate that, as the mishandling of the Lagundi Reef destruction and the reclamation projects that are sprouting, people do not really put a premium on resources conservation and protection.

Atty. Ramos added that amid the climate crisis and its dire implications on survival, people should not solely rely on government to protect the natural heritage as there will be nothing left for the future generations.

The group also requested Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to form a multi-sectoral body that will conduct investigation into the Lagundi Reef incident. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)

RP has second-dirtiest seas, report says

2009-03-15T10:31:00.000+08:00

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090315-194252/RP-has-second-dirtiest-seas-report-says

RP has second-dirtiest seas, report says

By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 08:23:00 03/15/2009

Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Pollution

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines ranks second in the world for most trash recovered from its oceans, an international conservation group has revealed.

The US-based Ocean Conservancy reported that 1,355,236 items of trash were recovered from the country’s shorelines, ocean surface and underwater during the International Coastal Cleanup conducted by the group in September 2008, which involved nearly 400,000 volunteers around the world.

The results of the cleanup were presented in a report by the group titled “A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris” was released on March 10 and available on the group's website.

Topping the list of trash items were plastic bags (679,957 pieces), paper bags (253,013) and food wrappers (103,226). Also recovered were 38,394 pieces of clothing and shoes, 55,814 tobacco-related items including cigarette butts (34,154), lighters and wrappers, and 11,077 diapers.

The United States topped the list of countries with the most trash recovered, with 3,945,855 items. In third place was Costa Rica with 1,017,621 items.

Ocean Conservancy said it collected 11.4 million pieces of trash from 6,485 sites in 104 countries, including the Philippines.

“We are all connected to the ocean. The disheartening amount of trash afloat in the sea, littering beaches and piling up on the sea floor affects the earth’s life support system, the ocean and all the living things in it," the report said.

"Marine debris is more than a blemish on nature, it is a potential threat to our food supply, to tourism and economic activity, to marine wildlife and ecosystems, and to our personal health. It even relates to the impacts of climate change,” it added.

Because of the study, local waste and pollution watchdog EcoWaste Coalition called on the public to help restore the health of Philippine waters.

On World Consumer Rights Day on Sunday (March 15), the coalition called for more awareness, responsibility and action to save the oceans and waterways, particularly from plastic garbage.

“We urge local and national authorities to fully enforce Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to stop the dumping of trash in the canals and esteros that eventually find their way into the marine ecosystem,” said Manny Calonzo, EcoWaste Coalition president.

To prevent garbage from entering the marine environment, the coalition urged consumers to adopt basic practices in ecological waste management, including waste prevention, reduction, separation at source, recycling reuse and composting.

In 2006, the group together with Greenpeace conducted a joint discards survey of Manila Bay which showed that 76 percent of the garbage in the bay was made of plastic and 51 percent was plastic bags, Calonzo said.

The coalition also urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and National Solid Waste Management Commission to do something about the trash in the oceans.

Forum to tackle pros and cons of renewable energy

2009-03-05T10:42:00.001+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=445651&publicationSubCategoryId=108

Forum to tackle pros and cons of renewable energy
Updated March 05, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Aimed at making the public and multi-faceted stakeholders in the community more aware on the potentials as well as the limitations of different options of renewable energy sources, organizers of the upcoming Renewable Energy Forum gave a bird’s eye view of the event during the recently held 888 News Forum.

The upcoming forum, which will be held at Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug this March 6, highlights the importance of understanding both the limitations and the advantages of alternative sources of energy.

One of the event organizers, Rene Alburo said that among the topics that will be discussed in the forum would include issues on the power shortage, renewable energy potentials, green architecture, hydro- power, solar energy, biomass or waste energy, wave power and other environmental issues such as global warming, waste management and among others.

“Renewable energy offers a lot of potential benefits but it also has its serious limitations as well so we need to understand this to fully make use of the technologies and options that are alternative,” said Alburo.

He said that alternative energy can help address our problems on projected energy shortage as well as the worsening problem on waste and global warming.

Alburo said that alternative energy can be used to lessen the cost and spending on fuel and energy.

He made mention of Tayud Consolacion’s use of biomass system in the thermal applications to make egg trays which has lessened its consumption of 600 liters of diesel fuel.

“We are going to have workshops in the afternoon which can identify where and how to reduce the thirst for power of some establishments,” said Alburo.

Meanwhile, environmental activist and executive director of Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center (FIDEC) Vince Cinches said that the forum will be their venue to enlighten the multi-faceted segment of the community about advocacies that concern the environment and options that they can do to help.

“We are going to invite representatives from local government units, governing boards, civil societies, business sector and people from neighboring provinces so that they can replicate similar efforts and start the ball rolling,” he said.

Cinches added that the forum will also be a platform where they can get commitments from different sectors such as the business and the academe which are one of the major consumers of power.

Among the big firms that confirmed to attend the forum include SM City Cebu, Cebu Holdings and schools like the University of San Carlos, among others. —Rhia de Pablo

Metro Cebu Airshed board meets

2009-01-27T19:11:00.000+08:00

http://globalnation .inquirer. net/cebudailynew s/news/view/ 20090121- 184652/Metro- Cebu-Airshed- board-meets

Metro Cebu Airshed board meets
By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 12:18:00 01/21/2009

Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Environmental pollution, Local authorities
CEBU CITY, Philippines - The country's first airshed governing board, the Metro Cebu airshed Governing Board, was convened on Tuesday with local chief executives agreeing to be involved in joint efforts to improve the quality of air in the Metro Cebu area and protect territorial jurisdiction.

Environmental lawyer Benjamin Cabrido, who provided the rationale for the governing board, said the effects of climate change are felt throughout Cebu especially along the coastal areas.

“With the sea level rise, in five years, a portion of Mandaue will be lost. After 10 years, what would happen in Mactan Island. We are here to convene the airshed governing board also to save territorial jurisdictions,” he said.

He also said that the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 requires the creation of airshed governing boards that are tasked to formulate policies, prepare a common action plan, coordination of functions among its members and submit and publish an annual Air Quality Status Report for each airshed.

The airshed are areas that have a similar climate, meteorology and topology which affect the interchange and diffusion of pollutants in the atmosphere or areas which share common interest or face similar development programs, prospects or problems.

The Metro Cebu Airshed was created under Department Administrative Order No. 2002-21, which was signed by Heherson Alvarez, then secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The airshed governing board would aid the DENR in checking air quality, setting up emission standards, determining penalties for violators in a particular airshed, as well as drawing up anti-pollution programs suited for a given area, which may vary from one airshed to another.

The board passed four resolutions that were all approved after Atty. Luego, the board secretary during the meeting, declared that a quorum has been reached.

Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival proposed a resolution to “create, activate and establish the Metro Cebu Airshed Governing Board on January 20, 2009.”

He added that members of the Board shall be composed of the DENR Secretary as chairman represented by the DENR regional executive director Leonardo Sibbaluca, provincial governor of Cebu and mayors of the cities and towns of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Naga, Minglanilla, Cordova, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion and Minglanilla, including representatives from government organizations, private sector and nongovernment organizations and academe.

Another resolution suggested by Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez required each local government unit to submit individual action plans within 60 days after the convening of the board.

Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes proposed for the board to have a regular meeting every first Monday of every first quarter of the year.

Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob proposed the resolution “to authorize each local chief executive of Metro Cebu to designate a permanent representative to the board through a special power of attorney, in his or her absence, to ensure their representation in the board.”

Environmentalists and stakeholders said the Board would mean that there would be more clear actions by local government units to save the environment.

“We can not deny the reality of climate change and the impact this has on Cebu,” said Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. executive director Vince Cinches.

“We can't wait for another year before we take action. The move to convene the Board is an indication of consciousness on the environmental impact of climate change,” he added.

Environmentalists support the demands of small islands countries on global carbon emissions

2008-12-05T22:05:00.001+08:00

Philippine Climate Watch Alliance

#26 Matulungin St. Central District, Diliman, Quezon City

Tel.: +63 2 9248756 fax: +63 2 9209099 email:philclimatewa tch@gmail. com

Press Release

December 5, 2008

Environmentalists support the demands of small islands countries on global carbon emissions

Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA) support the demand of the 43 small islands states, the Philippines included, for industrialized nations to cut their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and by more than 95 percent by 2050.

"It is a positive thing that the Philippine delegation to Poznan is united with other developing nations on the level of GHG emissions reduction industrialized nations should take, " said Meggie Nolasco, spokesperson of the Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA).

The alliance is comprised of representatives of people's organizations, non-government organizations, community organizations, scientific community and environmental groups that seeks to address and discuss the issue of climate change here in the Philippines.

According to Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of the militant scientist group AGHAM and co-convenor of PCWA, "Achieving more than 40% global carbon emission cut below 1990 level by 2020 may avert the feared 2 degrees Celsius increase of global temperature, which many scientists believed will be catastrophic if not prevented. It is a realistic goal and the world has no choice if we want to avoid global disaster."

In a statement of PCWA , they urged the 43 developing countries, especially the Philippine delegates, to hold their ground as developed countries, especially the US, have tried to evade responsibility in the past.

The US, the largest emitter of GHG in the world, is the only industrialized country, which did not sign the 1998 Kyoto Protocol. Its President-elect Obama promises to reduce their carbon emission down to their 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 level by 2050. The European Union is negotiating a 20% cut below 1990 levels by 2020.

"It should be expected that industrialized countries, particularly the United States, will impose smaller carbon emission reduction in the pre-text of protecting their economies, as they have done in the past. They might also claim that higher carbon cut targets are unrealistic," Nolasco warned.

The alliance held that industrialized nations would want to continue to exploit and consume fossil fuels in their greed for profit. This is in view of the fact that industrialized nations were the ones historically and primarily responsible in the emission and rise of greenhouse gases (GHG).

Although developed countries already gave their word to cut back on emissions, Nolasco insisted that, "Cutting back on emissions is not enough. Any genuine move to resolve the problem of global warming must critically recognize and address the larger socio-economic context in which it occurs."

"As we criticize the policies and offenses of industrialized nations, especially the US, as exacerbating the problem of global warming, the Philippine government also lacks genuine policies and programs to mitigate climate change and help communities adapt to its impacts." Nolasco pointed out.

She further expressed that, "The position of the Philippine government in the Conference of Parties in Poznan contradicts the policies of the Arroyo administration in relation to carbon emissions. The Arroyo government's economic policies such as in mining and energy, agriculture and forest is geared towards in producing and consuming more carbon-based fuels such as large-scale mining projects, coal-fired power plants, oil and gas extraction projects."

"The solution to global warming goes beyond carbon emission reduction. We should address the root cause of it, which is the unsustainable extraction and use of our natural resource particularly of fossil fuels. For a start, we can address the problem if we can oppose and stop the globalization policies of the Arroyo administration which is putting our country and people more at risk and vulnerable to climate change," Dr. Tapang ended.

Reference: Meggie Nolasco, PCWA spokesperson, 09163733275

support fishersfolks' fight against off-shore mining

2008-12-05T11:47:00.000+08:00

Dear friends,

Warm greetings!

On 20th – 23rd October 2008, an international fact finding mission (IFFM) was organized by PAN AP, PCFS and FIDEC in Central Visayas, Philippines to look into the effects of off-shore oil and gas exploration. The IFFM team was composed of various organisations' representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The findings of the IFFM team prove that off-shore mining activities have destroyed the marine ecosystem and have greatly affected the lives and economic activities of the communities, who are greatly dependent on the marine resources for their daily existence.

As a result of the IFFM, the team recommends for the government to immediately stop the off-shore oil and gas exploration activities. According to their joint manifesto, these extractive activities violate the economic, social, and cultural rights of the Visayan people, especially the right to food and food sovereignty.

A full documentation of the IFFM is published in the Speak Out and can be downloaded from http://www.foodsov.org/resources/hungerplunder.pdf .

A photo essay can be viewed at http://www.foodsov.org/html/gallery.htm .

We urge everyone to support the struggle of the Visayan fishing community by signing on to the online petition letter found at http://www.foodsov.org/html/petition10.php. This letter will be automatically sent to the concerned offices and individuals.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
PCFS Secretariat

===================================

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a global network working to eliminate the human and environmental harm caused by pesticides and to promote biodiversity based ecological agriculture. PAN Asia and the Pacific is committed to the empowerment of people especially women, agricultural workers, and peasant and indigenous farmers. We are dedicated to protect the safety and health of people, and the environment from pesticide use and genetic engineering. We believe in a people-centered, pro-women development through food sovereignty, ecological agriculture and sustainable lifestyles.

Garcia halts survey to find oil after firm fails to consult LGUs

2008-12-02T10:29:00.003+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/garcia-halts-survey-find-oil-after-firm-fails-consult-lgus

Garcia halts survey to find oil after firm fails to consult LGUs

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Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 23:32
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THE order temporarily halting an Australian-based firm’s oceanographic survey on possible presence of oil and natural gas off the seawaters of Argao and Sibonga towns stays, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said.

“They (firm officials) failed to coordinate with the local government units. They failed to apply for an efficient, quick and transparent system of compensation to fisherfolk,” Garcia told a recent press conference.

She also said that no clear consultations were done with the affected residents.

NorAsia Energy Ltd. launched exploratory surveys in Argao and Sibonga September this year.

But fisherfolks, cause-oriented groups, and environmentalist lawyers have strongly objected to its activity, which they said put to risk marine life and the livelihood of fishermen.

Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos and Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos both refused to sign the draft memorandum of agreement presented to them by the Department of Energy (DOE).

The agreement was aimed at conciliating with the two southeastern town mayors, who also objected to the seismic surveys.

Bacaltos said he would not sign the agreement until the DOE deletes a provision stating that “proper consultation were conducted” with the affected residents and fisherfolks.

