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Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants — HRW
Saudi border guards fired "like rain" on Ethiopian migrants trying to cross into the Gulf kingdom from Yemen, killing hundreds since last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report Monday. The allegations, described as "unfounded" by a Saudi government source, point to a significant escalation of abuses along the perilous route from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work. One 20-year-old woman from Ethiopia's Oromia region, interviewed by HRW, said Saudi border guards opened fire on a group of migrants they had just released from custody. "They fired on us like rain. When I remember, I cry," she said. "I saw a guy calling for help, he lost both his legs. He was screaming; he was saying, 'Are you leaving me here? Please don't leave me'. We couldn't help him because we were running for our lives." HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said, "Saudi officials are killing hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers in this remote border area out of view of the rest of the world," according to a statement. "Spending billions buying up professional golf, football clubs, and major entertainment events to improve the Saudi image should not deflect attention from these horrendous crimes," she said. Longtime Saudi ally the United States urged "a thorough and transparent investigation". "We have raised our concerns about these allegations with the Saudi government," a State Department spokesperson said. "We urge the Saudi authorities... to meet their obligations under international law," the spokesperson added. A Saudi government source told AFP that the allegations were unreliable. "The allegations included in the Human Rights Watch report about Saudi border guards shooting Ethiopians while they were crossing the Saudi-Yemeni border are unfounded and not based on reliable sources," said the source, who requested anonymity. 'Concerning allegations' The New York-based group has documented abuses against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia and Yemen for nearly a decade, but the latest killings appear to be "widespread and systematic" and may amount to crimes against humanity, it said. Last year, United Nations experts reported "concerning allegations" that "cross-border artillery shelling and small-arms fire by Saudi Arabia security forces killed approximately 430 migrants" in southern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen during the first four months of 2022. In March of that year, the repatriation of Ethiopians from Saudi Arabia began under an agreement between the two countries. Ethiopia's foreign ministry said about 100,000 of its citizens were expected to be sent home over several months. The HRW report said there was no response to letters it sent to Saudi officials. But the Huthi rebels who control northern Yemen alleged "deliberate killings of immigrants and Yemenis" by border guards, in response to a letter from HRW. According to the rights group, migrants said Huthi forces worked with people smugglers and would "extort" them or keep them in detention centers where they were "abused" until they could pay an "exit fee". The Huthis denied working with people smugglers, describing them as "criminals". In 2015, Saudi officials mobilized a military coalition in an effort to stop the advance of the Iran-backed Huthis, who had seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa from the internationally recognized government the previous year. Yemen's war has created what the UN describes as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions dependent on aid. Mortar fire Many of the abuses described by HRW would have occurred during a truce that took effect in April 2022 and has largely held despite officially expiring last October. The HRW report draws from interviews with 38 Ethiopian migrants who tried to cross into Saudi Arabia from Yemen, as well as from satellite imagery, videos, and photos posted to social media "or gathered from other sources". Interviewees described 28 "explosive weapons incidents" including attacks by mortar projectiles, the report said. Some survivors described attacks at close range, with Saudi border guards asking Ethiopians "in which limb of their body they would prefer to be shot", the report said. "All interviewees described scenes of horror: women, men, and children strewn across the mountainous landscape severely injured, dismembered, or already dead," it said. Other accounts described forced rape and beatings with rocks and iron bars. HRW called on Riyadh to end any policy of using lethal force on migrants and asylum seekers and urged the UN to investigate the alleged killings. The post Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants — HRW appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bulacan water world
