19 SEPTEMBER 2020, Saturday

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DENR Leads International Coastal Cleanup Day

Friday, September 18, 2020 People's Tonight

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will lead today, Sept. 19, 2020,
its yearly coastal cleanup but with no large gatherings and fewer volunteers to prevent the spread
of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
According to Secretary Roy Cimatu, unlike in previous years, there will be no large gatherings this
time at the traditional shoreline and creek sites to prevent the transmission of the virus that has
already claimed hundreds of thousand lives and transmission to more than a million others.
The Philippines has been an active participant of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day – a
global campaign to protect the ocean and its inhabitants.
To mark the local observance, Cimatu said there will be lesser attendees composed mostly
government employees who will convene along the coast of the historical Manila Bay on Roxas
Boulevard.
Volunteers have been encouraged to follow the government’s health protocols others were told to
conduct clean-at-home efforts by reducing plastic waste.
Cimatu stressed that an individual’s duty to keep the shorelines, rivers and waterways clean does
not stop even with the pandemic – a task every Juan dela Cruz should take on every single day.
The Environment head gave emphasis on proper disposal of coronavirus wastes, such as single-use
face masks and gloves, which have become a new form of pollution threatening marine life and
ecosystems.
“The minimal disturbance in our oceans due to reduced water activities has led to a resurgence of
marine animals,” Cimatu pointed out although he raised concerns on the threats of their (marine
species) existence again with the presence of medical wastes as their new nemesis.
For this year’s ICC, volunteers will be limited to small groups to ensure physical distancing. The
use of face masks and face shields will be strictly enforced during the event, along with other
health protocols.
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DENR Leads International Coastal Cleanup Day

After the cleanup, Cimatu will proceed to the site of the Manila Bay beach nourishment project to
check on the progress of the ongoing operation to fill a 500-meter portion of the bay area with
dolomite sand.
The project includes desilting and introduction of geo-intervention to prevent the sand from
being washed out.
Meanwhile, the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) will be taking the ICC Day
celebration to every home through the digital platform.
ICC is the world’s largest, volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment.
Every year, volunteers from over 100 countries descend on local beaches, rivers, lakes and canals to
show their commitment to cleaner waterways.
The Ocean Conservancy, the world’s largest organization focusing exclusively on the health of the
marine environment, has sponsored this annual event for the past 33 years.
For over a decade, the Philippines has had the most number of volunteers in the annual ICC Day
around the world.
Last year, more than 20,000 Filipino volunteers joined the cleanup in different areas in the
country.
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PH joins International Coastal Cleanup with gov’t warning

on coronavirus wastes
Published September 18, 2020, 8:51 PM
by Alexandria Dennise San Juan

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called on the public to properly
dispose “coronavirus wastes” such as single-use face masks and gloves which have become a new
form of pollution threatening marine life and ecosystems.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, chief coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response implementor in the
Visayas (NTF AGAINST COVID-19 / MANILA BULLETIN)

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu made the call on Friday in time with this year’s International Coastal
Cleanup (ICC), a global campaign to protect the ocean and its inhabitants, to be observed in the
country on Saturday, Sept. 9.
“The minimal disturbance in our oceans due to reduced water activities has led to a resurgence of
marine animals. However, we are threatening their existence again with our medical wastes—their
new nemesis,” Cimatu pointed out.
According to Cimatu, the Philippines will join the ICC Day but with some major adjustments such
as fewer volunteers, mostly government employees, due to safety concerns amid the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The DENR will lead a cleanup activity on the coast of Manila Bay on Roxas Boulevard to mark the
local observance of the event but unlike previous years, Cimatu said there will be no large
gatherings at the traditional sites on shores and creeks across the country.
Instead, Cimatu encouraged volunteers to conduct “safe and socially distant individual or small
group cleanups, or through at-home efforts to reduce plastic waste.”
“Our duty to keep our shorelines, rivers and waterways clean does not stop even with the
pandemic. It is a task that we should take on every single day,” he emphasized.
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PH joins International Coastal Cleanup with gov’t warning

on coronavirus wastes

After the cleanup, the DENR chief will proceed to the site of the Manila Bay beach nourishment
project to check on the progress of the ongoing operation to fill a 500-meter portion of the bay
area with dolomite sand.
The project includes desilting and introduction of geo-intervention to prevent the sand from
being washed out.
Aside from the coastal cleanup, the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) will also
conduct webinars and a virtual mini-concert to engage the public in celebrating the ICC Day even
at home.
“Fittingly, this year’s celebration follows the theme, ‘Safe Oceans Start at Home’ which will still
support and promote the protection and conservation of the oceans but within the safety of our
homes,” DENR Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary for Climate Change and concurrent BMB
Director Ricardo Calderon said.
The webinar, to be hosted by the BMB’s Coastal and Marine Division, will feature CleanSeas
Pilipinas and Planet CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation), while the mini-
concert will be live-streamed on its official Facebook page.
ICC is the world’s largest, volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment every year wherein
volunteers from over a hundred countries descend on local beaches, rivers, lakes, and canals to
show their commitment to cleaner waterways.
For over a decade, the Philippines has had the most number of volunteers in the annual ICC Day
around the world. Last year, more than 20,000 Filipino volunteers joined the cleanup in various
areas in the country.
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Public urged to join Int'l Coastal Cleanup by cleaning

homes
By Marita Moaje September 18, 2020, 6:00 pm

INT'L COASTAL CLEANUP DAY. The DENR encourages the public to participate in the International Coastal
Cleanup Day on Saturday (Sept. 19, 2020) by cleaning their own homes. The agency said that since mass gatherings
are discouraged due to Covid-19, the ICC Day would be done with a limited number of participants. (Photo from
DENR FB page)

MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is encouraging the
public to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day on Saturday from their own
homes.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the agency said that the ICC Day is the largest volunteer effort in
the world that is dedicated to the cleanup of oceans and waterways.
This year's celebration will be done differently amid the threat posed by the coronavirus disease
2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Despite the situation, the DENR National Capital Region said everyone may still participate in the
activity by cleaning their own homes and surroundings.
“This year thus, DENR National Capital Region will not be organizing coastal cleanups for
volunteers. Instead, we call on Metro Manilans to do the cleanup in their own homes,” The DENR
said.
It says that people may participate in the cleanup by downloading and using “Clean Swell”.
Clean Swell is a mobile application developed by Ocean Conservancy that will help volunteers to
easily record and directly upload each item of trash they collect during cleanups to the “Trash
Information and Data for Education and Solution” (TIDES) database of the Ocean Conservancy.
DENR states in its post that said the database will be used by scientists, different conservation
groups, government, and industry leaders to be able to study ocean trash and take action to
ensure that this trash does not end up in beaches.
“No need to head out to coastal areas or esteros to participate in the ICC! We only need to clean
our house and ensure that our trash does not end up in Manila Bay through the practice of waste
reduction and segregation-at-source,” the post said.
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Public urged to join Int'l Coastal Cleanup by cleaning

homes

This year's celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup Day becomes more significant at this
age as the country is in the middle of rehabilitation and make-over of the Manila Bay that includes
the beach nourishment project.
The DENR as well as the city government of Manila headed by Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’
Domagoso regularly do clean-ups not only in the Manila Bay coastal area but in creeks and other
tributaries leading to the bay.
The DENR would also conduct a series of webinars on proper disposal of garbage that includes
single-use plastics, face masks, personal protective equipment, and other medical health items
normally used nowadays which may be dangerous if just thrown together with other household
garbage.
Since group activities are prohibited to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the DENR encourages
everyone to clean their own house and surroundings.
“Indeed, safe oceans do start at home. So if we want a clean Manila Bay, we must practice
cleanliness in our house and immediate community,” the DENR said.
Despite the absence of a big celebration with the participation of the public like that of last year, a
symbolic celebration will be held on Saturday at the Manila Bay.
The Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) will close and re-route some streets in the city of
Manila to give way to the event and ensure that minimum health standards will still be imposed.
Starting from 5 a.m., motorists that will be plying Roxas Boulevard are advised to follow alternate
routes to avoid delay.
The MTPB said that invited participants to the event may park at the Roxas Boulevard
Southbound near the Manila Bay Activity Area and at the Roxas Boulevard Service Road parking
area. (PNA)
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Mga volunteer lalahok sa Int’l Coastal Clean-up 2020

September 18, 2020 @ 6:31 PM 11 hours ago

Manila, Philippines – Bilang selebrasyon ng International Coastal Cleanup Day ngayong taon
lalahok ang mga volunteer sa naturang okasyon na isang global na kampanya para protektahan
ang mga karagatan at mga taong nakatira sa baybayin nito.
Subalit ayon sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ngayon taon ay may
malaking pagbabago sa pagdalo dahil sa pinaiiral na pag-iingat upang maiwasan ang pagkakaroon
ng sakit dulot ng COVID-19.
Upang pasinayaan ang lokal na pagkilala sa araw ng ICC sa Setyembre 19, pangungunahan ng
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang isang clean-up activity sa
baybayin ng Manila Bay sa Roxas Boulevard na dadaluhan ng mga volunteer at empleyado ng
gobyerno.
Ayon kay DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, kaiba ito sa nakararaang taong selebrasyon kung saan
walang malakihang pagtitipon sa mga tradisyunal na lugar sa mga baybayin at mga estero sa
buong bansa nitong darating na araw ng ICC 2020.
Pinaaalalahanan ang mga volunteeer na ipatupad ang social distancing.
“Our duty to keep our shorelines, rivers and waterways clean does not stop with the pandemic. It
is a task that we should take on every single day,” sabi ni Cimatu.
Binigyan diin ni Cimatu ang wastong disposal ng coronavirus wastes, katulad ng minsanang gamit
ng face masks at gloves na naging bagong anyo ng polusyon na nakaaapekto sa marine life at mga
ecosystem.
“The minimal disturbance in our oceans due to reduced water activities has led to a resurgence of
marine animals. However, we are threatening their existence again with our medical wastes, their
new nemesis,” paliwanag pa ni Cimatu.
Matapos ang isasagawang clean-up, tutungo si Cimatu sa lugar kung saan ang beach nourishment
project ay isinasagawa upang i-check ang progress ng kasalukuyang operasyon para punuin ang
500-metro na bahagi ng bay area ng dolomite sand.
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Mga volunteer lalahok sa Int’l Coastal Clean-up 2020

Kasama sa proyekto ang pag-aalis ng putik at Geo-intervention para maiwasang magiba at

maanod ang mga buhangin.
Samantala, gagawin namang ng DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) na dalhin ang
selebrasyon ng ICC sa bawat tahanan sa pamamagitan ng online platform.
Ang BMB Coastal at Marine Division ay magho-host ng isang webinar ntungkol sa Clean Seas
Pilipinas at Planrt Cora (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) at isang mini-concert
na live streamed sa official Facebook page nito. Santi Celario
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Manila Bay opens to public on Saturday, Sept. 19, for clean-

up drive
Published September 18, 2020 8:31pm

The Manila Bay will be temporarily opened to the public on Saturday, September 19, for the
International Coastal Clean-up Day, according to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras.”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will also conduct an inspection
along Manila Bay to be led by Secretary Roy Cimatu.
The Phase 1 of the Manila Bay white sand project is expected to be completed on Saturday.
Earlier, the DENR said it is accelerating the dumping of synthetic white sand along the shores of
Manila Bay for the clean-up day.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said among those who will participate in the ICC are
Cimatu, and officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Metro
Manila Development Authority and the Manila City government.