He said NorAsia has not conducted any public hearing on its plans.

Galeos, on the other hand, said he has yet to read the agreement, adding that he will make sure the fisherfolks’ concerns will be addressed.

Garcia had issued an executive order (EO) suspending NorAsia’s seismic survey.

She said it was insufficient for the firm to simply furnish her and the two concerned town mayors a letter informing them of the activity.

DOE 7 Director Antonio Labios and NorAsia representatives, who paid her a courtesy call recently, had assured her that the firm will address all concerns.

“But as of now, the EO stands because I had requested them (NorAsia) to come up with an agreement on how further exploration should be done, especially on the
compensation of affected fisherfolk,” said Garcia. (GMD)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

(December 1, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.

Green Vote, Now!

2008-12-02T10:16:00.004+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=419292&publicationSubCategoryId=107

Agreement signed for peaceful elections
Updated November 28, 2008 12:00 AM

CEBU - The Commission on Elections has signed a memorandum of understanding with lawyers group, deans of colleges and universities offering law courses, student’s organizations, non-governmental organizations and civic groups for the holding of honest and peaceful elections in 2010.

Comelec Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento led the signing of the memorandum yesterday with Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter represented by lawyer Briccio, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu province chapter headed by lawyer Noel Adlawan, University of San Jose-Recoletos Faculty of Law represented by lawyer Jonathan Capanas, University of Cebu College of Law represented by dean Baldomero Estenzo, University of Cebu Law Students Society headed by Mark Anthony Gaviola, Lex Circle headed by Kirk Repollo, Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement headed by lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center, Inc. headed by Vince Cinches.

Sarmiento told reporters that the signing was very historical because it was first of its kind in the Philippines.

According to Sarmiento, it was a welcomed development for the Comelec because of the active participation of different sectors in Cebu in educating the public on the importance of the next political exercises. Ramos, on the other hand, said there is a need for them to work hand in hand for the good of the country, especially during elections.

The Comelec issued Resolution No. 8514 for the resumption of the registration of voters from December 2, 2008 to December 15, 2009.

IBP and other groups have offered their services to Comelec to help effect a more efficient, widely participated and systematic registration for voters during the registration period.

They are also willing to harness their individual resources to be the Comelec partners in the voter’s education program. — Jose P. Sollano/LPM (THE FREEMAN)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/groups-comelec-agree-help-voters

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) and various groups yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement to wage a campaign on voter education.

Several civic and academic institutions and non-government organizations and the Comelec entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to “help effect a more efficient, widely participated and systematic” registration of voters, which officially starts on Dec. 2, 2008 to Dec. 15, 2009.
Milestone

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the move is a “milestone” for the poll body since it is a show of concern among private and civic sectors who realize the need for an efficient registration of voters.

“We welcome this development and I am looking forward for other groups to also enter into a MOA with Comelec,” Sarmiento told reporters after signing the agreement at the Cebu Grand Hotel.

“This (signing of MOA) is a milestone since this will encourage the youth to register and vote and make a difference in the 2010 elections,” said Sarmiento.

Parties who signed the MOA include the provincial and city chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Cebu, several law schools and non-government organizations.

“The Comelec is doing its best in initiating electoral reforms with the help of the public so that we’ll have credible elections,” said Sarmiento.

The Comelec recently announced that the continuing registration of voters nationwide for the 2010 presidential election, except in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), shall resume on Dec. 2, 2008 until Dec. 15, 2009.
Biometrics

In a resolution promulgated in Nov. 12, 2008, the Comelec en banc ruled to adopt the use of biometrics technology for the purpose of “establishing a clean, complete, permanent and updated list of voters.”

But Sarmiento said his office is yet to receive a recommendation from the advisory council on what technology will be used in the 2010 poll.

He said the next election will certainly be automated as a compliance with the law.
“We are waiting for Congress to approve our proposed budget of P21 billion,” said Sarmiento.

Under the agreement, Comelec will provide its partner institutions with available information, materials, and paraphernalia to help educate registrants and voters.

During the registration of voters, the resolution said that applicants should personally file their applications at the Office of the Election Officer in their respective cities and municipalities during office hours on the above dates.

The resolution also stated that the persons who may register to vote for the upcoming 2010 elections must have the following requirements: (1) At least eighteen (18)
years of age; (2) A resident of the Philippines for at least a year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote for at least six (6) months on or before the day of the election; and (3) Not otherwise disqualified by law.

The resolution also provided that persons who have not yet turned 18 or have complied with the residency requirement during the period for registration, but will possess the same on or before the day of election (May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections), may register as a voter. (GMD)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

DAGHANG SALAMAT! THANK YOU

2008-11-28T16:49:00.001+08:00

We would like to thank all the organizations who participated in the recent International Fact-Finding Mission in Central Visayas last October 20 – 23, 2008.

Partnerships will always result to success and victories

1. BOKKANA – BOHOL
2. KINABUHI BOHOL
3. PANGLAO FISHERFOLKS ORGANIZATION
4. TUBIGON FISHERFOLKS ORGANIZATION
5. SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY JUSTICE AND PEACE CENTER
6. SAN ISIDRO SMALL FISHERFOLKS ORGANIZATION – BAIS CITY, NEGROS ORIENTAL
7. CITIZENS ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT – NEGROS ORIENTAL
8. ESCALANTE FISHERFOLKS ORGANIZATION – NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
9. NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FISHERFOLKS FORUM
10. UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
11. UNIVERSITY OF CEBU
12. SAVE TANON STRAIT CITIZENS MOVEMENT
13. FARMERS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
14. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT RESOURCE NETWORK
15. CEBU RELIEF AND REHABILITATION CENTER
16. PAMANA SUGBO – FISHERFOLK FEDERATION OF CEBU
17. ALLIANCE OF FISHERFOLKS AGAINST OFF-SHORE MINING IN THE 3RD DISTRICT (AFAOM)
18. ALLIANCE OF FISHERFOLKS AGAINST NORASIAN (AMBAHAN)
19. KAKASAKA SUGBO
20. ALLIANCE OF TOLEDANONS AGAINST COAL-ASH (ACT AGAINST COAL ASH)
21. CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS (CEC PHILIPPINES)
22. KALIKASAN PEOPLE’S NETWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (KPNE)
23. JATAM – NATIONAL ANTI-MINING ADVOCACY IN INDONESIA
24. SOUTH-EAST ASIA OILWATCH
25. PEOPLE’S COALITION FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY (PCFS) MALAYSIA
26. PESTICIDES ACTION NETWORK ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (PAN AP)
27. FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN FISHERFOLKS IN THAILAND

Lawyers join call to stop oil drilling

2008-11-25T09:34:00.000+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view_article.php?article_id=173883

Lawyers join call to stop oil drilling

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 08:13am (Mla time) 11/23/2008
ANOTHER voice was added to the opposition against drilling for natural oil and gas in south Cebu proposed by a foreign firm.

The Cebu Provincial Board approved on Nov. 17 a resolution supporting the call of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu chapter to stop the oil exploration project of Norasian Corp. Ltd. off the coastal waters of Sibonga and Argao towns “unless it can prove that the project does not destroy the environment.”

The PB said it wanted to be certain that all legal requirements for the conduct of oil exploration are met and that consultation is conducted with the affected fisherfolk.

PB Member Victor Maambong, the resolution sponsor, said that while Cebu “urgently needs to develop our own sources of energy especially in this critical time of global economic crisis, it must be done with the least possible damage to our environment and with utmost respect to the human rights of the marginalized members of the community who stand to be adversely affected by this development.”

Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos said that he too was against the conduct of an oil drilling unless consultation is done with the affected fisherfolk and compensation is assured for them for any inconvenience suffered during the exploration.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the suspension of the oil exploration by Norasian in the absence of consultation with the affected Local Government Units (LGU) and fisherfolk.

The Department of Energy (DOE) drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that stipulates the foreign firm’s responsibilities to the affected LGU and fishermen.

Mayor Balcatos said he is not inclined to sign this.

“They haven’t come here yet for a consultation. I will not sign the MOU and the governor said that she will not lift the suspension order unless there is consultation,” he said.
Maambong said in his resolution that Norasia failed to secure permits from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Earlier an EMB official said that the exploration was “exemptable” based on DOE administrative order no. 30 which was passed in 2006.

“Fisherfolk in the towns of Argao and Sibonga, Cebu are complaining that their livelihood is affected by the oil exploration project, more so, that they are also experiencing harassment from both the government and private sectors,” said Maambong’s resolution. REPORTER DORIS C. BONGCAC

Energy officials face suit

2008-11-25T09:31:00.000+08:00

Energy officials face suit
By Vincent Mayol, Carine M. Asutilla
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 02:18pm (Mla time) 11/19/2008

CEBU CITY, Philippines - A group of environmentalists on Tuesday filed a complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas against officials of the Department of Energy in Central Visayas for allegedly denying them entry into the DOE-7 offices last Friday.

Environment lawyers Gloria Estenzo Ramos and Benjamin Cabrido led members of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens’ Movement in filing the complaint for violation of citizen’s rights and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

DOE-7 director Antonio Labios and Energy Industry Management Chief Saul Gonzales were named as respondents.

The complaint stated that the group went to the DOE-7 office along Osmeña Boulevard last Friday to deliver a demand letter and “hopefully discuss” with energy officials the complaints of fisherfolk from the town of Sibonga, southern Cebu, over offshore oil exploration in the town’s waters.

The complainants said the guard of the Metrobank Building’s lobby stopped the group from entering the building.

The guard called the DOE-7 office and informed them of the group’s presence. The guard later told the group that Labios was not around and that the group was not allowed to proceed to the DOE-7 office on the 11th floor.

The guard allegedly threatened to turn off the power to the elevators if they insisted on going up.

Cabrido talked with someone from the DOE-7 office through the guard’s phone. The DOE-7 personnel told Cabrido that he was not authorized to receive the letter.

The guard later told the group that only two people could proceed to the DOE-7 office.

Ramos, however, insisted that if the group could not go up to the office, then someone from DOE-7 should come down and meet the group.

Gonzales, who served as acting DOE-7 director in Labios’ absence, later came out and received the letter. He also explained that the group was not allowed up because the DOE-7 office was too small to accommodate them.

The complainants, however, said they were treated with “gross disrespect and subjected to humiliation and indignity.”

Ramos said their rights were violated because government officials were supposed to make the lives of people better through service.

She described the DOE-7 officials’ actions as “unprofessional, discriminatory, unjust discourteous and callous.”

Cabrido said that as a public office, DOE-7 should allow the public to enter their offices.

Cabrido said the group was considering filing a complaint against the DOE-7 officials with the Civil Service Commission. He said he would ask the commission to subject DOE-7 officials and employees to a seminar on conduct and what it is to be a public servant.

Gov't needs to pursue oil explorations at sea: DOE

2008-11-25T09:30:00.000+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/govâ€™t-needs-pursue-oil-explorations-sea-doe

Gov't needs to pursue oil explorations at sea: DOE

AMID protests by some sectors, the government will continue to pursue oil exploration at sea to reduce the countryâ€™s dependence on imported fuel. This is also in line with the countryâ€™s policy called the Philippine Energy Independence.

Department of Energy Visayas Director Antonio Labios explained this to members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines during a dialogue.

Labios said several sectors have been badly affected by the rise in the price of imported fuel in the past few months.

The hardest hit is the transport sector, which consumes 35 percent of the fuel supply.

â€œOur dependence on oil can trigger all economic happenings and the implications of any oil crisis include high cost of production, high fares and high salary rates. So, we are doing our best to find our own energy supply,â€ Labios said.

He said the reason DOE is in the frontline of the oil drilling projects is that the state owns the energy resources and his agency has the mandate to issue service contracts.

In the case of oil exploration in the Cebu-Bohol Strait, Labios said Nor-Asian is the service contractor, through the Philippine Energy Contracting Ground on oil.

Lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of the Save TaÃ±on Strait Citizens Movement questioned the oil exploration of Nor-Asian because it will allegedly destroy the environment and will displace fisherfolk in the southern towns of Sibonga and Argao.

Labios said that before a service contract is issued, the DOE checks the contractorâ€™s records of environmental compliance in previous projects. Once a service contract is issued, the contractor must have a detailed program on the exploration activities.

Fisherfolk

On the other hand, Provincial Board Member Peter Calderon said the Province has nothing against oil exploration as long as it is environmentally compliant and concerns of the fisherfolk are addressed.

Calderon said the National Government must refrain from implementing projects that jeopardizes the livelihood of fishermen.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lemuel Aragones, a mammal scientist from Siliman University, said TaÃ±on Strait between Cebu and Oriental Negros and the Cebu-Bohol Strait between Cebu and Bohol are equally important bodies of water for marine mammals, particularly dolphins and whales.

Aragones said TaÃ±on Strait and Cebu-Bohol Strait are important fishing grounds. (EOB)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu.Â Click here.(November 16, 2008 issue)Write letter to the editor.Click here.

Group: Food shortage if oil drilling continues

2008-11-25T09:29:00.000+08:00

http://beta2.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=415534&publicationSubCategoryId=107

Group: Food shortage if oil drilling continues
Updated November 15, 2008 12:00 AM

CEBU - An environmental group yesterday warned of a possible food shortage if the oil drilling activities in the seas in Central Visayas continue.

Vince Cinches, one of the convenors of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement, said the fish supply and marine resources in Central Visayas have been affected by the continuing oil and gas exploratory activities.

In a press conference, Cinches said that 52 percent of the animal daily protein requirement comes from fishes and these animals will suffer once the oil drillings are not stopped.

