Lapu gov’t to take pro-active role in Olango Swim tilt
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
March 27, 2011
LAPU-LAPU City is taking a proactive role in the 4th Olango Challenge “Swim for Nature, Swim for the Future” set on April 30 at the Tambuli East beach resort.
With the city's thrust of promoting itself as a hub for sports tourism, Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Harry Don Radaza said the open-water swimming competition will help them prepare for an international triathlon competition the city is hosting in December.
Radaza, who heads the city’s committee on sports and tourism, said they have been supporting the event since its first undertaking in 2008. But this year, they will be more active in showing their support as a way of thanking the organizers for making Olango Island a beneficiary of this fund-raising event.
The Olango Swim is organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA). It is a fund-raising activity for the benefit of Olango residents.
Radaza said they would invite locals to watch and take part in the event.
“I have always wondered why there are no locals who take part in this event when most people there live along the coast. This would be easy for them because they are familiar with the area,” Radaza said.
The event's other objectives are talent identification for the national training pool; advocacy for a clean and safe environment and promotion of drowning prevention.
Last year, the event raised P1.7 million which allowed for the reforestation of 5,200 trees on Olango Island and the construction of another two-room classroom building for the public elementary school at barangay Caw-Oy.
Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge will be used for an extensive reforestation effort in the island.
Discounts will be given to early registrants until April 15, while registration will continue until before the start of the race.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Radaza urges residents to join Olango Challenge
Radaza urges residents to join Olango Challenge
By Iste S. Leopoldo
Sun.Star Cebu
March 25, 2011
LAPU-LAPU City chairman of sports and tourism Harry Radaza is encouraging residents, especially those from the coastal barangays, to take part in the 4th Olango Challenge on April 30 in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.
“Lapu-Lapu being an island composed mostly of coastal barangays, gamay ra ang ni take sa swimming. With our aggressive promotion of sports tourism this year, we will be encouraging them to take part in this open water marathon swimming for a cause,” Radaza said during a press conference yesterday at Casino Español.
He was joined by Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (Pasa) Representative Alexander Reyes and Philippine Business for Social Progress Visayas Executive Jose Antonio Aboitiz.
The Olango Challenge is initiated by PBSP and Pasa with the support of the Lapu-lapu City Government. It is an open water swim aimed to raise funds for the 2,300 families of Olango Island and was started in 2008.
Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge are programmed for an extensive reforestation effort of Olango Island.
This year’s edition will also feature the two-kilometer and the six-kilometer men’s and women’s division and a fun category.
“We will also be holding the first competitive relay event in the country and it will be composed of three members,” Reyes said.
By Iste S. Leopoldo
Sun.Star Cebu
March 25, 2011
LAPU-LAPU City chairman of sports and tourism Harry Radaza is encouraging residents, especially those from the coastal barangays, to take part in the 4th Olango Challenge on April 30 in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.
“Lapu-Lapu being an island composed mostly of coastal barangays, gamay ra ang ni take sa swimming. With our aggressive promotion of sports tourism this year, we will be encouraging them to take part in this open water marathon swimming for a cause,” Radaza said during a press conference yesterday at Casino Español.
He was joined by Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (Pasa) Representative Alexander Reyes and Philippine Business for Social Progress Visayas Executive Jose Antonio Aboitiz.
The Olango Challenge is initiated by PBSP and Pasa with the support of the Lapu-lapu City Government. It is an open water swim aimed to raise funds for the 2,300 families of Olango Island and was started in 2008.
Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge are programmed for an extensive reforestation effort of Olango Island.
This year’s edition will also feature the two-kilometer and the six-kilometer men’s and women’s division and a fun category.
“We will also be holding the first competitive relay event in the country and it will be composed of three members,” Reyes said.
4th Olango Challenge set April 30
4th Olango Challenge set April 30
By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol
The Freeman
March 25, 2011
CEBU, Philippines - The first open water relay competition in the country will be held during the 4th Olango Challenge set April 30 at Tambuli East in Lapu-Lapu City.
Although there have already been several relay competitions in open water competitions abroad, this is only the first time that FINA has given the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) the sanction to include the said event here said PASA’s Alex Reyes in yesterday’s press conference at Casino Español.
This year’s battle will feature 2 and 6-kilometer action both for the competitive and fun swimmers and the relay team.
As for the relay, the competitive side will have the men and women’s division while the fun category could be a mixed gender team.
Cash prizes will be given away to the top performers of the event while potential swimmers may gain a slot in the RP team for open water competitions abroad.
However, more than the honor and prizes one gets, it is being able to help uplift the lives of residents of Olango Island that the organizing Philippine Business for Social Progress is looking into.
Just like the past three staging, funds raised for this event will go to building of classrooms if not a school in Olango, some livelihood programs for their parents as well as for the protection of nature.
With that in mind, Lapu-Lapu City councilor Harry Radaza, the city’s chairman for the committee on sports and tourism is joining the event with the hope of helping out raise more funds.
Event organizer, Antonio Aboitiz who have been able to raise P100 thousand from friends who bet and pledged for him to finish the 5-kilometer swim in less than two hours is looking at conquering the 6-k action in less than 2 hours again.
More to it, Aboitiz had pledge an initial amount of P10 thousand for Radaza, who has never joined open water competitions before to finish the event.
All proceeds of pledges for Aboitiz, Radaza and other swimmers will go to Olango as well.
Registration fee is pegged at P500 while relay teams under the fun category will have to pay P2 thousand. Discounts will be given to those who enlist on or before April 8.
On-site registration, however, will still be made available for those who can register before the battle.
By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol
The Freeman
March 25, 2011
CEBU, Philippines - The first open water relay competition in the country will be held during the 4th Olango Challenge set April 30 at Tambuli East in Lapu-Lapu City.
Although there have already been several relay competitions in open water competitions abroad, this is only the first time that FINA has given the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) the sanction to include the said event here said PASA’s Alex Reyes in yesterday’s press conference at Casino Español.
This year’s battle will feature 2 and 6-kilometer action both for the competitive and fun swimmers and the relay team.
As for the relay, the competitive side will have the men and women’s division while the fun category could be a mixed gender team.
Cash prizes will be given away to the top performers of the event while potential swimmers may gain a slot in the RP team for open water competitions abroad.
However, more than the honor and prizes one gets, it is being able to help uplift the lives of residents of Olango Island that the organizing Philippine Business for Social Progress is looking into.
Just like the past three staging, funds raised for this event will go to building of classrooms if not a school in Olango, some livelihood programs for their parents as well as for the protection of nature.
With that in mind, Lapu-Lapu City councilor Harry Radaza, the city’s chairman for the committee on sports and tourism is joining the event with the hope of helping out raise more funds.
Event organizer, Antonio Aboitiz who have been able to raise P100 thousand from friends who bet and pledged for him to finish the 5-kilometer swim in less than two hours is looking at conquering the 6-k action in less than 2 hours again.
More to it, Aboitiz had pledge an initial amount of P10 thousand for Radaza, who has never joined open water competitions before to finish the event.
All proceeds of pledges for Aboitiz, Radaza and other swimmers will go to Olango as well.
Registration fee is pegged at P500 while relay teams under the fun category will have to pay P2 thousand. Discounts will be given to those who enlist on or before April 8.
On-site registration, however, will still be made available for those who can register before the battle.
4th Olango Challenge to include relay race
4th Olango Challenge to include relay race
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
March 25, 2011
As what has become its tradition, the Olango Challenge boasts of a new and major development when its 4th edition gets under way on April 30 at the Tambuli East beach resort in Lapu-Lapu City.
Back in 2008, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) organized the first open-water swimming competition in the country dubbed the Olango Challenge. It is PBSP’s fund-raising activity for the benefit of Olango residents.
Now on its fourth year, the Olango Challenge “Swim for Nature, Swim for the Future” has once again become a trailblazer by holding the first relay category in an open-water competition.
One of the swimming competition’s significant development is the addition of the 2Kx3 relay in the competitive category in male and female divisions.
PASA’s Alexander Reyes said the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), the international governing body of swimming, has started incorporating the relay component in open-water swimming competitions, the first of which was held in Shanghai, China.
Aside from the addition of the relay competition, this year’s swim route is one kilometer longer than last year.
Last year, the event raised P1.7 million, most of it coming from the pledges.
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
March 25, 2011
As what has become its tradition, the Olango Challenge boasts of a new and major development when its 4th edition gets under way on April 30 at the Tambuli East beach resort in Lapu-Lapu City.
Back in 2008, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) organized the first open-water swimming competition in the country dubbed the Olango Challenge. It is PBSP’s fund-raising activity for the benefit of Olango residents.
Now on its fourth year, the Olango Challenge “Swim for Nature, Swim for the Future” has once again become a trailblazer by holding the first relay category in an open-water competition.
One of the swimming competition’s significant development is the addition of the 2Kx3 relay in the competitive category in male and female divisions.
PASA’s Alexander Reyes said the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), the international governing body of swimming, has started incorporating the relay component in open-water swimming competitions, the first of which was held in Shanghai, China.
Aside from the addition of the relay competition, this year’s swim route is one kilometer longer than last year.
Last year, the event raised P1.7 million, most of it coming from the pledges.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Efforts to rehabilitate Buhisan watershed stressed
Efforts to rehabilitate Buhisan watershed stressed
Manila Bulletin
March 24, 2011
CEBU CITY, Philippines -- Cebu joined the country in marking World Water Day yesterday, with calls made to rehabilitate the city’s 100-year-old groundwater surface source so as to maximize its potential of providing adequate water supply to Metro Cebu’s growing population.
The 27-meter high Buhisan Watershed Dam that was built in January 3, 1911 turned 100 years old this year. Its turning a century old was marked by a “Save the Buhisan Watershed Project Donors’ Recognition and Forum at the watershed site.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Engr. Armando Paredes said the Buhisan reservoir has been providing water for the Cebuanos for 10 decades now and “sustaining it is essential for Cebu’s increasing population as the dam is tapped by the MCWD to supply water to Metro Cebu residents and establishments.”
Paredes said public-private partnership (PPP) is vital in ensuring the rehabilitation, preservation and conservation of the 630 hectare-watershed area.
Donor-partners of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) supportive of the ''Save the Buhisan Watershed'' Project were given recognition in yesterday’s activity.
Since the project was launched three years ago, the PBSP has pooled R5.6 million from its donor-partners to fund several projects within the watershed site. Four projects have been launched, namely, the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System, Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlings and the Butterfly Sanctuary.
Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas Executive Committee Chairman said the ''Save the Buhisan Watershed'' Project is “one of the environmental-related response of the Cebu business community” to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of which the Philippines is one of 189 member-signatories.
Aboitiz said since this year has been declared International Year of the Forest, “the time is indeed ripe” to strengthen forest management conservation within the watershed area.
“The Buhisan Watershed plays an actual and symbolic role in Metro Cebu as the volume of water it supplies benefits about 2,500 households within Metro Cebu areas,” Aboitiz said.
He said, however, that the reservoir’s potential water supply capacity has not been maximized and that in order to capitalize its full potential, rehabilitation is a must so it could be brought back to its original condition a century ago.
Manila Bulletin
March 24, 2011
CEBU CITY, Philippines -- Cebu joined the country in marking World Water Day yesterday, with calls made to rehabilitate the city’s 100-year-old groundwater surface source so as to maximize its potential of providing adequate water supply to Metro Cebu’s growing population.
The 27-meter high Buhisan Watershed Dam that was built in January 3, 1911 turned 100 years old this year. Its turning a century old was marked by a “Save the Buhisan Watershed Project Donors’ Recognition and Forum at the watershed site.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Engr. Armando Paredes said the Buhisan reservoir has been providing water for the Cebuanos for 10 decades now and “sustaining it is essential for Cebu’s increasing population as the dam is tapped by the MCWD to supply water to Metro Cebu residents and establishments.”
