Sibuyan Island’s Natural Beauty Under Threat By Gatchalian’s Mining Business

Sibuyan Island, located in Romblon is considered to be the “Galapagos of Asia” because of its natural beauty and biodiversity. With this, there is no question that the island should be prioritized as a protected area, however it seems to be threatened with mining prospects by Atlai Philippines Mining. The company is owned by William Gatchalian who also nicknamed as the “Plastics King.”

There were also recent tensions that were captured on video and shared on social media showing residents barricading trucks going to the port in which its construction was also in question. In an interview with PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago in the Program “Dos Por Dos” with Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja, stated that the Philippine Ports Authority have not given permit for a private port to be built in Sibuyan Island and will not process their request until the issues has been resolved.

Globe, DENR, UNIDO and partners join hands for new recycling facility in Malabon City

The UN Environment Programme in its 2019 press statement said that more than 50 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) are generated each year and less than 20% is formally recycled.  About 80% either end up in landfills or being informally recycled – much of it by hand – in developing countries, exposing workers to hazardous and carcinogenic substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium.

To help address concerns over informal e-waste processing and its associated risks to the people and environment, Globe joined a multi-stakeholder partnership that will put up the country’s second community e-waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facility in Barangay Dampalit, Malabon City. The facility is expected to be inaugurated by late November 2021 and will start operations immediately after necessary technical training is completed.

Barangay Dampalit was selected as the new TSD site and the local e-waste pickers, led by their association -- Samahan ng Magbabaklas, will be trained on proper handling and dismantling of e-waste to discourage unconventional and harmful means of recycling.

Facts and Statistics That Lead To Creating Gcash Forest

To further understand why there is a need to have GCash Forest is because of the current state of Philippine biodiversity and environmental status. From what used to be a lush tropical archipelago, the country has progressed into a more commercial and industrial path which lead to big changes in the environment but caused a huge effect on nature itself.

But first let's dive deep into what Philippine Biodiversity is:

GCash Forest Launched To Plant Trees Virtually and Literally

By law, Filipinos are required to plant one tree per year known as the Arbor Day act of 2012. But we highly doubt many would have complied to this due to the complexities of planting even just a single tree, and also the time and effort need to make it happen. Yet the need for trees is a must now. With climate change and man-made development of land causes strains in the environment, the ecosytem, and eventually into the lives of many people as the weather changes and many face a huge change in the air, the soil, and all living things who rely on the earth.

JCI Manila And Gold Seas Tuna Chunks Pave The Way To "The Sea Of Life Museum"

With the worldwide crisis of environmental issue prevailing in many communities, I guess we do need to hear some good news about people who have been pushing for preservation and propagation of the ecosystem. Partnering for a monumental task are JCI Manila and Gold Seas Tuna Chunks for the Sea of Life project which aims to produce artificial reefs that will help them grow under the sea.

With the help of the Philippine Navy, the BRP Gregorio Velasquez or AGR 702, an impressive 279 feet long vessel with hydrographic survey and maritime research capabilities, will transport the sculptures to the installation site. From Pier 13 at Port Area, Manila, the AGR702, complete with a crew of mariners, will set off for the waters of Tingloy, Batangas. 

Eight industries receive DENR recognition for exemplary environmental performance

For exhibiting exemplary environmental performance, eight companies from the chiller and power sectors received recognition from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at the Joint Awarding Ceremony of the Philippines-Chiller Energy Efficiency Project (PCEEP) and the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) held at the H2O Hotel in Manila.

The project’s beneficiaries will be awarded and recognized for their initiatives in implementing energy-efficient operations, particularly the chiller sector’s move to replace their ODS-based inefficient chillers to new technologies.

Teaching farmers how to fish

About an hour or so from the city proper, Marilog does not feel like part of Davao City. Understandably, because this third congressional district where the President of the Philippines lives is still thriving with dense greenery and with fruit bearing trees. It is because of this that Marilog became a leading exporter of fruits, giving it the title “Fruit Basket of the Philippines”.

In 2013, Henry Sy, Sr.’s SM Foundation donated a variety of tree seedlings to farmers of Sitio Upper Kibangay, Barangay Suawan in Marilog. This is part of the Foundation’s program called “Grow a Million Trees”, which supports the national government’s own greening program.

Interesting Amuzement at The 2016 Environmental Summit

People love nature, but may have limited knowledge and access to opportunities to help significantly in preserving Mother Nature. Good thing that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Climate Change Commission (CCC), National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the local government units (LGUs) partnered together to create an event that will address this. Last June 21-24, 2016, the 2nd National Integrated Waste Management Exhibition - 2016 Environmental Summit was held at the Megatrade Hall 1 & 2, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City with the theme, “Fostering Shared Responsibility in Integrated Waste Management.” 

DENR-EMB launches back-to-back events to promote sustainable energy and better air quality

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) launches its very first solar rooftop panels alongside it’s the newly-installed LED (Light-Emitting Diode) board as part of its campaign to promote clean energy and clean air.

DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje unveiled the 100-kilowatt (kW) “Solar Project,” a solar rooftop program for government agencies in partnership with state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) at the rooftop of the EMB’s Environmental Research and Laboratory Services Division building.

According to Paje, the solar panel facility will allow the DENR to generate approximately 140,000 kWh of electricity per year which in turn, can generate savings of about P1,400,000 per year for government offices.

“It’s a win-win situation for us. We get to maximize clean energy for our electricity use and at the same time earn savings from this partnership. Solar power is clearly one of the most important solutions to the global warming crisis. And as a source of renewable energy, it emits no harmful gases, reduces the emissions of carbon and greenhouse gases, and therefore, mitigates global warming and climate change,” he said.

In 2015, PNOC has so far inaugurated similar facilities in two government agencies in Quezon City (Department of Science and Technology [DoST] and the Philippine Heart Center).

Meanwhile, Paje also switched on DENR’s first LED board located at the DENR-EMB grounds in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City as part of the Department’s intensified public information campaign to share how clean or unhealthy the air is.

The updates which are already uploaded daily in the official website of the DENR-EMB will be shown on the LED board with additional health information on the effects the public may experience based on their exposure to air pollution.

“The DENR is visited by its clients all the time and they can greatly benefit from the monitoring data provided by the 17 air quality monitoring stations scattered all over Metro Manila. This will make their visits in the Department more interesting and informative,” Paje said.

DENR, FEU and WWF Launch Tamaraw Month with Campaign to Double Tamaraw Numbers by 2020

Ten thousand tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) once grazed and bred throughout the island of Mindoro. Sadly, the population has taken severe blows – from a crippling outbreak of cattle-killing Rinderpest in the 1930s to incessant land clearing and poaching. It is thought that only a few hundred hold out atop the grassy slopes and forest patches of Mts. Iglit, Baco, Aruyan, Bongabong, Calavite and Halcon in Mindoro. 

Differentiated from the larger and more docile carabao (Bubalus bubalis carabanesis), the stocky tamaraw bears distinctive V-shaped horns, a shorter tail and a shaggy coat of chocolate to ebony fur. Adults stand four feet tall and average 300 kilograms.