The government should probe the connection between the recent destructive flooding in Bulacan and Pampanga to the construction of the massive San Miguel Corp. airport project. Residents, environmental groups and scientists had foretold the damaging effects on the environment of disturbing the ecology of the area. Experts have said delicate ecosystems are under threat from the $15-billion airport development called the New Manila International Airport. It is currently the Philippines’ most expensive infrastructure deal ever and will cover an area seven and a half times the size of New York’s Central Park which is 3.41 square kilometers. When completed, it will cater to approximately 100 million passengers a year and is targeted to be one of the busiest airports by passenger traffic globally. Despite the denials and assurances of SMC officials that the project will include spillways and other anti-flood structures, the almost one week of continuous rain as typhoons Egay and Falcon passed near the northern Philippines point to the worst fears of the residents transpiring. The provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga have been placed under a state of calamity due to the flooding that has persisted days after the typhoons passed and the southwest monsoon rain had stopped. Some 172 barangays in 16 towns and three cities in Bulacan are still affected by floods ranging from six inches to seven feet, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. London and Washington-based group Global Witness said in a report that the project’s environmental costs are already significant as hundreds of mangrove trees, “which not only absorb and store climate-wrecking carbon dioxide but also form natural flood barriers,” had been cleared. Environmental and climate-related damage is expected to worsen and permanently damage natural habitats on the airport development site, the report added. A census of waterbirds in Manila Bay, according to Global Watch, revealed that their presence has declined by over 20 percent since 2017. Massive land reclamation projects — like the airport — are set to see these numbers dwindle even further. SMC promised to construct a $1-billion spillway from Bulacan’s upstream river sources to drain directly to Manila Bay, saying it will resolve the flooding problem of the province. An SMC official even boasted during a meeting with residents and representatives of environmental groups that “SMC is not stupid that it will build an airport only to be flooded.” Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment warned against relying on the SMC promises as recent typhoons showed the location as being increasingly prone to flooding as a result of the reclamation and airport construction. The waterways from Bulacan’s ridges down to its reefs are complex systems that cannot be simply resolved with just a spillway, according to environmental advocates. Recent torrential monsoon rains were cited as an example, as the flood comes not only from waters in the Sierra Madre but also from extreme rainfall directly falling on Bulacan’s river basin and from coastal overflow. Continuing land subsidence, aggravated by groundwater extraction, is worsening the flood situation in Bulacan, according to a geological expert. The urban sprawl resulting from the expected influx of over one million workers and 100-200 million air passengers constantly in transit in the area, if the SMC Aerotropolis were built, would intensify land subsidence and increase the exposure of populations to flooding hazards. Engineering solutions and simplistic development promises are always impressive until you start looking into the devil in the details, according to the expert. With an average number of typhoons that uses up all the letters of the alphabet each year, Bulacan and nearby provinces are destined to be constantly submerged in exchange for the Aerotopolis. The post Bulacan water world appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
In the wake of ‘Egay’
Like a little tin roof against a strong gust of wind, our notions of preparedness in times of calamity are often blown away for various reasons. When “Yolanda” (Haiyan) caused so much destruction in 2013, they said it was because nobody really knew what a storm surge was. Meanwhile, Typhoon “Odette” (Rai) in 2021, packing winds of up to 260 kilometers per hour, flattened Siargao. It was later described as the “strongest storm to hit Mindanao in 10 years.” Prone as we are to cyclones, is it fair to say it is still ill-preparedness that worsens the damage and loss during typhoons? July being National Disaster Resilience Month, we may as well examine where we are in the realm of disaster preparedness and rehabilitation. “Yolanda’s” wrath caused the death of 6,300 and damage of about P101 billion, sources say. The government “had to spend some P559.86 billion for rehabilitation and recovery.” “Odette” meanwhile, took the lives of over 400 people and did damage worth P51.8 billion. It was the 15th storm to hit the country that year. At one time or another, parts of the calamity-prone Philippines get hit and suffer damage that takes billions of pesos and a long time to reverse. In the a ftermath, we identify areas for disaster preparedness that may yet be improved. And what came out after the most recent typhoon