CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 21, 2011—A simple act for even just an hour a year will hopefully inculcate in every person on the planet to adopt a lifestyle that is earth-friendly, said the national director of Earth Hour Philippines.
Lawyer Angela Consuelo “Gia” Ibay said that this year’s observance of Earth Hour on March 26 is focused on what every person on the planet can do beyond switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday.
“Earth Hour is but 60 minutes long, but if we want lasting and effective results, then we must inculcate the true spirit of the event into our lives, which is to reduce our consumption of power, water and other critical resources. We want Filipinos to pledge to a year-long commitment to reduce their energy usage,” she said.
Ibay, who also leads the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) Climate Unit, said that Earth Hour is a simple act that emphasizes both the ease and importance of adopting energy-efficient practices and lifestyles.
“Given ever-increasing energy demands, we must be mindful of the need to control human-induced global warming by adopting smarter and more responsible energy practices,” she added.
Earth Hour is acclaimed as one of the largest mass-participated event for the good of the planet. It was organized by the WWF in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, where 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make a stand against climate change. Since then, the number of participating communities increased worldwide—35 countries in 2008; 88 countries in 2009; and 128 countries in 2010.
Earth Hour 2010 inspired more than a billion people worldwide and over 15 million Filipinos in 1076 towns, cities and municipalities to switch off their lights for the planet, making the Philippines the country with the most number of participating communities observing Earth Hour.
“Though it would be wonderful to again be number one in terms of participation…We want Filipinos to pledge to a year-long commitment to reduce their energy usage,” Ibay said, adding that pledges can take the form of “biking to work, choosing to fly less, planting native trees, going on a no-meat diet and so on. It all depends on what the individual is willing to do. In the same fashion, corporations and communities can make commitments to be more resource efficient and environmentally responsive. Remember, it starts with nothing more than a conscious decision.”
“Each Filipino’s participation will go a long way in spreading the message that in working collectively, people can create an impetus far more powerful than the mightiest of rivers," she stressed.
This paper is among the media partners for this year’s Earth Hour observance, which entails minimizing carbon emissions, said WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan.
Environment Secretary Ramon J. Paje said that Earth Hour is an hour-long of giving relief to the plant.
Paje has recently issued a memorandum directing all lights in all DENR offices and their vicinities nationwide switched off in support of Earth Hour.
“Let us not wait for time to run out, or for global warming to become irreversible. The greater the darkness we produce on Earth Hour, the brighter our tomorrow will be,” he said.
But more than “darkness,” what is more important is the adoption of an ecologically responsible lifestyle, he said. (Bong D. Fabe)
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Implementing energy-efficient measures to save P60-B
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 17, 2011—At least sixty billion pesos (P60 billion) will be saved this year alone if businesses implement energy-efficiency measures, an officer of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) said.
“Of this amount, at least P12 billion would come from the Mindanao areas,” said Jesus C. Anunciacion, assistant director of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DOE), during the National Training Workshop on Energy Efficiency and Conservation at the Dynasty Court Hotel, March 16 and 17.
In order to achieve the target savings, the DOE has partnered with DAP in implementing a capacity-building project aimed at training at least 600 private companies on energy management system.
Alan Cajes, managing director of DAP’s Center for Sustainable Human Development, explained that when companies engage in energy efficiency and conservation, there is a subsequent increase in their levels of productivity and profitability.
Thus, “it is very important to reach out to these sectors whose energy consumption level is very high,” he said.
“Avoidance of wastages, like unnecessary energy consumption, is an indicator of a higher level of productivity,” Cajes added.
But beyond economics, what is more important is that companies learn to protect the environment because lessenergy consumption means less burning of fossil fuels, which translates into less greenhouse gas emission.
“Energy efficiency and conservation, therefore, results in triple bottomline: increased profit, motivated people and cleaner planet,” he said.
The DAP said that energy efficiency and conservation is not only pure business. It also leads to a higher noble cause – for this and future generations.
During the two-day workshop, at least 50 city-based companies participated in the training on how to conduct energy audit, efficient air conditioning and lighting systems and on fuel and motor efficiency.