Environmentalists and fisherfolk groups earlier criticized the project, calling it an artificial
rehabilitation and a waste of money.
A coalition of environmental advocates is also set to file a petition for writ of kalikasan against the
white sand project.
“We need to complete all documentation to file all the information and more importantly, we
would like to give the government a chance to rectify its error,” Infrawatch convenor Terry Ridon
said.
The writ of kalikasan is a remedy for unlawful actions which violate the right to a balanced and
healthful ecology.
Meanwhile, the DENR welcomed the petition. “Dapat nga matagal na nilang ginawa ‘yan,”
Antiporda said. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/MDM, GMA News
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Road closures, rerouting schemes for Manila Bay cleanup

on Sept. 19
Published September 18, 2020, 3:04 PM
by Minka Klaudia Tiangco

The Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) and Manila Police District (MPD) released the
road closures and traffic rerouting schemes for the International Coastal Cleanup in Manila Bay on
Saturday (September 19).
The northbound and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to President
Quirino Avenue will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. onwards.
Vehicles that will be coming from Bonifacio Drive that intend to use the southbound lane of Roxas
Boulevard must turn left to P. Burgos Avenue to the point of destination.
Those coming from Jones Bridge, McArthur Bridge, and Quezon Bridge who intend to use the
southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard should go straight to Taft Avenue to the point of destination.
Motorists plying the westbound lane of P. Burgos Avenue shall turn right to Bonifacio Drive or
make a U-turn to the eastbound lane of P. Burgos Avenue and turn right to Ma. Orosa Street to
the point of destination.
Those travelling from the westbound lane of TM Kalaw Street going to Roxas Boulevard must turn
left to MH Del Pilar Street to point of destination.
All vehicles that will be coming from the westbound lane of U.N. Avenue going to Roxas
Boulevard should turn left to MH Del Pilar Street or use the Roxas Boulevard service road to point
of destination.
Those coming from the westbound lane of Pres. Quirino Avenue shall utilize the southbound lane
of Roxas Boulevard or shall turn right to Roxas Boulevard service road to point of destination.
Motorists going to and from Manila Ocean Park or H20 Hotel must use Kalaw Avenue as access
road, while those coming to and from Manila Hotel must use Katigbak Drive as access road.
Parking spaces for VIP participants of the event shall be at Roxas Boulevard Southbound near
Manila Bay Walk activity area, while others may park at Roxas Boulevard Service Road Parking
areas.
The opening and closing of affected roads shall be based on actual traffic conditions on the said
date, the MPTB and MPD said.
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LOOK: Ang view na ito ng "white sand" sa Manila Bay ay kuha mula sa isang gusali sa Roxas
Boulevard nitong Huwebes ng umaga ni YouScooper Lester Hezeta. Nagkaroon ng inspeksyon ang
DENR, MMDA, at DILG sa lugar para sa nalalapit na International Coastal Clean-up Day sa
Sabado.
Kung may balita kayo na nais ibahagi sa GMA News, sumali at ipadala ito sa official YouScoop FB
group: GMA News YouScoopers
Photo: YouScooper Lester Hezeta
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DENR urges localized cleanup to avoid virus

By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol(The Freeman)
- September 19, 2020 - 12:00am

This strategy is in line with this year’s ICC theme: “Safe Oceans Start at Home”.

STAR/KJ Rosales, File

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has encouraged the
public for localized clean-up drives in today’s International Coastal Clean-up to prevent exposure
to Covid-19 virus.
While the local government units have been doing their respective activities, the DENR is
encouraging the rest to conduct localized clean-up drives instead in their respective homes.
This strategy is in line with this year’s ICC theme: “Safe Oceans Start at Home”.
As such, everyone is invited to participate in the celebration of the ICC 2020. Participants can join
as an individual, family, barkada or within a small community or as an institution or organization.
To be officially counted in this clean-up drive, participants will have to register via
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBJJxfC-
HJ7NGKGQFNjM4m1z8553gi6XpX8nrKItzhIfBicw/viewform
Participants are given the liberty to select their own clean-up site including their own backyard,
company premises, public places or nearest water body from residence or office such as rivers,
esteros, and coastal areas.
For those who want to join the clean-up in water bodies and public places are advised to
coordinate directly to the LGU concerned especially on the final disposal of the collected wastes.
During the actual clean-up activity, everyone is expected to observe the minimum health standard
set including wearing of face mask, social distancing and later on, washing of hands with soap and
disinfect with alcohol as well as the proper disposal of used gloves and masks.
Aside from that, participants are also encouraged to wear royal blue shirts and are expected to
download and use the ICC data card in recording the collected waste. The said form will be
available through email after a participant registered online.
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DENR urges localized cleanup to avoid virus

After the activity, participants will have to upload the collaged photo of their activity as well as the
ICC data card in the DENR Central Visayas Page together with the following details as caption:
Location of clean-up site, name of individual or family (use family name) or group/company,
number of clean-up participants, top 5 most collected type of waste and the total volume of
collected waste with hash tag #InternationalCoastalCleanup2020, #DENR7ICC2020 and
#SafeOceansStartatHome
The first 300 participants who have completed their upload today will receive an ICC face mask
that will be redeemed at the DENR-7 Regional Office located at Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.
— GMR (FREEMAN)
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Massive coastal cleanup set for Sept. 19: 8 Cebu City

waterways to be cleared
By: Delta Dyrecka Letigio - Multimedia Reporter - CDN Digital|September 18,2020 - 06:28 PM

The Mahiga Creek is one of eight Cebu City waterway to be cleaned tomorrow, September 19, which is part of the
massive cleanup drive of the government. It is also part of the International Cleanup Coastal Day. | file photo —
courtesy of Probe team

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Eight sites mostly mouths of rivers or major rivers and waterways in
Cebu City will undergo a massive cleanup or will be simultaneously cleaned tomorrow, September
19, 2020.
This activity is in line with the International Coastal Clean-up Day and a massive cleanup of
different waterways in the country will be undertaken with various local government units
expected to clean their coastal areas as well.
In Cebu City, the massive cleanup drive will be done by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) and the Cebu City government.
The eight waterways to be cleaned in the city include Mahiga Creek, Tejero Creek, Lahug River,
Guadalupe River, Bulacao River, and the shorelines of the South Road Properties and in Barangay
Mambaling.
According to Lormelyn Claudio, director of the Environment and Management Bureau of the
DENR-7, the cleanup in Cebu City was an order from Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu,
himself.
Cimatu stayed in Cebu for over a month to lead the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response
after a spike in cases.
The secretary was concerned with the polluted rivers especially the Mahiga Creek and the coastal
areas in Barangay Mambaling.
“We were ordered na linisin talaga ang mga rivers dito sa Cebu and we are committed to that,”
said Claudio.
(We were ordered to clean the rivers here in Cebu and we are committed to that.)
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Massive coastal cleanup set for Sept. 19: 8 Cebu City

waterways to be cleared

Meanwhile, Reymar Hijara, the sub committee chairperson for the Cebu Coastal Management
Task Force, said that the city government had provided backhoes, payloaders, and trucks for the
cleanup.
Furthermore, private companies also offered their heavy equipment for the activity.
Barangays near the clean-up areas also had their residents volunteer as manpower for the activity.
A launching ceremony will be conducted at the Il Corso mall at the SRP at 5 a.m., and the cleanup
is expected to be finished before noon.
Claudio also urged residents to contribute to the International Coastal Cleanup Day by cleaning
their own canals at home and the rest of their surroundings.
“We can contribute in many small ways kahit na hindi tayong lahat pwedeng dumalo sa coastal
clean-up dahil sa pandemic,” she said.
For his part, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who strongly advocates for environment protection in the
city, said the cleanup was just the beginning of the city’s rehabilation of the rivers to make them
sustainable for the future.
Rama said that the city planned to make massive cleanups a quarterly activity, but a more
sustainable weekly cleanup led by the barangays would continue throughout the year.
“Tomorrow is just a start of many clean-ups,” he said./dbs

Read more: https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/340607/massive-coastal-cleanup-set-for-sept-19-8-cebu-city-

waterways-to-be-cleared#ixzz6YR8567An
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EDITORIAL - Coastal cleanup

(Philstar.com)
- September 19, 2020 - 12:00am

The world marks International Coastal Cleanup day today amid a killer pandemic that
environmentalists say has exacerbated solid waste pollution. In the Philippines, the Climate
Change Commission has warned against the pollution resulting from increased consumption of
disposable face masks, latex gloves and other personal protective equipment or PPE during the
coronavirus pandemic.
As in all types of waste, the problem lies in improper disposal, whether in households, offices,
commercial or industrial establishments and health centers. There are protocols governing the
disposal of waste from hospitals and other health facilities. Pathological or biohazardous wastes
are supposed to be segregated from recyclable materials such as paper and plastic, with special
care given to the disposal of the pathological waste. Apart from hypodermic syringes, cotton buds
and bandages, used COVID testing kits, discarded face masks and PPEs fall under this category.
For households and non-health establishments, there are also laws and local ordinances governing
the proper disposal of different types of waste. Strict enforcement of the laws and ordinances must
be complemented by the provision of facilities for garbage disposal in public places, with waste
segregation encouraged. This is being done in shopping malls and other commercial
establishments, but they are still lacking in common public areas. If there are sanitary garbage
bins in strategic spots such as bus stops and public markets, there will be less incentive for
littering.
Better solid waste management is also needed at the community level including informal
settlements. It’s a challenge but it shouldn’t prove impossible to promote proper waste disposal
among informal settlers and marginalized fishing communities in coastal areas. This is the task of
local governments and barangay personnel.
International Coastal Cleanup Day is also being marked today amid debates over the development
of a manmade “white beach” in Manila’s Baywalk area. The 500-meter stretch consists of a meter-
thick layer of crushed dolomite laid over a foundation that employs Geotube technology to
prevent the reclaimed area from being washed into the sea in the first storm. The so-called
Boracay in Manila – meant as a showcase in the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay – is set to be
unveiled today. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has defended the project
and appealed to the public to give it a chance.
Additional waste arising from the pandemic should not aggravate the problem of coastal
pollution. The pre-pandemic responses needed for dealing with the problem remain the same:
lifestyle changes and the effective implementation of policies to promote sustainability.
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Bahagi ng Manila Bay na tinambakan ng 'white sand'

sandaling bubuksan sa Sabado
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Sep 17 2020 04:45 PM

MAYNILA — Sandaling bubuksan sa Sabado ang bahagi ng Manila Bay na tinambakan ng

dolomite dust para magmukha anilang "white sand" beach ala-Boracay.
Ayon sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), na nagpasimuno ng
kontrobersiyal na proyekto, handa na nilang buksan pansamantala sa publiko ang ilang bahagi ng
Manila Bay.
"This will be open after the event, pero swimming will not be allowed, puwede sila maglakad-
lakad diyan, picture-picture. After, isasara din po ulit dahil tatapusin pa," ani Environment
Undersecretary Benny Antiporda.
Sabi ni Antiporda, sa Sabado kasi inaasahang matatapos ang "phase one" ng naturang "beach
nourishment project."
Ang ikalawang phase naman ang isusunod kung saan tatabunan din ng dolomite ang 380 metrong
stretch ng Manila Bay.
• DENR’s Antiporda: Manila Bay makeover project began last year, but COVID-19 halted it
Dinurog na dolomite rock ang ginamit bilang artificial white sand sa Manila Bay, na bahagi ng
P389-milyon na beach nourishment project.
Marami ang pumuna sa sinasabing masamang epekto sa kalusugan ng paglanghap ng pinulbos na
dolomite. Hindi rin anila angkop ang proyekto sa gitna ng pandemya habang hikahos ang
maraming Pinoy.
Sinasabi ring maaaring anurin lang ang mga "white sand" lalo na kapag bumagyo. Itinanggi naman
ito ng DENR at sinabing pinag-aralan nilang maigi ang proyekto.
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DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda places crushed dolomite sand in an aquarium with fish to
prove that the recent fishkill in Baseco is not connected to the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila
Bay.
The DENR has launched an investigation on the reported fish kill but they have discounted the
possibility that the incident was caused by the ongoing “beach nourishment project," which
involves dumping of artificial white sand in the baywalk area of Manila Bay.
“It is erroneous to connect the incident to our beach nourishment project. The Baywalk area is
very far from the Baseco Compound. There is also a big divider between these two areas, which is
the breakwater,” Antiporda said.
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LOOK | Naglagay si DENR Usec. Benny Antiporda ng dolomite sand sa isang aquarium na may
mga isda upang mapatunayan na walang kinalaman ang kamakailang fish kill sa Baseco sa
rehanilitasyon ng Manila Bay.
Kuha ni Danny Querubin
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Fish kill due to dolomite? 'Imposible po 'yan', says DENR

official
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Sep 18 2020 11:18 AM
Watch more in iWant or TFC.tv