And once the marine mammals are affected, he explained humans will also suffer because many people in Cebu depend on fishing for their food and livelihood.

Reports said that more than 400,000 Cebuanos and inhabitants of other Central Visayas provinces engaged in the fishing industry are affected by the oil exploration that is being conducted by NorAsian in the waters of Argao and Sibonga.

“It’s too much, the waters of Central Visayas are surrounded by service contracts for different oil companies to identify, develop and distribute oil resources,” Cinches said.

“The Central Visayas is the epicenter of global marine shore fish diversity and has the richest concentration of marine life in the whole planet,” he added.

With the oil explorations, Cinches pointed out that it is expected that the local marine ecosystem would be adversely affected.

NorAsian Energy Ltd., an Australian oil exploration company with three service contracts in the Philippines, is currently conducting explorations in the waters of Bohol Strait off the coasts of Argao and Sibonga to find out if the amount of fossil fuel in the area is commercially viable.

Cinches claimed the granting of service contracts to the foreign oil companies will not help the country and the local economy because of the tax holidays and other privileges granted to the foreign companies under the outdated Presidential Decree No. 87 of 1972 or the Service Contract Law. — Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)

Save Tañon group wants GMA to stop oil drilling

2008-11-25T09:26:00.000+08:00

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/save-tañ-group-wants-gma-stop-oil-drilling

Save Tañon group wants GMA to stop oil drilling

LEADERS of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement (STSCM) celebrated their first anniversary as a group yesterday and urged President Arroyo to stop oil drilling in the waters of the Visayas.

Lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said that as an early Christmas gift to Arroyo, they will send her a book entitled “Go Easy on the Sea” with confidence that once the President reads it, she will realize that preserving the sea is more important than oil drilling.

“Why would government insist on an oil drilling project when it pollutes the environment and adds to the greenhouse gas, which causes climate change? Let us do our share as member of the global community in reducing carbon emission” Estenzo-Ramos said.

She hopes the government will listen to them, considering that the country is a signatory to different international conventions affirming our mission and help to attain sustainable development.

Committed

Estenzo-Ramos said the Philippines is also a member of a group of nations that is committed to support the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2015.

“We have only seven years to go but we are contributing to the displacements of fisherfolk. So how can we possibly attain this goal of reducing poverty and promoting ecological sustainability? That is why government officials must listen to the grievances of the people”, Estenzo-Ramos said.

Seismic survey

As this developed, the fisherfolk of Argao and Sibonga towns, who are supported by STSCM, have vowed to fight against oil drilling in the Cebu-Bohol Strait. The seismic survey was recently conducted by Nor-Asian Energy Limited.

Lawyer Benjamin Cabrido said the govern-ment’s oil drilling encroaches on the livelihood of the fishermen. This violates their first Bill of Rights, which is the right to life.
“That cannot be bargained away. They are taking away the livelihood of the fisherfolk in Argao and Sibonga,” he said.

He said that there are two conflicting interests in the Argao-Sibonga project. Whether the life and livelihood of the fisherfolk take precedence over national projects—the so-called independent energy development program of the government—is now a legal issue.

“Enough is enough for protests. It is now high time to elevate this issue to the court, especially the Supreme Court, to resolve whether a government project will prevail over the right to life,” Cabrido said. (EOB)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.(November 15, 2008 issue)Write letter to the editor.Click here.

Environmentalists barred

2008-11-25T09:16:00.003+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20081115-172395/Environmentalists-barred

Environmentalists barred
By Carine M. Asutilla
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 09:15:00 11/15/2008

Members of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens’ Movement were disappointed when they were not allowed to go inside the office of the Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DOE-7) yesterday to personally hand the fisherfolk's testimonial letter to Regional Director Antonio Labios.

They were met by Saul Gonzales, DOE officer-in-charge, at the lobby. He told them that Labios was not around and that their office could not accommodate too many people inside including members of the media.

Because of office space constraints, Gonzales said they could only accommodate a representative from the group.

He received and signed the letter for Labios.

Vince Cinches of the Fisherfolk Development Center said his group was dismayed by DOE's refusal.

He said that as a public office, anyone can go inside and transact their business.

The letter was penned by members of the Alyansa sa mga Mangingisda Batok sa hulga sa NorAsian and Panghiusa sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Sugbo.

The fisherfolk wrote that when a seismic survey was conducted in their area for 10 days in July 2007, they had meager fish catch for about five months.

In August this year, a site location survey was conducted in their area by NorAsian and DOE, which resulted to the loss of their payaos (fish pens).

Benjamin Cabrido, environmental lawyer, said the group had exhausted all efforts to protect Cebu Strait as well as the Tañon Strait outside litigation.

He said that it is high time to bring the matter to the courts.

A notice to sue was issued to NorAsian and DOE and asked them to leave the waters of Sibonga and Argao towns.

Cabrido said that the oil exploration encroaches on the livelihood of fishermen, thus violating their bill of rights, which is the right to life.

Gloria Ramos, another environmental lawyer, said the Philippines also violated some international laws that the country is a signatory of such as the Millennium Development Goals that aims to reduce poverty by 50 percent by 2015.

She said that taking away the livelihood of the fishermen was a threat to food security and can increase the percentage of poverty in no time.

Fishermen assured amid oil exploration

2008-11-25T09:13:00.002+08:00

Fishermen assured amid oil exploration
By Bernadette Parco
Cebu Daily News

First Posted 09:55:00 11/13/2008

Fisherfolks in the towns of Argao and Sibonga whose livelihood was affected by the ongoing oil exploration activities in their area were told to resume fishing following a dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights in Central Visayas (CHR-7) yesterday.

“I told them to go back to fishing,” Alejandro Alonzo, CHR-7 Regional Director, told after the more than two-hour dialog between the agency and the fisherfolks.

The fisherfolks complained that the pollution caused by the oil exploration activities done by NorAsia Energy Ltd in Argao and Sibonga reduced their fish catch.

They alleged that their fish catch had already been depleted by the encroachment of commercial fishers in their areas.

“There were also military personnel who told us that they were concerned about the presence of leaders of non-government organizations who are communists,” said Anselmo Somuran, vice chairman of the Simala Bantay Dagat Association in Sibonga.

Alonzo asked Regional Director Antonio Labios of the Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DoE-7) to review the list of names of Argao and Sibonga residents who were given financial assistance.

Labios said the DoE-7 made a list and distributed the financial assistance. He said they would review the list anew and give assistance to others affected by the project.

Labios said the oil exploration activity is part of the government's goal to reduce the country's dependency on foreign oil.

He also said their agency screens all companies to determine their compliance with environmental standards.

Maj. Bart Pade of the Judge Advocate General Office, said an officer of the 78th Infantry Battalion of Central Command denied allegations of military harassment on the fisherfolks during their protest.

“I will refer this to the 78th IB. It is possible that there will be an investigation on this (matter),” Pade told .

Dolphins' lawsuit vs. state agencies moves on

2008-11-06T10:35:00.002+08:00

http://sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/11/01/news/dolphins.lawsuit.vs..state.agencies.moves.on.html

Saturday, November 01, 2008
Dolphins' lawsuit vs. state agencies moves on

DOLPHINS and other mammals who oppose attempts to drill for oil in the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape need to spell out their arguments in a formal memo, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered.

In a Sept. 23 letter to all the parties, the SC resolved to give due course to two petitions filed against government agencies and officials, as well as a Japanese company.

Both petitions concerned the exploratory drilling for oil in Tañon Strait, off the coasts of Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan towns.

Dolphins, toothed whales, porpoises and other cetacean species are represented in the suit by lawyers Gloria Estenzo-Ramos and Liza Osorio. The Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center (Fidec) is the petitioner in the other case.

Named respondents were Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Angelo Reyes, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, DENR 7 Director Leonardo R. Sibbaluca, and the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex), represented by its Philippine agent, Supply Oilfield Services.

Japex conducted the exploratory drilling from late last year until early this year.

In an earlier interview, Atty. Ramos explained that giving due course to the petition of the mammals meant that they were treated like normal, human petitioners.

The parties are given 30 days from receipt of the resolution to file their memoranda.

Each memorandum, according to the resolution, will contain a “statement of the case;” a summary of the proceedings; the challenged decision, resolution or order of the court; the nature of the judgment and other matters necessary to an understanding of the nature of the controversy.

“No new issues may be raised by a party in (the) memorandum, and the issues raised in pleadings but not included in the memorandum shall be deemed waived or abandoned. Being a summation of the parties’ previous pleadings, the court may consider the memorandum alone in deciding or resolving these petitions,” the resolution also read.

Livelihood

The mammals’ lawyers have said their habitat was destroyed by the oil exploration, while the fishermen said they lost their livelihood.

Lawyer Dante Ramos is representing Fidec, while Benjamin Cabrido represents the mammals.

They are the same lawyers who represent the Bantayan Group of Islands in a suit against DENR, over the allegedly indiscriminate issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) in the island. They argued that some businesses covered by ECCs may be detrimental to the environment of Bantayan, a protected area as declared by a presidential proclamation. (JGA)

_____________________

IBP seeks dialogue with LGUs over ‘harassment’ in 2 towns

2008-11-06T10:22:00.001+08:00

http://sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/11/03/news/ibp.seeks.dialogue.with.lgus.over.harassment.in.2.towns.html

Monday, November 03, 2008
IBP seeks dialogue with LGUs over ‘harassment’ in 2 towns

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu Chapter wants a dialogue with local government officials regarding the alleged harassment in the southern towns in relation to the exploratory drilling by Australia’s Nor-Asian Energy Ltd.

Sibonga and Argao fishermen have protested against Nor-Asian’s exploration for oil and gas deposits in Bohol Strait, which also includes the municipal waters of Sibonga and Argao.

Fishermen reported that members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police were “harassing” them for their protest actions.

“We are peace-loving citizens in Cebu who are also officers of the court, mandated by our oath to promote the administration of justice and to protect human rights, especially of those who have no voice in governance. We are committed to protect them,” lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said in a draft letter about the abuses allegedly inflicted on the fishers.

The letter will be signed by officers of the IBP-Cebu City Chapter headed by its president Noel Adlawan. Ramos is one of the group’s directors.

The letter will be sent to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos and Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos.

The letter is also addressed to Department of Energy 7 Director Antonio Labios, Lt. Gen. Pedro Insierto of the AFP Central Command, Commodore Rolando Dizon of the Coast Guard and Commission on Human Rights 7 Director Alejandro Alonzo.

The subject of the letter read: “Harassment of residents in Argao and Sibonga.”

In a protest action last week, Fisherfolks Development Center (Fidec) executive director Vince Cinches claimed that the police and military threatened the protesters with arrest when they were only airing their grievances.

Victor Lapaz, chairman of the Panaghugpong sa Gagmayng Mangingisda sa Sugbo (Pamana-Sugbo), related last week that armed men in civilian clothing confiscated placards and streamers while uniformed policemen from the Cebu Provincial Police Office and soldiers from the 78th Infantry Battalion looked on.

The IBP-Cebu Chapter is alarmed by such reports.

According to the letter, last Oct. 16, military men with long firearms searched members of a band during a fluvial activity that the fishermen organized as a protest.

There were also reports, the IBP said, that the Coast Guard ordered the fishermen off the fishing grounds.

“Recently, men in civilian clothing arrived in vans and started asking people in the community about the whereabouts of leaders of the people’s organizations in the area,” the IBP Cebu Chapter also noted.

IBP also mentioned the government’s constitutional mandate to preserve traditional fishing grounds for the subsistence of small-town fisherfolk.

Argao and Sibonga fishermen, just like those in Toledo, Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan last year, claimed that the drilling will reduce their catch.

The IBP also criticized Nor-Asian’s lack of resolutions from the different local government units to conduct the exploration.

IBP-Cebu noted the “seeming lack of appreciation by the local chief executives of the crucial role they play in environmental and human rights protection and in the enforcement of fisheries laws.”

The lawyers said they want a discussion with all stakeholders to protect the fishers from the loss of livelihood and against further harassment, as they claimed. (JGA)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

Int’l Mission: Off-shore Mining Violates Fisherfolk’s Right to Food and Livelihood

2008-10-27T11:02:00.002+08:00

http://bulatlat.com/main/2008/10/25/int’l-mission-off-shore-mining-violates-fisherfolk’s-right-to-food-and-livelihood/

Int’l Mission: Off-shore Mining Violates Fisherfolk’s Right to Food and Livelihood
PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 25, 2008 AT 5:41 PM SHARETHIS | PRINT THIS

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Golden Lessons of Lubo

An international fact-finding body, which recently visited communities affected by the off-shore oil and gas exploration along the Cebu-Bohol strait, revealed that the exploration would be detrimental to the livelihood of the fisherfolks in the area.

BY RITCHE T. SALGADO
Contributor
Bulatlat

An international fact-finding body, which recently visited communities affected by the offshore oil and gas exploration along the Cebu-Bohol strait, revealed that the exploration would be detrimental to the livelihood of the fisherfolks in the area.
The offshore mining exploration is being undertaken by the Department of Energy (DoE) and Australian company, NorAsian Energy Ltd.

Vince Cinches, executive director of the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center, Inc. (FIDEC) and a delegate of the International Fact-Finding Mission sponsored by the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), revealed that in all the communities they visited in Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Argao and Sibonga, there has been a 70 to 80 percent reduction in fish catch. Because of the reduction in income, children of many fisherfolks have stopped schooling, while others are getting sick because of malnutrition.

Other delegates of the IFFM are Andry Wijaya of Jatam-Indonesia and the Oil Watch Southeast Asia; Teh Chun Hong of PAN AP; Wichoksak Ronnarongpairee and Busarin Pandit of the Federation of Southern Fisherfolk (Thailand); Gilbert Sape of the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS); and, Meggie Nolasco of Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Philippines).

