Bulacan government acts on illegal logging

Bulacan government acts on illegal logging

By: Chrissa Anne B. Palma

Facing heavy downpour in the mountain rails paid off as Provincial Multi-Sectoral Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (PAILTF) succesfully seized some 3, 857 board feet of illegally cut logs in Sitio Ipo, San Mateo, Norzagaray town last July 17.

Under Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado's executive order last November 2012, PAILTF was formed along with Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) headed by Eugenio Payongayong, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Power Corporation, Angat Watershed Area under team leader Mendel Garcia, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Philippine Military and Bulacan’s Philippine National Police and they were tasked to focus on fighting timber poachers.

Bro. Martin Francisco of Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society shared that during their operation, it was evident that the houses have just been abandoned by the occupants who probably ran away in fear of getting caught. But he still sees hope in capturing the fugitives.

“May mga sticker ng census sa bahay. Most probably makukuha natin ang pangalan ng may-ari ng bahay sa barangay,” Franciso said.

Mendel Garcia, of Angat Watershed Area said the confiscated cut logs are composed of white lauan, guijo, yakal and kamagong, all are prime species.

The seized hot logs, which are hard wood, were turned over to BENRO to be used in the production of chairs and tables for different schools in Bulacan.

The timber poachers, when caught, would get a punishment of not less than six years and one day in jail and depending on the gravity, it could lead up to twelve or eighteen years behind bars. Depending on the volume of the logs illegally cut, the offenders would also be fined charges.

PAILTF also shared that they passed a bill in the congress called Forest Resources Bill (FRB). The said bill is about allowing legal cutting of logs for our country’s wood industry.

“Pero sa tingin din namin na ang Pilipinas ay kulang na kulang sa gubat. Kaya minumungkahi naming isa hindi lang ang primary forest – `yong mga hindi pa nagagalaw na forest – sa commercial logging ang secondary forest – `yon `yong tinayo, tinamin at gubat na gubat na. Minumungkahi namin na isasama na rin `yon sa huwag ila-logging. So pinagtatalunan pa na baka raw wala na tayong gamiting kahoy,” Francisco said.

They also shared that they are careful on carrying out operations, so there won’t be leakage of information to spies.

“Hindi naman titigil `yan kung bibigyan mo ng livelihood. They will not. Kaya ang nakikita naming more effective [solution] ay regulation. Kailangang mahigpit na mahigpit. Kung puro ka lang livelihood, walang reforestration, tree-planting, wala rin,” Francisco added.

BulSU athletes already up for SCUAA-III

BulSU athletes already up for SCUAA-III

By: Chrissa Anne B. Palma

As early as now, Bulacan State University (BulSU) athletes prepare to compete for the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Region III (SCUAA-III) this coming December wherein Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) is the host school.

BulSU nicknamed Gold Gears, emerged victorious in the annual SCUAA-III for sixteen straight years and plan to keep its dominance this year.

Gold Gears Football team, who is a five-time champion in SCUAA-III already started its extra training menu.

“Araw-araw kaming nagpa-practice. Friday lang ang pahinga namin. `Yong Saturday, application day namin. Naglalaro kami. `Yong Monday to Thursday namin, puro drills,” shared Alvin dela Cruz, BulSU Football Team player.

Ernesto Reyes, assistant coach to BulSU’s Men’s Basketball Team, admitted that his team is not yet prepared for SCUAA-III and shared that they are having a litte problem with the team.

“`Yong ibang players hindi um-a-attend ng practice,” Reyes said. But he also said he is still confident about his player.

Gold Gears’ Track and Field team, who lost its championship last year, expressed eagerness to win the title back through excessive training.

“MWF takbo and weights kami. Tuesday and Thursday, work out ng sprint,” Joshua Gayta, four hundred meter sprint runner said.

SCUAA-III is still months away, but the coaches are already in hype about the training as much as the players.

“Mahirap maging champion, pero mas mahirap namang mag-defend ng title kaya training lang,” Emmanuel Robles, who’s been coaching the football team for seven years, said.

The exact date of the annual SCUAA-III has not yet been announced.

115th Independence Day in Malolos Celebrates Ancestors’ Heroism

115^th Independence Day in Malolos Celebrates Ancestors’ Heroism

By: Chrissa Anne B. Palma

GUEST speakers for the celebration of Independence Day in Malolos held in Barasoian Church each told stories of how the gallantry of the Filipinos in the past contributed to gain the country’s freedom today, in line of the event’s theme, “Kalayaan 2013: Ambagan Tungo Sa Malawakang Kaunlaran”.