MANILA - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources denied Friday that the fish
mortality reported in the Baseco area was caused by the crushed dolomite used for the Manila Bay
makeover project.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the fish kill happened far from where their project is
located.
“Kung ang fish kill nangyari sa area po natin, doon po pupunta ang mga isdang patay doon po sa
area natin, which is 'yun po ang pinaka-catchbasin lalo na’t ganitong mayroong habagat,” he said
in an interview on ABS-CBN TeleRadyo.
Antiporda added: “Kaya imposible pong sa atin galing 'yan, na 'yung dolomite ang nakamatay.
Imposible po.”
The DENR official said dolomitic lime content neutralizes and controls the acid level of the water.
Antiporda said they also regularly conduct water sampling when the weather condition changes to
determine the dissolved oxygen level in the water, which could affect marine life.
“Gaya last year, Oct. 10, 2019 nangyari din po 'yan kung saan naglutangan ang mga isda dito
naman sa parte ng Parañaque na bumagsak po 'yung 6 milligram per liter po dapat na dissolved
oxygen level, bumagsak ng .02 kung kaya’t namatay ang mga isda nung tayo ay nagwater
sampling,” he said.
In a statement, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona said water
quality testing in Baseco showed that dissolved oxygen in the area was only at 0.11 mg/L, much
lower than the acceptable level of 5 mg/L for aquatic life. Gongona also cautioned against eating
fish that are not caught fresh and alive.
But he said they are not discounting other possibilities for the fish kill including the use of cyanide
in fishing and sabotage.
“Ang titingnan namin kung may traces ng cyanide. Titingnan din po namin kung ito po ba ay sa
fishing o merong nagsasabotahe to discredit the government,” he said.
The DENR said the bay enhancement project began last year and was only halted due to the
lockdown in Metro Manila.
“Tuloy-tuloy po yan unless itong mga kritiko natin makapaglabas ng matibay na ebidensiya na
nagsasabing meron pong problema dito sa proyekto,” he said.

Read More: Fish kill Baseco area fish kill dolomite Manila Bay enhancement project Benny Antiporda
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‘Fish kill not linked to Bay rehab’

posted September 18, 2020 at 11:50 pm
by Rio N. Araja

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday denied allegations that the
fishkill near Baseco compound was caused by the crushed dolomite used in the Manila Bay beach
‘nourishment’ project.
Antiporda issued the statement after several groups posted a video of floating dead fish in the
Baseco area which they claimed was connected to the dolomite used in Manila Bay.
“Very erroneous yung allegation na yun kasi if you will look at the distance talagang napakalayo
and at the same time yung direction ng hangin which is habagat ay hindi nagpo-point sa lugar na
yun (that allegation is very erroneous because if you look at the distance, the two areas are very far
from each other and at the same time, we have the southwest monsoon which means that the
direction of the wind does not point to the area where the alleged dead fish floated).”
Showing a map, Antiporda said the Manila Bay beach nourishment project is about five kilometers
away from the Baseco area where the alleged fish kill happened.
Aside from the distance and the wind direction, Antiporda added that there is a breakwater
between the two areas.
He added that the DENR immediately instructed its Biodiversity Management Bureau to conduct
an investigation and look at the possible cause of the reported fish kill.
Instead, DENR Undersecretary and spokesperson Benny Antiporda said the fishkill was probably
caused by illegal fishing.
“We are not discounting illegal fishing using cyanide in the area,” Antiporda said.
The DENR official said that during early October last year, a similar incident occurred at the Las
Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) where about two tons of dead
fish were found floating.
Antiporda said that on Oct. 10, 2019, a fish kill also happened along Manila Bay’s Parañaque City
area when the oxygen level went down to as low as .02 milligram per liter.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the water quality testing in Baseco showed
that dissolved oxygen in the area was only at 0.11 mg/L, much lower than the acceptable level of 5
mg/L for aquatic life.
“We will check on the water quality first to see if this was not done intentionally or if there was a
change in the salinity of the water. We are now looking at the possibilities,” Antiporda said.
Antiporda added that the DENR is also not discounting the possibility that somebody might be
trying to sabotage the situation.
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‘Fish kill not linked to Bay rehab’

“We want to set the record straight but we are not discounting na me mga ganung moves na
ngayon, kasi these are desperate moves eh, desperate times eh, eto na lang yung paraan nila para
i-discredit yung ginagawa ng gobyerno kaya sa atin naman, nag-iingat din kami, we’re trying to
look at all the angles na makita kung ano talaga yung tunay na nangyari (that there may be similar
moves. These are desperate times, desperate moves, this is the only way they see to discredit
government efforts, so we are also cautious and are looking at different angles so we would know
what really happened),” he said.
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Malacañang dudang dolomite ang sanhi ng Manila Bay fish

kill; pruweba mali-mali
By James Relativo(Philstar.com)
- September 18, 2020 - 7:25pm

Kuha nina presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (kaliwa), pagtatambak ng dolomite "white sand" sa Manila Bay
(gawing itaas sa kanan) at fish kill sa Baseco sa parehong anyong tubig (gawing ibaba sa kanan)

MANILA, Philippines — Kamot-ulo ngayon si presidential spokesperson Harry Roque sa mga

nagtatangkang ikabit ang pagkamatay ng mga isda sa Manila Bay sa pagtatambak ng synthetic
"white sand" — gayunpaman, hindi lapat sa katotohanan ang kanyang mga mga dahilan ng
pagdududa rito.
Kahapon kasi nang mag-viral ang ilang litrato at video ng Manila Bay kung saan makikitang
palutang-lutang ang mga patay na isda, maliban sa pamumuti ng tubig. Dahil diyan,
nangangamba ang ilang grupo na baka may kinalaman ang dolomite dito lalo na't itinuturing
itong health hazard.
Pero ayon kay Roque, Biyernes, kahina-hinalang may nakitang patay na fresh water tilapia Manila
Bay lalo na't "hindi ito mabubuhay sa tubig alat." Dahil diyan, dapat daw alamin kung may
nananabotahe sa beautification project ng gobyerno — na wari'y nagpapasaring na itinambak lang
ang bangkay ng mga isda roon.
"Well hindi ko po alam kung meron pong sabotahe. Pinag-aaralan nga po 'yan. Pero ang
nakapagtataka nga, ang tilapia, fresh water fish, nakarating po sa Manila Bay. Parang imposible
naman 'yon, dahil hindi po mabubuhay ang tilapia sa Manila Bay,"
"Kahit anong sabihin nila, kahit anong gawin nila, nagtitiwala pa rin po ang sambayanang Pilipino
kay Presidente Duterte."
Una nang sinabi ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) napakababa ng dissolved
oxygen sa tubig, bagay na maaaring ikinamatay ng mga isda.
"The result of the water quality testing in the Baseco Area indicated very low level of dissolved
oxygen (DO) at 0.11 mg/L. The acceptable level for marine waters is 5 mg/L," wika ni Gongona.
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‘SOMETHING FISHY’ | Palace questions the presence of

tilapia among fish kill in Manila Bay
September 18, 2020 , 06:03 PM

(September 18, 2020) — The Palace said on Friday that it was “strange” to find the freshwater
tilapia found among the thousands of dead fish found in Manila Bay.
The environment department previously raised the possibility of sabotage and the use of cyanide,
while outright dismissing as “impossible” for the spread of crushed dolomite from the Manila Bay
beach nourishment project as the cause for the fish kill along the Baseco compound.
“Bakit ang tilapia, freshwater fish iyon, nakarating sa Manila Bay? Parang imposible naman iyon
‘no dahil hindi po mabubuhay ang tilapia sa saltwater,” government spokesman Harry Roque
argued on Friday.
The southern part of Manila Bay is open to the South China Sea, but its northern portion is fed by
freshwater discharges from the Pampanga River Basin and the Pasig River–an outlet of the Laguna
Lake.
“Well, hindi ko po alam kung mayroon ngang sabotahe, pinag-aaralan pa po iyan. Pero
nakapagtataka nga,” Roque added.
Some groups speculated that the fish kill was due to the tons of crushed dolomite, or calcium
magnesium carbonate, being used to simulate a “white beach” in a half kilometer stretch of Manila
Bay in front of the US embassy.
But the Department of Environmant and Natural Resources (DENR) said this was impossible due
to the breakwaters installed between the beach nourishment project and the Baseco compound.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda was even shown “proving” dolomite was safe by using the
sediment with goldfishes in an aquarium set-up.
He added on Thursday that the fish kill incident was not new to Baseco, as it also occurred
October last year due to low dissolved oxygen levels.
Tropical Storm Leon also just left the Philippine area of responsibility through the South China
Sea, after bringing strong winds and rains to the western part of the country.
The government said the fish kill could have been done by saboteurs.
“So ingat-ingat lang po tayo sa panahon ngayon desperado po ang kalaban ng gobyerno, lahat po
ginagawa para siraan si Presidente Duterte. At nagpapasalamat po kami kahit anong sabihin nila,
kahit anong gawin nila, nagtitiwala pa rin po ang sambayanang Pilipino kay Presidente Duterte,”
Roque said.
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Palasyo sa publiko: Mag-ingat sa naninira sa Manila Bay

white sand project

September 18, 2020 @ 6:47 PM 10 hours ago

Manila, Philippines – Pinag-iingat ng Malakanyang taumbayan sa mga desperadong kalaban ng

pamahalaan.
Ito’y matapos na maglutangan ang mga patay na isda sa Manila Bay habang inilalatag at pinapatag
ang white sand sa nasabing lugar.
“Ang nakapagtataka nga, bakit ang tilapia, freshwater fish iyong nakarating sa Manila Bay. Parang
imposible naman iyon ‘no dahil hindi po mabubuhay ang tilapia sa saltwater,” ayon kay
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
“So, ingat-ingat lang po tayo sa panahon ngayon desperado po ang kalaban ng gobyerno, lahat po
ginagawa para siraan si Presidente (Rodrigo Roa) Duterte,” dagdag na pahayag ni Sec. Roque.
Sa kabilang dako, wala namang ideya si Sec. Roque kung may nangyayaring pananabotahe para
sirain ang white sand project ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Well, hindi ko po alam kung mayroon ngang sabotahe, pinag-aaralan pa po iyan,” giit ni Sec.
Roque.
Sa ulat, sinabi ni DENR Usec. Benny Antiporda na hindi nila iniaalis ang posibilidad na may
pananabotahe sa nangyaring fish kill kaya’t agad nilang isasagawa ang check water quality sa
tubig ng Manila Bay kung saan natagpuan ang mga patay na isda.
“Check water quality first (ng tubig sa Manila Bay),” ani pa ni Usec Antiporda.
Magugunitang nitong nakalipas na buwan ay isinagawa ang paglalagay ng dolomite sa paligid ng
Manila Bay bilang isa sa hakbang sa isinagawang rehabilitasyon ng Manila Bay at paglilinis sa
naturang baybayin.
Sinabi pa ni Usec. Antiporda na nitong nakalipas na taon nagkaroon na rin ng fish kill sa paligid
ng Manila Bay kung kaya’t mahigpit nilang iimbestigahan kung may kinalaman nga sa dolomite
ang naganap na fish kill.
Batay pa sa DENR, kabilang sa iimbestigahan ng ahensya ang dahilan ng fish kill ay ang dissolve
oxygen at water level ng Manila Bay at maaaring hindi ang isyu ng dolomite.
Samantala, nagpapasalamat naman ang Malakanyang dahil kahit anong sabihin, kahit anong
gawin ng mga kalaban ng gobyerno at ni Pangulong Duterte ay nagtitiwala pa rin ang
sambayanang Pilipino sa Chief Executive. Kris Jose
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Palace scores gov’t critics after fish kill in Manila Bay