slammed into the northern Philippines? Super Typhoon “Egay” (Doksuri) hit provinces “with ferocious wind and rain, displacing nearly 16,000 villagers,” reports said. As usual, floods rose and electric posts fell, causing power outages. And, as usual, too, the aid came to the affected families, as temporary as the rains that soaked them and the winds that blew away their homes and livelihood. There are always funds for calamities, after all, and for “Egay,” this was more than P173 million. MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute), a “pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing” based in Basel, Switzerland, defines disaster preparedness as “a set of steps taken to guarantee that the resources needed for a successful response are accessible before a disaster happens or that the resources can be accessed quickly when disaster strikes.” The response, for the most part, is the most obvious sign of improvement. Where it took hours for rescue teams to arrive due to logistical nightmares in decades past, now our teams are ready and able to save more lives. Evacuations are often done in advance following prior warnings from the agencies concerned for local governments to mobilize. What is unfortunate about super typhoons hitting agricultural areas is that farms and crops take months to recover from the extensive damage. The power supply is another matter that, when cut off because of storms, worsens the situation for victims of calamities in affected areas, sometimes for days. Why do we have electric posts all over the country that only get toppled by strong winds barreling in the months of July to September? Impassable roads and bridges, too, cause delays and inconvenience in places razed by typhoons. Public Works and Highways can only manage infrastructure issues, but when it comes to soil erosion that causes landslides, for example, or shrinking mangroves that would have protected coastal towns from floods – well, that is Environment and Natural Resources. Government can keep creating agencies and bodies to handle risk reduction and disaster management, but in the end, what will save more people and lessen the overall impact of harsh calamities is a concerted effort from all sectors, all departments, and agencies, performing their duties consistently even before disasters come rolling in. Sometimes strong winds cannot uproot stronger roots. The post In the wake of ‘Egay’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
In my dreams
Couple Benedict and Marjorie have been living in the vicinity of Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate for 13 years now. With their four young children, the entire park is their living room, dining area and playground. An old pedicab covered with a hand-me-down tarpaulin serves as their bedroom cum storage area. At night, they all retire to their “bed,” a collapsed carton box in a tiny space inside the pedicab — like sardines in a can. Rain or shine, their precious pedicab is their security blanket against the external elements. For more than a decade, Benedict and Marjorie have been making ends meet with their measly earnings as a parking striker and attendant, respectively. Their combined daily minimum income of less than P400 is not enough to feed six and sustain the needs of two children who are already in kindergarten and two toddlers. Undaunted, the couple still looks forward to receiving government assistance despite having been denied Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps membership four times. In the thick of their hopes came the recent pronouncement by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the 4Ps — a poverty alleviation initiative that provides cash assistance for the immediate needs of the poor — may be terminated if there is no need for it. Imagine how broken-hearted the 4.3-million households who were helped in 2022 by the 4Ps must be. It could be even more depressing for Benedict and Marjorie who continue to hold on to their hope of having their own house and small business so their children will not have to grow up in the streets, and ultimately may be snatched away from poverty. Launched in 2008, 4Ps provides conditional cash transfers designed to meet the health, nutrition, and educational needs of vulnerable families. On 17 April 2019, 4Ps was institutionalized under Republic Act 11310. Patterned after the conditional cash transfer schemes implemented in other developing countries, 4Ps provides cash grants to low-income households on the condition that they meet certain requirements, such as sending their children to school and going for healthcare check-ups. Among the countries that have implemented successful conditional cash transfer programs as part of their poverty reduction strategies are Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Indonesia. Undeniably, CCTs have shown promising results in reducing poverty and improving living conditions for the target population. By providing cash transfers, households have increased their income to meet basic needs, such as food, education and healthcare. I know many whose children are now college