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Coalition rejects China-funded Kaliwa Dam project

MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of environmental and rights groups has expressed its strong opposition to the proposed construction of Kaliwa Dam, saying the China-funded project would put people’s lives at risk, destroy the biodiversity in the area and tie the country to an ‘onerous’ loan.

The Kaliwa Dam project, a $211.21-million loan from China, is being touted as a solution to Metro Manila’s water requirements. But for Sectors Opposed to the Kaliwa Dam (STOP Kaliwa Dam), the government is just using the shortage in water supply to “aggressively promote” the controversial project.

STOP Kaliwa Dam said there are “more than enough (reasons) to call into serious question the wisdom of pushing through with the construction of the Kaliwa Dam.”

Violation of legal processes

STOP Kaliwa Dam stressed that the project failed to secure consent from the Dumagats and Remontados who own the land as required by the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

“In fact, the IP leaders in the area have questioned the Free, Prior and Informed Consent process currently being undertaken by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples because they were not provided with copies of relevant documents from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System as project proponent which are essential for evaluating and making informed decisions,” the groups said.

They also said that the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has not yet issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate, which is needed for any project that poses a potential risk to the environment.

The groups, moreover, said that the construction of the access road to the dam site violates the law since it has no permit from the Protected Area Management Board and the local government unit of Infanta, Quezon.

They also said that the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has not yet issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate, which is needed for any project that poses a potential risk to the environment.

Destruction of biodiversity, contribution to climate change

STOP Kaliwa Dam pointed out that “building a mega dam in the area will cause irreparable damage to the surrounding ecosystem and endanger [and] devastate animal and plant life.

Proclamation 573 declared the Kaliwa Watershed a forest reserve and Proclamation 1636 declared a portion of the area a National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Citing information from the Haribon Foundation, the groups said the Kaliwa Watershed is home to the endangered Northern Philippine Hawk-eagle, Philippine Brown Deer, Philippine Warty Pig, vulnerable Northern Rufous Hornbill, critically-endangered Philippine Eagle and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area.

The groups also said that dam reservoirs are “significant” source of greenhouse gas emissions.

“As one of the countries suffering the brunt of climate change impacts, from devastating typhoons to prolonged dry spells, it would be irresponsible and irrational to fund a project that will exacerbate climate change,” they said.

Social cost

The groups noted that the ancestral domains of the Dumagat and Remontados as well as sacred sites and burial grounds will be submerged by the dam.

“Construction of the dam will inundate the Barangay Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal with a population of 1,000 households and 500 households from Pagsangahan, General Nakar, Quezon. This will mean the loss of significant income for the area due to the loss of eco-tourism which has seen a boom in recent years,” they said.

The town of Infanta will lose the benefit of sediment-carrying river flows, which will then affect irrigation to rice paddies, they added.

STOP Kaliwa Dam also said that the project will endanger the lives of people as the mega dam will be constructed within the zone of two active tectonics—the Philippine Fault Zone and the Valley Fault System.

‘Onerous’ loan

The organizations, moreover, stressed that the project “will add to the country’s ballooning debt.

The $211.21-million loan from China carries an interest rate of two percent per annum, payable in 20 years, including a grace period of seven years. It covers 85 percent of the project’s contact amount and carries a management fee of 0.3 percent as well as a commitment of 0.3 percent per annum.

STOP Kaliwa Dam added the project “binds the country to an onerous agreement that encroaches on our sovereignty and opens up assets and natural resources to potential seizure by China.”

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio was quoted as saying that Kaliwa Dam project also offers patrimonial assets as collateral.

But Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the Philippine government does not need to surrender any of its assets to China in case the country fails to settle its obligations on infrastructure projects.

“In conformity with the constitution and laws of the Philippines, none of the pipeline projects allow for appropriation or takeover of domestic assets in the event of failure to pay which hollows out our sovereignty,” Dominguez said.

