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DENR chief urges schools to prioritize chemical safety Volume II, No. 15
web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com
Saturday-Sunday
he Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje urged all primary schools in the country to make chemical safety a top priority as he sounded the alarm about the potential health risks of mercury and lead to schoolchildren.
“Chemical safety and of the schools. Administrasecurity must be a priority See safety, page 11
DENR, EU promote use of lead-safe paints in schools - Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje (left) and European Union (EU) Ambassador Guy Ledoux lead DepEd and school officials in applying leadand mercury-free paint at the Transition Laboratory and Conference Room of Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City during the campaign launching dubbed “Lead and Mercury-Safe Schools for Bright and Healthy Kids,” on Tuesday (June 24, 2014). (PNA photos by Ben Briones)
See jeneses, page 11
4ID support national tree planting day CAMP Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City - In celebration of the National Arbor Day, the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division through its different line units in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of Regions – 10 and 13, Local Government Units, schools, civil society groups and the citizenry See tree, page 11
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JENESYS 2.0 Disaster Prevention Course now open
CAGAYAN de Oro City - The Japan government, through the Japan Overseas Cooperative Agency (JOCA) and the Japan Information and Cultural Center (JICC) in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC), is implementing the Japan-East Asia Network of Students and Youth Program 2.0 (JENESYS 2.0: Disaster Prevention Course) for the year 2014. JENESYS 2.0 Disaster
June 28-29, 2014
DENR toughens fight against air pollution By Catherine J. Teves of Philippine News Agency
The environment department is seeking public feedback on its nationwide campaign against air pollution which experts identified as a multi-billion peso economic burden for the Philippines due to diseases this causes. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)Undersecretary Ana Liza Teh said such feedback
will help this agency assess its anti-air pollution performance over the years, including implementation of RA 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999), so measures can be identified and adapted to improve the bid for clean air nationwide. “I challenge everyone to identify gaps,” she said See against, page 11
Pollution, food and water scarcity in oil palm feared By TYRONE A. VELEZ of davaotoday.com
MANGROVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - Employees of energy-firm STEAG State
Power Inc (SPI) marked this year’s environment month celebration with a mangrove growing activity in El Salvador and Gitagum, Misamis Oriental. Steag has an on-going 16 hectare mangrove rehabilitation and development project in various parts of Misamis Oriental as part of its continuing Environmental Conservation (ECo) Program. On a regular basis, Steag mobilizes its employees to participate in community-based environmental conservation activities to enhance awareness and deepen appreciation on the importance of personal and collective action in protecting Mother Earth.
DAVAO City - Declining food and water supply, pollution and worsening poverty are possible effects of converting agricultural land in Paquibato to oil palm expansion, an environment group says. The Panalipdan (Defend) Southern Mindanao
issued a statement urging the local officials especially Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to look “at the perils” of oil palm plantations being eyed by Malaysian and Thailand companies in Paquibato District. “(We) urge the Local
as a result of climate change, storms are becoming more frequent, and have grown stronger. To be safe, according to Enriquez, residents along
coastal and low-lying areas should either “move to higher ground, build second floors if they refuse to evacuate, and plant mangroves
See palm, page 11
Climate change may soon put Zambo underwater - PAGASA By Dominic Ilagan Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA City - The city’s coastal barangays are in danger of being submerged underwater due to
climate change, according to Chief Meteorological Officer Maribel Enriquez of the Philippine Atmo-
spheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA). “Our biggest concern is sea level rise in Zamboanga and communities here may
be completely washed out,” Enriquez said. “Even a one-meter rise in sea level is threatening,” Enriquez added. Enriquez explained that
See pagasa, page 11