President Gibo Teodoro Wows Mati Employees.
(from L-R: Yaying Dimpas, Annie Uy, Aloma Serafin, Gibo Teodoro, Roger Lemente)
(from L-R: Yaying Dimpas, Annie Uy, Aloma Serafin, Gibo Teodoro, Roger Lemente)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Eagles "Cabu" and "Aya" breed anew at Mat! Sanctuary
Jayson Ibanez, PEF Research Coordinator
Field expeditions by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and DENR in 2008 and 2009 at the eagle sanctuary in Mati City confirmed breeding activities by a Philippine Eagle pair fondly called Cabu" and "Aya" by the coastal community of Cabuaya in Davao Oriental.
The eagle couple was already nursing an eaglet in November 2008. PEF biologists spotted the young bird as it was flying above the rugged forests at The southern end of the Agustin Peninsula- In expeditions that followed, (he juvenile eagle was seen performing practice aerial maneuvers, flapping from tree to tree and doing a few spiral ascents over rising hot air above deep gorges. Based on its features, flight patterns, and the breeding schedule for Philippine Eagles, the eaglet is about a year old.
In the last field monitoring trip, the young eagle was seen being fed by its mother with a huge flying lemur, the eagle's prime food in Mindanao. In January, like a jet plunging from high, the female swooped across the mountain towards the loudly begging eaglet. After a quick food transfer and a brief cruising flight above the nest, the female soared and disappeared among the clouds.
Researchers first found the Cabuaya eagle territory in 1995 after the young eagle "Kalayaan" was rescued I here- But it wasn't till 2003 when an eagle nest bearing a cotton-white chick was found. The following year, Cabuaya officials banned farming and residency within a 1 kilometer radius of the nest tree and gave the eagle couple their pet names-They also christened the 2003 eaglet "Cabuaya".
To further secure the eagle couple, their future eaglets, and their forest home, Mat! City officials installed a 7,000-hectare protected sanctuary, crafted a five-year sanctuary management plan, and allotted a" annual funding of Php 1,000,000.00 for livelihood support, education, research and habitat protection. Mati has submitted an application with the DENR for the recognition of the sanctuary as a Philippine Eagle "critical habitat" which will elevate the status of the sanctuary to a national protected area.
'Along with similar initiatives by Davao City, BIslig City, Pantukan and Tarragona, Mali City's conservation investment is a milestone in the preservation of our national bird, which is also one of the world's most threatened bird species. Since Philippine laws devolved the protection of forests and wildlife to the local governments, these municipalities and local governments have emerged as our local conservation champions" said Dennis Salvador, PEF Executive Director "We hope that all the other local government units along the eagle's range will do the same," Salvador added,
"The Philippine Eagle's status in our forests reflects the city’s environmental health and Cabu and Aya's new eaglet indicates a greener future for all Matinians, We are very happy that our efforts are already working" said Michelle Rabat, Mayor of Mati City.
PEF and DENR are now at the Mati Sanctuary to catch the eagles and mount satellite and radio transmitters on them. By tagging the eagles with these tracking; devices, both PEF and DENR hope to monitor the birds and ensure their safety,
PFF need extra transmitters and funds for public education 50 eagle pairs and their young elsewhere in Mindanao can be closely tracked and protected from danger. For inquires on how you can help, please contact PEF through tatit@philippineeagle.org or 082-271-2337.
Field expeditions by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and DENR in 2008 and 2009 at the eagle sanctuary in Mati City confirmed breeding activities by a Philippine Eagle pair fondly called Cabu" and "Aya" by the coastal community of Cabuaya in Davao Oriental.
The eagle couple was already nursing an eaglet in November 2008. PEF biologists spotted the young bird as it was flying above the rugged forests at The southern end of the Agustin Peninsula- In expeditions that followed, (he juvenile eagle was seen performing practice aerial maneuvers, flapping from tree to tree and doing a few spiral ascents over rising hot air above deep gorges. Based on its features, flight patterns, and the breeding schedule for Philippine Eagles, the eaglet is about a year old.