graduates and evidently broke the intergenerational cycle of poverty and improved the long-term prospects for individuals and communities. Innumerable women and children were provided financial resources and opportunities for empowerment. The program, however, did not target all the poorest of the poor. It is a known fact that cash transfers reached those that did not need them the most — like families of OFWs. Relatives, friends, neighbors and allies of local officials have been surprisingly part of the 4.2 million beneficiary list. Here lie the challenges, however. One, implementing and managing conditional cash transfer programs can be complex and resource-intensive to accurately identify eligible beneficiaries, track compliance with conditions, and distribute payments promptly. Two, imposing conditions on beneficiaries may not always be feasible or effective. Like Benedict and Marjorie, who were denied a 4th time because they have no marriage certificate to show. Another one this writer knows is someone with a disability who faced difficulties in complying with the requirements, thus missing out on the benefits. Three, sustaining these programs in the long term can be challenging, especially if funding sources are uncertain or subject to political changes. It’s important to note that the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers can vary depending on the specific design, implementation, and local context. Evaluating the impact and monitoring the outcomes of 4Ps is crucial to ensuring its success, before finally calling it off. There will never be a time to say that we no longer need it. Not until there is a slim divide between the rich and the poor. In my dreams. The post In my dreams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rains to recharge NCR water sources — NWRB
The onset of the rainy season, as well as various government water projects, may ensure uninterrupted water supply in the months ahead, especially in Metro Manila. This was pointed out Saturday by the National Water Resources Board after some media outlets, not Daily Tribune, warned of a looming water shortage. NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. clarified that the expected rains and the projects “will recharge” Laguna de Bay and the Upper Marikina River Basin. The two bodies of water would serve as alternative or additional sources of water for the National Capital Region aside from its primary source, the Angat Dam. For the long-term, David said the growing population in Metro Manila and the resulting increase in water demand call for more water sources to be tapped to fill that need. A shortage of water in the second half of June was reported by some media outlets based solely on the NWRB’s statement that while the status quo in water allocation will be maintained in the first half of the month, the allocation will be dropped in the next two weeks of June. The water shortage reports ran contrary to pronouncements of NCR water concessionaires and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System that there may be no shortage despite a slight drop in water allocation for the region. David said the MWSS and the concessionaires are hard at work repairing water channels to stop water wastage. The rainy season will also ensure ample water in the system, including those at the Ipo and La Mesa dams. Nonetheless, David urged Metro Manilans to conserve water and to collect rainwater for non-critical use that does not require potable water. On Thursday, water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water said the water supply in Metro Manila remains adequate. Maynilad supply operations head Ronaldo Padua said that the company does not see the need to implement service interruptions as the water supply remains sufficient. “The rotational interruption we did in the past, it’s gone due to the approval of a higher water allocation. Now we expect the continuity of uninterrupted supply,” Padua told reporters. “We don’t see any immediate interruption happening, especially because we also expect the rain to come,” he added. This after the NWRB maintained the 52 cubic meters per second (cms) water allocation for Metro Manila and nearby areas for the first two weeks of June. However, from 16 to 30 June, the allocation will be slightly lowered to 50 cms because the NWRB has to reinstate the water share for irrigation in the latter part of the month. The NWRB has allotted 40 cms for the National Irrigation Administration but noted that it “can be modified based on actual requirement.” To prepare for any adverse scenario, Padua said Maynilad will fast-track the construction of the new Poblacion Water Treatment Plant. It will be Maynilad’s third facility to tap Laguna Lake as an alternative raw water source to Angat Dam in Bulacan. Maynilad targets to produce 50 million liters per day (MLD) of additional water supply by December as the initial output of the new treatment plant. Once fully operational, the facility will produce 150 MLD of potable water for the southern portion of Maynilad’s concession area, particularly Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Cavite. Currently, Maynilad