The Philippines joins the rest of the globe in celebrating World Environment Day on Wednesday (June 5)with a renewed commitment to fight air pollution, which is one of the leading causes of death in the country.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)—leads this year’s local celebration that carries the theme “#BeatAirPollution.” The agency has also lined up activities for the observance of Philippine Environment Month this June.

This year’s World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month aim to encourage people to understand air pollution, its effects on health and the environment, and to take action to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.

In 2018, the World Health Organization reported that air pollution is causing about 120,000 deaths in the Philippines every year, placing the country third in the world in terms of mortality rate brought about by such pollution.

Air pollution causes deaths through diseases such as lung cancer, stroke, pulmonary disease and acute respiratory infections like pneumonia.

To tackle air pollution, the Philippines—through the DENR—has been implementing Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, a comprehensive policy and program that aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos while minimizing the possible associated negative impacts on the country’s economy.

The DENR also monitors the compliance of firms and industries to the law, operationalizes the multi-agency Airshed Governing Boards across the country, and maintains air quality monitoring stations nationwide.

In celebration of the Philippine Environment Month, the EMB has launched the “Gusto Naminng MalinisnaHangin” mask challenge, where the public is urged to create and use face mask made from recyclable materials.

The face mask-making contest, which runs from May 29 to June 21, calls for entries in the form of a photo or video not exceeding 30 seconds with accompanying caption on how to reduce air pollution.

Entriesmay be submitted to the EMB Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/denrenvibureau/. There will be ten winners who will each get an exclusive invite to the KANTALIKASAN Album launch and a gift cheque worth P1,000.

On June 27, the EMB will hold an Environment Fair in a mall in Quezon City. The whole-day event will feature ZumVironment, a free zumba session for environmental advocates and the public.

There will also be an exhibit on air pollution and health, film showing and a youth lecture/forum.

The EMB will also launch the “KANTALIKASAN” album consisting of 10 environmental songs, which won the song writing competition held last year. All songs were interpreted by the KANTALIKASAN Singing Ambassadors.

First celebrated in 1974, the World Environment Day is used as a vehicle by the United Nations to raise awareness and encourage action for the protection of the environment.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Environment Month is celebrated every June by virtue of Proclamation No. 237 issued in 1988. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 04 June 2019

Nanawagan si Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu sa lahat na tumulong upang mapangalagaan at hindi malipol ang lahi ng nanganganib na Philippine eagle na sumisimbolo sa pagkakakilanlan ng ating bansa.

“As an endemic species, the Philippine eagle already serves as a global heritage that requires concerted efforts of the international community for conservation,” sabi ni Cimatu kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng Philippine Eagle Week (PEW) ngayong Hunyo 4 hanggang 10.

Ayon kay Cimatu, ang naging desisyon ng bansa na magkaroon ng “loan” sa isang pares ng Philippine eagle sa Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) ay isang magandang simula upang mailigtas ang lahi ng naturang ibon.

Kamakailan ay lumagda ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at WRS sa makasaysayang “wildlife loan agreement” kung saan ay aalagan sa Singapore ang mga agilang sina Geothermica at Sambisig. Kaugnay nito, nakaalis na patungong Singapore sina Geothermica at Sambising kanina (Hunyo 4).

“Sending Geothermica and Sambisig to Singapore is a historical milestone and a tangible indication that the international community is needed in the protection and conservation of the Philippine eagle, the country’s national bird and crown jewel of biodiversity,” sabi pa ni Cimatu.

Ang dalawang agila ay mananatili sa Jurong Bird Park na kilala bilang malaking bird park sa Asia kung saan namamahay ang 3,500 ibon mula sa 400 uri habang dalawampung porsiyento sa mga ito ay nanganganib na ang lahi.

“With millions of tourists flocking at the Jurong Bird Park, where our Philippine eagles will live, we are bringing them closer to the international community in the hopes of encouraging international attention and support for their conservation,” anang pa ng kalihim.

Sa pamamagitan ng Proclamation No. 79, ang PEW ay ipinagdiriwang tuwing Hunyo 4 hanggang 10 kada taon. Layunin nito na mapataas ang kamalayan ng bawat isa kung ano ang halaga ng Philippine eagle sa ating kapaligiran at bilang simbolo ng ating bansa.

Ang tema ngayong taon para sa pagdiriwang ng PEW ay ang “The Philippine Eagle: A National Symbol, A Global Treasure”.

“Let this year’s PEW celebration instill in the minds of Filipinos the significance of our national bird and the desire of our nation to rise and soar like this national treasure,” dagdag pa ni Cimatu.

Ang Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) na kilala bilang isa sa malaking agila kung ang pag-uusapan ang haba at ang lapad ng pakpak nito ay itinuturing na “critically endangered” base na rin sa International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List kasama rin ito sa “Threatened Species”na nakapaloob sa Administrative Order 2004-15 ng DENR.

