The Negros Occidental provincial government is pushing for the establishment of local conservation areas (LCAs) in various cities and municipalities of
(Image courtesy ofNegros OccidentalProvincial Environment Management Office) BACOLOD CITY - The Negros Occidental provincial government is pushing for the establishment of local conservation areas (LCAs) in various cities and municipalities of the province on the occasion of World Wetlands Day on Wednesday. In a statement, the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), headed by lawyer Julie Ann Bedrio, said local environment and natural resources officers need to intensify the campaign for wetlands conservation and protection through the conduct of various activities that will lead to the setting up of LCAs. "(The observance) is a reminder that we also have the network of coastal wetlands LCAs named the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA), covering 10 local government units. Let us continue to value, manage, restore and love our wetlands," the PEMO added. The NOCWCA, located in southern Negros, covers a coastline of 109.52 kilometers, spanning
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez organized and hosted a blended meeting on December 7 bringing together government and non-government
Siegfred Flaviano, head of South Cotabato Provincial Environment Management Office (Photo courtesy of the provincial government) GENERAL SANTOS CITY -Illegal mining operations in South Cotabato province have slowed down in the past several months due to the intensified monitoring and law enforcement operations. Siegfred Flaviano, head of the Provincial Environment Management Office, said they have not monitored any major illegal mining activity, especially the destructive "banlas" or sluice method, as of Thursday in various mining areas in the province. He said some miners have only resorted to panning in the rivers the rocks or ores that are washed down from nearby mountains by the rainwater. "There (are) some reports regarding those using hoses but these are very minimal based on our validation on the ground," Flaviano said in a briefing. He was referring to the sluice mining method, which is done by pouring a large amount of water onto a mountain surface to loose