theregions A The Manila Times MONDAY D e cember 13, 2010 7 BY JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ REPORTER


aimed at developing models of climate change-resilient communities in agricultural and forested areas using updated scientific data on climate risk management under the Philippines Climate Change Adaptation Project Phase 1 (PhilCCAP1).


In a statement, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said that the $4.97-million project, through a grant from the Global Environ- ment Fund (GEF) of the World Bank, recognizes the need to strengthen biodiversity conserva- tion and forest protection efforts as a lynchpin to bring down pov-


Cebu rail sought as PPP project


REP. Eduardo Gullas of the First Dis- trict of Cebu on Sunday pushed for the inclusion of the proposed Cebu Light Rail Transport (LRT) system in the list of high-priority public-private partnership (PPP) projects. Gullas said in a statement that


“we are hopeful that the proposed Cebu LRT project will be among those lined up by national eco- nomic and transport partners for possible execution under the pub- lic-private partnership scheme.” The lawmaker, who once served as Cebu governor, authored House Bill 92, or “Act Providing for the Cebu LRT System for Operation in Cebu City and Metro Cebu, and Ap- propriating Funds Therefor.” “Cebu desperately needs a mod- ern, efficient and reliable LRT sys- tem, backed by extra railways on both ends, to keep pace with rapid population growth and economic expansion,” Gullas said. He added “Cebuanos deserve a fast, safe and convenient LRT system, which would go a long way in ad- dressing our swelling motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian congestion.” As proposed in his bill, the Cebu


LRT system would run between Talisay City and Mandaue City. New railways would also be provided from Talisay to Dalaguete municipal- ity in the south, and from Mandaue to Sogod municipality in the north. Gullas expressed confidence that the project would serve as a powerful en- gine for Cebu’s future economic growth. Malacanañg has been pushing for public-private partnerships in a bid to hasten the performance of badly needed but costly new infrastructures. President Benigno Aquino 3rd pre- viously issued Executive Order 8, estab- lishing the Public-Private Partnership Center under the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). The center would identify poten- tial projects and facilitate the devel- opment of proposals as well as fea- sibility studies. Meanwhile, Gullas said that in the proposed 2011 General Appro- priations Act, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation and Communications would receive P500 million and P100 million, re- spectively, for the conduct of their own public-private partnership project feasibility studies. This is on top of NEDA’s P50- million allocation for “value engi- neering studies” to ensure that pub- lic-private partnership projects will be developed and carried out via the most efficient option. Gullas said that the NEDA and the Department of Finance would also be getting extra funds for capacity- building projects related to Contin- gent Liabilities Management in pub- lic-private partnership projects.


erty in rural communities. He added that it addresses key vulnerabilities of the agricultural and natural resource sectors to cli- mate change. Paje also said that the implemen- tation of PhilCCAP1 seeks to develop on-the-ground adaptation measures drawn from practical examples and


DENR launches climate change project T


HE Department of Environment and


Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched a four-pronged project


approaches that demonstrate the benefits of mainstreaming climate risk management into key national development strategies. “The project supports the govern-


ment’s efforts to protect the lowland and upland communities from the cumulative effects of climate change as it builds up their resiliency with [a] climate change-resilient crop pro- duction system and enhanced pro- tection of forests and biodiversity conservation,” the official said. Eight municipalities in Regions II, V and XIII have been chosen as pilot sites for the project, which include the Penablanca town and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province; Janiuay, Pototan and Dumangas towns in Iloilo province; and General Luna, Del Carmen and Dapa towns in Surigao del Norte province. PhilCCAP1 is set to operate on a platform that will develop and dem- onstrate climate change adaptation strategies in the agriculture and


natural resources management, us- ing five core elements.


These include: climate-proofing irrigation infrastructure, enhancing delivery and effectiveness of exten- sion services for farm-level climate risk management; pilot-testing the feasibility of weather index-based crop insurance; and strengthening climate change resilience through improved management of pro- tected areas.


It also aims to improve the ac-


cess, especially in the agriculture and natural resources sectors, to more reliable scientific information that will enable more rapid and ac- curate decision-making for climate risk management.


