Climate Change/Environment

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Mindanao bishops have joined the initiative for the government to hold mining firms accountable for the environmental and social impacts of the industry.

Bishops Cerilo Casicas of Marbel and Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan said that mining-affected communities never had an effective way to hold mining firms accountable.

TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato  - Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-12) Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Ma. Socorro C. Lanto graced the ceremonial lighting of the 100 feet Christmas tree made of recyclable materials in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Speaking during the event, Lanto said that RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is one of the 10 point socio-economic agenda of DENR.

KORONADAL CITY  – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-12) and partner agencies conducted on Saturday a “run for a cause” in the city in a bid to strengthen awareness on proper was disposal.

Dr. Sabdullah C. Abubacar, DENR-12 regional executive director, led the program as part of the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

ISULAN, SULTAN KUDARAT – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12 has distributed 397 land titles to beneficiaries here on Friday morning, September 27.

The land titles were distributed through the DENR’s "Handog Titulo" program, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat (SK) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

GLAN, Sarangani -  Multi-stakeholders exemplify private-public partnership in a coastal cleanup as Department of Environment and Natural Resources DENR - Community Environment and Natural Resources Office CENRO Glan with stakeholders led the holding of the International Coastal Cleanup ICC which carries the theme: Battle for Litter – Free Seas”, September 21 in Glan town.

KORONADAL CITY – In a bid to protect the remaining population of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) from hunting, loss of habitat and other threats, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is taking some steps for the declaration of an estimated 25-hectare site in Barangay Mabuhay, General Santos City as a critical habitat for this largest bat in the world.

A DENR composite team conducted a rapid habitat assessment of large flying fox roosting on trees in Nopol Hills located in Barangay Mabuhay.

SARANGANI - Six hundred seventy-eight Chinese Sparrowhawks and one Crested Honey Buzzard were sighted yesterday, September 19, by the Raptor Monitoring Team of the Sarangani Province's Environmental Conservation and Protection Center (ECPC) during their annual monitoring of migratory raptors at Brgy. Rio del Pilar, Glan town.

According to ECPC, birds from neighboring countries such as Japan, Taiwan and China migrate to Indonesia during autumn season in search for suitable living areas.

BASILAN --- Officials want soldiers deployed in abandoned Abu Sayyaf camps in Sampinit Complex in the province to help protect tropical rainforests along stretches of a new highway in the area.

Gov. Jim Salliman said Saturday he even want the Western Mindanao Command to put up an Army brigade headquarters in the Sampinit Complex in the center of Basilan province.

Salliman said they are now planning to make the timberlands and watersheds in the area converted to protected wildlife sanctuaries.

KORONADAL CITY - A Rofuos Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax was turned-over by a concerned citizen to Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) Tacurong City, of Isulan Sultan Kudarat on August 28 at 2:24 in the afternoon.

GLAN, Sarangani – Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Soccsksargen region and partner marine environmentalists said Sunday that hundreds of mammals were spotted in Sarangani Bay (SarBay) from August 13 to 16.

Dr. Sabdullah C. Abubacar, DENR-12 regional executive director, said he learned during the 4-day 3rd Quarter Monitoring was conducted in the coast of Sarangani and in the towns of Maasim, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan in Sarangani that rare sea mammals visited SarBay.