DOUBLE CRIME: Death of a forest and a forest officer By racquel m. caldez

A real tragic drama

Late night on February 7, a gunman barged into the office in Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Sanchez Mira town. He made his way to one of the rooms and got in through an open door. He paced in and shot in the chest of the 46-year old forest management specialist Melanie Dirain. Still unsatisfied, he made his way back to the room and made sure he slain the victim with another shot. Dirain sustained several gunshot wounds from a 45-caliber pistol.

The murderer, who overlooked missed to shoot a fellow employee of the lady officer, walked out of the office and left the settlement the way he came in.

Secure with Security Systems?

                This is caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera. But ironic that law enforcement agencies still have little leads on Dirain’s assailant because his face was not easily identifiable as his head was partly covered by a hood.

In this event, we learn that security systems are not a guarantee for security. And only brave steps bring end to these crime acts.

Double Crime

Authorities said Dirain’s killing could be job-related and those behind it could be linked to illegal logging activities in Cagayan. 

If the cause is the forester’s handing in the confiscation of some thousands of board feet of hot logs from Cagayan, then the perpetrators committed another crime... an environmental crime. Forests are under threat from cutting down the trees without permission. Illegal logging is a crime and is bad for people’s rights.

We all thought that curtailing illegal logging may seem relatively simple. We hire more forest officers to conduct patrols, strengthen fines, prosecute cases, and implement better tracking systems. And it is heartbreaking that the foresters and protectors who stand in the way of illegal loggers are the ones silenced through killings.

Condemns the crime

The sheer cruelty of this cold-blooded killing should have provoked furious condemnation from those unequivocally opposed to the targeting of foresters and protectors of nature.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources leads in strongly condemning the appalling attack to the forestry specialist and calls the government to act in order to bring those responsible individuals to trial.

The DENR has set aside P200,000 as reward for whoever could give information leading to the arrest of the killer. In fact, Director Benjamin Tumaliuan said that the CIDG has also taken a step by bringing the CCTV footage to Manila for visual enhancement and reproduced copies of the image of the gunman and posted it in all DENR offices in Cagayan Valley and neighboring regions.

How about us?

Do we need to be a forester to do our job of protecting Mother Earth? So what do we need to do to combat illegal logging? We are the consumers. We therefore need to buy certified sustainable timber and paper products. Let us close the door on illegally logged wood to enter our markets and homes. We need to keep acting together. We bring justice to the death of Forestry Specialist Melanie Duruin... We need to bring justice and end to the environmental crime committed against our trees... our forest... our Mother Earth.

BROADCASTREEING by racquel m. caldez

“We all have a role to play in taking care of nature so that nature can take care of us.”  And so broadcasters in this light are not exempted.

It is definitely known that broadcasters are individuals who work in either radio or television as they are responsible for passing along pertinent information. They can also deal in a variety of subjects such as news, music, entertainment and more.

But at this juncture, the broadcasters were able to break away from their broadcasting board works and spearhead a different and worthwhile undertaking of tree planting. It is so wonderful that at the same time, Mirriam Webster dictionary defines “broadcast” as a means to sow over a wide area, especially by hand. And it is just proper that the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) merged “broadcasting” and “tree planting” to come up with a creative project “Oplan Broadcastreeing”.

 

OPLAN BROADCASTREEING

A project “Oplan Broadcastreeing” is designed to address the growing problem on environmental destruction and as broadcasters’ way of supporting the government, particularly on its National Greening Program (NGP) embodied in Executive Order No. 28, a priority program of President Benigno S Aquino III.

 

In Isabela, Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) provincial chapter President Alvin M. Alivia directed the said project, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Military, Philippine National Police, volunteer student planters and other groups associated with KBP.

 ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIORS

What makes the project more significant is the day it was implemented. In the aftermath of the devastation brought about by the typhoon Pedring and Quiel, the country’s broadcasters turned themselves into environment warriors with a nationwide, simultaneous tree-planting activity. As members of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), they braved the stormy weather and pushed through with “Oplan Broadcastreeing” planting a thousand tree seedlings.

They braved their way to show love to nature and to show their commitment to protect the nature. They were able to put into action their mission of contributing in their environmental concern advocacy.

WHAT’S NEXT?