The GEF grant will be farmed out to four specific components, which will be undertaken by the Environ- ment department, the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Atmos- pheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) of the Department of


Activists greet nuke delegates at plant


MORONG, Bataan: A group of anti-nu- clear power activists and a much smaller group of nuclear-energy supporters on Saturday held sepa- rate rallies as delegates of the Nu- clear Power Forum arrived at the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong town. The anti-nuke protesters, who belong to the Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement-Network (NFBM-Net), waved green-colored flaglets and unfurled streamers like “Lansagin ang Plantang Nukleyar [Dismantle the Nuclear Plant].” They also displayed a giant pad- lock “to proclaim that the Philip- pines is a nuke-free zone and inves- tors are advised to keep out.” Father Fernando Loreto, Morong chapter chairman of the NFBM-Net, cited two major reasons for their op- position to BNPP’s activation: geo- logically, the plant sits on a volcano; and its construction was marred by corruption with use of allegedly sub-standard materials.


He said that they will continue opposing the possible use of the plant. “May geologist sila na nagsasabi na walang [panganib], pero may geolo- gist din kami na nagsasabing delikado ito [They have a geologist who said that there’s no danger, but we also


have one who says that there is],” the priest said. “Ipinipilit nilang tama eh mali naman. Halimbawa, saan nila itatago ang toxic wastes? [They insist that it’s right when it’s wrong. For exam- ple, where will they keep the toxic wastes?],” he added.


Loreto also said that Bataeños have made it clear that the BNPP is a no- no for them and their protest showed in their “unwelcome greeting” to the delegates touring the plant. Near the BNPP gate, however, some nuclear-energy supporters stood and carried some posters seek- ing the plant’s activation. Daniel Bantugan, leader of the pro- nuke rallyists, said that “[Enerhiyang] nukleyar ang kailangan para umunlad ang bansa at matugunan ang [ating] kahirapan [Nuclear (energy) is needed so the country can prosper and re- spond to (our) poverty].” Mauro Marcelo, Jr., head of the nuclear core group of the National Power Corp., briefed the delegates of the Nuclear Power Forum on the BNPP before they toured the plant, starting from the third floor where giant turbines and generators of the plant are located.


He explained that the forum was organized by the Singapore-based


Aide of Cagayan lawmaker slain despite gun ban


TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: An unidentified gunman shot dead on Friday an aide of Rep. Randy Ting of the Third District of Cagayan despite a gun ban still in effect in the city. Tuguegarao City Police Director Supt. Pedro


Martires identified the victim as 36-year-old Michael Panaligan, who succumbed to a single bullet wound on the chest as he was rushed to a nearby hospital. The aide, the police official said, was driving his


motorcycle when the assailant shot him with a gun, its caliber still undetermined at press time, along the border of Buntun and Cataggaman villages at about 10:30 p.m. Reports said that besides politics, authorities are also looking into a personal grudge as a possible motive behind the murder.


The killing happened as residents were still reeling from the assassination attempt on the lawmaker’s father, Mayor Delfin Ting of Tuguegarao City, on November 15. The mayor, 72, survived the attempt after his assailant only managed to hit him on the cheek with a .22-caliber revolver. The attempt on the elder Ting’s life, as well as other similar incidents in the past, prompted the Philippine National Police to impose an indefi- nite gun ban throughout Cagayan.


FRANCIS C. HIDALGO JR.


Troops hail appointment of Army general to human rights office


ZAMBOANGA CITY: Government soldiers hailed over the weekend the appointment of a decorated army commander who advocated peace in Mindanao as head of the new Human Rights Office of the Philippine military.


President Benigno Aquino 3rd named Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, former deputy chief of the Southern Command headquarters in Zamboanga City, as head of the Human Rights Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “We are glad that General Tutaan, who is a true


human rights defender and peace advocate, will head the new Human Rights Office. The soldiers are be- hind him as we also support his advocacy,” one army sergeant, who had served Tutaan in the past, said. Tutaan also served as commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade in Davao and was largely cred- ited for his various peace and development pro- grams and respect for human rights in Mindanao. Tutaan was a graduate of the Philippine Mili-


tary Academy Class 1981, whose father was also decorated army general.