The training-workshop here was part of the series of training-workshops being conducted in 15 areas across the country. (Bong D. Fabe)
“Of this amount, at least P12 billion would come from the Mindanao areas,” said Jesus C. Anunciacion, assistant director of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DOE), during the National Training Workshop on Energy Efficiency and Conservation at the Dynasty Court Hotel, March 16 and 17.
In order to achieve the target savings, the DOE has partnered with DAP in implementing a capacity-building project aimed at training at least 600 private companies on energy management system.
Alan Cajes, managing director of DAP’s Center for Sustainable Human Development, explained that when companies engage in energy efficiency and conservation, there is a subsequent increase in their levels of productivity and profitability.
Thus, “it is very important to reach out to these sectors whose energy consumption level is very high,” he said.
“Avoidance of wastages, like unnecessary energy consumption, is an indicator of a higher level of productivity,” Cajes added.
But beyond economics, what is more important is that companies learn to protect the environment because lessenergy consumption means less burning of fossil fuels, which translates into less greenhouse gas emission.
“Energy efficiency and conservation, therefore, results in triple bottomline: increased profit, motivated people and cleaner planet,” he said.
The DAP said that energy efficiency and conservation is not only pure business. It also leads to a higher noble cause – for this and future generations.
During the two-day workshop, at least 50 city-based companies participated in the training on how to conduct energy audit, efficient air conditioning and lighting systems and on fuel and motor efficiency.
The training-workshop here was part of the series of training-workshops being conducted in 15 areas across the country. (Bong D. Fabe)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Farmers join clamor for passage of People’s Survival Fund bill
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 18, 2011—Filipino farmers have joined the clamor for the early passage of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) Bill (HB 3528), which they said will protect the Philippines’ most vulnerable sector to climate change, the agriculture sector.
Joselito Tambalo, president of Kalikasan NE and the Pambansang Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Likas-Kayang Pananakahan (SAKAHAN), said that the PSF is an important piece of legislation because it will fund programs, including agricultural programs, before disaster strikes.
But more importantly, PSF will help farmers get back on their feet once disaster brought about by the whims of climate change damages their crops.
“Makakatulong ang PSF sa mga magsasaka dahil ang mga probisyon nito ay siyang magbibigay nga mga programa sakaling ang mga pananim ng mga magsasaka ay masira dahilan sa climate change (The PSF is a big help to farmers because it will fund programs in case our crops are destroyed by climate change),” he said.
SAKAHAN is a federation of farmers for sustainable agriculture while KALIKASAN-NE, which was founded by 64 farmers, aims at developing sustainable rice-based organic agriculture through the provision of technical assistance, training of new members and making inputs such as chicken manure and rice seedlings available to farmers to help considerably reduce the production costs of rice while increasing the net income of farmers.
Elvira Baladad, council member of the Pambansang Konseho ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), said that aside from farmers, climate change also victimizes poor rural women, who in Philippine rural society bear the brunt of supporting their family.
“Ang mga kababaehan sa kanayunan ay naaapektuhan nga pagbabago-bago nga panahon. Dapat meron silang angklahan para ng sa ganun kung dumating man ito at sila ay maapektohan sila ay merong matatakbuhan upang kanilang maibangon ang kanilang dignidad bilang mga kanbabaehan sa kanauyan (Women are also victims of climate change and they need support during disasters. It will preserve their dignity and stature as women of the community),” she said.
PKKK is a coalition that represents a wide network of national- and provincial-based organizations and federations that are active in the agrarian reform, rural development and democratization, and women's movements.
Among PKKK’s advocacy programs are agrarian reform, fisheries, indigenous women, water, women-friendly support services, microfinance, sustainable agriculture, sectoral representation and participation in gender and development programs in the local communities, reproductive health, and violence against women.
Recently, PKKK formed an environmental cluster to pursue issues on climate change and its impact on rural women and rural development.
Both Tambalo and Baladad said that “PSF matters the most for farmers” like them, which is why “passing the PSF bill means that farmers’ livelihood is being protected from the whims of a changing climate.”
The PSF Bill is an important climate change mitigation measure that will strengthen the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), both important measures that seek to protect communities from the impact of climate change.
Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, principal author of the PSF Bill, said that “the PSF can help poor men and women farmers build their resilience to the likes of the recent spate of flooding that destroyed crops and
now threatens our national food security.”
“Climate change does not only affect the vulnerable sectors. Everyone is affected. Our economy is dealt huge losses especially those communities deemed most vulnerable,” he said in underscoring the importance of the early passage of the PSF bill.
The PSF Bill recently passed the first reading. It is now with the Technical Working Group, which will review it and then submit it for second reading.
According to Tanada, RA 9729 is not enough because it does carry finance provisions.
“Without finance, sometimes the best initiatives go for naught,” he stressed.
The PSF Bill will establish a P2-billion fund for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) projects in the local communities to be coursed through the local government units (LGUs). Climate change adaptation refers to activities and projects that would increase disaster risk resiliency of vulnerable communities.
It will be sourced from domestic public funds as well as international public finance. Among the domestic sources of the fund will be the 10 percent of the cash dividends of government- owned and controlled
corporations, a portion of the proceeds of carbon trading through the clean development mechanism set-up by the Kyoto Protocol and a portion of the motor vehicle users charge.
The passage of the PSF is an initiative of the DEPENSA campaign, which calls on the government to make the defense of Filipinos against climate change a national priority. DEPENSA is a joint undertaking of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC), artists’ collective Dakila, and international non-profit Oxfam.
“We racked up billions of pesos in destroyed rice crops during Typhoon Juan. What will happen if we are continuously hit by typhoons? We need to set up projects that will protect our food sources. Offense is the best defense. We urge the President to pass the PSF and cushion Filipinos from the blows of climate change,” said Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino III, iCSC executive director.
Constantino said that most of the deadliest and damaging typhoons that hit the Philippines occurred in the last two decades, with an estimated cost of over P92 billion in direct damages. According to the Department of Agriculture, the value of lost crops due to Typhoon Juan last year is P10.59 billion.
If enacted into law, the PSF will allocate predictable and regular government funding for local plans in response to creeping climate change, from sea level rise to increasing temperatures. (Bong D. Fabe)
Joselito Tambalo, president of Kalikasan NE and the Pambansang Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Likas-Kayang Pananakahan (SAKAHAN), said that the PSF is an important piece of legislation because it will fund programs, including agricultural programs, before disaster strikes.
But more importantly, PSF will help farmers get back on their feet once disaster brought about by the whims of climate change damages their crops.
“Makakatulong ang PSF sa mga magsasaka dahil ang mga probisyon nito ay siyang magbibigay nga mga programa sakaling ang mga pananim ng mga magsasaka ay masira dahilan sa climate change (The PSF is a big help to farmers because it will fund programs in case our crops are destroyed by climate change),” he said.
SAKAHAN is a federation of farmers for sustainable agriculture while KALIKASAN-NE, which was founded by 64 farmers, aims at developing sustainable rice-based organic agriculture through the provision of technical assistance, training of new members and making inputs such as chicken manure and rice seedlings available to farmers to help considerably reduce the production costs of rice while increasing the net income of farmers.
Elvira Baladad, council member of the Pambansang Konseho ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), said that aside from farmers, climate change also victimizes poor rural women, who in Philippine rural society bear the brunt of supporting their family.
“Ang mga kababaehan sa kanayunan ay naaapektuhan nga pagbabago-bago nga panahon. Dapat meron silang angklahan para ng sa ganun kung dumating man ito at sila ay maapektohan sila ay merong matatakbuhan upang kanilang maibangon ang kanilang dignidad bilang mga kanbabaehan sa kanauyan (Women are also victims of climate change and they need support during disasters. It will preserve their dignity and stature as women of the community),” she said.
PKKK is a coalition that represents a wide network of national- and provincial-based organizations and federations that are active in the agrarian reform, rural development and democratization, and women's movements.
Among PKKK’s advocacy programs are agrarian reform, fisheries, indigenous women, water, women-friendly support services, microfinance, sustainable agriculture, sectoral representation and participation in gender and development programs in the local communities, reproductive health, and violence against women.
