Difference between revisions of "Southern Leyte Province, Philippines"

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.
Line 203: Line 203:


==[[Southern Leyte News]]==
==[[Southern Leyte News]]==
'''Solon seeks media’s help to push airport, port projects'''
'''Forest exhibit, roadshow open in Southern Leyte'''
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R08&article=1301336260379
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1141336290025
*Sunday, May 6, 2012
*Monday, May 7, 2012
:by Marcelo M. Pedalino
:by pia.gov.ph




MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 6 (PIA) -- This province’s lone district lawmaker solicited the support of the local media organization here in a bid to put flesh on two development projects, the completion of which can spur economic boom in a place positioned as the “playground of Eastern Visayas.”
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 7 (PIA) -- An exhibit and roadshow about the Philippine forests are set to open in Southern Leyte.
 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Forest Management Bureau, German Development Cooperation-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, CoDe REDD Philippines and the provincial government of Southern Leyte will be opening the Color it REDD-Plus Roadshow and “The Philippine Forests: Before and What Now?” exhibits on May 8 to 9 at Maasin City Gymnasium, Southern Leyte.
“We need your help for the airport project and the Can-iwan alternate RORO port to materialize,” said Cong. Roger Mercado in a press conference Thursday at Kinamot Restaurant this city.  
Dr. Bernd Markus Liss of GIZ said that REDD-Plus or Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation with conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks is a measure being under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that contributes in the stabilization of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.
 
In the Philippines, from April 2009 to July 2010, multi-sectoral and multi-level workshops were carried out to know more about REDD and REDD-Plus in aid of drafting the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy (PNRPS) for 2010 to 2020.
He revealed that an initial funding of P 45 million for the extension of the Panan-awan airport runway was already earmarked since April last year but until now it was not yet implemented.  
In April of 2010, the PNRPS Components were considered in the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) under section 8.5 of the Key Result Areas on Mitigation. On the same month, DENR has been designated as the operational arm of REDD-Plus implementation through Executive Order 881 of the President. Given these, the PNRPS was presented to the DENR Executive Committee that approved the Strategy on August 9, 2010 and transmitted the same to the Climate Change Commission on August 27, 2010.
 
Liss said REDD-Plus is at its early stage in the Philippines and the exhibit offers a visual presentation of this approach. The Philippines has elaborated a National REDD-plus Strategy that was endorsed by DENR and is now a key element of the National Climate Change Action Plan approved by the Climate Change Commission chaired by the President in November 2011.
He said the length of the present runway was 1.2 kilometers (km) but an airplane airbus needed at least two km, hence the need to add 800 meters more so commercial flights can literally take off and land there.  
The Climate-relevant Modernization of Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD Project implemented by DENR and GIZ at national level, with pilot activities in Southern Leyte is the featured REDD-Plus Project in the exhibit.
 
It focuses on avoiding further deterioration of forests and emissions of greenhouse gases while generating benefits such as biodiversity conservation, improvement of local livelihoods and enhancement of ecosystem services through the development of improved forest policies and specific incentives for forest protection and rehabilitation.
The alternate shipping port at Can-iwan, meanwhile, has already secured a P 40 million funding, yet it was not acted either, Mercado said.  
The newly discovered frog species in Mt. Nacolod is supported by GIZ and is part of the Biodiversity Resource Assessment done for five municipalities of the GIZ-REDD Plus sites in Southern Leyte covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog.
 
The information generated, now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path.
The Can-iwan port was widely seen as a permanent solution during inclement weather in “habagat” seasons as ships cannot dock at the city’s main port, and it was also much closer to Cebu and Bohol, Mercado informed.  
For the national Government, it will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAPP), and the National Greening Program.
 
On the other hand, the Forest Exhibit captures current actions of local communities in forest conservation and protection in Leyte Island, done through a competition among journalists last year. Media representatives from Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News Online and Business Mirror were among those who participated in the competition. The exhibit depicts how the country is beginning to adjust national forest policies to the necessities of climate protection and to test approaches for REDD-Plus.
“These two projects strike at the heart of our development efforts, especially on tourism,” he pointed out, adding that many people from the cross-section of society stand to benefit out of the two projects.  
The exhibit, Liss said, is an opportune time to bring together the medium of film, graphics and photography to communicate historic images of the nation’s massive forest loss and depict current initiatives to achieve sustainable forest management. This means working towards improving the environment and people’s conditions by protecting, replanting and sustainably managing the forests.
 