has two treatment plants in Putatan, Muntinlupa, that provide 300 MLD of water for around 1.7 million customers in the south. Engineer Patrick Dizon, a division manager at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) site operations management, said at the briefing the agency no longer sees the need to retain the upgraded 52 cms water share in July. Jeric Sevilla, Manila Water’s head of corporate communications, said about 1.7 cubic meters per second of water is being lost from the damaged pipes, reducing the 40-percent share of the water supply from Manila Water and 60 percent from Maynilad to households in Metro Manila. David, however, said the supply to urban residents was still enough, with the water level at Angat Dam “still normal” at 189.64 meters on Thursday. With Maria Romero and Kathryn Jose The post Rains to recharge NCR water sources — NWRB appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NWRB to recharge water resources
The onset of the rainy season will also be augmented by the government's water projects to ensure uninterrupted water supply, especially in the metropolis. This was assured Saturday by the National Water Resources Board as the water projects are already in the pipeline and will be completed by the end of the year. NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. the said projects "will recharge" the Laguna de Bay and Upper Marikina River Basin will serve as an alternative source of water for the National Capital Region whose water needs come from Angat Dam. David said that the growing population in Metro Manila, and the increasing demand for water need an alternative source of water. And the answer to that is the completion of the water projects. He added that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System is also doing repair of the water channels in order to recover the water supply wasted by the damaged system. The coming of the rainy season, according to David will also help recharge other water sources like Ipo and La Mesa dams. He encourages Metro Manilans to also take advantage of rain waters by collecting and saving them properly to have an ample supply of water. The post NWRB to recharge water resources appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P1.8-B tax case filed vs cigar traders
At least 69 cases of tax evasion amounting to P1.8 billion was filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue yesterday before the Department of Justice against illicit cigarette traders who were caught selling untaxed, fake and smuggled cigarettes during the agency’s first simultaneous raids conducted last January 2023 in different parts of the country. According to BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, who led the filing yesterday, the government is losing around P50 billion to P100 billion due to the illegal activity which was supposed to fund health services and various government projects. “The total exposure we have filed today, including the penalties and fines, amounts to P1.8 billion based on the result of our nationwide raids that we conducted last January 25 against illegal cigarette (traders). Again, it was the first ever nationwide operation in the BI history,” Lumagui pointed out. The BIR chief issued a stern warning the agency would continue its campaign against illegal cigarette traders by conducting more raids and filing of cases. He added that BIR would focus on Zamboanga City and Pampanga as the two provinces are considered “hotspots” for smuggling of cigarettes. The BIR’s nationwide raids last January covered 378 stores in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Lumagui said all the revenue regions of the BIR participate in the nationwide raid since the illicit cigarettes are considered a nationwide concern of the BIR. “After the first BIR nationwide raid of illicit cigarette stores and warehouses last January 2023, we are now filing 69 criminal cases against the possessors and owners for tax evasion. This is a warning against all illicit traders. The BIR will not only raid your stores and warehouse, we will also file criminal cases against you. This will not be the last,” he added. The BIR is looking into the sources of the cigarettes being sold illegally across the country, noting that a big syndicate may be the one supplying these sellers. Lumagui said they are also determining the locations of factories where the counterfeit cigarettes are being smuggled. “The BIR protects the Philippine economy by leveling the playing field. Everybody has to pay taxes. Traders of cigarettes, vape, petroleum, and other goods subject to taxes have to register with the BIR and pay their taxes,” Lumagui reminded taxpayers. “Failure to do so would force us to raid your stores and file criminal cases against you. We are in constant surveillance of your businesses. Not only will you have to pay your taxes with penalties and surcharges, but you will also lose your freedom,” he added. The post P1.8-B tax case filed vs cigar traders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Can the water crisis be quenched?