Recently, PKKK formed an environmental cluster to pursue issues on climate change and its impact on rural women and rural development.
Both Tambalo and Baladad said that “PSF matters the most for farmers” like them, which is why “passing the PSF bill means that farmers’ livelihood is being protected from the whims of a changing climate.”
The PSF Bill is an important climate change mitigation measure that will strengthen the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), both important measures that seek to protect communities from the impact of climate change.
Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, principal author of the PSF Bill, said that “the PSF can help poor men and women farmers build their resilience to the likes of the recent spate of flooding that destroyed crops and
now threatens our national food security.”
“Climate change does not only affect the vulnerable sectors. Everyone is affected. Our economy is dealt huge losses especially those communities deemed most vulnerable,” he said in underscoring the importance of the early passage of the PSF bill.
The PSF Bill recently passed the first reading. It is now with the Technical Working Group, which will review it and then submit it for second reading.
According to Tanada, RA 9729 is not enough because it does carry finance provisions.
“Without finance, sometimes the best initiatives go for naught,” he stressed.
The PSF Bill will establish a P2-billion fund for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) projects in the local communities to be coursed through the local government units (LGUs). Climate change adaptation refers to activities and projects that would increase disaster risk resiliency of vulnerable communities.
It will be sourced from domestic public funds as well as international public finance. Among the domestic sources of the fund will be the 10 percent of the cash dividends of government- owned and controlled
corporations, a portion of the proceeds of carbon trading through the clean development mechanism set-up by the Kyoto Protocol and a portion of the motor vehicle users charge.
The passage of the PSF is an initiative of the DEPENSA campaign, which calls on the government to make the defense of Filipinos against climate change a national priority. DEPENSA is a joint undertaking of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC), artists’ collective Dakila, and international non-profit Oxfam.
“We racked up billions of pesos in destroyed rice crops during Typhoon Juan. What will happen if we are continuously hit by typhoons? We need to set up projects that will protect our food sources. Offense is the best defense. We urge the President to pass the PSF and cushion Filipinos from the blows of climate change,” said Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino III, iCSC executive director.
Constantino said that most of the deadliest and damaging typhoons that hit the Philippines occurred in the last two decades, with an estimated cost of over P92 billion in direct damages. According to the Department of Agriculture, the value of lost crops due to Typhoon Juan last year is P10.59 billion.
If enacted into law, the PSF will allocate predictable and regular government funding for local plans in response to creeping climate change, from sea level rise to increasing temperatures. (Bong D. Fabe)
People’s Survival Fund pushed to protect farmers from climate change’s impact
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 18, 2011—Among the vulnerable sectors to climate change in Philippine society the agriculture sector is the most defenseless and exposed, which is why farmers have joined the clamor for the immediate passage of the “Depensa” Bill or the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) Bill (H.B. 3528).
The PSF Bill is an important climate change mitigation measure that will strengthen the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), both important measures that seek to protect communities from the impact of climate change.
Joselito Tambalo, president of Kalikasan NE and the Pambansang Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Likas-Kayang Pananakahan (SAKAHAN), said that the PSF is an important piece of legislation because it will fund programs, including agricultural programs, before disaster strikes.
But more importantly, PSF will help farmers get back on their feet once disaster brought about by the whims of climate change damages their crops.
“Makakatulong ang PSF sa mga magsasaka dahil ang mga probisyon nito ay siyang magbibigay nga mga programa sakaling ang mga pananim ng mga magsasaka ay masira dahilan sa climate change (The PSF is a big help to farmers because it will fund programs in case our crops are destroyed by climate change),” he said.
SAKAHAN is a federation of farmers for sustainable agriculture while KALIKASAN-NE, which was founded by 64 farmers, aims at developing sustainable rice-based organic agriculture through the provision of technical assistance, training of new members and making inputs such as chicken manure and rice seedlings available to farmers to help considerably reduce the production costs of rice while increasing the net income of farmers.
Elvira Baladad, council member of the Pambansang Konseho ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), said that aside from farmers, climate change also victimizes poor rural women, who in Philippine rural society bear the brunt of supporting their family.