Cinches, who is also co-convenor of the environmental group Save Tañon Strait Citizens’ Movement (STSCM) pointed out that the Visayas is the epicenter of global marine shorefish diversity with the “richest concentration of marine life in the entire planet.”

He said that the presence of NorAsian or JAPEX, is detrimental to the marine biodiversity in the area as the sonic boom from the air gun used in the seismic survey would result in damage to the body tissues of marine organisms, including their reproductive systems.

In addition, the noise that would be made could alter the distribution of fish by tens of kilometers.

“You should keep the oil underground and let fisherfolks have their means of livelihood,” said Andry Wijaya of Jatam-Indonesia and Oil Watch Southeast Asia (Indonesia).

Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of STSCM asserted that drilling is a violation of the concept of social justice as provided for by the constitution. She added that the fisherfolks should have the supreme right to the use of fishing grounds.

Cinches said that because of strong opposition from different local governments in Bohol and the affected communities, NorAsian was forced to transfer their base of operations in Cebu by mid 2007. He said that Cebuanos should not permit what the Boholanos have rejected.

Paulita Destor of Bol-anong Kahugpungan sa mga Kabus nga Mananagat (Bokkana-Bohol) said that the exploration along the Cebu-Bohol Strait should be stopped as this would destroy the rich marine resources of the strait. This in turn would further bring the fisherfolks deeper into poverty.

Representatives from oil-producing countries Malaysia and Indonesia claimed that the presence of oil producing companies would not help in the country’s economy.
“Malaysia is a petroleum exporting country,” said Teh Chung Hong of Malaysia-based PAN-AP. “Forty percent of our income is from petroleum. But despite this our country still imposed a forty percent increase in the price of oil. Malaysia’s experience is that petroleum money will not bring benefit to people, even for oil-producing countries,” he said.

He further cited the example of Sarawak and Teranganu, which produces most of Malaysia’s oil. He said that these two states are also Malaysia’s poorest.

In response, Antonio E. Labios, regional director of the Department of Energy (DoE) Visayas Field Office, said that the claims of the fisherfolks regarding the reduction in fish catch is yet to be validated and substantiated by scientific studies.
Cinches said that Cebuanos should not wait for scientific studies to be made for this claim to be substantiated as the experience of the fisherfolks is enough evidence to prove the ill-effects of the survey.

Labios said that 12 of the 14 barangays of Argao have passed resolutions endorsing the project and that meetings with the mayors of Argao and Sibonga, as well as that of the governor have shown that they are supportive with the project. “We just have to address the issues of the fisherfolks,” he said.

However, the four-day IFFM further discovered that the communities as well as local government officials were not consulted by the mining companies before entering the seas, in violation of several Philippine laws. It was also disturbed by reports that some local government officials are involved in unethical relations with the mining companies and that the military has been deployed in certain areas to intimidate and quell the growing citizens’ movement against off-shore mining.

Labios further claimed that based on their consultation with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is not required for NorAsian to conduct the survey as said document is only needed once production is started.
Regardless, NorAsian and JAPEX did their best to comply with environmental guidelines, which includes consultation with various stakeholders, claimed Labios.

Labios said that they would soon be signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Municipalities of Argao and Sibonga so as to lift the recent cease and desist order imposed by the provincial government of Cebu as per Executive Order No. 09 signed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Labios said that the purpose of the seismic survey is to minimize if not eliminate the environmental impact once the oil drilling is started.
“The DoE and the service contractor do not shy away in addressing the concern of the fisherfolk,” Labios said.

“It is disturbing to know that the Philippine government is hell-bent on pursuing these so-called energy development projects despite the overwhelming opposition of citizens, especially the poor fisherfolk who are the most affected. We have seen in Asia and many parts of the globe that at the end of the day, these would only benefit the companies and corrupt government officials. History shows that oil doesn’t translate to wealth of the people,” said Sape of the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS). (Bulatlat.com)

NGO: Stop oil, gas search in Argao

2008-10-23T21:47:00.000+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20081023-167990/NGO-Stop-oil-gas-search-in-Argao

NGO: Stop oil, gas search in Argao
By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 08:51:00 10/23/2008

A fact-finding monitoring team composed of non-government organizations (NGO) from Asian countries called on the national government to end oil exploration activities in the Visayas.

In their manifesto, the Mining Network and Oil Watch-Southeast Asia said they denounce the “unconstitutionality of the oil and gas exploration activities” in Central Visayas as experienced by the affected fisherfolks and their families.

Convenor Andry Wijaya said fisherfolks and their families were displaced as a result of the offshore drilling.

“Their children no longer go to school as a result of the reduced fish catch,” he said.

The team announced the results of a study co-sponsored by the Pesticide Action Network in Asia and the Pacific (PAN-AP) and the Fisherfolks Development Center (Fidec).

He also scored the failure or refusal of the government agencies to enforce the law.

The study done in the Cebu towns of Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Argao and Sibonga centered on the effects of offshore mining done by Japex Philippines Inc. on Tañon Strait and NorAsian at the Cebu-Bohol Strait.

Fidec director Vince Cinches said the fisherfolk in Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan towns told the team that their fish catch didn't improve even after Japex left the area.

He said the fishermen only catch one to two kilos of fish per day, a sharp drop from the 15 to 20 kilos caught per day prior to the seismic survey and drilling operations in 2005 and 2007.

Argao fisherfolk also reported a decrease in fish yield due to the oil exploration activities of NorAsian Energy Ltd. at the Cebu-Bohol Strait, Cinches added.

Regional Director Antonio Labios of the Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DOE-7) said the agency is validating the claims of fisherfolk that their livelihood is affected by the NorAsian oil exploration activities.

“Fish catch, according to the fishermen, is also affected by the season. The decrease in fish yield could also be permanent or temporary. We have to find that out,” he told reporters yesterday.

“We would get baseline data from the municipal fisheries and the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources),” Labios said.

Labios said the target of the project is Argao town and that the agency already secured approval from 11 out of 14 barangays in the town.

Labios also admitted that there was no public consultation conducted on the NorAsian project.

“Oil exploration is not yet covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system, so there is no consultation required (for the activity),” the regional DOE-7 director said.

International Fact-Finding Mission Team joint manifestation - STOP OIL EXPLORATION NOW!

2008-10-23T10:06:00.000+08:00

STOP OIL EXPLORATION NOW!

We are brothers and sisters from the ASEAN Region bonded by a shared aspiration and sentiment - that of a world where our rights to life, livelihood, health, safety, and a healthy environment are respected, not just by government but by fellow humans, and entities, denounce the oil and gas exploration activities by foreign transnational corporations as pushed by the national government and its agencies and call for the stoppage of these activities.

We appeal to the government to seriously integrate sustainability in its programs and projects and do away with the policy of double speak. Mouthing calls for the people to reduce energy consumption and the use of fossil fuels while heavily promoting offshore drilling and mining is a clear example.

So much is at stake. The poorest of the poor - the small fisherfolks, farmers and their families- are suffering the most as a result of the displacement caused by offshore drilling and the failure or refusal of government agencies to enforce the laws. Their children no longer go to school as a result of the reduced fish catch and the loss of soil fertility of due to agricultural policies that promote the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticide. There is so much anxiety for what the future holds for them. They too deserve a life of dignity and honor.

In our stay here, we verify the studies conducted by different scientific groups and fact-finding missions, as attestation to the direct experiences of fisherfolk and coastal area residents of Central Visayas. It has already been established that oil and gas and exploration activities have grave negative impacts on the environment and ultimately on the livelihood and welfare of those affected.

We denounce the unconstitutionality of the oil and gas exploration activities and their intrusion on the municipal waters and bypassing the authority of local government units and apparent lack of environmental safeguards.

We condemn the underhanded methods and human rights violations of the corporations, which include legal and military harassments to those opposing the projects, with the permission of the national government to take advantage of the natural resources.
Sustainable programs such as sustainable agriculture and authentic eco-tourism participated in by the community should be mainstreamed. Sustainability is the key to full human development, and not-dole outs, which encourage corruption, dependency and political patronage.

Oil Exploration does not bring economic prosperity to hosts communities, as experienced by our colleagues representing oil producing countries and it is a warning that we as local people should heed. Oil corporations and their backers in the DOE is only deceiving the Visayans.

We call on the government and stakeholders to craft and implement measures to reduce oil dependency and carbon emission, and to mitigate the impact of climate change. Residents of developing nations such as the Philippines are its worst victims. Reducing our carbon imprints is a moral responsibility for all.

We are warning corporations that would attempt to drill and explore in Central Visayas in the future, that they will be met with intensified opposition from different sectors and organizations in the local, national and international level. We, the undersigned, will not tolerate these intended plunderers and exploiters of our natural resources and would exhaust all means to permanently bring an end to those that threaten of rob us of our sovereignty and patrimony.

The Rule of Law must remain paramount and prevail. Government has a duty to implement the social justice provisions of the Constitution and constantly safeguard the people’s rights. Militarization and imposing a culture of fear among the constituents is never the answer.

We demand for the accountability of the foreign corporations-name of companies- and the national government to pay the damages and give the victims just compensation for the days the company’s activities have affected them negatively up to the time the marine life and ecology goes back to its healthy state.

We immediately demand for the following:

1. Immediately Stop oil and gas exploration in Central Philippines and a moratorium on all future oil and gas exploration;

2. immediately pursue on-site congressional investigation to identify other violations the activity brought and to Make DOE, NorAsian, JAPEX, and others involve accountable for the havoc they brought in the communities in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros;

3. Stop Militarization in the communities of Argao and Sibonga;

4. Courts should make speedy resolutions to cases filed by the fisherfolks and marine mammals in Central Philippines and other legal cases aimed at protecting our resources from foreign plunder and dislocation of food producers.
In the era where global warming and climate change is threatening the survival of poor communities, it is irresponsible for corporations and government leaders to profit from the misery of poor Filipinos.

We call on our leaders to stop the havoc of oil and gas exploration.

Delegates, International Fact Finding Mission (October 19 – 23, 2008):

Meggie Nolasco, Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Philippines)

Andry Wijaya, Jatam-Indonesia and the Oil Watch Southeast Asia (Indonesia)

Teh Chung Hong, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (Malaysia)

Gilbert Sape, People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty (Malaysia)

Wichoksak Ronnarongpairee, Federation of Southern Fisherfolk (Thailand)

Busarin Pandit, Federation of Southern Fisherfolk (Thailand)

Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos (Philippines)

Michael Aliño (Philippines)

Vince Cinches (Philippines)

International Fact-Finding Mission

2008-10-19T02:40:00.001+08:00

DOE SHOULD ACCEPT DEFEAT AND ABANDON OFF-SHORE OIL MINING.

2008-10-16T12:29:00.002+08:00

PRESS RELEASE

October 16, 2008

DOE SHOULD ACCEPT DEFEAT AND ABANDON OFF-SHORE OIL MINING.
MAKE DOE AND NORASIAN ACCOUNTABLE NOW.

Executive Order Nos. 9, released by Gov. Gwen Garcia ordering the Department of Energy and it’s cohorts in destroying our marine environment and dislocating the rights of fisherfolks to stop it’s destructive activities is nevertheless a victory.

EO No. 9 should make these money hungry personnel to rethink the basis of their support to oil mining, and should start to make plans in pursuing the path to sustainable development and renewable energy.

We in our network, still stand firm that oil mining will compromise the integrity of our marine resources, bring irreparable damage to our ecosystem, threaten our food security, dislocate thousands of fisherfolks, and hasten global warming and climate change. We also re-affirm the studies of various economists that oil exploration will not solve Philippine oil supply crisis and the skyrocketing of petroleum prices, Philippine oil industry is deregulated and 90% of our oil is owned by foreign corporations such as SPEX, Chevron and Texaco.

However, we will work to make the impact of the Executive Order permanent and work for the total and absolute ban of oil mining activities in Central Philippines - the epicenter of global marine biodiversity.
This victory will not make us become complacent.

We demand that DOE and NorAsian be held accountable, it is high time that we need to enforce fully the strength of our law, by putting them behind bars and making them pay for the immediate and irreparable damage they have caused.

We congratulate the fisherfolks and our environmental network for their untiring work against DOE and NorAsian.

We already warned DOE and NorAsian from the start that they will suffer the same fate as JAPEX. They just don’t know how to listen.

Sincerely,
Vince A. A. Cinches
STSCM Co-convenor

Garcia orders DOE to stop exploration

2008-10-16T12:20:00.002+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=52&type=2&sec=70&aid=20081015170

photo by GIBBster at
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=governor%20gwen%20garcia&w=all&s=int

Local News

Garcia orders DOE to stop exploration

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the Department of Energy Regional Office-7 to halt the oil exploration surveys and other related works in the municipalities of Sibonga and Argao.

In her Executive Order No. 09, Garcia ordered the regional office of the DOE-7 to cease and desist from its activities until such time that required consultations shall be made and the legitimate concerns will be addressed.

“It is hereby ordered, the Department of Energy Regional Office 7, its officers, agents and all other persons acting for and on behalf, to cease and desist from continuing in the conduct of any and all oil exploration surveys and other related works in the seabed and seawaters of the municipalities of Argao and Sibonga, both of the Province of Cebu, until such time that the required consultations shall be made and all legitimate concerns of the concerned parties shall have been properly addressed,” Garcia said in her order.

The governor said the activities of the DOE were undertaken without consultation with all parties concerned, particularly the provincial government and the towns of Argao and Sibonga.

Garcia said that the activities have violated Section 2 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

Under the law, it was likewise the policy of the State to “require all national agencies and offices to conduct periodic consultations with appropriate local government units, non-governmental and people’s organizations, and other concerned sectors of the community before any project or program is implemented in their respective jurisdictions.”

