www.guardiansnormin.wordpress.com

November | 2009

NEWSLETTER

Officers List Past Presidents Engr. Feliciano C. Perater, Jr. – President Engr. Roberto V. Cabaraban – Vice President Engr. Jocel B. Dimacutac – Secretary Engr. Lydia D. Waminal – Auditor Engr. Elcid D. Cagalawan – Treasurer Engr. Lloyd Gabriel U. Castillo – Information Officer Mr. Luis W. Ababao – Information Officer For. Jerry M. Manubag – Director Engr. Joel M. Zacal – Director Engr. Ricardo V. Sasam – Director Engr. Albert V. Monsubre – Director

Engr. Roberto V. Cabaraban (2001-2009) Engr. Mario B. Sumalinog (1999-2001) Engr. Abely M. Jimiera (1994-1999)

NEWSLETTER November 2009

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GUARDIANS OF THE EARTH ASSN., INC. c/o Environmental Management Bureau – 10 Department of Environment and Natural Resources Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City

GEAI Conducts Seminar on Competency Enhancement Course for PCOs Some ninety (90) participants attended the Seminar on Competency Enhancement Course for Pollution Control Officers held last August 25-26, 2009 at the Casa Real of The VIP Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. The third quarter seminar is the first major activity conducted under new GEAI President Feliciano Perater, Jr.

Elect…from page 1

Officers); and For. Jerry M. Manubag, Engr. Joel M. Zacal, Engr. Ricardo V. Sasam and Engr. Albert V. Monsubre (Directors). The new faces are Engr. Waminal (ABI), Mr. Ababao (Anakciano Inc.), Engr. Zacal (DMPI) and Engr. Monsubre (ILPI).

The Certificate of Registration (CGY-3864) was issued to Environmental Services Cooperative (ESC) by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) last March 17, 2009. As incorporated in the its Articles of Cooperation and By-Laws, ESC’s primary objective is to engage in environmental testing center operation, sale of environmental equipment, training of Pollution Control Officers and Environmental Officers, consultancy services, among others. The cooperative’s area of operation shall be within the area of Northern Mindanao with a term of fifty (50) years from the date of its registration with the CDA. ESC has an authorized Share Capital of P840,000 divided into 840,000 common shares with a par value of P1,000 per share. Engr. Edmund T. Salcedo has been appointed as Treasurer of the Cooperative. Currently, ESC is looking at a Bulua property for the establishment of the laboratory.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

About Guardians 2

Environmental Summit 2

BUSCO Citation 2

Metro CDO Airshed 3

ECC Processing updates 3

Guardians website 3

Cooperative updates 4

New set of officers

elected

The Guardians of the Earth Assn., Inc. (GEAI) has elected their new set of officers for 2009-2010.

The election was conducted during the Monthly Board Meeting held in July this year at the Oriental Garden Restraurant of Philtown Hotel. Engr. Feliciano “Jun” Perater, Jr. of Bukidnon Sugar Company, Inc. (BUSCO) became the fourth President in the fifteen years of GEAI succeeding Engr. Roberto V. Cabaraban. Incidentally, Engr. Cabaraban was elected Vice President. The new set of officers include Engr. Jocel B. Dimacutac (Secretary); Engr. Lydia D. Waminal (Auditor); Engr. Elcid D. Cagalawan (Treasurer); Engr. Lloyd Gabriel U. Castillo and Mr. Luis W. Ababao (Information Officers) Turn to page 4

Perater

Environmental Services Cooperative updates

Above photo shows the participants during the Second

Quarter General Assembly in May 2009 at Philtown Hotel.

Airshed…from page 3

The DENR Secretary acts as the Chairman of the Governing Board while the DENR Regional Executive Director and EMB Regional Director are designated as Deputy Chairpersons. The Board‘s main functions are basically to formulate and carry out policies and action plans to be implemented towards improving the air quality of the airshed; to coordinate functions among its members; and to submit an annual Air Quality Status Report of the airshed.

GEAI President Robert V. Cabaraban and other identified member-agencies and organizations sign the memorandum of agreement for the establishment of the ecology center

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 10 led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by identified member-agencies and organizations from the government and private sectors including the Guardians of the Earth Assn., Inc., establishing the Northern Mindanao Ecology Center (NMEC) last April 22, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn in Cagayan de Oro City.

The NMEC is a consortium of concernedorganizations who have bonded together to promote, sustain and facilitate the Region's compliance and successful implementation of R.A. 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The Act was enacted to enable the country to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program consistent with the pursuit of sustainable development. The center, which will be located at the DENR Regional Office at Macabalan in Cagayan de Oro City, shall establish a network for the exchange of available information and technologies on ecological solid waste management and give primary consideration ensuring that all information generated, collected, recorded and stored shall be made available to the public.