STOP Kaliwa Dam includes the following organizations:

  • Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance
  • Haribon Foundation
  • Freedom from Debt Coalition
  • Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
  • Alyansa Tigil Mina
  • Green Convergence
  • PAKISAMA
  • Greenresearch
  • Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights (LILAK)
  • Sukatan – LN
  • Ateneo – Office for Social Concern and Involvement
  • NTFP-EP PH
  • Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development
  • Oriang
  • Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod
  • Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan
  • Kalamidad
  • Sanlakas
  • PUP Center for Envrionmental Studies
  • Prelature of Infanta Community Organization of the Philippines Inc.
  • Tribal Center for Development
  • Samahan ng mga Katutubong Agta, Dumagat, Remontado na Binabaka at Pinagtatanggol ang Lupaing Ninuno (SAGIBIN-LN)
  • TFSM-BE
  • Tanggol Kalikasan
  • Bantay Kita
  • Green Thumb Coalition
  • 11.11.11
  • Citizens’ Environment Network.

Source: Philippine STAR

 

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“Cha-Cha” gets heavy beating at forum

“The proposed Cha-Cha is anti-Filipino in the sense that it is removing protectionist provisions enshrined in the 1987 Constitution that ensure our right to be in control of our resources.” This was the opening salvo of Bayan Muna General Counsel Atty. Cris Yambot at the 348th session of the monthly Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum, which tackled the proposed Charter Change (Cha-Cha) that would shift the Philippines to a federal form of government.

“Furthermore,” Yambot added, “it grants new and formidable powers to the President, giving him executive, legislative, and judicial control over the entire government. It opens the country wider to transnational corporations, and it dilutes or deletes the social justice and human rights provisions enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.”

Atty. Cris Yambut, General Counsel of Bayan Muna discusses the different versions of Charter Change being proposed in the Congress. She noted that Resolution of Both Houses No. 8 or the version submitted by Former President Gloria Arroyo is the one that has been passed at the committee level. It is primarily because “they have the numbers.”

In relation to foreign ownership, Yambot emphasized that in the proposed versions, transnational corporations would in effect be allowed to own and control lands, including already scarce agricultural lands that produce our food supply, and would lift established limits on foreign ownership of mining companies.

She then pointed out specific provisions in the draft Constitution that would abridge the rights of the Filipino people and reduce or remove their protection against unfair competition from big foreign corporations.

For example, she explained, the right to freedom of expression is put in danger by changing it in the proposed charter to “freedom of ‘responsible’ expression.”

“Who is to decide what’s ‘responsible?’” Yambot asked. “Will criticizing government or attending a rally be deemed ‘irresponsible?’”

In an unusual turn of events, Yambot was the sole speaker in this month’s forum, which always strives to present different sides of an issue. Unfortunately, SAGIP Party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta, one of the authors of the draft Cha-Cha failed to come. Although he had confirmed his attendance up to the day of the forum, he cancelled at the last minute, citing an unforeseen meeting.

Finally, Yambot warned that many of the draft provisions would impact negatively on the environment, and encouraged everyone to carefully study the draft Cha-Cha which is available at the Congress website.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Angelina Galang, President of forum organizer Green Convergence said, “Everything is connected to the environment. We should protect our environment, thus, ownership should be left to the Philippines.”

A bit of politics entered the discussion but Galang enjoined everyone to rise above personal ties, family, alliances and emotional preferences and vote as Filipinos, for the good of the country. She also encouraged citizens and environmental groups to work on influencing lawmakers to reject provisions harmful to the environment and the Filipino people.

Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum has become an institutionalized platform since March 1990 that enables NGO and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss pressing environmental issues in the country. This month’s forum is supported by Kamayan Restaurant EDSA with the assistance of the Forest Foundation Philippines.

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Green Convergence forum tackle effectiveness of ecobricks

Environmental coalition Green Convergence held the 347th installment of the monthly Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum last February 15, 2019 at Kamayan Restaurant, EDSA, Mandaluyong City. Resource speakers included Lou Arsenio of Ecobricks Philippines, Chairman Rolly Datiles of Barangay Bagumbuhay, Quezon City and Juvy Serafin of the Solid Waste Management Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Dr. Angelina Galang (left) with Barangay Bagumbuhay Captain Rolly Datiles (right). Capt. Datiles is successful in implementing the ecological solid waste management law in his barangay with the ecobrick project that he innovated.