In the last field monitoring trip, the young eagle was seen being fed by its mother with a huge flying lemur, the eagle's prime food in Mindanao. In January, like a jet plunging from high, the female swooped across the mountain towards the loudly begging eaglet. After a quick food transfer and a brief cruising flight above the nest, the female soared and disappeared among the clouds.
Researchers first found the Cabuaya eagle territory in 1995 after the young eagle "Kalayaan" was rescued I here- But it wasn't till 2003 when an eagle nest bearing a cotton-white chick was found. The following year, Cabuaya officials banned farming and residency within a 1 kilometer radius of the nest tree and gave the eagle couple their pet names-They also christened the 2003 eaglet "Cabuaya".
To further secure the eagle couple, their future eaglets, and their forest home, Mat! City officials installed a 7,000-hectare protected sanctuary, crafted a five-year sanctuary management plan, and allotted a" annual funding of Php 1,000,000.00 for livelihood support, education, research and habitat protection. Mati has submitted an application with the DENR for the recognition of the sanctuary as a Philippine Eagle "critical habitat" which will elevate the status of the sanctuary to a national protected area.
'Along with similar initiatives by Davao City, BIslig City, Pantukan and Tarragona, Mali City's conservation investment is a milestone in the preservation of our national bird, which is also one of the world's most threatened bird species. Since Philippine laws devolved the protection of forests and wildlife to the local governments, these municipalities and local governments have emerged as our local conservation champions" said Dennis Salvador, PEF Executive Director "We hope that all the other local government units along the eagle's range will do the same," Salvador added,
"The Philippine Eagle's status in our forests reflects the city’s environmental health and Cabu and Aya's new eaglet indicates a greener future for all Matinians, We are very happy that our efforts are already working" said Michelle Rabat, Mayor of Mati City.
PEF and DENR are now at the Mati Sanctuary to catch the eagles and mount satellite and radio transmitters on them. By tagging the eagles with these tracking; devices, both PEF and DENR hope to monitor the birds and ensure their safety,
PFF need extra transmitters and funds for public education 50 eagle pairs and their young elsewhere in Mindanao can be closely tracked and protected from danger. For inquires on how you can help, please contact PEF through tatit@philippineeagle.org or 082-271-2337.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Government’s Bureaucratic Bottleneck
Antonio V. Osmena
SUNSTAR Davao
February 26, 2009
A GOVERNMENT bureau is created as a response to a specific problem.
In its early stages, a vigorous, small agency with dynamic leadership makes progress. But as it grows, its effectiveness and sense of mission decline.
Eventually the agency can become so large, complex and rigid that it chokes on all the highly specialized rules and regulations it has created.
More energy and money are then used to keep the agency operating, while it puts out less useful work and, sometimes, creates more problems than solving any.
As an example, many government regulations are necessary to protect the environment and consumers from abuse by a private industry.
However, most observers agree that the number and complexity of government regulations can and should be reduced.
Government officials know that most industries which are being regulated have teams of lawyers that will go through laws
and regulations to find even the tiniest loophole that will allow these industries to circumvent the intention of the law.
Most of the blame for overregulation lies with Congress. Because of bureaucratic overspecialization, government has become an enormous organism composed of separate cells of experts, often remote from the people, unable to see the overall picture, competing rather than cooperating with one another, and incapable of dealing with the multiplicity of
interlocking problems that characterize society today.
Another problem is that an overspecialized bureau becomes more concerned with its own survival than with its mission. Some are even taken over by the groups they are supposed to regulate.
To illustrate, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 under chapter 11 Institutional Mechanism established under Section 4 of the National Solid Waste Management Commission.
The commission is composed of 14 members from the government sector, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, the Metro Manila Development Authority, league of governors, league of city mayors, league of municipal mayors, league of barangay councils, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Philippine Information Agency and three private sector representatives.
The private sector representatives include a member of the recycling industry and the manufacturing or packaging industry.
