Environment Monitor

Lack of titles hamper P154.13M livelihood, environmental project

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The implementation of the P154.13 million Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project to boost livelihood of people living in upper river basins in the province is hampered by problems like those on tenure.

A special project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the 7-year program requires coverage areas must have tenurial documents like titles, in the name of beneficiaries.

This was learned during recent press conference hosted by the provincial office of the agency here.

According to Octavio Cuanso, OIC Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, of the total 112 barangays in its coverage, 33 barangays have tenurial instruments and shall benefit from the project.

The agency is holding community consultations, and coordination with other agencies so barangays would be given tenurial papers.

DENR officials said it is hard to comply with all requirements of the project in areas.

“We are worried for the project areas that have no tenurial instruments,” said Cuanso.

He added their office is looking into the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADCs) or Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) of some areas so these could to qualify for the project.

One option to be addressed to, according to Cuanso, is to request the central office to allow recognized indigenous systems, such as the batangan, etc, to satisfy tenurial requirements.

The INREMP project will address watershed management in four priority river basins, including Chico River, with particular focus on indigenous peoples and resource-poor communities to reduce degradation of watersheds.

It also aims to provide incentives to local communities, local government units, and DENR for improving natural resource management by generating economic benefits.

The ultimate objective is to improve the quality of life of rural communities in the upper river areas by managing natural resources with stakeholder participation and ensuring local institutions will effectively govern river basin resources as an enterprise that generates revenue for conservation and livelihood.

At the end of the 7-year period ending in December 2020, it is expected that poverty in upper river basin will be decreased by 25 percent in year 2017, forest cover will be increased to 846,000 hectares in 2025, rural household incomes will be increased by 30% or Php78,000/annum, carbon dioxide emissions from land-use/ forest activities will be reduced by 50% in 2017, erosion rate in coverage areas will be reduced by 18%.

Cuanso said that their office will find ways to qualify areas in the province covered by the project in coordination with other tenurial issuing agencies, like the NCIP.

“We will work for the justification of the implementation of the project in all the coverage areas,” said Cuanso. -- Roger Sacyaten

Mankayan to regulate use of  plastic bags

MANKAYAN, Benguet -- The  use, sale and disposal of plastic bags and styrofoam  will soon be  regulated in this  mining town.

Locals officials crafted Municipal Ordinance No. 2014-03  regulating the use, sale and disposal of plastic bags and styrofoam with penalties for violators.

The law will be implemented   after information dissemination for the public to be aware of it.

Mayor Materno Luspian said plastic bags and styrofoam are among the major waste materials clogging waterways and scattered on streets and roads, and  the local government is looking into addressing such waste generation problems.

The measure is in line with Republic Act 9003 known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which institutionalizes public participation to solid waste management endeavors.

Under the ordinance, groceries, retail stores, meat dealers, fish dealers, vegetable dealers, and other related business establishments will be required to use paper bags or other biodegradable materials as containers or bags for dry goods and grocery stuff.

For bulky goods, they should  be packed in paper boxes or cartons.

The use of plastic bags will only be allowed as primary packaging materials for  frozen goods like dressed chickens, hotdogs, ham and also those packed at source and sealed when delivered for public consumption like cookies, candies, sanitation products like napkins, tissue among others.

Corresponding penalties will be charged to violators as follows: first offense, fine of P500; second, P1,000.00; third, P1,500.00 and suspension of business permit for one month to a year at the discretion of the court.

For habitual offenders, cancellation and non-renewal of business permit. 

The measure also encourages investment resource recovery-based livelihood programs for local communities. -- Susan C. Aro