20 Years of NIPAS Law Implementation Reviewed

Marble slide at the mineral reservation are of the Biak-na-Bato National Park in 2006.

MANILA- On March 15, 2012, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB) in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Silliman University launched the ““An In-depth Review of NIPAS and Related Statues on the establishment and management of Protected Areas in the Philippines”.

The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7586), commonly known as the NIPAS Act was enacted primarily for biodiversity conservation.

This law provides the legal and developmental framework for the establishment and management of protected areas (PAs) in the Philippines. The review is aimed to identify which of the law’s provisions should be amended to improve its ability to provide stronger legal and policy backstops for multi-scale Protected Area (PA) management in the Philippines.

The Philippines adopted the Protected Area Management system as an approach for protecting and maintaining the natural biological and physical diversities of the environment notably on areas with biologically unique features to sustain human life and development, as well as plant and animal life through the legislation of RA 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS Act).

However, the implementation of NIPAS Act remains a challenge because of its certain provisions which are in conflict with other environment laws.

There were 202 identified initial components of the NIPAS comprising of proclaimed national parks, game refuge and wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves, wilderness areas, mangrove reserves, watershed reservations, fish sanctuaries, protected landscapes and seascapes, among others.

Thus far, of the 202 initial components, there are 112 protected areas formally proclaimed by the President under the System covering 3.54 million hectares. However, only 13 protected areas have been officially declared by law as part of the NIPAS.

The Study critically assessed nine legislations namely: National Integrated Protected Areas System, Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, Philippine Fisheries Code, Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, Philippine Mining Act, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, Local Government code of 1991 and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

It builds on the experiences of the study team in the implementation of various environmental projects in the Philippines. Complementing the policy study is the management effectiveness assessment conducted by the joint Philippine-German team in identified six sites representing terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016 duly acknowledged that the implementation of various laws and policies are confused by overlapping and conflicting policies and mandates.

Thus, the need for an in-depth review and harmonizing a number of conflicting relevant laws and policies affecting natural resources was undertaken.

“We are very appreciative of GIZ for providing financial assistance in order to conduct a review of the NIPAS Act and Other Related Laws on the Establishment and Management of Protected Areas in the Philippines.

The results of the Study and its accompanying recommendations will indeed be valuable for the Protected Area and Wildlife Sector to further improve our policy on the management of protected areas in the Philippines.

 The results of the Study may also be used as basis to further the advocacies on protected area management,” a statement from Dir. Theresita Mundita S. Lim of DENR- PAWB.

The recommendations of this study will hopefully be used to clarify and ultimately resolve conflicting areas in the implementation of the NIPAS and the other legislations.

***

GIZ is a federally-owned enterprise that supports the German government in the

field of international development cooperation. For more than 30 years now, GIZ has

been cooperating with Philippine partners in strengthening the capacity of people

and institutions to improve the lives of Filipinos in this generation and generations to

come. Together we work to balance economic, social and ecological interests through multi-stakeholder dialogue, participation and collaboration.

Most of its activities are commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic

Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ also operates on behalf of other German

ministries – in particular the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Environment

Ministry and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research – as well as German

federal states and municipalities, and public and private sector clients both in

Germany and abroad. These include the governments of other countries, the

European Commission, the United Nations and the World Bank.

25-M Pinoys now enrolled in PhilHealth

MALOLOS CITY—About 25-Million poorest Filipinos are now enrolled under the Universal Health Care Program (UHCP) of the government, Health Secretary Enrique Ona disclosed yesterday.

Ona’s disclosure came as he led the inauguration of new facilities of the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC) here which he described as the best health facility in the country operated by a provincial government.

“This year, almost all poorest Filipino families are enrolled in PhilHealth,: he said noting that said number is easily equivalent  23-M to 25-M individuals.

Ona said that the national government is paying P12-Billion a year for the premium of health insurance of poorest families.

“It only shows na hindi lang slogan yung Universal Health Care program ni Pangulong Aquino,’ he said and added that the President is really sincere in improving health care system in the country.

Ona said the key in the UHCP is the increasing enrollment of Filipinos to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), which is he said is one of the examples of public private partnership.

SLIDESHOW: Albay in my Mind

Albay in my Mind Slideshow Slideshow: TripAdvisor™ TripWow ★ Albay in my Mind Slideshow Slideshow ★ to Bacacay (near Sorsogon) and Legaspi City (near Donsol). Stunning free travel slideshows on TripAdvisor

Crime-prone places in Bulacan

This is based on the latest date released by Bulacan PNP on March 5.

Bulakenyo car crash victim to be repatriated next week?

