SITUATIONER

Environment Sector
01-05 July 2013
RODOLO D! ENAL"E# JR!
$O%ILE A"" TO $ONITOR OREST A&TI'ITIES LAUN&(ED
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
has teamed up with telecommunications giant Smart
Communications Inc. and two other private sector partners to
develop a pilot monitoring sstem designed to cur! illegal forest
activities and prevent future disasters similar to Tphoon "ndo
in #$$%.
& memorandum of agreement was signed on 'onda among the
DENR( Smart( the )hilippine Disaster Recover *oundation
()DR*) led ! !usinessman 'ann )angilinan( and sstem
developer +ide,"ut +or-forces Inc. to formall launch a mo!ile
application to monitor the activities within the .pper 'ari-ina
River /asin )rotected 0andscape (.'R/)0) for the ne1t si1
months.
DENR Secretar Ramon 2. ). )a3e said the mo!ile app called
4Snap)lot5 will allow users to harness the latest mo!ile
technologies and 4share5 what goes on within the .'R/)0( the
pilot site for the pro3ect.
The Snap)lot sstem( developed ! +ide,"ut( allows its users to
ta-e a picture( geo,tag its location( and upload the photo to the
Snap)lot we!site where the data is automaticall plotted on a
map. This will !e used as a tool for monitoring( law enforcement
and data!ase !uilding.
4Snap)lot will allow users to share valua!le information that can
help the DENR to enforce forestr laws more e6ectivel within
the watershed( as well as ta-e the necessar actions that can
help everone living in and around the area in times of
calamities or disaster(5 said )a3e.
.nder the agreement( the )DR* will use Snap)lot for its
reforestation activities within the .'R/)0( and provide logistical
support to the pro3ect. The DENR will use the same sstem for its
monitoring and enforcement activities.
Smart will provide mo!ile phones( refur!ished and preloaded
with the Snap)lot sstem( to DENR sta6 and )DR* partners.
+ide,"ut( for its part( will allow free use of the sstem( host the
Snap)lot we!site( and provide the necessar technical support.
The pro3ect was conceptuali7ed to !e initiall implemented in the
.'R/)0 for reforestation activities that could help prevent a
repeat of the massive 8ooding caused ! tropical storm "ndo
which hit 'etro 'anila and near! provinces in Septem!er #$$%.
Since then( the )DR* has underta-en reforestation of a portion of
the watershed as its participation in the government9s National
:reening )rogram (N:)).
)a3e said that the DENR and )DR* hope to gain enough data
from the pro3ect9s ;eld personnel implementing the pro3ect
within si1 months. 4/ then( we ma also have an idea on how to
!e more responsive to the needs of the N:) within the .'R/)0(
enough to !e a!le to replicate this pro3ect in other watersheds
within the countr(5 he said.< <
S".RCE= http=>>www.denr.gov.ph>news,and,features>latest,
news>?@##,mo!ile,app,to,monitor,forest,activities,launched.html
'onda( $? 2ul #$?A
STA) A*A) RO$ ERODED %EA&(ES# DENR *ARNS
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is
urging the pu!lic anew to sta awa from the !eaches at
!aranga .acon in Candelaria( Bam!ales as it warned that there
was no assurance !each erosion will not happen again in the
area.
DENR Secretar Ramon 2. ). )a3e said the e1tent of the !each
erosion that occurred at )uerto del 'ar !each resort last wee-
was enough ground to declare the area a 4no man9s land.5
4/ased on the ;ndings of our geologists and technicians( there is
a possi!ilit that !each erosion could happen again in the area
that9s wh we strongl suggest that the !an on swimming and
other recreational activities should sta(5 said )a3e( who( along
with Defense Secretar Coltaire :a7min( immediatel rushed to
the site upon learning of the incident.
