Source: MBEMP PMO

The 101st Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (101st PCGA) and the Manila Yacht Club (MYC) entered partnership with the DENR through its Manila Bay Environmental Management Project (MBEMP) in undertaking activities relevant to the protection and management of Manila Bay region. This a welcomed proposal in promoting the objectives of the Regional Programme’s “Building Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia” which identified Manila Bay of the Philippines as one of the “pollution hotspots” in the East Asian region.

A Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) was signed by the DENR, 101st PCGA and MYC which binds all three (3) parties to develop and implement an Action Plan. DENR through MBEMP shall basically extend technical assistance in the implementation of the Action Plan.

A clean up activity of Manila Bay (along the Manila Bay Walk and Manila Yacht Club) by students from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) highlighted the signing of the MOU. This endeavor will be sustained by the regular clean-up of students from different schools/universities.

Source: MBEMP PMO

Related Presentation:Manila Bay Environmental Management Project

The Annual Pasig River Heritage Marathon, an environmental advocacy program which pushes for the sustained rehabilitation of the Pasig River was launched. The marathon is now recognized as an international event after being accredited by the US based Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) and the Association of Marathons and Road Races (AIMS) which took effect last August 2004.

Their debut and first international staging of said marathon is now called “Philippine Marathon for the Pasig River” (PMPR) on 27 February 2005. PMPR is now included in the official year of official schedules of marathons in the world with race results internationally recognized and accepted.

The DENR has supported this marathon campaign by sending contingents from the Central Office and other Metro Manila Based Offices. The Marathon consists of 42K, 10K, 5K, and 3K events opened to all interested participants subject to the respective fitness levels. A registration fee ranging from One Hundred (100) to Three Hundred (300) Pesos is required for each participant depending in the event they will be participating. The fees collected will be used in the conduct of different activities for the Pasig River Rehabilitation.

Remark: the Environmental Management Bureau is the primary organizer of the International Earth Day and Environment Month Celebration

Source: Clean and Green Foundation

Since the first Kontra Kalat sa Dagat on 18 September 1999, the coastal cleanup has become a continuing activity for the people of Bataan, most of whom are volunteers from various sectors.  To date, the campaign has been conducted in all Bataan’s eleven coastal towns.

In the town of Mariveles, coastal cleanup is now being implemented every last Saturday of the month.  Other towns plan to follow this example.

In any cleanup, the Bataan ICM Project Management Office (PMO) coordinates with the different town mayors through their respective municipal development officers.  These officers brief barangay or village leaders who, in turn, mobilize volunteers from different stakeholder groups.  Local government units or the private sector donate tools and other clean-up instruments such as rakes and pitchforks.

Days before the event, streamers are put up in town halls announcing the activity.  During one particular cleanup, the film “Muro Ami,” a locally produced movie on illegal fishing, was shown in four towns as a buildup activity.  The movie made people aware of the dangers of illegal fishing and the value of marine resources.  It also attracted more volunteers to join the cleanup.

On cleanup day, volunteers assemble at town halls.  The municipal development officers give a briefing regarding the activity while local government officials deliver inspirational messages.  On occasion, the provincial governor joins the cleanup in different towns.  At the site, volunteers are divided into teams and are designated with cleanup areas.  Each team assigns a recorder, who documents the amount and types of garbage collected.  Garbage trucks later haul the sacks of trash complied at each site. 

Although Kontra Kalat sa Dagat adapted the ICC methodology, the campaign was actually conceptualized as a catalyst towards sustainable coastal management program for Bataan.  It was envisioned to be part of a larger and long-term environmental conservation effort for the province.

Source: Tropical Coast, Vol. 8 No. 2 December 2001

Annual celebration for the International Earth Day in April and Environment Month in June were undertaken.  Different activities such as poster making contest, environmental award, exhibits, photo displays were done to increase public awareness on environmental management.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park

In 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Tubbataha as World Heritage Site, one of three in the Philippines ( the others being the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Banaue rice Terraces)

It is home to nearly 400 species of fish and bird species, enough reason to declare Tubbataha as a National Marine Park through Proclamation No. 306 on August 11, 1998 this makes commercial fishing or the collecting of corals illegal within 33,200 hectares of its reeds and surrounding areas.

