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VOL. 4 NO. 44 JANUARY 02 - 08, 2012
On the cover
THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO
Rising sea temperature threatens Davao Gulf n Study lists killer floods, intrusion of salt into water system and other life-threatening impacts of climate change on Dabawenyos By Greg G. Deligero
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HILE Davao Gulf remains as a center of marine biodiversity, rising sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification are “likely to lead to marginalization of coral reefs and sea grass beds, spawning adverse effects to the area known as a hub for both wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture.” This, according to the study recently released by World Wildlife Fund entitled “Business Risk Assessment and the Management of Climate Change Impacts.” The study zeroes in on four major Philippine cities: Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo. The study findings were recently discussed with Davao socio-economic and political leaders by the country’s top environmentalists in a one-day presentation at The Marco Polo Davao. The study said that increased rainfall and sparse forest cover in Davao’s uplands constantly feeds expansive plumes of sedimentation and pollution that blanket Davao Gulf’s coastal zones. “This constant aggravation further diminishes the Gulf’s resilience and ability to rebound from high temperature episodes or spikes of acidification,” said. The study said that sea level rise may create problems for Davao City’s ports. Located along the relatively shallow channel between the city and Samal Island, “these port
facilities are a nerve center for Davao City’s economy, and serve a variety of ships handling both cargo and passengers.” “Davao has traditionally tapped surface water from its rivers as its main water source. It prides itself in the relatively high quality of its drinking water. However, saltwater intrusion has already been reported in city districts close to shore, especially in portions of the city where groundwater extraction continues. Sea level rise may aggravate this situation,” it said. The study said cities bound by steep slopes such as Baguio, Cebu and Davao, are likely to experience landslides in association with episodes of extreme rainfall and soil saturation. “This is not the case for Iloilo which is surrounded by relatively flat or gently sloping terrain,” said the leading organization in wildlife conservation and endangered species. “It has taken more than a century for humankind’s carbon emissions to take us to this tipping point. All indications point to the likelihood that dealing with climate change will be a trans-generational challenge. It is likely these impacts will get worse before they can be addressed at a global scale and allow climatic stabilization,” it said. 30 years later The study attempts to look 30 years into the future of the covered cities “in order to provide a more comprehensive
22,198 agrarian law implementation cases covering 53,969 hectares of land in the country. The cases affected 21,806 ARBs nationwide, DAR noted. DAR resolved 22,332 similar cases during the same reference period in 2010. Throughout 2011’s first semester, DAR also continued providing ARBs various major PBD support services aimed at helping them improve their lives so they can eventually break free from poverty. Such services range from preparing ARBs for livelihood activities, extending financial assistance for such pursuits as well as facilitating provision of infrastructure and basic services for them. “It’s expected that as land acquisition and distribution balances decline, PBD activities will increase to serve the needs of ARBs awarded with land,” DAR noted. To achieve the extended CARP’s target asset reform by 2014, DAR earlier said it must complete distributing 1.102 million hectares of land nationwide. DAR said it must also subdivide 1.3 million hectares of distributed tracts of land still covered by collective titles but which aren’t conducive to collective farming. Achieving asset reform likewise requires fast-tracking documentation of and payment for 163,289 hectares of land that’s already distributed, DAR continued. Aside from land distribution, DAR’s other LTI activities during 2011’s first semester included placing under leasehold operation 5,430 hectares of “tenanted retained and yet to be
P500,000
BOUNTY put up for the capture of retired Philippine Army general Jovito Palparan Jr., the target of a warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of two University of the Philippines student activists in 2006.
P9 billion
ADDITIONAL revenues to be generated once the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reconciles remittance record from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). As of last November, BIR’s collections grew by 12.77 percent year-on-year after this increased to P849.52 billion from last year’s P753.33 billion.