Paredes said public-private partnership (PPP) is vital in ensuring the rehabilitation, preservation and conservation of the 630 hectare-watershed area.
Donor-partners of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) supportive of the ''Save the Buhisan Watershed'' Project were given recognition in yesterday’s activity.
Since the project was launched three years ago, the PBSP has pooled R5.6 million from its donor-partners to fund several projects within the watershed site. Four projects have been launched, namely, the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System, Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlings and the Butterfly Sanctuary.
Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas Executive Committee Chairman said the ''Save the Buhisan Watershed'' Project is “one of the environmental-related response of the Cebu business community” to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of which the Philippines is one of 189 member-signatories.
Aboitiz said since this year has been declared International Year of the Forest, “the time is indeed ripe” to strengthen forest management conservation within the watershed area.
“The Buhisan Watershed plays an actual and symbolic role in Metro Cebu as the volume of water it supplies benefits about 2,500 households within Metro Cebu areas,” Aboitiz said.
He said, however, that the reservoir’s potential water supply capacity has not been maximized and that in order to capitalize its full potential, rehabilitation is a must so it could be brought back to its original condition a century ago.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
City’s groundwater sources ‘not improving’
City’s groundwater sources ‘not improving’
By Bernadette Parco
Sun.Star Cebu
March 23, 2011
THERE is no improvement in the level of saltwater intrusion in Metro Cebu in the last five years, said a University of San Carlos (USC) water expert.
To augment water supply, the construction of additional reservoirs is recommended.
“The groundwater is not better. While saltwater has not moved fast for the past five years, it has also not moved back. It is status quo since five years ago; it is not improving,” said Engr. Fe Walag of the USC Water Resources Center.
Saltwater intrusion is attributed to over-extraction of groundwater. This results to water wells being rendered useless as aquifers became saline.
“We hope what we are doing can help allow rainwater in going underground, by setting up this facility,” she told reporters yesterday after the blessing and inauguration of the Buhisan Eco-Center, as part of the celebration of 18th World Water Day.
World Water Day is an initiative of the United Nations to promote the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The center is a showcase of environment efforts of non-government organizations, such as the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW), the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and the Cebu City Government.
The facility includes a rainwater catchment system, heritage tree nursery and the Buhisan Butterfly Garden.
The reservoir is located with the 629-hectare Buhisan watershed, one of five watersheds that make up the Cebu Central Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The dam is the only surface water source of Metro Cebu, with production ranging from 5,000 cubic meters (cu. m.) per day during the dry season to 10,000 cu. m. per day during the rainy season.
Walag said the more rainwater is collected, the more water will go to the rivers and seep into the ground to recharge the aquifer.
“Because of the changing climate what we need are more reservoirs,” said Walag.
The proposed sites are the rivers of Mananga, Kotkot, Lusaran and also urban rivers like Buhisan, Bulacao, Lahug and Guadalupe.
“There are sites that are good for the reservoirs. What is needed is the will to construct (the reservoirs),” she said.
“We keep talking about proposals, all the good studies, but we refuse to implement them,” she said.
MCWD general manager Engr. Armando Paredes assured the quality of water served to its clients is maintained.
He said water is processed at the Tisa Filter Plant and daily bacteriological tests are conducted.
Paredes said the eco-center would be the venue to educate people to care for the environment and protect water sources.
The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) noted in a press statement that “drinking water
is finite.”
“In our country alone, 50 of our 421 rivers have already been declared biologically dead. There is a pressing need to conserve and protect our freshwater resources, and that need is further multiplied by the impacts of climate change,” the group said.
“Now is a more urgent time than before to ensure that competition for our water resources does not translate into the deprivation of any man, woman or child of the water that they require for an adequate standard of living,” the group said.
By Bernadette Parco
Sun.Star Cebu
March 23, 2011
THERE is no improvement in the level of saltwater intrusion in Metro Cebu in the last five years, said a University of San Carlos (USC) water expert.
To augment water supply, the construction of additional reservoirs is recommended.
“The groundwater is not better. While saltwater has not moved fast for the past five years, it has also not moved back. It is status quo since five years ago; it is not improving,” said Engr. Fe Walag of the USC Water Resources Center.
Saltwater intrusion is attributed to over-extraction of groundwater. This results to water wells being rendered useless as aquifers became saline.
“We hope what we are doing can help allow rainwater in going underground, by setting up this facility,” she told reporters yesterday after the blessing and inauguration of the Buhisan Eco-Center, as part of the celebration of 18th World Water Day.
World Water Day is an initiative of the United Nations to promote the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The center is a showcase of environment efforts of non-government organizations, such as the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW), the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and the Cebu City Government.
The facility includes a rainwater catchment system, heritage tree nursery and the Buhisan Butterfly Garden.
The reservoir is located with the 629-hectare Buhisan watershed, one of five watersheds that make up the Cebu Central Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The dam is the only surface water source of Metro Cebu, with production ranging from 5,000 cubic meters (cu. m.) per day during the dry season to 10,000 cu. m. per day during the rainy season.
Walag said the more rainwater is collected, the more water will go to the rivers and seep into the ground to recharge the aquifer.
“Because of the changing climate what we need are more reservoirs,” said Walag.
The proposed sites are the rivers of Mananga, Kotkot, Lusaran and also urban rivers like Buhisan, Bulacao, Lahug and Guadalupe.
“There are sites that are good for the reservoirs. What is needed is the will to construct (the reservoirs),” she said.
“We keep talking about proposals, all the good studies, but we refuse to implement them,” she said.
MCWD general manager Engr. Armando Paredes assured the quality of water served to its clients is maintained.
He said water is processed at the Tisa Filter Plant and daily bacteriological tests are conducted.
Paredes said the eco-center would be the venue to educate people to care for the environment and protect water sources.
The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) noted in a press statement that “drinking water
is finite.”
“In our country alone, 50 of our 421 rivers have already been declared biologically dead. There is a pressing need to conserve and protect our freshwater resources, and that need is further multiplied by the impacts of climate change,” the group said.
“Now is a more urgent time than before to ensure that competition for our water resources does not translate into the deprivation of any man, woman or child of the water that they require for an adequate standard of living,” the group said.
Reservoir celebrates 100th year
Reservoir celebrates 100th year
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
It’s all about learning a thing or two from nature.
The lush 360-hectare forest of indigenous trees that is the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve now boasts a variety of eco-tourism offerings for the nature enthusiast.
Yesterday, new projects were inaugurated in the reserve in celebration of World Water Day and the 100th anniversary of the Buhisan reservoir.
Architect Socorro Atega, executive director of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water, led visitors on tour of new projects in the watershed like a garden for butterflies endemic to the Philippines, including the Jumalone butterflies only found in Cebu.
“ The Buhisan forest is a natural butterfly sanctuary,” she said.
The Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, which is in the middle of the trees, will house the historical and ecological facts about the watershed.
Behind the center is a two-level pond that will save rainwater runoff. Atega said that they would also put tilapia fish in the pond.
A nursery for seedlings sponsored by the Philippine Business for Social Progress will house indigenous tree species to be planted in the area.
CEBU DAILY NEWS publisher and acting editor in chief Eileen Mangubat, who chairs the PBSP Cebu Hillyland Development Committee, said they wanted to plant indigenous trees to bring back the native fauna.
“In a few years, we will hear more birds chirping,” Mangubat said in a speech during the recognition of watershed donors.
Among the indigenous seedlings in the area are Mabolo, Tipolo, Banilad, Dakit and Cebu Cinnamon.
The track from the center to the pond near the dam is lined with mahogany, teak, and germelina trees as old as 50 years.
Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) general manager Armando Paredes said that they wanted to attract more visitors to the forest reserve who will be taught the importance of forest preservation.
“Every sector of society should be conscious in protecting and preserving nature,” Paredes said in an interview.
The MCWD, together with the Cebu City governemnt, PBSP and CUSW were among the organizations that united for the Save the Buhisan Watershed Project.
The project was launched in 2008 in response to the United Nation’s Millenuim Development Goals to provide eco-friendly livelihood and development to communities and rehabilitate the environment.
The project has generated more than P5 million from donors for environment and livelihood projects.
They provided alternative livelihood for nearby residents like vermi composting, planting of crops and raising livestock as alternatives to illegal logging and charcoal making.
The residents also helped provide the seedlings for the reforestation of the watershed.
Paul Fluty, president and CEO of the Lexmark International Philippines Inc., said 40 percent of residents in Buhisan are poor and should be given sustainable livelihood.
“We wanted this to be a sustainable, eco-cultural tourism destination,” Fluty said in a speech.
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
It’s all about learning a thing or two from nature.
The lush 360-hectare forest of indigenous trees that is the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve now boasts a variety of eco-tourism offerings for the nature enthusiast.
Yesterday, new projects were inaugurated in the reserve in celebration of World Water Day and the 100th anniversary of the Buhisan reservoir.
Architect Socorro Atega, executive director of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water, led visitors on tour of new projects in the watershed like a garden for butterflies endemic to the Philippines, including the Jumalone butterflies only found in Cebu.
“ The Buhisan forest is a natural butterfly sanctuary,” she said.
The Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, which is in the middle of the trees, will house the historical and ecological facts about the watershed.
Behind the center is a two-level pond that will save rainwater runoff. Atega said that they would also put tilapia fish in the pond.
A nursery for seedlings sponsored by the Philippine Business for Social Progress will house indigenous tree species to be planted in the area.
CEBU DAILY NEWS publisher and acting editor in chief Eileen Mangubat, who chairs the PBSP Cebu Hillyland Development Committee, said they wanted to plant indigenous trees to bring back the native fauna.
“In a few years, we will hear more birds chirping,” Mangubat said in a speech during the recognition of watershed donors.
Among the indigenous seedlings in the area are Mabolo, Tipolo, Banilad, Dakit and Cebu Cinnamon.
The track from the center to the pond near the dam is lined with mahogany, teak, and germelina trees as old as 50 years.
Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) general manager Armando Paredes said that they wanted to attract more visitors to the forest reserve who will be taught the importance of forest preservation.
“Every sector of society should be conscious in protecting and preserving nature,” Paredes said in an interview.
The MCWD, together with the Cebu City governemnt, PBSP and CUSW were among the organizations that united for the Save the Buhisan Watershed Project.
The project was launched in 2008 in response to the United Nation’s Millenuim Development Goals to provide eco-friendly livelihood and development to communities and rehabilitate the environment.
The project has generated more than P5 million from donors for environment and livelihood projects.
They provided alternative livelihood for nearby residents like vermi composting, planting of crops and raising livestock as alternatives to illegal logging and charcoal making.
The residents also helped provide the seedlings for the reforestation of the watershed.
Paul Fluty, president and CEO of the Lexmark International Philippines Inc., said 40 percent of residents in Buhisan are poor and should be given sustainable livelihood.
“We wanted this to be a sustainable, eco-cultural tourism destination,” Fluty said in a speech.
‘No shortage of water, only lack of gov’t will’
‘No shortage of water, only lack of gov’t will’
Surface water development, dam engineering urged
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
Cebu faces a shortage of water resource development—not supply—due to lack of political will to tap the province’s many water sources.
“We don’t have crisis of the supply, but on resource development,” said hydrologist Fe Walag, deputy director of the University of San Carlos-Water Resource Center (USC-WRC).
Wagas cited a 2006 study titled Water Resource Management Plan for Metro Cebu or the “Water Remind” project that reported that Cebu has a water shortage of 60,000 to 70,000 cubic meter daily.
“Our crisis is due to the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) because they are mandated to serve but they had not served fully,” Walag said.
