Subic Bay Freeport stakeholders, SBMA employees join Arbor Day 2022

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) employees join workers, residents, officials and executives from different locators inside the Freeport zone as they participate in the tree planting, forest clean-up and wildlings collection activity as part of the annual Arbor Day celebration held July 5.

Magtanum kitamo: Subic Bay’s Artbor Day, D-Day is this year’s Arbor Day celebration organized by the SBMA Ecology Center where Subic Bay Freeport locators, residents, SBMA departments and employees, particularly environmental officers, pollution control officers and managers enjoined. 

Dubbed as “Bi-ayang Chawon Year 2,” Arbor Day aims to highlight the values of trees and forests, and to educate and encourage the Freeport stakeholders to take care of these important natural resources.

“Bi-ayang Chawon means to continue doing the activities that would improve environmental awareness, re-introduce activities that would aid in the conservation and protection of the forests, and promote camaraderie among the stakeholders,” SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana explained.

The celebration commenced with Panimula, a virtual opening ceremony on June 20 and ended with Pagpapatuloy, its virtual closing on July 4.

Online lecture series, social media posts and exhibits, and a tree-planting activity highlighted the three-week event. First of which was Chawon: An online Lecture Series” from June 22 to 24.

Also #TREEnding featured (1) weekly social media posts about the SBF forest and/or trivia about trees; (2) a two-week photo exhibit at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall showcasing SBMA’s Arbor Day celebrations and reforestation efforts; (3) a three-day trade fair featuring concessionaires of organic, eco-friendly and/or educational products that will run from June 22 to 24; and (4) a photo contest where participants were asked to post a photo of them or their group participating in the activities during the Subic Bay’s Arbor Day, D-Day on June 30, 2022.

Finally, Magtanum kitamo: Subic Bay’s Arbor Day, D-Day on June 30, participants took part in a tree planting at the SBMA’s reforestation site, collected wildlings at Pamulaklakin Forest, and cleanup El Kabayo Forest.

Meanwhile, SBMA chairman and administrator Rolen C. Paulino disclosed that the said activities area part of the bigger plan to make Subic attractive to foreign and local investors who would want to make it happen in the Philippines and find it practical to invest in Subic. 

Arbor Day is observed every June 25. During the peak of the pandemic, Arbor Day was observed thru online activities. (MPD-SBMA)

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Earth Day 2016: Subic Bay stakeholders undertake mangrove, reef restoration projects

Stakeholders in this free port banded together on Friday for mangrove and reef restoration projects in celebration of Earth Day 2016.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said more than 500 representatives from various groups in the Subic community volunteered to collect talisay seedlings and mangrove saplings and planted them at the Apaliin Mangrove Trail inside the former naval magazine here.

“We are doing this not for ourselves, but for our children and the future generations,” Garcia said as he joined a tree-tagging project organized by the SBMA Ecology Center.

Garcia said that the successful Earth Day activities here “only show that more and more people are getting involved in protecting and preserving Mother Earth.”

Aside from SBMA employees, those who participated in the mangrove project included representatives from the Olongapo City Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) Squadron 111, workers from locator-companies and students.

On Wednesday, the PCGA also constructed six artificial reef units in Subic Bay to fulfill its commitment to the protection of the marine environment and its resources here.

The artificial reefs were installed approximately 15 meters deep and 100 meters from the shoreline of the SEA Beach Resort (former Dungaree Beach) inside the free port.

PCGA National Director Vice Admiral Valentin Prieto Jr., who witnessed the “Build-A-Reef” Project along with other senior officers of the auxiliary group, lauded the officers and members of Squadron 111 headed by its captain, Randy Escolango, who is also SBMA deputy administrator for legal affairs.

“Very impressive,” Prieto described the project, adding that the artificial reef will not only help boost the eco-system in the area, but also the local tourism industry.

At another site nearby, the non-government organization Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative, with full support from the management of the All Hands Beach and Resort here, also implemented a project to revive corals that were dying or damaged by pollution and other destructive human activities.

A group of divers from Sangkalikasan began doing the government-funded Reef Restoration Program in Subic Bay in August last year in an attempt to restore coral fragments.

Jose Rodriguez, project leader of Sangkalikasan, said that they are managing four coral nursery units (CNU) near Grande Island in Subic Bay, but had to transfer them to All Hands Beach for accessibility.

Each CNU is designed to hold at least 500 attachments of “corals of opportunity” which are a collection of dislodged live coral fragments for quick recovery and regeneration to increase survival rates upon transplantation in degraded coral reef sites.