P10 billion
The mouth of Davao River
grasp of likely future trends that build on existing climate studies while distilling city-specific socio economic information, as well as drawing from experiences of local stakeholders, scenario building exercises were used to encourage “out of the box” thinking and generate plausible narratives that could be useful for strategic planning.” Located on the southern coastline of Mindanao on coastal plains and valleys extending inland, Davao City sits in a typhoon-free zone. The Manila Observatory climate maps show that this an area likely to experience increas-
ingly dry and hot weather over the next 50 years. This is the only city of the four in this study that is projected to have an increase in temperature coupled with pronounced periods of decreased rainfall. “Recent PAGASA data, however, still do not show such a trend,” the study pointed out. Increasing trend Over the last 20 years, rainfall data from PAGASA (covering two or three El Nino episodes) show a moderately increasing trend for mean annual rainfall– from 1685 mm+ to 1806 mm. Last June 29, Davao City
had to deal with extreme rainfall events that spawned dangerous floods in parts of the city – particularly in areas adjacent to the city’s rivers. Several rivers run through the city, draining into the Davao Gulf. The largest of these watercourses are the Davao and Talomo Rivers. Incidents of heavy rain have also given rise to rat infestation in the city’s agricultural areas. “Unless and until this rainfall trend reverses itself, it is likely that Davao’s growing economy will have to manage increased rainfall, river flow and flooding,” it said.
DAR intensifies land for landless Imports expand by 2.3% campaign in 2011 to hit target T T HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) further boosted this year its land for the landless bid, moving closer to Republic Act 9700’s target of acquiring and distributing by 2014 all Philippine agricultural lands under government’s extended Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Latest available official DAR data show the agency was able to distribute during the first semester 15,302 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide, private and government agricultural land totaling 28,483 hectares. Such major land tenure improvement (LTI) accomplishment exceeds the 17,501 hectares of CARP land DAR distributed to 15,414 ARBs during the same period last year. “This administration will continue fast-tracking land distribution,” assured DAR Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes. The government earlier set for each of 2010 and 2011 a land distribution target of 200,000 hectares. DAR’s first semester land distribution performance this year helped bring to 4.30 million hectares, as of June 2011’s end, total land given to ARBs nationwide since 1972 when former president Ferdinand Marcos commenced implementing his agrarian reform program. Land distribution during the 1972-June 2011 period benefited a total 2.51 million ARBs nationwide, DAR noted. LTI, agrarian justice delivery (AJD) and program beneficiaries development (PBD) are CARP’s three main pillars. For its major AJD accomplishment during 2011’s first semester, DAR reported resolving
It figures
distributed” tracts of land. Such move sought to secure the tenurial status of 2,457 ARBs within and outside the country’s agrarian reform communities (ARCs). For the same reference period last year, DAR reported placing under leasehold arrangement a total 5,250 hectares of similar land tracts in ARCs and non-ARCs, benefiting 2,570 ARBs. DAR also reported undertaking in 2011 LTI documentation and survey activities as well as installing 1,374 ARBs in 1,792 hectares of previously contentious agricultural land. The agency installed last year in 1,675 hectares of agricultural land a total 2,004 ARBs who were previously barred from entering and tilling the area. To further enhance AJD, DAR lawyers represented before judicial and quasi-judicial courts during 2011’s first semester 9,411 ARBs in 5,809 cases involving 19,445 hectares of land. DAR reported its lawyers represented during the same period in 2010 ARBs in 9,278 cases before judicial and quasijudicial bodies. A total 7,033 agrarian cases were resolved under the adjudication process in 2011’s first semester, DAR continued. “In the area of agrarian legal assistance and adjudication, DAR continued with its aggressive mediation activities to minimize conflicts maturing into court cases,” the agency said. Of DAR Adjudication Board’s nearly 16,000 cases during the same reference period in 2010, data show a total 7,194 cases were resolved then. [PNA]
