TREE PLANTING AT BRGY FATIMA

Taken after our clean-up drive and tree planting at barangay Fatima. This photo was taken by Lt. Augustus Caesar Mapeso PCGA. These are the members of the barangay Council of Fatima, headed by their Punong barangay Janeth B. Carpio (in red cap).Others in the photo are Council members Rowena J. Miaral, Rene Boy H. Custodio, Nolito C. Luces, Rosebella R. Zita, Imelda G. Gura, Roselito P. Cahilig, Jayson R. Macahilig, Francisco C. de Pedro Jnr. Secretary and Marlyn B. Agustino, Treasurer.

We are all here: In yellow shirt, the Council members of barangay Fatima, In Orange; Philippine Coast Guards and the Philippine Coast Guards Auxiliary: In Greens and other colours: Kool Earth members, LGU Kalibo SB Secretary Ms. Diane Fegarido, LGU New Washington, SB member Celia de la Cruz Engineer Jessie Fegarido, Kalibo LGU. Many more participants were not included in this photo. They were busy chasing the crabs in the sea.

KE in Action!!!

"Be the change you wish to see in this world"

Aklan SP Approves STL Panay Aklan River Dredging Project

by Odon S. Bandiola

Aerial view of the Aklan River

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has authorized Governor Florencio T. Miraflores to be one of the signatories in a Memorandum Of Agreement for the creation of the Multi-Partite Monitoring Team, Environmental Guarantee Fund and Environmental Monitoring Fund for the dredging project of a Singapore-based STL Panay Resources Incorporated at the Aklan River. 

The authority was embodied in Resolution No. 002, Series of 2015 enacted by the chamber during its 1st Regular Session for 2015 on January 7, 2015.

The formation of the tripartite monitoring team and the setting up of the environmental guarantee fund and environmental monitoring fund signal for the dredging project to start as soon as the dredging permit is granted by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Signatories to the MOA governing the creation of the monitoring team are the project proponent STL Panay Resources Incorporated, Province of Aklan represented by the Governor, Municipalities of Kalibo and Numancia represented by their respective Mayors, DENR-EMB Region VI, DENR-PENRO Aklan, NGO Uswag Development Foundation, Incorporated, DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region VI and DPWH.

The Aklan River dredging project is already issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Central Office of the DENR. Likewise, DPWH Central Office has already approved the dredging plans submitted by the STL Panay Resources Incorporated and already endorsed to the DPWH Regional office for the issuance of a permit to dredge.

STL Panay Resources Incorporated is expected to dredge about 15 million cubic meters of debris at the Aklan River in a year operation. The original MOA, then signed by the company with former Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez, stipulated that STL Panay will dredge a minimum of 15 million cubic meters and pay the Province of Aklan P5.00 per cubic meter.

In the project presentation by the company, it is estimated that about 60 hectares within the Aklan River waters downstream and upstream shall be excavated by the dredging project. Dredging is not allowed within the one kilometer length away from the Kalibo Bridge downstream and upstream. Dredging shall be done by providing 200 meters buffer from the east and west banks of the Aklan River. Excavation will be at a depth of 2 meters to 4 meters depending on the level of siltation in the dredging area. 

In the aftermath of typhoon Frank when the entire Municipality of Kalibo, Numancia and Banga had been flooded as the Aklan River had overflown its banks, the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office implemented a P100 million dredging project at the mouth of the Aklan River near the Sibuyan Sea.

However, such DPWH dredging project has never shown positive result and impact in the eyes of all Aklanons and Local government units of Aklan.

Aklan SP Urges DENR to Classify Sooc River Waters

The Aklan River and Sooc River run and drain parallel to the 
Sibuyan Sea with Sooc and the east and the Aklan at the west.

by Odon S. Bandiola

The Aklan River and Sooc River run and drain parallel to the Sibuyan Sea with Sooc and the east and the Aklan at the west.

In another development and alarmed by the rising levels of coliform contamination of water samples taken from the Sooc River very recently, particularly in the vicinity of Kalibo’s dumping site in Barangay Bachao Sur and Buswang Old, the 16th Sangguniang Panlalawigan has urgently asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to immediately classify according to usage the Sooc River waters.

The urgent request was embodied in Resolution No. 277, Series of 2014 enacte

d by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its 43rd Regular Session on December 10, 2014.

The reason why the SP has requested for the immediate classification of Sooc waters was that both the DENR and the Aklan Environment and Natural Resources Office cannot possibly establish the parameters as to what level of coliform contamination can be tolerable to prevent hazards to human life and marine resources as well as the environment.

The SP learned that the level of coliform count on tests on Sooc River water samples conducted by the AKENRO revealed tens of thousands MPN/100ml. It was also learned that DENR had earlier conducted tests on these water samples in the same vicinity of the Sooc River and tallied millions MPN/100ml of coliform contamination from the Sooc River water samples.

Both AKENRO and DENR failed to establish whether the high level of coliform contamination can be attributed to the seepage of liquid wastes emanating from Kalibo’s dumping site. This alarmed Aklan SP.

The DENR has already issued an order for the Local Government Unit of Kalibo to immediately institute safe closure proceedings on the capital town’s dumping site.  Residents and businesses, institutions like schools and other stakeholders living or doing businesses in the vicinity of Kalibo’s dumping site had long been complaining of the foul odor and hazards to health caused by the garbage being disposed in that area. 