She said demand for water would rise in the long run due to increasing population and economic activities in Cebu.
The MCWD provides 200,000 cubic meters of water every day and provides 50 percent of the water supply in Metro Cebu.
MCWD general manager Armand Paredes also assured that there is still enough water supply in Cebu.
“We will maximize the extraction of groundwater,” Paredes said during an interview yesterday.
But Walag warned the MCWD that “excessive” drilling of groundwater can cause saltwater intrusion.
She explained this meant that saline water would move into the freshwater aquifiers and contaminate the groundwater source.
Walag said long-term solutions like developing surface water as a sustainable water source are the order of the day.
“They should decide to do engineering of high dams,” Walag said.
She said the water shortage problem won’t be felt in the present since the MCWD can still maintain a certain volume of water, which is enough to supply metro Cebu.
“They would be able to maintain the present volume, but they would not be able to go beyond it either,” she said.
The Buhisan Dam is the only surface water source tapped by the water district that has a 60-hectare pond area.
The dam produces 5,000 to 10,000 cubic meters of water per day and provides 5 percent of the MCWD water supply.
Though dam engineering and developing surface water require bigger capital cost compared to groundwater drilling, she said it will cost less in the long run.
She said a rebuilt dam requires less maintenance cost, consumes less energy and has an extended life span.
Walag said local government units (LGUs) and community stakeholders should also back the water district in pursuing this plan.
She said many feasibility studies were done since the 1980s, but implementation didn’t push through due to inadequate financial support and lack of political will.
Walag said the public should be educated on the water problem so they could pressure government officials to implement development of dams.
Paredes said an ongoing feasibility study was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to study the possible development of Kotkot Lusaran Watershed as another surface water source.
He said the supply from the Buhisan dam is insufficient to supply Metro Cebu’s water needs.
Though the cost of sourcing from groundwater is lower, Paredes said they will develop surface water to augment the water supply.
The Buhisan Dam was built 100 years ago and can still operate for another 100 years, Paredes said.
A technical team that surveyed the dam said the dam’s rock formation is still intact.
Only “minor” repairs like the dam’s water gates, which don’t fully close, are needed to allow more water from the pond to flow to the water exits.
Paredes said they also asked the LGUs to survey the profile of riverbeds to determine its vulnerability to floods.
He said they are also studying the possibility of increasing the water rates two years from now to cope with the water district’s increasing operational costs.
Should that happen, Paredes said the first area to be affected would be Mactan.
He said Mactan’s water source undergoes more filtration and sanitation due to the high saltwater intrusion of their groundwater source.
Surface water development, dam engineering urged
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
Cebu faces a shortage of water resource development—not supply—due to lack of political will to tap the province’s many water sources.
“We don’t have crisis of the supply, but on resource development,” said hydrologist Fe Walag, deputy director of the University of San Carlos-Water Resource Center (USC-WRC).
Wagas cited a 2006 study titled Water Resource Management Plan for Metro Cebu or the “Water Remind” project that reported that Cebu has a water shortage of 60,000 to 70,000 cubic meter daily.
“Our crisis is due to the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) because they are mandated to serve but they had not served fully,” Walag said.
She said demand for water would rise in the long run due to increasing population and economic activities in Cebu.
The MCWD provides 200,000 cubic meters of water every day and provides 50 percent of the water supply in Metro Cebu.
MCWD general manager Armand Paredes also assured that there is still enough water supply in Cebu.
“We will maximize the extraction of groundwater,” Paredes said during an interview yesterday.
But Walag warned the MCWD that “excessive” drilling of groundwater can cause saltwater intrusion.
She explained this meant that saline water would move into the freshwater aquifiers and contaminate the groundwater source.
Walag said long-term solutions like developing surface water as a sustainable water source are the order of the day.
“They should decide to do engineering of high dams,” Walag said.
She said the water shortage problem won’t be felt in the present since the MCWD can still maintain a certain volume of water, which is enough to supply metro Cebu.
“They would be able to maintain the present volume, but they would not be able to go beyond it either,” she said.
The Buhisan Dam is the only surface water source tapped by the water district that has a 60-hectare pond area.
The dam produces 5,000 to 10,000 cubic meters of water per day and provides 5 percent of the MCWD water supply.
Though dam engineering and developing surface water require bigger capital cost compared to groundwater drilling, she said it will cost less in the long run.
She said a rebuilt dam requires less maintenance cost, consumes less energy and has an extended life span.
Walag said local government units (LGUs) and community stakeholders should also back the water district in pursuing this plan.
She said many feasibility studies were done since the 1980s, but implementation didn’t push through due to inadequate financial support and lack of political will.
Walag said the public should be educated on the water problem so they could pressure government officials to implement development of dams.
Paredes said an ongoing feasibility study was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to study the possible development of Kotkot Lusaran Watershed as another surface water source.
He said the supply from the Buhisan dam is insufficient to supply Metro Cebu’s water needs.
Though the cost of sourcing from groundwater is lower, Paredes said they will develop surface water to augment the water supply.
The Buhisan Dam was built 100 years ago and can still operate for another 100 years, Paredes said.
A technical team that surveyed the dam said the dam’s rock formation is still intact.
Only “minor” repairs like the dam’s water gates, which don’t fully close, are needed to allow more water from the pond to flow to the water exits.
Paredes said they also asked the LGUs to survey the profile of riverbeds to determine its vulnerability to floods.
He said they are also studying the possibility of increasing the water rates two years from now to cope with the water district’s increasing operational costs.
Should that happen, Paredes said the first area to be affected would be Mactan.
He said Mactan’s water source undergoes more filtration and sanitation due to the high saltwater intrusion of their groundwater source.
4th Olango Challenge at Tambuli on April 30
4th Olango Challenge at Tambuli on April 30
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
The Olango Challenge returns for its fourth undertaking at the Tambuli Beach Club on April 30.
The open water swimming competition is a fund-raising activity spearheaded by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) for the benefit of the people of Olango Island.
The PBSP is the largest corporate-led social development foundation in the Philippines. Founded in 1970, and the first of its kind in Asia, PBSP leads the promotion and practice of corporate citizenship.
PBSP encourages companies to integrate social responsibility into their core businesses, and advocates the application of business solutions to poverty.
The competition, which follows the same format with that of the open water swim category of the Beijing Summer Olympics, is aimed at promoting open water swimming marathon discipline in the country.
The Olango Challenge was the first open-water marathon swimming competition held in the country and has been emulated in Batangas.
It also serves as an advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and raise awareness about the high incidence of drowning in the Philippines.
In last year's 3rd Olango Challenge, Nikita Dacera and 15-year-old Palarong Pambansa multiple gold medalists Erika Lukang overcame slightly rough waters and jelly fish stings to rule the men's and women's divisions of the 5K competitive category.
Dacera is a member of the Dadiangastorpedoes Swim Cub while Lukang is a member of the Philippine Center for Excellence in Aquatic Sports (PCEAS).
Last year's proceeds allowed for the reforestation of 5,200 trees on Olango Island while the construction of another two-room classroom building for the public elementary school at barangay Caw-Oy shall begin next week and should be completed in time for the 2011-2012 school year.
Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge will be used for an extensive reforestation effort of Olango Island.
For four years now, the Olango Challenge continues to help improve the lives of 2,300 families on Olango Island through the delivery of basic social services, the provision of sustainable income opportunities and the rehabilitation of the unique environment of the island.
Past proceeds of the competition went to the construction and refurbishment of classrooms, the promotion and practice of organic vermiculture and the greening of Olango Island.
Those interested could either choose from the 2K and 6K competitive, competitive relay or the fun categories.
Registration fee is pegged at P500 for the 2K and 6K competitive swim, P500 for the competitive relay category and P2,000 for the fun category.
Discounts will be given to those who register on or before April 8. For more information, please call Riva of PBSP at (032) 232-5270 or 232-5283 or Alex of PASA at (02) 687-7403.
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
The Olango Challenge returns for its fourth undertaking at the Tambuli Beach Club on April 30.
The open water swimming competition is a fund-raising activity spearheaded by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) for the benefit of the people of Olango Island.
The PBSP is the largest corporate-led social development foundation in the Philippines. Founded in 1970, and the first of its kind in Asia, PBSP leads the promotion and practice of corporate citizenship.
PBSP encourages companies to integrate social responsibility into their core businesses, and advocates the application of business solutions to poverty.
The competition, which follows the same format with that of the open water swim category of the Beijing Summer Olympics, is aimed at promoting open water swimming marathon discipline in the country.
The Olango Challenge was the first open-water marathon swimming competition held in the country and has been emulated in Batangas.
It also serves as an advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and raise awareness about the high incidence of drowning in the Philippines.
In last year's 3rd Olango Challenge, Nikita Dacera and 15-year-old Palarong Pambansa multiple gold medalists Erika Lukang overcame slightly rough waters and jelly fish stings to rule the men's and women's divisions of the 5K competitive category.
Dacera is a member of the Dadiangastorpedoes Swim Cub while Lukang is a member of the Philippine Center for Excellence in Aquatic Sports (PCEAS).
Last year's proceeds allowed for the reforestation of 5,200 trees on Olango Island while the construction of another two-room classroom building for the public elementary school at barangay Caw-Oy shall begin next week and should be completed in time for the 2011-2012 school year.
Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge will be used for an extensive reforestation effort of Olango Island.
For four years now, the Olango Challenge continues to help improve the lives of 2,300 families on Olango Island through the delivery of basic social services, the provision of sustainable income opportunities and the rehabilitation of the unique environment of the island.
Past proceeds of the competition went to the construction and refurbishment of classrooms, the promotion and practice of organic vermiculture and the greening of Olango Island.
Those interested could either choose from the 2K and 6K competitive, competitive relay or the fun categories.
Registration fee is pegged at P500 for the 2K and 6K competitive swim, P500 for the competitive relay category and P2,000 for the fun category.
Discounts will be given to those who register on or before April 8. For more information, please call Riva of PBSP at (032) 232-5270 or 232-5283 or Alex of PASA at (02) 687-7403.
Water loss down, MCWD saves P35M
WORLD WATER DAY
Water loss down, MCWD saves P35M
By Candeze Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) yesterday reported a drop in water wastage from 2009 to 2010.
Waste during water distribution fell from 30 percent in 2009 to 28 percent in 2010, said engineer Ernie Delco, MCWD assistant general manager for operations.
The 2 percent drop translates to savings of 1.4 million cubic meters or P35 million of “nonrevenue water,” Delco said, adding that this is an achievement in time for today’s celebration of World Water Day.
“The reduction of non-revenue water means that more water was conserved and also indicates the efficiency of our water operation,” Delco said.
He attributed the savings to their inventory of leaks, rehabilitation of pipelines and reinforcement of the leak detection team last year.
Nonrevenue water is water that is “lost” before it reaches the customer.
The MCWD produces at least 60 million cubic meters of water annually. Leaking pipes often go undetected.
With less water loss, Delco said that the company also saved on energy costs.
The MCWD with the Cebu City government, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Cebu Uniting for Sustainable water will hold today a donors’ recognition and forum at the Buhisan Reservoir in barangay Buhisan, Cebu City, to celebrate World Water Day and the reservoir’s 100th anniversary.
“The event celebrates the involvement of the business sector in rehabilitating and protecting the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve while reducing poverty in the communities within the area,” said Reggie Marie Barrientos, communications officer of PBSP Visayas in a statement.
The stakeholders will launch projects at the reservoir including a nature center, butterfly garden, nursery for indigenous seedlings and a two-pond stormwater catchment.
Water loss down, MCWD saves P35M
By Candeze Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 23, 2011
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) yesterday reported a drop in water wastage from 2009 to 2010.
