PRO-7 to enforce firecrackers law this yuletide season
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY December 6 (PIA) --- In order to celebrate the yuletide season with less cases of injuries caused by firecrackers and pyrotechnics, the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 will implement RA 7183 aimed at regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics devices.
The move is in line with the program “Iwas Disgrasya Campaign”
Under the law, firecrackers that are allowed for use include baby rocket, bawang, pulling of string, paper caps, el Diablo, judahs belt and sky rocket (kwitis).
Pyrotechnic devices that are allowed aresparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device, and butterfly, the PRO-7 said.
Firecrackers that are prohibited for use are “those net explosives content of more than 1/3 teaspoon, in which the technically safe equivalent of it is not more than 0.2 gram per study of the Department of Science and Technology.
Also prohibited are firecrackers with fuse that have a burning time of not less than three (3) seconds and more than six (6) seconds are not allowed as well as all imported finished product firecrackers and pyrotechnics, this is said.
Retailers of firecrackers and pyrotechnics meanwhile, are requested to submit the following requirements: Letter request of applicant; Brgy clearance; Police clearance; First Safety Clearance; Mayor’s Permit; Authorization to retail from FC/PD Manufacturer/Dealers; Certification from FC/PD Manufacturer/Dealer; and Retailers License Fee payable to Landbank in the amount of P 1,000.00.
PRO-7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations S/Supt. Louie Oppus stressed the importance of getting a permit from the PRO-7 Regional Director C/Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. because without the police permit, retailers cannot sell firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices even if he or she has the necessary mayor’s permit.
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Oppus said the strict enforcement of the firecrackers law “is not intended to make the public suffer but to ensure that no accidents will occur and that the celebration of Christmas will be peaceful and merrier.” (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)
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Bohol's tarsiers now back in their natural habitat
By Hazel Gloria
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, Dec. 5 (PIA) --- The once held captive and maltreated tarsiers or Tarsius Syrichta in Bohol are now back in their natural habitat in the towns of Corella and Sikatuna, Bohol.
This after a series of consultations took place between the local government units, Bohol Tourism Association, permit holders and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 (DENR-7) in Bohol.
The consultations were triggered by a report from the Tarsius Project of the Czech Republic presented by Dr. Milada Petru, a Czech scientist, who pointed out how the shy, nocturnal animals that thrive in Bohol island are allegedly abused and cruelly mishandled.
Dr. Petru is a Field Zoologist from the Decin Zoo in the Czech Republic who conducted a study on the tarsiers in Bohol made possible thru a grant from the Czech Republic in 2009.
The study found out that the tarsiers were living in appalling conditions with no space to hide and rest, poorly planted, noisy and open, and the behavioral rules on the proper handling and care of the animals were not followed.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso said the tarsiers are subjected to stress since many visitors or tourists want to interact with them by day, disrupting their nocturnal lifestyle.
This contact alters their biological processes making them weak and vulnerable to diseases, he said.
Results of Dr. Petru’s study on the condition of Bohol’s tarsiers was submitted to Environment Secretary Ramon JP Paje who promptly ordered a moratorium on the issuance of wildlife farm permits (WFP) late last year.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatt and the local chief executives in the province along with members of the Bohol Tourism Association reportedly concurred and supported the findings of Dr. Petru.
After the consultations, an association by all Tarsier Centers were created during which stakeholders agreed to transfer all the captive tarsiers into a 167-hectare Tarsier Conservation in Bohol.
The conservation site is manned by German Palapar of the Tarsier Centers Association with DENR-7 providing technical assistance.
According to Dichoso, tarsiers are classified as “near threatened” in the International Union on the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) List of Threatened Species, requiring adequate protection and conservation.
Prohibited acts include hunting, killing, wounding, collecting or possessing of Tarsier for commercial purposes and the destruction of its habitat.
“However, possession of the same for educational, scientific or conservation research may be allowed with DENR clearance or approval,” he said.
The Philippine Tarsier's habitat is the second growth, secondary forest, and primary forest from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).
Its habitat also includes tropical rainforest with dense vegetation and trees that offer it protection like tall grasses, bushes and bamboo shoots.
Tarsiers prefers dense, low-level vegetation in secondary forests, with perching sites averaging 2 meters above the ground.
It is the smallest primate in the world and can be found in Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between DENR-7 represented by Dichoso and the Wings of Serenity, Inc. on November 21, 2011, for the establishment of a Tarsier breeding and research center in Bilar, Bohol.
Cemex Philippines and Conservation International also signed a MOA with DENR-7 to conduct research on Tarsiers within and outside Bohol.
With the transfer of Tarsiers, the conservation area has been collecting a daily income of P50,000 per day and tourists are now limited to observing and taking pictures. (PIA-7/HFG/RMN/DENR-7)
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Cebu barangays are now more responsive to human trafficking issue
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY December 6 (PIA) --- Cebu Provincial Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said that more barangays in Cebu are already aware and responsive to the issue of human trafficking which has resulted to the successful operations in the arrest of violators here.
Magpale cited an incident in Camotes Island in northern Cebu where they got a tip from a concerned “habal-habal “driver about a suspicious motive of the suspected trafficker.
“Because of the tip from the ‘habal-habal’ driver, an operation was successfully conducted which led to the apprehension of the violator,” Magpale bared.
The vice governor said that “the public is now more aware of the incidents on human trafficking and I laud the actions initiated by concerned groups, government agencies and non government organizations that help raise public awareness and to be vigilant of suspected human trafficking incidents in the province.”
Magpale pledged the continuation of the series of seminars against human trafficking in every barangay in the province as this is found to be one of the effective tools to reduce cases of human trafficking and other related cases concerning women and children in the province.