The commission also includes the establishment of a National Ecology Center.
The act also established the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board and City and Municipal Solid Management Board.
A multi-purpose cooperative and association will also undertake activities to promote the implementation of projects in every local government unit (LGU).
The law is very comprehensive and was approved and signed by President Arroyo on Jan. 26, 2001.
But until today, not much has been done to implement it, specifically the provincial solid waste management boards, city and municipal solid waste management boards.
Observers are also concerned about the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which was approved and signed by Arroyo on March 2, 2004 but still needs to be effectively implemented and gradually devolved to the LGUs.
Observers have pointed out that most attempts at bureaucratic reforms are ineffective, temporary or both.
New reforms which have been suggested to address bureaucracy include (1) providing more effective protection and higher rewards for “whistleblowers” who expose fraud and waste in government, (2) enacting and strictly enforcing sunset laws, under which government agencies and programs are evaluated periodically and eliminated unless they can be shown to be necessary, effective and efficient, (3) turning more of the national tax revenues directly to the LGUs, (4) streamlining the procedures for dismissal, (5) overhauling the evaluation and merit raise system and (6) giving LGUs more authority over spending of national grants.
SUNSTAR Davao
February 26, 2009
A GOVERNMENT bureau is created as a response to a specific problem.
In its early stages, a vigorous, small agency with dynamic leadership makes progress. But as it grows, its effectiveness and sense of mission decline.
Eventually the agency can become so large, complex and rigid that it chokes on all the highly specialized rules and regulations it has created.
More energy and money are then used to keep the agency operating, while it puts out less useful work and, sometimes, creates more problems than solving any.
As an example, many government regulations are necessary to protect the environment and consumers from abuse by a private industry.
However, most observers agree that the number and complexity of government regulations can and should be reduced.
Government officials know that most industries which are being regulated have teams of lawyers that will go through laws
and regulations to find even the tiniest loophole that will allow these industries to circumvent the intention of the law.
Most of the blame for overregulation lies with Congress. Because of bureaucratic overspecialization, government has become an enormous organism composed of separate cells of experts, often remote from the people, unable to see the overall picture, competing rather than cooperating with one another, and incapable of dealing with the multiplicity of
interlocking problems that characterize society today.
Another problem is that an overspecialized bureau becomes more concerned with its own survival than with its mission. Some are even taken over by the groups they are supposed to regulate.
To illustrate, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 under chapter 11 Institutional Mechanism established under Section 4 of the National Solid Waste Management Commission.
The commission is composed of 14 members from the government sector, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, the Metro Manila Development Authority, league of governors, league of city mayors, league of municipal mayors, league of barangay councils, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Philippine Information Agency and three private sector representatives.
The private sector representatives include a member of the recycling industry and the manufacturing or packaging industry.
The commission also includes the establishment of a National Ecology Center.
The act also established the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board and City and Municipal Solid Management Board.
A multi-purpose cooperative and association will also undertake activities to promote the implementation of projects in every local government unit (LGU).
The law is very comprehensive and was approved and signed by President Arroyo on Jan. 26, 2001.
But until today, not much has been done to implement it, specifically the provincial solid waste management boards, city and municipal solid waste management boards.
Observers are also concerned about the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which was approved and signed by Arroyo on March 2, 2004 but still needs to be effectively implemented and gradually devolved to the LGUs.
Observers have pointed out that most attempts at bureaucratic reforms are ineffective, temporary or both.
New reforms which have been suggested to address bureaucracy include (1) providing more effective protection and higher rewards for “whistleblowers” who expose fraud and waste in government, (2) enacting and strictly enforcing sunset laws, under which government agencies and programs are evaluated periodically and eliminated unless they can be shown to be necessary, effective and efficient, (3) turning more of the national tax revenues directly to the LGUs, (4) streamlining the procedures for dismissal, (5) overhauling the evaluation and merit raise system and (6) giving LGUs more authority over spending of national grants.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Failure to Spread Wealth Hinders RP – World Bank
By Michelle V. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 13, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 13, 2009
The World Bank said the Philippines reproduction program was hampered by the failure to spread the benefits of economic growth from rich cities to poorer parts of the country
In its 2009 World Development Report, the bank urged Philippine officials to correct the situation through the appropriate policies and more equitable public investments.
