8th Philippine Eagle Week PEF invites sponsor to plant trees

Davao City (2 June) — The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is inviting sponsors to grow trees which the foundation aims to plant 750 trees this June.

PEF communications officer Tatit Quiblat said the treeplanting will take place on June 10 and 11 at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan, Davao City.

She said the event is among the line up activities for the 8th Philippine Eagle Week that falls on June 4 to 10, 2006.

Quiblat said they are encouraging more people to get involved in the preservation of the Philippine Eagle and the environment.

She said the foundation needs P100,00 annually for maintenance, food and vet care of the birds.

“There are about 34 birds at the center,” she said.

She however said that the objective of greening the environment and protecting the forests is improving the birds habitat because many eagles are in the wild.

This year’s celebration which is anchored on the theme “Agila: Sama-sama Tungo sa Kalikasang Masigla” will kick off on June 3 with a motorcade starting at 8 AM from Magsaysay Park to the Philippine Eagle Center and will be followed with the treeplanting at the center.

On June 4,starting at 9AM is the children’s workshop also to be held at the center.

Throughout the week at the Philippine Eagle Center are activities like fun games, organic market, photo exhibit and raptor display. (PIA/pdbanzon)

10 persons caught transporting corals in South Cotabato town

MAASIM, Sarangani Province (2 June) — Gov. Migs Dominguez called for stiff sanctions against 10 people, including a government employee who were apprehended by members of the Sarangani Provincial Mobile Group for extracting corals in Maasim Sarangani Province last Saturday, May 27, 2006.

“It is unfortunate that we are spending hundreds of millions in river protection, enforcement, building Sewerage Treatment Facilities and educating our people in protecting our remaining resources for future generations while others show recklessness in damaging our remaining resources for beautification purpose,” Gov. Migs said.

Teresa Garay, Action Officer of Kagandahan Gensan was aboard a government vehicle with nine others when they were caught in the possession of 24 corals of different species in barangay Tinoto, Maasim.

“I strongly condemn the actions of Ms. Garay. We will throw the books at those responsible for extracting our corals”, Gov. Dominguez Migs added.

Kagandahan Gensan is a project of the city government to beautify Gen. Santos City.

Garay was on board a white L300 van with plate number SHA 364, owned by the city government of Gen. Santos and was driven by Alejandro Objenares when they were caught in the act of transporting the corals from Maasim, Sarangani Province to Gen. Santos City.

Garay’s group could not present any permit or papers to show that they are allowed to extract corals.

R.A. 8550 also known as The New Fisheries Code of the Philippines prohibits the mere possession of corals save for lawful cause such as research and for scientific studies.

Those apprehended should prepare themselves to face the harshest legal consequence, Gov. Migs added.

The corals were confiscated and bought to the Provincial Police Office of Sarangani in Alabel where it was identified by the personnel of the Environment Protection and Conservation Center (ECPC) of Sarangani Province.

“To preserve and protect the environment is one of our primary concerns and we must strengthen our drive to protect our marine resources especially that we have just celebrated the 1st Sarangani Bay Festival” Sr. Supt. Efren Valeriano, Provincial Police Director of Sarangani, said 21 Acropora, 1 Millepora, 1 Porite, and 1 Montipora species of corals were identified by ECPC personnel.

Sec. 91 of R.A. 8550 Ban on Coral Exploitation and Exportation provides that it is unlawful for any person/corporation to gather, possess, sell or export ordinary precious and semi-precious corals, whether raw or processed form except for research and scientific purposes. Violations of the provision shall be punished by imprisonment from 6 months to two years and a fine from 2, 000 pesos to 20, 000 pesos or both.

The confiscated corals shall be either returned to the sea or donated to schools and museums for educational or scientific purposes or disposed through other means according to R.A. 8550. (Sarangani-IO/PIA 12)

Usher nabbed for possession of suertres paraphernalia

by Fryan Abkilan

SURIGAO CITY (June 2) -– The relentless campaign against illegal gambling particularly the “swertres” resulted to the arrest of one Michael Redoble, 35 years old and a resident of Payawan 2, Brgy. Luna, Surigao City on May 17.

Redoble was nabbed while on the act of soliciting and collecting “swertres” bets. Taken from Redoble were gambling paraphernalia and bet money amounting to P387.00 wrapped in a small piece of crumpled paper which were later found out to be the tally sheet.

He will be charged with violation of PD 1602 (Illegal Gambling) as amended by Republic Act 9287 locally known as “swertres”, which provides stiffer penalties for the offense.

City Chief of Police, P/Chief InspVirgil Ranes said numerous raids has been conducted by the local PNP that resulted to apprehensions of several swertres bet collectors, ushers, filing of numerous cases in courts, and confiscation of several thousands of pesos and swertres paraphernalia.

With this development, Ranes warns bettors, ushers and financiers of this illegal numbers game to stop their activity, instead patronize the legalized Philippine “Suertres” of PCSO. (PIA Surigao del Norte)

DOT Caraga reports increase of hotel occupancy, eyes brighter future

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (June 2) –- Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan today said, hotel occupancy in the region is increasing considering the number of activities that are conducted in different places in the region that are in-line with tourism.

Dir. Tan said, based on January record this year, an increase of 73 percent was seen compared to January last year, while a 40 percent increase was observed in February, 2006 as compared to last year.

Of the number of tourists that are visiting the region, Tan said domestic tourists post the most number compared to foreign tourists. “In our general view of the tourists’ arrival, we are not dependent on foreign tourists. There are more domestic tourists than the foreigners”, Tan said.

When asked on the status of the tourism industry in the region, Tan said there is a positive view of the industry in the region not only because of the good number of tourist arrivals that are recorded but the local chief executives are also aware of the importance of tourism industry that will somehow generate additional income for their respective localities that becomes factor for good economic performance of the entire Caraga region.

“While the economy continues to move forward in the national level, and with DOT reported increase of 77.03 percent year every year, which is higher than the 72.87 percent posted last year, the tourism industry in Caraga will have a brighter future ahead that will surely contribute to the upliftment of the economic situation of the region”, Dir. Tan said. (PIA-13)

New Poll Feature on Mindanao Blog

Well, it’s a rainy day here in Mindanao today, at least it is in Davao City where I am.  Since it’s raining, I couldn’t really go out too conveniently, so I spent a little time adding some new features to the blog.

One of the new features that invites your participation is a new “Poll” feature for the blog.  In our first poll, we are asking you, where is your favorite destination when you come to Mindanao?  Look at the Side Bar on the right, and you’ll see the poll, cast your vote there, and let’s see where most of our readers enjoy spending their time!

I will try to post a new poll every week, and at the end of the week, I will make a post with the results of the previous poll.