The forum scrutinized the two versions of ecobricks – (1) plastic bottle containers stuffed with dry plastic wastes which are used as filler bricks in building systems and (2) actual hollow blocks that are stronger than the former and are made by mixing wet cement and shredded plastic wastes.

Arsenio stressed that the said first version is supposed to be hard as a brick. “Dapat may proper training ang paggawa nito [ecobricks] dahil kung mali ang pagkakagawa, mahirap po itong ayusin (There should be a proper training for making ecobricks because if they are wrongly made, it would be difficult to fix them),” she followed.

On the other hand, Datiles explained that his community’s way of doing the second version is by processing non-biodegradable residual plastic wastes and mixing them with cement to be transformed into tiles and bricks. He presented the 4 E’s that supported his community’s ecobrick initiative and made their ecological solid waste management program successful:

“First you need education for the awareness campaign of the problem and proposed solutions. Second you need engineering so you would have proper equipment for realizing the solution. Third is enforcement. There needs to be a barangay ordinance for the program. Finally, economic sustainability where each household gain economic rewards by participating in the program.”

Serafin lauded the efforts of Chairman Datiles and mentioned, “Kung effective lang talaga ang management ng waste at the barangay level, wala sanang problema sa basura (If waste management is just effective at the barangay level, there could’ve been no problem with wastes).”

She further noted that “Ang dapat atakehin ay ang behavior ng mga tao…lifestyle kasi ng mga tao ngayon is convenience kaya management po ang approach natin (People’s behavior should be tackled…since our lifestyle is now is focused on convenience, that’s why our approach for this is management).”

Datiles said that the problem with wastes is global but the solution must be local. His barangay was also once like Payatas, heavily faced with waste problems. “Inimplement lang po namin ang RA 9003 [Ecological Solid Waste Management Act] na sinuportahan din ng aming [Quezon City] LGU…may City Ordinance No. 1203 po kasi na nagbibigay incentives sa mga barangay na may maayos na solid waste management program (We just implement RA 9003 which is supported by our LGU…there is City Ordinance No. 1203 that gives incentives to the barangays that have good solid waste management programs),” he shared.

However, Arsenio clarified that ecobricks are just a temporary solution. “Ang ecobricks na isinusulong namin ay para lang sa gardening at low walls kaya hindi naman siya kakalaban sa Building Code (The ecobricks that we promote are only for gardening and low walls, that’s why it would not go against the Building Code),” she claimed.

This contrasts with Datiles’ version, “Nagpatest kami sa UP at pumasa naman ang strength ng aming ecobricks…at may mga contractor na bumibili sa amin (We underwent a test at UP and the strength of our ecobricks passed…and we already have contractors that buy from us).”

Serafin discussed that “Kung nagproduce po tayo ng wastes, saan po mapupunta iyon? Ang DENR ay sumusunod sa waste management hierarchy kung saan ang first preferred option po natin ay waste avoidance…nasa efficiency po ‘yan ng LGUs (If we produce wastes, where will they go to? The DENR follows the waste management hierarchy where the first preferred option is waste avoidance…its efficiency lies on the LGUs)” implying that waste-to-energy initiatives like incineration depends on the LGUs’ effectiveness in solid waste management.

Dr. Angelina Galang, Green Convergence President concluded that “We have to look into our individual actions…take it upon ourselves to make them (LGUs) do their job properly. Management is the thing. These options are all open to us but we have to choose what is doable.”

Now on its 29th year, Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum has become an institutionalized platform since March 1990 that enables NGO and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss pressing environmental issues in the country. This month’s forum is supported by Kamayan Restaurant EDSA with the assistance of the Forest Foundation Philippines.