AL JACINTO


Global Media Group “to bring in players in the nuclear field.” He said that interested parties from France, Japan and Korea have submitted their intent to build a nuclear power plant in the country.


He also said that the BNPP is one of the options they are considering, depending on the government’s policy on whether to revive it or build a new one.


Marcelo added that the Depart- ment of Energy will start the feasi- bility study by next year.


He said that he is all for nuclear


power, arguing that it does not con- tribute much to global warming because carbon emissions from the wind are even higher. According to him, another major


advantage of nuclear power is that it is cheaper and has a stable price than coal. “Ang halaga ng coal depende sa market price, pero ang sa nuclear power steady lang, [The price of coal depends on the mar- ket price, while the price of nuclear energy is steady],” he said. Marcelo said that based on stud-


ies, the BNPP needs $1 million to be able to operate. This includes training, licensing and other incre- mental expenses.


ERNIE B. ESCONDE


Science and Technology (DOST). Component 1, which has a budget of $590,000, will be imple- mented by the Environment depart- ment in coordination with the aforementioned departments and the Climate Change Commission. This particular component aims to improve the climate change-adaptation (CCA) capa- bilities of government agencies at the forefront of CCA activities in the agricultural and natural re- source management on policy for- mulation and coordination with other agencies on CCA.


Component 2 will be imple- mented by the Environment and Ag- riculture departments with a $2.94- million budget to implement four key activities that seek to climate- proof infrastructure support to farmers by mainstreaming climate change compliant engineering de- signs in irrigation structures and farm-to-market roads; improve de-


livery and effectiveness of extension services for farm-level climate risk management; pilot-test feasibility of weather index-based crop insurance; and strengthen climate change re- siliency thru improved protected area management.


With a $1-million allocation, the


DOST-Pagasa will take the lead in Component 3, which seeks to im- prove the access of more reliable scientific information needed for a prompt and accurate decision-mak- ing, especially of local governments, for climate risk management. The Environment department is also tasked to implement Compo- nent 4, which calls for the overall promotion, monitoring, supervision and coordination of PhilCCAP1 with a budget of $410,000. PhilCCAP1 was approved on June 29 after it was conceived and sub- mitted by Philippine government officials for endorsement to the GEF in December 2009.


Armed men rob P100,000 from Bataan cooperative


LIMAY, Bataan: Five still-unidentified armed men on Friday hauled away more than P100,000 in cash and valuables after robbing the service center of the Peninsula Electric Co- operative in Limay, Bataan. Norberto Castro, Limay Service Center sub-station foreman, said that three men armed with short fire- arms—presumably .38-caliber re- volvers—entered the office at about 2 p.m. and declared a hold-up. “Pinadapa ako at sinipa pa ng kaunti habang kinukuha ang cell phone ko [They made me prostrate (on the floor) and kicked me a lit- tle as they took my cell phone],” he said.


The foreman added that the rob-


bers wore nothing to hide their faces when they robbed the service center, which is located adjacent to the Roman Superhighway. The criminals also took three cell phones from other employees. The thieves also grabbed the handbag of one Juvy Busi who visited the center to pay her electric bill. She lost P15,000 in cash to the


robbers. They also cleaned out teller


Maribel Banaag’s drawer of about P65,000 in cash, representing unremitted collections for the day. “Takot na takot ako dahil nang tanungin ko ang mga lalaki kung ano ang kailangan nila ay biglang sumigaw ang mga ito ng ‘Hold-up ito!’ at nilimas ang drawer ko [I was so afraid because when I asked the men as to what they want, they shouted ‘This is a hold-up!’ and cleared my drawer],” the teller said.


She also said that the robbers also took her bag containing P40,000 in cash and gift checks, adding that while three men an- nounced the stickup, two other men were outside the office, serv- ing as lookouts. “Mukhang mga construction


workers ang itsura nila at naka- katakot ang mga mukha [They look like construction workers and their faces look very scary],” Banaag said. Reports revealed that the robbers rode two motorcycles, colored black and blue, and escaped to an unknown direction along the superhighway. ERNIE B. ESCONDE


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