Fishbowl Discussion, Debate, and REDD-Plus Hour will be carried out to discuss forestry, highlight the role of community forestry as a central ingredient to the implementation of REDD-Plus, emphasize that tenure over the land is a must for REDD-Plus implementation, and orient participants on basic concepts in relation to REDD-Plus as well as on the PNRPS.
He was referring to the concerted and aggressive efforts done by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI) in close partnership with the provincial, city governments, as well as the 18 other municipalities, to establish man-made attractions that will serve as tourism hubs in five key areas around the province.  
A cultural night will also be held on May 8 evening at Maasin City Gymnasium featuring local artists, and prominent national artists Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios and Lolita Carbon at 8pm.
 
The event is a compelling visual presentation and interactive dialogue to discuss REDD-Plus and its on-going implementation in the Philippines.
Last year, the Agas-Agas zipline in Sogod was opened, and it has attracted a steady flow of extreme adventure enthusiasts from other places, while plans to enhance the place with cable cars, off-road tracks and other amenities are still ongoing.  
REDD-Plus is an approach that embodies actions of empowered forest managers and support groups to manage forestlands in a sustainable and equitable manner while working towards improved forest policies with regard to climate change, forest protection and rehabilitation.
 
The DENR-GIZ REDD Project is part of the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the German Government. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. (PIA8 with GIZ)
Only last week, the Maasin Wildlife and Nature theme Park had its soft opening at Danao Forest Park, attracting thousands of visitors with its rare display of animals like tigers, camels, ostrich, crocodiles, horses, among others.  
 
Another hub, at the pacific area, a canopy walk among virgin forests was envisioned to be created, and with the recent discovery of two new species of frogs at Mount Nacolod, a mountain range stretching the woods in several towns, several foreigners mostly nature conservationists are expected to descend soon.  
 
The Napantao fish sanctuary in San Francisco, Panaon island, another tourists’ hub was already well-known for its pristine underwater wonder.
 
The fifth planned tourism hub will be in Limasawa, site of the First Christian Mass in Asia, where structures like a tall tower in the form of a cross is envisioned to stand, complete with coffee shops and other related outlets.  
 
With all these development efforts already happening or are about to happen, accessibility and mobility for visiting tourists, both domestic and foreign, is critical, Mercado stressed.  
 
He mused that with a functional airport and alternate port in Can-iwan in place, “making visits to Southern Leyte will be more fun,” alluding to the current slogan of the Department of Tourism “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”
 
He said he had already talked to Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas for the release of funds.
 
“Still, other sectors’ follow-up is welcomed,” Cong Mercado said. (EOPT/MMP-PIA8, Southern Leyte)


==Photo Gallery of Southern Leyte, Philippines==
==Photo Gallery of Southern Leyte, Philippines==

Revision as of 04:44, 7 May 2012

List of Municipalities in the Southern Leyte province within Region VIII in the Republic of The Philippines
Anahawan | Bontoc | Hinunangan | Hinundayan | Libagon | Liloan | Limasawa | Macrohon | Malitbog | Padre Burgos | Pintuyan | Saint Bernard | San Francisco | San Juan (Cabalian) | San Ricardo | Silago | Sogod | Tomas Oppus
Cities in the Province of Southern Leyte: Maasin City (Capital)

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

List of the 17 Regions in the Philippines
National - Capital Region ● I - Ilocos ● II - Cagayan ● III - C. Luzon ● IV-A - Calabarzon ● IV-B - Mimaropa ● V - Bicol ● VI - W. Visayas ● VII - C. Visayas ● VIII - E. Visayas ● IX - Zamboanga ● X - N. Mindanao ● XI - Davao ● XII - Soccsksargen ● XIII - Caraga ● XIV - CAR ● XV - BARMM

Share your Photos

Southern Leyte Realty

Philippine News

Southern leyte philippines map locator.png

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Province of Southern Leyte, Region VIII - Central Visayas, Philippines
Southern Leyte has a total land area of 173,480 hectares or 1,734.8 square kilometers equivalent to about 8.1% of the total land area of Eastern Visayas.

