As the nation joins the rest of the world in observing Earth Day today, April 22, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu urged Filipinos to pause and reflect on the most pressing ecological problems facing the world today and think of what they can do to save the planet.

“We have an obligation to take care of this planet we all share and Earth Day is a great time to start thinking more about the environment and all the little things we can do to make the world a better place,” Cimatu said.

Over one billion people in more than 190 countries were expected to take part in the celebration of the 49th anniversary of Earth Day, making it the largest civic observance in the world. This year’s theme is “Protect Our Species.”

Cimatu said the Earth Day 2019 theme is a reminder that keeping the planet from destruction also means actively working on slowing down the decline of the country’s threatened and endangered species such as the Philippine monkey, flying lemur, giant flying fox and tarsier.

He said this is indeed timely as the country just witnessed series of law enforcement operations that resulted in massive seizures of live wild animals and arrest of wildlife criminals—proof that the Philippines remains steadfast on its commitment to fighting illegal wildlife trade that is driving endangered species to the brink of extinction.

According to Cimatu, protecting the environment is not the sole responsibility of the government because the general public, too, must also do their part.

He noted that there are simple ways people can help to protect the environment like conserving water and energy, patronizing cleaner fuel or taking public transport, and practicing proper waste management.

“Being more environmentally conscious is the right thing to do. Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle could help create a sustainable planet and mitigate the effects of climate change and global warming,” Cimatu said.

The local celebration of Earth Day 2019 will be held on April 24 and 28. The first one will take place at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City with DENR and Earth Day Network Philippines Inc. (EDNPI) organizing the event.

Several activities are lined-up for the event, including the signing of an agreement for tree planting activities between the DENR and Couples for Christ; launching of the search for model barangays and “green” corporations; on-the-spot painting and poster-making contests; and Earth Day festival bazaar and exhibit.

On April 28, the DENR—together with EDNPI and National Bicycle Organization—will conduct a bike parade, inter-faith prayer rally, advocacy fair, and concert in Obando, Bulacan, where one of the 17 principal river systems leading to Manila Bay is located.
Simultaneous river clean-up activities will be conducted in barangays Binuangan, Pag-asa, Salambao, and Tawiran. ###

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Published: 22 April 2019

Hiniling ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu sa mga Filipino na mag-isip ng wasto kung paano makatutulong sa pagsalba ng mundo sa kinahaharap nitong ecological problems kasabay ng pakikiisa ng bansa sa pagdiriwang ng Earth Day nitong Lunes (Abril 22).

“We have an obligation to take care of this planet we all share and Earth Day is a great time to start thinking more about the environment and all the little things we can do to makethe world a better place,” sabi ni Cimatu.

Ang pagdiriwang na ito ay tinawag na “largest observance in the world” dahil mahigit isang bilyong katao sa 190 bansa ang nakiisa sa paggunita sa 49 th Earth Day na may tema ngayong taon na “Protect Our Species”.

Ayon kay Cimatu, ang tema ng Earth Day 2019 ay nagpapaalala sa ating lahat na protektahan ang mundo at isalba ang posibleng pagkaubos ng mga endangered species tulad ng Philippine monkey, flying lemur, giant flying fox at tarsier.

Aniya, napapanahon ito matapos ang dalawang matagumpay na operasyon na nagresulta sa pagkakakumpiska ng mga live wild animals at pagkakaaresto sa mga wildlife criminals na nagpapatunay lamang na pursigido ang Pilipinas sa paglaban sa illegal wildlife trade.

Sinabi pa ni Cimatu na hindi mag-isang responsibilidad ng gobyerno na protektahan ang kapaligiran dahil kinakailangan din ang pakikiisa ng bawat isa upang maging matagumpay ang mithiing ito.

Dagdag pa ng kalihim, maraming paraan upang makatulong ang publiko sa pagprotekta sa ating kapaligiran katulad na lamang ng pagtitipid ng tubig at kuryente, pagtangkilik sa
malinis na langis, gumamit ng public transport at sumunod sa tamang paraan ng pagtatapon ng basura.