Tinatayang aabot na lamang sa 400 pareha ang populasyon ng Philippine eagle at ang itinuturong dahilan sa pagkaubos ng kanilang lahi ay ang paghuli sa mga ito at pagsira sa kanilang tahanan.

Bilang bahagi ng isang linggong pagdiriwang ng PEW ay magkakaroon ng free public screenings ng award-winning documentary na pinamagatang “Bird of Prey” mula Hunyo 3 hanggang 12 sa Quezon City at Mindanao.

Mapapanood ang dokumentaryong ito sa UP Town Center sa Hunyo 3; SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier, Hunyo 4; KCC Mall de Zamboanga sa Hunyo 6; Robinsons Place Butuan, Hunyo 7; Robinsons Place General Santos City sa Hunyo 10 at SM City Davao sa Hunyo 12.

Magkakaroon din ng learning event na tinawag na “Keep Them Wild” sa Hunyo 8 sa Quezon City na pinagtulungang idaos ng The Caring Cup of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Biodiversity Finance Initiative, Faber-Castell Philippines, Haribon Foundation at ng Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) ng DENR. Ang kikitain dito ay ibibigay sa Wildlife Rescue Center na gugugulin naman sa pagpapaayos at paglalagay ng bagong kulungan ng mga hayop.

Maaaring matutunan ng mga kabataan na may edad na 5 hanggang 14 sa kaganapang ito ang paggawa ng artwork na ang gamit na subject ay ang Philippine eagle.

Magkakaron din ng parehas na aktibidad mula Hunyo 5 hanggang 11 sa tatlong barangay sa Manolo Fortitch sa Bukidnon, Butuan City at Davao City kung saan ang mga kabataan na miyembro ng indigenous communities ang magiging kalahok. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 04 June 2019

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu called for a concerted global effort to prevent the critically endangered Philippine eagle—a national treasure symbolizing the country’s identity—from becoming extinct.

“As an endemic species, the Philippine eagle already serves as a global heritage that requires concerted efforts of the international community for conservation,” Cimatu said as the nation celebrates Philippine Eagle Week (PEW) on June 4-10.

Cimatu said the country’s decision to loan a pair of Philippine eagle to Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) makes a good starting point for bringing the efforts to save the iconic raptor to a global scale.

Barely two weeks after the historic wildlife loan agreement was signed between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and WRS, Philippine eagles Geothermica and Sambisig are scheduled to leave for Singapore on June 4.

“Sending Geothermicaand Sambisig to Singapore is a historical milestone and a tangible indication that the international community is needed in the protection and conservation of the Philippine eagle, the country’s national bird and crown jewel of biodiversity,” Cimatu said.

The two raptors will be staying at Jurong Bird Park, the largest bird park in Asia that is home to close to 3,500 birds across 400 species, of which 20 percent is threatened.

“With millions of tourists flocking at the Jurong Bird Park, where our Philippine eagles will live, we are bringing them closer to the international community in the hopes of encouraging international attention and support for their conservation,” the environment chief pointed out.

PEW is observed from June 4 to 10 of every year by virtue of Proclamation No. 79 issued in 1999. The declaration hopes to promote awareness about the importance of the Philippine eagle as a biological indicator of the forest ecosystem, a national symbol and a unique heritage.

The theme for this year’s PEW celebration is “The Philippine Eagle: A National Symbol, A Global Treasure.”

“Let this year’s PEW celebration instill in the minds of Filipinos the significance of our national bird and the desire of our nation to rise and soar like this national treasure,” Cimatu said.

Known as the largest of the extant eagles in the world in terms of length and wing surface, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophagajefferyi) is listed as a “critically endangered” raptor in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List and the country’s National List of Threatened Species under DENR Administrative Order 2004-15.

Wild population of the species throughout the archipelago remains precarious with an estimated number of least 400 pairs. Hunting and loss of forest habitat remain the primary threats to its survival.

As part of the week-long celebration, there will be free public screenings of “Bird of Prey,” an award-winning documentary about the Philippine eagle, from June 3 to 12 in Quezon City and across Mindanao.

The documentary will be shown in UP Town Center on June 3, SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier on June 4, KCC Mall de Zamboanga on June 6, Robinsons Place Butuan on June 7, Robinsons Place General Santos City on June 10, and SM City Davao on June 12.

The Caring Cup of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, in partnership with Biodiversity Finance Initiative, Faber-Castell Philippines, Haribon Foundation and the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau, is holding a learning event called “Keep Them Wild” on June 8 in Quezon City. The proceeds of the event will be donated to the Wildlife Rescue Center for the construction and maintenance of new animal enclosures.

Designed for schoolchildren from 5-14 years old, the event will provide the kids the opportunity to learn and apply the basic techniques in creating an artwork using the Philippine eagle as the subject.