Relatively flat lands along the coastal areas where population centers lay, but rugged and mountainous towards the interior characterize the province.

Southern Leyte has numerous small rivers in addition to at least eleven (11) major rivers include Canturing River in Maasin, Amparo River in Macrohon, Divsoria River in Bontoc, Subang Daku River in Sogod, Lawigan and Hitungao Rivers in San Juan, Das-ay and Pondol Rivers in Hinunangan, and Maag River in Silago.

Location of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Southern Leyte is one of the six provinces of Eastern Visayas or Region VIII. Canigao Channel bound it on the north by Leyte province; on the east by the Pacific Ocean; on the south by Mindanao Sea; and on the west the Canigao Channel. It covers about one-fourth (1/4) of the island of Leyte. It has 19 municipalities.

Four island and islet are within the territorial jurisdiction of Southern Leyte: Panaon, the only island linked to the mainland by a bridge, the historic island municipality of Limasawa which is the site of the first Christian Mass in the Far East, and the islets of San Pedro and San Pablo in Hinunangan.

History of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Even before the fall of the Spaniards to the Americans on August 13, 1898 there had been already been established in Western Leyte a Court of First Instance. There was the office of "Promoter Fiscal" equivalent to the Provincial Fiscal and the office of "Administrador de Hacienda" equivalent to the Provincial Treasurer.

With the change of sovereign power the positions were abolished except the Fiscal's who remained hearing cases from Palompon to Hinunangan.

Because of the difficulty of transportation and managing the affairs of government in Tacloban, the division of Leyte into two provinces was thought to be the only solution. Prominent leaders of the West Coast rallied to the general movement of a Western Leyte.

In 1919, Rep. Ciriaco K. Kangleon representing the 2nd district from Inopacan to Cabalian from 1919-1922 presented the first bill for the division of Leyte but lost in the Senate by one vote.

In 1922, Tomas Oppus renewed the move by presenting House Bill No. 254, which became Act No. 3117. According to the said law, occidental province would embrace the towns of Villaba to Hinunangan, inclusive. The law never became effective since the governor-general did not proclaim it.

Then Act No. 3788 was passed redistricting Leyte province into five representative districts modifying the Division Law.

Then in 1957, Nicanor Espina Ynigues, Jr. defeated Rep. Pajao. Ynigues filed a bill in the house creating the Province of Southern Leyte no longer the original Western Leyte of Occidental Leyte but only the Third District of Leyte comprising the municipalities of Maasin to Hinunangan, as specified under Act 3788.

On Friday, May 22, 1959 at 10:00 o'clock in the morning, President Carlos P. Garcia signed the bill into law. Republic Act No. 2227, otherwise known as an "Act creating the province of Southern Leyte". Present and witnesses to the signing were Congressman Ynigues, Mayor Alfredo K. Bantug of Maasin, Atty. Manuel Enage, Sr., Erlinda Capili and Atty. Floro Kangleon, among others.

On July 1, 1960, Southern Leyte was inaugurated as a province with sixteen municipalities: Maasin, as the capital town and seat of the provincial government, Malitbog, Bontoc, Sogod, Libagon, Pintuyan, San Francisco, St. Bernard, Cabalian (now San Juan), Anahawan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan and Silago.

Three more municipalities were created subsequently, namely; San Ricardo from Pintuyan, Tomas Oppus from Malitbog and Limasawa from Padre Burgos.

Source: www.rdc8.ph - verbatim

People of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Total Population of Southern Leyte

Local Government Unit LGU of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Elected officials of Southern Leyte for the term of 2010-2013
Elected officials of Southern Leyte for the term of 2007-2010

Businesses in Southern Leyte, Philippines

  • We invite you to list your business located in Southern Leyte.
  • Give your business a good description. Add your address and contact number if available.
    • Resorts, restaurants, pension houses, or hotels are welcome to be listed here.
    • Bakery, Mechanical Shop, Bicycle Shop, Tailor shops can be listed here.
    • If you have a pharmacy or gas station, it can be listed here too.
    • Hardware stores, Agrivets, salon, spas, etc. are welcome to be listed.
  • We do not allow external links exept for our sponsors zamboanga.com and maletsky.com. If you have an external site for your business you may not link to it in Z-Wiki but you can point to it. e.g. list it like this: www.my??business.com - this tells the people of your website but it does not link to it.
  • Businesses in Southern Leyte
    1. The name of your business, address, phone number

Southern Leyte, Philippines supports Philippine Cycling

Philippine Cycling is about cycling in the Philippnes. Philippine Cycling helps promote bike races, cycling clubs, bicycle tours, and the development of bicycle trails. Activities are coordinated with bike shops and cycling clubs throughout the Philippines to promote the fun of riding bikes. Philippine Cycling will be coordinating events with tour of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Road biking and mountain bikings will be promoted by Philippine Cycling.

