LMDA bares 2013 BPP accomplishments

BY: SUSIL D. RAGAS

Tuesday 25th of February 2014

SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA)- The Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA) unveiled its Biodiversity Partnership Project (BPP) accomplishments for the year 2013 during the 6th Expanded Technical Working Group meeting held recently at Gateway Hotel, this city.

LMDA-BPP Project Coordinator Omar C. Barillo reported that under the Biodiversity Mainstreaming of the comprehensive land use planning (CLUP), all local government units under the BPP project have already undergone necessary trainings/workshops and seven out of eight LGUs have already a biodiversity responsive CLUPs. "The municipality of Tubod, Surigao del Norte is currently on its 3rd phase of the training process of the biodiversity mainstreaming in the comprehensive development plan (CDP), and local project site committee (LPSC) or also known as technical working group (TWG) of LMDA is operational," Barillo said.

Barillo said, under the trans-boundary integrated planning, six workshops were conducted and the activity output is the updated and enhanced LMDA Environmental Management Plan (EMP), drafted one resolution for LGU adopting and approving the trans-boundary plan and one resolution adopted to support and participate in the said project.

"We have documented one Lake Mainit-Unified Fishery Ordinance implementation. We have also drafted one resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and around 30 printed tarpaulins are now ready for installation in the strategic areas by the first quarter of 2014," said Barillo.

Barillo also reported that the two local conservation areas, which are delineated and declared as local conservation sites are now being lobbied with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan for deliberation.

"We have completed two biodiversity assessment trainings in Agusan del Norte and subsequently the Surigao del Norte municipalities, documented and conducted Conservation Awareness Campaign in eight elementary schools and two secondary schools in Mainit," he added. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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Mamanwa tribe hopes people's tribunal can spur govt to act on Mainit Lake siltation

By AMITA O. LEGASPI,GMA News January 16, 2014 4:40pm

After several years of government inaction on the siltation of Mainit Lake in Agusan del Norte – blamed for destructive floods around the area – the Mamanwa tribe now pins its hope on a people's tribunal to pressure the government to address the problem.

For the Mamanwa, the Asian People's Land Rights Tribunal, which was set to hear their grievances for Jan. 16, is the answer to their complaints that seemed to fall on deaf ears of concerned government agencies.

The Mamanwas are among the several indigenous communities living around Mainit Lake affected by recent floods.

Pastor Randy Catarman, elder leader of Mamanwa, said the recent floods is due to siltation, which he said, is caused by the mining exploration of Mindoro Resources Limited (MRL) at Sitio Dinarawan and Barangay Bunga in Jabonga in Agusan del Norte.

“Dati kahit isa hanggang dalawang linggo ng ulan, balewala lang. Ngayon kahit isang araw lang, baha na. Umaabot na sa ibang bahay. Ngayon, halos 80 porsyento na ang baha. Aabutin ng isang buwan bago bumaba yun dahil barado na yung labasan ng tubig,” he told GMA News Online Wednesday. (continue)