“Being more environmentally conscious is the right thing to do. Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle could help create a sustainable planet and mitigate the effects of climate
change and global warming,” ani Cimatu.

Gaganapin ang lokal na selebrasyon ng Earth Day 2019 sa Abril 24 at 28. Ang isa sa pagdiriwang na ito ay idaraos sa Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center sa Quezon City na may temang Tayo ang Kalikasan na pangungunahan ng Earth Day Network Philippines Inc. (EDNPI).

Iba’t-ibang aktibidad ang nakalinya tulad ng paglagda sa kasunduan para sa tree planting activities sa pagitan ng DENR at Couples for Christ; paglulunsad sa paghahanap ng model barangays at “green” corporations; on-the-spot painting and poster making contests at ang Earth Day festival bazaar and exhibit.

Sa darating na Abril 28 ay magiging kabahagi ng DENR ang EDNPI at ang National Bicycle Organizations sa gaganaping bike parade, inter-faith prayer rally, advocacy fair at
concert sa Obando, Bulacan kung saan matatagpuan ang isa sa 17 principal river system na dumadaloy patungo sa Manila Bay.

Sabay-sabay ding magsasagawa ng clean-up activities sa mga barangay ng Binuangan, Pag-asa, Salambao at Tawiran. ###

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Published: 22 April 2019

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now requiring all establishments within the Manila Bay region to connect to existing sewer lines or set up their own sewerage treatment plants (STP) to ensure that wastewater is properly collected and treated according to DENR standards.

This latest requirement is contained in Memorandum Circular 2019-01 recently issued by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, who chairs the inter-agency Manila Bay Task Force in charge of rehabilitating the heavily polluted water body.

The circular covers all government facilities, subdivisions, condominiums, commercial centers, hotels, sports and recreational facilities, hospitals, market places, public buildings, industrial complex and other similar establishments.

Under the circular, these establishments were required to either “connect to existing sewerage systems or to construct individual STPs.” 

“The Manila Bay region covered by the circular encompasses the entire bay coastline of 190 kilometers and the total drainage area of about 17,540 square kilometers across Regions III, IV-A and the National Capital Region,” the DENR chief said.

Cimatu said the circular was pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Administrative Order No. 16, entitled “Expediting the Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem of the Manila Bay and creating the Manila Bay Task Force.”

Last January 27, the DENR launched the three-phase rehabilitation dubbed as “Battle for Manila Bay” where over 10,000 people joined a massive cleanup activity on Roxas Boulevard in Manila and other parts of the Manila Bay region.

More than two months since the launch, the DENR and the Laguna Lake Development Authority have already issued hundreds of notices of violation and cease and desist orders to establishments found to have violated RA 9275 and other pertinent environmental laws. 

Prior to the start of the rehabilitation, fecal coliform level in Manila Bay was at 330 million most probable number (mpn).  The standard set for swimming is at 100 mpn/100ml.

The DENR targets to restore the quality of waters of Manila Bay to Class SB level to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving and other forms of contact recreation. ###

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Published: 21 April 2019

Oobligahin ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang lahat ng establisiyamento sa paligid ng Manila Bay na gumamit ng sewer lines o gumawa ng sarili nilang sewerage treatment plants (STP) upang matiyak na makukuha ng maayos at malilinis ang kanilang wastewater base narin sa ipinatutupad na pamantayan ng ahensiya.

Ito ang nakasaad sa Memorandum Circular 2019-01 nainilabas ni DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu na namumuno sa binuong inter-agency Manila Bay Task Force na siyang nangangasiwa sa rehabilitasyon ng naturang baybayin.

Sakop ng circular ang lahat ng government facilities, subdivision, condominiums, commercial centers, hotels, sports and recreational facilities, hospitals, marketplaces, public buildings, industrial complex at iba pang katulad na establisiyamento.

