MBG-7 warns the public on landslides and flooding
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, August 8 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 has warned anew against the possibility of landslides and flooding as a result of the southwest monsoon enhanced by the tropical storm “Haiku.”
MGB 7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo made the call in wake of reports by the weather bureau that heavier rains are still expected.
Nearly portions of 80 barangays within Cebu province were identified as highly vulnerable to episodes of ground failure or subsidence and flood.
“It is very important that local chief executives should give more attention of critical areas that are found to be highly vulnerable to flooding and landslides which have been known to them an indicated in the geohazards threat advisory issued to them,” Alburo stressed.
Areas which have been declared as “highly susceptible” to flooding and landslides by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau should be carefully monitored by the local government officials.
Alburo strongly recommended to local chief executives to prohibit habitation in areas declared as “highly susceptible” to flooding and landslides by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR to protect people’s lives.
“Let us not be complacent instead be pro-active when it comes to disaster preparedness and response to preserve lives most of all,” he added.
On the other hand, Alburo revealed that there are five barangays in Cebu City that are considered to be most hazardous to flooding and these are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, and Bonbon; and seven barangays in Mandaue City to include Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an.(HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)
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DENR-7 operates the 2 million reg’l clonal nursery in Cebu
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, August 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7 has started operating a P2.3-million regional clonal nursery in Camp 7 Minglanilla, Cebu.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said the project is in line with the national greening program (NGP) of the government and is one of the strategies implemented to meet the national target of planting 1.5 billion trees in some 1.5 million hectares until 2016.
The newly completed 3-hectare clonal nursery intends to produce 20 million seedlings until year 2016 with a project cost of more than P18 million.
Supervised by the Ecosystems Research and Development Services (ERDS), the said clonal nursery is now presently accommodating 230,000 seedlings in its hardening area, 26,310 cuttings per cycle in its rooting beds or mist system, and 6,944 cuttings per cycle in its recovery area.
In May 2012, ERDS started the operation of the nursery and it has already produced some 8.8 million seedlings of indigenous and fruit tree species.
Montejo said, “our intention is to produce high quality planting materials for the NGP requirements in the region as we set aggressive greening efforts purposely to reduce poverty while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation and address climate change.”
In an inventory conducted by DENR 7 last July, 23.4 million seedlings are now produced in various field offices in the four provinces of Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, Montejo instructed all field officials to ensure the proper maintenance of the existing nurseries so that they would be able to supply the needed seedlings for various tree planting and growing program.(HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)
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Cebu guv wants LGUs to adopt purok system for good governance
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, August 8 (PIA) -- Implementing the “purok system” as a good governance approach is a legacy Governor Gwen Garcia hopes the next leadership of Capitol will sustain.
Garcia in a press conference this morning said the best governance strategy is still community involvement down to the grassroots level and this she wants to be adopted down to the ‘purok’ units in all cities and municipalities in the province of Cebu.
“The purok system transcends beyond personalities and administrations” as we all “cooperate and collaborate to push for Cebu’s growth,” said Garcia.
The Provincial Government has found a partner in the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), a non-government organization, which shares its vision of accelerating development for a better Cebu which can be realized with community participation.
“The beginning of change for a livable Cebu begins at the grassroots level. It starts with ‘you,’ as we should do the things we can do and not expect them to be given to you,” stressed RAFI’ President Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz in the same presscon.
Aboitiz said there is no reason why the next leader of Cebu would not support the program. “We must not be afraid of change. We must always be optimistic,” as we all strive “to make the dream of Cebu as the number one livable province. Let us contribute to this goal,” added Aboitiz.
RAFI and the Cebu Provincial Government signed a memorandum of agreement back in 2008 for the eGWEN Our Cebu Program. eGWEN stands for expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures that basically aims to develop a better Cebu in the areas including cleanliness, health, sanitation, environment, culture and heritage promotion, and the recently added criteria of governance structure and system.
Garcia said the promotion of “purok” approach was already introduced to the local government units in the eGWEN Program but it was limited to the city or municipal level.
Under the program which started four years ago, cities and municipalities are directed to implement programs in line with the eGWEN thrusts and are graded accordingly by Capitol evaluators. Local government units with outstanding performance are then given recognition and cash incentives by the Capitol every August, which is part of the activities of the province’s founding anniversary on August 6.
The governor said they are focusing on the effectiveness of the purok system as an emerging model of governance. “It is a transformative program” that involves residents down to the purok level in making his surroundings better, said Garcia.
The “purok” is similar to a sitio, where the approach would be to organize purok communities in every barangay and involve them in local governance, Garcia disclosed.
“Sometimes, one barangay has eight puroks. The more, the better because this means more and more people are involved,” said Garcia.
Garcia said 19 municipalities out of the over 50 cities and towns of Cebu have already adopted the “purok” system approach.
This afternoon, recognition awards and cash rewards would be given to top three local government units, top three barangays and top three puroks in Cebu as over 1,500 participants are attending today the one-day ‘4th Partners Conference’ for the eGWEN Our Cebu Program under the theme “Puroks in the Forefront of Grassroots Governance” at the Cebu International Convention. (PIA-Cebu)
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RDRRMC 7 forms standby response team for NCR‘also issues blue alert status for C. Visayas’
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY August 8 (PIA) -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 7 has formed a standby response team to help flood stricken areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) .
Standby Response Unit for NCR formed by the RDRRMC -7 comprises a Barangay Pardo Emergency Response Team, one unit ambulance, one mini dump truck, and one emergency vehicle.
Due to the incessant heavy rains pounding the NCR and areas of Metro Manila since the past few days, deep flooding is now heavily experienced resulting to damages of properties and loss of lives while the threat of lives continues amid the extreme weather condition.
With the current situation, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) declared a state of calamity and immediate evacuation of the residents in the affected areas in NCR and in Metro Manila.
In Central Visayas, the RDRRMC 7 through Chairperson Minda C. Morante, the Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense in the region has issued a blue alert status due to the southwest monsoon which is expected to bring scattered to widespread rains.
Local government units (LGUs) and other concerned government agencies and stakeholders in the region are then directed to monitor the situation and take precautionary measures in their respective areas of responsibility.
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) are also advised to take precautionary actions so as to lessen the risk brought about by the bad weather condition experienced by almost all regions and provinces in the country.
The Cebu Information Center of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7 meanwhile, has tapped its media partners about the actions taken by the RDRRMC 7 and to likewise warn the public especially residents living in low-lying areas and along mountain slopes to continue to remain vigilant.
This is also intended for local community leaders to create precautionary measures ahead of time as RDRRMC 7 gave emphasis that it should be proactive actions highlighting on evacuation rather than rescue. (FCR/AYS/PIA-7, Cebu)