In her executive order, Garcia also ordered the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies of the government to implement the cease-and-desist order.

The DOE regional office, Cebu Provincial Police Office, Philippine Navy, and the Offices of the Mayor of the municipalities of Argao and Sibonga were furnished with copies of the said order.

“The activities of the DOE have greatly affected some fishermen in the area whose fishing implements/gears have been damaged and/or lost as a result, thereby greatly jeopardizing their only means of livelihood and their future,” Garcia’s order further read.

The fishermen have already complained that they were “driven away every time the vessel carrying survey equipment would pass through their town’s waters.” They said that a vessel of the Coast Guard would reportedly often lead the survey vessel.

NorAsia, an Australian oil and gas explorer, will fund and operate oil and gas exploration activities in the tradition of Tañon Strait offshore mining including Cebu-Bohol Strait and Argao, which is the latest target for oil drilling.

Seismic surveys were first conducted in the waters off the coastal barangays of Simala, Bagakay, Bahay, and Poblacion last year.

The company reportedly gave financial assistance worth P1,500 each to at least 200 fishermen who were asked to temporarily leave the survey area. Owners of fish traps were paid P8,000 to P10,000 each. —Garry B. Lao/MEEV

Gwen to NorAsia, DOE

2008-10-12T09:49:00.001+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20081010-165703/Gwen-to-NorAsia-DOE

Gwen to NorAsia, DOE
‘Address concerns before ocean surveys’
By Doris C. Bongcac
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 13:44:00 10/10/2008
Most Read

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said yesterday that she would not allow the conduct of oceanographic surveys in the seas off Argao and Sibonga unless concerns raised on the conduct of these surveys are addressed.

Apologies by Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DOE-7) regional director Antonio Labios and NorAsia Energy Ltd. representatives did little to appease the irate governor during a meeting yesterday.

“No more surveys unless you come up with and show us a clear system wherein there will be no more miscommunication,” Garcia told Labios and NorAsia officials.

“You will coordinate and (you will give) immediate compensation to the affected fisher folks.”

Garcia also warned that continued disregard of local concerns will affect NorAsia's “future relationships” with the province.

The governor met DOE-7 and NorAsia officials in a closed-door meeting yesterday at the governor’s conference room at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. The meting was also attended by Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos and Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos.

Garcia reprimanded NorAsia officials, led by Kristoffer Fellowes, and energy officials on their failure to properly coordinate with the two mayors in conducting oil exploration surveys last month.

Garcia ordered the surveys suspended on Sept. 22.

“You just sent us letters (to inform us of your activities). Is that the way you operate?” Garcia asked.

Labios, said there was a simple “miscommunication” in DOE’s dealings with Galeos and Bacaltos.

The national government, through the DOE, supervised the conduct of the oceanographic surveys, which were preludes to exploratory drilling that NorAsia plans to implement early next year.

The foreign company is in search of oil and gas deposits in the coastal waters of southeastern Cebu.

Letters were sent to Garcia, Galeos and Bacaltos on Sept. 1 informing them of the oceanographic survey.

The next day, a site survey was conducted in Argao waters. On Sept. 4, the survey moved to Sibonga.

The survey resulted in the relocation of payao or floating fish traps of some fishermen because these were blocking the way of the survey vessels.

Bacaltos said he cautioned DOE-7 that the survey should not be conducted unless the concerns of affected fishermen were addressed.

He said the only reply he was given was that the regional office would refer the matter to its national office.

Galeos, for his part, said fishermen in Argao wanted to be compensated for their lost income.

“Almost all of our coastal barangays were affected. But in fairness, NorAsia and DOE did apologize and they are willing to come up with a system to address our miscommunications,” Galeos said.

Labios told the governor that he would make sure that communication gaps are addressed.

Execs urged: Act on river pollution

2008-10-06T19:42:00.002+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20081006-164855/Execs-urged-Act-on-river-pollution

Execs urged: Act on river pollution
By Bernadette Parco
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 16:05:00 10/06/2008

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Environmentalists called on local government officials in Toledo City to actively monitor the ecosystem in the area following reports that a mining company discharged wastewater into the Sapangdaku River.

“We are calling on the local government units to take on the shared responsibility of ensuring a safe environment for constituents and protect our marine ecosystem,” said environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos.

She said the process and standard of issuing and renewing business permits to companies that continue to pollute the environment should be reviewed.

Ramos referred to a complaint by residents of Barangay (village) Cambang-ug that mine tailings from the Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) have leaked into the upstream portion of the Sapandaku River.

She questioned whether there were any measures undertaken to ensure compliance from CCC on environmental procedures and standards.
“This is another wake up call for everyone to do their share in protecting the lives of people and our threatened biodiversity,” she said.

Ramos said the LGUs should procure equipment that could be used to monitor the quality of water in the area.

Residents of Barangay Cambang-ug complained that water at the Sapangdaku River has become turbid.

They suspected that wastewater was discharged into the Hinulawan River, located upstream from the Sapangdaku River.

Save Tanon Strait Citizen's Movement (STSCM) member Vince Cinches said the area has been the site of environmental disasters in previous years.

“Toledo (City) has become the toxic playground of polluting firms in Cebu. The city should get their act together now and make the corporation accountable,” he told Cebu Daily News.

“They should not wait until the community will pay with their lives. The community should prevent the repetition of (this kind of) tragedies,” he added.

The CCC, a subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. (ACMDC), started operations recently after securing fresh capital.

Mining operations were suspended in 1994 because of financial difficulties.

In 1999, Atlas Mining was penalized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) for dumping 5.7 million cubic meters of sulfuric acid into the Sapangdaku River, causing massive fish kill in the area.

CCC vice president and resident manager Rodrigo Cal said the waste discharge was unintentional since it was caused by a leak in their pipelines.
Cal said they are working to seal the leakages and desilt the river. /With a story from Reporter Doris C. Bongcac

TO DOE AND NORASIAN: RESTORE PEACE TO OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITY BY LEAVING CEBU STRAIT FOREVER!

2008-09-21T20:13:00.004+08:00

(Students from different universities under the environmental network Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement staged a solidarity meal over dried fish, fish paste, and corn in front of the Department Of Energy to symbolize the effects of off-shore oil and gas operation in Central Philippines)

September 19, 2008
PRESS STATEMENT

TO DOE AND NORASIAN: RESTORE PEACE TO OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITY BY LEAVING CEBU STRAIT FOREVER!

We strongly condemn the illegal act of the DOE and NORASIA for pushing though with the site survey, despite the absence of consent from local authorities in Sibonga and Argao and affected local government units including the Province of Cebu, as required by the Local Government Code. Despite massive opposition from the community, DOE and NorAsian ruthlessly displaced fisherfolk, in gross violation of the social justice provision of the Constitution and the Fisheries Code.

DOE and NorAsian wantonly mocked the celebration of International Day of Peace by sowing discords, displacements and disharmony on previously peaceful communities, and destroyed the rights of the people to life, livelihood, healthy environment and food security policy of the State. Among the individuals, as well as among nations, respecting the other people's rights leads to the path of peace. As Cicero said “The name of peace is sweet, and the thing itself is beneficial, but there is a great difference between peace and servitude. Peace is freedom in tranquility, servitude is the worst of all evils, to be resisted not only by war, but even by death.”

How can we have peace, when the basic law of the land and the rights of the people are trampled upon by DOE. How can the people have peace when foreign corporations are lording over our resources and doing activities that threaten our very existence?
The scientists, fisherfolk, lawyers, teachers and students have spoken - there is no room for oil drilling anywhere else in the world for it causes global warming and is extremely hazardous to us humans and in the environment

We commend the brave acts of the fisherfolks in Sibonga and Argao for reclaiming their rights and making their voices heard, despite the sheer arrogance of DOE-NORAsia.

We reiterate our stand that there is no middle ground when it comes to environmental protection and protection of people’s right to live in this planet with other living things.

DOE should cease all development of fossil fuel and instead pursue aggressively clean sources of energy, as mandated by its charter. Double talk from DOE will not solve the problem.

STSCM YOUTH

Sibonga mayor says no to more oil exploration

2008-09-19T14:34:00.000+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view_article.php?article_id=161616

Sibonga mayor says no to more oil exploration

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 11:23am (Mla time) 09/19/2008
UNLESS he is shown proper documentation, Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos said he would no longer allow seismic survey to be conducted within their municipal waters.

Anyone, who violates this directive, will be arrested, the mayor said.
“I was insulted with what they did because they did not cooperate with us,” Bacaltos said of NorAsia Energy Ltd., an energy company that had been conducting studies of the waters of southeastern Cebu in hopes of finding commercially viable oil.

Bacaltos said the foreign firm had conducted seismic surveys in the town's waters, at least eight kilometers from the shore, since last year without coordinating with the town government.

While Bacaltos said he did not want to interfere in the project's implementation, he also wanted to make sure that the firm had the proper permits and certifications.

Unless those permits were shown to the town government, particularly those from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy (DOE), Bacaltos said he would not allow the seismic survey to continue.

Bacaltos issued the warning during a meeting he called yesterday with representative from the DOE who also represented NorAsia, the town police chief, and fishermen.

He said he wanted to be certain that the project would not affect the livelihood of the town's fishermen.

While the mayor said he was not a party to the survey's implementation, he had been receiving criticisms for it.

He said fishermen complained that they were driven away every time the vessel carrying the survey equipment would pass through the town's waters. Fishermen said a coastguard vessel would often lead the survey vessel.

Fishermen thought the survey was conducted with his approval, Bacaltos said.

“I already told the fisherfolk 'I'm on your side.' I will help them in seeking financial compensation for the inconvenience that they have suffered, but I would not also want to fight the national government over the project implementation,” he said.

Bacaltos said NorAsia first conducted seismic surveys along the coastal waters of barangays Simala, Bagakay, Bahay and Poblacion in 2007.

The company gave financial assistance of P1,500 each to at least 200 fishermen who were asked to temporary leave the survey area.

Owners of fish traps were paid P8,000 to P10,000 each.

Bacaltos said fishermen complained after the company refused to release compensation to those affected by this year's survey, which were conducted on Sept. 5 and 12. /REPORTER DORIS C. BONGCAC

Sibonga, Argao fishers oppose oil exploration

2008-09-13T09:08:00.003+08:00

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=52&type=2&sec=70&aid=20080912207

Local News

Sibonga, Argao fishers oppose oil exploration

Saturday, September 13, 2008
For the third time, fisherfolks of Sibonga and Argao towns staged a fluvial protest yesterday against the oil drilling and seismic surveys to be done by the NorAsian Energy Ltd. of Australia.

Carrying placards, about 500 fishermen including a number of children rode on more than 80 pump boats from Sibonga to the port of Argao.

The fishermen came from barangays Taloot, Langtad, Guianon and Bogo in Argao; and Simala, Bagacay, Bahay and Abugon in Sibonga.

Organizations that joined the protest included the Alyansa sa mga Mangingisda Batok sa Hulga sa NorAsian (AMBAHAN), Simala Bantay Dagat Association (SIMBADA), Panaghiusa sa mga Mangingisda sa Taloot (PAGMATA), Langtad Fisherfolks Association (LAFA), Bagacay Rural Workers Association (BARUWA) and Panaghiusa sa Gagmayang Mangingisda sa Sugbo (PAMANA Sugbo).

While the protest was ongoing, another group of fisherfolks staged a picket in front of the Argao Municipal Hall.

PAMANA Sugbo spokesman Wilbert Dimol said the protest aims to let the public and the officials see that the people, particularly the fisherfolks, are objecting to the NorAsian project.

Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos earlier said to “let the people decide” about the issue.

It was reported that the NorAsian Energy Ltd. started its site survey off Sibonga last Aug. 25 and just finished last Monday.

It is still not certain if oil drilling will be pursued since consultations between the company and barangay captains including some LGU officials are ongoing.

Dimol said the oil exploration will destroy their livelihood and claimed ships of NorAsian have taken away 10 artificial reefs that had been sunk for the fish.

AMBAHAN President Anselmo Simoran also said that they are having a hard time fishing because they are not allowed to fish in the area where the seismic surveys are being conducted.

The fisherfolks have also launched a signature campaign. As of yesterday, Dimol said they have already gathered more than 1,000 signatures.

The petition will be submitted to the Provincial Board after their next fluvial protest on September 16.

The next fluvial protest will be joined by Boholanos supporting the fisherfolks’ to call President Gloria Arroyo’s attention.

Arroyo is set to go to Argao on September 16 to inaugurate the coliseum of the town. — Cressida Paula G. Delmo/BRP

Congress asked to probe oil searches in Argao, Sibonga

2008-09-12T04:54:00.001+08:00

Friday, September 12, 2008
Congress asked to probe oil searches in Argao, Sibonga

WORRIED about an ongoing oil and gas exploration in the towns of Argao and Sibonga, an organization that represents fishers is asking Congress to investigate NorAsian’s operations.

“We would like to request from our local congressmen to have an onsite congressional investigation,” said Vince Cinches, executive director of the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. (Fidec).

Since this is a local problem, local legislators should also take a stand, he added. Argao belongs to the province’s second congressional district, represented by Rep. Pablo Garcia, while Sibonga belongs to the first district, represented by Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

Fidec and local fishers are inviting all the local lawmakers to hold their “onsite investigation” in Argao and Sibonga.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) said that the House committee on natural resources already met last Wednesday to address the issue.

“I think the committee decided to have the onsite inquiry, though no date has been set. The committee decided to have an inquiry, because the Bohol congressmen are also asking for it,” said Garcia in a phone interview.

