Climate Change/Environment

KORONADAL CITY – In a bid to protect the remaining population of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) from hunting, loss of habitat and other threats, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is taking some steps for the declaration of an estimated 25-hectare site in Barangay Mabuhay, General Santos City as a critical habitat for this largest bat in the world.

A DENR composite team conducted a rapid habitat assessment of large flying fox roosting on trees in Nopol Hills located in Barangay Mabuhay.

SARANGANI - Six hundred seventy-eight Chinese Sparrowhawks and one Crested Honey Buzzard were sighted yesterday, September 19, by the Raptor Monitoring Team of the Sarangani Province's Environmental Conservation and Protection Center (ECPC) during their annual monitoring of migratory raptors at Brgy. Rio del Pilar, Glan town.

According to ECPC, birds from neighboring countries such as Japan, Taiwan and China migrate to Indonesia during autumn season in search for suitable living areas.

BASILAN --- Officials want soldiers deployed in abandoned Abu Sayyaf camps in Sampinit Complex in the province to help protect tropical rainforests along stretches of a new highway in the area.

Gov. Jim Salliman said Saturday he even want the Western Mindanao Command to put up an Army brigade headquarters in the Sampinit Complex in the center of Basilan province.

Salliman said they are now planning to make the timberlands and watersheds in the area converted to protected wildlife sanctuaries.

KORONADAL CITY - A Rofuos Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax was turned-over by a concerned citizen to Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) Tacurong City, of Isulan Sultan Kudarat on August 28 at 2:24 in the afternoon.

GLAN, Sarangani – Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Soccsksargen region and partner marine environmentalists said Sunday that hundreds of mammals were spotted in Sarangani Bay (SarBay) from August 13 to 16.

Dr. Sabdullah C. Abubacar, DENR-12 regional executive director, said he learned during the 4-day 3rd Quarter Monitoring was conducted in the coast of Sarangani and in the towns of Maasim, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan in Sarangani that rare sea mammals visited SarBay.

BASILAN --- The provincial government here will put up an organic greenhouse show farm using a drip irrigation system patterned from an Israeli self-sustaining agriculture technology.

Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman said Friday they are to establish the greenhouse in Barangay Sumagdang in Isabela City.

KORONADAL CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-12) is closely monitoring the coastal waters of Gen. Santos City and Sarangani in compliance with the Philippine Clean Water Act.

Earlier, the DENR issued an administrative order that designated the Sarangani Bay Water Quality Management Area and the creation of its governing board.

KORONADAL CITY - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XII on Monday, July 29 secured the safety of a Brahminy Kyte after it was turned over to the agency by a concerned citizen.

According to Evangeline Marfil, Brgy. Chairperson of Katipunan, Sto. Nino town in South Cotabato, a concerned citizen named Raymond Tejada found the raptor weak and wet due to heavy rainfall.

The barangay officials immediately coordinated with Brigada News FM in Koronadal City who asked the assistance of the DENR 12 to surrender the said wildlife.

KORONADAL CITY - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Soccsksargen region (also known as Sox) in partnership with Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) - Lutayan Campus, formally opened the first Regional Wildlife Rescue Center (RWRC) in the region at the SKSU Campus in Barangay Blingkong, Lutayan on Wednesday morning, July 24.

COTABATO CITY  --- The Isabela City government is setting up an environment protection outfit to preserve the remaining rainforests in its barangays and help address illegal logging in nearby towns.

Isabela City is one of two cities in Basilan, whose provincial government again intensified two weeks ago its campaign against poaching of timbers in highlands in the province.

Officials told reporters Thursday there is now a draft framework for the proposed outfit but subject yet to approval by the Sangguniang Panglunsod chaired by Isabela City Vice Mayor Kifli Salliman.