Pensioners need not visit GSIS for annual renewal of active status

By: Hazel F. Gloria

Cebu City, April 14 (PIA) — Old-age and survivorship pensioners are no longer required to visit the GSIS on their birth month for their yearly re-activation of their status.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) revokes its Annual Renewal of Active Status (ARAS) policy to its more than 300,000 old-age and survivorship pensioners recently.

GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara said, this is an initiative that is part of the continuing efforts of the new Board to provide more responsive service to its members and pensioners.

Pensioners living abroad, however, will still be required to renew their active status via video call or through the use of skype, a  web-based software that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet free of charge. 

 “We don’t want to impose unnecessary hardship on our pensioners especially those who are very sick and who have difficulty moving around,” Vergara explained.

The GSIS reached an agreement with the National Statistics Office to determine the status of GSIS pensioners in lieu of the annual renewal requirement, Vergara added. (PIA-7/HFG)

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DENR-7 holds environmental management dialog today

By: Hazel F. Gloria

Cebu City, April 14 (PIA)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) in Central Visayas organize a Regional Green Advocates Forum: An Intersectoral Dialogue today, April 14 at Sarrosa International Hotel, Mabolo, Cebu City .

DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said 100 participants from the various public and private sectors are expected to attend the activity.

The environmental dialog is part of the Earth Day 2011 celebration with the theme, ‘Earth Day Everyday”, Dichoso added.

Dichoso stated that there is a meaningful and constructive dialogue among business sectors, local government units, academe, media and other stakeholders to enhance areas of cooperation or collaboration along environmental protection.

Dichoso explained there is a need to strengthen and deepen the strategic partnerships with these sectors as we try to get updates by leveling-off functions and initiatives among different groups on environmental management in Region 7 as well as the DENR programs.

There will be plenary sessions on recent updates of the programs and projects and initiatives of EMB, DENR sectors, concerned national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), civic and religious groups, academe, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, media and the youth, this is learned.

There will be updates on the regional state of the environment and the status of implementation of the thrust and mission of each sector concerning or relating to the environment.

Presentations on air quality, water quality, toxic chemical and hazardous wastes, solid wastes, and environmental impact assessment.

According to DENR-7, there will be workshops to identify the priorities and concerns for 2011 onwards using the reference roadmap for sustainable development offered by the United Nations.

Other topics include protected areas, wildlife and coastal zones, forest management, and geo-hazard mapping.

At the end of the dialog, participants will sign a ‘commitment for the next steps’ to ensure that existing green programs and initiatives are sustained and sharing of lessons learned will be adopted, Dichoso concluded. (PIA-7/HFG with data from Ed Llamedo of DENR-7)

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E.O. 23 is not total log ban, DENR clarifies
By Eli C. Dalumpines

Cebu City,  April 13 (PIA) – The moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of naturally grown timber as contained in Executive Order No. 23 is not a total logging ban, clarified an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in the region. 

Regional Technical Director for Technical Management Services of DENR 7 Isabelo Montejo, in an AGIO forum recently, informed that the ban covers only logging operations within the area classified as natural growth and residual forests.

Montejo said logging companies and wood processing plants can still harvest trees grown under the existing forestry agreements or contracts such the Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMA), Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreements (SIFMA) and the Community-based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA).

Under E.O. 23, the DENR is prohibited from issuing logging contracts or agreements as well as in issuing or renewing tree cutting permits in all natural and residual forests except those that are intended for clearing road right of way by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or those that are going to be used as site for tree plantations.

However, all logs derived from the said cutting permits will be turned over to the DENR for proper disposal.

The DENR is, likewise, mandated to review and evaluate all existing IFMAs, SIFMAs, CBFMAs and other forestry agreements and contracts and see if they are not engaged in logging activities within the prohibited areas.

Those who are found to have violated the order will have their contracts or agreements cancelled.  Montejo, however, noted that logging companies whose Timber License Agreements (TLAs) are still in effect are allowed to dispose the logs they cut prior to the issuance of E.O. 23 but are advised to closely observe the ban to engage in logging activities in prohibited areas as stipulated in the order. (PIA 7/ECD)

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EMB-7 chief says coal dust not harmful
By Eli C. Dalumpines

Cebu City, April 14 (PIA) – Coal dust is not hazardous to health contrary to popular belief, said Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) Regional Director Engr. Allan C. Arranguez  during a media forum  at PIA recently.

His statement came to assure residents living near the site of the Korean Electric Power Corp.-Salcon Power Corp. (Kepco-SPC) in Naga City, Cebu that earlier expressed apprehensions that the sickness their children suffered lately may have been caused by the coal dust from Kepco’s impounding area.

According to Arranguez, the coal dust generated by Kepco during its coal unloading operations does not pose danger to the health of anyone living near the plant.

He also informed the public that the recent tests the EMB-7 conducted on the coal ash samples in Kepco showed that the level of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and mercury contents in the samples taken are still below the standard set by R.A. 6969, the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Act.

Any liquid by-product of coal ash that happens to seep into the ground water is not also harmful, Arranguez further clarified. 

There were reports of fish kill near the site of the power plant which prompted EMB-7 to conduct water testing but results showed that the toxicity and acidity level of the wastewater discharges of the plant is not harmful either to the marine biodiversity.

Director Arranguez, however, assured the public that his office will continue to monitor Kepco if it strictly complied with the mitigating measures set by the local government, in coordination with EMB-7. (PIA-Cebu/ECD).

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MGB-7 to conduct coastal geo-hazard mapping in CV

By: Hazel F. Gloria

Cebu City, April 14 (PIA)--The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) through its Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) in Central Visayas is now ready for coastal geo-hazard mapping with specific attention on the impacts of the rising sea level due to climate change.

MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo said his office is now conducting coastal geo-hazard mapping on the region’s 201 priority coastal barangays.

In Cebu province, the target priority coastal areas are located in Sibonga, Carcar, San Fernando, Naga City, Minglanilla, Talisay City and Cebu City.

In Negros Oriental, these are located in Vallehermoso, Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalaud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Tanjay, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan, Dumaguete City, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboangita, and Siaton.

“We will conduct coastal geo-hazard assessment and mapping of 201 priority coastal barangays in a map scale of 1:10,000 in the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental, Alburo stated.

The coastal geo-hazard mapping provides important details or information as to which coastal areas or shorelines experience erosion or are prone to erosion.

 “To prepare for more responsive risk reduction plans and programs on these areas and other climate change mitigating and adaptation measures,” Alburo said.

Alburo explained that coastal erosion is a result of a number of geologic, oceanographic and atmospheric factors, including the relative sea level rise due to climate change.

However, the rise of sea level can also result from man-made activities, he clarified.

Beach resorts and other infrastructure constructed along coastal areas are those that are most likely affected by erosion due sea level rise, Alburo said.

Among the environmental changes that will be looked into under the project include the erosion and accretion or sedimentation of shorelines.

Among the parameters the MGB sets in determining the priority areas to be covered by the project include the area’s inherence to vulnerability, average rainfall, wind surges affecting the area, and the number of population in the coastal area, among others, this is learned.

MGB is expected to come up with a coastal geo-hazard map that would include details such as the number of hectares of eroded coastal areas; the rate of erosion and accretion in a certain area; as well as identification of coastal areas vulnerable to erosion. (PIA-7/HFG with data from MGB-7)