Summer will soon be over, but it doesn’t mean the water woes being experienced by most Filipinos will also dissipate. On the contrary, it is literally just a dry run of things to come as the country will soon face the El Niño phenomenon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administratio has already issued a bulletin warning of an 80-percent probability that El Niño, which brings prolonged dry spell and drought, “could happen in a few months.” However, with or without El Niño, the water crisis has been going on for several decades now. People complain of lack of water particularly during summer, but once the supply is back, they stop whining until another water crisis comes their way. Pundits say the water crisis will not end unless the government and the people work together to protect whatever watersheds remain in the country and revive those that are already degraded. The Philippines has 30 million hectares of land, and 70 percent are considered watersheds (areas where rain water can drain), according to Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, an academician with the National Academy of Science and Technology. The forested cover of such watersheds is vital for holding rainwater, which is then supplied to surface bodies of water like springs, rivers, lakes and reservoirs and is stored in underground aquifers or groundwater. Unfortunately, “more than 60 percent of the country’s virgin forests have been lost due to overlogging and slash-and-burn agriculture that have contributed to massive soil erosion and siltation of water bodies,” lamented Guerrero. He said only 10 percent of the rainfall infiltrates into the ground. “With the low water absorption of denuded areas, there is an increase in the runoff in the uplands, which causes flooding in the lowlands during heavy rains.” Although the Philippines is blessed with an average annual rainfall of 2.5 meters, the distribution of rain varies throughout the regions, Guerrero explained. “Surface waters provide an estimated 1,314 million cubic meters of available water per day, with the Southern Tagalog, Cagayan Valley and Eastern Visayan regions producing the most volume, and the Central Visayas and Ilocos regions producing the least volume.” “The estimated storage volume of our groundwater is 251,158 MCM with the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao regions having the most water available per day, and the Central Visayas, Southwestern Mindanao and Ilocos regions having the least,” Guerrero added. A study released by the Washington, D.C.-based World Resources Institute some years back identified the Philippines as one of the countries that will experience water stress in the coming years. Water stress is defined as “the ratio between total water withdrawals and available renewable surface water at a sub-catchment level.” While there is still enough water for every Filipino these days, the water scarcity will be felt acutely by 2040 — that’s 17 years from now. How can our water woes be curtailed? “We can conserve our water resources by protecting our watersheds with forest cove and reforesting denuded areas,” Guerrero said. Most bodies of water in the country are now polluted with agricultural, domestic and industrial wastes. The pollution is causing these waters to be discarded and not used. “The strict enforcement of our environmental laws against water pollution is imperative,” stressed Guerrero. “The application of clean water technologies by industries and the recycling of ‘grey water’ from commercial establishments are highly recommended.” Watersheds are vital for holding rainwater — unfortunately, ‘more than 60 percent of the country’s virgin forests have been lost due to overlogging and slash-and-burn agriculture.’ About 86 percent of the total water Filipinos use is directly for agriculture, with 8 percent for industries and 6 percent for domestic households. For instance, it takes 5,000 liters of water to produce a kilo of rice, the staple food of Filipinos. [caption id="attachment_135080" align="aligncenter" width="525"] About 86 percent of the total water Filipinos use is directly for agriculture, with 8 percent for industries and 6 percent for domestic households.[/caption] “Improving the efficiency of our irrigation systems and the planting of less water-consuming crops in agriculture should be considered,” Guerrero said. Dr. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project, believes the water crisis will be right up there along with climate change as a future threat to many nations. More ominously, higher global temperatures will only worsen the current water problem. “Although the two are related, water has no substitute,” Postel told The Daily Tribune. “We can transition away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to something else.” The post Can the water crisis be quenched? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why we need to save our coral reefs