But Garcia, for his part, said he saw nothing wrong with oil and gas exploration as long as it has a very limited impact on the environment.

“We would provide them also with documents. All we want is to compel them to aggressively conduct an investigation,” said Cinches.

Conducting the inquiry in Manila would be costly, he added.

“Should they come for the onsite investigation, they can see the socio-economic and cultural impact of oil and gas exploration. In addition, they will know who are responsible for this problem and they will identify ways of how to penalize them,” said Cinches.

Garcia, however, pointed out that the Constitution allows such explorations “if there are identified resources available to utilize.”

In Wednesday’s meeting, the House committee invited an international marine environmentalist, Barry Shepherd, to discuss offshore mining.

“I asked him if there are any adverse affects of oil and gas exploration to the environment and he said there are very little effects,” said Garcia. He added, though, that the committee will still hold its onsite inquiry on NorAsian’s operations, despite Shepherd’s reassurance. (EPB)

Fluvial protest greets Visayan oil exploration project

2008-09-10T14:49:00.003+08:00

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080908-159441/Fluvial-protest-greets-Visayan-oil-exploration-project

Fluvial protest greets Visayan oil exploration project
By Kit Bagaipo, Jhunnex Napallacan
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 20:56:00 09/08/2008

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -- Some 300 fishermen from Sibonga and Argao held a fluvial parade Monday morning to protest the offshore oil exploration of NorAsian Energy Ltd. in the Cebu-Bohol Strait.

Wilbert Dimol of Pamana-Sugbo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) that although the actual oil drilling had yet to start, NorAsian has been conducting the second phase of its survey to erect its oil rig.

The fluvial protest, which started at 9 a.m. Monday, aimed to surround the site where seismic tests would be conducted by NorAsian oil and gas exploration ships, Dimol said in a telephone interview.

He also alleged that the NorAsian ordered the dismantling of the fishermen's payaos or fish traps.

But Department of Energy (DoE) Visayas director Antonio Labios clarified that NorAsian has been doing a location site survey, not a seismic survey, which was completed in 2007.

It would have to locate the drill site before the actual drilling could be done in the first quarter of 2009, Labios said.

"The seabed must be examined to find out if there are obstructions like shallow gas. Shallow gas is dangerous as it could explode if hit," Labios explained.

Labios said the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) cleared the location site survey.

He added that the ongoing survey would not damage the marine environment.

On the issue of dismantled fish pens, Labios said the fish pens were deliberately placed in the area to obstruct the ongoing location site survey.

Before the NorAsian vessel conducted the survey, he said, the company cleared the area and even paid P10,000 to each fish pen owner in the Sibonga area.

However, Labios said the NorAsian people were surprised when several fish pens went up on September 4.

NorAsian, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australian firm Otto Energy, won a service contract to explore parts of the Cebu-Bohol Straits in the Visayan Basin, which was considered to be highly prospective but under-explored.

In an advisory given to the DoE, Otto reported that it has been raising $11.02 million to fund the oil drilling off Argao, Cebu side and near Cabilao Island in Loon, Bohol side.

The DoE has likewise approved the exploration work programs of Otto giving the Australian firm until March 2009 to drill the first wells at the strait.

In an interview on September 1, 2008 that was posted on the company website, Otto Energy chief executive officer Alex Parks cited Argao as an attractive prospect with eight potential oil reservoirs.

In the same interview, Parks said its subsidiary NorAsian Energy would start drilling the area under its service contract in the first half of 2009.

He also disclosed that they have been targeting an area north of Argao called Bahay with similar characteristics to Argao.

Parks said that Argao and Bahay had a pre-drill estimate of over 100 million barrels of recoverable oil.

Fisherfolk block drilling operations

2008-09-07T17:12:00.001+08:00

Saturday, September 06, 2008
Fisherfolk block drilling operations

FISHERFOLK reportedly blocked the survey boat of the Australia-based NorAsian Energy Limited yesterday at the Cebu-Bohol Strait.

This was in protest of the company’s operations off the shores of Sibonga and Argao towns in southern Cebu.

Vince Cinches, executive director of the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center, Inc. (Fidec), said that because of the company’s operations in the waters where the fisherfolk normally fish, the community has been greatly affected.

“They can no longer fish and sell their catch. They can no longer make a living, people have gone hungry, and children have stopped going to school. The people are experiencing hard times,” said Cinches in Bisaya.

According to Cinches, the fisherfolk held a fluvial protest before the survey vessel and tried to stop it from continuing with its operations.

“What they (NorAsian) are doing right now is for the preparation for the drilling that will happen in a few months,” said Cinches.

Operations

However, despite current operations of Nor—Asian at the strait, their activities remain illegal, said Cinches.

Cinches earlier said that the company failed to comply with Republic Act 8550 (RA) or the Fisheries Code of 1998.

“Republic Act 8550 says that activities should happen 15 kilometers off the shore.

But NorAsian’s activities are operated seven kilometers off the shore,” he said.

Also, Cinches said that the company still has to get an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Because of these violations, Fidec along with the fisherfolk will be filling a citizen’s suit against NorAsian and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Assessment

“They have violated RA 8550, the National Integrated Protected Areas Act, and they have committed violations of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system and the Clean Air Act of the Philippines because during operations they are also emitting pollution,” he said.

Cinches said that Fidec will bring the issue of NorAsian’s offshore mining to the international community with hopes of addressing this pressing problem.

“The World Forum on Fisher People is planning to issue a statement against NorAsia,” he said.

To continue with their protest against offshore mining, fisherfolk of Sibonga and Argao will be coming to Cebu City on Monday to bring their protest before the DOE 7. (EPB)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

Capitol to assist oil explorers that follow requirements

2008-09-04T09:52:00.000+08:00

Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Capitol to assist oil explorers that follow requirements

CAPITOL will support proponents of exploratory oil and gas drillings in the Tañon and Cebu-Bohol Straits if they comply with requirements for such operations.

Australian-based NorAsian Energy Limited reportedly started conducting a seismic survey off the waters of Argao and Pinamungajan towns in Cebu last Aug.15.

NorAsian Energy pledged to address any “temporary disturbance” the project might bring to the livelihood of residents.

Fisher folk from the towns of Argao, Sibonga and Pinamungahan oppose the oil exploration for fear of losing their livelihood.

Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Victor Maambong, chairperson of environmental conservation and natural resources committee, said the Province welcomes any “sustainable and environment-friendly” development project.

Position paper

The PB approved last Monday a position paper containing the official stand of the environmental committee on the proposed oil and gas exploration.

Maambong said the Province is committed to “protect and conserve” the environment.

Maambong listed several requirements for the oil drilling to follow. One requirement is a public consultation where project proponents, residents and local officials can discuss the matter.

Another is that there should be resolutions from barangays, towns and cities endorsing the project.

Also, the project proponents must have an environmental impact assessment study and environmental compliance certificate from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Maambong advised the project proponents to give copies of their permit to concerned agencies and nongovernment organizations.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) may face another legal suit over the ongoing oil and gas exploration off the shores of Sibonga and Argao, Cebu.

Vince Cinches, executive director of the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. (Fidec), said Fidec will assist fishermen of Sibonga and Argao in filing a case against DOE.

“Apparently the DOE has not yet learned its lesson. Oil and gas exploration is unconstitutional. We are going to remind them of the legal mandate,” said Cinches.

Opposition

Cinches said that their group, as well as the fisherfolk communities in Sibonga and Argao, hopes to avoid what happened during the oil and gas exploration in Tañon Strait.

“There is a massive opposition against NorAsia and the Department of Energy,” said Cinches.

After expressing interest in finding oil and gas deposits in the Cebu-Bohol Strait, NorAsia Limited of Australia already started their operations off the shores of Sibonga and Argao.

Cinches said the company is already at the site and is currently removing the fishpens of fisherfolk of the two towns.

But their operations are illegal because they do not have an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), he said.

The company, he said, also failed to get the endorsement of the local government units for their oil and gas exploration.

For this, the fishing community of the two towns and Fidec expressed dismay over DOE’s lack of action and failure to implement national laws.

“They keep on selling our resources and look what is happening to us now,” Cinches said. (GMD/EPB)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

Fisherfolk Sail Cebu-Bohol Strait to Oppose Aussie Offshore Mining Firm

2008-09-01T12:52:00.002+08:00

Fisherfolk Sail Cebu-Bohol Strait to Oppose Aussie Offshore Mining Firm

The offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait and other parts of the Visayan basin will affect the livelihood of more than 100,000 small fishermen and 500,000 dependents, and will further exacerbate the problem of food security of 87 million Filipinos.

BY GERRY ALBERT CORPUZ
Bulatlat
Volume VIII, Number 30, August 31 - September 6, 2008

ARGAO, CEBU- Cebu-based fisherfolk activists belonging to Pamana-Sugbo, an affiliate of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) staged a fluvial protest, Aug. 28, against offshore mining.

NorAsia Energy Limited, an Australian offshore mining company, plans to conduct oil and gas exploration at the Cebu-Bohol Strait.

Pamalakaya National Chair Fernando Hicap said that some 50 small fishing boats with 200 fishermen on board sailed from Sibonga town to Argao town in Cebu province to dramatize their opposition against what his group called the “Australian economic colonialization of Cebu-Bohol Strait.”

The Pamalakaya leader said that Bokkana-Bohol, its provincial chapter in Bohol province, is also planning to stage another fluvial protest in towns affected by the ambitious offshore mining project.

“This is just a dress rehearsal. The Australian mining firm should expect more daring sea-based protest actions in the near future against their anti-fisherfolk and anti-environment mining escapade in Cebu-Bohol Strait,” Hicap warned.

In Cebu City, Pamana-Sugbo spokesperson Wilbert Dimol confirmed Hicap’s statement that there would be more protests to pressure Malacañang, the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to scrap the government contract with NorAsia and stop the Office of the President from selling the Cebu-Bohol Strait and other parts of the Visayan Sea to international oil and gas explorers.

“We hope to double the number of fishing boats and the number of small fishermen in the next fluvial protest. The fisherfolk and the coastal village people want NorAsia out of Cebu-Bohol Strait,” Dimol added.

Letter to Australian PM

Last month, Pamalakaya emailed a three-page open letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of the Australian Labor Party urging the Australian premier to order NorAsia to leave Cebu-Bohol Strait.

The group, in their letter to Rudd, asserted that the offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait and the entire East Visayan basin would pave way for the systematic and gross destruction of the marine environment.

Pamalakaya told the Australian PM that the ‘far-reaching effects of oil and gas exploration even during its exploratory or prospecting stage prior to production and extraction are very certain based on the country’s previous experience with other offshore mining activities staged by foreign oil and gas groups.’

The letter was sent to the House of Representatives of the Parliament House of Australia based in Canberra.

The letter was sent last July 10 after the group learned that NorAsia Energy Limited was able to secure Area 8 Service Contract 69 that would allow the Australian oil and gas group to explore 7,400 square kilometers of marine waters encompassing the Cebu-Bohol Strait, a narrow sea strait separating the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, and parts of Leyte in the East Visayan basin.

“It is over a month now, still there’s no response from Rudd and his labor party in Australia. This is a matter of life and death to the struggling fisherfolk of Cebu, Bohol and across the Visayas. The silence of Australian Prime Minister is puzzling us. Is he, as well as his colleagues in their labor party, a stockholder of Otto Energy, the mother firm of NorAsia?” Pamalakaya asked.

The group said the entire offshore mining activity will cover 445,000 hectares of marine waters over a seven-year period based on the agreement signed by NorAsia and its Filipino partner-the TransAsia Oil and Energy Development Corporation. The agreement was sanctioned by the DoE.

In 2007, NorAsia acquired 146 square kilometers of 3D seismic data over two prospects in Service Contract 51. It said Area 8 of Service Contract 69 offers significant follow-up potential in additional structures if initial drilling in Service Contract 512 is successful.

NorAsia said Service Contract 69 has approximately 3,000 kilometers of existing 2D seismic and an active petroleum system as shown by the abundant onshore oil seeps and seismic supported direct hydrocarbon indicators on prospects in the area.

214,000 air pollutants

In their letter to Rudd, Pamalakaya asserted that many studies revealed that offshore mining causes a significant amount of air pollution. Each offshore oil platform generates approximately 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year. An average exploration well for natural gas could generate 50 tons of nitrogen oxides, 13 tons of carbon monoxide, six tons of sulfur dioxide and five tons of volatile organic hydrocarbons.

“Recent findings also revealed that oil and gas exploration activities could lead to massive production of other toxic waste materials such as cadmium which causes lung cancer; lead which causes gastrointestinal diseases, blood and kidney disorders,
mental retardation and affects the nervous system; chromium which causes lung and liver cancers, kidney and other respiratory illness,” the militant group added.

Pamalakaya said if Nor Asia will push its offshore mining, a severe fish crisis will happen. It could lead to a dramatic decrease of 600,000 metric tons in the yearly production of fish in the country or approximately 20 percent annually.

The offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait and other parts of the Visayan basin will affect the livelihood of more than 100,000 small fishermen and 500,000 dependents, and will further exacerbate the problem of food security of 87 million Filipinos.

The offshore mining all over the Visayan Sea will have a devastating impact on fish production in Region VI composed of provinces Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras,
Iloilo and Negros Occidental which account for an average for 350,000 metric tons of fish harvest per year, while Region VII composed of Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor account for 205,000 metric tons of fish produced.

Region VIII is made up of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Southern Leyte yield and average of 100,000 metric tons of fish per year.

Moreover, oil and gas drilling operations produce huge amounts of water waste ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 metric tons of highly toxic water waste materials per drilling. The seismic tests, which are part of the exploration stage, damage the hearing organs of marine species, cause hemorrhage in body tissues, and damage their reproductive organs.