Waste during water distribution fell from 30 percent in 2009 to 28 percent in 2010, said engineer Ernie Delco, MCWD assistant general manager for operations.
The 2 percent drop translates to savings of 1.4 million cubic meters or P35 million of “nonrevenue water,” Delco said, adding that this is an achievement in time for today’s celebration of World Water Day.
“The reduction of non-revenue water means that more water was conserved and also indicates the efficiency of our water operation,” Delco said.
He attributed the savings to their inventory of leaks, rehabilitation of pipelines and reinforcement of the leak detection team last year.
Nonrevenue water is water that is “lost” before it reaches the customer.
The MCWD produces at least 60 million cubic meters of water annually. Leaking pipes often go undetected.
With less water loss, Delco said that the company also saved on energy costs.
The MCWD with the Cebu City government, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Cebu Uniting for Sustainable water will hold today a donors’ recognition and forum at the Buhisan Reservoir in barangay Buhisan, Cebu City, to celebrate World Water Day and the reservoir’s 100th anniversary.
“The event celebrates the involvement of the business sector in rehabilitating and protecting the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve while reducing poverty in the communities within the area,” said Reggie Marie Barrientos, communications officer of PBSP Visayas in a statement.
The stakeholders will launch projects at the reservoir including a nature center, butterfly garden, nursery for indigenous seedlings and a two-pond stormwater catchment.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Cebu calls for rehabilitation of the Buhisan watershed as it joins the PHL in celebrating World Water Day
Cebu calls for rehabilitation of the Buhisan watershed as it joins the PHL in celebrating World Water Day
By Fayette C. Riñen
Philippine Information Agency-Region 7
March 22, 2011
CEBU CITY, Mar. 22 (PIA) - As Cebu joins the country in celebrating World Water Day today, the need to rehabilitate the 100-year old groundwater surface source of Cebu City is given emphasis to maximize its potential of providing water supply to Metro Cebu’s burgeoning population.
The 27-meter high Buhisan Watershed Dam that was built in January 3, 1911 turned 100 years old this year as the need to rehabilitate the reservoir is given emphasis during the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project Donors’ Recognition and Forum this morning at the watershed site.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Engr. Armando Paredes bared the Buhisan reservoir has been providing water for the Cebuanos for 10 decades now.
“Sustaining the Buhisan reservoir is essential for Cebu’s growing population as the dam is tapped by the MCWD to supply water to residents and establishments of Metro Cebu,” Paredes said.
Paredes said public-private partnership (PPP) is vital in ensuring the rehabilitation, preservation and conservation of the 630 hectare-watershed area.
Donor-partners of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) that supported the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project were given recognition in today’s activity.
In the last three years since the project was launched, the PBSP has collectively pooled P5.6M from its donor-partners to fund several projects within the watershed site that witnessed the inauguration of four projects. These are the1st bay Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System, Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlings and the Butterfly Sanctuary.
The PBSP has worked closely with the MCWD and the Cebu City Government in the development of Metro Cebu in several areas including the environment.
Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas Executive Committee Chairman said the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project is “one of the environmental-related response of the Cebu Business Community” to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of which the Philippines is one of the 189 member-signatories.
Aboitiz said since the this year is declared as the ‘International Year of the Forest’ the time is indeed ripe to strengthen forest management conservation within the watershed area.
“The Buhisan Watershed is an actual and symbolic role of Metro Cebu as the volume of water it supplies benefits about 2,500 households within Metro Cebu areas,” Aboitiz revealed.
But Aboitiz however, said the reservoir’s potential water supply capacity has not been maximized and that in order to capitalize its full potential, rehabilitation is a must so it could be brought back to its original condition 100 years ago. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
By Fayette C. Riñen
Philippine Information Agency-Region 7
March 22, 2011
CEBU CITY, Mar. 22 (PIA) - As Cebu joins the country in celebrating World Water Day today, the need to rehabilitate the 100-year old groundwater surface source of Cebu City is given emphasis to maximize its potential of providing water supply to Metro Cebu’s burgeoning population.
The 27-meter high Buhisan Watershed Dam that was built in January 3, 1911 turned 100 years old this year as the need to rehabilitate the reservoir is given emphasis during the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project Donors’ Recognition and Forum this morning at the watershed site.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Engr. Armando Paredes bared the Buhisan reservoir has been providing water for the Cebuanos for 10 decades now.
“Sustaining the Buhisan reservoir is essential for Cebu’s growing population as the dam is tapped by the MCWD to supply water to residents and establishments of Metro Cebu,” Paredes said.
Paredes said public-private partnership (PPP) is vital in ensuring the rehabilitation, preservation and conservation of the 630 hectare-watershed area.
Donor-partners of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) that supported the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project were given recognition in today’s activity.
In the last three years since the project was launched, the PBSP has collectively pooled P5.6M from its donor-partners to fund several projects within the watershed site that witnessed the inauguration of four projects. These are the1st bay Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center, Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System, Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlings and the Butterfly Sanctuary.
The PBSP has worked closely with the MCWD and the Cebu City Government in the development of Metro Cebu in several areas including the environment.
Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas Executive Committee Chairman said the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project is “one of the environmental-related response of the Cebu Business Community” to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of which the Philippines is one of the 189 member-signatories.
Aboitiz said since the this year is declared as the ‘International Year of the Forest’ the time is indeed ripe to strengthen forest management conservation within the watershed area.
“The Buhisan Watershed is an actual and symbolic role of Metro Cebu as the volume of water it supplies benefits about 2,500 households within Metro Cebu areas,” Aboitiz revealed.
But Aboitiz however, said the reservoir’s potential water supply capacity has not been maximized and that in order to capitalize its full potential, rehabilitation is a must so it could be brought back to its original condition 100 years ago. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
Monday, March 21, 2011
PPP essential in sustaining the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ project in Cebu
PPP essential in sustaining the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ project in Cebu
In celebration of World Water Day tomorrow, Buhisan donors’ forum setBy Fayette C. Rinen
Philippine Information Agency-Region 7
March 21, 2011
CEBU CITY, MAR 21 (PIA) - In celebration of the World Water Day tomorrow, March 22, public-private partnership (PPP) is highlighted in sustaining the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project launched three years ago as part of Cebu’s environmental response to the United Nations’(UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The project, now on its third year is sustained through multi-stakeholder partnerships. To date around P5.6M worth of projects at the watershed site was implemented with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and its partners working with some 20 partner-donors to collectively mobilize the funding to support the various projects, according to PBSP.
These projects include sustainable livelihood and enterprise development support for poor communities, water and sanitation, environment protection and rehabilitation initiatives like reforestation and eco-cultural tourism development.
The PBSP with the support of the Metro Cebu Water District, Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water and the Cebu City Government has studiously worked for the involvement of the business sector in the development of Metro Cebu, the PBSP stated.
The ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project, spearheaded by Lexmark International Philippines, Inc. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation is the business sector’s contribution to achieve the MDG on poverty reduction, this is learned.
Sustaining the Buhisan Watershed is critical as this is one of the two sources of surface water tapped by the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) for distribution to households and industries in Cebu City.
In celebration of the World Water Day tomorrow and the 100th anniversary of the Buhisan Reservoir, a Buhisan Donor’s Forum is slated in the morning at the site to give recognition to 20 donors that have made the project goals in the watershed possible.
Tomorrow’s event will also highlight the inauguration of four projects as accomplishments of the "Save Buhisan Watershed" project namely the 1st bay Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center; Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System; Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlings and Butterfly Sanctuary. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
In celebration of World Water Day tomorrow, Buhisan donors’ forum setBy Fayette C. Rinen
Philippine Information Agency-Region 7
March 21, 2011
CEBU CITY, MAR 21 (PIA) - In celebration of the World Water Day tomorrow, March 22, public-private partnership (PPP) is highlighted in sustaining the ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project launched three years ago as part of Cebu’s environmental response to the United Nations’(UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The project, now on its third year is sustained through multi-stakeholder partnerships. To date around P5.6M worth of projects at the watershed site was implemented with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and its partners working with some 20 partner-donors to collectively mobilize the funding to support the various projects, according to PBSP.
These projects include sustainable livelihood and enterprise development support for poor communities, water and sanitation, environment protection and rehabilitation initiatives like reforestation and eco-cultural tourism development.
The PBSP with the support of the Metro Cebu Water District, Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water and the Cebu City Government has studiously worked for the involvement of the business sector in the development of Metro Cebu, the PBSP stated.
The ‘Save the Buhisan Watershed’ Project, spearheaded by Lexmark International Philippines, Inc. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation is the business sector’s contribution to achieve the MDG on poverty reduction, this is learned.
Sustaining the Buhisan Watershed is critical as this is one of the two sources of surface water tapped by the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) for distribution to households and industries in Cebu City.
In celebration of the World Water Day tomorrow and the 100th anniversary of the Buhisan Reservoir, a Buhisan Donor’s Forum is slated in the morning at the site to give recognition to 20 donors that have made the project goals in the watershed possible.
Tomorrow’s event will also highlight the inauguration of four projects as accomplishments of the "Save Buhisan Watershed" project namely the 1st bay Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve Nature Center; Two-Pond Storm Water Catchment System; Central Nursery of Indigenous Tree Seedlings and Butterfly Sanctuary. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Foundation cites Cebu industries as key partner
Foundation cites Cebu industries as key partner
By Katlene O. Cacho
Sun.Star Cebu
March 20, 2011
THE corporate-led social development foundation, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), sees Cebu industries as an important partner in the implementation of its projects here. The organization also hopes to strengthen further the public-private partnership (PPP) to fully address the poverty problems in the country.
PBSP executive director Rafael Lopa, during the recent 23rd PBSP Visayas Annual Membership Meeting, said Cebu’s major industries like furniture, house ware and fashion accessories, which are in demand globally, are in the position to promote “value chain integration strategy in southern Philippines.”
The value chain approach is PBSP’s primary strategy in business development services.
It focuses on linking small farmers and micro producers to the supply chain of more established business enterprises to establish a “more inclusive economic growth.”
“As part of the realignment of projects with the country’s development agenda, PBSP will gear up to link the community and sectoral-based livelihood projects with the value chain of mainstream business enterprises to help ensure that the products and services of the people at the base of the social pyramid have sustainable markets,” Lopa said.
In the same event, Lopa also praised the efforts of Visayas companies in the promotion of the organization’s livelihood projects.
In the area of agriculture, Visayas companies helped rice producers in Iloilo export their produce to other provinces.
Lopa also lauded the health projects of the region, particularly those that improve access to maternal and child healthcare.
He said the foundation is strengthening initiatives in communities to stop tuberculosis, with the support of US Aid and the Global Fund.
Lopa also lauded the efforts in saving the Cebu hillylands.
He also said that the foundation hopes to strengthen the PPP for education initiatives. He said PBSP is working to revive the 57-75 movement with other partners.
“Our focus is on addressing the classroom backlog in the country, and we will work with the Department of Education and Department of Interior and Local Government to bring private sector resources and expertise to fill the gap,” he said.
The 57-75 Education Reform Alliance is a consortium of private sector institutions aiming to “reverse the education crisis” through focused interventions and school-community actions. The number 57 indicates the current situation of the Philippine public education system as the national average score in percentage points among public elementary school students in the National Achievement Test (NAT), while the number 75 symbolizes the state of education which the country would want to achieve in five years.
PBSP is also in current talks with two major aid organizations for the foundation’s education and livelihood development advocacies.
By Katlene O. Cacho
Sun.Star Cebu
March 20, 2011
THE corporate-led social development foundation, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), sees Cebu industries as an important partner in the implementation of its projects here. The organization also hopes to strengthen further the public-private partnership (PPP) to fully address the poverty problems in the country.
