DENR 10 gives tribute to environmental partners
Mindanao Star The Purveyor of Truth, Justice and Development
Volume II, No. 16
web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com
Saturday-Sunday
DENR to country’s paint manufacturers:
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
THE FOUR-WAY TEST of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
July 5-6, 2014
Shift to lead-free paint production By Catherine J. Teves of Philippine News Agency
M
anufacturers concerned have sufficient time for shifting to lead-free production of paint nationwide. Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Juan Miguel Cuna gave such assurance, noting the agency’s Chemical Control Order (CCO) on phasing out use of lead and lead compounds provides manufacturers several years’ lead time for making the shift. See shift, page 11
Paje to LGUs: Use geohazard maps for disaster management As the country observes the National Disaster Consciousness Month this July, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling on all local government units (LGUs) to revisit the geohazard maps distributed
by the national government and use them as guide for disaster preparedness. Environment Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said the LGUs should take a look adopt a roadside tree growing for climate change - Aldrich Resma at the geohazard maps pre- (right), Community DENR Officer of Initao, Misamis Oriental planting a narra seedpared by the DENR’s Mines ling during the Arbor Day Celebration along the diversion road that covers three (3) See Maps, page 11
barangays in Cagayan de Oro City.
(Photo Supplied)
P 6.6 million watch tower to rise in Misamis Oriental seas MISAMIS Oriental - The provincial government of Misamis Oriental, in partnership with a private firm, will construct a P 6.6 million watch tower in the high seas to monitor illegal activities in the Macajalar Bay. Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano said on Thurs-
day that the watch tower would be located in the white island of Agutayan, an atoll in the coastal seas of Misamis Oriental. He said that the management of STEAG State Power Inc., a coal-fired power plant, has agreed to partner in the construction of the watchtower to buttress
MANILA - Senator Loren Legarda pushed for the swift passage of the bill prohibiting the catching of sharks in Philippine waters, stressing the absence of such law could lead to the extinction of shark species. “Sharks, as predators of the sea, play a vital role in regulating the ecological balance, particularly the health of important commercial fish species, popula-
tion balance, and protection of coral reefs. As such, our country plays a crucial role in protecting marine species,” said Legarda. Legarda noted that last month, police authorities in Cebu seized a truck loaded with shark meat headed for a fish ball processor in Lapu-Lapu City. News reports indicated that the truck contained
the provincial government’s coastal law enforcement in the waters of Jasaan and the Macajalar Bay. “The Agutayan Island is a marine protected area that houses around 200 giant clams, varieties of sea urchins, sea cucumber and all-reef species and is listed See tower, page 11
Lawmaker pushes passage of bill prohibiting shark catching
Dr. Miguel de Leon, an expert in falcony and raptor rehabilitation and DENR 10 Regional Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan inked pact on June 27, in time for the environment month culmination activity, to collaborate and cooperate in the rescue and rehabilitation, particularly of injured raptor or birds-of-prey. Dr. de Leon will provide voluntary medical assistance in rehabilitating injured birds before releasing them back to their natural habitat. (PIA 10)
See lawmaker, page 11
Legarda
Read the full story on page 5
P10.00
MinDA reviews MRB flood control projects COTABATO City - Members of the Mindanao River Basin Technical Working Group (MRBTWG) met in Cotabato City to review ongoing projects that would provide long-term solutions to the flooding within the area. The meeting also intended to fast track technical preparations needed to jumpstart the construction and implementation of both structural and nonstructural flood control interventions C o nv e n e d by t h e Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the meeting gathered the core members of the MRB-TWG composed of representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of Regions X, XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), along with See minda, page 11
Butuan Habitat for Humanity pushes for climate change risk resiliency By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN City - The Butuan Habitat for Humanity represented by its president, Nora Rama, has expressed full support on the drive for a climate risk-resilient and adaptive communities with safe, secured and productive environment. “Our country is considered as one of the most vulnerable place to climate change where extreme weather and other disastrous catastrophes are most likely expected. The natural calamities brought havoc and worst destruction happen in ways we can’t ever imagine. Thousands of lives were devastated and homeless families suffer due to the unpredictable phenomena. It’s simply undeniable that climate change has some See butuan, page 11