“Coral damage feared as vessel grounded,” said the headline of a recent issue of Daily Tribune. “Extensive damage to the coral reefs that serve as a marine habitat is feared with the incident raising concerns anew about the environmental impact of mining in the country,” the news report stated. Three days after the sinking of the MT Princess Empress tanker off Naujan, Occidental Mindoro in February this year, the resulting oil slick reached the shores of the coastal towns of Naujan, Pola and Pinamalayan. “Among the coastal sites that may be at risk are several marine protected areas, including but not limited to the reefs in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, amounting to some 1,100 hectares of coral reefs,” said the bulletin issued by the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Science Marine Science Institute. According to the United Nations Environment Program, oil, a complex mixture of many chemicals, can kill corals, depending on species and exposure. Once soil comes into contact with corals, it can kill them or impede their reproduction, growth, behavior and development. Various threats Oil spills are not the only incidents that threaten the country’s coral reefs. Most of these threats are caused by human activities. As marine scientist Don McAllister, who once studied the cost of coral reef destruction in the country, lamented: “Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines.” Sedimentation — the process of soils settling to the bottom of the sea — is said to be the most important single cause of reef degradation. Sediments that wash over reefs have a number of negative effects on corals, marine scientists claim. Deforestation is the most common source of sediments. “When trees are cut down and the underbrush burned, the mountainsides become bare and the soil are defenseless against strong wind and rain,” said the Coral Research Project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “During rains, runoff carries eroded soil down to the rivers that deposit it in the sea.” On its website, the BFAR singled out destructive fishing techniques as among the largest contributors to reef degradation. “Muro-ami, a technique that involved sending a line of divers to depths of 10-30 meters with metal weights to knock on corals in order to drive fish out and into waiting nets, was extremely damaging to reefs, leading to its ban in 1986,” the BFAR reported. But that’s just one. “Rampant blast fishing and sedimentation from land-based sources have destroyed 70 percent of fisheries within 15 square kilometers of the shore in the Philippines, which were some of the most productive habitats in the world,” the BFAR said. Cyanide fishing, employed since 1962 to collect aquarium fish, is another destructive fishing method, while coastal development, farming, aquaculture and land-cover change have also threatened the country’s coral reef ecosystem. Aside from human activities, natural causes of destruction among coral reefs also occur. These include extremely low tide, high temperature of surface water, predation and the mechanical action of currents and waves. Climate change is increasing the ocean’s temperature. The result: Coral bleaching. Explains John Ryan of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute: “When subjected to extreme stress, they jettison the colorful algae they live in symbiosis with, exposing the white skeleton of dead coral beneath a single layer of clear living tissue. If the stress persists, the coral dies.” Marine rainforests Coral reefs are the marine equivalent of rainforests and considered one of the planet’s essential life-support systems. These “biological wonders,” as American environmental author Don Hinrichsen called them, are among the largest and oldest living communities of plants and animals on earth, having evolved between 200 and 450 million years ago. The Philippines holds one of the most extensive coral reefs in the world with a sprawling area of 27,000 square kilometers strategically located in Palawan (37.8 percent), Sulu (27.8 percent), Visayas (21.7 percent), Northern Luzon (7.6 percent), Central and Southern Mindanao (3.2 percent) and the Turtle Islands (1.7 percent). There are about 400 species of reef-forming corals in the country, comparable with those found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins and many species of fish. They are also linked ecologically to nearby seagrass, mangrove and mudflat communities. Coral reefs are so valued because they serve as a center of activity for marine life. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United Nations Environment Program, reported that 97 percent of reefs in the Philippines are under threat. And Reef Check, an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries, stated that only five percent of the country’s coral reefs are in “excellent condition.” These are the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro and Verde Island Passage off Batangas. “Despite its high biodiversity, the Philippines’ reefs are very badly damaged. It’s one of the worst-damaged in the world, on average,” said George Hodgson, founder of the California-based organization. The Philippine government has introduced many laws in an attempt to protect and save coral reefs from annihilation. But the government cannot do it alone; help from individuals is also needed to save the coral reefs. “We are the stewards of our nation’s resources,” Guerrero said. “We should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them. Let’s do our best to save our coral reefs. Our children’s children will thank us for the effort.” The post Why we need to save our coral reefs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belga woes piling up