“Ang mga kababaehan sa kanayunan ay naaapektuhan nga pagbabago-bago nga panahon. Dapat meron silang angklahan para ng sa ganun kung dumating man ito at sila ay maapektohan sila ay merong matatakbuhan upang kanilang maibangon ang kanilang dignidad bilang mga kababaehan sa kanauyan (Women are also victims of climate change and they need support during disasters. It will preserve their dignity and stature as women of the community),” she said.
PKKK is a coalition that represents a wide network of national- and provincial-based organizations and federations that are active in the agrarian reform, rural development and democratization, and women's movements.
Among PKKK’s advocacy programs are agrarian reform, fisheries, indigenous women, water, women-friendly support services, microfinance, sustainable agriculture, sectoral representation and participation in gender and development programs in the local communities, reproductive health, and violence against women.
Recently, PKKK formed an environmental cluster to pursue issues on climate change and its impact on rural women and rural development.
Both Tambalo and Baladad said that “PSF matters the most for farmers” like them, which is why “passing the PSF bill means that farmers’ livelihood is being protected from the whims of a changing climate.”
Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, principal author of the PSF Bill, said that “the PSF can help poor men and women farmers build their resilience to the likes of the recent spate of flooding that destroyed crops and
now threatens our national food security.”
“Climate change does not only affect the vulnerable sectors. Everyone is affected. Our economy is dealt huge losses especially those communities deemed most vulnerable,” he said in underscoring the importance of the early passage of the PSF bill.
The PSF Bill recently passed the first reading. It is now with the Technical Working Group, which will review it and then submit it for second reading.
According to Tanada, RA 9729 is not enough because it does carry finance provisions.
“Without finance, sometimes the best initiatives go for naught,” he stressed.
The PSF Bill will establish a P2-billion fund for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) projects in the local communities to be coursed through the local government units (LGUs). Climate change adaptation refers to activities and projects that would increase disaster risk resiliency of vulnerable communities.
It will be sourced from domestic public funds as well as international public finance. Among the domestic sources of the fund will be the 10 percent of the cash dividends of government- owned and controlled
corporations, a portion of the proceeds of carbon trading through the clean development mechanism set-up by the Kyoto Protocol and a portion of the motor vehicle users charge.
The passage of the PSF is an initiative of the DEPENSA campaign, which calls on the government to take the defense of Filipinos against climate change a national priority. DEPENSA is a joint undertaking of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC), artists’ collective Dakila, and international non-profit Oxfam.
“We racked up billions of pesos in destroyed rice crops during Typhoon Juan. What will happen if we are continuously hit by typhoons? We need to set up projects that will protect our food sources. Offense is the best defense. We urge the President to pass the PSF and cushion Filipinos from the blows of climate change,” said Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino III, iCSC executive director.
Constantino said that most of the deadliest and damaging typhoons that hit the Philippines occurred in the last two decades, with an estimated cost of over P92 billion in direct damages. According to the Department of Agriculture, the value of lost crops due to Typhoon Juan last year is P10.59 billion.
If enacted into law, the PSF will allocate predictable and regular government funding for local plans in response to creeping climate change, from sea level rise to increasing temperatures. (Bong D. Fabe)
The PSF Bill is an important climate change mitigation measure that will strengthen the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), both important measures that seek to protect communities from the impact of climate change.
Joselito Tambalo, president of Kalikasan NE and the Pambansang Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Likas-Kayang Pananakahan (SAKAHAN), said that the PSF is an important piece of legislation because it will fund programs, including agricultural programs, before disaster strikes.
But more importantly, PSF will help farmers get back on their feet once disaster brought about by the whims of climate change damages their crops.
“Makakatulong ang PSF sa mga magsasaka dahil ang mga probisyon nito ay siyang magbibigay nga mga programa sakaling ang mga pananim ng mga magsasaka ay masira dahilan sa climate change (The PSF is a big help to farmers because it will fund programs in case our crops are destroyed by climate change),” he said.
SAKAHAN is a federation of farmers for sustainable agriculture while KALIKASAN-NE, which was founded by 64 farmers, aims at developing sustainable rice-based organic agriculture through the provision of technical assistance, training of new members and making inputs such as chicken manure and rice seedlings available to farmers to help considerably reduce the production costs of rice while increasing the net income of farmers.