Published September 18, 2020 5:11pm
By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News

Malacañang on Friday slammed critics of President Rodrigo Duterte amid speculation about the
possible cause of the recent fish kill in Manila Bay, which is undergoing rehabilitation.
At a news conference in Baguio City, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government
is still investigating the incident, including the angle of sabotage.
“Hindi ko po alam kung mayroon ngang sabotahe, pinag-aaralan pa po iyan,” he said.
“Pero ang nakapagtataka nga, bakit ang tilapia, freshwater fish iyong nakarating sa Manila Bay.
Parang imposible naman iyon dahil hindi po mabubuhay ang tilapia sa saltwater.”
Roque added: “Ingat-ingat lang po tayo sa panahon ngayon desperado po ang kalaban ng
gobyerno, lahat po ginagawa para siraan si Presidente Duterte.”
Earlier in the day, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said they are not
discounting sabotage amid the ongoing rehabilitation project there.
Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Antiporda said the site of the fish kill, Baseco Compound,
was far from the Manila Bay area where crushed dolomite rocks are being poured on the shoreline
to give it a "white sand" effect.
Aside from possible sabotage by anti-government groups, Antiporda said they are also looking
into possible illegal fishing in the area.—AOL, GMA News
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Sabotage? Palace doubts dolomite white sand project linked

to Manila Bay fish kill
Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Sep 18 2020 03:57 PM | Updated as of Sep 18 2020 05:59 PM

Residents of Baseco gather by the breakwater to see dead fish floating in Manila Bay on September 17, 2020. George
Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA— Government is looking at supposed efforts to sabotage the government's synthetic

white sand project at the Manila Bay following reports of a fish kill.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque warned the public against efforts to undermine President
Rodrigo Duterte's administration following the fish kill report.
"Hindi ko po alam kung mayroon ngang sabotahe, pinag-aaralan pa po iyan," Roque said, noting
that freshwater fish tilapia was among those reportedly found dead on the shores of the Manila
Bay earlier this week.
(I don't know if it's sabotage but we're looking into that.)
"Ingat-ingat lang po tayo sa panahon ngayon desperado po ang kalaban ng gobyerno, lahat po
ginagawa para siraan si Presidente Duterte," he said.
(Let's be careful because many enemies of the government are desperate now. They're doing
everything to ruin President Duterte.)
Also on Friday, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said it was "impossible" for the
government project to be the cause of the reported fish mortality in the Baseco area.
The fish kill report came after environmental groups and some lawmakers criticized the dumping
of synthetic white sand made of crushed dolomite at the Manila Bay as an unnecessary component
of the rehabilitation project.
• Fish kill due to dolomite? 'Imposible po 'yan', says DENR official
In an earlier statement, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona
said that water quality testing at the bay in Baseco, where dead fish were found, showed that
dissolved oxygen in the area was only at 0.11 mg/L, much lower than the acceptable level of 5 mg/L
for aquatic life.

Read More: dolomite Malacañang Manila Bay fish kill dolomite dolomite project Manila Bay Manila Bay white
sand Manila Bay rehabilitation Manila Bay rehab
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What we know so far: The recent fish kill near Baseco and
the controversial Manila Bay white sand project
By Catalina Ricci S. Madarang
- September 18, 2020 - 7:22 PM

Manila Bay seen without garbage after the cleanup led by the DENR. (Photo by Edd Gumban/STAR)

Palace viewed the criticisms against the Manila Bay project as a smear campaign against the
Duterte administration despite possible environmental and health risks to the residents who live
nearby.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is recently in hot water over its
Manila Bay “white sand” project worth a hefty P349 million. The agency sought to fill 500 meters
stretch of the bay walk on Roxas Boulevard with pulverized dolomite rocks from Cebu amid the
novel coronavirus pandemic.
This initiative is part of its plan to revive the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program, which was
launched in 2017.
Such initiative earned severe backlash from environmental groups and other concerned Filipinos,
including Vice President Leni Robredo who argued that the budget could have been directed to
the government’s pandemic response.
Last Thursday, September 17, Regine Nequia, the president of Baseco Seaside Neighborhood
Association (BASA), posted photos and videos on Facebook of hundreds of dead fish floating in
Manila Bay near the Baseco seawall.
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Fishkill sa Manila Bay, hindi dulot ng dolomite – BFAR

By Danilo Garcia(Pilipino Star Ngayon)
- September 18, 2020 - 12:00am

Ito ang resulta ng pag-aaral ng DENR-BFAR sa kalidad ng tubig ukol sa napaulat na fishkill sa Manila Bay sa bahagi ng
Baseco, Tondo.
Edd Gumban

MANILA, Philippines — Mababang lebel ng oxygen’sa tubig ang naging dahilan sa naganap na
fishkill sa Manila Bay at hindi dahil sa dolomite, ayon sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) kahapon.
Ito ang resulta ng pag-aaral ng DENR-BFAR sa kalidad ng tubig ukol sa napaulat na fishkill sa
Manila Bay sa bahagi ng Baseco, Tondo.
Ayon sa BFAR, alas-5 pa ng madaling araw noong Setyembre 15 nang matagpuan ng mga residente
ang mga naglutangang patay na isda matapos ang malakas na ulan. Umabot umano sa 10 kilo ng
isda ang natagpuang patay.
Nagpadala ng grupo ang BFAR para magsagawa ng imbestigasyon nitong Setyembre 16 at kumuha
ng sampol ng tubig.
“The result of the water quality testing in the Baseco Area indicated very low level of dissolved
oxygen (DO) at 0.11 mg/L. The acceptable level for marine waters is 5 mg/L,” ayon kay BFAR
Executive Director Eduardo Gongona.
Ang resulta ng pagsusuri ng BFAR ay kumokontra sa hinala ng isang opisyal ng Baseco Seaside
Neighborhood Association na posibleng epekto ng dolomite sand ang fishkill.
Isang video post sa Facebook page na Urban Poor Associates ang kumakalat kahapon ukol sa
fishkill. Ito umano ang unang pagkakataon na nagkaroon ng fishkill sa lugar.
“The community now worries that this might be the effect of the dolomite ‘white sand’ as part of
the Manila Bay Rehabilitation,” ayon sa post.
Makaraang madiskubre na mababang oxygen level ang dahilan ng fishkill, ipinayo na lamang ng
BFAR na mag-ingat sa pagkain ng mga lumutang na isda na maaaring may masamang epekto sa
kalusugan.
Wala na ring na-monitor na lumutang na mga patay na isda ang BFAR kahapon sa Manila Bay.
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Hindi pa matiyak ng BFAR kung ang pagtatambak nga ng artificial white sand o crushed dolomite
ang dahilan ng fish kill sa Manila Bay.
BFAR can't even determine if the crunching of artificial white sand or crushed dolomite is the
reason for the fish kill in Manila Bay.
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Mababang lebel ng dissolved oxygen, 'sanhi' ng fish kill sa

Manila Bay
Setyembre 18, 2020 8:38am GMT+08:00
Mababang lebel ng dissolved oxygen sa tubig ang tinitingnang dahilan sa pagkamatay ng mga isda
sa Manila Bay na naglutangan noong Huwebes ng umaga sa may Baseco Beach sa Tondo, Maynila.
Iniulat ng Unang Balita nitong Biyernes na batay sa water sample na nakuha, 0.11 milligram sa
bawat litro ng tubig ang dissolved oxygen.

Ayon umano sa mga eksperto, five milligrams per liter ang "acceptable" na lebel ng dissolved
oxygen, dagdag ng balita.
Batay sa panayam ni GMA News reporter na is Mai Bermudez sa mga residente, may mga ilang
taga-Baseco Compound ang nanguguha ng patay na isda at niluto. Ayon pa sa isang nakapanayam,
may ilang mga residente rin ang nagbenta ng mga napulot na isda na dinala nila sa palengke.
Patuloy naman ang mga tauhan ng MMDA sa paghahakot ng mga lumulutang na isda. —LBG,
GMA News
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Sa kabila ng pahayag ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) na ang mababang
oxygen level ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng mga isda sa Baseco Compound sa Maynila, nais pa rin
ng isang grupo na maimbestigahan ito.
Ayon sa Baseco Seaside Neighborhood Association, fake news ang pahayag ng BFAR na 10 kilong
isda lang ang nasawi.

Read more: https://radyo.inquirer.net/265241/watch-biglaang-pagkamatay-ng-libu-libong-isda-sa-manila-by-

pinaiimbestigahan#ixzz6YRBKAO6Y
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
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Masangsang na amoy ng Manila Bay fish kill tagos sa face

mask, inirereklamo na
Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Sep 18 2020 08:00 PM

MAYNILA — Hirap makatulog at di makakain si Victoria dela Peña at ang kanyang mga apo dahil
sa masangsang na amoy dala ng mga patay na isda na naglutangan sa Baseco beach ng Manila Bay.
Tagos sa face mask ang masangsang na amoy galing sa mga patay na isda.
"Mabaho nga pero sige lang, tinitiis lang namin. Kain pa rin kami," aniya.
Ayon naman kay Crisologo Japay, hindi na bago sa mga taga-Baseco ang makakita ng fish kill.
Sa anim na taon niyang paninirahan sa gilid ng Baseco beach ay may ilang pagkakataon na ring
nagkaroon ng fish kill sa kanilang lugar.
"Minsan sa isang taon, dalawa o tatlong beses 'yan nangyari sa amin," aniya.
Dagdag pa ni Japay, sa dami ng mga nakuhang patay na isda, ang iba ay kinain na lang nila.
Ayon sa grupong Pamalakaya, ang fish kill ay indikasyon ng patuloy na pagkasira ng Manila Bay.
Ito raw ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources at
hindi ang beach nourishment o ang pagtatambak ng puting buhangin sa dalampasigan.
"Ito ang aming panawagan na ito dapat ang inuna ng DENR," ani Fernando Hicap, national
chairperson ng Pamalakaya.
Bagama't wala pang ebidensya na mag-uugnay sa fish kill sa paglalatag ng artificial white sand sa
Manila Bay, hiling nila sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) na imbestigahan ang
pagkamatay ng mga isda.
Nagbabala naman ang BFAR sa mga residenteng kumakain ng isda mula sa fish kill sa Baseco.
"'Wag na kainin ang mga lumutang na isda, lalo na kung nade-decompose na para sa
pangkalahatang kaligtasan ng publiko," ani Nazzer Briguera, BFAR chief information officer.
Sinabi naman ni DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda na malabo na ang crushed dolomite na
itinatambak sa Manila Bay ang naging sanhi ng pagkamatay ng mga isda.
Samantala, balak naman ng grupong Manila Baywatch na magsampa ng petition ng writ of
kalikasan laban sa pagtatambak ng crushed dolomite sa Manila Bay.
Ayon sa grupo, may violation ang DENR at Department of Public Works and Highways sa
proyekto dahil isinagawa ito nang walang environmental compliance certificate.
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Writ of Kalikasan readied vs dolomite dumping in Manila