“The management of All Hands Beach is dedicated to make this program successful and we are hoping that other beach resorts and coastal communities will follow suit,” Rodriguez said. (30)

Trash-to-Cash initiative

Meanwhile, A retail chain mall in Olongapo City joined other malls nationwide in the celebration of Earth Day through a simultaneous Trash to Cash Project.

In partnership with Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the activity aims to encourage people to protect and respect Mother Earth though recycling and proper waste disposal.

The project was started five years ago by SM Olongapo through its Trash to Cash Recycling Market, which invites and encourages local government and the community, haulers, recycling groups, social/environmental recycling project groups and private companies to bring their trash in the mall and exchange them for cash.

They could exchange for cash the following waste: plastic and PET bottles, tin and aluminum cans, cartons, papers and more.

However, batteries, car batteries, ink cartridges, computer, television and other electronic wastes are not accepted due to their hazardous content. (SNL)

PHOTOS: (Clockwise from left)

[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia joins a tree-tagging activity at the Triboa Mangrove during the Earth Day celebration in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, April 22.

[2] Women volunteers planting mangrove seedlings at the Triboa Mangrove Park.

[3] A volunteer is reflected on the water as he plants a mangrove seedling.

(Photos by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA)

Other sources:
http://www.mb.com.ph/subic-bay-marks-earth-day-2016-with-reef-projects/
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=878712

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‘Green’ film fest in Subic

A FILM festival focusing on “green” films will be held this weekend at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The 1st Subic International Ecofilm Festival will be presented at the ISST FilAm Theatre on Feb. 27 and 28. This is a project of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) together with Cinema Verde of the United States.

The two-day festival will screen six international films and three local award-winning independent films and will have the Cinema Verde founding director as the guest of honor.

According to ISST President Mina Gabor, the Ecofilm Festival intends to bring environmental awareness to the audience and inspire, educate and engage participants in sustainable business and lifestyle solutions.

“If the Cannes Film Festival is for commercial films, we intend Subic to be known for environmental films,” the former Tourism secretary said.

Among the foreign films to be shown is Love Thy Nature, directed by Sylvie Rokab and narrated by Hollywood star Liam Neeson. It is a cinematic immersion into the beauty and intimacy of human’s relationship with the natural world.

The other films that will be screened are: Confessions of an Eco-Terrorist, Deep Green (Final Cut), Silent Now (The Poisoning of the Arctic), El Perro del Hortelano, and Radio Love.

The Filipino films in the festival are Brutus: Ang Paglalakbay, which stars Ronnie Lazaro; indie film Batad, which won multiple awards at Cinemalaya; and the Batanes-inspired Kadin The Goat.

The festival will also hold group discussions on “Best Practices on Environmental Conservation,” and “Challenges in Producing Environmental Films,” as well as bird shows and photo exhibits by the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines. (BusinessWorld)

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Arts&Leisure&title=green-film-fest-in-subic&id=103403

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Subic underscores importance of giant clams

At four o’clock in the morning, the sound of a motorized banca breaks the silence as personnel from various agencies start to move huge cases containing giant clams – for transfer from Barangay Calapacuan to Snake Island in Subic town.

At least 40 true giant clams wrapped in watertight plastic bags were planted on Snake Island after being harvested from Bolinao in Pangasinan on Tuesday.

The seeding of these giant clams is part of the “Launching and Seeding of Giant Clams” project of the Subic Marine Protected Area Management Council.

The council is composed of officials from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Subic, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Subic Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council, Philippine National Police, Provincial Maritime, Philippine Coast Guard, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the local government unit of Subic under the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program.

According to SBMA representative Marilou Dungog, the seeding program is expected to spur the growth of organism in the reef.

She added that these giant clams are an integral part of the reef, serving as nurseries for a host of fish and invertebrate species, including damsels, gobies, and tiny commensal crustaceans such as shrimp.

She added that sedentary organisms like sponges, tunicates, corals, and algae find giant clam shells perfect substrates for attachment.

Giant clams also act as filter feeders, sifting planktonic debris from the water for food, thereby improving overall water quality. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/subic-underscores-importance-of-giant-clams/

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SBMA, stakeholders unite to plan for conservation of Subic Bay

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other stakeholders in the Subic Bay area have joined hands to formulate a “doable” action plan for the conservation and protection of Subic Bay, a busy seaport which also provides for the livelihood of small fishers.

In the two-day “Subic Water Summit” that opened on Thursday, concerned community organizations, local government units, business locators, and national and regional government line agencies will discuss concerns and problems about Subic’s marine environment and hope to find solutions toward preserving Subic Bay and all its resources.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the multisector conference aims to translate into a viable program the commitment agreed upon by stakeholders during the first Subic Water Summit held in January 2010.

The declaration of commitment was signed by then-SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga, then-SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, then-Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., then-Subic Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, Pastolan Ayta Chieftain Conrado Frenilla, then-Morong (Bataan) Mayor Cynthia Estanislao and other community leaders.