Tubbataha Reef is located in the middle of the Central Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City. It is composed of two large shallow reef platforms enclosing a sandy lagoon. On the seaward portions of the reef platform are steep, often perpendicular reef walls extending to 50 feet. Most of the park area is submerged, with only a few permanent emergent sandy islands.

The two atolls are named the North and South Reefs or Islets. The former is a large, oblong-shaped continuous reef platform about 4-5 km wide and completely encloses a sandy lagoon. The reef is shallow and emergent in some places at extreme low tide. The South Reef likewise is a small triangular-shaped reef about 1-2 km wide . Like the North Reef it consists of a shallow platform enclosing a sandy lagoon. On the southern tip of this reef is a 2-3 ha. Coral line-sand island, the South Islet where the lighthouse stands. This islet is a rookery site for birds and turtles.

There are no permanent inhabitants except during fishing seasons, when fishermen from other parts of the Philippines establish temporary shelters in the area. Activities include traditional hook and line, commercial trawling for tuna, spear fishing, offshore long lines and aquarium fish collection.

Despite its remote location from Puerto Princesa City and an overnight voyage by ship, Tubbataha has become a popular site for seasoned sport divers. Underwater visibility can often exceed 30-meter seascape with underwater caves and leges teem with marine life. Tubbataha's trademark among the world divers is its coral walls with extensive colonies of fish.

Unfortunately, Tubbataha's pristine and unspoiled nature also attracted not just well wishers but problems as well. As the huge reefs fame has spread worldwide, the number of sports divers visiting it is increasing yearly, adding pressure to the fragile nature of the reefs.

To manage tourism, the Protected Area Management Board was formulated where the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff acts as Secretary, a Master Plan which was approved that includes zoning and charging of entrance fee for dive boats and making the area a no-fishing zone. The money that will be collected will directly be used to cover various conservation programs. For the year 2000, the PAMB has collected P 1.6 million. Part of this amount went to the construction of new ranger station to strengthen monitoring activities in Tubbataha.

Source: Palawan Council for Sustainable Development

Building on the experiences and capabilities of tertiary level institutions, the Philippine Association of Tertiary Level Education Institutions in Environmental Protection and Management (PATLEPAM) strives to update member-institutions on curriculum development and materials for use in integration of environmental concerns; information exchange; technology transfer; inventory of regional institutional capabilities and needs in environmental protection and management and human resources development/capacity-building; among others.

Vision

Higher education institutions with educators who are equipped with knowledge and skills for them management of resources for sustaining productivity and ecological integrity.

Mission

To network higher education institutions through the PATLEPAM, for increased appreciation of the need to integrate environmental protection and management in the different regions of the country can be addressed.

Objectives

1. Enhance information exchange and sharing of environmental protection and management
2. Enhance environmental awareness and skills of tertiary level students and faculty members
3. Assist in curriculum development for environmental management among tertiary level educators
4. Conduct collaborative programs on instructions, research and development, and extension in environmental management
5. Strengthen the overall expertise in environmental management of the different regions of the country, at the technical, managerial and policy levels, by catering to local training needs
6. Serve as a link between local and international networks for training in environmental management.

Instruction

1. Developed prototype curriculum materials (syllabus, textbook) for the integration of environment in tertiary level education
2. Conducted trainings on Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Systems, and Biodiversity Conservation
3. Endorsed a resolution to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on the integration of a 3-unit course on Environment and Sustainable Development into the General Education Curriculum of higher education
4. Jointly organized with the environment Agency of Japan and the Earth, Water and Green Foundation of Japan, the RP-Japan Seminar on Minimata Disease last February 1998
5. Launching of a Nationwide Contest on: Best Lessons and Practices on the Environment for Higher Education

Remark: the source of information for the development of prototype curriculum materials for the integration of environment on tertiary level education is the Environmental Management Bureau, the Secretariat.

The DENR-EMB, having its own information dissemination arms intensified its IEC campaign.  Various environmental lectures, seminars, symposia and training on the implementation of water quality management for DENR employees and other government agencies, barangay officials and public schools were conducted by the EMB Central, Regional and Field Offices staff.  Likewise, various IEC activities were also conducted such as poster making contest, lectures, forums, airing of activities/programs, issues and concerns in different radio stations during the celebration of the different special environment related events.  Environmental materials were developed and printed such as primers, brochures, and the like for the use and information of other government agencies, LGUs, NGOs, industries and academe.