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Calendar of Activities: March 2019

 

 

GC CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MARCH 2019
DATE
ACTIVITY
March 6-8

 

 

 Green Convergence Strategic Planning

 
March 12

 

 

 

 Tribute for Gani Serrano of PRRM

 

4:00 pm

Earth Day Network

Mother Ignacia Street cor. Dr. Lascano Street, Quezon City
March 12

 

 

 

 4th State of the Humanitarian System

 

1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Luxent Hotel, 51 Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Contact Person: Loreine dela Cruz, Center for Disaster Preparedness
March 13

 

 

 

 Kaliwa Dam Press Conference and NCR-based CSO Meeting

 

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice

1:00 PM-5:00 PM

Senyor Kumpadre, 117A Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City
March 14

 

 

 

 Partnership for Clean Air Board of Trustees Meeting

 

2:30 PM
March 15

 

 

 

 Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan Forum

 

Can we Cha-Cha our environment?

10:30 AM-2:00 PM

Kamayan Restaurant, Greenhills, EDSA, Mandaluyong City
March 18

 

 

 

 URGENT Initiative’s Strategic Planning

 

8:30 AM-5:00 PM
March 18

 

 

 

 Sustainable Forest Management Bill Meeting

 

3:00 PM

100 A. De Legaspi Street, Barangay Marilag, Project 4, Quezon City
March 26-27

 

 

 

 Reclamation Summit: Restore the Coasts, Protect the People

 

Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros, Manila

 

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Letter of Support for the Mangyan Communities

January 22, 2019

HON. ROY A. CIMATU
Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Dear Secretary Cimatu,

Isang makakalikasang pagbati!

We, participants of the Kamayan para sa Kalikasan Forum held last January 18, 2019 at Kamayan Restaurant on EDSA, echo the call of the Mangyans in Mindoro that they be involved in decision- making processes affecting their communities.

In 2015, when Typhoon Nona struck Mindoro, the towns of Naujan, Victoria and Baco suffered from massive floods and landslides. This resulted in loss of family members and sources of livelihood. It was later discovered that the negative impacts of the typhoon were worsened by the excessive blasting during the construction of a hydro power plant and its connecting tunnel by the Sta. Clara International Corporation. The blasting heavily deforested the area and weakened the rock substrate causing landslides and flooding.

Members of the communities including the Mangyans, insisted that mountain blasting was not agreed upon by involved stakeholders in the Memorandum of Agreement on the construction of the power plant. Asked by tribe leaders why this aspect of the agreement was invalidated, the corporation responded that it needed to meet certain deadlines; that mountain blasting was the faster method to finish the power plant’s construction.

While the local authorities have decided to halt the construction activities of the plant in 2016, a lot of damage and loss has already occurred. It will be hard for the affected communities to recover from the tragic experience. Therefore, we further support their appeal that community members be included in the monitoring of the rest of this project as well as other projects.

We call on your good office to review Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 and to uphold its provisions especially on “ensuring genuine exercise by Indigenous Cultural Communities of their right to Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC), whenever applicable” and on “protecting their rights in the introduction and implementation of plans, programs, projects, activities and other undertakings that will affect them and their ancestral domains to ensure their economic, social and cultural well-being.”

Indigenous peoples are crucial in the environmental struggle because they experience firsthand the dangers of the rapid destruction of the environment. We must learn from their perspective, they who live intimately with nature. Projects meant for development may ironically become tools for disasters and further lowering of people’s quality of life should they be implemented without consulting, engaging and involving all the stakeholders. Ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples means ensuring the integrity of the environment.

With DENR in the helm of protecting the environment, let us all work together towards the protection of our only home and the achievement of sustainable development!

Para sa kalikasan,

Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy

[distance1]Click the link below for the letter received by the DENR:
Letter of Support for the Mangyan Communities

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GC to PH gov’t: ‘Respect rights of IPs; no to false environmental solutions!’

