by magnolia_eic | Aug 22, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
DARKNESS eases out of Barangay Maitum in Catigbian when dialog diffused a potential governance headache here.
Long believed as an incendiary that help spark the avid support to the communist, the situation could not just be left unattended, says Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas.
Maitum, an agricultural barangay sliced off from a forest, owns 638.8 hectares all classified timberland based on the 1928 survey.
Being timberlands, farmers eversince could not own lands as this is technically government property.
The implications are unthinkable, says Mayor Roberto Salinas, hinting that everyone here is illegally settling and harvesting their planted trees on government lands can get them to jail.
“The thing is, we have problems collecting real estate and property tax from the people as the lands they settle in, are technically not theirs” bemoaned Salinas.
On his last term, Salinas has since attempted to remedy the situation by reclassification of timberlands into alienable and disposable (A and D) lands. This allows the process of claiming ownership to proceed.
After several attempts, the retired navy captain turned mayor finally succeeded in facilitating a dialog among residents and authorities from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Agrarian Reform (DAR) and local concerned agencies and offices last August 17, 2010.
That day, at the Maitum Barnagy Hall, DENR 7 Regional Director V11 Leonardo Sibaluca, Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Forest Management Service Isabelo Montejo, RTD for Land Management Service Diana Apistar, and DAR RD Rudy Inson, Capitol Consultant Isabelito Tongco, PENRO Nestor Canda, CENRO Eusalem Quiwag, BEMO’s Nunilo La Fuente, DAR Bohol’s Operations chief Ronald Pumatong and Catigbian officials led by Salinas, Vice Mayor Rey Lacea, SB members, MPDC Tifilito Rulida, Mun Treasurere Ranulfo Suarez, Assessor Benjie Lacea, MARO Laura Lacea and Maitum barangay officials led by Brgy Captain Jun Tupaz convened for the historic ironing out of the governance kinks.
DAR Bohol’s Dr Ronald Pumatong recounted the “joint efforts” of the municipality and DAR, which has ushered in the moment.
RTDs Montejo and Diana Apistar admitted before the barangay folks that the problem sprouted from an erroneous 1928 survey.
Both of them however were amenable to reclassify the 356.3 hectares as A and D so these can be titled in favor of the farmers.
The meeting then led to the correction of classification from the erroneous survey thereby identifying more than half of the total Maitum area as alienable and disposable, to the applause of barangay folks.
This leaves only an area of only 282.5 hectares as timberland.
Over the development, DENR RD Sibaluca, urged accelerated process of documentation pegged a month-long target so they can finally turn over the A and D lands to DAR for proper disposition.
Finally, DAR RD Inson directed his men to fast track the titling of the lands already tilled by farmers long time ago.
Asked if the one-month target is attainable, government officials said they are optimistic that it can be done. (racPIABohol)
by anyajulia | Dec 2, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
Gov. Erico Aumentado ordered the closure of the San Jose outfall. This was contained in a strongly worded letter of the governor to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec. Jose Lito L. Atienza, Jr., following laboratory tests which showed coliform contamination and toxic and deleterious pollutants coming from the drainage outfall which was ordered open by the city mayor last Nov. 6.
The governor earnestly appealed to Sec. Atienza to close the outfall and open it only during heavy rains to prevent flooding along CPG North Ave., but immediately close the outfall thereafter.
This is the recommendation of PENRO Nestor Canda, the governor said after Sec. Atienza asked for an investigation and recommendation on the impending environmental problem in the city.
DENR authorities were alarmed that coliform are too numerous to be counted (2,000 colonies/100 ml) as shown in the lab test of the University of San Carlos Water Laboratory test and another test of the Provincial Health Office which showed 2,400 colonies per 100 ml.
Click for full article.
by anyajulia | Nov 12, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
The closed drainage outfall was suddenly opened last Thursday (Nov. 6) by the City Engineer’s Office crew regardless of the absence of an official clearance from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The said drainage was purposely closed due to the existence of some illegally tapped sewerage connections.
Gov. Erico Aumentado who was in the midst of negotiations regarding the drainage controversy was shocked upon learning on the city hall’s decision to open the drainage outfall even as no coordination meeting has been called since the time he had a one-on-one talk with the city mayor. The governor was informed by PENRO Nestor Canda when he checked the situation on the drainage outfall opening while he was in Manila last Thursday.
City Consultant, Engr. Cecil Corloncito who arrived from Australia supervised the opening of the outfall last Thursday while claiming that a laboratory test showed the water content to be safe for release to the seawaters. However, said lab test was not acceptable to DENR since only results from accredited laboratories are being accepted.
Click for full article.
by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2008 | Headlines, National News
FINALLY going back to the basics, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through Secretary Lito Atienza is into re-thinking the bamboo as a miracle solution to environmental degradation, climate change and lack of crafts material.
Also called the miracle grass, the bamboo has been a major indigenous construction material and is now a favorite native accent in home interiors, not to mention its countless use in handicrafts.
Now seeing the potential of the grass and its market viability, the environment agency asks for more research on other possible uses of bamboo to help expand market potential of this plant.
“Let’s really study bamboo — it’s among the strongest and most resilient plants on earth,” Atienza said during the opening of the three-day National Bamboo Development Forum which Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and its partners are holding at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.
LLDA aims to generate from the forum-updated data on worldwide bamboo resources, industries and markets to get inputs for a national development program for this grass.
Atienza noted bamboo’s characteristics make it an ideal material for construction and watershed rehabilitation including addressing soil erosion.
Bamboo is also eaten as food, made into furniture and handicraft while its extract might be used to cure cough, he continued.
“In China, I even saw clothes made from bamboo,” he recalled.
Atienza also believes the country must hike research on bamboo as this grass thrives nationwide.
“The Philippines is among the few countries where bamboo is adapted to,” he noted.
To help promote studies on bamboo, Atienza said DENR can extend technical assistance to researchers.
“Bamboo can be among major solutions to today’s problems like climate change and environmental degradation,” he said. (PNA/PIA)