Garcia said through this year’s workshops and discussions, participants aim to formulate a three-year action plan that will define the steps to be taken collectively in conserving Subic Bay.

“There must be something we should do to rehabilitate Subic Bay and all other water resources not because we need clean water today, but to secure, preserve and conserve the healthy biodiversity of all of our water resources for the use of our future generations,” Garcia said.

The conference, which carries the theme “Isabuhay Natin ang Pangangalaga sa Ating Yamang-Tubig” opened on Thursday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), with related activities scheduled at Ayala Mall’s Harbor Point here.

In the summit, speakers are expected to present issues and concerns surrounding the quality of water in Subic Bay and other water resources in the free port.

Garcia said the event will also serve as a venue for the creation of a preparatory body, to be called the Subic Bay Water Quality Management, which shall be composed of representatives from various sectors.

Summit participants are also scheduled to drop microorganism-laden “Mabuhay [Bokashi] Balls” into the polluted Kalalake River which separates the Subic Bay Freeport from Olongapo City and empties directly into Subic Bay. The microorganisms are supposed to eat harmful bacteria in the water and become food for fishes and shells.

Other activities lined up for the second Subic Water Summit include a photo contest and exhibition portraying the importance of water conservation (March 21); painting contest and exhibition (March 23); Earth Hour (March 23); and “Artists for Clean Water,” a portrayal of songs and dances (March 30), all to be held at the Harbor Point here.

Subic Bay, which previously hosted a United States naval base, straddles the boundary of Zambales and Bataan provinces. It was transformed into a special economic and free port zone in 1992. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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2nd Water Summit slated in Subic Bay Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will host a multi-sectoral conference in a bid to formulate a “doable” action plan for the conservation and protection of Subic Bay and all the marine resources therein.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the 2nd Subic Water Summit aims to translate the Declaration of Commitment agreed upon by participating agencies and local government units during the 1st Water Summit held January 2010 into a viable three-year program.

This year’s Water Summit will be held on March 21-22 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), with related activities scheduled at Ayala Mall’s Harbor Point here.

Garcia said that the summit, which carries the theme “Isabuhay Natin ang Pangangalaga sa Ating Yamang-Tubig,” will engage the broadest participation of all sectors. These include local government units, Subic Bay Freeport stakeholders, national and regional government-line agencies, civic groups, people’s organizations, and other concerned sectors.

During the summit, prominent speakers in the field of water conservation will present issues and concerns surrounding the quality of water in Subic Bay and other water resources in the free port.

The event will also serve as a venue for the creation of the preparatory body Subic Bay Water Quality Management, which shall be composed of representatives from various sectors.

“Through workshops and discussions, we aim to formulate a three-year action plan which will define our steps in saving Subic Bay and all of our other water resources. It will be based entirely on the Declaration of Commitment that was made during the 2010 Water Summit,” Garcia said.

Among the signatories of the 2010 declaration were former SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga, former SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, former Zambales governor Amor Deloso, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., former Subic mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, Pastolan Aeta tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla, former Morong (Bataan) mayor Cynthia Estanislao, and other officials from government and non-government offices.

This year, one important part of the summit will be the dropping of life-giving “Mabuhay (Bokashi) Balls” into the now polluted Kalalake River in Olongapo City to help revive it. The river separates the Subic Bay Freeport from its neighbor city.

The technology for the so-called “Bokashi Balls” was developed in Japan and uses a mixture of clay, ceramic powder, brown sugar or molasses and rock salt, which are then infused with micro-organisms and formed into large balls and left to ferment for several weeks until coated with fuzzy white fungus.

The balls will then be dropped into polluted bodies of water so that micro-organisms can eat the harmful bacteria and will become food for fishes and shells.

Other activities lined up for the 2nd Subic Water Summit include a photo contest and exhibition portraying the importance of water conservation (March 21); painting contest and exhibition (March 23); Earth Hour (March 23); and “Artists for Clean Water,” a portrayal of songs and dances (March 30), all to be held at the Harbor Point here.

“There must something we should do to rehabilitate Subic Bay and all other water resource not because we need clean water today, but to secure, preserve and conserve the healthy bio-diversity of all of our water resource for the use of our future generations,” Garcia said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Foresters urged to be vigilant

Stressing the need to protect the remaining forests in the country, Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI) national council president Renato De Rueda urged fellow foresters to be vigilant in performing their duty as guardians of the environment.

De Rueda issued this challenge during the recent “National Summit Conference on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade”, which was held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here to mark the 64th founding anniversary of the SFFI.