Environmental coalition Green Convergence held “Landslides: Today’s Recurrent Nightmare,” at its monthly Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum. Resource speakers included Rodne Galicha of Climate Reality Philippines and Mangyan representatives from Mindoro Virgilio “Ka Mot” Bunsoy and Alangan tribe leader Librada “Ka Badang” Isidro. They discussed the current environmental situation of Mindoro and the disasters that it regularly experiences related to flooding and landslides caused by mining and mountainside blasting.

Galicha showed the rich biodiversity of Mindoro by presenting a map showing its key biodiversity and important bird areas. Unfortunately, when overlaid with the location of mining areas, it revealed overlaps causing many concerns for its natural landscapes. Citing the cause of recurrent massive landslides in the island, Galicha explained that in mining, drilling is done to know the mineral deposits undernealth; but it is common sense that if mountain blasting is added, landslide will naturally occur since one drilled hole can trigger other existing holes to cause a landslide.

Ka Mot said that mountain blasting in the island is currently being done to give way to the construction of the 8-MW Santa Clara hydro power plant project that will supply the island’s electricity needs; however, he pointed out that there was no mention of any mountain blasting in the Memorandum of Agreement among the Mangyan communities, the local government and the company in-charge of the hydro plant. When he verified this with the engineer in-charge, he was informed that mountain blasting is needed to finish the tunnel on its target deadline.

Aggravated by typhoon Nona in 2015, mountain blasting has caused several landslides forcing Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali Jr., to halt the project in 2016.  Mangyan leader, Ka Badang painfully recalls that when typhoon Nona struck, the river overflowed, flooding devastated their community.  Their crops were destroyed and 200 families in one community were left homeless.

“Ang lupa at bundok ay katumbas ng aming buhay. Ang bundok po, ito ay aming pinakabangko dahil dito kami kumukuha ng aming ikinabubuhay,” Ka Badang passionately shared how the IPs see nature during the 346th Kamayan Forum.

Angelina Galang, Green Convergence President, explained that a hydropower plant, though seemingly a better alternative to fossil fuels, may be a false solution when it is not appropriate to the ecology of the place. This is why it is essential to include the indigenous inhabitants in consultations and decisions because they intimately know the area.

Ka Badang recommended to consider solar power as an alternative source of energy for their area because of its relatively less environmental impact.  She also asked for legal support so they can easily voice out and stand for their rights over their ancestral lands.

“Landslides: Today’s Recurrent Nightmare,” was held last January 18, 2019 at Kamayan Restaurant, EDSA, Mandaluyong City. Now on its 29th year, it is the 346th forum of Green Convergence, institutionalized to provide a platform for civil society, government, and media to discuss pressing environmental issues of the country. This month’s forum is supported by Kamayan Restaurant EDSA with the assistance of Forest Foundation Philippines.

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Green Convergence’s Galang: “Update PH communal forest policy!”

Environmental Coalition Green Convergence held the 345th installment of the monthly Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum last December 21, 2018 at Kamayan Restaurant, EDSA, Mandaluyong City. Resource speakers included forester Amie Rabang of the Forest Management Bureau and Liberty Talastas-Bituin, a member of the indigenous people in the Cordilleras.  They discussed Communal Forest and the status of its implementation.

Rabang stated that “there are 649 assigned communal forests all over the Philippines designated through Memorandum of Agreements between LGUs and the DENR.”

“In our experience in the Cordilleras, several areas not declared as communal forests are sustainably developed that provides livelihood while sustaining the area’s ecological integrity,” asserted Talastas-Bituin.

Rabang declared that “most of the assigned communal forests are disestablished by the DENR because they no longer provide timber.” She further added that “communal forests were conceptualized in 1995 with the main objective of providing timber for the country.”

Talastas-Bituin emphasized that “it is important that LGUs should conduct regular consultative meetings with the communities in the formulation of forest management plans to effectively use and protect these forests.”

Rabang seconded and further explained that communal forests should be included in the land use plans of the local governments.

The Local Government Code grants local government units (LGUs) the right to plan and manage identified communal forests.  We also have the Community-Based Forest Management Program, where a production-sharing agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and participating people’s organizations (POs).  for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years provide tenurial security and incentives to co-develop, co-utilize and co-manage specific portions of forest lands (DENR Administrative Order No. 96-29).

