Two persons in jail for cutting trees without permit
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, October 4 (PIA) --- Two persons were now detained at Cebu City Jail after they were caught cutting and gathering trees without permit and collecting by-products within a protected area in Sitio Kuagtingon, Sudlon II, Cebu City.
This violation is under Section 14 of Republic Act (RA) 9486 or the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) Act. Cutting and or gathering of planted and naturally grown trees in protected areas are prohibited and considered illegal.
The two individuals who were detained on September 27 with Criminal Case No. CBU-93896 were Timoteo Borres, 50, married; and Richard Borres, 18, single.
The team that arrested them was composed of CCPL Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Ariel Rica and Kantipla Ecosytem Enhancement and Protection (KEEP) Foundation Project-in-Charge Cristituto Ruasa.
In their affidavit, Rica and Ruasa said that while they were conducting a roving inspection on September 25 and upon reaching Sitio Kuagtingon, Sudlon II they caught in the act certain Timoteo Borres and Richard Borres cutting different species of trees using sharp bolos without any authority from DENR and made an excavation on the land purposely to make the cut trees into charcoal.
According to their report 36,509.30 board feet of mahogany, gemelina, iba-iba, molave and other indigenous tree species were cut down with a market value of PhP 886,699.00.
DENR-7 regional executive Director Maximo Dichoso said they have been strictly monitoring and patrolling within the CCPL area so that the despoilers of the environment will be prevented from desecrating our remaining forests in Cebu.
“DENR-7 needs the cooperation and support of the various stakeholders in implementing our programs to protect our forests not only to prevent calamities, but also to preserve biodiversity, protect threatened habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species, and to allow for the natural regeneration of residual forests,” Dichoso explained.
It may be recalled that President Aquino issued Executive Order 23 which declares a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests of the entire country and creates the anti-illegal logging task force.
The intention of President Aquino in creating the said EO is to uphold our intergeneration responsibility to protect the environment and to prevent further destruction wrought by natural disasters.
“We will enforce our mandate to apprehend persons who may be found violating certain environmental laws, rules and regulations,” Dichoso added.
A fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Five hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) and/or imprisonment from one year but not more than six years shall be imposed upon any person violating certain provisions of RA 9486.
To futher protect the forests from the protected areas, then DENR secretary Antonio Cerilles and General Tiburcio Fusilero singed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the “Adopt-a-Mountain Program” in Barangays Cantipla and Tabunan on November 15, 2000 within the 28,312-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) under Republic Act No. 9486 which was approved on June 7, 2007 covers a consolidated area of 28,312 hectares consisting of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve; Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve.
It also include the Sudlon National Park; Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve that are located in the cities of Cebu, Talisay,Toledo and Danao, and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Balamban.(PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)
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Cebu Ports strengthen measures to curb human trafficking
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Oct. 3 (PIA) -- Measures that strengthen vigilance and security of ports under the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) are being adopted to curb the problem of human trafficking as Cebu has been identified as a transport hub for trafficked children and women.
CPA Legal Officer Atty. Yusop Uckung said the apprehensions by police on suspected human traffickers in three separate occasions in August alone is proof that they are doing its job.
“We commend the police for their strong vigilance which resulted to the rescue of trafficked children and women,” Uckong declared.
But in order to strengthen the fight against human trafficking, Uckung said the CPA recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Cebu Province, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Children’s Legal Bureau.
Cebu is considered as a transshipment point in bringing trafficked girls mostly minors to different areas of destinations in the country including Manila in the guise of providing jobs as housemaids or in restaurants as food providers.
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-7 Regional Director Nanette Villamor-Dinopol said that since shipping fares are affordable, most human traffickers use such route to transport their victims.
“We have already coordinated with various ship owners to undertake necessary measures like checking the identification card and the identity of suspicious persons that travel with a group especially minors,” Dinopol said.
The MARINA-7 also signed a MOA with the Cebu Provincial Government to help in the fight against human trafficking.
