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April 26-27, 2014
P10.00
Oro enacts ordinance to fortify city’s environmental campaign Volume II, No. 6
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80% of corals in Siargao lost to blast fishing
AGAYAN de Oro City - The City Council would tackle the proposal to share part of collection derived from the “Ecobag Law” in order to strengthen the city’s environmental protection campaign, City Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas said on Thursday.
By Roel Catoto MinDaNews
DAPA, Surigao del Norte - Eighty percent of the corals in the island of Siargao including Bucas Grande have been totally destroyed mainly by destructive fishing. Giani Grifoni, SwissItalian National, a marine biologist and ecologist who have been living in the island for four years said blamed the destruction on dynamite fishing. He said he has many underwater pictures to show how massive the destruction of the marine environment See COrals, page 11
STEAG ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH CAMP - Fifty (50) youth leaders in Misamis Oriental marked this year’s earth-day commemoration by participating in a two-day Mapawa Environmental Youth Camp held recently at the Mapawa Nature Park in Brgy. Cugman, this city. Now on its 10th year, the annual event seeks to instil the value of environmental responsibility especially among the youth amidst mounting concerns of environmental degradation. More than 500 young leaders in Northern Mindanao have participated in the program since 2004. Mapawa is also the site of Steag’s 1,200 hectare reforestation and carbon sink project. Jointly organized by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and energy-firm STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI), the annual event is part of a continuing advocacy to help protect mother earth. (Photo Supplied)
He said that City Councilor Prexy Elipe, erstwhile head of the city council’s Committee on Environment, has proposed that the P 1.00 fee imposed on customers for plastic bags in malls be used to fund the city’s Payment for Eco Services (PES) project. City Ordinance No. 12440 regulates the distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags and requires See ordinance, page 11
Pact to reforest 3,000 hectare land forged CAGAYAN de Oro City Officials of the state-run university and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has forged an agreement to reforest 3,000 hectare
land here. The officials signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Thursday identifying six hinterland villages in Cagayan De Oro City as site of the reforesta-
tion project. The six mountain villages are Dansolihon, Pigsag-an, Taglimao, Tagpangi, Tuburan, and Tumpagon, all of Cagayan De Oro City. Site assessments that
involve surveying, mapping, and planning are among the most important activities of the project. During the MOA signing, Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, See forged, page 11
COWD CDO, DENR signed agreement on assures bamboo plantation, agro-forestry water supply Cagayan de Oro City - The City Government of Cagayan remains de Oro through City Mayor Oscar Moreno entered into a potable Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Director Ruth Tawantawan, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) OIC Director Portia Lapitan, Pagatpat Barangay Chairman Achilles Jude Babaran and
CAGAYAN de Oro City The Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) assures its concessionaires that the water flowing from their faucets is clean, potable, and safe for drinking.
See bamboo, page 11
See cowd, page 11
The DENR 10 is implementing the reforestation of 3,000 hectares of public land in Cagayan de Oro City under Republic Act No. 10452 authored by Representatives Rufus B. Rodriguez (not in photo) of the 2nd district of Cagayan de Oro) and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. (left) of Abante Mindanao (ABAMIN) party list. Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. beams with pride as Dr. Edgardo Rotoras (center), president of Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) and DENR Provincial Officer of Misamis Oriental Edgardo Callanta (right) signify their partnership and commitment to undertake site assessment. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was represented by his wife, Fenina T. Rodriguez (not in photo) during the program at MUST on April 11. Congressman Rolando “Klarex” A. Uy (1st district of Cagayan de Oro also supports the reforestation project, which is a response to typhoon “Sendong” calamity in 2011. (Photo Supplied)
Greater public participation in environment protection urged The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called for greater public participation in environmental protection to combat climate
change that aggravates the impacts of natural calamities like super typhoon Yolanda. In its “State of the Philippine Environment” report made known during the
celebration of the Earth Day, the DENR said that while progress is being made, much more needs to be done to protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of
climate change. “We have done much. But there is still much more to be done,” DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr. said in a speech at the
Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, where the Earth Day celebration this year was held. Ignacio said the government formulates various
policies for environmental protection but these turn out to be successful if there is active participation by the general public. See public, page 11
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