Bay
Published September 18, 2020, 7:38 PM
by Ben Rosario

Environmental advocates are readying the filing before the court of a Writ of Kalikasan to stop the
dumping of allegedly hazardous crushed dolomite along the coast of Manila Bay.
Manila Baywatch, a coalition of environmental protection activists, revealed that they have started
a case buildup to back the petition.
Various environmental groups have also vowed to file their own petitions for the issuance of a
Writ of Kalikasan, a legal remedy available to individuals or groups of individuals seeking
protection of their constitutional right to a healthy environment.
Lawyer Terry Ridon, InfraWatch convenor and Manila Baywatch coalition member, said the court
order is needed to stop the dumping of dolomite at Manila Bay as part of the clean-up and
beautification drive in the area.
“By proceeding with project implementation without an Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC), the project is subjecting the public and the environment to undetermined environmental
and health risks,” said Ridon.
Ridon had previously petitioned and was granted by the Supreme Court a Writ of Kalikasan
against the coal-fired power plant in Subic Bay in 2012.
“More important, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had violated DENR regulations on
environmental compliance, because the project location is in an area with tourist potential and
unique historical interest,” he said.
The former Kabataan party-list congressman said these are two requirements for coverage, not
exemption from the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
“As such, admitting that the project did not undergo the proper process, there is a clear prima
facie case for a Writ of Kalikasan and an environmental protection order,” he stressed.
The watchdog convenor noted that the jurisdictional requirement for a writ is met, given the 190-
km bay covers two provinces and several cities.
Given these deficiencies, the petition should be in order to prevent further destruction of the
Manila Bay ecological system.
Meanwhile, the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan) has stated that the
writ is a necessary step to mitigate the negative impact of the dolomite dumping with the fishing
communities in the area.
“The dumping has already reduced our fishing grounds and the possibility of re-establishing
mangroves forest in the area. The consequences, including economic, health, and environmental
impact necessitates a Writ of Kalikasan to assert our right for a balanced and sustainable marine
ecosystem in Manila Bay,” said Gia Glarino, Research and Communications Coordinator of
Kalikasan.
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Writ of Kalikasan readied vs dolomite dumping in Manila

Bay

Science and Technology group Agham stated that the white sand dumping is only a short-term
intervention with no contribution to the Manila Bay rehabilitation. The organization added the
white sand erodes, as Manila remains vulnerable to typhoons.
“The coastline of Manila Bay is prone to strong waves during typhoons that can erode the coasts.
The risk remains, given the number of typhoons in the country” said Narod Eco of Agham.
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Manila Bay 'white sand' critics to file writ of kalikasan vs

dolomite dumping
(Philstar.com)
- September 18, 2020 - 5:00pm

Organizations protest the dumping of crushed dolomite rocks along the coastline of Manila Bay on Sept. 11, 2020.

The STAR/Edd Gumban

MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of environmental advocates and communities is set to file a

petition for writ of Kalikasan against the dumping of artificial white sand along the shoreline of
Manila Bay.
In a release Friday, Manila Baywatch said it is set to file the petition “at the earliest time” as the
coalition builds up a case against the government’s beach nourishment project.
A writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy for persons or organizations whose constitutional right to a
balanced and healthful ecology is violated or threatened.
“By proceeding with project implementation without an environmental compliance certificate, the
project is subjecting the public and the environment to undetermined health risks,” Terry Ridon,
Infrawatch PH convenor said.
He noted that the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of
Public Works and Highways violated DENR regulations.
The “beach nourishment” project—classified as an “enhancement” project—was issued a
certificate of non-coverage. CNC is issued by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau to
certify that the undertaking is not covered by the country’s Environmental Impact Statement
system and is not required to secure an ECC.
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Manila Bay 'white sand' critics to file writ of kalikasan vs

dolomite dumping

“These (tourist potential and unique historical interest) are two requirements necessitating
coverage, not exemption, from the Environmental Impact Assessment process as there are
environmentally critical areas under DENR law and regulation. As such, admitting that the project
did not go undergo the proper process, there is a clear prima facie case for a writ of kalikasan and
an environmental protection order,” Ridon said.
Gia Glarino, research and communications coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the
Enviroment, said the issuance of the writ is an important step to mitigate the negative impacts of
the dumping of crushed dolomite rocks.
“The consequences, including economic, health and environmental impacts, necessitate a writ of
kalikasan to assert our right for a balanced and sustainable marine ecosystem in Manila Bay,” she
said.
Government officials said that the “beach nourishment” project is part of the government’s
rehabilitation program for the degraded bay. They also said that dolomite sand would prevent
erosion and neutralize the acidity of the water.
But for groups advocating “genuine rehabilitation” for the bay, the project will pose harm not only
to marine ecosystem but also to communities around the area.
The overlaying of synthetic white sand along the shore of Manila is expected to be done by
September 19, in time for the International Coastal Clean-up Day. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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Manila asks BFAR: Probe bay fish kill

By Marc Jayson Cayabyab(Philstar.com)
- September 19, 2020 - 12:00am

The BFAR told the city government that the fish spotted along the Baseco seawall Wednesday died due to low levels
of oxygen in the polluted waters, Leonen added.

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Manila has asked the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to look into the fish kill in Manila Bay along the Baseco seawall in
Tondo that groups blamed on the dolomite sand project, an official said yesterday.
City hall information officer Julius Leonen said they have referred the matter to BFAR national
director Eduardo Gongona for appropriate action and investigation.
The BFAR told the city government that the fish spotted along the Baseco seawall Wednesday
died due to low levels of oxygen in the polluted waters, Leonen added.
The BFAR also described the incident as “fish mortalities,” noting that on Tuesday, residents saw
species of fish like biya, kanduli, asohos, and tilapia gasping for air after a heavy rainfall.
In the BFAR’s initial water quality analysis, the water sample from the Baseco area also showed a
low level of dissolved oxygen at 0.11 milligram/liter. The acceptable level for marine waters is at 5
mg/l, the bureau said.
A video of the fish kill went viral after it was uploaded by the group Urban Poor Associates on
Facebook, quoting urban poor leader Regine Nequia as saying it was their first time to see a fish
kill along the Baseco seawall.
“The community now worries that this might be the effect of the dolomite ‘white sand’ as part of
the Manila Bay Rehabilitation,” the group said in the post.
In a separate statement, Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should be addressing the environmental degradation
of Manila Bay, “not busying itself with… ephemeral aesthetics” such as the “beach nourishment”
project involving crushed dolomite at the Manila Bay’s shoreline.
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DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda denied the dolomite sand project caused the fish kill,
noting that the “nourishment area” where dolomite sand was dumped along Roxas Boulevard is far
from the Baseco seawall.
Meanwhile, environmental coalition Manila Baywatch said yesterday it is set to file a writ of
kalikasan against the dumping of dolomite along the shoreline in Manila’s Baywalk.
Coalition member Terry Ridon said the project was implemented without an environmental
compliance certificate (ECC).
He also said the DENR and the Department of Public Works and Highways violated DENR
regulations on the ECC since the location is in an area with tourist potential and unique historical
interest. – Rhodina Villanueva
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LMP supports Province’s call to stop dolomite extraction in

Alcoy

THE League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter has issued a resolution
supporting the Cebu Provincial Government in its effort against the domestic transport and sale of
dolomite and other minerals in any market.

The LMP issued the resolution after the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) admitted that the
dolomite used to make “white sand” for the development of Manila Bay is from the southeastern
town of Alcoy.

The resolution was signed and supported by the mayors of Cebu’s 44 towns and three component
cities.

Included in the signatories is Alcoy, Cebu Mayor Michael Angelo Sestoso whose town is where the
Dolomite Mining Corp. (DMC) is operating.

The LMP, under Resolution 70, said that if left without examination of its environmental impact,
the “persistent dolomite extraction in Alcoy and the consequential damage it will cause the
environment of Cebu island violate the constitutionally protected right of the Cebuanos and result
in irreparable and unquantifiable harm to them.”

Earlier in September, about 3,500 metric tons of dolomite mined from Alcoy was shipped to
Manila to serve as filling materials for the development project of Manila Bay.

Upon review, the Cebu Provincial Government found that no public consultation was made in
Alcoy and in the Province regarding the transport of the materials, contrary to what was agreed in
DMC’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).

Due to this, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued a cease and desist order against DMC and its partner,
Philippine Mining Service Corp. (ANV / JKV)
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DENR bats for sustainable bamboo industry in PH

By Marita Moaje September 18, 2020, 3:41 pm

WORLD BAMBOO DAY. In commemoration of the World Bamboo Day, the DENR conducted simultaneous bamboo
planting in 99 sites nationwide on Friday (Sept. 18, 2020). Being one of the world's fastest growing plants, the agency
is looking at planting bamboo to hasten the increase of Philippine forest cover. (Photo from DENR FB page)

MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday drummed
up the importance of bamboo as it aims to establish a sustainable bamboo industry in the country.
“Because DENR takes charge of the raw materials, we would like to raise awareness on the
importance of planting and investing on bamboo as we consider it as the green gold of our forest,”
Lourdes Wagan, director of the DENR Forest Management Bureau, during the kickoff of the
bamboo planting activity held at the Batasang Pambansa in celebration of the World Bamboo Day.
A simultaneous planting activity was also held in 99 sites nationwide.
Wagan said aside from the bamboo’s vital role in soil stabilization, erosion control, sequestration
of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it is a vital remediation material that can reduce exposure
to toxic environmental contaminants.
Being one of the world's fastest-growing plants, she said bamboo plantation development can
hasten the increase of the country's forest cover because it grows faster than any other plant and
contributes to the improvement of air quality as it produces 35 percent more oxygen than trees.
Wagan said that from 2011 to 2019, the DENR has already established 84,000 hectares of land for
bamboo and that next year, the agency is targeting to plant more than 50 percent of their target.
“The department envisions to develop sustainable plantation as an alternative support to the
wood industry kasi ang dami dami nating ngayong ini-import na mga (because the country now
has so many imported) materials and hopefully in the future, we will be entering into engineered
bamboo,” she said.
She added that even the mining sectors through the Mines and Geosciences have already
committed to establishing at least 14,000 hectares of bamboo plantations across the country.
Under the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP), the government’s flagship reforestation
initiative, the DENR is set to cover 16,867 hectares of land nationwide with bamboo trees. (PNA)
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Industrial garbage back in S. Korea: BOC exec

By Nef Luczon September 18, 2020, 9:58 pm

GARBAGE GONE. The before and after drone shot of the dumped South Korean trash in Verde Soko site in Barangay
Sta. Cruz in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental provided by the Bureau of Customs. BOC-Region 10 says the last batch of the
7,500 metric tons of 'misdeclared' cargoes was shipped back to South Korea on Sept. 15, 2020. (Photo courtesy of
Agnelo Andrade/BOC-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The 7,500 metric tons of industrial garbage that were dumped in the
Misamis Oriental town of Tagoloan have all been shipped back to its place of origin in South
Korea after two years, a Customs official said, calling it a "victory for Filipinos".