A similar activity will be held from June 5 to 11 in three barangays in Manolo Fortitch in Bukidnon, Butuan City and Davao City with youth from indigenous communities in those areas as participants. #

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Published: 02 June 2019

Efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay and its tributaries received another much-needed boost after the Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) committed to clean up Manila’s filthiest esteros that flow into Pasig River and ultimately into Manila Bay.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently forged a five-year partnership deal with MPIC for the cleanup of 20 dirtiest esteros that drain into Pasig River, under the DENR’s Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body program.

The water bodies covered by the DENR-MPIC accord are Esteros de Vitas, San Lazaro, Kabulusan, Magdalena, Binondo, Dela Reina, Sampaloc, San Sebastian, San Miguel, Valencia, Uli-uli, Paco, Pandacan, Tanque, Balete, Provisor, Concordia, Sunog Apog, San Antonio Abad and Quiapo.

The partnership was sealed through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu and MPIC president and CEO Jose Ma. Lim.
According to Cimatu, the DENR-MPIC collaboration is a continuation of the battle cry for Pasig River: “rehabilitating a river, restoring life and reviving the pride.”

“Together, we will continue to clean every estero, assess their water quality and identify sources of pollution,” Cimatu said during the MOU signing held at the DENR central office in Quezon City.
“We will take appropriate actions against establishments discharging untreated wastewater to prevent them from further poisoning these waterways,” he added.

For his part, Lim assured that the MPIC—through its subsidiary Maynilad Water Services Inc.—“remains fully committed to protecting the environment.”
“Upon acknowledging the objective of the DENR to promote stewardship among the private sector, MPIC is set to assist government agencies in improving the water quality parameters of the country’s water bodies,” Lim added.

Under the MOU, the MPIC agreed not only to fund the rehabilitation and water quality assessment of the adopted esteros, but also spearhead the mobilization of neighboring schools and communities for the cleanup activities.

The diversified conglomerate also assured that Maynilad will fast-track the rehabilitation of its sewer lines, intensify the connection of domestic and non-domestic customers to the existing sewerage network, install collector pipes and easements, and conduct information and education campaigns related to proper wastewater treatment and disposal.

The DENR, on the other hand, will provide the MPIC with all the relevant data for the conduct of the water quality assessment study, issue the necessary permits and approvals to enable the MPIC and Maynilad to perform their responsibilities, and take appropriate action against violators within the adopted esteros.

Established in 2010, the Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body is a flagship program of the DENR in response to the continuing mandamus of the Supreme Court for all concerned agencies to clean up Manila Bay, including all waterways that drain into it.

The program, which was eventually replicated in other parts of the country, is a collaborative undertaking among the estero community, the donor-partner, concerned local government units, the DENR and other government agencies. ###

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Published: 30 May 2019

Outgoing local executives who have failed to implement the environmental laws are not yet “off the hook.”

This was stressed today by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny Antiporda, following the issuance of cease-and-desist orders (CDOs) to 10 hotels and restaurants found polluting Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palawan.

El Nido is one of the country’s tourism hot spots undergoing massive rehabilitation along with Boracay and Manila Bay.

“There are only a minimal number of local government units who followed the instruction to temporarily revoke the mayor’s permit of violators, that’s why there is a need to show some force on irresponsible local executives,” Antiporda said.

According to Antiporda, the response of local government to temporarily suspend the mayor’s permit of erring establishments in their respective political jurisdiction once the DENR has submitted its lists of violators is crucial to prevent further contamination of waterways.

“We’re expecting full support coming from our local government once we have submitted our lists of violators in their respective areas. We expect them to act by temporarily suspending the mayor’s permit so as to prevent the wastewater discharge from contaminating our waterways,” Antiporda said.

Last week, the DENR-Region 4B issued CDOs to El Nido Sea Shell Resorts and Hotel in Brgy. Buena Suerte; Doublegem Beach Resort and Hotel, Buko Beach Resort, Panorama Resort (Mangonana Inc.), Four Seasons Seaview Hotel, and Stunning Republic Beach Resort, in Brgy. Corong-corong; and Sava Beach Bar/Sava Nest Egg Inc., El Nido Beach Hotel, and The Nest El Nido Resorts and Spa, Inc. in Brgy. Masagana for violation of the Clean Water Act.

Antiporda clarified, however, that the enforcement of the Clean Water Act applies not onlyon the establishments in Palawan, but in all parts of the country.

It is on this light that the DENR official is calling on the local government units to act immediately on establishments issued with CDOs by the DENR by temporarily cancelling their permitsto compel them comply with environmental laws and avoid further degradation of the environment.

“If the outgoing officials still have the chance to prove their worth to their constituents before they leave, then they should do it. Otherwise, we will file cases against them if they have neglected their duty to enforce environmental laws” Antiporda said.

According to Antiporda, once the establishments are found discharging wastewater not in accordance with prescribed standards, he said both the sources of water and of the discharge will be sealed, but said this cannot be done without the action from the local government. ###

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Published: 23 May 2019