PBSP executive director Rafael Lopa, during the recent 23rd PBSP Visayas Annual Membership Meeting, said Cebu’s major industries like furniture, house ware and fashion accessories, which are in demand globally, are in the position to promote “value chain integration strategy in southern Philippines.”
The value chain approach is PBSP’s primary strategy in business development services.
It focuses on linking small farmers and micro producers to the supply chain of more established business enterprises to establish a “more inclusive economic growth.”
“As part of the realignment of projects with the country’s development agenda, PBSP will gear up to link the community and sectoral-based livelihood projects with the value chain of mainstream business enterprises to help ensure that the products and services of the people at the base of the social pyramid have sustainable markets,” Lopa said.
In the same event, Lopa also praised the efforts of Visayas companies in the promotion of the organization’s livelihood projects.
In the area of agriculture, Visayas companies helped rice producers in Iloilo export their produce to other provinces.
Lopa also lauded the health projects of the region, particularly those that improve access to maternal and child healthcare.
He said the foundation is strengthening initiatives in communities to stop tuberculosis, with the support of US Aid and the Global Fund.
Lopa also lauded the efforts in saving the Cebu hillylands.
He also said that the foundation hopes to strengthen the PPP for education initiatives. He said PBSP is working to revive the 57-75 movement with other partners.
“Our focus is on addressing the classroom backlog in the country, and we will work with the Department of Education and Department of Interior and Local Government to bring private sector resources and expertise to fill the gap,” he said.
The 57-75 Education Reform Alliance is a consortium of private sector institutions aiming to “reverse the education crisis” through focused interventions and school-community actions. The number 57 indicates the current situation of the Philippine public education system as the national average score in percentage points among public elementary school students in the National Achievement Test (NAT), while the number 75 symbolizes the state of education which the country would want to achieve in five years.
PBSP is also in current talks with two major aid organizations for the foundation’s education and livelihood development advocacies.
Novel Blackberry alerts for Philippine disasters
Novel Blackberry alerts for Philippine disasters
Agence France-Presse
March 20, 2011
MANILA — A Philippine charity said Monday it had launched a novel early warning system for disaster-prone areas using Blackberry devices and laptops.
The devices are hooked to a text message system that would immediately alert the communities to typhoons, storm surges, tsunamis, landslides and earthquakes, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) said.
The 200,000-dollar project was carried out with the World Bank and one of the country's leading mobile phone operators, said PBSP, which is funded by the country's top chief executives.
The areas covered by the project are all in Southern Leyte province in the central Visayas region, which lies along a fault line and is also often battered by powerful typhoons.
"The province was chosen (for the project) being one of the country?s top 10 provinces highly prone to natural disasters like floods, tsunamis, storm surges, landslides, earthquakes, and typhoons," it said in a statement.
In 2006, heavy rain triggered a deadly mudslide that buried the entire village of Guinsaugon in Southern Leyte, killing more 1,000 people in one of the country's worst natural disasters of recent years.
The deaths were blamed on a lack of proper seismic and weather equipment and an alert system that could have immediately led to a mass evacuation.
The project's web-based information system enables officials from the towns to use BlackBerries and laptops to access and quickly spread alerts or store surveillance data, before, during and after disasters.
The Philippines is considered among the world's most vulnerable countries to natural disasters.
It sits on the Pacific's earthquake and volcano belt, and is battered by an average of 20 typhoons a year.
Agence France-Presse
March 20, 2011
MANILA — A Philippine charity said Monday it had launched a novel early warning system for disaster-prone areas using Blackberry devices and laptops.
The devices are hooked to a text message system that would immediately alert the communities to typhoons, storm surges, tsunamis, landslides and earthquakes, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) said.
The 200,000-dollar project was carried out with the World Bank and one of the country's leading mobile phone operators, said PBSP, which is funded by the country's top chief executives.
The areas covered by the project are all in Southern Leyte province in the central Visayas region, which lies along a fault line and is also often battered by powerful typhoons.
"The province was chosen (for the project) being one of the country?s top 10 provinces highly prone to natural disasters like floods, tsunamis, storm surges, landslides, earthquakes, and typhoons," it said in a statement.
In 2006, heavy rain triggered a deadly mudslide that buried the entire village of Guinsaugon in Southern Leyte, killing more 1,000 people in one of the country's worst natural disasters of recent years.
The deaths were blamed on a lack of proper seismic and weather equipment and an alert system that could have immediately led to a mass evacuation.
The project's web-based information system enables officials from the towns to use BlackBerries and laptops to access and quickly spread alerts or store surveillance data, before, during and after disasters.
The Philippines is considered among the world's most vulnerable countries to natural disasters.
It sits on the Pacific's earthquake and volcano belt, and is battered by an average of 20 typhoons a year.
PAMB to update protected landscape management plan
PAMB to update protected landscape management plan
By Hazel F. Gloria
Philippine Information Agency
March 20, 2011
CEBU CITY, March 20 (PIA) --The Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Area Management Board (CCPL-PAMB) recently held its general assembly meeting to prepare, update and revise its management plan to attune it to the existing needs and environmental requirements of the time.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) regional executive director Maximo Dichoso who presided the meeting said, with the approval of CCPL-PAMB memberships, the board has created functional committees to handle specific, clear and more defined functions and responsibilities.
“This is to expedite or accelerate the programs and projects to be carried out within the protected area. We have committees to study and subsequently conduct the survey and prepare the management plan in coordination with other concerned offices,” Dichoso added.
Dichoso stated that the revised CCPL Management Plan will be attuned to the existing needs and environmental protection requirements today and “we will delineate boundaries in the ground hopefully to be completed this year,” he added.
The updated Management Plan will also include areas or zones for strict protection and multiple-use instead of five zones before, he said.
“As of this time, we have delineated 34 kilometers and we intend to cover the whole area within CCPL for the actual ground delineation with the help and assistance of the business sectors,” he explained.
Dichoso emphasized that the protection, conservation and management of Central Cebu Protected Landscape is a collective and joint efforts among local government units, non-government organizations, business sectors and other stakeholders through the PAMB, and DENR only sits as its chair and provides technical assistance and administrative support.
Dichoso added the five Site Management Units (SMUs) are organized via watershed approach and parks composed of barangay captains to simplify and focus a specific watershed area by concerned barangay.
The Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) under Republic Act No. 9486 that was approved on June 7, 2007 covers a consolidated area of 28,312 hectares.
It consists of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve that span the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao, and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Balamban.
The personnel complement of CCPL include the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) as its head and back up by DENR support staff.
Dichoso also said regular PAMB meetings or general assemblies will be conducted on a quarterly basis instead of two meetings per year.
“This will allow us to thresh out more environmental issues and concerns through PAMB resolution and deliberation for programs and projects and any other activities in CCPL areas,” he added.
The last gathering was probably the biggest turnout of attendance in the history of CCPL-PAMB meetings and this is an expression that members are serious to get their acts together for the protection of the environment, Dichoso commented.
In the same meeting, Dichoso also presented the CCPL-PAMB eight committees with their respective chairmen.
Renato de Rueda of Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. chairs the committee on Research and Policy while Socorro Atega of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water chairs the committee on Project and Infrastructure.
Joy Caceres of Environmental Legal Assistance Center chairs the committee on Conflict and Legal Services; Aida Granert of Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, committee on Capacity-Building and Promotion and Junie Montenegro of the Cebu Provincial Planning and Development Office chairs the committee on Monitoring and Evaluation.
Jessie Cubijano of Philippine Business of Social Progress chairs the Economic and Social committee; Armando Paredes of Metro Cebu Water District , Ways and Means and Jose Gapas of Mag-uugmad Foundation for the committee on Natural Resources and Law Enforcement.
Each committee will have a maximum of five members to include the chairman and vice chairman.
By Hazel F. Gloria
Philippine Information Agency
March 20, 2011
CEBU CITY, March 20 (PIA) --The Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Area Management Board (CCPL-PAMB) recently held its general assembly meeting to prepare, update and revise its management plan to attune it to the existing needs and environmental requirements of the time.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) regional executive director Maximo Dichoso who presided the meeting said, with the approval of CCPL-PAMB memberships, the board has created functional committees to handle specific, clear and more defined functions and responsibilities.
“This is to expedite or accelerate the programs and projects to be carried out within the protected area. We have committees to study and subsequently conduct the survey and prepare the management plan in coordination with other concerned offices,” Dichoso added.
Dichoso stated that the revised CCPL Management Plan will be attuned to the existing needs and environmental protection requirements today and “we will delineate boundaries in the ground hopefully to be completed this year,” he added.
The updated Management Plan will also include areas or zones for strict protection and multiple-use instead of five zones before, he said.
“As of this time, we have delineated 34 kilometers and we intend to cover the whole area within CCPL for the actual ground delineation with the help and assistance of the business sectors,” he explained.
Dichoso emphasized that the protection, conservation and management of Central Cebu Protected Landscape is a collective and joint efforts among local government units, non-government organizations, business sectors and other stakeholders through the PAMB, and DENR only sits as its chair and provides technical assistance and administrative support.
Dichoso added the five Site Management Units (SMUs) are organized via watershed approach and parks composed of barangay captains to simplify and focus a specific watershed area by concerned barangay.
The Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) under Republic Act No. 9486 that was approved on June 7, 2007 covers a consolidated area of 28,312 hectares.
It consists of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve that span the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao, and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Balamban.
The personnel complement of CCPL include the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) as its head and back up by DENR support staff.
Dichoso also said regular PAMB meetings or general assemblies will be conducted on a quarterly basis instead of two meetings per year.
“This will allow us to thresh out more environmental issues and concerns through PAMB resolution and deliberation for programs and projects and any other activities in CCPL areas,” he added.
The last gathering was probably the biggest turnout of attendance in the history of CCPL-PAMB meetings and this is an expression that members are serious to get their acts together for the protection of the environment, Dichoso commented.
In the same meeting, Dichoso also presented the CCPL-PAMB eight committees with their respective chairmen.
Renato de Rueda of Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. chairs the committee on Research and Policy while Socorro Atega of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water chairs the committee on Project and Infrastructure.
Joy Caceres of Environmental Legal Assistance Center chairs the committee on Conflict and Legal Services; Aida Granert of Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, committee on Capacity-Building and Promotion and Junie Montenegro of the Cebu Provincial Planning and Development Office chairs the committee on Monitoring and Evaluation.
Jessie Cubijano of Philippine Business of Social Progress chairs the Economic and Social committee; Armando Paredes of Metro Cebu Water District , Ways and Means and Jose Gapas of Mag-uugmad Foundation for the committee on Natural Resources and Law Enforcement.
Each committee will have a maximum of five members to include the chairman and vice chairman.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Century-old rain trees to give way to south Cebu highway
Century-old rain trees to give way to south Cebu highwayBy Marian Z. Codilla
Cebu Daily News
March 18, 2011
In the months ahead, century-old rain trees lining a road section in south Cebu from Naga to Carcar City will be marked for destruction to make way for road widening.
“We can’t do anything about it,” said Naga Mayor Val Chiong yesterday.
“We are just coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because it is their project.”
The huge trees, which form a graceful green canopy that greets motorists traveling south, were planted in 1915 by the former Bureau of Public works, the DPWH’s predecessor.
The DPWH 2nd Engineering District is getting appraisal estimates for properties affected by the proposed road widening, which has a P27-million budget.
The value of aged, long-surviving trees, however, does not seem to draw a deeper response than resignation from local officials despite the fact that 2011 is declared the “Year of the Forests” by the United Nations with a special program by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify and officially mark “heritage trees” in the country.
In a forum last week in Cebu City, international urban planner Felino Palafox Jr., who talked about disaster risk management in the annual meeting of the Philippine Business for Social Progress-Visayas, said a 50-year-old tree “has a value of P9 million.”