Elvira Baladad, council member of the Pambansang Konseho ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), said that aside from farmers, climate change also victimizes poor rural women, who in Philippine rural society bear the brunt of supporting their family.
“Ang mga kababaehan sa kanayunan ay naaapektuhan nga pagbabago-bago nga panahon. Dapat meron silang angklahan para ng sa ganun kung dumating man ito at sila ay maapektohan sila ay merong matatakbuhan upang kanilang maibangon ang kanilang dignidad bilang mga kababaehan sa kanauyan (Women are also victims of climate change and they need support during disasters. It will preserve their dignity and stature as women of the community),” she said.
PKKK is a coalition that represents a wide network of national- and provincial-based organizations and federations that are active in the agrarian reform, rural development and democratization, and women's movements.
Among PKKK’s advocacy programs are agrarian reform, fisheries, indigenous women, water, women-friendly support services, microfinance, sustainable agriculture, sectoral representation and participation in gender and development programs in the local communities, reproductive health, and violence against women.
Recently, PKKK formed an environmental cluster to pursue issues on climate change and its impact on rural women and rural development.
Both Tambalo and Baladad said that “PSF matters the most for farmers” like them, which is why “passing the PSF bill means that farmers’ livelihood is being protected from the whims of a changing climate.”
Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, principal author of the PSF Bill, said that “the PSF can help poor men and women farmers build their resilience to the likes of the recent spate of flooding that destroyed crops and
now threatens our national food security.”
“Climate change does not only affect the vulnerable sectors. Everyone is affected. Our economy is dealt huge losses especially those communities deemed most vulnerable,” he said in underscoring the importance of the early passage of the PSF bill.
The PSF Bill recently passed the first reading. It is now with the Technical Working Group, which will review it and then submit it for second reading.
According to Tanada, RA 9729 is not enough because it does carry finance provisions.
“Without finance, sometimes the best initiatives go for naught,” he stressed.
The PSF Bill will establish a P2-billion fund for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) projects in the local communities to be coursed through the local government units (LGUs). Climate change adaptation refers to activities and projects that would increase disaster risk resiliency of vulnerable communities.
It will be sourced from domestic public funds as well as international public finance. Among the domestic sources of the fund will be the 10 percent of the cash dividends of government- owned and controlled
corporations, a portion of the proceeds of carbon trading through the clean development mechanism set-up by the Kyoto Protocol and a portion of the motor vehicle users charge.
The passage of the PSF is an initiative of the DEPENSA campaign, which calls on the government to take the defense of Filipinos against climate change a national priority. DEPENSA is a joint undertaking of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC), artists’ collective Dakila, and international non-profit Oxfam.
“We racked up billions of pesos in destroyed rice crops during Typhoon Juan. What will happen if we are continuously hit by typhoons? We need to set up projects that will protect our food sources. Offense is the best defense. We urge the President to pass the PSF and cushion Filipinos from the blows of climate change,” said Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino III, iCSC executive director.
Constantino said that most of the deadliest and damaging typhoons that hit the Philippines occurred in the last two decades, with an estimated cost of over P92 billion in direct damages. According to the Department of Agriculture, the value of lost crops due to Typhoon Juan last year is P10.59 billion.
If enacted into law, the PSF will allocate predictable and regular government funding for local plans in response to creeping climate change, from sea level rise to increasing temperatures. (Bong D. Fabe)
Friday, June 24, 2011
CHR recommends withdrawal of OGIP’s FTAA
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 11, 2011—The Commission on Human Rights en banc has recommended the
“probable withdrawal” of the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) the government signed with Australian mining company OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) over gross human rights violations in the mining firm’s concession in Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya.
The FTAA is a contract between the Philippine government and mining companies on large-scale exploration and development of minerals that allows up to 100-percent foreign ownership in a mining project.
The recommendation for the “probable withdrawal of the FTAA granted to the foreign company in view of the gross violations of human rights it has committed” is number one of five recommended actions the Aquino
administration should take against OGPI.