“In fact, the tipsters that had some individuals apprehended at the pier in Cebu City in a suspected human trafficking case were porters which they would be rewarded as promised,” according to Dinopol.
Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale previously said tipsters that relay information to help rescue minors from suspected human traffickers or cyber porn operators will be justly rewarded.
Last August 5, at least 15 girls from Bohol were rescued mostly minors by the police at the Cebu pier just two hours before they were set to sail for Manila to work as house helpers, caretakers and food servers. Arrested by the police were a mother and her daughter who arranged the victims’ trip.
Within three days, three minors and two young adults from Toledo City, Cebu were intercepted by the police at Pier 4 in Cebu City The recruiter eluded arrest while the group was intercepted for using fake identities and ages in their tickets.
The third case of suspected human trafficking was recorded in the 2nd week of August where a set of teenagers, two of them minors, were rescued by the police also at Pier 4. They came fromOrmoc City and were to depart for Cagayan de Oro City. They were intercepted when the mother of one of the victims reported to the police after she failed to contact her daughter.
Uckong said they have placed posters on ‘Beware of Human Trafficking’ within the port vicinity to increase public awareness and solicit community participation by reporting suspected cases of human trafficking.
The Sangguniang Kabataan – Cebu Federation meanwhile, has already stepped up its advocacy drive against human trafficking down to the barangay level in the province. (PIA-Cebu)
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DOE Sec. Alemendras in Cebu tomorrow for the Energy Forum
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, October 3 (PIA) -- Energy Secretary Rene Almendras will be in Cebu tomorrow to frontline the Energy Forum and update energy stakeholders here on the developments, initiatives, plans and programs of the Department of Energy (DOE) under the Energy Reform Agenda (ERA) framework.
The ERA is the blueprint for the energy sector within the next six years consistent with the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 and the Philippine Energy Plan 2009-2030.
Also to be presented tomorrow will be the regional power situationer and outlook to give the participants an overview of the DOE’s action in ensuing the sustainability of power supply in the country and update them on current reform in the power sector.
Potential investors will also learn more about investment opportunities in the energy sector, particularly in the Visayas.
Participants can also raise their issues and concerns after the presentations to address and resolve any problems.
Sec. Almendras will be accompanied by Usec. Josefina Patricia Asirit and a team of technical experts from the DOE and its attached agencies, according to the DOE release. (PIA-Cebu)
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Senate resolution to strengthen gov’t search, rescue units during disasters
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY October 3, (PIA) -- The Philippine Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources sorted a resolution in order to strengthen the potentials of the government’s search and rescue operations in the midst of the country’s constant exposure to natural catastrophes.
Under Resolution No. 575 (PSN 575) is also a move to provide a Magna Carta for rescue workers and to improve the provisions of Republic Act No. 1012 otherwise known as the Act to Strengthen the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System.
Senator Chiz Escudero, senate chair of the committee on environment and natural resources urged other senators to give focus to the current status and capacity of the country’s search and rescue unit and set policies that would augment and strengthen the undertakings of the country in disaster preparedness.
“With the country constantly exposed to natural disasters, the government should institutionalize its search and rescue forces,” Escudero said
The senator also added that “we urgently need to systematically develop our human, technical and equipment capacity and resources to adequately respond to natural and man-made disasters.”
Escudero conferred the observation drawn from the latest attack of typhoons Pepeng and Ondoy in the country where thousands of people died and others were left homeless, which also displayed the weakness and inadequate capability of the rescue units and workers.
The senator clarified that insufficient policies and other important funds and assets prolonged the government capability to take action in respond to the major disasters that stricken the country.
Escudero added that there is a need for the country to give a working and institutionalized system that can improve the status and potentials of the rescue forces that includes their own safety while saving lives. This is done so that in times of calamity or anytime they would be needed they could immediately respond with only the capabilities required and without risking their own lives.
The senator concluded that with the repeated emergence of natural catastrophes, the country should put up and constantly reinforce the capability of its rescue forces so that in times of calamity the loss of many lives and properties can be avoided. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)