In a statement Friday, John Simon, Bureau of Customs-Region 10 (BOC-10) district collector, said
the shipment of the last batch of garbage on September 15 was a way of sending a message to other
countries that the Philippines is not a dumping site of their wastes.

Simon also called on other countries to comply with the International Agreement on the Control
of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal otherwise known as the
Basel Agreement to prevent environmental crimes.

A final report provided Friday by Angelo Andrade, BOC-10 information focal person, indicated
that the tons of garbage--misdeclared as "plastic synthetic flakes--were shipped within a period of
nine months, beginning on January 13 this year, in seven batches.

"Re-exporting more than 364 containers back to Pyongtaek, South Korea has not been an easy task
for the Philippine government as this shipment when apprehended in October 2018 has already
entered in Philippine territory in July 2018. The Korean smugglers who were responsible used
powerful connections in both public and private sectors to accomplish their crime," Andrade said
in the report.

Andrade also noted that volunteer-citizens had to shell out close to PHP10 million to re-export the
trash that entailed the repacking, fumigating 324 containers, and purchasing 20,000 tonner bags,
as well as the hauling and transporting of the containers to the docking area.

"In order to fast track the re-exportation several groups volunteered their expertise, resources and
technology to mechanize the procedure. The Philippine Sinter Corporation which designed and
constructed the steel funnel and ramp to accelerate the bagging and hauling of the waste. The
Department of Public Works and Highways lend their heavy equipment and operators to assist in
the hauling process," Andrade said.
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Simon acknowledged the assistance of private groups in returning the garbage to South Korea.

“I am proud that in the end we had triumphed over all their difficulties despite our shortcomings,
so we expect the Korean government will extend more effort in fighting environmental crime in
the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

The charges were filed against Korean nationals Chul Soo Chu alias Charles Cho, Jae Ryong Cho,
and Sena Na for violation of Republic Act 6969 or Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear
Waste Control Act including violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The suspects remain at-large.

According to BOC-10, the South Korean trash was the biggest volume of smuggled waste that was
apprehended in the Philippines, which became the first country in Southeast Asia to successfully
re-export garbage back to its origin. (PNA)
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Climate body: Dispose plastic waste properly

ByEireene Jairee Gomez

September 19, 2020

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is calling for proper plastic waste management and
disposal in the Philippines amid the surge of plastic pollution due to the global production and
consumption of single-use masks, latex gloves, personal protective equipment (PPE), alcohol and
hand sanitizer bottles, and disposable cleaning agents.
In a statement on Thursday, the CCC highlighted the existing and growing health and safety
concerns amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. It warned that plastic waste may end
up in the, break into microplastics and be mistaken for food by marine animals, including fish,
which humans also consume.
According to a 2018 report by the World Wide Fund for Nature, up to 74 percent of plastic in the
Philippines ending up in the ocean is from waste already collected.
The Philippines is the world’s biggest polluter after China and Indonesia, with 2.7 million metric
tons of plastic waste generated each year.
The CCC also expressed concern on the increasing volume of single-use plastic wastes from
takeout and online shopping deliveries.
“As Covid-19 restricted public mobility, online shopping and food delivery services, often using
single-use plastics, have further encumbered our waste management system. With this, the CCC
called on local governments and citizens to help in addressing plastic pollution generated during
this global health crisis,” it said.
The CCC supports the implementation of Administrative Order 22-2013 issued by the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources on proper management and disposal of used masks, PPEs
and other considered hazardous (infectious) waste from hospitals, village health centers and
clinics.
It also stressed the importance of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which
provides guidance on proper segregation at source, transportation, storage, transfer, processing,
treatment and disposal of solid waste and other waste management activities in ways that do not
harm the environment.
There is a great need, the CCC said, for households and individuals to refuse disposable plastic
cutlery when having food delivered, and support businesses offering more sustainable delivery
packaging, such as cardboard or compostable bags.
“The biggest challenge in adopting a more sustainable lifestyle is breaking old habits and making
sacrifices for the climate and environment,” the CCC said.
“But by slowly incorporating sustainable practices into our everyday activities, we would be able to
protect both the health of the people, natural systems and the planet,” it added.
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University researchers discover new plant species in Mt.

Arayat National Park
By: Katrina Hallare - Reporter / @KHallareINQ
INQUIRER.net / 02:39 PM September 18, 2020

Image: Facebook.com /DENR-Central Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — A group of researchers from the Angeles University Foundation in

Pampanga and the University of Santo Tomas, as well as the University of the East in Manila, has
discovered a new plant species in the Mt. Arayat National Park in Pampanga.
According to a statement of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, the plant species, named Pyrostria arayatensis, was
discovered after a three-year botanical exploration.
Dr. Marlon Suba, who is one of the researchers, said that the new species is part of the family
Rubiaceae and is endemic to the Philippines.
The study of the researchers was published in the Annales Botanici Fennici scientific journal last
Aug. 10.
DENR-Central Luzon executive director Paquito Moreno, Jr. said that the discovery of the new
plant species is “an indicator that Mt. Arayat National Park has sustained its healthy biological
diversity, as rare native plants continuously grow in the area.”
The Mt. Arayat National Park is home to 49 species of trees and plants, 86 species of birds, 14
species of mammals, and 11 species of reptiles, according to the DENR Central Luzon.

Read more: https://technology.inquirer.net/104139/university-researchers-discover-new-plant-species-in-mt-arayat-

national-park#ixzz6YR4mKEjS
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Serpent eagle sent back to its home in the wild in Cotabato

town
By: Edwin O. Fernandez - @inquirerdotnet
Inquirer Mindanao / 10:40 PM September 18, 2020

BACK TO THE WILD. The juvenile serpent eagle awaits his journey back to his home in the wild in Magpet, Cotabato
on Thursday (Sept. 17), after a four-day rehab. PHOTO FROM CENRO-MATALAM

COTABATO CITY—Environment officials freed a juvenile serpent eagle (Spilornis holospilus) on

Thursday (Sept. 17) in Magpet town, Cotabato province after caring for the bird for four days.
Rose Camiguing, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)
based in Matalam town, said the bird was found weak and struggling to fly by Niño V. Alquizar, a
resident of Sibawanin village in Magpet last Sunday (Sept. 13).
Alquizar informed environmental officials about his find.
The bird was placed under the care of veterinarian Eugene B. Gornez in Kidapawan City.
On Thursday, Gornez gave the bird a clean bill of health and released it back to the wild.
Camiguing, along with personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources led by
Junalyn Cabanlig, witnessed the release.
In the past, injured serpent eagles have been found in the forests of Magpet, a town at the foot of
Mt. Apo.
A serpent eagle was also rescued in Tacurong City and is now undergoing medication at the
Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat.
Officials said the bird will be sent back to the wild once veterinarians give the green light.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1337203/serpent-eagle-sent-back-to-its-home-in-the-wild-in-cotabato-

town#ixzz6YR7M5dj2
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MinDA vows support for DavNor town reforestation drive

By Che Palicte September 18, 2020, 9:33 pm

Google Map of Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

DAVAO CITY -- The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has vowed to support the
reforestation initiative of Talaingod town in Davao del Norte.

MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol described Talaingod as a tribal town in the Pantaron Mountain
Range between the provinces of Davao del Norte and Bukidnon that serves as “a painful reminder
of how tribal lands were stripped bare of forests trees by logging companies owned by the rich and
powerful then abandoned leaving behind an impoverished people”.

“MinDA will support this undertaking by introducing the Green Mindanao Project, a family-based
tree farming program with high-value crops as intercrop,” Piñol said in a statement Friday.

The program will involve a financing package from the Development Bank of the Philippines
(DBP) to establish nurseries and fund livelihood programs such as high-value vegetable farming.

An off-taker of the lumber produced from the tree farms will also be engaged to ensure the
sustainability of the Green Mindanao Project, he added.

“When the logging company, C. Alcantara and Sons (ALSONS) which operated in the area for
decades pulled out in the early the late 1990s, the communist New People's Army (NPA) exploited
the tribal people's anger and penetrated the area, establishing the controversial Salugpongan
School,” Piñol recalled.

He said that freeing the town from the grip of the NPA did not come easy "as it took the sacrifices
of many lives," among them the former mayor of the town, Datu Jose Libayao.

Recently, Gov. Edwin Jubahib, Mayor Jonnie Libayao, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines led
a team of volunteers in a tree-planting activity to reforest the town with endemic species such as
Narra, Molave, and Dao.

High-value vegetable farming has also been introduced to tribal families who are now selling their
produce to high-end establishments in Tagum and this city, Piñol said.
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“Mayor Libayao, with the help of Governor Jubahib, is developing the tourism potentials of the
town starting with the Uraya Peak, a high point near the highway which connects Talaingod to
San Fernando town in Bukidnon,” he added.

Piñol noted that from the Uraya Peak, tourists could see the vast span of Davao del Norte,
including the Island Garden City of Samal across the Davao channel.

Talaingod was created as a town in 1991 and has an area of 74,000-hectares with a population of
only 27,000 living in only three barangays, majority of them Ata-Manobo tribesmen. It has a
poverty incidence of 56.4 percent. (PNA)
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NCR continues to lead among all regions with 987 COVID

reported cases
But it must be noted the National Capital Region has seen lower recent cases reported in the past
few days.
BENJAMIN CO, MD | Sep 18 2020

[Disclaimer: Whatever is written here is based on information released by the Department of Health
at the time of publication. Whatever changes the DoH makes in their data later on…well that’s a
different story in itself and as they say in their disclaimer: “the total cases reported may be subject to
change as these numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation.”]
Of 128 recently accredited laboratories, 20 laboratories failed to submit data to the CDRS. Today, a
total of 3,257 new cases were announced by the Health Agency (2,628 recent or 80.7 percent
occurring between September 5 – 18, 2020). Majority of the backlog were from the months of
August and Sept 1-4. Sadly, the Health Agency continues to report cases all the way back to March
for the National Capital Region
With today's newly announced cases, the Philippines closes in to 280,000 cases.
Active cases are up at 65,906, of which 3.7 percent or 2,439 cases (up from 2,410 yesterday) are
either severe or critically ill. [As to whether how many are hospitalized or are at home is not
indicated.]
NCR continues to lead among all the regions in the Philippines but had only 997 cases reported
today (with only 815 recent).

