PEF tightens biosecurity after bird flu outbreak in Cotabato

 

By Keith Bacongco

Published Nov 4, 2025 02:22 pm  
 DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Eagle Foundation has stepped up its biosecurity measures at the Philippine Eagle Center here following the reported outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu in M’lang, Cotabato province two weeks ago.

The PEF, in a public advisory through its Facebook page, advised guests to follow strict biosecurity measures when visiting the PEC, which hosts at least 30 critically-endangered Philippine Eagles and other animal species.

The PEF reminded guests at the PEC to observe measures such as stepping into the foot bath upon entry, sanitizing hands before and after visit, and follow designated visitor pathways.

It emphasized that guests should avoid touching or feeding the animals. “The safety of our national bird is in your hands,” the PEF said.

PEF added that these measures aim to minimize the risk of virus entry and spread.

It added that the heightened measures also aim to ensure the health and welfare of animals and protect the overall integrity of the conservation program.

Other measure that will be implemented at the PEC is the removal of all display birds.

All birds will be placed in cages to limit their direct contact with visitors and other animals, PEF added.

“This measure is crucial in controlling movement and reducing the risk of avian influenza exposure within the facility. By keeping the birds in cages, cleaning and disinfection can be carried out more easily and consistently, ensuring that the environment remains sanitary and controlled.”

About 1,000 ducks were depopulated in Barangay New Antique in M’lang last month. The barangay is approximately 154 kilometers from PEC by land and about 55 kilometers by air.

Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF director of operations, said that like many viruses, bird flu can strike without warning. “Much like a thief in the night,” Ibañez emphasized.

Thus, the best defense is to be prepared, he added. “That’s why we’ve raised our biosecurity alert level and activated preventive measures to protect our animals and facilities.”

The PEF, Ibañez said, is asking for the public’s understanding and cooperation as these steps are part of efforts to keep the Philippine Eagle and other wildlife safe.

He said that those who are planning to visit the PEC should check the heightened biosecurity guidelines posted on PEF’s official page: https://www.facebook.com/phileaglefdn.

MinDA pushes accelerated Mindanao dev't

 MAGNO (Keith Bacongco)

By Keith Bacongco

Published Oct 2, 2025 04:36 pm

DAVAO CITY – As many provinces in Mindanao have been declared insurgency free, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno believes that the time is ripe now for the region to accelerate development efforts amid the gains in the peace process.

Speaking before the delegates of the Mindanao Development Forum 2025 here, Magno emphasized that Mindanao is no longer a land of promise but a land of fulfilled promises.

He added that it’s time now for all stakeholders in the region to harmonize all efforts toward inclusive and sustainable growth.

“Peace comes first before development. With most of the provinces in Mindanao now declared insurgency-free, it is time to push forward with growth and transformation. We are no longer a land of promise, but a land of fulfilled promises,” Magno said during the two-day event that culminated on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua also echoed Magno’s statement saying that Mindanao is changing.

“In 2025, we are no longer viewed as a conflict zone or a forgotten frontier. We are a growth engine in motion. Major infrastructure corridors are expanding. Inter-island connectivity is being realized. Agriculture and industry are being revitalized,” Macacua said in his speech before the delegates at Dusit Thani Residences here.

Peace and development, he added, are no longer opposites. “They are interdependent pillars of our shared vision for a better future.”

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. stressed that peace and development are inseparable.

The country’s peace agenda is a cornerstone of its development strategy, said Galvez. “Peace and development are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. We cannot achieve inclusive growth without first addressing conflict, marginalization, and injustice. Peace and development must always move together,” Galvez said.

Over the years, he added, convergence programs have transformed conflict-affected areas through infrastructure, livelihood support, education, health, and social services.

These interventions did not only address the roots of conflict but also unlock the economic potential of communities, Galvez said.

Cotabato province Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza assured that the provincial government will work closely with MinDA as it carries out programs for Mindanao.