De Rueda said that forests need to be protected from the abusive exploitation of natural resources, because they can yield so much beneficial products if properly taken care of.

“Kailangan nating mapangalagaan ito laban sa mga gustong sumira ng ating mga kabundukan, kasama na dito ang illegal na pagto-troso at pagkuha ng iba’t-ibang produkto ng kagubatan, at pagkakaingin,” he said as he addressed convention delegates.

“Kailangan po natin ng mga mabubuting pamamaraan para mapangalagaan ang ating kagubatan,” he added.

At the same time, De Rueda noted that forest protection is often a very difficult and dangerous job, and has claimed the lives of several foresters since 2010.

“Mayroon na po tayong labing-apat na kamatayan dahil sa pagtatanggol sa ating kagubatan, sa pagseserbisyo sa ating bayan,” he said.

Still, it is the foresters who should lead the people in protecting the environment, he insisted.

“Kung mayroon pong dapat na manguna sa pangangalaga ng ating mga kagubatan, dapat ay tayong mga Filipino foresters. Kailangan po nating magkaisa para tulungan ang Inang Bayan sa pamamagitan ng epektibong pamamahala sa mga natitira pang mga kabundukan at para tulungang lumago ang ating mga kagubatan,” he said.

De Rueda said that towards this end, topics like forest law enforcement that were tackled in the convention would help foresters in performing their duties.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) senior deputy administrator Ramon Agregado thanked members of the SFFI for doing their job in protecting the environment, and assured them that the SBMA will do its part as well.

“From our end we can assure you that SBMA will continue to do more than its fair share in protecting, preserving and managing this heavily-forested paradise that is Subic Bay,” he said.

The SFFI was founded in 1948 and aims to represent and promote the science, technology, education, practice and business of forestry in the Philippines. It currently has 8,000 members from across the country. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Foresters to draft national action plan for forestry

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The country’s top professional foresters converged at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here on Wednesday for a three-day summit with the end in view of drafting a national action plan on the management and promotion of the country’s forest resources.

The “National Summit Conference on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade,” according to a statement from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is expected to be a high-level meeting of local foresters from academe, the government and wood-based industry sectors to discuss how the forestry profession can elevate its role in the government’s anti-illegal logging campaign and improve the local wood-based industry by promoting the National Greening Program (NGP).

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, who will be the keynote speaker in the event, lauded the holding of the conference, saying it came at a time “when the profession finds itself on new paths forged in the crucible of rectification in the country’s policies on forestry program being pursued by President Aquino.”

“There’s no better time than now that we, as foresters, should take a deeper reflection on how much contribution the forestry profession have made to winning back the country’s forests which, to a great extent, mirrors the state of our profession,” said Paje, who has a bachelor’s degree in forestry science from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, Laguna.

The forestry conference was organized by the 8,000-strong Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. (SFFI) to mark their 64th anniversary celebration.

The SSFI is a non-profit organization formed in 1948, which is now working for the adoption of science and technology in forestry-related activities within the framework of sustainable forest management practices being implemented by the DENR.

Among the topics expected to be discussed in the three-day summit are measures on how the profession could strengthen and unify ongoing efforts to stop wanton forest destruction, and how local foresters could promote sustainable management of forest resources so that the forestry sector can fully contribute to national development.

Among the important outputs expected from the conference are a “National Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade” and an SFFI action plan to promote good governance among its ranks.

Organizers said the conference will feature papers about updates on Philippine forests. These include “Pagsasaayos Ng Kagubatan: Isang Hamon ng Pulitika at Hindi ng Teknolohiya” by Dr. Antonio Contreras; “The State of the Philippine Forests and Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines” by Dr. Antonio Carandang; “Karanasan at mga Isyung Kinahaharap ng Bantay Gubat ng Mangatarem” by Ely Curimao; “The National Greening Program” by DENR-Forest Management Bureau Director Ricardo Calderon;  and “Binhi Tungo sa Tagumpay ng Community-Based Forest Management” by Mariano Saclauso Sr.

Five other papers will tackle enforcement of forestry laws to curb illegal logging. These are: “Forest Law Enforcement” by Gen. Renato Miranda (ret.), Executive Director of the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force; “Forest Laws Enforcement, Governance and Trade in the Philippines” by Philippine Wood Producers Association head Antonio Olizon; “Initiatives on Strengthening Forest Law Enforcement and Governance” by Generosa Mislang; “Holistic Evaluation and Approaches to Curb Illegal Logging in the Philippines” by forester-Lawyer Wilfrido Pollisco; and “Framework for a National Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade” by Dr. Manuel Bonita.

Other personalities expected to grace the conference are Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones of Agham, Zambales First District Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr. and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chaiman Roberto Garcia. (Henry Empeno, Business Mirror)

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