)a3e noted that unsta!le footing and sudden drop,o6 continue to
e1ist at man locations in the area. 4The site of the !each
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erosion and its surroundings should !e a no,!uild 7one( a no,
man9s land.5
The environment chief had alread instructed Director 0eo
2asareno of the DENR9s 'ines and :eosciences /ureau (':/) to
formall recommend to the provincial government of Bam!ales
to declare the !each area as a permanent danger 7one.
This was after the ?A,man ':/ team that assessed the incident
reported that the location is 4highl prone to coastal erosion(5
which ma-es it not suita!le to an residential structures or
recreational activities.
&ccording to the team( a natural phenomenon called !each
erosion caused the collapse of the shoreline in the village of
.acon and not sin-hole as previousl thought.
4The !each slump is not due to sin-hole !ut is a result of coastal
erosion caused ! wave and tidal currents. +aves undercut the
!ase of the shoreface( which happened during the interface of
low tide and high tide( with the prevailing southwest monsoon(5
it said.
The team added= 4Sea,!ottom topographic surve reveals
relativel steep slope e1ceeding @D degrees( with #D,A$ meters
depth a few hundred meters from the shoreline( fronting the
incident area.5
It said the slump was measured at a!out ?$ meters inland with a
depth of a!out two meters and ?$$ meters long.<
S".RCE= http=>>www.denr.gov.ph>news,and,features>latest,
news>?@A$,sta,awa,from,eroded,!eaches,denr,warns.html
+ednesda( $? 2ul #$?A
DENR DE&LARES ALL-OUT *AR 'S *ILDLIE "OA&(ERS
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
has declared an all,out war against poachers of wildlife species(
especiall those endemic to the countr( after authorities sei7ed
a large num!er of protected animals during a raid on a home in
Tondo( 'anila last +ednesda.
DENR Secretar Ramon 2. ). )a3e had alread directed the newl
formed )hilippine "perations :roup on Ivor and Illegal +ildlife
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Trade ()":I) to ;le criminal charges against the suspected
owners of the con;scated animals and their possi!le cohorts.
The raiding team( headed ! DENR .ndersecretar and )":I
head Ernesto &do!o 2r.( recovered EF )alawan hill mnas( ?#
!lue,naped parrots and ;ve 3uvenile Indo,)aci;c or saltwater
crocodiles G all dead. "nl ?@ )hilippine forest and pond turtles
were retrieved alive.
4+hat9s particularl alarming a!out this poaching incident is that
there were reports that most of these endangered animals were
intentionall -illed to avoid detection ! authorities and such act
carries a higher penalt(5 )a3e said.
)a3e condemned the -illing and said the government HwonIt
tolerate such cruelt to animals.H

.nder Repu!lic &ct No. %?@E or the +ildlife Resources
Conservation and )rotection &ct( illegal trade of endangered
species is penali7ed ! a ;ne of )#$$($$$ and a 3ail term of two
ears while the -illing of endangered animals carries the penalt
of imprisonment of si1 ears and a ;ne of )D$$($$$.
)a3e warned that the full force of the law will !e used against
those who engage in illegal trading( collection and possession of
wildlife species.
4The &Juino administration is dead serious a!out stopping not
onl the destruction of our environment !ut also wildlife crime(
thus we created )":I to go after these poachers(5 he said.
&do!oIs group and some mem!ers the )hilippine National )olice
carried out the raid !ased on a tip a!out a shipment of animals
from )alawan( with the motori7ed !anca doc-ing in Cavite(
!efore !eing transported to 'anila.
& da !efore the actual raid( )":I agents conducted surveillance
within the area in coordination with the oKcials of the !aranga.
The got one cage of hill mna from the su!3ect residence and
were a!le to determine the presence of animals placed in 3uice
!o1es with holes
Initial investigation showed that the house had !een freJuented
! !uers( who in turn sell the animals at &ranJue 'ar-et in
'anila and in Caloocan Cit.
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During the raid( the team found dead animals apparentl
dumped outside the house( emitting a strong foul odor.