Realizing that these programs need to be modified to be attuned to the current environmental situation Green Convergence President Angelina Galang concluded that “it is urgent that government updates its policy on communal forests to avoid misuse and overuse of these identified forest lands.” She further highlighted the importance and critical role of forests as mitigation and adaptation instruments to protect us from devastating effects of climate change.

Now on its 29th year, Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum has become an institutionalized platform since March 1990 that enables NGO and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss pressing environmental issues in the country. This month’s forum is supported by Kamayan Restaurant EDSA with the assistance of the Forest Foundation Philippines.

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10M in 10 recognizes partners in Negros Island

PIA, 7th January 2019 via BigNewsNetwork.com

DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 15 (PIA) — The 10 Million Trees in 10 Years for Greener Negros Movement (10M in 10) celebrated its 3rd year milestone by recognizing its partners in Negros Island who helped propagate trees over the last three years.

The 10M in 10 is a private-sector led movement that aims to inspire, unite, and encourage community stakeholders and the public to plant, grow, and protect 10 million years in 10 years in Negros Island.

Some 100 individuals from the local government units, national government agencies, academe, academe, business and private sector groups, and non-government organization sector participated in the activity held Dec. 12 at Perpetual Help Community Cooperative Inc., (PHCCI).

Energy Development Corporation (EDC) Senior Manager and Head of Reservior and Project Management Division Engr. Vicente Omandam and Green Convergence for Safe Food, Health Environment and Sustainable Economy President Dr. Angelina Galang, who were the special guests of the event, presented the plaques and certificates of recognition to 10M in 10 partners who were cited during the event.

The first award was given in recognition to the organization’s partners who planted more than 10, 000 trees this year.

The recipients were Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (DENR – CENRO) of Dumaguete City, DENR-CENRO of Cadiz City, City Environment and Natural Resources Office of Tanjay City, Mangrove Sea Grasses Vital Synergy, Cartronix and Logistics Transport Corp., New Bian Yek Commercial Inc., Protected Area Rangers of Tanjay City, Bacolod City Water District, National Irrigation Administration in Negros Occidental, Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Bago City, Municipal Agriculturist Office of Valencia, Negros Oriental, City Environment Management Office of San Carlos City, and the Local Government of Hinoba-an.

Also recognized were partners who were able to achieve at least 85 percent survival rate of their planted trees.

The recipients were Mr. Rene Vendiola, Mr. Eduardo Baptista, Bacolod City Water District, Barangay Unit of Atipulan and ENRO of Bago City, Negros Oriental State University, St. Paul University Dumaguete, Municipal Agriculturist Office of Sibulan, DENR-CENRO of Cadiz City, Barangay Unit of Pahanocoy, Dumaguete City Water District, ENRO of Sipalay City, ENRO of Tanjay City, Tanjay Protected Area Rangers, and Mosser Environment Corp.

In his message, Omandam congratulated the partners and cited the collaboration of different sectors in promoting a greener Negros and mitigating climate change.

“Through our continuous synergy, may we all be able to witness the improvement in the island’s ecosystems revitalize its biodiversity, and create communities that are resilient to the effects of climate change,” he said.

During the activity, 10 M in 10 Forest Restoration Management Officer Francis Dilig shared an update on the status of the program in Negros Island based on their Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) reports.

Based on the data he presented as of December 2018, there are already 40 sites with ME results.

Twenty-one of these are in Negros Oriental while the remaining 19 are in Negros Occidental.

Said figure translates to around 656 hectares of land covered by the greening program.

Twelve of these lands are privately-owned while the rest are government-owned.

Currently, there are 101 identified species of native, endemic, and exotic forest trees and fruit bearing trees planted in these sites.

The survival rate of these trees are pegged at 0 to 100 percent while the mean or the average survival rate is at 66.97 percent and the median or the middle value of the range of 82.5 percent.