Real Estate or Properties for Sale or lease in Southern Leyte, Philippines

  • If you have real estate property, whether its commercial, residential, farm land, or just an empty lot in Southern Leyte, you can list that property for free.
  • Click to VIEW, EDIT or ADD Realty Listings.
  • You can list your House and lot or farm land for sale or lease for free here.
  • If you are a real estate developer, you can list your subdivision, condominiums, high rises, apartment complexes, shopping strips or malls, open market developments here for Free.

Churches, Mosques, or Places of Worship in Southern Leyte, Philippines

The name of your church, mosque, or place of worship can be listed here. We can even provide you with a free webpage for you. We can help you.

  • List the Mosques or Masjid in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Catholic churches and chapels in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Methodist churches in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Iglesia Ni Cristo churches in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Seventh-day Adventist churches in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Church of Jesus Christ Latter day Saints (Mormons) churches in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Presbyterian churches in Southern Leyte here.
  • List the Baptist churches in Southern Leyte here.

Schools in Southern Leyte, Philippines

The name of your school in Southern Leyte can be listed here. You can list it like this:

  • Name of School. Private or Public. It can be an elementary school, high school, college.
    • Address of your school
    • Telephone Number
    • Principal of the school

You can also create a webpage for your school. We can help you.

Economy of Southern Leyte, Philippines

  • If you have an article that talks about the improvement of the economy of Southern Leyte you can post that article here. If you come across any news item that talks about the economy of Southern Leyte, you may post it here. Of course you have to reference the writer of the article. Any improvement to transportation, power and service usually improves the economy of the community, so go ahead and report that too.
AIRPORT

The province has only one existing airport that is located in Pananawan, Maasin. This airport is considered a feeder airport with a total runway length of 1200 meters and width of 30 meters.

ROADS

The existing road network crisscrossing Southern Leyte consist of major arterial highways that link the province to Leyte, passing through two (2) major outlets. On the western part, the Maasin-Mahaplag-Baybay and the central part, by he Mahaplag-Sogod road via the Maharlika Highway.

SEAPORTS

Southern Leyte has a total of 12 seaports, 2 of which are declared as national ports, the Maasin and Liloan ports and the 10 are municipal ports. Of these 10 ports, five are operational, namely, Maasin, Liloan, St. Bernard, San Juan and Sogod. By sea, travel to Cebu from Maasin port takes an average of 6 hours by ship and 2 hours by Supercat and Waterjet. A ferryboat from Liloan to Surigao takes 3 hours.

BUS TERMINALS

There are five designated bus terminals in Southern Leyte: Maasin, Liloan, Sogod, Hinunangan and Silago. But these terminals are open spaces used by buses as parking areas and are therefore not equipped with buildings and other facilities.

There are at least four (4) bus companies taking the Manila-Maasin route: Philtranco, Cedec, Inland Trailways and Ciudad. Bachelor takes the Ormoc-Maasin-Davao route.

From the capital town of Maasin, by land, it takes approximately five (5) hours travel to Tacloban City, twenty three (23) hours to Pasay City or Quezon City and nineteen hours to Davao city via the Liloan ferryboat.

WATER FACILITIES

The water needs to Southern Leyte are mostly provided by a combination of 919 units of shallow wells and deep wells serving a total of 18,711 households. Some 11,487 households are still dependent on doubtful sources of water supply.

POWER/ENERGY

The principal source of power/electricity in Southern Leyte is the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Ormoc via National Power Corporation through the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO). The major power transmission lines in the province emanate from 69 kV Tolosa, Leyte that is connected to 69 kV Bontoc, Southern Leyte then to Maasin and 69 kV Baybay, Leyte to Maasin in case of power failure.