Mega Manila accounted for around 30 percent of the cases today. In the top five are a mixed bag –
with Bulacan in Region III reporting 282 cases, Cavite in Region IVA with 179, Negros Occidental
in Region VI with 152 and Cebu in Region VII with 127.
Most of the cases reported from Region III are backlogs from the month of August. Only 36
percent of the cases from Central Luzon are recent.
It was the unknowns that were back. On a regional level, there were 354 individuals with no
tagged location, accounting for 11 percent of the newly announced cases for the day.
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NCR continues to lead among all regions with 987 COVID

reported cases

Summary of the recoveries and fatalities today

• Recoveries: 733 reported today, recovery rate 74.7 percent (down)
• Fatalities: 47 reported today, case fatality rate 1.73 percent (unchanged)
• NCR reported 23 total deaths followed by CALABARZON with 11.
• 18 of the 47 deaths occurred in September (38 percent). The majority were in the months of July
and August, with deaths being reported as far back as May in NCR and Central Visayas.
• 1 case was previously tagged as deceased but was confirmed to be alive.
• 24 cases were previously tagged as recoveries but were removed from the list after further
validation.
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Duterte extends state of calamity in Phl until September

next year

Published 10 hours ago on September 18, 2020 07:20 PM

By MJ Blancaflor

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the state of calamity declaration in the Philippines until
12 September next year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The President, through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, approved Proclamation 1021
which extends the state of calamity until 2021 unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances
may warrant.
Copies of the document were given to Palace reporters Friday.
The proclamation allows the national government and local chief executives to utilize appropriate
funds for COVID-19 response efforts, as well as monitor of control prices of basic commodities.
“All government agencies and local government units are enjoined to continue rendering full
assistance to and cooperation with each other and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake
critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail
and eliminate the threat of COVID-19,” according to the proclamation.
Law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are also
directed to ensure peace and order throughout the country.
President Duterte first declared a state of calamity on 16 March through Proclamation 929, as he
imposed stay-at-home orders nationwide.
Experts have observed an apparent flattening of the pandemic curve, but the country remains to
have the highest total caseload in Southeast Asia, overtaking Indonesia and Singapore.
The Philippines has so far recorded over 279,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections, of which 65,906
are active.
The death toll has reached 4,830 while recoveries soared to 208,790.
President Duterte has been pinning his hopes that life would be back to “normal” this year when
COVID-19 vaccines become available.
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Over 200 divers to join underwater cleanup drive in Lapu-

Lapu
By Carlo Lorenciana and John Rey Saavedra September 18, 2020, 8:46 pm

SCUBASURERO. Belle Chua, a licensed diving instructor, takes a photo on some corals during a recent dive in Mactan
Island. Chua will be among the more than 200 licensed divers who will participate in "Scubasurero", a simultaneous
underwater cleanup on Saturday (Sept. 19, 2020) in Lapu-Lapu City, in line with the International Coastal Cleanup
Day celebration. (Photo courtesy of Belle Chua)

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – The Tourism, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (TCHAC) will
join the observance of the 35th International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday through the
“Scubasurero 2020,” a move that is also aimed at reviving the tourism industry in the locality.
Scubasurero literally means scuba divers collecting "basura" or trash underwater.
The TCHAC announced there are at least 200 pre-registered divers to be deployed in the 14
different dive sites in Lapu-Lapu City (six barangays in the Mactan mainland and eight barangays
in the neighboring Olango Island) for a simultaneous underwater cleanup on Sept. 19, in line with
the International Coastal Cleanup Day every third Saturday of September celebrated annually
worldwide.
Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, together with the TCHAC chairperson, Cindi Chan, and TCHAC
commissioner Sunshine Lim, are gearing towards this underwater cleanup dive to 14 areas, mostly
marine sanctuaries.
The city government will provide logistics support for the activity, food and water for the
participants, and diesel for the motorboat owners who will volunteer their time and effort to
support this cause.
Each motorboat will have 10 divers onboard during the event.
Belle Chua, a CMAS scuba diving instructor who is set to join the undersea clean-up dive, on
Friday said the city’s Marine Sports and Boat Operators Association Inc. has found generous
sponsors for the scuba tanks, and the scuba divers will bring their own equipment.
“Nature can heal itself but climate change has long been here, the inconvenient truth that we need
to address. We need to take care of our ocean, we need clean seas for sustainability and
preservation of our marine resources,” Chua said.
She said scuba divers “can do so much” in helping preserve the environment especially the ocean.
The cleanup activity also aims to encourage local residents to clean their surroundings and not to
throw garbage to the sea, Chua said. (PNA)
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Red tide alert up in 8 Eastern Visayas bays

By Sarwell Meniano September 18, 2020, 9:21 am

RED TIDE-INFESTED. A portion of San Pedro Bay in Basey, Samar. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
has raised a stern warning against the consumption of shellfish as experts found red tide toxins in eight bays in
Eastern Visayas. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned against the
consumption of shellfish as experts found red tide toxins in eight bays in Eastern Visayas.

In an advisory issued late Thursday, the fisheries bureau has added Maqueda Bay in the towns of
Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, and Hinabangan in Samar and
coastal waters of Daram, Samar on the list of red tide-infested areas in the region.

Earlier, BFAR identified red tide contamination in Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; Matarinao Bay
stretching across the towns of General MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, and Salcedo in Eastern
Samar; Carigara Bay -- Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Carigara, and Capoocan in Leyte; coastal
waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar, and San Pedro Bay in
Basey, Samar.

Red tide has been infesting in some of these bays since mid-July this year. Red tide toxins present
in both seawater and shellfish meat in these bays are beyond the regulatory limit, according to
BFAR.

The maximum regulatory limit of toxins is 60 micrograms for every 100 grams of shellfish meat.
Above that, the government strictly prohibits shellfish harvesting in affected areas.

“To protect the public, we issue this warning as precautionary advice to the public to refrain from
gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfishes,” BFAR said.

The fisheries bureau also banned the trading and consumption of Acetes sp. locally known as
"alamang" harvested from said bays to avoid possible shellfish poisoning.

Local government units are advised to regulate the gathering, marketing, and transporting of
shellfish in infested areas.
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Red tide alert up in 8 Eastern Visayas bays

"Fish, squid, shrimp, and crab are safe to eat “provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly
and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking," the advisory added.

On Tuesday, at least two children died and four of their family members were hospitalized after
eating red tide infected green mussels in Bagacay village, Daram, Samar.

Killed by paralytic shellfish poisoning were an eight-year-old boy and his three-year-old brother
while four other family members are still admitted at a hospital in Catbalogan City, Samar.

Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water is discolored by high algal
biomass or the concentration of algae. PSP occurs from ingesting bivalve shellfish (such as
mussels, oysters, and clams) that contain toxins. (PNA)
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MALA-IMPIYERNONG PAG-AARAL ASAHAN MULA

OKTUBRE

September 18, 2020 @ 5:32 PM 13 hours ago

HANDA na ba ang buong kaeskwelahan sa Pilipinas na lumusong sa pag-aaral simula sa Oktubre

5, 2020?
Handa na ba ang Department of Education na patakbuhin nang maaayos ang pag-aaral ng nasa 24
milyong batang nakapag-enrol sa taong 2020-2021?
Handa na ba ang mga guro at mag-aaral mismo?
PROBLEMADONG-PROBLEMADO
Inilabas ng ating Uzi ang mga katanungang ito dahil sa naririnig nitong mga kwento mula sa
ibaba.
‘Yun bang === hanay ng mga guro at estudyante.
Itong mga guro pala ang tagagawa ng mga leksyon ng mga bata at nanggagaling lang ang mga
instruksyon mula sa DepEd, bukod sa sarili nilang mga palo.
Ginawang rehi-rehiyon ang paggawa ng mga leksyon at bawal ang paggamit ng mga leksyon mula
sa ibang rehiyon upang mapairal ang indigenous umanong sistema na naglalayong mapadali ang
pag-aaral ng mga bata mula kinder hanggang senior high school.
Sa ibang salita, kung may mga module o aralin na galing sa Kabisayaan o Mindanao na darating sa
Luzon o vice versa, hindi pupwedeng gamitin.
Meron naman umanong laman ang mga leksyon na galing sa Central Office ngunit naroon pa rin
umano ang katotohanang mismo ang mga guro ang gumagawa ng nilalaman ng mga module.
At alam ba ninyo ang nilalaman ng mga leksyon?
Gawa umano ng mgaTitser 1, Titser 2 ang mga leksyon at hindi gawa ng mga Master Teacher at
Supervisor.
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MALA-IMPIYERNONG PAG-AARAL ASAHAN MULA

OKTUBRE
Malinaw umano ang mga ito sa mga lumalabas sa portal ng DepEd na nilalagyan pa ng copyright
ng mga gumawa ng mga module.
Tadtad umano ng mali ang maraming leksyon na lumalabas sa mga portal dahil hindi gawa ang
mga ito ng mga tunay na Master Teacher at Supervisor.
Mismong magagaling na titser na nagpo-proofread sa mga nilalaman ng mga module ang
nagsasabi nito.
PROBLEMA PA
Sa antas ng elementarya, kahit papaano medyo maaayos-ayos na hindi umano dahil dito
nararamdaman ng mga titser na nagkokonsentreyt ang DepEd.
Pero sa high school at senior high school, mga Bro, ramdam na ramdam ng mga titser ang labis na
kakulangan.
Una, ayon sa mga titser, karamihan sa mga leksyon ay pang-dalawang linggo lamang.
Kung meron mang nakasingit na pang-quarter o pang 2 buwan at kalahati, mga Bro, bibihira.
Imadyinin na nagaganap umano ito mula sa kinder hanggang senior high school.
Ikalawa, sa lumalabas na module sa mga portal sa bawat division, may mga subject pa palang wala
ni anomang leksyon o nilalaman.
Halimbawa, may apat o anim lang na subject sa walong subject ang may nilalaman.
Ngayon naman, umiiyak na umano ang mga may hawak ng pinansya ng mga school dahil nauubos
na umano ang pondo nila sa MOOE o Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses para sa pagbili
ng mga papel para pag-print ng mga module na galing sa mga portal.
Eh, hanggang dalawang linggo lang ang mga pinagkakagustusan sa A4 na papel, ink, stapler na
hindi lahat galing sa DepEd kundi sa mga mamamayang nagdodonasyon, Local Government Unit,
civic organization at non-government organization na hinihingan ng mga titser.
Saan umano kukuha ang mga titser ng pondo o materyales para sa paggawa ng mga module sa
mga susunod na linggo na ipamamahagi naman nila sa mga estudyante?
PROBLEMA PA RIN
Ngayon naman, may utos mula sa Central DepEd umano na medyo dahan-dahan ang paggawa ng
mga module dahil kung magpapatuloy umano ito, mga Bro, darating ang araw na makakalbo
naman ang kagubatan sa kakukuha ng kahoy o troso para gawing papel.
Dito na sumulpot naman ang problema sa e-learning o paggamit ng tekonolohiya sa halip na face-
to-face ang klase.
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MALA-IMPIYERNONG PAG-AARAL ASAHAN MULA

OKTUBRE

Nariyan ang labis na kakulangan sa badyet sa hanay ng mga estudyante para bumili ng mga
cellphone, computer, laptop, tablet at iba pa.
Naririyan na rin ang mga kakabit na problema rito gaya ng gastos sa load, pagpapakabit ng wifi at
buwanang bayarin dito.
Malaking problema rin ang pagkakaroon o kawalan ng internet at kung may mga internet man,
napakabagal o papatay-patay kahit sa kaunting ulan.
Nagaganap ang ganitong kalagayan sa mga barangay sa mga lalawigan at tanging ang mga
nakatira lang sa mga bayan at mayayaman ang may maayos na wifi, internet at iba pa.
Itinaon pa ito sa panahon ng kawalan ng trabaho o kita ng maraming magulang at kung meron
man, patak-patak lang, at nag-aagawan ang panggastos sa pagkain at pakikipaglaban sa sakit at sa
mga gamit sa teknolohiya na napakamamahal.
KABOBOHAN AT PAGHINTO SA PAG-AARAL
Sabi ng DepEd, kinalos na umano nila ang mga hindi importante na mapag-aralan ng mga bata.
Kaya naman, kumonti ang mga subject na pag-aaralan ng mga bata upang tunay na magkaroon
ang mga ito ng mahahalagang kaalaman.
Subalit sa dinami-rami ng mga problema sa hanay ng mga guro at estudyante gaya ng nabanggit
sa itaas, saan kaya patutungo ang edukasyon ng bansa?
Muli, sasabihin nating, walang problema sa hanay ng mga mayayamang estudyante, mayayamang
guro at mayayamang eskwela.
Subalit paano ang milyon-milyong salat sa gamit sa pag-aaral at inaagawan ang panggastos dito ng
pagkain at iba pang batayang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya?
Saan pupulutin ang mga estudyanteng anak ng mga mahihirap na magsasaka, mangingisda,
tsuper, obrero, vendor at maging mula sa mga propesyunal na napakababa ang kinikita sa mga
pribadong kompanya o pamahalaan mismo?
Ang ilang kakilala nga nating dating supervisor sa sikat na kompanya at kumikita sa trabaho niya
ng P25,000-P30,000 kada buwan, 2 beses na lang kung papasok sa trabaho at tanggal na ang
pagiging regular nitong empleyado.
Paano nila susuportahan ang kanilang mga anak sa pag-aaral ayon sa blended learning ng DepEd?
Hindi nakapagtatakang sa simula pa lang ay hanggang 24 milyon lang ang nakapag-enrol ngayong
taon.
Malamang na marami pa ang hindi tutuloy o babagsak sa pag-aaral at kung milyon ang bilang ng
mga iyan sa katapusan ng taon, nakapakalaking perwisyo.
Ano-ano nga ba ang mga dapat na gawin?
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The pandemic didn't solve climate change. This week's

