Mindanao Star The Purveyor of Truth, Justice and Development
Trust fund established for country’s protected areas Volume II, No. 28
web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com Saturday-Sunday OCTOber 18-19, 2014
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fforts to reverse rapid biodiversity loss in the country got a major boost with the signing of a joint circular by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) retaining a substantial portion of revenues generated by protected areas (PAs) to finance development activities. “This is certainly a new milestone in the country’s protected area management. At the same time, it is a big boost to our efforts of promoting ecotourism in the country as it allows us to reinvest some 75% of all revenues generated by a protected area to activities deemed necessary to protect and rehabilitate the PAs,” DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said on signing the joint circular with Budget Secretary Florencio C. Abad. The two officials signed the joint memorandum circular (JMC) or the implementing guidelines of Republic Act No. 10629 which provided for the retention and use of the 75 percent of Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF) by Protected Area Management Boards (PAMBs). IPAF is a trust fund esSee fund, page 7
Concerns raises on alleged mining operation
QUARRY OR MINING? An aerial picture of the claimed quarry operation along the Taligaman River in Butuan
City taken 8 October 2014. Residents are suspecting that there is mining operation here, because that was what authorities found out during two raids conducted last year. MindaNews photo by Erwin Mascarinas
Priest urges to government rethink policy on mining, monocrop plantations in Bukidnon MALAYBALAY City, Bukidnon – On the 23rd death anniversary of a Bukidnon priest killed for his environmental advocacy, a priest here urged the government to rethink its policy of allowing mining and monocrop plantations in the province, considering that it is con-
SESSION HALL BLESSING AND INAUGURATION – GOVERNOR YEVGENY VINCENTE B. EMANO and VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ lead the ceremonial cutting of ribbon during the blessing and inauguration of the newlyrenovated Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall last 7 October 2014. In his message, Vice Governor Pelaez emphasized that even though the Session Hall was already finished, he will continue the out-of-the-capitol sessions in order to bring the Sangguniang Panlalawigan closer to the people. (from L – R: Provincial Board Members Mario Emano, Benedict Lagbas, Nancy Madjos, Susan Lagbas, Mercy Grace Acain, Donato Chan and Emmanuel Mugot) photo supplied
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sidered as a watershed area. “Let’s rethink our land use management in Bukidnon. It seems that the framework that Bukidnon is a watershed seems yet to sink in,” said Fr. Rey Raluto, dean of studies of St. Vianney Seminary, during today’s forum attended by coordi-
nators and representatives of ecological desks from around the diocese. “If we really think Bukidnon is indeed a watershed province, we should not just easily allow entry of companies in mining ... monocropping,” he stressed. On Oct. 14, 1991, Fr.
Nery Satur and his female aide were ambushed on their way back to Valencia City, then a municipality, after celebrating a mass in Barangay Guinoyoran. He was shot pointblank with a shotgun after falling from his motorcycle. His head See policy, page 7
BUTUAN City – Concerned citizens here have raised concerns over reports of an alleged mining operation in a hinterland village disguised as quarry a year after the same area was raided twice by authorities because of illegal mining operation. Residents of Purok 8 in Barangay Taligaman, meanwhile, are afraid to come out in the open, fearing for their safety. But a few interviewed by MindaNews who requested anonymity said the quarry operators have prohibited them from venturing into Taligaman River, where the supposed quarry operation is ongoing. “We even heard of statements saying that trespassers will be shot,” said one. Concerned organizations in this city are just See mining, page 7
ROVER ORIENTATION VIGIL AND INVESTITURE - Vice Governor JOEY G. PELAEZ speaks before the young
participants of the BSP – MisOr Rover Orientation Vigil and Investiture Ceremony in Talisayan, Misamis Oriental. The Rovering Program of BSP is a progressive journey from adolescence to adulthood encompassing one’s duty to God and self through the use of the Scout Method. It aims to contribute to the education of young adults in a non-formal way through a value system based on the Scout Oath and Law, among others. BSP-MisOr organized the Rover Orientation and Investiture to facilitate the entry of Scouts, 16 years old and above, to become Rover Scouts and be initiated into the BSP Rover Program. (Upper left photo, from L-R: Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez, Council Scout Executive Rogelio Roferos and Talisayan Mayor and BSP MisOr Local Council Executive Board Member Rommel Maslog)
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