Environment

Forestry policy changes eyed to boost wood industry

MANILA --Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking into possible changes in forestry-related policies to help boost the Philippine wood industry's performance.Change must come to prevent further decline of the industry that was once a global leader in wood production, said... Read More

2018 4th warmest year on record since 1850

LOS ANGELES -- A new analysis established that 2018 was the fourth warmest year on Earth since 1850.Temperatures in 2018 were around 1.16 degrees above the average temperature of the late 19th century, from 1850 to 1900, a period often used as a pre-industrial baseline for global temperature... Read More

No turning back for Manila Bay rehab: Cimatu

MANILA— Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu on Sunday said there’s no turning back for the planned rehabilitation of the historic Manila Bay.Cimatu led an estimated 5,000-strong contingent of public and private sector representatives, who committed... Read More

Record high ocean heat indisputable proof Earth is warming

BEIJING -- A new study led by Chinese and American researchers has found that ocean heating in 2018 grew to a record high, surpassing 2017, which was the previous warmest year ever recorded.Data shows that the upper 2,000 meters of the global ocean have warmed by an average of 0.13 degrees Celsius... Read More

DENR pursues waste-to-energy option

MANILA --The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seeks to promote waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies to help address the problem on waste nationwide."That's our direction now, considering there's increasing generation of waste in the country," DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones... Read More

Manila Bay rehab targets informal settlers' early relocation

MANILA --Government plans to start relocating informal settlers in Manila Bay as early as Phase 1 of rehabilitation work.The plan aims to significantly curb pollution in Manila Bay as soon as possible and open up the opportunity for the estimated 220,000 informal settler-families there to lead... Read More

Cut in Magat Dam water allocation seen as precaution vs. El Niño

MANILA -- An expert sees a possible reduction in Magat Dam's water allocation during the first semester of 2019 as a way to minimize the effects of the drought-driving El Niño phenomenon."Such reduction will help ensure availability of Magat water until this year's rainy season sets in,"... Read More

Group to screen poll bets' environmental stance

MANILA -- A group is planning to help raise public awareness about the May 2019 electoral candidates' stand on the environment."Before this year's elections, we'll identify candidates with progressive environmental positions," Break Free from Plastic Movement coordinator, Von Hernandez, said in a... Read More

Climate change leads to stronger ocean waves

WASHINGTON -- Ocean waves are getting stronger as a result of climate change, which might pose dangers to coastal communities in the future, according to a latest study published in the scientific journal Nature.Researchers found that waves have increased in strength by 0.41 percent per year since... Read More

Termites can help reduce impact of drought

SYDNEY -- A new study by international researchers has revealed for the first time that termites play a significant role in lessening the effects of drought in rainforests, showing once again that even the smallest players can have big effects on ecosystems.Termites are among the most abundant... Read More

Search for eco-schools highlights climate change

MANILA – Climate change will be a major consideration in evaluating initiatives of schools joining the search for the country’s most sustainable and eco-friendly public and private elementary and high schools, as well as higher education institutions (HEIs) starting this year.... Read More

DENR to check on Manila Bay discharges

MANILA --Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will tighten its campaign to clean up Manila Bay.Aside from assuring action against solid waste polluting Manila Bay, DENR said environment chief Roy Cimatu targets spearheading inspection of sewage outfalls and pipes there.The... Read More

Re-export of 51 containers of SoKor garbage set on Jan. 13

MANILA -- The re-export of the 51 containers of South Korean garbage sitting at the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental will take place on Sunday, and not Wednesday as previously announced.The EcoWaste Coalition made the clarification after receiving an... Read More

SoCot's famed mountain lake closed for rehab

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The municipal government of Tboli in South Cotabato shut down the famed crater-lake of Holon to visitors starting Monday, in line with its annual rehabilitation.The entire mountain lake and its environs were specifically declared off limits to trekking and other... Read More

DENR sets tightened crackdown vs. pollution in Manila Bay

MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will further intensify the crackdown on pollution in Manila Bay starting next year to help improve its quality and save the water body from further environmental degradation as the Supreme Court (SC) ordered.DENR is scheduled to... Read More

PH seeks more climate action for Coral Triangle

MANILA -- The Philippines sees the need for more international climate action that will better protect the 6 million-square kilometer Coral Triangle, the marine area experts cited as center of marine biodiversity on Earth.Philippine Environment chief Roy Cimatu raised the urgency for elevating such... Read More

Regional cooperation key to protecting Coral Triangle -- Cimatu

MANILA --Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has called for strengthening of regional cooperation to protect the Coral Triangle and its marine resources from the devastating effects of climate change.Cimatu made the call during the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Coral Triangle... Read More

DENR chief seeks ways to raise NGP seedlings’ survival rate

MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is targeting to raise, as soon as possible, the survival rate of tree seedlings planted under its National Greening Program (NGP), which is the biggest reforestation bid of the government so far.Such target aims to help... Read More

DENR to curb encroachment along Cordillera rivers

MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) aims to enhance disaster risk reduction efforts in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to better promote public safety.DENR's CAR office is recommending, to LGUs concerned, demolition of structures encroaching on banks of... Read More

Expert backs creation of river councils

MANILA -- An expert sees the need for a legislation mandating local government units (LGUs) to create councils that would manage rivers."Rivers are sources of water for various uses, provide food, serve as transportation routes and are sites for tourism and research so these waterways must be... Read More