Pamalakaya said seismic blasting could cause behavioral modifications and reduce or eliminate available habitat for breeding, spawning, foraging and migration. Seismic noises can alter fish distribution by tens of kilometers and can elicit physiological
stress on neural-immune responses in marine organisms.

The group also said seismic tests damage plankton eggs and larvae found in the immediate vicinity of airgun, and reduce catches in commercial fishers. It also
damages swim bladders of fishes and lungs of marine mammals.

“We believe stopping NorAsia from destroying our marine resources in the name of corporate super profits is a tough act, but this is the politically, morally and legally correct way to address the concern of our fisherfolk and the Filipino public in general,” Pamalakaya said. Bulatlat

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FIDEC Inc. in Bangkok Climate Justice Conference

2008-08-26T12:37:00.000+08:00

NORASIAN OFF-SHORE MINING IS PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULLETTE WITH OUR FUTURE.

2008-08-17T15:31:00.003+08:00

August 14, 2008

PRESS STATEMENT

NORASIAN OFF-SHORE MINING IS PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULLETTE WITH OUR FUTURE.

When a consensus through a resolution was made by various scientists under the Philippine Association of Marine Science against the operation of JAPEX in Tañon Strait a couple of months ago, the debate on the destructive impacts of off-shore mining in our archipelagic water has ended.

Their resolution validated and affirmed by various scientific facts from the global community, helped catapult the campaign against the rape of our patrimony, destruction of environment, food security and dislocation of hundreds of thousands of fisherfolks.

It is sad that DOE became a willing lackey of profiteering corporations. It is even more revolting to know that they have become more rabid in promoting off-shore mining after the strong solidarity between various sectors under STSCM kicked-out Japan Petroleum Exploration Inc. out of our protected seascape.

DOE, their corporate cohorts and the National Government failed to learn a very important lessons after the people defeated them in Tañon Strait when they prod NorAsian to pursue their activities in Cebu Strait.

They refused to acknowledge that the people are now taking back their constitutional power to resist projects that are anti-environment and anti people, and weild the power of choosing developmental models that is responsive to their welfare and interests, as a people and as a nation.

The lies and deception of DOE and NorAsian that their project will develop our local and domestic economy, will cost us not just with irreparable damage to our fishing grounds, marine biodiversity, food security, and dislocations, but with our lives and our future.

At the end of the day, NorAsian and their collaborators, after extracting profit from our misery will pack-up and leave. At the end of the day the community stays with whatever is left after being ravaged by DOE and NorAsian.

The only way to stop this pillage is to replicate the victory of people’s resistance in Tañon Strait and bring meaningful change.

The tragedy in Tañon Strait is enough to stop Off-shore mining.

In the era of climate change, development of fossil fuel is reckless and irresponsible, we should not allow the acts of these agents of disaster to play Russian roulette with our lives.

For Reference:

Vince A. A. Cinches

Executive Director

FIDEC Inc.

Co- Convenor - STSCM

Group, barangay chiefs oppose new oil exploration

2008-08-04T11:39:00.002+08:00

Group, barangay chiefs oppose oil exploration
The Freeman
Monday, July 28, 2008

The Save Tañon Strait Citizen’s Movement, the group that strongly opposed the oil exploration in Tañon Straight, has shifted its focus to Argao, the site of the new oil exploration in Cebu .

This after NorAsian Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Australian-based Ottoman Energy Ltd., has chosen Argao for its oil exploration project.

With the site surveys set for next month, representatives of NorAsian have initiated consultations with the different barangays in the municipality.

Vince Cinches of STSCM said they will be filing a case against NorAsian and other individuals involved in the “environment- destructing oil exploration project” for allegedly violating existing laws.

Argao has a marine protected area of 108.35 hectares.

The town’s officials said the site survey is for the anticipated oil exploration, which would reportedly start January next year.

Two board members of the Association of Barangay Captains in Argao have already expressed opposition to the drilling project.

Barangay Langtad Captain Ariel Saragena said he does not trust NorAsian’s scheme, because it allegedly failed to deliver complete details of the project, such as its environmental impact once drilling starts.

Saragena contended that the reason why many others in the town have not issued statements on the issue is because they have not been adequately informed.

The consultations with barangays were reportedly useless because NorAsian representatives allegedly could not directly answer some questions like the procedures in compensation.

Saragena said oil drilling is not necessary because only foreign investors will benefit out of it.

He said that instead of accommodating these investors, government should focus on programs that would boost the fishing industry in Argao, which is one of the main sources of livelihood of town residents. — Jessica Ann Pareja/JMO

Original article here.

Earth Day Green Voting Campaign

2008-08-04T11:25:00.003+08:00

Green Manifesto

We are young citizens conscious of our primordial rights to life, good health and a healthy environment.

We are aware that these rights require us to perform the corresponding obligation to protect the environment and maintain an ecologically sustainable lifestyle for the benefit of all, young and old, humans and non-humans, including those yet to be born.

We are committed to assist in the eco-literacy campaign to help stem the tide of ecological devastation rapidly taking place in Cebu, the Philippines and the world.

We are very much concerned with the growing global crisis called climate change, it being due to anthropogenic factors such as our continued dependency on fossil fuels and the rapid rate of deforestation and biodiversity destruction taking place all over the world, including Cebu which is “one of the most degraded areas in the country and a conservation priority.”

We are aware of the destructive effects of climate change that have and will destroy our dwindling resources and habitats, and victimize millions of our brothers and sisters in this archipelago, especially those without the knowledge, capacity and resources to adapt to and mitigate the adverse impact.

We are alarmed that this grave “planetary emergency” faced by humankind is met with silence by the stakeholders, especially the public sector. The time for talking is NOW, and not when disaster again revisits the islands.

We are calling on the national and local government leaders to prioritize the issues of climate change, environmental protection and sustainable, not purely economic, development. Both share the responsibility of ensuring the constituents’ rights to life and a healthy ecosystem, to obey the Constitution, enforce the environmental laws and dispense with the culture of patronage that has enveloped and weakened our political institutions and the ensuing negative consequences that have so degraded our environment.

We are resolved to choose only the leaders who have the political will to steer this country and Cebu to an ecologically sustainable tomorrow, and who will ACT NOW, before it is too late.

Signed this 22nd day of April, 2008, Cebu City, Philippines.

Victory in Tanon Strait

2008-08-04T11:12:00.003+08:00

Negros Oriental Vice Mayors Stand vs
Oil Exploration in Tañon Strait

The growing Visayas-wide campaign against oil exploration in the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape, which lies between Negros Oriental and Cebu, got a boost with the recent approval by the Negros Oriental Vice Mayors’ League of a resolution opposing any extension of oil drilling or any oil exploration at the protected seascape.

BY KARL G. OMBION
Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 13, May 4-10, 2008

The growing Visayas-wide campaign against oil exploration in the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), which lies between Negros Oriental and Cebu, got a boost with the recent approval by the Negros Oriental Vice Mayors’ League of a resolution opposing any extension of oil drilling or any oil exploration at the protected seascape.

In a statement sent to Bulatlat, lawyer Gloria Eztenzo Ramos of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement (STSCM) said the resolution is the first collective expression of opposition by ranking local government officials against the oil drilling at Tañon Strait, and may provide a “tipping point” in the citizens’ campaign to stop the oil exploration at the seascape.

“The League and the proponent, Bindoy Vice Mayor Valente D. Yap, have exhibited the much-needed political will to protect the environment, including the migratory species in the protected seascape, as well as the general welfare of the hundreds of thousands of constituents and their families who are dependent on Tañon Strait for their sustenance,” Ramos said.

Ramos said that Tañon Strait is considered one of the ten richest fishing grounds, and the feeding, breeding and nursery grounds, and migratory path of 14 out of 27 species of cetaceans in the Philippines.

“The unprecedented resolution effectively demolishes the claim of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the DoE (Department of Energy) that the local government units were consulted and that the approval of the respective Sanggunian of the estimated forty local government units in the TSPS was obtained prior to the controversial oil drilling,” Ramos added.

Vince Cinches, co-founder of STSCM and executive director of the Cebu-based Fishermen’s Development Center (FIDEC), said that the resolution is “commendable and the kind of politics Cebuano leaders should emulate – one that is devoid of decisions based on patronage and corruption.”

“With this, there is still hope with these kinds of leaders and this should inspire advocates to pursue more fervently our campaign to save Tañon,” Cinches said.

The country’s foremost marine mammal expert, Dr. Lemnuel Aragones of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, welcomed the move saying, “Tañon Strait is a unique natural heritage which has local, national and global significance; this action is an indication, for him that “the local government units of Negros Oriental have awakened and realized that their future and the fragile environment are at stake, from the oil exploitation, since Tañon Strait is very narrow.”

STSCM members attended the stakeholders’ dialogue at Bindoy, Negros Oriental last month and assailed the DENR-led TSPS protected area management board’s membership as anomalous, and contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and existing laws. Bulatlat

Source: http://www.bulatlat.com

For the Cebu Daily News article, click here or read below:

NegOr vice mayors oppose extension of oil exploration
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 01:46pm (Mla time) 04/10/2008

THE Vice Mayor's League of the Philippines (VMLP) in Negros Oriental approved yesterday a resolution urging the national government to stop the oil drilling and exploration activities in Tañon Strait.

Bindoy town Vice Mayor Valente Yap, who sponsored the resolution said he oppose any extension to the oil drilling after scientists observed that there were lesser whales and dolphins in the area during the exploration.

“Okay ang oil exploration but we are dealing with a protected seascape. Dili unta ma-endanger ang whales og dolphins,” said Yap. (Whales and dolphins should not be endangered.)

The vice mayor of Bindoy town said that he believes in the findings of marine scientist Lemnuel Aragones who reported that the sounds generated by the oil drilling and exploration activities have driven out whales and dolphins from the area.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a permit to the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) to conduct exploratory oil drilling. This was extended to 41 days after JAPEX claimed that they had technical problems associated with the drilling.

Bindoy, 70 kms north of Dumaguete City, is one of 41 municipalities and cities that surround Tañon Strait. The Strait is a deep, narrow navigable body of water between the islands of Negros and Cebu and serves as their conduit between Bohol Sea and Visayan Sea.

The vice mayor also said that if the first seismic survey did not show that Tanon Strait is a site of natural gas and oil then the activities should be stopped.

Lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, who together with lawyers Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio and Ben Cabredo filed a case at the Supreme Court in behalf of dolphins to stop further offshore explorations by Japex, lauded the move of the Bindoy executive.

“For me, the tipping point is reached when local government units start to assert their autonomy and to protect the constituents and the environment,” said Ramos. /Reporter Ma. Bernadette A. Parco

RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF OIL EXPLORATION TO FISH CATCH VOLUME OF FISHERFOLKS IN PINAMUNGAJAN AND ALOGUINSAN

2008-03-03T15:09:00.003+08:00

please click on the title for the research photos or

http://witchunter.multiply.com/photos/album/47/RESEARCH_ON_THE_IMPACT_OF_OIL_EXPLORATION_TO_FISH_CATCH_VOLUME_OF_FISHERFOLKS_IN_PINAMUNGAJAN_AND_ALOGUINSAN

thank you..

RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF OIL EXPLORATION TO FISH CATCH VOLUME OF FISHERFOLKS IN PINAMUNGAJAN AND ALOGUINSAN

Loren Legarda's Senate Resolution 278 - DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN

2008-03-03T15:05:00.001+08:00

FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

First Regular Session

SENATE

PSR No. _278

~ ~

Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda

A RESOLUTION

DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN

INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE ALLEGED ADVERSE EFFECTS

OF THE OIL EXPLORATION AND DRILLING IN THE TANON STRAIT THAT

MAY RESULT IN THE LOSSES OF SOURCES OF LIVELIHOOD OF

THE SAID AREA WITH THE END IN VIEW OF DEVISING MEASURES TO

COUNTER THE SAID LOSSES

FISHERFOLKS AS WELL AS THE IMMINENT COLLAPSE OF ECO-TOURISM IN

Whereas, Section 16, Article I1 of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the *

Philippines declares that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a

balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;

Whereas, Section 7, Article XI11 states that the State shall protect the rights of

subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential use of the

communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore. It shall provide

support to such fishermen through appropriate technology and research, adequate

financial, production, and marketing assistance, and other services. The State shall also

protect, develop, and conserve such resources;

Whereas, Section 16 from the same Article bestows the right of the people and

their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social,

political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged. The State shall, by law,

facilitate the establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms;

Whereas, the Philippines was a signing party in the Convention on Biological

Diversity adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, thereby compelling the country to

promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable

populations of species in natural surroundings;

Whereas, the same treaty recognized that it is vital, to anticipate, prevent and

attack the causes of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity at source;

Whereas, the same treaty also noted that where there is a threat of significant

reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be

used as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat;

Whereas, the same treaty bestows the signing party the task to promote, on the

basis of reciprocity, notification, exchange of information and consultation on activities

under their jurisdiction or control which are likely to significantly affect adversely the

biological diversity of other States or areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, by

encouraging the conclusion of bilateral, regional or multilateral arrangements, as

appropriate;

Whereas, Tanon Strait straddles the islands of Negros and Cebu and is a distinct

habitat of the chambered nautilus (local name, tuklong), a migration route of Whale

Sharks, and home to at least nine species of cetaceans;

Whereas, the Strait houses a relatively high marine biodiversity with the

northern portion known for its cetacean populations, thus whale and dolphin-watching

(eco-tourism) is also a major industry besides fishing that earns at least two million

pesos a year, as identified by a study;

Whereas, Presidential Proclamation 1234 declaring the Strait as a protected

seascape was signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1998 due to the

aforementioned characteristics;

Whereas, it was reported that on 21 December 2004, the Department of Energy

(DOE) signed a contract with Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. (JAPEX) for oil

exploration and drilling in a 2,850 kilometer area offshore of Tanon Strait;

Whereas, fact-finding studies undertaken by concerned people’s organizations

claimed that there were adverse effects such as environmental destruction and fish

catch reduction after the first exploration activity through seismic surveys launched in

the year 2005;

Whereas, the same group alleged that the first exploration activity was not

preceded by an environmental impact assessment and that there were no consultations

involving the fishing communities amid the dangers that the seismic surveys poised to

the environment;

Whereas, the second. oil exploration activity commenced on mid-November of

2007 along with a fishing ban of two months reportedly imposed by JAPEX; during this

period, the said firm shall be conducting exploration activities covering seven square

kilometers of Tanon Strait;

Whereas, a study pointed out that the economic losses of the 1,500 fisherfolks

that may be brought about by the two-month ban will amount to an average of P16

million;

Whereas, experts in marine sciences asserted that the oil exploration activities

might drive away marine organisms and species of dolphins, as well as affect the sexual

behavior of the latter, thus greatly affect the eco-tourism and fishing that make up most

of the livelihood of the communities within the area;

Whereas, numerous groups through their resolutions and positions coursed

through media and other national agencies have called for investigations and review by

appropriate government institutions, taking into account the inputs of the scientific

community;

Whereas, there is a need to look into the alleged harmful effects in the

environment brought by the activities in the course of finding out commercially viable

quantities of oil and gas reserves in the Tanon Strait;

Whereas, the alleged threats to the livelihood of the communities necessitate an

investigation with the end in view of formulating remedial measures to mitigate the

adverse consequences of the said activities;

NOW BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to direct the

appropriate Senate Committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the

alleged adverse effects of the oil exploration and drilling in the Tanon Strait that may

result in the losses of sources of livelihood of fisherfolks as well as the imminent

collapse of eco-tourism in the said area with the end in view of devising measures to

counter the said losses.