0ast 2une #?( the DENR destroed ;ve tons of smuggled elephant
tus-s using a road roller( ma-ing the )hilippines the ;rst countr
in &sia to conduct phsical destruction of massive ivor
stoc-piles in support of glo!al e6orts to stamp out illegal wildlife
trade. <
S".RCE= http=>>www.denr.gov.ph>news,and,features>latest,
news>?@A?,denr,declares,all,out,war,vs,wildlife,poachers.html
*rida( $D 2ul #$?A
Environment+li,t, ,ee- n+tion.i/e 0l+,tic 1+n
'&NI0&( )hilippinesLEnvironmentalists on +ednesda pushed for
the e1tension nationwide of some municipal and cit !ans on the
use of plastic !ags.
To date( at least %$ cities and towns have passed ordinances
!anning or regulating the use of plastic !ags( with several more
local government units (0:.s) poised to follow suit !efore the
end of the ear( according to Eco+aste Coalition.
"n +ednesda( Eco+aste led a march of more than D$$
students( school oKcials( parent,teacher oKcers( !eaut Jueens
and environmentalists to o!serve the @th 4International )lastic
/ag,*ree Da5 and call on the national government to enact laws
!anning plastic !ags all over the countr.
4+e as- the national government to enact laws and policies that
will reinforce the initiatives of visionar 0:.s and eventuall
wean us from plastic !ags(5 Sonia 'endo7a of the 'other Earth
*oundation and the Eco+aste Coalition9s Tas- *orce Mead on
)lastics said in a news release.
The group gathered at the 2ose ). 0aurel Migh School in Tondo(
'anila( carring the reusa!le !aong or native !as-ets( !anners
and placards calling for a nationwide !an on plastic !ags.
Eco+aste said the action was intended to hammer home the
urgent message for the national government to act decisivel
against the use( sale and distri!ution of plastic !ags( which clog
drainage canals and waterwas.
4)lastic !ags are the em!odiment of an antiJuated( throw,awa
mentalit that we need to urgentl address(5 'endo7a said.
4/ outlawing the use of plastic !ags and other non,ecologicall
sound pac-aging materials( we su!stantiall reduce our waste
generation( there! cutting waste management costs( and lessen
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related environmental ris-s such as 8ooding and marine
pollution(5 she added.
)lastic !ags usuall end up littering the streets and dumps( and
at the same time polluting rivers and seas( 'endo7a said.
Reccling plastic !ags does not solve the pro!lem. 4(Reccling)
3ust manages the plastic !ags that have alread !een created.
Reccled plastics still ma-e their wa !ac- to the consumers9
!u,use,dispose loop( thus adding more plastics to the
environment. +hat we need to do is to avoid its usage in the ;rst
place(5 'endo7a said.
The Eco+aste spo-esperson added that !anning the use of
plastic !ags would !oost the demand for locall made !aong
and cloth !ags( supporting local cottage industries and creating
more emploment and !usiness opportunities.
4It is now a good time for 0:.s and !usinesses to support and
invest in the production of !aong and cloth !ags(5 she said.
Eco+aste also !ac-ed the impending 'anila,wide !an on plastic
!ags and stropor containers in 'anila pursuant to an ordinance
that would ta-e e6ect in Septem!er #$?A.
S".RCEN http=>>newsinfo.inJuirer.net>@AF$??>environmentalists,
see-,nationwide,plastic,!an
/ D2 Oap
)hilippine Dail InJuirer
D=#E am P Thursda( 2ul @th( #$?A
$INDULL) 2REENIE
T3e lon4e/-5or 0olitic, o5 +ction
Toda mar-s the !eginning of the terms of oKce of our elective
pu!lic oKcials. To them( we( advocates o6er our hands of support
and in mainstreaming the environment and participator
governance in their agenda.
There is a compelling need to activate the mechanisms for pu!lic
participation that the 0ocal :overnment Code and our special
laws have carefull laid out ages ago. / doing so( ou deliver to
our people the message that ou trul have their welfare in our
heart and mind. 'ost important( ou ful;ll the responsi!ilit to
deliver responsive( participator( transparent and accounta!le
governance as among the essential tools to improve the Jualit
of their lives and ma-e them feel that their voices matter.
