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.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
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.
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