Dr. Angelina Galang, the keynote speaker of the event, encouraged 10M and 10 Movement and their partners to pursue this initiative for sustainable development.

“I think the examples shared will be inspiring and will encourage people to plant trees. The spirit of healthy competition will encourage people to join the planting. If Negros will look into itself that you are doing something good, it will inspire other people,” Galang said. (ra/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

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Green Convergence exec bucks coal plants in Negros

By Mary Judaline Partlow  December 13, 2018, 6:55 pm via Philippine News Agency

DUMAGUETE CITY – The head of the Green Convergence, a coalition batting for safe food, healthy environment and a sustainable economy, is urging local government officials and the people of Negros to reject the entry of coal-fired power plants in the island.

“I hope the people will clamor that it should not proceed,” said Angelina Galang, Ph.D., the president of Green Convergence, in an interview on Wednesday here, referring to the application for the establishment of a coal-fired power plant in Negros Occidental.

According to her, Negros Island (comprising the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental) is rich with renewable sources of energy, and when complemented with efforts such as organic farming and massive greening/tree planting projects, it can become carbon negative in the future.

“Because coal is a big culprit in global warming, and you have renewable energy, so why go into coal?” she said.

And the whole Philippines can also go renewable, according to her, “because we have a lot of wind, solar, geothermal (power) and we have barely scratched the surface for solar,” she said.

Galang cited the 10 Million in 10 Years for a Greener Negros Movement (10M in 10) as a “big contribution” to the Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas emissions mitigation.

“It is very much a big contribution to bring down carbon emission, just as the other programs that I had also mentioned earlier,” she said, referring to organic farming, among others.

According to her, “fossil fuels are a contributor to climate change and global warming.”

“But by going geothermal and going solar, you are reducing your carbon source. And by planting trees, you are increasing your carbon sink,” she said.

“I don’t know if Negros might already be (carbon) neutral because you are emitting less and absorbing more. Meaning you are contributing more to solving the problem than being part of the problem,” she added.

Galang was the key speaker during the 3rd year anniversary celebration of the private sector-led 10M in 10, with the geothermal power leader Energy Development Corporation as its proponent, in ceremonies held in Dumaguete.

She also congratulated Negros Oriental for its firm stand in opposing coal plants in the province. (PNA)

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Global warming, ‘urgent concern’ – Green Convergence

Environmental Coalition Green Convergence held the 344th installment of the monthly Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum about the 1.5°C Special Report on climate change of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on November 16, 2018 (Friday) at Kamayan Restaurant, EDSA, Mandaluyong City.

“The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C, or more,” explained Prof. Leoncio Amadore from the UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology.

He explained that even the mere 0.5°C rise in global temperatures in the past 50 years had serious negative impacts to our survival. He said, “[It] has contributed to shifts in the distribution of plant and animal species, decreases in crop yields and more frequent wildfire.”

A 1.5°C or 2°C rise is much worse. Amadore exclaimed, “Coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas virtually all would be lost with 2°C.”

Rodne Galicha, Living Laudato Si Philippines Convener called for the public to not support corporations that contribute to the worsening of the global climate, including those that produce massive wastes, invests in coal power, and destructive mining.

“We must divest for sustainability and invest in our common home,” stressed Galicha.

On the other hand, Father Pete Montallana, President of Save Sierra Madre Network and now also Convener of the URGENT Initiative shared that Filipino households should be educated to contribute in lessening the impacts of and eventually slowing down global warming.

“A Carbon-Neutral Philippines by the year 2030 through committed Ecological Filipino families,” Montallana mentioned as the Initiative’s main goal.

Green Convergence President Dr. Angelina P. Galang called for everyone to be proactive on the impacts of global warming and to participate in actions to slow it down.

Since March 1990, Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan Forum has become an institutionalized platform that enables NGO and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss pressing environmental issues in the country. This month’s forum is organized by Green Convergence and is supported by Kamayan Restaurant EDSA with the assistance of the Forest Foundation Philippines.

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