After they’ve worked so hard to get their tree in the ground, what’s next? A tree correctly planted and well cared for will provide many benefit for years to come. Though trees grow on their own, they do need a lot of care and concern initially. It will only cause a loss of time and effort when the trees planted will have an undesirable results. And we are very sure that the broadcasters’ project includes nurturing the tree seedlings they planted. There is a need to ensure the sustainability and survival of the planted trees.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Environmental protection is regarded as the most pressing social responsibility. The task of environment protection is a universal responsibility of all of us. So it is relevant that broadcasters took personal responsibility for the care of the environment. It is very significant that they took action so that they'll be able to pass on something to the next generation.

We are at this point in time of desperate need for action to protect our natural resources. And it is more common to hear that part of what we can actually do to help is to plant a tree. It seems like such a simple thing to do.  But the truth is; every tree makes a difference to better the earth.

Trees have always played an important part in people's lives, from providing shade and maintaining the beauty of the place. With the trees planted now by the broadcasters, they are giving the future generations the chance to enjoy, too, the beauty of the flowering and fruit bearing trees.

And trees are not just a beautiful creature standing among the many places of this world. It is very essential that directly ensures our survival.  Yes, planting trees save lives.  And so the broadcasters save lives. Every tree makes a difference.  That means every broadcaster who planted a tree also made that difference. 

In this way, the broadcasters are making an important gesture to the world in demonstrating their global concern and at the same time making their own little but significant, contribution to the protection of nature.

Rescued philippine eagle in Isabela needs rehabilitation by racquel m. caldez

ILAGAN, Isabela – The rescued Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) that is currently under the custody of Mayor Edgar T. Go in San Mariano,Isabela will undergo initial steps towards rehabilitation process.

The eagle will be transferred to a larger cage to regain flight skills and where other rehabilitation procedures will be performed.

Environment Head in Isabela William C. Savella said the DENR Field Office in Region 2 has available facility to accommodate the eagle.

Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) stated in her letter sent to the Mayor of San Mariano that the bird has to undergo a rehabilitation process prior to the release aimed at regaining the bird’s wild behavior such as hunting skills, flight and fear of humans.

Dir. Lim recommended the eventual release of the eagle back to its natural habitat preferably in capture site.

PENRO Savella divulged that the eagle which was rescued by a Dumagat in Sitio Diwagao, Dinapigue had undergone medical assessment by a veterinarian of the PAWB in Quezon City and discovered that the bird is under stress as indicated in the presence of “stress marks”.

Dr. Rizza Araceli Salinas, a veterinarian of the PAWB in Quezon City who undertook medical assessment of the eagle, revealed that the feathers of the captured 5 kilograms female eagle has stress bars and that the bird’s red and white blood cells counts are found within the normal range.

PAWB Staff of the DENR Central Office mentioned during the conduct of medical check-up that the Philippine Eagle is already tame because of its passive response to human presence.

The PAWB Director has initially contacted the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to provide telemetry device to track the bird and ascertain its survival in the wild.

A team composed of DENR Region 02 and PAWB personnel will be conducting a site assessment in the area where the eagle was captured and will be released eventually.

The Eagle is globally recognized as threatened species. Capture and possession of threatened wildlife is strictly prohibited under Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

BOOK "EARTHSAVERS VIEWPOINT" LAUNCHING

PENRO fetes stakeholders in Isabela for the success of the agency’s programs

ILAGAN, Isabela – The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in this town honored recently the stakeholders in Isabela for their unquantified and unsolicited support to the various programs of the DENR such as re-greening of the environment, clean up of rivers and waterways, tree planting, implementation of ecological solid waste management as well as in the other concerns of the agency relative to forest protection.

Among the awardees during the Culminating Program of the Environment Month Celebration on June 29 are Local Government Officials, Peoples’ Organization, youth, media practitioners, Philippine National Police, military, private and business entities.

PENRO Isabela has decided to culminate its celebration of the Environment Month by giving out recognition awards to almost 50 exemplary partner-stakeholders at the DENR Pinaroc Hall here.

Jollibee Shell in Santiago City, Cauayan Grains Center, Spring Garden Resort, NE Santiago City, Gatioan Hotel Resort & Bowling were adjudged as the Most Environment Friendly Food Chain, Resort, Ricemill, Hotel, and Restaurant, respectively while LGU Echague was awarded for its political will and commitment in the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9003 which resulted to massive seggregation at source.
Environment workers recognized environmentalists and advocates who were partners in the environmental protection and development for the impact of their unparalleled and dedicated contribution to communities and consistency in their performance.