disasters are proof

By Eliza Mackintosh, CNN

Updated 0445 GMT (1245 HKT) September 18, 2020

The future of climate change is here, scientist warns 03:42

(CNN)If you thought Covid-19 restrictions, like enforced lockdowns and social distancing, would
put a lasting dent in our collective carbon footprint and save the world from warming, you were
mistaken.
Earlier this year, in the midst of a horrific news cycle and a rapidly mounting death toll, that
notion was a welcome silver lining to the pandemic.
As people around the world stayed at home to stop the spread of the coronavirus, greenhouse gas
emissions from the energy and transport industries plummeted, dropping to record lows.
But it may have given some a false sense that the worst effects of climate change were being
mitigated.
They're not.
Just in the last week, we learned that massive glaciers are tearing loose from
the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, driven by increasingly high temperatures at the poles, and,
in turn, accelerating sea level rise and posing enormous threats to the millions of people living in
coastal areas.

An aerial view shows neighborhoods in Monrovia, California shrouded in smoke as the Bobcat Fire advanced on
September 13.
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The pandemic didn't solve climate change. This week's

disasters are proof

Meanwhile, devastating wildfires, fueled by hot, dry winds and "tinderbox" conditions, have
scorched millions of acres across the western United States, triggering mass evacuations, claiming
dozens of lives and sending smoke haze billowing across the country, as far as Europe.
If that wasn't enough, the Atlantic is also having one of its busiest hurricane seasons on record,
spurred by warm sea surface temperatures. To give you a sense of just how busy: Hurricane Sally,
which blew ashore as a Category 2 hurricane early Wednesday in Alabama, was one of five tropical
cyclones in the Atlantic on Monday -- a phenomenon that's happened only once before, almost 50
years ago.

The fires raging out West are unprecedented. They're also a mere preview of what climate change has in store

All of these extreme weather events can be linked to global warming, caused by rising levels of
carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly from humans
burning fossil fuels.
They're grim reminders that the world has a much bigger existential crisis on its hands than
Covid-19. And it will take a lot more than a few months of forgoing air and car travel to stop it.
"Climate change is not stopping because of lockdowns," said Ilan Kelman, a professor of risk,
resilience and global health at University College London. "The extreme weather which we are
witnessing is not excessive in terms of the history of humanity ... it is very much in line with what
we would expect under climate change."
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The disturbing truth about plastic recycling

Opinion by Alex Totterman
Updated 1615 GMT (0015 HKT) September 18, 2020

Plastic pollution is killing these animals 01:22

Alex Totterman is the founder and CEO of Cove, a California-based company that has developed
water bottles made of biodegradable materials. The views expressed in this commentary belong to
the author. View more opinions at CNN.
(CNN)Our oceans are now awash in at least 150 million tons of plastic, an amount that researchers
say will soon surpass the weight of all the fish in the sea.

Alex Totterman

Plastic pollution fouls the land too, and the air we breathe.

Scientists now say plastic micro-particles literally rain down on us, introducing toxins into our
bodies. And if you think recycling is the answer, you are sadly mistaken. You can be excused for
believing that you're doing your part for the environment by simply sorting your plastics from
your trash.
This is the lie the plastics industry has sold the public for nearly 50 years, according to a National
Public Radio and PBS investigation released last week.
In 1971, an organization called Keep America Beautiful Inc. created an ad campaign that captivated
our collective consciences. The message: "People start pollution. People can stop it."
That slogan was powerful. It became one of the anthems for the early environmental movement, a
call to action that said it is us — all of us — who are responsible for pollution, and it's on all of us
to solve it.
Which is all well and good, except that the ad wasn't funded by environmentalists. Or activists. Or
nonprofit foundations.
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The disturbing truth about plastic recycling

That ad was funded by packaging and beverage companies.

Its goal wasn't to stop pollution. The goal was to make consumers believe that their plastic waste
could be recycled, so that packaging manufacturers could keep making more. That turned out to
be a lie that has led to a planetary disaster.
The world has been focused on mitigating around the margins, tiptoeing around the broader
plastic crisis. Whether it be reusing plastic to pave roads, attempting to tax single-use plastics to
reduce consumption, incinerating plastics to squeeze out a bit of energy (while also producing
pollution) or skimming infinitesimally small patches of the ocean to clean out the plastic, the
problem isn't finding creative ways to curb or marginally reuse plastic.
The problem is plastic.

The all-female crew sailing the world to study plastic pollution 03:37

Industry got us into this mess, and it can get us out. Many companies are working to replace
plastic with biodegradable materials (mine is one of them). Governments have been moved to act,
too.
More than 140 countries have implemented some sort of plastic ban or plastic tax. But it's
important to understand that governments cannot yet, for all practical purposes, ban all plastic.
It's one thing to ban plastic bags when you can replace them with paper bags. Or to ban plastic
straws when you can replace them with paper straws.
In most cases, though, paper is not going to be a viable replacement material, either for
manufacturers or consumers. And the entire consumer economy as we know it runs on single-use
packaging, the vast majority of which is plastic.
As new plastic alternatives step into the arena along with reusable bottles and containers, expect a
very tough fight from the plastics industry. It spent millions of dollars driving recycling into the
culture. Polyethylene evangelists went, one by one, to cities and counties to persuade local
officials to adopt recycling programs. By 1990,10,000 communities had some kind of local recycling
protocol, and the trend took off around the world.
Recycling is ingrained in our culture. It became a virtue to signal. It became a way of life. But it is
an empty symbol of personal environmental stewardship.
The truth is, plastic recycling has been broken since it began.
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The disturbing truth about plastic recycling

Globally, only 9% of the plastic we've ever produced has been recycled. The other 91% has ended
up in landfills or incinerated or scattered throughout the environment, including in huge floating
islands in the ocean partly composed or plastic byproducts from the manufacturing process.

But we're not in this situation because you could have done a better job rinsing out your
containers. When the plastic industry was going around helping set up recycling programs, it
convinced local officials that they should accept every kind of plastic in their bins. Even the ones
the plastic industry knew would never be recycled.
Plastic recycling is not economically viable in the US and hasn't been for a long time. So, we
shipped our plastic waste to China. At one point, China was buying 70% of the world's plastic.
Then, three years ago, China shut down its foreign recycling operation. Since then, we've been
burning around 14% of the plastic we produce, six times more than we recycle. As the search for
new dumping grounds intensifies, plastics producers are training their sights on Africa.
Last month the New York Times reported that an industry group representing the world's largest
chemical and fossil fuel companies is lobbying for a US trade deal with Kenya to require the
African nation to import more plastic. Such a shift would increase Kenya's role as both a global
plastics landfill and a distributor of new plastic products on the African continent.
We need to end this ruse. We have been fed the recycling myth to assuage our guilt over our
consumption. And because people believe they can use plastic with impunity and without guilt,
the problem continues to grow. Half of all plastics have been produced within the past 15 years,
according to reporting in National Geographic.
The first step to driving down our reliance on plastic is for every concerned consumer to
understand that more than 90% of the plastic we have ever produced is now near-permanently
polluting our world. And that number is going up, not down, as is our overall production.
Innovation and investment in plastics alternatives will lead to totally biodegradable consumer
goods packaging in grocery stores and markets soon. In the meantime, we all need to wake up to
the fact that we cannot recycle our way out of our plastic problem.
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Coronavirus cases top 30 million worldwide

Published 18 hours ago

on September 18, 2020 10:48 AM
By Agence France-Presse

The number of coronavirus cases registered worldwide topped 30 million on Thursday, according
to an AFP tally based on official sources.
The grim landmark came as the World Health Organization warned of “alarming rates of
transmission” of Covid-19 across Europe.
The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World
Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.
Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases.
The coronavirus death toll is now at 943,086 since it surfaced in China late last year and the
number of cases has ballooned to 30,000,062, according to figures available at 19:45 GMT.
The United States has the highest national figures with 6,650,570 cases and 197,364 deaths,
followed by India at 5,118,253 infections and 83,198 fatalities and Brazil with 4,419,083 cases and
134,106 deaths.
The rhythm of the pandemic seems to have stabilised globally since the middle of July with a
million new cases surfacing every four days.
It took 94 days to hit a million infections and then another 86 days for the number of cases to
cross 10 million on June 28.
The number of infections has tripled since then.
Asia has registered the most new cases in the past week with 742,286 infections, of which more
than 80 percent are in India.
Latin America and the Caribbean are next at 493,120, followed by Europe (327.524), Canada and
the US (273,339), the Middle East (111,986), Africa (52,584) and Oceania (548).
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Coronavirus cases top 30 million worldwide

Latin America has 8,484,443 infections in all and 316,827 deaths, followed by Asia (6,861,965 cases
and 120,334 deaths).
Canada and the US have nearly 6.8 million cases and 206,602 deaths, Europe has 4,700,387
infections and 223,849 deaths and the Middle East has 1,750,232 cases and 41,254 deaths.
Africa has recorded 1,381,036 cases and 33,324 deaths followed by Oceania at 30,890 infections and
896 deaths.
India recorded the most number of new infections in the past week at 650,231, followed by Canada
and the United States at 267,995, Brazil (221,194), Argentina (76,719) and Spain (70,981).
The number of new cases rose 39 percent in the UK the past week, 22 percent in Canada, 19
percent in France, 11 percent in Brazil, 9 percent in the US and 8 percent in India.
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Global death toll sa COVID-19 mahigit 950,000 na

By Dona Dominguez-CargulloSeptember 18, 2020 - 10:05 AM

Sumampa na sa 950,429 ang bilang ng mga nasawi sa COVID-19 sa buong mundo.

Sa huling datos na nakalap ng Radyo INQUIRER, sumampa na sa 202,213 ang bilang ng mga
nasawi sa US.
Umabot naman na sa mahigit 135,000 ang bilang ng mga nasawi sa Brazil.
Ang death toll sa India ay mahigit 85,000 na.
Habang ang death toll sa Mexico ay umabot na sa mahigit 72,000.
Umabot naman na sa mahigit 22 million na ang bilang ng mga naka-recover na sa sakit.
Habang nasa mahigit 7.3 million pa ang aktibong kaso.
Narito ang bilang ng mga nasawi sa iba’t ibang ng mga bansa:
USA – 202,213
Brazil – 135,031
India – 84,404
Mexico – 72,179
UK – 41,705
Italy – 35,658
France – 31,095
Peru – 31,051
Spain – 30,405
Iran – 23,808

Read more: https://radyo.inquirer.net/265179/global-death-toll-sa-covid-19-mahigit-950000-na#ixzz6YRBxtOSa

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