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5.21.2007  The Ocean Month Photo Exhibit conducted by the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City in partnership with the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) gets overwhelming support from the students and the school administration as well. With its theme “Globalization Thru Commerce and Trade, Peace Journalism and Clean Environment”, the students presented a mini-program that portray journalists’ primary role in promoting environmental protection through advocacy. Forester Crisanto Estabillo, DENR’s Coastal and Marine Management Division (CMMD) Chief was the guest speaker of the event. In his message, he enumerated some of the coastal issues that journalists should work on to advocate conservation and maintain ecological soundness in the world we are living. Estabillo stressed that the ocean is a major life support system of earth’s inhabitants. It is the source of food, livelihood, recreation and tourism, marine transport, educational as well as scientific activities. It was in 1999, that the then President Joseph Estrada issued Presidential Proclamation No. 57 declaring May as the Month of the Ocean in the Philippines. “This year’s Ocean Month Celebration theme is “Living Ocean Saves Life. Let’s conserve it.” Estabillo added. Mass Comm students are likewise urged to correct information about what the government is doing. He further encouraged them to do their responsibility to care for the environment. DENR’s exhibit showcased the status of the coastal ecosystem in Region XI and programs of the department that manage, protect and rehabilitate the coastal areas. The exhibit also included some information on the Crown of Thorns (Dap-ag) which poses a threat to the coastal ecosystem being predators of corals as well as some coastal activities of St. Mary’s College, Tagum City depicting the school’s involvement in environmental activities specifically coastal rehabilitation. Students, mostly from Natural Science and Mass Communication classes, flocked the said exhibit and took notes not only about the coastal ecosystem but information on Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect as well. (Jei Agas)
posted by Webmaster @ 4:37 PM
DENR–XI HOLDS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
 The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-XI) recently conducted a management conference to discuss the physical and financial plan of the department for 2007. The said conference was participated in by all the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENROs/CENROs), planning officers, budget officers and all key officials of the regional office. Regional Executive Director Ricardo L. Calderon stressed that the conference is one venue where activities of the department are discussed. Furthermore, it also aims to ensure the effective implementation of targeted activities in the region. Hereunder are DENR XI’s priority activities for 2007: Forest Management Service: 1. Forest Resource Tracts 2. Urban Greening ( Seedling Production for Green Philippines) 3. Plantation Establishment 4. Plantation Maintenance 5. Forest Protection 6. Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force 7. Agroforestry (in support of Green Phils.) 8. Watershed Development Plan Preparation 9. Delineation 10. Forestland Boundary Delineation 11. Equipment Outlay for Forestry Land Management Service: 1. Patent Issuance 2. Foreshore Permits Issuance 3. PRS ’92 Control Points 4. Land Records Management 5. Field Network Survey Protected Areas Wildlife Coastal Zone Management Service: 1. Ecotourism Development Plan • Mt. Apo Natural Park • Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Boundary Delineation/Demarcation • Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary 3. Implementation of BMS • Mt. Apo Natural Park • Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary 4. Protected Area Protected/Patrolled • Mt. Apo Natural Park • Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary • Mainit Hotspring PLS 5. Operationalization of PAMB 6. Monitoring of Critical Wetlands for Avian Flu 7. Mt. Apo Activities • Mt. Apo Management Plan • Mt. Apo Dossier preparation Coastal Marine Management: 1. Costal Resource Management • Coastal area assessment for ecotourism • Technical Assistance to LGUs • Technical Assistance and capacity building 2. Mangrove Management in support to Green Philippines 3. Establishment of Marine Sanctuaries Environmental Research and Development Service: 1. Clonal Nurseries • Production of quality planting materials 2. Research and Development in Support to ENR Planning and Management • Vulnerability assessment of Tagum-Libungan River Basin • Carrying capacity of Mt. Apo Natural Park P/L for sustainable mountaineering • Rehabilitation and Ecological Restoration for marginal and degraded landscape and seascape 3. Technology Transfer PMCC-Diwalwal: 1. Mines and Geosciences Operation 2. Environmental Management Operation 3. Research and Development Operation 4. Internal Security Task Group 5. Political Task Group 6. Socio-Economic and Safety Net Task Group 7. Information Task Group 8. PMCC
posted by Webmaster @ 2:09 PM
5.17.2007 DENR Encourages: Substitute ODS with OFS
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) encourages the substitution of halon-containing fire extinguishers, suppressors, and fire-fighting paraphernalia with transitional substances, otherwise known as Ozone-Friendly Substances (OFS). This is pursuant to the country’s commitment to phase-out the consumption of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
The ozone layer serves as the sunscreen of the Earth. It absorbs the harmful ultraviolet (UV) raise from the sun. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) the depletion of the ozone layer begins when the ODS and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are emitted into the atmosphere. Winds are the efficient agent that mixes these gases and distribute them for further reactions. The strong UV light breaks apart the molecules of ODS. As a result chlorine atoms, and halons and methyl bromide are released and from these gases, bromide atoms are further emitted. These atoms are the ones that destroy the ozone, not the intact molecules of ODS itself. In 1970s, a dramatic loss of ozone layer was first observed by a group of researchers from British Antartic Survey (BAS). Moreover, Australia has a high rate of skin cancer incidences, with 1,200 people dying form the disease (www.theozonewhole.com). Australia has higher UV radiation level than Europe. This is attributed to Australia’s proximity to the ozone hole over Antartic, thus higher level of UV radiation penetrating to the ground level. The US EPA and Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) provided the list of accepted substitutes that are available in the country. These are as follows:  Lastly, Excelta Trading Corporation is the recognized entity to recover halon, under the Handover Protocol for the Halon Management Program (PH1/95/G.64)of the government, signed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Philippine Government, and the Excelta trading Corporation on September 18, 2000.(Jenny Lynn Carigma, DENR, XI, Apprentice)
posted by Webmaster @ 3:28 PM
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