Cimatu urges youth to join efforts to prevent biodiversity loss

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has called on the Filipino youth to take part in the concerted effort to protect the country’s rich biological resources against destruction and loss. 

Cimatu said the young people, who constitute a large part of the country’s population, could play an active role in protecting and improving the environment for their own future and that of the succeeding generations. 

“The youth must do their share in protecting our environment, as it is the lifebloood providing us food, shelter, clothing, medicine and other ecological services essential to our survival,” Cimatu said in a speech read by DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones during the recently concluded ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes’ Forum held in Makati City. 

Cimatu said the youth of today are in a better position to protect their future from environmental crises, including depletion of resources and biodiversity loss. 

“No one will be forever in this Earth, but our actions as global citizens are indispensable in our battle to save the environment,” Cimatu told the audience, mostly students from St. Scholastica’s College, Araullo High School and Far Eastern University. 

For her part, BMB Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said everyone in the Philippines and the ASEAN has the “power and responsibility” to ensure that the gift of rich biological diversity is protected and sustainably used. 

“We need everyone’s help and cooperation in ensuring that we are successful in our conservation efforts,” Rodriguez said. “We constantly need guidance and inspiration to continue our tasks.” 

The symposium was the second leg of the ASEAN Biodiversity Forum, which featured ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The first leg was held in Vietnam and the third and final leg will be held in Brunei Darussalam later this year. 

The forum aims to further increase public awareness on the values and conservation of biodiversity. It also seeks to inspire people to take action for biodiversity by sharing with them the noteworthy stories of ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes, and promote awareness of the value of biodiversity among various audiences in the region. 

Last year, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity recognized 10 biodiversity conservation advocates representing the grassroots, government, academic and business sectors during an awarding ceremony held in the country as part of the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit. 

Former DENR Secretary and National Scientist Dr. Angel Alcala was named as among the 10 ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes for his notable works in promoting the importance of coastal and marine resources protection.  

The ASEAN Biodiversity Hero Award was designed to celebrate the heroism of oustanding individuals from ASEAN member states who have contributed significantly to biodiversity conservation and advocacy efforts in their respective countries. ###

DENR press releases and other news/feature articles are posted at the DENR website: www.denr.gov.ph. For queries/comments, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cimatu orders a stop to all quarry operations in eight regions, relieves MGB-7 officials

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu today ordered a halt to all quarry operations in eight regions of the country and to have their safety assessed.

Cimatu announced the suspension during a press conference in Naga City, Cebu, following a landslide that occurred near a quarry site in Sitio Sindulan, Brgy. Tinaan. 

The regions covered by the suspension order are Ilocos, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga. 

“The suspension will be effective until such time that the review and assessment of quarry operations are completed, [including] surrounding communities as far as their safety from the impact of the quarry operations and geohazards is concerned,” Cimatu said. 

Likewise, the DENR chief also ordered a review and assessment of all quarry operations nationwide to determine the safety of their operations and of surrounding communities. 

Earlier, Cimatu announced the creation of a team of technical personnel from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) “to conduct a thorough and independent investigation and check why [the landslide] happened, how it happened, and what we should do.” 

He also announced the relief of four officials of the MGB regional office in Cebu, namely, Director Loreto Alburo, Chief Administrative and Finance Officer Atty. Jerry Mahusay, chief geologist Al Emil Berador, and supervising geologist Dennis Aleta. 

Cimatu said the investigating team would look into the accountability of the four officials regarding the landslide. 

Earlier today, Cimatu has also ordered the Environmental Management Bureau to suspend the Environmental Compliance Certificate of Apo Land and Quarry Corporation. 

The environment chief called for immediate evacuation of remaining residents in the area, proposing that they be relocated in an area at least a kilometer away from the danger zone. 

He described the site as “volatile”, which could lead to further soil slippage. ###

DENR press releases and other news/feature articles are posted at the DENR website: www.denr.gov.ph. For queries/comments, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cimatu warns against keeping wild animals as pets

Keeping wild animals as pets is illegal and could land one in jail.

 Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu issued this reminder following the rescue of a pangolin, also known as scaly anteater, at a posh subdivision in Muntinlupa City recently. 

“Collecting, hunting or possessing wildlife species, both flora and fauna, without a valid permit from the government is illegal,” Cimatu said. 

“Wild animals, including pangolins, are protected by the government and our laws, and it is unlawful to keep them as pets,” he added. 

Pangolins, especially those endemic to Palawan province, are critically endangered and protected under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. 

Under the law, mere possession of a wild animal, particularly one considered “criticially endangered,” is punishable by maximum jail term of four years and a fine of up to P450,000. 

Last Sept. 4, the enforcement team of Task Force POGI (Philippine Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade) rushed to Alabang Village to validate a report that one of its residents was allegedly in possession of a pangolin. 

At the time, the pangolin was already in the custody of the barangay hall after it was turned over by a resident who found the animal outside the house of a Chinese national named Xiao Ming. 

The Task Force POGI enforcement team—together with barangay officials, security guards and crew of GMA 7 program “Born to be Wild”—went to Ming’s residence on the same day to conduct an inspection. During the conduct of the search, neither trace nor remnant of pangolin evidence of animal keeping such as cage was found.  

When interviewed by the team, Ming—through his driver and interpreter—said that in the morning of the same day, they discovered the pangolin at the ceiling of his house. He said his driver tried to catch the pangolin with a plastic basket, but it managed to escape. 

Initial examination revealed that the pangolin, which Alabang village officials and residents named as “Panggoy,” was “healthy with some external parasites (ticks) noted in between its scales.” 

Panggoy was brought to the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in Quezon City for further examination and observation.  

BMB Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said the pangolin has undergone DNA test at the laboratory of the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines- Diliman. The results of said test confirmed that the pangolin is of Palawan origin. With this finding, Rodriguez said Panggoy has been returned to Palawan and released back to its natural habitat in close coordination with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development staff. The release was made earlier today (21 September). 

Task Force POGI is a composite group of personnel from the DENR, including BMB, and officers of law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation organized by the DENR in 2013, as among the measures to curb poaching and illegal trade of wildlife in the country. ###

DENR press releases and other news/feature articles are posted at the DENR website: www.denr.gov.ph. For queries/comments, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.