     In the opening speech given by Mr. Christian D. Natividad, he said that true independence and freedom is doing what is right. “The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor. Kahit tayo ay mahusay, kung hindi natin bibigyan ng dangal ang ating ginagawa, lahat ng `yan ay nalalayo sa kalayaang ating tinatamasa na ipinaglaban ng apat na daang taon ng mga Pilipinong sinaunang lahi natin,” the mayor told the government officials, guests, and Bulakenos that attended the celebration as he welcomed them in Barasoian Church.

     Mayor Natividad ended his speech introducing the father of Bulacan, Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado. The governor then delivered his speech in full and deep Filipino language. He sympathized with the hardships the country’s fellowmen had suffered in the past to fight for today’s sovereignty. “Napakahaba at napakasalimuot ng paglalakbay na tinungo ng ating mga ninuno upang katagpuin ang ating kasarinlan. Ang paglalakbay ay inabot ng daan-daang taon at pinagbuwisan ng libu-libong buhay. Hindi lamang ni Aguinaldo at ng kanyang mga kontemporaryo ang tumuklas nito, kundi lahat ng mga nangungunang makabayang lalaki at babaeng tumaya ng kanilang pangalan, kapalaran, dunong, kayamanan, buhay at kinabukasan upang ating sapitin ng malualhati ang araw na ito,” the governor said, that was followed by voicing out his disappoinment towards the current territorial dispute of the country against other countries.

     “Ngunit kung gaano kahaba ang ating paglalakbay para matamo ang kasarinlan ay siya namang inikli ng ipinamalagi niyo sa piling natin. Sa loob lamang ng tatlong taon, ay napasubasob sa kasukalan ang pangalan ng kasarinlang laging tinutugis ng bala ng mga kaaway.” He continued his speech by urging the Filipinos to continue fighting for their rights and freedom that had been fought for by the country’s heroes.

     Governor Alvarado, after his dialogue, then introduced the celebrations’s guest speaker, Secretary Paquito Ochoa of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Mr. Ochoa started his speech with an apology, for he couldn’t speak in full and deep Filipino language like the governor did. He also confessed that for every event he attended, it was hard for him to follow protocols, so he had a hard time choosing whom to acknowledge during the celebration. “Wala pong may higit na karapatan na ating batiin nating lahat hindi lamang ng inyong abang lingkod, ang mga beterano hong nasa harap po nating lahat. Marami pong salamat sa kalayaang ibinigay po ninyo sa ating lahat,” the secretary said.

     Mr. Ochoa then continued his talk about the acts of the Filipinos in the past that gave freedom to the country, and he also explained the reason for this year’s theme. “Ito ang dapat nating itampok sa bawat paggunita sa mahalagang araw ng ating bansa: ang bigyang pagkilala ang bawat bayan, bawat lalawigan, sa pagbuo ng bansa. Na ayon kay [Andres] Bonifacio, ang bayan ang dapat maghari. Paano ba ibigin ang bayan? Ayon kay Bonifacio, pakatandaan parati na ang pag-ibig sa Diyos ang siya ring pag-ibig sa bayan at `yan din ang pag-ibig sa kapwa.”

     “Ang pakikibaka sa kalayaan ang pinagsama-samang pangarap, buhay at dugo ng mga bayani at martir ng buong sambayanan. Hindi natin kailangan ng rebolusyon o digmaan para may lumitaw ng mga bayani. Ang pagpapanatili ng kalayaang dignidad sa ating bayan, sa pamamagitan ng pag-angat ng antas ng kabuhayan, edukasyon, kalusugan, at kaunlaran at kaayusang panlipunan ng mga dakilang ambag natin na nakakatulong upang masabi nating bayani tayo sa ating napiling kaparaanan. Ito ang mensahe ng pagdiriwang ng kalayaan sa taong ito,” Ochoa said, giving meaning to the celebration’s theme, “Kalayaan 2013: Ambagan Tungo Sa Malawakang Kaunlaran.” The message also served as the ending speech of the program.

     Like how the guest speakers said in their respective speeches, it is important to celebrate Independence Day and the ancestors’ heroism, World War II veteran Diocora “Lim” G. Valenzuela agreed. “Mahalaga ang pagse-celebrate nito [Independence Day] para maitanim sa isip ng mga kabataan ang kabayanihan at pagmamahal sa bayan,” Valenzuela said.