Top star-studded military generals witness mayors ink commitment on clean river in Surigao del Sur

Butuan City – Four top-star retired military generals, three of them former AFP Chiefs of Staff, have expressed full support and witnessed on Tuesday the signing of the Statement of Commitment by the five mayors in the eastern part of Surigao del Sur on the protection and preservation of natural resources  at the Mount Hilong-Hilong Ranges that cut across several towns of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.

The Mayors of the towns of Carrascal represented by Vicente H. Pimentel, Cantilan by Mayor Carla Lopez-Pichay, Madrid by Mary Grace Sulatra –Kimura, Carmen by Jane Valeroso –Plaza and Lanuza by Anilao P. Dawog  have inked their commitment on a two-page statement that seeks to undertake nine (9) courses of actions on four core river basins and waterfalls in their respective domain.

The two-hour program was witnessed by the DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu , a retired Philippine Army general who previously served as the 30^th Chief of Staff of the AFP under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, DILG Secretary Eduaro Manahan Año, who previously served as the 48^th Chief of Staff under President Benigno S. Aquino, Retired Philippine Army General Hernando Delfin Carmelo ArrezaIriberri who served as the 46^th Chief of Staff under President Aquino , and Retired Lt. General William K. Hotchkiss,  the 24^th commanding general of the Philippine Air Force  and former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and currently President of the Cantilan Bank.

In his remark, DENR Secretary Cimatu had stressed the need to sustain clean rivers from  coliform bacteria and garbage waste as possible.

The DENR Secretary also called the attention of the local officials in their respective municipality to take action of the informal settlers that are teeming along the 3-meter easement from the river.  “As possible, there should be no structures allowed along the bank to save and protect the river from possible contamination of domestic wastes thrown by the informal settle”, Sec. Cimatu said.

He also asked the DENR and the LGU officials to conduct immediately an inventory of families living along the river bank and relocate them to a suitable site.

 The two cabinet officials have expressed appreciation to the efforts made by Mayor Pichay in maintaining a clean river and urged the other mayors in the country particularly in Metro Manila to follow the strategies made by the local official in maintaining a clean river in her area of jurisdiction. “We should duplicate the successful accomplishment and actions done by Mayor Pichay in keeping the river clean”, Secretary  Cimatu said.

Secretary Año said the commitment made by the mayors in the preservation and protection of watershed is laudable. Secretary Año also challenged all local officials to consider the efforts of the mayors in Surigao del Sur who bound themselves to sustain clean rivers in their area. “The DILG and the entire agencies under it, affirms its support to the Statement of Commitment towards the Sustainable Management and Use of the watersheds and water resources in their municipalities.

The nine courses of actions which the mayors in Surigao del Sur have committed to take action included 1. The consolidation of four core river basins and waterfalls covered by PD 1747 as one “physiologic unit”; 2. Develop a more effective local policy framework and institutional mechanism for managing watersheds and water resources sustainability; 3. Enact and enforce policies and ordinance to protect, defend and conserve our watershed; 4. Mobilize and generate adequate resources by utilizing the increased share of LGUs from the national taxes; 5. Seek support from the DENR to designate the four core river basins as one single Water Quality Management Area (WAQMA); 6. Ensure the creation of people-oriented, multi-disciplinary, and ecosystems approach to watershed governance and management; 7. Work towards the declaration of all critical watershed areas (source of irrigation, domestic water, mini-hydroelectric power, ecotourism, agriculture and those classified as geo-hazard areas) as NO GO ZONES ; 8. Seek support from the DILG to ensure the commitment of all local government units towards the designation, creation and operationalization of the WAQMA; and 9. Institutionalize the allocation of special appropriation by the local government units for the full operation and management of the WAQMA as common development agenda for the five involved municipalities.###

The event was participated also by DENR 13 Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer, EMB 13 Regional Director Engr. Albert G. Arcamo, the five PENROs of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and the Dinagat province and CENR officers.

Earlier the two cabinet officials have visited the tourist belt in General Luna, Siargao Islands to impose the demolition of the establishments that violated the legal easement zone required by the DENR regulations at the beach and coastlines to be free from obstacles and structures as access zone for the people bathing and enjoying at the beach.

