Environment

IMO sets ‘off-limits area' in Tubbataha

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- All types of ships with 150 gross tonnage and higher are warned to sail outside the 4,470-square kilometer area-to-be-avoided (ATBA) in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) to avoid the risk of accidental groundings.Commodore Joselito dela Cruz, commander of the... Read More

Record heat wave for Sept in Aussie eastern states

SYDNEY -- A major heat wave is on the weekend horizon in Australia, with forecasters predicting on Thursday that temperatures might reach a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday in some parts of the nation -- a record for the month of September.The extreme heat conditions are expected to be... Read More

Cloudiness, 'habagat' rains likely until Thursday afternoon

MANILA --Lightning, moderate to occasional heavy rains, strong winds and flash flood are possible in Metro Manila, the Visayas, Mindanao, Bicol Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its... Read More

Paoay LGU joins international coastal cleanup

LAOAG CITY — Local officials and residents here gathered plastic wastes, bottles and other non-biodegradable materials scattered along the shoreline of Masintoc village on Saturday morning.Mayor Jessie Galano said it has been a tradition of village folks in coastal areas to clean their... Read More

Hunt on for climate-friendly HFC alternatives

MANILA – The government is searching for possible alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the man-made compound that has replaced ozone-depleting substances (ODS), which were previously used mainly as refrigerants.HFCs have minimal impact on the ozone layer, which protects Earth from... Read More

6,000 seedlings to be planted during 'Fiesta sa Kakahuyan'

ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo provincial government will plant 6,000 different species of tree seedlings in celebration of the annual “Fiesta sa Kakahuyan” on September 16.“Fiesta sa Kakahuyan” is an annual festival where Ilonggo people give importance to the preservation of the... Read More

Cloudiness, showers likely till Saturday afternoon

MANILA --Partly cloudy to cloudy skies apart from isolated rain showers are possible in Metro Manila and rest of the country due to localized thunderstorms, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).In its 24-hour forecast released Friday... Read More

Tubbataha reefs get int'l award for marine protection

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) in Cagayancillo, Palawan has been awarded the Platinum Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) Award in Chile during the 4th International Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4).GLORES, the first-ever awards for superlative marine... Read More

Highest standards to be used in open-pit mining: COMP

MANILA --The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) on Thursday assured that they adhere to highest standards in all the methods they employ in extracting minerals in their respective areas.

"Open pit mining, if done responsibly and rehabilitated properly, can and should still be allowed,"... Read More

Cloudiness, showers likely till Friday afternoon

MANILA --Partly cloudy to cloudy skies apart from isolatedrain showers are possible in Metro Manila and rest of the country dueto localized thunderstorms, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical andAstronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).In its 24-hour forecast released Thursday... Read More

Chamber of Mines creates oversight committee to 'self-police' members

MANILA --In response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to observe responsible mining in the country, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) has created an oversight committee to self-police its members, comprised of some of the country's biggest mining companies."What it is tasked to... Read More

Consultations over Palawan superhighway project sought

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan –A provincial board member has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to do exhaustive dialogues with residents of Palawan on the proposed PHP30-billion six-lane superhighway project.Board Member Winston Arzaga filed a measure Tuesday before... Read More

Industrialization in mining should be backed by incentives: solon

MANILA-- The government's call to put up more mineral processing plants in the country should be backed by incentives and assistance to achieve sustainability in the mining sector.This was stated Tuesday by LPGMA Party-list Representative Arnel U. Ty at the opening of the Mining Philippines 2017... Read More

Waste woes demand long-term investments from LGUs: expert

MANILA -- An expert said there is a need for local government units (LGUs) to invest in anaerobic digesters - tanks where microorganisms break down biodegradable waste into useful material - to improve solid waste management (SWM) nationwide."Long-term SWM investments will help turn biodegradables... Read More

Beauty queen back in hometown to fight trash

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Reigning Miss Earth Philippines-Fire 2017 Nellza Mortola-Bautista returned to her hometown to do what she loves most -- advocate for the environment.A native of Villanueva town in Misamis Oriental, Bautista was crowned last month along with four other pageant winners who... Read More

Cloudiness, rain likely till Wednesday afternoon

MANILA - Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains, and possible occasionally heavy rains, gusty winds and lightning due to thunderstorms, will be experienced over Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions as well as Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Aurora provinces, the Philippine Atmospheric,... Read More

Cloudiness, rain likely till Sunday afternoon

MANILA - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) predicted Saturday that Metro Manila, Ilocos Region as well as Zambales and Bataan provinces may likely experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and possible occasionally heavy rains, gusty... Read More

SMB to plant 70k trees this year to sustain re-greening project

DAVAO CITY -- Beer market leader San Miguel Brewery Inc. has vowed to pursue more tree planting activities this year to sustain its support to the government’s re-greening program, particularly in its areas of operation, through its Trees Brew Life program.This year, the beer company aims to... Read More

Floods kill 10, displace 11,000 in S. China

BEIJING -- Floods caused by a week of torrential rains have killed 10 people and displaced more than 11,000 in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi, known for its many rivers, local media said Saturday.Rains have been pounding the region sincelast weekend, causing rivers toburst their banks and... Read More

Japan turns over charcoal facility in Cagayan

MANILA -- The government of Japan is funding a project to help over 5,750 farmers and households in Baggao, Cagayan to raise their income through charcoal production without resorting to environmentally destructive activities.Japan turned over this week its Production and Marketing of “Clean... Read More