HE country’s merchandise imports expanded by 2.3 percent in October compared to a year ago, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). Data from NSO showed that the total merchandise imports for October amounted to $ 5.019 billion from $ 4.904 billion last year. Month-on-month, however, it dropped by 1.1 percent from $ 5.076 billion in September this year. This led imports in the first 10 months of the year to grow by 12.2 percent to $ 50.521 billion compared to $ 45.028 billion posted during the same period last year. The country’s trade deficit in October stood at $ 932 million, bringing the 10-month tally to $ 9.228 billion. Electronics, which accounted for 24.6 percent of the total import bill declined by 19.9 percent to $ 1.235 billion from from $ 1.542 billion registered in October last year. Imports of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials amounted to $ 1.159 billion, up by 28.4 percent over last year’s figure of $ 902.82 million. Industrial machinery and equipment recorded a total import of $ 267.20 million, an annual growth of 13.4 percent from last year’s $ 235.60 million. Imports of iron and steel rose 38.6 percent to $ 132.89 million from its year ago level of $ 95.89 million. Purchases of transport equipment dropped by 9.1 percent to $ 337.49 million from $ 371.32 million posted a year ago. Rounding up the list
of the top ten imports were plastics in primary and nonprimary forms amounting to $ 123.77 million; organic and inorganic chemicals valuing at $ 122.39 million; telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery including telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment, $ 98.90 million; cereals and cereal preparations, $ 84.94 million; and medicinal and pharmaceutical products, $ 78.25 million. Total payment for the country’s top ten imports for October reached $ 3.640 billion or 72.5 percent of the total import bill. Japan remained the country’s biggest source of imports in October with $ 606.42 million, an increase of 0.8 percent from $ 601.36 million in October 2010. United States of America (USA) including Alaska and Hawaii, was the second biggest source of imports at $ 493.68 million from $ 481.58 million. Imports from People’s Republic of China amounted to $ 476.34 million, higher by about 9 percent from $ 437.16 million during the same month in 2010. Other major sources of imports for October were Singapore, $ 407.08 million; Republic of Korea, $ 402.91 million; Saudi Arabia, $ 335.25 million; Taiwan, $ 327.80 million; Thailand, $ 287.20 million; Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, $ 271.41 million; and Indonesia, $ 232.63 million. Payments for imports from the top ten sources for October amounted to $ 3.841 billion or about 76.5 percent of the total. [PNA]
LOSSES expected by Philippine poultry raisers this year due to rampant smuggling and excessive importation of chicken meat, according to United Broilers Raisers Association (Ubra) President Gregorio F. San Diego Jr. San Diego said the industry last year lost P10.34 billion representing lost business opportunities for poultry raisers and allied industries could have earned if the displaced chicken meat came from local sources.
P222.3 billion
EXPECTED collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in individual income tax next year, showing an increase of P197.7 billion anticipated collections for 2011. According to the BIR, improved tax compliance among professionals would boost collections to a double digit figure next year.
P653.4 billion
AMOUNT spent by the Philippine government to pay is debts during the period from January o November, 2011, down from P660.4 billion from a year ago. According to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), the amount spent in debt servicing continued to go down as the government enjoyed savings on interest payments. As of November, government settled P401.8 billion in principal –P291.6 billion in domestic debts and P110.2 billion in foreign loans.
$60 million
AMOUNT local fastfood giant Jollibee Foods Corp. is spending for expansion in Asia. It has firmed us a deal to buy half of the regional business of a food group that operates the Highlands Coffee, Hard Rock Cafes and Pho24 restaurants. JFC said it had formally started the process of owning 50 percent of SuperFoods, which has 49 percent interest in SF Vung Tau Joint Stock Co. in Vietnam and a 60-percent stake in Blue Sky Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong.
$79 billion
HISTORIC level of gross international reserves (GIR) expected to be hit next year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. BSP said the existing reserves of $76 billion will be boosted with improved foreign exchange inflows, topped by remittances of overseas Filipino workers.
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NUMBER of major running events across the country in 2011, indicating more than one big event a week. In Davao City, the popularity of fun run was at all-time high during the year. Fun runs are almost always held to raise funds for laudable humanitarian projects.