By: Herzon F. Gallego

DENR secures nesting ground of Giant Sea Turtle in Agusan Norte

The personnel of the CENRO Nasipit in Agusan del Norte under CENRO Alejandara Boiser  on Tuesday have secured a nesting ground of the endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas sp.) at the coastal village  of Sacol, in  Buenavista town, this province  to protect the 80 eggs left by  the giant reptile at the beach to forage on the sea.

“I immediately instructed the head of the wildlife section in my office to ensure the safety of the marine turtle eggs on that beach from predators “, CENRO Boiser told the Manila Bulletin.

A group of fishermen were going to fish at dawn when they stumbled upon a hole gaped at the beach and discovered the eggs of giant sea turtle. The fishermen told the DENR that the sea turtle was seen crawling on the sand seaward before being swallowed by the rolling wave.

This is the second time that the fisher folk in that coastal village found a nest on that spot this year. “Perhaps, this could be the season when the giant turtle are coming back to the beach to lay their eggs“, CENRO Boiser said. “The area should be declared a protected nesting site for the sea turtles“, she said.

     CENRO Boiser has lauded the effort by the fisher folk to inform the authorities of the turtle nest after they accidentally found it. She said “otherwise those eggs could have been eaten by stray animals in the area and worst, the eggs could have been consumed by men for breakfast meal” she said.

       “Chelonia mydas” which is also known as Pacific green turtle is classified as endangered since they are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear and loss of nesting beach sites. Predators like tiger sharks, are known for eating sea turtles. Dogs, seabirds, raccoons, ghost crabs and other predators prey on eggs and hatchlings.

            A female Green Sea Turtle can lay up to 200 eggs on a beach per laying season. After about two months, the baby sea turtles hatch and the hatchlings make their way to the water.

                At least 10-kilometer coastline of Agusan del Norte from the town of Carmen to Buenavista are considered nesting site of giant sea turtles of various kinds. Local Government in the municipality of Carmen has declared at least three kilometres stretch of beach as marine sanctuary.

By: Herzon F. Gallego

DENR notes zero smuggling of illegal lumbers at Nasipit Port

BUTUAN CITY—The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has noted a significant decline in smuggling of illegally-cut lumber products in 10-footer vans shipped out of Nasipit Port in Agusan del Norte.

In her report to DENR Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer, the CENRO of Nasipit, Alejandra B. Boiser said   there was almost nil incidence of smuggling of illegal forest products   at the Port over the last eight months this year owing to strict monitoring of forest products being shipped through the closed cargo container vans. 

“We have not seen any container vans with highly-questionable sawn lumbers since we strengthened our forest patrol and monitoring at the Port origin before cargoes like lumber products are loaded into the cargo vessels” CENRO Boiser said. 

“I thought the shipment of forest products from illegal source has slowed down owing to tight campaign made by the previous CENRO” Boiser said. CENRO Boiser took over her new assignment at CENRO Nasipit in November 2018. 

 “Maybe the smugglers have the second thought of shipping out their illegally-obtained lumber products through the Nasipit port because of strict policy laid out among the government agencies concerned in coordination with the local government units, the PPA, Bureau of Customs, and the PNP”, CENRO Boiser said. 

Since February this year, the CENRO Nasipit Enforcement team headed by Forester II Gabriel Arlan reported 12 apprehensions and raids incidents in different places in remote barangays of Las Nieves, Butuan City and Buenvista in Agusan del Norte with a total of 29,102.37 bd.ft. of   illegal forest products apprehended which consisted species such as toog, lauan, Tangile, balit, white lauan, red lauan, antipolo, mancono for furniture product, hindang, falcata and molave. 

Recently, CENRO Boiser said, her enforcement team apprehended 1,660.32 bd.ft. of illegal forest products over two month operation in July and August and confiscated three units of multi cab jeepney ferrying lauan and other naturally-grown tree products. The aviation police at Butuan City Airport also turned over of 24 kilos of the highly-valuable Agar wood products confiscated from 5 out-bound Vietnamese passenger worth about P 1.1 million.

By: Herzon F. Gallego