The bank said that in the Philippines and other middle income countries, economic development was highly concentrated in a few urban areas.
Indermit Gill, director of the World Development Report and World Bank's chief economist for Europe and Central Asia, said growth in the Philippines was highly concentrated in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and a few cities like Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Many provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao significantly lagged behind, he said.
Gill said the disparity in the quality of social services and infrastructure between advanced and middle-income countries like the Philippines was blatant.
If only the rural areas enjoyed the same quality of services and infrastructure that richer ones had, then investments could be spread out, the report said.
"Economic activities will remain concentrated in a few dues, but policymakers could ensure the convergence of living standards across the country through carefully designed policy and public investments in social services like health, education, housing and social protection in both urban and rural areas," said Gill.
The World Bank economist, however; said the government should not discourage the entry of investments in urban areas and should in fact facilitate them. But he stressed that poorer provinces should be made equally attractive for investors via increased spending in education, social services and sanitation.
Bert Hofman, World Bank country director for the Philippines, said in a press conference yesterday one way to achieve "economic integration" was for the national government to revise the way internal revenue allotments for local government units (LGUs) was determined.
Currently, 40 percent of the national government's internal revenue collections are allocated to LGUs. Of the amount, 23 percent goes to provinces, 34 percent to municipalities, 23 percent to cities, and 20 percent to barangays. Details of the sharing among local governments belonging to the same category, say municipalities, are based on population size and land area. The bigger the population and land area, the bigger the IRA from the national government.
Observers said one problem with this system of computing the IRA was that the population was highly concentrated in rich cities, and so these got a bigger share of the national government revenues.
The World Bank said the Local Government Code should be amended to have the IRA computed based on actual need, not on population size.
"Poorer ones should be given more, and richer cities should have less IRA, if not none at all," Hofman said.
In its 2009 World Development Report, the bank urged Philippine officials to correct the situation through the appropriate policies and more equitable public investments.
The bank said that in the Philippines and other middle income countries, economic development was highly concentrated in a few urban areas.
Indermit Gill, director of the World Development Report and World Bank's chief economist for Europe and Central Asia, said growth in the Philippines was highly concentrated in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and a few cities like Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Many provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao significantly lagged behind, he said.
Gill said the disparity in the quality of social services and infrastructure between advanced and middle-income countries like the Philippines was blatant.
If only the rural areas enjoyed the same quality of services and infrastructure that richer ones had, then investments could be spread out, the report said.
"Economic activities will remain concentrated in a few dues, but policymakers could ensure the convergence of living standards across the country through carefully designed policy and public investments in social services like health, education, housing and social protection in both urban and rural areas," said Gill.
The World Bank economist, however; said the government should not discourage the entry of investments in urban areas and should in fact facilitate them. But he stressed that poorer provinces should be made equally attractive for investors via increased spending in education, social services and sanitation.
Bert Hofman, World Bank country director for the Philippines, said in a press conference yesterday one way to achieve "economic integration" was for the national government to revise the way internal revenue allotments for local government units (LGUs) was determined.
Currently, 40 percent of the national government's internal revenue collections are allocated to LGUs. Of the amount, 23 percent goes to provinces, 34 percent to municipalities, 23 percent to cities, and 20 percent to barangays. Details of the sharing among local governments belonging to the same category, say municipalities, are based on population size and land area. The bigger the population and land area, the bigger the IRA from the national government.
Observers said one problem with this system of computing the IRA was that the population was highly concentrated in rich cities, and so these got a bigger share of the national government revenues.
The World Bank said the Local Government Code should be amended to have the IRA computed based on actual need, not on population size.