Adopted,

Loren Legarda

Senator

2007-12-23T09:43:00.000+08:00

STOP DISLOCATION OF FISHERFOLKS AND DESTRUCTION OF OUR PROTECTED SEASCAPE IN THE NAME OF OIL!

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR LEADERS

2007-12-23T09:34:00.000+08:00

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR LEADERS

Greetings.

In behalf of thousands of Fisherfolks dislocated by the ongoing off-shore mining operated by the Japan Petroleum Exploration Inc. in the Tañon strait protected seascape, we would like to urge your office to immediately stop the operation of this destructive corporation.

Thousands of already impoverished fisherfolks in Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan were disallowed from fishing. JAPEX virtually put up their empire when they declared a 24 hour fishing ban in the area and to fortify their presence in the community they have requested the presence of police and the military to intimidate and quash constitutionally guaranteed rights of Filipino people to protest projects that are detrimental to their interests and well being.

Your position against the off-shore mining operation of JAPEX is not only important to small fisherfolks in the region but to the whole economy and to the global effort of preserving critical habitat and biodiversity as well.

To quote the scientific consensus of the Philippine Association of Marine Science from their their resolution against the oil exploration, they said that the impacts of activities such as seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, and actual oil mining operation would negatively impact the marine ecosystem and organisms dependent on it; sound is very important to whales and dolphins as they use it for hunting, navigation and communication, and in general, these animals maybe sensitive to certain sound levels;

In relation a detailed study being conducted by Aragones et al. in the area showed immediate negative effects on the surface behaviors and delayed (1 year after) negative response on the relative abundance of spinner dolphins implicating short and intermediate term changes on these animals possibly brought about by the seismic surveys (using gun arrays) conducted in the summer of 2005.

Furthermore, current oil drilling activity of JAPEX will contribute to global warming and will not solve the issue of oil security in a deregulated industry. This dirty initiative is directly in violation of various international environmental protocols to which our country is a signatory.

We cannot equate the value of Tañon strait to a mere 8 to 10 years supply of fossil fuel. We cannot trade food security, healthy environment, and dynamic biodiversity to destroying the Tañon protected seascape.

Former President Ramos was correct in declaring the area under PD 1234 a protected seascape, but current government agencies and other governmental offices were wrong when they collude with JAPEX by short circuiting the legal processes.

Our legal luminaries under the Integrated Bar of the Philippines were correct when they said the project violates the basic law of our land. The position of the Business Community under the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry demonstrate that environmental protection and development is relevant and is not against each other.

We urged your office again as mandated by the Filipino people and as stewards of our environment to pursue sustainable development and do away with environmentally destructive projects such as JAPEX.

Mabuhay.

Sincerely,

Vince Cinches

Executive Director

Letter from Cebu Chamber of Commerce Inc. for DOE Secretary Reyes

2007-12-02T14:36:00.000+08:00

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view_article.php?article_id=104023

Tañon Strait: Prevent damage to biodiversity

(Letter to Energy Sercretary Angelo Reyes, Nov. 28, 2007).

Greetings from the Cebu Business Community.

We are writing this letter of concern on the impact of the oil exploration on the biodiversity of Tañon Strait.

It is scientifically proven that the Strait is one of the country’s biodiversity hotspots in terms of cetacean density and diversity, as well as coral reefs. The area is also a distinct habitat of the Chambered Nautilus, and a migration route of Whale Sharks, hence the proclamation of the area as a protected seascape under Proclamation 1234 signed by then President Fidel Ramos on May 1998.

While we at the Chamber believe that economics and biodiversity resource systems can be integrated in a comprehensive and sustainable manner, we feel that all stakeholders in this exploratory activity should address the need to balance the uitilization-driven policy involving modification of biodiversity for human needs, with the conservation-driven policy for maintaining natural biodiversity.

Biodiversity is important on global, ecologoical and human scales. Biological processes regulate global climate and cycling of essential elements and substances and as a result perpetuate a global system favorable to the support of life. Greater species diversity contributes stability to ecosystems, and conversely, a healthy functioning ecosystem supports greater diversity of life. From the human perspective, our societies need living resources, and greater biodiversity offers better variety of foods, building materials, and medicine amongst others.

Our country is one of the contracting parties in the Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio de Janeiro signed on June 1992, objectives which include the country’s responsibility to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. Further, the Philippines is a member of the International Union the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 1992. the UCN, a union of sovereign states, government agencies and NGOs, initiates and promotes scientifically based actions that will ensure perpetuation of the natural environment.

Given these international commitments, we would like to call on your good office to deal with the oil exploration activity in a precautionary manner that will prevent, or at least reduce, damage before we reach the stage of irreversible biodiversity loss. - Francis O. Monera, president, Cebu City Chamber of Commerce and Industry

OUR MANIFESTO

2007-11-27T23:34:00.001+08:00

hi,

you may use this manifesto to gather support for our campaign against the destructive off-shore mining operation of Japan Petroleum Exploration Inc. in Tanon Strait.

Thank you.

MANIFESTO

WE are stakeholders conscious of our great responsibility to protect and conserve our natural resources, as stewards of the present and future generations, amidst the daunting challenge of climate change which threaten the survival of humankind and non-humans in this planet.

WE vehemently oppose the ecologically destructive and high carbon emitting oil drilling now conducted at the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape by JAPEX and the Department of Energy (the “Project”). It has no place in a protected seascape and in an era where countries all over the world are desperately looking for renewable sources of energy to reduce the effects of global warming.

WE condemn the process by which the otherwise dormant Tanon Strait Protected Seascape Management Board suddenly sprung into action and gave its authorization to the Project, without studying the actual state of Tanon Strait and the scientific evidence gathered by respected authorities on biodiversity. The entire process was undertaken bereft of transparency and cloaked with secrecy, lacked public participation and deprived the key stakeholders - such as the marginal fisherfolks, the people’s organizations and non-government organizations and even the scientists and the experts - of their constitutionally guaranteed right to be involved at all levels of decision-making process, especially in an environmentally critical area like Tanon Strait.

We fully support the stand of the 170 marine scientists in the country who called for the cancellation of the Project, since it destroys the marine ecosystem, deprives the marginal fisherfolks of their livelihood and threatens food security, Tanon Strait being one of the richest fishing grounds of the country.

This JAPEX Project is a blatant disregard of the provisions of the Constitution and its implementing laws such as the Fisheries Code which reiterates the state policy that fisherfolks have the preferential use of municipal waters. It mocks the integrity of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (for which funds and grants have poured in from multilateral institutions and foreign countries), and reveals our political leaders’ lack of commitment and sense of responsibility before the international community as a Contracting State in international conventions such as the Conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity, Agenda 21, Millennium Development Summit, and respect for international law principles.

WE should never forget that the State, under the 1987 Constitution, guaranteed the protection of “the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential use of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore.” Now, ironically, the poor fisherfolks are suddenly displaced from their State-protected fishing grounds by the government agencies who are supposed to protect them and the environment!

Even our Medium Term Development Plan acknowledges that our coastal and marine ecosystem are highly degraded and we are considered a hotspot country in biodersity loss. An oil drilling at Tanon Strait Protected Seascape would only prove that we do not learn the lessons from our mistakes.

This nation is done with EMPTY RHETORICS and the whims and caprices of a few who might have been denied the benefit of wise counsel in understanding that the State-declared policies and principles and our laws are supreme, irrespective of who the holders of the public position might be.

Food security, biodiversity, resource conservation, a healthful and balanced ecology and human rights are not and will never be negotiable.

THE RULE OF LAW MUST PREVAIL IN THIS LAND. INSTEAD OF DISPLACING OUR FISHERFOLKS, AND DESTROYING OUR ECOSYSTEM, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS MUST INSTEAD EXHIBIT THE MUCH-NEEDED WILL TO ENFORCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

LET US WALK THE TALK. THE SENSELESS OIL DRILLING AT TANON STRAIT MUST STOP!

Sign the petition

2007-11-27T19:22:00.000+08:00

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/join-the-170-marine-scientists-in-this-petition-to-stop-the-oil-drilling-at-tanon-strait-protected

Resolution of Philippine Association of Marine Science to stop oil exploration in the visayas

2007-11-21T15:39:00.000+08:00

This Resolution is signed by over 150 Marine Scientist in the Philippines
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CALL TO ACTION

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ALL
CONCERNED AGENCIES TO STOP THE OIL EXPLORATION AND POSSIBLE
EXPLOITATION OF THE TAÑON STRAIT PROTECTED SEASCAPE (TSPS).

WHEREAS, Tañon Strait was declared as a Protected Seascape by Presidential
Proclamation 1234 by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1998 in due recognition of the
extraordinary abundance and diverse assemblage of cetaceans (dolphins and whales), 11
out of the 25 species found in the Philippines can be sighted in the area, and its known
importance as feeding, breeding, and resting grounds for these marine mammals;

WHEREAS, uniqueness of associated habitats in TSPS, such as coral reefs, mangrove
and seagrass communities among others, provide livelihood, support food security; and
sustain and safeguard the integrity of the traditional interaction of people and nature, for
which protected seascapes have been established;

WHEREAS, the impacts of activities such as seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, and
actual oil mining operation would negatively impact the marine ecosystem and organisms
dependent on it; sound is very important to whales and dolphins as they use it for
hunting, navigation and communication, and in general, these animals maybe sensitive to
certain sound levels; coincidentally, a study being conducted by Aragones et al. in the
area showed immediate negative effects on the surface behaviors and delayed (1 year
after) negative response on the relative abundance of spinner dolphins implicating short
and intermediate term changes on these animals possibly brought about by the seismic
surveys (using gun arrays) conducted in the summer of 2005;

WHEREAS, the process used to evaluate the potential impact of seismic surveys and
exploratory oil drilling had procedural lapses, lacked transparency and appropriate
consultation with stakeholders, and failed to seriously and adequately consider substantial
scientific evidence on the potential detrimental impacts of such activities to marine
animals like mammals and fish.

NOW THEREFORE be it:

RESOLVED, that further seismic surveys and exploratory drilling be immediately
stopped in due recognition of the protected status of Tañon Strait and its national, global
and ecological importance;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the impacts of such activities be recognized for the threats
they pose to marine animals like whales, dolphins and fish, people’s livelihood, and
potentially irreplaceable and invaluable natural heritage;

RESOLVED FURTHERMORE, that an appropriate body undertake the investigations
and review with adequate inputs from the scientific community and affected
stakeholders;

RESOLVED FURTHERMORE, that the current system of obtaining Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC) in ecologically critical areas (ECA) should be evaluated in
the light of the serious threats posed to important habitats like the Tañon Strait Protected
Seascape for assessing future oil explorations and similar undertakings;

RESOLVED FURTHERMORE, that copy of this resolution is circulated to the
following:

Office of the Environmental Ombudsman of the Philippines
Office of the Senate, Committee on Environment (Senator Pia Cayetano)
Office of the Senate, Committee on Economics (Senator Loren Legarda)
Office of the House of Representatives, Committee on Environment
Office of the House of Representatives, Committee on Economics
Office of the House of Representatives, Committee on Energy
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cebu and Negros Oriental Provincial Chapters
Office of the Senate Committee on Women and Children’s Affairs (Senator
Jamby Madrigal)
Senator Miguel Zubiri
All concerned local, provincial and regional government units
Office of the Team Leader of the Visayan Sea Squadron (Atty Antonio Oposa)
All media outfits

AND IT IS FINALLY RESOLVED, to conduct simultaneous and intensive
investigations on the above matter from all concerned agencies.

WE, members of the Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS) and fellow
marine scientists and practitioners, whose signatures appear below, strongly support this
resolution.

Signed this 26th day of October 2007 at Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City.