Nakapaloob sa kautusan, ang mga establisiyamento ay kinakailang ang kumonekta sa mga sewerage systems o kaya naman ay gumawa ng kanilang sariling STPs para sa kanilang wastewater.

“The Manila Bay region covered by the circular encompasses the entire bay coastline of 190 kilometers and the total drainage area of about 17,540 square kilometers across Regions III, IV-A and the National Capital Region,” ayonsa DENR chief.

Aniya, ang circular ay nakabase sa mga probisyon ng Republic Act 9275 o ang Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 at sa Administrative Order No. 16 na inilabas ni Pangulong Rodrigo Dutertena may titulong “Expediting the Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem of the Manila Bay and creating the Manila Bay Task Force”.

Nitong Enero 27 nang inilunsad ng DENR ang tatlong bahagi ng rehabilitasyon natinawag na “Battle for Manila Bay” kung saan ay umabot sa mahigit 10,000 katao ang nakiisasa cleanup na ginanap sa Roxas Boulevard sa Manila at iba pang bahagi ng Manila Bay region.

Matapos ang mahigit dalawang buwan na ng ilunsad ang rehabilitasyon ay nakapag-isyu na ang DENR at ang Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) ng daan-daang notices of violations at cease and desist orders sa mga establisiyamento na napatunayang lumabag sa RA 9275 at iba pang environmental laws.

Bago simulan ang rehabilitasyon ay umaabot sa 330 million most probable number (mpn)/100 ml. ang fecal coliform level sa Manila Bay at ang standard para sa swimming ay 100 mpn/100ml.

Hangarin ng DENR na maibalik sa Class SB level ang tubig sa Manila Bay upang magamit ito sa swimming, skin-diving at iba pang klase ng contact recreation. ###

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Published: 21 April 2019

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has removed an illegally installed drainage pipe it discovered within El Nido’s “no-go” beachfront zone.

The pipe, which was found discharging black and foul-smelling liquid directly into Bacuit Bay, was traced to Outpost Beach Hostel located in Barangay Corong-Corong. The establishment had been previously issued a notice of violation by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (DENR) for releasing wastewater beyond effluent quality standards.

DENR Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado ordered the immediate removal of the sewage pipeline, which measured six inches in diameter and six meters in length, after its source was traced to a chamber of the hostel.

The excavation site has since been filled with sand, with the end of the cut pipe left open for further sampling and analysis by the EMB.

Adornado said the hostel’s use of hidden sewage line showed “blatant disregard for the environment” and was a clear violation of the Water Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree 1067, and Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

“We have no choice but to prevent them from further degrading nature. They are putting the lives of tourists and residents in danger as they continue to pollute Bacuit Bay,” he said.

Paul Sepulveda, a co-owner of Outpost Beach Hostel, admitted that they owned the pipe.

Using a ground penetrating radar, the DENR and its the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) have been conducting since March 18 a survey along the coastal areas of El Nido to detect buried waste pipelines.

“You cannot hide them (pipes) forever. We will eventually uncover them so we advise you to remove your illegal sewage lines and comply with the laws for your own good,” MGB Regional Director Roland de Jesus said, as he advised other establishments in the area to learn from the Outpost Beach Hostel experience to avoid interruption in their operations.

Meanwhile, EMB Regional Director Michael Drake Matias reminded the residents and business owners that Bacuit Bay was being eyed as a Water Quality Management Area, which would need complete cooperation from all stakeholders to improve and maintain its water quality.

“We shall be conducting regular water sampling and analysis not only to Outpost Beach Hostel but also to other establishments to ensure that they do not discharge untreated waste water into Bacuit Bay,” he said.he EMB is set to investigate further for other sources of wastewater discharge aside from the hostel.

Since efforts to restore one of Palawan’s famous beach and diving destinations started last year, the DENR central and Mimaropa offices have been more aggressive in enforcing environmental laws and addressing woes such as encroachment on easement zones and presence of high coliform levels in Bacuit Bay. ###

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Published: 21 April 2019