Things are getting rougher for Beau Belga. Rain or Shine extended Belga’s suspension to 15 days after finding out that he also played in other unsanctioned tournaments in Cebu, Davao and Laguna despite having a live contract in the Philippine Basketball Association. In a statement, the Elasto Painters stressed that they found out that Belga breached his PBA Uniform Players’ Contract, prompting them to extend his suspension from six to 15 days. Belga, the bruising 33-year-old slotman, was in hot water after being involved in a brawl in an exhibition game in Carmen, Cebu. The tournament, branded as “Northball Basketball League, pitted some PBA players like Belga, JR Quiñahan, Robert Bolick, and Jio Jalalon against a group of American streetball players. But the game turned into a brawl after Quiñahan got entangled with an American baller during a rebound play. Belga rushed to his teammate’s defense by throwing the ball at his attacker. The incident was caught on tape and drew the attention of the Elasto Painters and the PBA. “Rain or Shine Team Management has concluded its internal investigation and found that Beau Belga breached his PBA Uniform Players' Contract by participating in exhibition games in Cebu, Davao, and Laguna. A fine of 15 days’ worth of salary has been imposed on Beau,” the team said. Meanwhile, the Road Warriors are currently conducting an internal investigation into Quiñahan while the Batang Pier and Hotshots have yet to release a statement on the involvement of Bolick and Jalalon, respectively. According to a league memorandum, a player caught playing in other leagues without permission will be charged P50,000 or suspension. “They didn’t get permission from their teams to play outside the league so there will definitely be fines,” PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said in a previous interview. “Let’s see what happens but I need to talk to them first.” The post Belga woes piling up appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Painters crack whip on Belga
Rain or Shine imposed a six-game suspension on Beau Belga for his involvement in a brawl that happened in an unsanctioned tournament in Carmen, Cebu over the weekend. In a statement, the Elasto Painters said they have decided to suspend Belga for six working days without pay due to the infraction that is considered as a major offense in the professional league. The club said it will conduct further investigations internally. "Rain or Shine team management has suspended Beau Belga for six working days without pay due to his involvement in an unsanctioned basketball game in Cebu,” the Elasto Painters said. “Further investigations will be conducted internally." Together with fellow Philippine Basketball Association players JR Quiñahan of NLEX, Robert Bolick of NorthPort and Jio Jalalon of Magnolia, Belga played against the Sirius Stars, which is composed of a group of American streetball players, in a friendly match at the Carmen Municipal Gym. Quiñahan figured in a rebound battle with a member of the opposing team, who came out swinging with punches. Belga rushed to his teammate’s defense by throwing the ball at his attacker. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he will summon the players to his office in the first week of May. He revealed that Belga, Quiñahan, Bolick and Jalalon played in a tourney outside the PBA without permission from their respective teams. "I will call them for a meeting around the first week of May. They didn't get permission from their teams to play outside the league so there will definitely be fines," Marcial said in a phone conversation with Daily Tribune. "Let's see what happens but I need to talk to them first." NLEX head coach Frankie Lim confirmed that Quiñahan acted unilaterally when he joined other PBA players in a trip to his hometown in Cebu. Reports have it that Quiñahan’s contract with the Road Warriors will be terminated but Lim refused to make a confirmation pending the conclusion of their internal investigation. "He didn't ask permission from the team. The management is currently doing an investigation on it and while they're doing that, we just want to keep our mouth shut," Lim said. "We're just waiting for the end of the investigation and after that, we'll say what will happen to him." Player agent Danny Espiritu, for his part, stressed that he will not tolerate the behavior of the four stalwarts, who are all under his stable. “They are my players and I consider them as friends but I don’t tolerate this kind of behavior,” said Espiritu, who handles the careers of around 40 PBA stars. “They didn’t ask permission from me or their coaches. Now that they got involved in a brawl, it’s up to their teams to discipline them. It’s now up to them to impose disciplinary measures.” The post Painters crack whip on Belga appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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Big Beau Belga coming in with the big character development. As he hopes to make Rain or Shine's transition to a new era in the PBA relatively smooth, Belga says his leadership style is undergoing some changes. While the Elasto Painters still have a veteran core that includes him, Gabe Norwood, and James Yap, the team also has a pair of future stars in Javee Mocon and Rey Nambatac. ROS likewise has five rookies in its roster. "Hindi ka puwedeng mag set-ng example na masama. Marami kaming bagito eh," Belga said. "Kapag nagsimula ka ng bad habits, baka sabihin ng mga yun okay lang gawin yung ganito kasi ginagawa naman ni Kuya Beau," he added. As he tries to be a better leader for his team, Belga still assures that his status as ROS' resident enforcer is intact. However, he might have to tweak a thing or two in order to avoid paying PBA fines, especially under current circumstances. "Natuto na si Belga, ayaw nang mag-fine. May pandemic, bawal mag-fine," Belga said. "Yung physicality ng laro, hindi magbabago." — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8 .....»»
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