The P9 million, he said, is computed based on factors such as the oxygen produced, carbon dioxide-green gas captured, protection from soil erosion, cooling capacity, water retention, shade, biodiversity, aesthetic qualities and other factors that add to the real estate value where a tree stands.
(Palafox, a Filipino architect who has led projects in 30 countries, including Dubai and Asian capitals, drew controversy in 2008 when he turned down a $1-million contract for a hotel resort-casino project in Subic because he refused to cut down 366 seventy-year-old trees. He later accused the developers of corruption.)
In Naga and Carcar, two public forums have been called since February by DPWH regional officials to inform residents and business owners about the impending infrastructure project.
A 200-year-old coral stone house (balay na bato) near the highway in barangay Langtad, Naga City, is also in the path and in danger of being demolished.
“I will still talk with the owner to see if they will agree to have the house transferred to the plaza kay sayang,” said Mayor Chiong said in a telephone interview.
The mayor said the house could be transferred to the public plaza and preserved as a heritage site.
The owner, Napoleon Dacalos, a retired sanitary inspector, said he had no choice but submit to the DPWH plans. He sad the family expects to be properly compensated for the damage.
“Wala mi mahimo kay pagbuot man ni sa gobyerno. Bayran man sad mi,” he said. (We can’t do anything if that’s the decision of the government. Anyway we will also be paid.)
He said his house, which the family acquired in 1948, was built during the Spanish era and is made of mahogany and narra hardwood.
Dacalos said he already asked an architect to appraise the value of the house to be submitted to the municipal assessor’s office. Dacalos said the DPWH promised to compensate based on the present value of the house.
Farther south in Carcar City, Mayor Nicepuro Apura said he was saddened by the impending loss of old trees along the highway.
But like some residents and Naga’s Mayor Chiong, he said is relying on DPWH plans to widen the two-lane road to four lanes to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic in their area.
Mayor Apura said they will just coordinate with DWPH on how to take care of the trees that provide shade to motorists and serve as “icons” of Carcar town.
He said they could only appeal to have the trees carefully transferred somewhere else because they are one of the beautiful sights sought by tourists and motorists in Carcar.
The DPWH Cebu 2nd District has been sending letters to residents and establishments about the road-widening projects since February 9.
A check with the General Appropriations Act of 2010 shows a P27-million outlay for “widening and removal of obstruction encroachment within the road right of way from Naga to Carcar section.”
But Naga Mayor Chiong said P27 million is not enough to widen the two-lane road and that the amount is only for indemnities.
“Dili gyud na paigo ang P27 million para sa widening in my own understanding wala pa gyud ang budget for the road widening,” Chiong told CEBU DAILY NEWS.
The public forum for Naga residents was held on Feb. 16 while the forum with Carcar officials and affected residents was last Feb. 24.
In Carcar alone, more than 200 residents and establishment owners will be affected.
Chiong said they still have to discuss with DPWH whether they can try to save the trees by “balling” them, a procedure that involves removing the entire tree and carefully preserving the roots and trunk in a “ball.” This was done with century-old trees in Plaza Independencia in Cebu City where the South Road Properties subway tunnel was built.
The proposed road-widening project will end near a mall in Carcar town, which is a traffic bottleneck in the south, said Carcar engineer Santiago Calinawan, Jr.
While waiting for the project, Carcar has implemented the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo to clear the road right of way for at least 13 meters from the center of the road.
All structures built within that range are considered illegal and have to be demolished.
The exception, however, is supposed to be structures that have existed for 50 years because Carcar has a local ordinance protecting heritage sites.
Cebu Daily News
March 18, 2011
In the months ahead, century-old rain trees lining a road section in south Cebu from Naga to Carcar City will be marked for destruction to make way for road widening.
“We can’t do anything about it,” said Naga Mayor Val Chiong yesterday.
“We are just coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because it is their project.”
The huge trees, which form a graceful green canopy that greets motorists traveling south, were planted in 1915 by the former Bureau of Public works, the DPWH’s predecessor.
The DPWH 2nd Engineering District is getting appraisal estimates for properties affected by the proposed road widening, which has a P27-million budget.
The value of aged, long-surviving trees, however, does not seem to draw a deeper response than resignation from local officials despite the fact that 2011 is declared the “Year of the Forests” by the United Nations with a special program by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify and officially mark “heritage trees” in the country.
In a forum last week in Cebu City, international urban planner Felino Palafox Jr., who talked about disaster risk management in the annual meeting of the Philippine Business for Social Progress-Visayas, said a 50-year-old tree “has a value of P9 million.”
The P9 million, he said, is computed based on factors such as the oxygen produced, carbon dioxide-green gas captured, protection from soil erosion, cooling capacity, water retention, shade, biodiversity, aesthetic qualities and other factors that add to the real estate value where a tree stands.
(Palafox, a Filipino architect who has led projects in 30 countries, including Dubai and Asian capitals, drew controversy in 2008 when he turned down a $1-million contract for a hotel resort-casino project in Subic because he refused to cut down 366 seventy-year-old trees. He later accused the developers of corruption.)
In Naga and Carcar, two public forums have been called since February by DPWH regional officials to inform residents and business owners about the impending infrastructure project.
A 200-year-old coral stone house (balay na bato) near the highway in barangay Langtad, Naga City, is also in the path and in danger of being demolished.
“I will still talk with the owner to see if they will agree to have the house transferred to the plaza kay sayang,” said Mayor Chiong said in a telephone interview.
The mayor said the house could be transferred to the public plaza and preserved as a heritage site.
The owner, Napoleon Dacalos, a retired sanitary inspector, said he had no choice but submit to the DPWH plans. He sad the family expects to be properly compensated for the damage.
“Wala mi mahimo kay pagbuot man ni sa gobyerno. Bayran man sad mi,” he said. (We can’t do anything if that’s the decision of the government. Anyway we will also be paid.)
He said his house, which the family acquired in 1948, was built during the Spanish era and is made of mahogany and narra hardwood.
Dacalos said he already asked an architect to appraise the value of the house to be submitted to the municipal assessor’s office. Dacalos said the DPWH promised to compensate based on the present value of the house.
Farther south in Carcar City, Mayor Nicepuro Apura said he was saddened by the impending loss of old trees along the highway.
But like some residents and Naga’s Mayor Chiong, he said is relying on DPWH plans to widen the two-lane road to four lanes to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic in their area.
Mayor Apura said they will just coordinate with DWPH on how to take care of the trees that provide shade to motorists and serve as “icons” of Carcar town.
He said they could only appeal to have the trees carefully transferred somewhere else because they are one of the beautiful sights sought by tourists and motorists in Carcar.
The DPWH Cebu 2nd District has been sending letters to residents and establishments about the road-widening projects since February 9.
A check with the General Appropriations Act of 2010 shows a P27-million outlay for “widening and removal of obstruction encroachment within the road right of way from Naga to Carcar section.”
But Naga Mayor Chiong said P27 million is not enough to widen the two-lane road and that the amount is only for indemnities.
“Dili gyud na paigo ang P27 million para sa widening in my own understanding wala pa gyud ang budget for the road widening,” Chiong told CEBU DAILY NEWS.
The public forum for Naga residents was held on Feb. 16 while the forum with Carcar officials and affected residents was last Feb. 24.
In Carcar alone, more than 200 residents and establishment owners will be affected.
Chiong said they still have to discuss with DPWH whether they can try to save the trees by “balling” them, a procedure that involves removing the entire tree and carefully preserving the roots and trunk in a “ball.” This was done with century-old trees in Plaza Independencia in Cebu City where the South Road Properties subway tunnel was built.
The proposed road-widening project will end near a mall in Carcar town, which is a traffic bottleneck in the south, said Carcar engineer Santiago Calinawan, Jr.
While waiting for the project, Carcar has implemented the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo to clear the road right of way for at least 13 meters from the center of the road.
All structures built within that range are considered illegal and have to be demolished.
The exception, however, is supposed to be structures that have existed for 50 years because Carcar has a local ordinance protecting heritage sites.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
A touch of Palafox
A touch of Palafox
By Romelinda Garces
The Freeman, Business After Business
March 17, 2011
The first time I heard of Architect Felino A. Palafox Jr., or FPJ was through Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s president, Eric N. Mendoza.FPJ was the one who designed Eric’s home (I prefer to call it so instead of the mansion it really is because it is where Eric warmly welcomes family and friends).It’s grandiose structure gives a touch of architectural vignettes from different parts of the world. A summary of the places Eric has been to and I understand Architect Palafox has skimmed through these places as well.But it is not the design that caught me.It is the depth of the man in his trying to capture the person in his home.
This I think is what makes a Palafox.He does not just build.He BUILDs!
Now, allow me to set aside the accolades of the man for he has so many I doubt a walk-in closet could accommodate them all.Viewing the communities and cities this man has grown would make an audience sit agog.
His extensive travels and projects has no boundaries.As I sat by him when he was delivering his talk during the recent Visayas Annual Membership Meeting of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, I got a glimpse into the man behind the design that the twelve things listed on him could not capture.
In the two talks that I have heard him deliver, he advocated for efficient and sustainable structures that would make life easier and create an environment that would pursue the finer things in life, like more time for the family, social activities, and the self without sacrificing the need to attend to business.In the mega-scapesthat he has produced, he has made people essential.He builds cities for people and not people for cities.
When he designs a home, he looks at the need and wish of every member in the family.From there, he creates an atmosphere of comfort and sufficiency.A residence that would make dad want to spend more time with his family, andmom have enough time to rest and relax as she balances her career with her family priorities.The children are given close enough leisure parks and more natural environments that provide them with alternatives to being glued to their computers and have better, wholesome social interactions.
Aside from positive lifestyles, Architect Palafox also secures the communities he erects.His skill in urban planning comprehensively covers all aspects of safety as the edifice he plans considers the vulnerabilities of the land where he lays the groundwork.
In his projects, he studies the person, he builds relationships.He waves his wand of wisdom as he listens to his clients’ dreams and works on the realities he has to contend with classifying wants and needs; bringing out truths that expertly give perspective to articulated desires.
He studies the place, its government and leadership direction to forge ties and influence them to adopt communities that are sustaining and efficient.He goes out of the box and always looks at what is doable even in new uncharted areas.
We witness his prowess and flair in business centers and communities like the cluster of growing edifices he built in the metros of our country including Rockwell and Manila Southwoods and some of the SM and Robinson’s malls.His extensive projects reached the Middle East and stretched over Asia-Pacific.In every city he touches he encourages more healthful living with bike lanes and tree-shaded walkways.He blends business with leisure and family pleasure by adding homes in quaint and chic business districts that encourages deep thinking and good decisions. His name is renown for realizing social responsibility in the architectural realm.
This is the Palafox I see.The Palafox I truly appreciate.And the Palafox, our country needs and is proud of.
By Romelinda Garces
The Freeman, Business After Business
March 17, 2011
The first time I heard of Architect Felino A. Palafox Jr., or FPJ was through Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s president, Eric N. Mendoza.FPJ was the one who designed Eric’s home (I prefer to call it so instead of the mansion it really is because it is where Eric warmly welcomes family and friends).It’s grandiose structure gives a touch of architectural vignettes from different parts of the world. A summary of the places Eric has been to and I understand Architect Palafox has skimmed through these places as well.But it is not the design that caught me.It is the depth of the man in his trying to capture the person in his home.
This I think is what makes a Palafox.He does not just build.He BUILDs!
Now, allow me to set aside the accolades of the man for he has so many I doubt a walk-in closet could accommodate them all.Viewing the communities and cities this man has grown would make an audience sit agog.