If there is one !ig issue that should ran- the highest in priorit
lists of pu!lic authorities( it should !e our response to the glo!al
climate change that has put human-ind on the edge of the
survival cli6. :enuine participator process of inviting people to
contri!ute their ideas and -nowledge to cope with( mitigate and
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adapt to the changing planet is a huge and indispensa!le ;rst
step in the right direction of facing the comple1 pro!lem head,on.
The )hilippines has !een cited as one of the disaster ris-
countries of the world and among the Top ?$ most vulnera!le to
the impacts of climate change. Oet( how man local government
unit oKcials too- seriousl their role as front liners in disaster ris-
reduction and management (DRR') deliver and engaged the
residents in addressing the issues of their e1treme vulnera!ilit
and coping mechanisms to disastersQ
Disaster is de;ned ! R& ?$?E@( the Climate Change &ct as
amended( as 4a serious disruption of the functioning of a
communit or a societ involving widespread human( material(
economic or environmental losses and impacts which e1ceed the
a!ilit of the a6ected communit or societ to cope using its own
resources.5
:lo!al disaster ris- is increasing worldwide( threatening
development gains owing largel to a mi1 of= (i) unplanned ur!an
development( (ii) vulnera!le livelihoods( (iii) ecosstem
degradation and (iv) climate change (.nited Nations International
Strateg for Disaster Reduction).
To set aside the important dut of prioriti7ing the climate change
issue is not even an option. The failure to craft the necessar
climate change and DRR' action plans and implementing them
ma potentiall !e regarded as a gross dereliction of dut that
merits severe sanctions and even perpetual disJuali;cation from
holding pu!lic oKce( especiall if death and destruction ensues in
the future under R& ?$?#?( the DRR' 0aw. 0i-ewise( under
e1isting climate,related statutes( climate change and DRR'
considerations should !e integrated into the policies( programs
and pro3ects of all government agencies. It is not discretionar.
In an article on RR)reventing Disasters and )rotecting Rights99( co,
authors 2ustin :innetti and Nina Schrepfer noted( 4Disaster ris-
reduction can e6ectivel prevent the displacement of people. In
the case of predicta!le disasters( authorities are indeed o!liged
to ta-e measures to reduce the disaster ris-s to protect people9s
lives and propert G and this ma entail evacuation i.e.
displacement.5 The also said that 4The European Court of
Muman Rights in its landmar- ruling against Russia found a
violation of the right to life of those -illed ! a landslide( !ecause
authorities G despite -nowing the imminent ris- G had not ta-en
availa!le and eKcient measures to protect the right to life as well
as the right to propert. The Court identi;ed four core duties
deriving from the right to life= to enact and implement laws and
policies on disaster managementN to ta-e necessar
administrative measures such as o!serving areas at ris-N to
inform the population a!out the ris-s and dangersN and to
evacuate potentiall a6ected populations.5
(http=>>www.fmreview.org>preventing>ginetti,schrepfer)
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"ur countr and our people have high vulnera!ilit to disasters
owing not 3ust to our geographical location( !ut to the prevailing
socio,economic conditions such as povert and high population
growth and our ver low coping capacit. "ur poor and
marginali7ed sectors su6er the most and are considered the
world9s 4most at ris- to disasters.5 & stud ! International
Displacement 'onitoring Centre (ID'C) !ased in :eneva(
Swit7erland showed that 4if two eJuall intense cclones hit !oth
the )hilippines and 2apan( ?E times more *ilipinos than 2apanese
would !e -illed.5
Ine6ective governance and su!standard housing were among the
attri!uted causes.
(http=>>www.philstar.com>headlines>#$?A>$?>A$>%$#FFS>;lipino,
poor,among,worlds,most,ris-,disasters)
S".RCE= http=>>newsinfo.inJuirer.net>@AS?#D>the,longed,for,
politics,of,action
/ :loria Ramos
Ce!u Dail News
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