“The frequent public seminars on human trafficking will continue because this is helpful in hiking public awareness on the issue and most of all, to be vigilant on the cases of human trafficking,” Magpale added.
In another development, Magpale said there is an existing provincial ordinance that correlated to the other actions taken by the Cebu Provincial Government to combat human trafficking.
Magpale cited the “Barangay Recruitment and Placement Ordinance” that requires a person to submit an intent to conduct recruitment in a certain barangay to the barangay officials concerned.
“We are calling on every barangay to conduct examination to every person conducting recruitment in your area to determine the sincerity of the recruiter in providing decent jobs,” Magpale appealed.
Under the said ordinance, barangay officials who failed to conduct an examination to every person entering their jurisdiction for recruitment purposes will be sanctioned especially if it will result to human trafficking.
Magpale was the guest speaker during the recent Regional Conference on Violence Against Women and Child Abuse in Cebu City. (FCR/ASPIA-CEBU/)
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PNP-7 to fast track graduation of 523 new police recruits
to strengthen police visibility this Christmas season
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, December 5 (PIA) – In order to strengthen police visibility and thwart criminals at bay especially this Christmas season, the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 is requesting the Police Regional Training School (PRTS) to fast track the graduation of the over 500 new police recruits a week earlier than schedule.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Deputy Director for Operations S/Supt. Louie Oppus said 523 new police recruits are set to graduate on December 16 “but we are asking the PRTS that if possible, to set the graduation date on December 10 or this coming Saturday so that we can already download them to the different police offices for security augmentation.”
Oppus said there are also slightly over 270 police recruits that just graduated from the second phase of their Field Training Program.
“They together with the new graduates with a combined number of about 800 police personnel can be given to various police offices to help them in their crime prevention efforts,” Oppus said.
Though Oppus admitted the Christmas season is an opportunity for criminal elements to strike as people have more money to spend but this should not be made as an excuse why crime incidence will rise.
“This is why we are requesting the PRTS to fast track the graduation of the new police recruits because we want to give the police offices the additional manpower support they need,” Oppus said.
Oppus added that the manpower augmentation may not be enough but that the various provincial and city police directors just have to judiciously implement their crime prevention measures.
“Police directors should just continue implementing the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) Program where police visibility through foot and mobile patrol is strengthened in crime prone areas and random checkpoints are done in strategic places,” Oppus
The police official added that they are also banking on their force multipliers such as barangay tanods and officials to ensure that peace and order is maintained in their localities.
Crime prevention is not the responsibility of law enforcement agencies alone but requires the active cooperation and involvement of all sectors in the community, Oppus emphasized. (PIA-Cebu)
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Bohol's tarsiers now back in their natural habitat
By Hazel Gloria
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, Dec. 5 (PIA) --- The once held captive and maltreated tarsiers or Tarsius Syrichta in Bohol are now back in their natural habitat in the towns of Corella and Sikatuna, Bohol.
This after a series of consultations took place between the local government units, Bohol Tourism Association, permit holders and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 (DENR-7) in Bohol.
The consultations were triggered by a report from the Tarsius Project of the Czech Republic presented by Dr. Milada Petru, a Czech scientist, who pointed out how the shy, nocturnal animals that thrive in Bohol island are allegedly abused and cruelly mishandled.
Dr. Petru is a Field Zoologist from the Decin Zoo in the Czech Republic who conducted a study on the tarsiers in Bohol made possible thru a grant from the Czech Republic in 2009.
The study found out that the tarsiers were living in appalling conditions with no space to hide and rest, poorly planted, noisy and open, and the behavioral rules on the proper handling and care of the animals were not followed.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso said the tarsiers are subjected to stress since many visitors or tourists want to interact with them by day, disrupting their nocturnal lifestyle.
This contact alters their biological processes making them weak and vulnerable to diseases, he said.
Results of Dr. Petru’s study on the condition of Bohol’s tarsiers was submitted to Environment Secretary Ramon JP Paje who promptly ordered a moratorium on the issuance of wildlife farm permits (WFP) late last year.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatt and the local chief executives in the province along with members of the Bohol Tourism Association reportedly concurred and supported the findings of Dr. Petru.
After the consultations, an association by all Tarsier Centers were created during which stakeholders agreed to transfer all the captive tarsiers into a 167-hectare Tarsier Conservation in Bohol.
The conservation site is manned by German Palapar of the Tarsier Centers Association with DENR-7 providing technical assistance.
According to Dichoso, tarsiers are classified as “near threatened” in the International Union on the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) List of Threatened Species, requiring adequate protection and conservation.
Prohibited acts include hunting, killing, wounding, collecting or possessing of Tarsier for commercial purposes and the destruction of its habitat.
“However, possession of the same for educational, scientific or conservation research may be allowed with DENR clearance or approval,” he said.
The Philippine Tarsier's habitat is the second growth, secondary forest, and primary forest from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).
Its habitat also includes tropical rainforest with dense vegetation and trees that offer it protection like tall grasses, bushes and bamboo shoots.
Tarsiers prefers dense, low-level vegetation in secondary forests, with perching sites averaging 2 meters above the ground.
It is the smallest primate in the world and can be found in Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between DENR-7 represented by Dichoso and the Wings of Serenity, Inc. on November 21, 2011, for the establishment of a Tarsier breeding and research center in Bilar, Bohol.
Cemex Philippines and Conservation International also signed a MOA with DENR-7 to conduct research on Tarsiers within and outside Bohol.
With the transfer of Tarsiers, the conservation area has been collecting a daily income of P50,000 per day and tourists are now limited to observing and taking pictures. (PIA-7/HFG/RMN/DENR-7)