His extensive travels and projects has no boundaries.As I sat by him when he was delivering his talk during the recent Visayas Annual Membership Meeting of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, I got a glimpse into the man behind the design that the twelve things listed on him could not capture.
In the two talks that I have heard him deliver, he advocated for efficient and sustainable structures that would make life easier and create an environment that would pursue the finer things in life, like more time for the family, social activities, and the self without sacrificing the need to attend to business.In the mega-scapesthat he has produced, he has made people essential.He builds cities for people and not people for cities.
When he designs a home, he looks at the need and wish of every member in the family.From there, he creates an atmosphere of comfort and sufficiency.A residence that would make dad want to spend more time with his family, andmom have enough time to rest and relax as she balances her career with her family priorities.The children are given close enough leisure parks and more natural environments that provide them with alternatives to being glued to their computers and have better, wholesome social interactions.
Aside from positive lifestyles, Architect Palafox also secures the communities he erects.His skill in urban planning comprehensively covers all aspects of safety as the edifice he plans considers the vulnerabilities of the land where he lays the groundwork.
In his projects, he studies the person, he builds relationships.He waves his wand of wisdom as he listens to his clients’ dreams and works on the realities he has to contend with classifying wants and needs; bringing out truths that expertly give perspective to articulated desires.
He studies the place, its government and leadership direction to forge ties and influence them to adopt communities that are sustaining and efficient.He goes out of the box and always looks at what is doable even in new uncharted areas.
We witness his prowess and flair in business centers and communities like the cluster of growing edifices he built in the metros of our country including Rockwell and Manila Southwoods and some of the SM and Robinson’s malls.His extensive projects reached the Middle East and stretched over Asia-Pacific.In every city he touches he encourages more healthful living with bike lanes and tree-shaded walkways.He blends business with leisure and family pleasure by adding homes in quaint and chic business districts that encourages deep thinking and good decisions. His name is renown for realizing social responsibility in the architectural realm.
This is the Palafox I see.The Palafox I truly appreciate.And the Palafox, our country needs and is proud of.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Lessons from Japan’s quake
Lessons from Japan’s quake
Cebu Daily News - Editorial
March 12, 2011
Words can hardly describe the horror of the images seen on cable TV of the devastation wrought by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Sendai, Japan.
Cebu is fortunate to be sheltered in a way by its central location.
It is not among the eastern seaboard provinces in the Philippines covered by Tsunami alert level 2, where one-meter-high waves are expected.
But make no mistake, the country’s 7,100 islands are vulnerable to superstrong wave action, if Nature decides to unleash a surprise.
The average citizen is not prepared for a disaster like the Japan tsunami or an earthquake like the one that reduced first-world buildings in Christchurch, New Zealand, to rubble.
In fact, the average citizen is not prepared for more ordinary disasters like a household fire or monsoon street flooding.
Aside from lack of top-of-mind awareness of how to cope with an emergency, entire cities are built on foundations subject to weak enforcement of Building Code rules that are themselves far from ideal.
International architect and urban planner Jun Palafox, who recently guested in a Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Visayas membership meeting in Cebu, repeated his warning that the Building Codes in the country are “outdated.”
Many structures are not up to par for safety and stability, although they have papers approved as proof of compliance with the Office of the Building Official.
Palafox said he truly fears the country is not ready for the “Big One,” a superstrong earthquake that experts say is an inevitable consequence of being located in an earthquake belt.
What is needed, more than technical changes of the rules, he said, is political will.
Palafox recently travelled to Mumbai, India, where he said the officials, after being told the Building Code and regulations were obsolete, demolished thousands of structures at once.
Can we find that kind of political will in local leaders?
Dismantling a dozen shanties along the Mahiga Creek in Cebu City is a weak response to the scenario of a city underwater, if one has to make a dramatic fast-forward look.
Dramatic? Overstated? Exaggerated?
After the anomalies of Nature we’ve witnessed in countries around the world, including Typhoon Ondoy, nothing should be belittled as an isolated, unfortunate experience.
What is unfortunate is the abuse of the environment and excessive, mindless consumption of limited resources by human tenants of a fragile world.
The mistakes are all man-made.
The consequences as seen in Nature, and wacky weather patterns, can only prompt us to act, with more vigor, towards helping the victims of disaster and trying to reverse patterns of behavior that bring us to the edge of destruction.
Cebu Daily News - Editorial
March 12, 2011
Words can hardly describe the horror of the images seen on cable TV of the devastation wrought by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Sendai, Japan.
Cebu is fortunate to be sheltered in a way by its central location.
It is not among the eastern seaboard provinces in the Philippines covered by Tsunami alert level 2, where one-meter-high waves are expected.
But make no mistake, the country’s 7,100 islands are vulnerable to superstrong wave action, if Nature decides to unleash a surprise.
The average citizen is not prepared for a disaster like the Japan tsunami or an earthquake like the one that reduced first-world buildings in Christchurch, New Zealand, to rubble.
In fact, the average citizen is not prepared for more ordinary disasters like a household fire or monsoon street flooding.
Aside from lack of top-of-mind awareness of how to cope with an emergency, entire cities are built on foundations subject to weak enforcement of Building Code rules that are themselves far from ideal.
International architect and urban planner Jun Palafox, who recently guested in a Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Visayas membership meeting in Cebu, repeated his warning that the Building Codes in the country are “outdated.”
Many structures are not up to par for safety and stability, although they have papers approved as proof of compliance with the Office of the Building Official.
Palafox said he truly fears the country is not ready for the “Big One,” a superstrong earthquake that experts say is an inevitable consequence of being located in an earthquake belt.
What is needed, more than technical changes of the rules, he said, is political will.
Palafox recently travelled to Mumbai, India, where he said the officials, after being told the Building Code and regulations were obsolete, demolished thousands of structures at once.
Can we find that kind of political will in local leaders?
Dismantling a dozen shanties along the Mahiga Creek in Cebu City is a weak response to the scenario of a city underwater, if one has to make a dramatic fast-forward look.
Dramatic? Overstated? Exaggerated?
After the anomalies of Nature we’ve witnessed in countries around the world, including Typhoon Ondoy, nothing should be belittled as an isolated, unfortunate experience.
What is unfortunate is the abuse of the environment and excessive, mindless consumption of limited resources by human tenants of a fragile world.
The mistakes are all man-made.
The consequences as seen in Nature, and wacky weather patterns, can only prompt us to act, with more vigor, towards helping the victims of disaster and trying to reverse patterns of behavior that bring us to the edge of destruction.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Private, public projects to become PBSP focus
Private, public projects to become PBSP focus
Cebu Daily News
March 11, 2011
Projects aligned with the “private and public partnerships” theme adopted by the Aquino administration will be the special focus of the Philippine Business for Social Project (PBSP), the country’s largest corporate-led, nonprofit social development foundation.
PBSP executive director Rafael C. Lopa made the announcement during last Wednesday’s 23rd Visayas Annual Membership Meeting held at Casino Español, which was participated by 112 guests from 35 member companies throughout the country.
Lopa said their projects were realigned with the national development agenda to distribute growth to the countryside and narrow down poverty gaps.
“PBSP will gear up to link community- and sectoral-based livelihood projects with the value chain of mainstream business enterprises to further ensure that the products and services of the people at the base of the social pyramid have sustainable markets,” he said.
Lopa also said they have seen the importance of Cebu businesses and industries like furniture, home ware and accessories in contributing to the country’s economy and promoting the practice of value chain integration strategy.
Among their projects are initiatives to eradicate tuberculosis, reforestation of watersheds and reduction of carbon emission, and reduction of disaster risks caused by natural calamities.
Also under the PBSP pipeline are the construction of more classrooms and livelihood opportunities.
“PBSP is working to revive the 57-75 movement with other partners in the private sector,” Lopa said in his message to the participants.
Cebu Daily News
March 11, 2011
Projects aligned with the “private and public partnerships” theme adopted by the Aquino administration will be the special focus of the Philippine Business for Social Project (PBSP), the country’s largest corporate-led, nonprofit social development foundation.
PBSP executive director Rafael C. Lopa made the announcement during last Wednesday’s 23rd Visayas Annual Membership Meeting held at Casino Español, which was participated by 112 guests from 35 member companies throughout the country.
Lopa said their projects were realigned with the national development agenda to distribute growth to the countryside and narrow down poverty gaps.
“PBSP will gear up to link community- and sectoral-based livelihood projects with the value chain of mainstream business enterprises to further ensure that the products and services of the people at the base of the social pyramid have sustainable markets,” he said.
Lopa also said they have seen the importance of Cebu businesses and industries like furniture, home ware and accessories in contributing to the country’s economy and promoting the practice of value chain integration strategy.
Among their projects are initiatives to eradicate tuberculosis, reforestation of watersheds and reduction of carbon emission, and reduction of disaster risks caused by natural calamities.
Also under the PBSP pipeline are the construction of more classrooms and livelihood opportunities.
“PBSP is working to revive the 57-75 movement with other partners in the private sector,” Lopa said in his message to the participants.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A talk with urban planner Archt. Palafox Jr.
A talk with urban planner Archt. Palafox Jr.
By Valeriano Avila
The Freeman, SHOOTING STRAIGHT
March 10, 2011
We attended the 23rd Visayas Annual Membership meeting of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) at the Casino Español yesterday noon. Their keynote speaker was the country’s number one urban planner, super Architect Felino Palafox Jr. whom I interviewed for our talkshowStraight from the Sky which will be aired this Monday Mar.14.
PBSP was founded in 1970 and opened its Visayas Regional Office back in 1989 when they launched the Cebu Hillyland Development Program. Since then, PBSP has made a lot of progress in helping farmers and the urban poor, especially the disadvantaged sector achieve a sustainable growth and development. They are helping the poor communities from Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Western Samar but alas, we cannot put in one column all their achievements. All I can say is PBSP has made an impact in the communities that need a helping hand the most. So kudos to Mr. Jose Antonio “Tonio” Aboitiz for steering the PBSP in the right direction, which fits their motto ”Business United: Lives Uplifted."
That PBSP got Archt. Jun Palafox as their keynote speaker allowed me to interact with him on many issues and concerns that are relevant to Cebu. It’s not everyday that we meet a man who is not only a visionary or a dreamer, but a man who can turn his dreams into reality. Unfortunately, it is the politicians whom we elect into office that we rely on to make our dreams of a beautiful and livable community come true. But they totally fail in that.
I have always maintained that the reason why our shopping malls are so full is due to the fact that all our shopping malls are well-designed and often copied from great designs in western countries. Hence in a way, thanks to our serious lack of public parks and spaces, people go to the shopping mall to relax and enjoy the cool air-conditioning and escape from our present realities, especially for those who live in blighted or squatter areas.
I then asked Archt. Palafox, whether Metro Cebu still had a chance to redevelop itself into a more livable and safe metropolis. Archt. Palafox was optimistic that we can still turn things around for Cebu. But he pointed out clearly that what we need is to first re-educate our politicians to embrace a Well-Master Planned Society. The problem with our politicians is, they listen a lot, talk a lot, but do very little because they have perfected the art of making excuses for all the lapses that they have committed. Hence we are behind in our economic growth and development.
Actually, despite the fact that during the Martial Law years when Cebu was supposed to have been neglected because we were considered an “Opposition country”, I remember that then Governor Eduardo “EddieGul” Gullas, with the help of urban planners, came up with the Metro Cebu Land Use and Transport System (MCLUTS), which became the basis for the Central Visayas Regional Projects (CVRP) which evolved into the Metro Cebu Development Projects (MCDP) I, II and III. This eventually, under then Mayor Tomas Osmeña, widened the narrow streets of Metro Cebu, from B. Rodriguez, V. Rama all the way to the Banilad Road and A.S. Fortuna. It also provided for our Sydney Coordinated Automated Traffic System (SCATS) and for the construction of the second or the Fernan Bridge.