A mini-hydro electric power plant in Hinabian, Catmon, St. Bernard was developed with capacity of 810 kW to serve the Pacific Towns particularly St. Bernard and San Juan.

Natural Resources of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Protect the environment

It is sad but true that as of the year 2012 the rivers of the Philippines continue to be the #1 Sewer Systems of the Philippines.

Protect & Save the Rivers. Do not let your sewer drain into the river. Your community can be the first to initiate this project.
Build your riverbank protection with a built-in gutter system. Reforest within Ten Years - Guaranteed!

Let us plant more trees in every barangay in the entire Philippines. It does not make any difference if the barangay is urban, partially urban or rural; we need more trees. Trees will prevent erosion, provide oxygen, prevent green house effect, and even a place of business for the shade tree mechanic.

The Philippines is a tropical country and practically anything will grow. The DENR has the planting trees project that goes on every year. Lots of picture taking for the media. Planting trees one by one is the "human" way of doing it. This individual planting of trees is good if done to "line" the roads and highways with trees or along fences or property divisions, or if you have a plantation.

To reforest the nation of the Philippines we have to plant trees the "mother nature" way. Sow the seeds during the rainy season. Go deep into "bald" forests and plant trees by sowing seeds. If there's not enough volunteers to do this, use the military helicopters to fly over the designated areas and sow the seeds.

Guaranteed within a few years, The Philippines will be lush again. >>Read More

We are using our rivers as our sewer system. If you ask a Filipino, "Are the Filipinos a clean people?" The answer is an automatic, "Yes!". However, the Filipinos are suffering from the same disease or attitude as most people do, and that is the "NIMBY" disease or "NIMBY" attitude. (NIMBY) Not In My Back Yard. So it is OK to dump my garbage and sewer there. Not mine! Someone else will take care of it.

This attitude is killing our rivers. Your great-grandparents, grandparents or parents were once proud to tell the stories of how they enjoyed swimming in the river behind your house or nearby. However, you can't say the same or tell the same stories to your kids or grand kids. Why? Because your generation is killing the river.

Contact:

  • Secretary Roy Cimatu - since May 8, 2017
  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Visayas Avenue, Diliman, 1100 Quezon City, Philippines
  • +63-2-929-6626
  • osec@denr.gov.ph

We have so much water in the Philippines and yet very little to drink.

Instead of relying too much on Diesel fuel and Coal to generate the majority of Philippine's Electrical energy Supply, we can concentrate more on renewable and sustainable source of energy such as: Hydro Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power and thermal energy conversion. We have too many black outs.

Tourists Attractions of Southern Leyte, Philippines

  • Help us add some of the tourist attractions of Southern Leyte in Z-wiki. This will help boost the local economy of Southern Leyte. Anything that is unique or anything that stands out in your community may be a tourist attraction.
  • Landmarks are usually photographed a lot by visitors. Post the Southern Leyte landmarks here.

Festivals, Fiestas and Traditions of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Every city or municipality has some sort of a festival or tradition that is celebrated every year. In the Philippines almost all barangays that are predominantly populated by Christians celebrate fiesta. Tell us about the festivals, fiestas and traditions of Southern Leyte.

Philippine News

Updated: February 5, 2024

Unity and Progress: Philippine City Mayors Advocate for Collective Advancement

In a compelling call to action, the head of the Philippines’ 149-member city mayor’s association emphasized the critical need for unity to foster continued national progress, peace, and prosperity. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, serving as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, voiced the association’s support for the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s vision of a harmonious country, one that maintains its trajectory of achievements in vital societal areas.

>>> READ MORE

Sports News: updated 11/10/21

Kaya Iloilo sweeps Group B in Copa '21

MANILA – Kaya Iloilo pipped Mendiola with a 6-0 beating on Wednesday night to complete a sweep of Group B action in the Copa Paulino Alcantara at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona.

A Jovin Bedic brace in the first half set the tone for the inaugural tournament champ even as the club netted three goals in each of the two halves to seal the top seed in its group ahead of the semifinals next week.