Mendoza suggested that the Regional Development Councils (RDC) should actively take part in MinDA initiatives to ensure connectivity, sustainability, and continuity of every program.

“Together, we can harmonize our efforts and maximize resources to achieve inclusive and lasting development for Mindanao,” she added.

European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro affirmed EU’s commitment to Mindanao, particularly the Bangsamoro peace process and the island’s long-term development.

“When it comes to the European Union support, it is articulated in three main lines of action,” Santoro said.

“First, our support to the peace process in full coordination with the central government and local authorities, these are the ingredients for peace. Next, normalization, which means supporting former combatants by introducing them to new economic and business opportunities to abandon their past ways.”

Lastly, he said, development, where “we translate normalization into progressive transformation, so BARMM continuously benefits from our assistance.”

According to MinDA, the EU recently committed 27 million euros to the Partnerships for Peace and Development in Mindanao Programme with MinDA, OPAPRU, and BARMM to strengthen resilience, sustain peace gains, and address conflict’s root causes.

This year's Mindanao Development Forum convened thought leaders, development partners, and changemakers to exchange insights and forge solutions for a stronger, more inclusive Mindanao.

The event was in partnership with the EU and the government of Germany, with support from GIZ Philippines, ADB Philippines, World Bank Philippines, and United Nations-Philippines.

Davao City to send rescue teams to quake-hit Cebu

 

By Keith Bacongco

DAVAO CITY – The city government is preparing teams to assist in the rescue efforts in the earthquake-affected areas of northern Cebu province.

In a statement, the City Information Office (CIO) said the city government is coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to determine the needs in disaster-hit areas.

“Yes, we will send help to Cebu,” the CIO said. “While ground assessments are ongoing, Davao City 911 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, along with our medical teams and psychosocial workers, are now ready to be deployed. We are also preparing food items for the affected areas,” it added.

City emergency and disaster response units are on standby for deployment as soon as coordination with Cebu authorities is completed, the CIO added.

The city government has been sending different forms of assistance to disaster-hit areas in different parts of the country.

The city’s 911 USAR is equipped with among the most advanced emergency response equipment in the country.

Meanwhile, Sultan Kudarat province Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu has extended his solidarity with people of Cebu following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake.

“We especially convey our solidarity with Gov. Pam Baricuatro as she leads her people through this time of great sorrow and challenge. We recognize the immense burden placed upon Cebu’s communities and leadership, yet we believe that with unity, courage, and faith, Cebu will rise again,” Mangudadatu said.

He added that the people of Sultan Kudarat grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, including those who were injured and displaced. “Please remember that Sultan Kudarat is with you in prayers, in spirit, and in support.”

Wild pair of Philippine Eagles spotted in Bukidnon

 

DAVAO CITY – A wild and untagged pair of Philippine Eagles was spotted somewhere in the hinterlands of Bukidnon province.

By Keith Bacongco

Published Aug 16, 2025 11:32 pm

The Philippine Eagle Foundation said they were the first confirmed sighting in nearly two decades.

The pair was sighted last week but the PEF did not disclose their exact location for their safety.

“This remarkable rediscovery happened within the Buhita (Bukidnon Higaonon Tribal Association) ancestral domain,” the PEF said.

The PEF added that they were soaring mutually, which is an indication of a graceful courtship ritual where two lifelong partners glide side by side. “Together, they mark their territory while reaffirming their bond. It’s a beautiful and powerful dance in the sky, signaling that a new nesting season may be on the horizon.”

PEF Director for Operations Dr. Jayson Ibañez said that the last time a pair of eagles and their eaglet were validated by PEF and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) within the Buhita ancestral domain was in 1996.

“And succeeding annual checks detected only single birds, until monitoring efforts stopped because of security and personnel safety issues,” Ibañez said.

He said that the sighting was due to the month-long expedition of a composite team of PEF, DENR, and local volunteers.

The seasoned PEF conservationist said that the expedition was launched following the increased reports of eagle sightings.