The other actions CHR recommended to the Aquino administration to take are (2) request all concerned agencies, particularly the NCIP, the DENR-MGB, the PNP and the AFP, to submit reports to the Commission on Human Rights regarding concrete actions they have taken to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of the affected community in Didipio, within 30 days from receipt of this Resolution; (3) request the same agencies to continue monitoring the Human Rights situation in Didipio with the view in mind that all reports of violations be verified and acted upon; (4) advise the OGPI to consider the Commission’s findings and conduct a policy reorientation on the conduct of mining operation taking into conscious account the observance of human rights of
the community involved; and (5) direct the CHR Region II Office to actively advocate for the Human Rights of the affected community and to take every step possible to avoid the occurrence of further violence and oppression.
But Oceana Chief Executive Officer Mick Wilkes, in a statement, insisted that “it has met and is committed to continuing to meet the human rights of the local community” in its mining site.
As to CHR’s findings that OGPI had violated the Right to Residence, the Right to Adequate Housing and Property Rights of several residents in Didipio; the Right to Freedom of Movement and the Right not to be
subjected to arbitrary interference; the the Right to Security of Person of the people in Didipio; the indigenous community’s Right to Manifest their Culture and Identity, Wilkes simply said: "The company is compliant with all the laws and regulations associated with operating as a foreign company in the Philippines and is committed to ethical, responsible and sustainable mineral development."
The Didipio mine, with a reserve life of 20 years, holds 1.41 million ounces of gold and 169,400 tons of copper, based on a report released last year by OceanaGold, Australia’s fourth-largest listed gold miner.
OGPI planned to start operations at the project in Nueva Vizcaya in 2013. It is due to restart construction work this year, with the initial cost estimated at US$140 million over four to five years.
The Philippine government sees mining as a sector with great potential to attract foreign investors and generate jobs. (Bong D. Fabe)
“probable withdrawal” of the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) the government signed with Australian mining company OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) over gross human rights violations in the mining firm’s concession in Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya.
The FTAA is a contract between the Philippine government and mining companies on large-scale exploration and development of minerals that allows up to 100-percent foreign ownership in a mining project.
The recommendation for the “probable withdrawal of the FTAA granted to the foreign company in view of the gross violations of human rights it has committed” is number one of five recommended actions the Aquino
administration should take against OGPI.
The other actions CHR recommended to the Aquino administration to take are (2) request all concerned agencies, particularly the NCIP, the DENR-MGB, the PNP and the AFP, to submit reports to the Commission on Human Rights regarding concrete actions they have taken to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of the affected community in Didipio, within 30 days from receipt of this Resolution; (3) request the same agencies to continue monitoring the Human Rights situation in Didipio with the view in mind that all reports of violations be verified and acted upon; (4) advise the OGPI to consider the Commission’s findings and conduct a policy reorientation on the conduct of mining operation taking into conscious account the observance of human rights of
the community involved; and (5) direct the CHR Region II Office to actively advocate for the Human Rights of the affected community and to take every step possible to avoid the occurrence of further violence and oppression.
But Oceana Chief Executive Officer Mick Wilkes, in a statement, insisted that “it has met and is committed to continuing to meet the human rights of the local community” in its mining site.
As to CHR’s findings that OGPI had violated the Right to Residence, the Right to Adequate Housing and Property Rights of several residents in Didipio; the Right to Freedom of Movement and the Right not to be
subjected to arbitrary interference; the the Right to Security of Person of the people in Didipio; the indigenous community’s Right to Manifest their Culture and Identity, Wilkes simply said: "The company is compliant with all the laws and regulations associated with operating as a foreign company in the Philippines and is committed to ethical, responsible and sustainable mineral development."
The Didipio mine, with a reserve life of 20 years, holds 1.41 million ounces of gold and 169,400 tons of copper, based on a report released last year by OceanaGold, Australia’s fourth-largest listed gold miner.
OGPI planned to start operations at the project in Nueva Vizcaya in 2013. It is due to restart construction work this year, with the initial cost estimated at US$140 million over four to five years.
The Philippine government sees mining as a sector with great potential to attract foreign investors and generate jobs. (Bong D. Fabe)
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