The SP Committee on Environmental Protection chaired by SP Member Esel L. Flores after a committee hearing over the issue and recommends the following: 

1. For DENR to cause immediate classification of the Sooc River Waters upon request by LGU-Kalibo so that tolerable levels of contamination particularly coliform can be established including possible hazards to human and marine life and the environment;

2. For DENR to closely monitor compliance of LGU-Kalibo in the implementation of the safe closure procedures of the Kalibo Dumping Site in accordance with the timetable imposed by the DENR, and to possibly charge violations thereof;

3. For DENR and Provincial Government of Aklan to fast track the identification and development of an alternative sanitary landfill site outside of Kalibo; and

4. For DENR and AKENRO to conduct regular testing of the water samples of the Sooc River and if possible establish tolerable levels of contamination

LGU KALIBO AND KE HOSTED TODA DAY

The event was initiated by LGU Kalibo through the leadership of Mayor William S. Lachica, SB Gus Tolentino as Transportation Committee Chair and Koolearth Org team headed by Pres. Chita Dela Cruz-Heap. Simultaneously, Pres. Chita also awarded the new KE members Ms. Dehly Sarabia, Mr. Ben Fernandez and Estancia SB Hon. Amelyn Fernandez with Certificate and Token for their steadfast and unwavering support to the advocacy of Koolearth Org. A special token was likewise given to SB Secretary Diane Figarredo of LGU Kalibo for her personal commitment to help KE accomplished its goals for the community. 

LGU Kalibo and KE awarded the Drivers who are honest and loyal to the advocacy of making Kalibo safer for the community, like returning cash, cellphones/IPad, other material things, groceries, etc that was left behind in their tricycle. There are more than 42 Drivers and separately about 18 Drivers received a special award (Certificate and Tokens) from KE for being an associate members of the organization in helping making the capital town greener, cleaner and healthier. They are the tricycle Drivers who make an extra effort to maintain their tricycle clean by putting on a waste basket for the passengers to also make their effort not to throw garbage like candy wrappers and other trash on the street while in transit.

The following Drivers who are now KE Associate Members are: Raymundo Agcaolli, Philip Lumboy, Arnel Nabalde, Rolly Delfin, Roberto Francisco, Gervy Ibarra, Jimmy Linan, Edison Nemis, Manny  Marcelino, Joselito Aranas, Antonio Tolentino, Willy Apellido, Rey Carrillo, Jose Roger Barrientos, Marcelinno Aranas, Albert Cunanan, Liberato Mopia and Joel Bartolome. All these formed their group named as "KABAEAKA SA BANWA."

KE Founder and now Treasurer Dr. Cynthia C. Dela Cruz was the special guest speaker, while Vice President Felma Dela Cruz delivered a short message on KE advocacy, its mission and vision, as a reminder for all.  The event emcee was Ms. Sharon Moises (CBIS FM), new KE member. 

OUR NEW LOGO

CHRISTMAS TOGETHER 2014

Thank you to our host: Ati-Atihan Festival Hostel and Conference Center

and Bread and Butter.

These are the remaining hard working men and women of KE for the year 2014.

May God continue to bless them to share more!!! 

Cheers for the coming 2015!!!

Kalibo's Dumping Site Is A Serious Enviromental Threat

Unless drastic remedial measures are undertaken, the threat to the environment being posed by the dumping site in the Ati-atihan Town of Kalibo, capital town of Aklan can worsen further and will endanger the health and lives of people living nearby, to include students population of various learning institutions operating near its vicinity.

This matter surfaced in a committee hearing conducted by the Committee on Environmental Protection of the 16th  Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan recently.

The SP committee was prompted to conduct an inquiry into the matter when the Sangguniang Barangay of Old Buswang furnished the body of its resolution addressed to the local officials of Kalibo seeking for the immediate closure of the said dumping site. Kalibo’s dumping site is located at the adjoining barangay of Bakhaw Sur, along the Sooc River, one of the extensions of the Aklan River.

Not only are residents of the two barangays are affected of the persistent emission of foul odor from the dumping site but also commercial and institutional establishment operators and students near the area.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ivene D. Reyes of Aklan stressed that LGU Kalibo maybe liable for several violations in the operation of the dumping site since 2006 when the department ordered the LGU Kalibo to already start the safe closure procedures for the dumping site. But until now, it remains to be implemented.

DENR Aklan emphasized that for the foul odor to be temporarily and immediately remedied, spraying of chemicals on the dumpsite must be done at once, but safe closure procedure must be started right away.

Engr. Jessie Fegarido, head of Kalibo’s Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Department, said safe closure procedure will start next week with the construction of the perimeter fence of the said dumping site expected to be finished within one month. Is it done?

Portion of the concrete enclosure of the dumping site had been damaged while holes were bored at the undamaged portions facing the Sooc River. These caused emission of the waste fluids into the river.

Former Congressman Allen S. Quimpo feared that the naturally grown marine resources in the nearby 250-hectare mangrove eco-park are already affected by the pollution of the river.

Ms. Adorada Reynaldo, Solid Waste Management Officer of Kalibo explained that the safe closure procedures can never be successful until wastes segregation is strictly enforced on Kalibo’s households.

Both Fegarido and Reynaldo expressed their exasperation over their difficulty to obtain budgetary appropriations for the P20 million they need to fully implement the safe closure of the dumping site.

PENRO Reyes informed the committee that DENR has already identified a 12-hectare area in Castillo, Makato, Aklan which can be developed into a sanitary landfill site for Kalibo’s garbage and that of the neighboring towns west of Kalibo like Numancia, Makato, Lezo, and Tangalan.

But Reyes said this will take about one year to prepare the area to be ready to receive the wastes of these towns. (Editor’s note: Adopted from “The Legislator”, the official newsletter of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan.) /MP