MALOLOS CITY—Jeamelle Mangonon and her children were ready to go to Canada to join her husband Joey.

That dream was wiped away when Joey along with three other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) died in a road mishap on late Sunday night.

The news was devastating for Jeamelle that the only words she was able to utter in an interview on Wednesday was “please help us.”

Those words were directed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as a request to hasten the repatriation of the bodies of the victims.

In another interview yesterday, Jeamelle repeated the same to Radyo Bulacan, but noted that Joey’s remains might be repatriated by next week.

“It might be next week, we don’t know yet, please help us,” she said in vernacular during a phone patch interview.

A resident of Barangay Bambang in Bocaue town, Jeamelle said she still do not know what to do.  She had four children with Joey.

Joey is a member of the housekeeping staff of the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel in Edmonton City, Alberta, Canada.

On Sunday, Joey along with fellow hotel workers Anthony Castillon, Josefina Velarde, and another unidentified Filipina died in a mishap along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway in Innisfail, some 120 kilometers north of Calgary.

Another Filipina identified as Josephine Tamondong suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Alberta Hospital.

The CBC News website said that Tyler James Stevens, the driver of the Range Rover that slammed to the victim’s Dogde Journey van is now facing multiple charges including impaired driving causing death.

It was also reported that some motorists along the Queen Elizabeth III Highway were almost hit by Steven’s vehicle who was driving northbound on a the southbound lane. 

London hosting 'greenest' Olympics says envoy

UK Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie.

MALOLOS CITY— It will be the greenest Olympics!

This was how British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie described the 2012 London Olympics that will be held in July to August this year.

Lillies remarks came when asked by this writer in an ambush interview during his recent visit here.

He said that in construction of the Olympic Park in London, the British government demanded the utilization of environment friendly technology.

This include the use of less concrete in the construction of structures and other facilities.

“We were able to reduce amount of energy in constructing the facilities through the utilization of advanced technology that reduce use of concrete,” he said.

Lillie also cited the over-all planning of the London Olympic Park which took into consideration accessibility to public transport.

He said that it was well-planned with the end goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission from private vehicles.

“Olympics is a great opportunity to bring people together around the world and we will show to them the greenest Olympics,” he said.

With regards to threats of terrorism like in the Montreal Olympics, Lillie made assurance that all participants and visitors will be safe.

He said, “terror is a fact of life, but we are fully prepared for it.”

The ambassador added that they have implemented comprehensive security arrangements to ensure a fair and enjoyable games.

With regards to Filipino Olympians, he said that he wish that they  win first Olympic gold medal in London.

Lillie also noted that while the Olympics is more than four months away and no Filipino Olympian won the old medal yet; a Filipino graphic artist won design for the Olympic commemorative coin.

This is in person of Roderick Enriquez who came from Zambaonga, City.

UK envoys eyes more trade with Bulacan

British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie holds a token from the provicial government of Bulacan led by Gov. Willy Alvarado (second from left). They were joined by officers of the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (right).

MALOLOS CITY—British Ambassador to the Philippine Stephen Lillie is looking forward for increase trade and economic relations with Bulacan.

This came as global businessmen predicted that economic opportunity and potentials of the 21^st century is in South East Asia, particularly in the Philippines.

“We look forward to strengthen our relations in with South East Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, and increase trade and economic relations in Bulacan,” Lillie said in a recent visit here.

The ambassador said that one of the areas that they are looking into is in the development of renewable energy.

He said, the country is a global leader in geothermal energy and has potentials for wind and biomas energy developments;  while Bulacan is one of the leading provinces in the country as far as hydropower generation is concern.

This is due to 246 megawatt Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp) located in Norzagaray town.

“Bulacan has so much potentials and opportunities in renewable energy development. With more opportunities, I believe more British companies will come here,” he said.

Lillie said that British businessmen are looking for more opportunity renewable energy development.

“Its part of our plant to be less reliant on oil and gas and to have energy security,” the ambassador said.

He added that renewable energy is not only environment friendly, but a step towards combating impacts of climate change.

He cited the aftermath of typhoons Pedring and Quiel in the province last year nnotinf that climate change is increasing probability of similar severe weather conditions in the world.

Meanwhile, Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado welcomed Lillie’s move to foster stronger relations with Bulacan

He said that British businessmen are welcome in the province noting that there are few that has already established business in Bulacan.

Alvarado also said that closer relations with Britain will give opportunity for Bulakenyos to join cultural exchange program in the future.

At present, at least nine British students has been undergoing community immersion in Hagonoy town facilitated through the Global Exchange program.

More British students are expected to arrive in April in the City of San Jose del Monte under the British Global citizen program.