"Poorer ones should be given more, and richer cities should have less IRA, if not none at all," Hofman said.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Joey Ayala - Agila
How I wish I'll see again Joey Ayala's rock-opera "Sa Bundok ng Apo" (1982).
AGILA
Joey Ayala
Nais kung lumipad tulad ng agila
At lumutanglutang sa hangin
Magkaroon ng pugad sa puso ng kagubatan
Ngunit ito ay panaginip lang at maaring di matupad
‘Pagkat ang kagubatan ay unti-unting nawawala
Mga puno nito’y nangingibang bayan
At ‘pag walang puno wala na ring mapupugaran
Kapag ang agila’y walang pugad
Wala na siyang dahilang lumipad
Oh haring ibon, hari kung tunay
Nais kung tumulong ng kaharian mo’y muling mabuhay
Kung nais mong makakita ng agila
H’wag kang tumingala’t tumitig sa langit
‘Pagkat ang mga agila nitong ating bayan
Ang iba’y nabihag na
Ang natitira’y bihirang magpakita
Tiniklop na nila ang kanilang mga pakpak
Hinubad na nila ang kanilang mga plumahe
At sila’y nagsipagtago sa natitirang gubat
Ang lahi ba nila’y tuluyan ng mawawala
Oh haring ibon, hari kung tunay
Nais kung tumulong ng kaharian mo’y muling mabuhay (2X)
Joey Ayala
Nais kung lumipad tulad ng agila
At lumutanglutang sa hangin
Magkaroon ng pugad sa puso ng kagubatan
Ngunit ito ay panaginip lang at maaring di matupad
‘Pagkat ang kagubatan ay unti-unting nawawala
Mga puno nito’y nangingibang bayan
At ‘pag walang puno wala na ring mapupugaran
Kapag ang agila’y walang pugad
Wala na siyang dahilang lumipad
Oh haring ibon, hari kung tunay
Nais kung tumulong ng kaharian mo’y muling mabuhay
Kung nais mong makakita ng agila
H’wag kang tumingala’t tumitig sa langit
‘Pagkat ang mga agila nitong ating bayan
Ang iba’y nabihag na
Ang natitira’y bihirang magpakita
Tiniklop na nila ang kanilang mga pakpak
Hinubad na nila ang kanilang mga plumahe
At sila’y nagsipagtago sa natitirang gubat
Ang lahi ba nila’y tuluyan ng mawawala
Oh haring ibon, hari kung tunay
Nais kung tumulong ng kaharian mo’y muling mabuhay (2X)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Philippine Eagle
Photograph by: Klaus Nigge, National Geographic March 2008The Philippine Eagle’s Precarious Existence
The Philippines, the only country where this species exists, has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. Over 90 percent of primary forest has already been lost, hindering the eagle’s survival. Though hunting the bird is now illegal, the government has been trying to attract investors and may favor mining interests over preserving the eagles’ habitat, which often overlaps with targeted mining sites.
Such activities change the environment in ways that also affect humans. In recent decades a series of devastating floods and mud slides as well as an increase in river siltation have taken a toll on both the Philippine human population and the region’s biodiversity.
Certain conservation measures are already in place to help protect the comparatively scant number of surviving eagles. Legislation has been passed to prohibit hunting and protect nests, as well as to survey the birds’ habitat, create public-awareness campaigns, and step up captive breeding. The bird inhabits the protected areas of the northern Sierra Madre Natural Park on Luzon and Mt. Kitangland and Mt. Apo Natural Parks on Mindanao.
Conservationists and the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) are also trying to increase awareness of the eagle’s plight. The government of Mati and the PEF recently established the 17,300-acre Cabuaya Forest as a protected area for the eagle. Dennis Salvador, PEF executive director, says, “We are working to establish six more areas in the eastern Mindanao corridor area within the next two years.”
Advocates for the eagle are also raising awareness through educational lectures and visits to the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City, Mindanao. Thousands of visitors come each year to learn about this raptor.
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