Just when we thought that we were moving faster than Metro Manila, after Mayor Osmeña finished MCDP III, MCDP was disbanded. Today, there is no single agency that is doing any more planning for Metro Cebu. In short, we sat down on our laurels and stopped moving forward. I say that we should have switched on our afterburners and pushed harder for progress.
This is why today, despite the economic growth of Metro Cebu, traffic has become just like Manila’s traffic snarls, all because no one is doing any urban planning. Worse, thanks to the squabble between Mayor Osmeña and Gov. Gwen Garcia, the Ciudad Project wasn’t approved, which would have helped the City of Cebu rid itself of the blighted areas across TESDA, where traffic today is at its worse.
Archt. Palafox wants to redesign Cebu and improve our road network, drainage and sewage through proper planning. He pointed out that this means planning for a community where people live near their places of work, hence they won’t need to ride to work. In short, he wanted Cebu to be a “walkable” city where pedestrians are given top priority, followed by public transport and then cars.
As what former Bogota Mayor Enrique Peñalosa told me when I interviewed him on my TV show, “There should be more roads for those who have less in life.” I fully concur with this idea. But how do we implement it? Do we have the political will to implement even a bicycle lane for our major thoroughfares? I doubt it simply because no one is doing any urban planning for Metro Cebu. So let’s revive MCLUTS and restart our development again.
By Valeriano Avila
The Freeman, SHOOTING STRAIGHT
March 10, 2011
We attended the 23rd Visayas Annual Membership meeting of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) at the Casino Español yesterday noon. Their keynote speaker was the country’s number one urban planner, super Architect Felino Palafox Jr. whom I interviewed for our talkshowStraight from the Sky which will be aired this Monday Mar.14.
PBSP was founded in 1970 and opened its Visayas Regional Office back in 1989 when they launched the Cebu Hillyland Development Program. Since then, PBSP has made a lot of progress in helping farmers and the urban poor, especially the disadvantaged sector achieve a sustainable growth and development. They are helping the poor communities from Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Western Samar but alas, we cannot put in one column all their achievements. All I can say is PBSP has made an impact in the communities that need a helping hand the most. So kudos to Mr. Jose Antonio “Tonio” Aboitiz for steering the PBSP in the right direction, which fits their motto ”Business United: Lives Uplifted."
That PBSP got Archt. Jun Palafox as their keynote speaker allowed me to interact with him on many issues and concerns that are relevant to Cebu. It’s not everyday that we meet a man who is not only a visionary or a dreamer, but a man who can turn his dreams into reality. Unfortunately, it is the politicians whom we elect into office that we rely on to make our dreams of a beautiful and livable community come true. But they totally fail in that.
I have always maintained that the reason why our shopping malls are so full is due to the fact that all our shopping malls are well-designed and often copied from great designs in western countries. Hence in a way, thanks to our serious lack of public parks and spaces, people go to the shopping mall to relax and enjoy the cool air-conditioning and escape from our present realities, especially for those who live in blighted or squatter areas.
I then asked Archt. Palafox, whether Metro Cebu still had a chance to redevelop itself into a more livable and safe metropolis. Archt. Palafox was optimistic that we can still turn things around for Cebu. But he pointed out clearly that what we need is to first re-educate our politicians to embrace a Well-Master Planned Society. The problem with our politicians is, they listen a lot, talk a lot, but do very little because they have perfected the art of making excuses for all the lapses that they have committed. Hence we are behind in our economic growth and development.
Actually, despite the fact that during the Martial Law years when Cebu was supposed to have been neglected because we were considered an “Opposition country”, I remember that then Governor Eduardo “EddieGul” Gullas, with the help of urban planners, came up with the Metro Cebu Land Use and Transport System (MCLUTS), which became the basis for the Central Visayas Regional Projects (CVRP) which evolved into the Metro Cebu Development Projects (MCDP) I, II and III. This eventually, under then Mayor Tomas Osmeña, widened the narrow streets of Metro Cebu, from B. Rodriguez, V. Rama all the way to the Banilad Road and A.S. Fortuna. It also provided for our Sydney Coordinated Automated Traffic System (SCATS) and for the construction of the second or the Fernan Bridge.
Just when we thought that we were moving faster than Metro Manila, after Mayor Osmeña finished MCDP III, MCDP was disbanded. Today, there is no single agency that is doing any more planning for Metro Cebu. In short, we sat down on our laurels and stopped moving forward. I say that we should have switched on our afterburners and pushed harder for progress.
This is why today, despite the economic growth of Metro Cebu, traffic has become just like Manila’s traffic snarls, all because no one is doing any urban planning. Worse, thanks to the squabble between Mayor Osmeña and Gov. Gwen Garcia, the Ciudad Project wasn’t approved, which would have helped the City of Cebu rid itself of the blighted areas across TESDA, where traffic today is at its worse.
Archt. Palafox wants to redesign Cebu and improve our road network, drainage and sewage through proper planning. He pointed out that this means planning for a community where people live near their places of work, hence they won’t need to ride to work. In short, he wanted Cebu to be a “walkable” city where pedestrians are given top priority, followed by public transport and then cars.
As what former Bogota Mayor Enrique Peñalosa told me when I interviewed him on my TV show, “There should be more roads for those who have less in life.” I fully concur with this idea. But how do we implement it? Do we have the political will to implement even a bicycle lane for our major thoroughfares? I doubt it simply because no one is doing any urban planning for Metro Cebu. So let’s revive MCLUTS and restart our development again.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
PBSP celebrates its positive contribution to reduce poverty in the country
PBSP celebrates its positive contribution to reduce poverty in the country
By Hazel F. Gloria
Philippine Information Agency
March 9, 2011
CEBU CITY, Mar 9 (PIA) -- The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in Visayas celebrates today its 23 years of positive contributions of its 260 member companies in the reduction of poverty at the countryside through projects on livelihood and enterprise, education, health and environment.
PBSP Communications Officer in the Visayas Reggie Marie Barientos said it has been 23 years since PBSP has helped more than one million households become self-reliant communities all over the Visayas.
PBSP is looking forward for another year of service to see what else the business sector can do for our beloved country, Barientos continued.
Due to the recent flooding in Metro Cebu and the rest of the Visayas, the sector invites Archt. Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. to present the most efficient practices in urban planning and development that businesses can adopt for their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and disaster risk management, Barientos said.
This may help the business sector know its roles on how to assist the communities affected with calamities and map out disaster risk reduction programs, Barientos added.
“We in PBSP have proven that when business unites, we can make a difference. Now is the time to move more relentlessly in our effort to bring better Visayas and a better Philippines for all,” Barientos declared.
Today is PBSP’s 23rd Visayas Annual Membership Meeting (VAMM) that anchors on the theme “Business United, Lives Uplifted.” (PIA-Cebu/HFG)
By Hazel F. Gloria
Philippine Information Agency
March 9, 2011
CEBU CITY, Mar 9 (PIA) -- The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in Visayas celebrates today its 23 years of positive contributions of its 260 member companies in the reduction of poverty at the countryside through projects on livelihood and enterprise, education, health and environment.
PBSP Communications Officer in the Visayas Reggie Marie Barientos said it has been 23 years since PBSP has helped more than one million households become self-reliant communities all over the Visayas.
PBSP is looking forward for another year of service to see what else the business sector can do for our beloved country, Barientos continued.
Due to the recent flooding in Metro Cebu and the rest of the Visayas, the sector invites Archt. Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. to present the most efficient practices in urban planning and development that businesses can adopt for their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and disaster risk management, Barientos said.
This may help the business sector know its roles on how to assist the communities affected with calamities and map out disaster risk reduction programs, Barientos added.
“We in PBSP have proven that when business unites, we can make a difference. Now is the time to move more relentlessly in our effort to bring better Visayas and a better Philippines for all,” Barientos declared.
Today is PBSP’s 23rd Visayas Annual Membership Meeting (VAMM) that anchors on the theme “Business United, Lives Uplifted.” (PIA-Cebu/HFG)
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Dam still stable but needs desilting
Dam still stable but needs desilting
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 1, 2011
The Buhisan Dam is stable enough to last for another 100 years, water district officials said.
But the dam is heavily silted and needs to have six million cubic meters removed to enlarge its capacity to hold rainwater and runoff from the watershed of Cebu City’s mountains.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) general manager engineer Armando Paredes said initial drilling showed that the dam’s rock formation remains intact.
“Our problem is how to dispose of the silt because there’s no enough area,” Paredes said.
The 100th anniversary of the completion of the Buhisan Dam will be commemorated on Feb. 11, 2012.
The Buhisan Dam has a 60-hectare pond area that produces 5,000 to 10,000 cubic meters of water per day.
The Buhisan Dam supplies about 5 percent of the water supply of MCWD.
The water district relies mostly on groundwater pumped from the aquifer to service households and commercial-industrial customers in its franchise area.
Paredes said they plan to tap the private sector to help with the desilting.
The MCWD conducts gradual disilting every summer when the pond has a low water level, said Paredes.
The silt is gradually released downstream.
Paredes also acknowledged the efforts of non-government organizations involved in preserving the Buhisan Watershed Forest where a healthy tree cover is important.
“Buhisan is very well reforested,” Paredes said.
MCWD assistant general manager Ernie Delco said while disilting “is important, it’s not very urgent.”
Aside from the MCWD, other stakeholders involved in efforts to rehabilitate the Buhisan Watershed Forest Cover are the Cebu City government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippine Business for Social Progress and Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water.
Paredes said they hired a technical team to study the stability of the nearly century-old dam.
Results of the study will be released next month or May.
The MCWD will also develop an operations manual as a guide about the dam’s functions.
The study also included scenarios on the risks of possible landslides.
But Paredes said “minor” erosion would create little effect on the dam’s stability.
He said the dam’s rock foundation is still solid, based on the drilling done by the researchers.
By Candeze R. Mongaya
Cebu Daily News
March 1, 2011
The Buhisan Dam is stable enough to last for another 100 years, water district officials said.
But the dam is heavily silted and needs to have six million cubic meters removed to enlarge its capacity to hold rainwater and runoff from the watershed of Cebu City’s mountains.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) general manager engineer Armando Paredes said initial drilling showed that the dam’s rock formation remains intact.
“Our problem is how to dispose of the silt because there’s no enough area,” Paredes said.
The 100th anniversary of the completion of the Buhisan Dam will be commemorated on Feb. 11, 2012.
The Buhisan Dam has a 60-hectare pond area that produces 5,000 to 10,000 cubic meters of water per day.
The Buhisan Dam supplies about 5 percent of the water supply of MCWD.
The water district relies mostly on groundwater pumped from the aquifer to service households and commercial-industrial customers in its franchise area.
Paredes said they plan to tap the private sector to help with the desilting.
The MCWD conducts gradual disilting every summer when the pond has a low water level, said Paredes.
The silt is gradually released downstream.
Paredes also acknowledged the efforts of non-government organizations involved in preserving the Buhisan Watershed Forest where a healthy tree cover is important.
“Buhisan is very well reforested,” Paredes said.
MCWD assistant general manager Ernie Delco said while disilting “is important, it’s not very urgent.”
Aside from the MCWD, other stakeholders involved in efforts to rehabilitate the Buhisan Watershed Forest Cover are the Cebu City government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippine Business for Social Progress and Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water.
Paredes said they hired a technical team to study the stability of the nearly century-old dam.
Results of the study will be released next month or May.
The MCWD will also develop an operations manual as a guide about the dam’s functions.
The study also included scenarios on the risks of possible landslides.
But Paredes said “minor” erosion would create little effect on the dam’s stability.
He said the dam’s rock foundation is still solid, based on the drilling done by the researchers.
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