PENRO William C. Savella thanked the stakeholders for collaborating with the DENR in caring the Mother Earth.

“We really need some great help from you…. our constituents, our peers, our successors. The gospel of environmental protection is waiting to be brought forth, so be with us in caring for our treasured surroundings that shall be shared and enjoyed not only by us but likewise for the future generation”, Savella said in his closing message.

The Environment Month celebration with the theme “Isang Planeta+Samu’t saring Buhay=Isang Kinabukasan” was highlighted with the distribution of seedlings to recipients who attended the program, information dissemination on how to plant trees, documentary film showing of Isabela and DENR Profile.#RMCaldez

SFC students, teachers attend Environmental Symposium by rmcaldez

Almost 300 students, teachers and school employees of Saint Ferdinand College (SFC) in Ilagan attended a 1-day Symposium on Environmental Awareness held at the St. Ferdinand College Gymnasium as part of the Ocean Month Celebration with this year’s theme: “Protecting our Seas: Saving our Lives, Saving our Future”.
In order to spread the message to the public particularly the youth who could help in conserving, protecting and sustainably managing the ocean resources, a symposium was conducted to increase the students’ appreciation of the importance of the ocean and to encourage them to contribute to on-going efforts as well as initiate action.
Lecturers from the Regional and PENRO Isabela offices discussed their topics with the aid of powerpoint presentation. Open forum was moderated every after topic to provide an understanding of the diverse and broad aspects within contemporary global issues and to enable students to think globally. This knowledge based on a particular specialty is imperative to help students respond to global issues.
PENRO Forestry Specialist Arnold D. Frogoso tackled the issue on Climate Change while Forester Enrique Pasion discussed the topic on Managing Coastal Ecosystem. Forester Dionisio Deundo lectured on the Unique Biodiversity of the Philippines and Ms. Jamelita Flores of the Regional Office explained the Philippine Marine Ecosystem.
Reflecting about environmental issues, student/teacher participants from SFC learned about global issues particularly on environment.
The symposium for the ocean month celebration was conducted highlighting the conservation, protection and sustainable management of the Philippine Coastal and Ocean resources as integrated in the different lectures to provide students with tools to develop skills needed for succeeding in the program, how to implement them, exploring ways to apply immediate action especially with regard to feasible solution in which everyone can participate.
May has been declared as “Ocean Month” in the Philippines through Presidential Proclamation No. 57 by former President Fidel V. Ramos. The Proclamation states that all relevant national agencies, local government units and other government agencies spearhead the observance

Plant TREES launched by racquel m. caldez

TUMAUINI, Isabela – Foundation for Sustainable Socitiety, Inc. (FSSI), Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTCF), Peace and Equity Foundationl (PEF), Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) with the support of the European Commission in partnership with the Provincial Government of Isabela, DENR, Local Government Units (LGUs) of San Mariano, Tumauini, and Ilagan launched recently the project “Plant TREES” Plant Towards Rainforestation and Eco-Enterprise in Sierra Madre at the Camp Samal in this town.
The project launching dubbed as Integrating Forestry and Local Governance with Sustainable Enterprise in Isabela aims to contribute towards the improvement of local governance towards sustainable forest management and poverty reduction in the province of Isabela. Specifically, it seeks to strengthen structures and multi-sector cooperation in the municipalities of Ilagan, San Mariano and Tumauini and also to improve the rural poor’s socio economic conditions through access to sustainable non-farm and farm-based livelihoods and enterprises in the community while ensuring sustained community-based forest protection initiatives.
Different related topics were discussed with video presentation, Highlighting the occasion is the signing of Solidarity Wall and Messages from the DENR Regional Executives, local officials of Tumauini, San Mariano and Ilagan towns.
Institutionalizing development support in local governance, strengthening communities in sustainable enterprise, capacity development on forest protection and enforcement are the project components.
On forest rehabilation and restoration, a 50-kilometer stretch of biofencing within the critical areas in buffer zones of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park will be set-up. Technical research will also be conducted and a 10-hectare area of community rainforestation for each municipality will be established.#