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Ecology Center…from page 1

It shall also provide technical expertise, information, training and networking services for the implementation of the provisions of RA 9003. The launching of NMEC coincided with the celebration of Earth Day 2009 with the theme, "Lupa at Tubig Buhayi; Hangin Linisin, Batas Tuparin".

NEWSLETTER November 2009 NEWSLETTER November 2009

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About Guardians

Guardians to pursue Environmental Summit next year

Guardians of the Earth Association, Inc. (GEAI) is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization formed in April 22, 1991 through the untiring efforts of then DENR-10 Regonal Technical Director Raoul T. Geollegue to work side-by-side with the government in the protection of the environment.

It also acts as a venue for Pollution Control Officers for learning policies, sharing problems as well as providing solutions to environmental concerns particularly prevention, control and abatement of land, air and water pollution.

The organization’s primary concern is protecting the environment. GEAI also acts as a venue for Pollution Control Officers (PCOs) for learning

Pollution Control Officers (PCOs) for learning policies, sharing problems, and providing solutions to pollution concerns. Its members are regularly updated of the latest technology both from local and foreign sources in the field of pollution control and environmental management through sponsorships of technical seminars or workshops. The group also supports DENR Regional Office (R-10) & other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in its activities and projects related to environmental protection. Lastly, Guardians aims to be a voice in the structuring of laws or regulations concerning the environment.

As of March 2009, there are ten (10) lifetime members, ninety-one (91) individual PCO’s, three (3) institutional and one (1) Regional Chapter. Since its organization in 1991, GEAI has been sponsoring seminar training programs for PCO’s, as a requisite for their accreditation as Pollution Control Officers.

GEAI, 23 others sworn in as Metro CDO Airshed Governing Board

The Guardians of the Earth Association, Inc. joined twenty-three other members of the Metro Cagayan de Oro Airshed Governing Board in an oath taking ceremony held last October 20, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn along Limketkai Drive. Engr. Feliciano C. Perater, Jr., as GEAI President is a permanent member with Vice President Engr. Robert V. Cabaraban as alternate. The members took their oath after the Governing Board meeting which discussed various issues and concerns on the state of the region’s programs and initiatives against air pollution. Environmental Management Bureau-10 Regional Director Dr. Sabdullah C. Abubacar took the initiative in convening and organizing the board pursuant to the Clean Air Act. The Metro Cagayan de Oro City Airshed was designated through DENR Memorandum Circular No. 17 dated September 2, 2003 and covers the city of Cagayan de Oro and the municipalities of Jasaan, Villanueva, Tagoloan, Opol, and El Salvador in the province of Misamis Oriental. The members of the Governing Board are as follows:

Seven (7) National Government Agencies • DENR • DOH • DOE • DTI • LTO • PAG-ASA • PHIVIDEC

Seven (7) Local Government Units • Misamis Oriental • Cagayan de Oro • El Salvador • Tagoloan • Villanueva • Opol • Jasaan

Five (5) NGOs/POs • Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers • Safer River Life Saver Foundation Inc. • GROUP Foundation Inc. • Guardians of the Earth Association Inc. • Ecology Desk- Social Action Center

Three (3) Private Sector • Oro Transport Service Cooperative • Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries • TRAFECO

Two (2) Academe • Xavier University • Capitol University.

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ECC processing down to 20 days

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has streamlined the processing of environment clearance certificates (ECC).

In a memorandum from DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, processing of ECC for projects covered by the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) has been reduced to 20 days from 60 days. Meanwhile, projects that are not covered by the EIS system can obtain their Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) in a day. Processing time starts when the application is accepted and proof of payment presented at the designated processing office.

Guardians now online

The organizational website is now online. Visit http://guardiansnormin.wordpress.com/ Members and guests can now access information with regards to the organization, its activities, seminars, services offered as well as updated environmental laws available for download. Websites are the most economical, most effective and most flexible way to get our message to the global community. GEAI is still working more to further improve the site. A screenshot of the website is shown above.

GEOLLEGUE

In an effort to further expand professional linkages for Pollution Control Officers (PCO), the Guardians of the Earth Association, Inc. (GEAI) is undertaking steps in preparation for a Mindanao-wide Environmental Summit in Cagayan de Oro next year. The primary objective of the Summit is to gather all PCOs and environmentalists from the different sectors, the industries, government units and the academe for inter-professional acquaintance to establish active business relations. Also, the event aims to pool feedbacks from the participants on environmental issues and concerns and status of environmental compliance to create awareness of the existing environmental quality and conditions of the cities and regions in Mindanao.

Screenshot of guardians website courtesy of wordpress

GEAI President Robert Cabaraban (middle) grants a plaque of appreciation to Bukidnon Sugar Company (BUSCO) Resident Manager Democrito Opus (right) for the company’s support to the organization. The plaque was given during the joint BUSCO-GEAI Tree Planting Activity held at Quezon, Bukidnon in April 25, 2008.

GEAI cites BUSCO