Bedic capitalized on an erroneous Mendiola attempt to keep the ball out of his reach and quickly raced inside the penalty box to open the scoring for Kaya Iloilo in the 11th minute.
PNA

Your Story about Southern Leyte, Philippines

Tell your story about Southern Leyte. You can talk about the good things in Southern Leyte or simply talk about the past. You can talk about the eco-system of Southern Leyte. What is the local LGU doing about the preservation of your natural resources The topic can start here and once it gets bigger it can have a page of its own in Z-Wiki. It's all up to you.

Southern Leyte News

Forest exhibit, roadshow open in Southern Leyte

by pia.gov.ph


TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 7 (PIA) -- An exhibit and roadshow about the Philippine forests are set to open in Southern Leyte. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Forest Management Bureau, German Development Cooperation-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, CoDe REDD Philippines and the provincial government of Southern Leyte will be opening the Color it REDD-Plus Roadshow and “The Philippine Forests: Before and What Now?” exhibits on May 8 to 9 at Maasin City Gymnasium, Southern Leyte. Dr. Bernd Markus Liss of GIZ said that REDD-Plus or Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation with conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks is a measure being under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that contributes in the stabilization of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. In the Philippines, from April 2009 to July 2010, multi-sectoral and multi-level workshops were carried out to know more about REDD and REDD-Plus in aid of drafting the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy (PNRPS) for 2010 to 2020. In April of 2010, the PNRPS Components were considered in the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) under section 8.5 of the Key Result Areas on Mitigation. On the same month, DENR has been designated as the operational arm of REDD-Plus implementation through Executive Order 881 of the President. Given these, the PNRPS was presented to the DENR Executive Committee that approved the Strategy on August 9, 2010 and transmitted the same to the Climate Change Commission on August 27, 2010. Liss said REDD-Plus is at its early stage in the Philippines and the exhibit offers a visual presentation of this approach. The Philippines has elaborated a National REDD-plus Strategy that was endorsed by DENR and is now a key element of the National Climate Change Action Plan approved by the Climate Change Commission chaired by the President in November 2011. The Climate-relevant Modernization of Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD Project implemented by DENR and GIZ at national level, with pilot activities in Southern Leyte is the featured REDD-Plus Project in the exhibit. It focuses on avoiding further deterioration of forests and emissions of greenhouse gases while generating benefits such as biodiversity conservation, improvement of local livelihoods and enhancement of ecosystem services through the development of improved forest policies and specific incentives for forest protection and rehabilitation. The newly discovered frog species in Mt. Nacolod is supported by GIZ and is part of the Biodiversity Resource Assessment done for five municipalities of the GIZ-REDD Plus sites in Southern Leyte covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog. The information generated, now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path. For the national Government, it will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAPP), and the National Greening Program. On the other hand, the Forest Exhibit captures current actions of local communities in forest conservation and protection in Leyte Island, done through a competition among journalists last year. Media representatives from Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News Online and Business Mirror were among those who participated in the competition. The exhibit depicts how the country is beginning to adjust national forest policies to the necessities of climate protection and to test approaches for REDD-Plus. The exhibit, Liss said, is an opportune time to bring together the medium of film, graphics and photography to communicate historic images of the nation’s massive forest loss and depict current initiatives to achieve sustainable forest management. This means working towards improving the environment and people’s conditions by protecting, replanting and sustainably managing the forests. Fishbowl Discussion, Debate, and REDD-Plus Hour will be carried out to discuss forestry, highlight the role of community forestry as a central ingredient to the implementation of REDD-Plus, emphasize that tenure over the land is a must for REDD-Plus implementation, and orient participants on basic concepts in relation to REDD-Plus as well as on the PNRPS. A cultural night will also be held on May 8 evening at Maasin City Gymnasium featuring local artists, and prominent national artists Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios and Lolita Carbon at 8pm. The event is a compelling visual presentation and interactive dialogue to discuss REDD-Plus and its on-going implementation in the Philippines. REDD-Plus is an approach that embodies actions of empowered forest managers and support groups to manage forestlands in a sustainable and equitable manner while working towards improved forest policies with regard to climate change, forest protection and rehabilitation. The DENR-GIZ REDD Project is part of the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the German Government. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. (PIA8 with GIZ)

Photo Gallery of Southern Leyte, Philippines

Upload You pictures about Southern Leyte, Philippines

  • Photos of Southern Leyte
  • Southern Leyte, Philippines
Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Southern_Leyte_Province,_Philippines&oldid=338319"