“The old nest used in 1996 was still standing but appeared abandoned. The team did daily observations until they detected the eagle pair in an elegant aerial courtship display within the last week of the expedition.”

This most recent confirmed sighting brings the number of pairs to at least 21 in Bukidnon, which is the home to the highest number of eagle pairs in the country, Ibañez said.

He added that the provincial government has passed an ordinance declaring the Philippine Eagle as their flagship species and allotting funding for their conservation.

The province is one of the focused areas of the PEF in their conservation program.

Ibañez attributed the success of the expedition to the combination of indigenous knowledge and the customary rules of Buhita members.

He acknowledged the efforts of the Buhita ancestral domain leaders and elders to keep their forests intact that have benefited wildlife and people.

“We’ve always suspected that a pair may still thrive in the area because it remained intact across the years. The results of the expedition have once and for all validated that suspicion,” Ibañez said.

According to the PEF, a pair of Philippine Eagle needs about 4,000 to 11,000 hectares of forest land to thrive in the wild, depending on the number of prey items in the area.

The PEF credited the rediscovery of the critically-endangered bird to the Buhita trail masters, forest guards, PEF biologists and monitoring staff, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Valencia team.

“This is a good sign that despite everything, our Philippine Eagles are finding ways to survive in the wild. Let’s make sure to do our part in helping them thrive,” the PEF said.

Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat coffees to represent PH in Southeast Asia competition

 

DAVAO CITY – Coffees from Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat provinces are set to represent the country in the Southeast Asia Green Coffee Competition (SEAGCC) in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat in October.

By Keith Bacongco

Published Aug 4, 2025 03:57 pm

In the Arabica category, eight of the top 10 winners were from coffees grown in Bansalan town in Davao del Sur,  five of which were from Sitio Balutakay, a popular source of top quality Arabica coffee that sits on the slopes of Mount Apo.

Cherry Gil Cabanday topped the Arabica category in the recent national selection for SEAGCC held in this city.

Cabanday, who grows coffee in Purok Pluto in Sitio Balutakay, outshined 51 other entries coming from different parts of the country.

Fellow coffee farmer from Bansalan, Janet Escalera, earned the second spot followed by Finca de Garces of Pangantucan, Bukidnon.

Josephine Libres, who is also from Sitio Balutakay, earned the fourth spot followed by Salome Milagrosa (Barangay Alegre in Bansalan), Cyril Jerome Almanzor (Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur), Marcia Elumirag (Barangay Alegre), Jenny Morales (Sitio Balutakay), John Lawrence dela Cerna (Sitio Balutakay), and Lowell Padrones (Sitio Balutakay).

In the Robusta category, coffees from Sultan Kudarat province captured seven of the Top 10 spots.

The Top 5 winners under the Robusta category, who all hail from Sen. Ninoy Aquino town, are Roan Basco, Idelberto Deramos, Reyjohn Basco, Denz Bert Deramos, and Orlando Bayudan.

They are followed by Ricky Sagayno (Lupon, Davao Oriental), Catherine Joy Alipit (La Trinidad, Benguet), Junerd Ambay (Sen. Ninoy Aquino), Elmer Lucariza (Maragusan, Davao de Oro), and Elmor Jay Seguma (Lebak, Sultan Kudarat).

Twelve farmers participated in the Robusta category.

In a statement, Specialty Coffee Coffee Depot said that the coffees were evaluated by licensed Arabica and Robusta Q Graders from various regions in the country.

The event was supported by the Filipino Coffee Institute, Mindanao Development Authority, European Union, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Deutsche Geselleschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarebeit (GIZ), and Department of Agriculture-11 High Value Crops Division.

Angelbert Cortes of Cavite State University emerged as the lone winner under the Excelsa Category.

Brando Mediano, chairman of the Specialty Coffee Marketing Cooperative, explained that coffee from Mount Apo dominated the Arabica category because farmers mainly grow Arabica.

Sultan Kudarat topped the Robusta category because the hinterland areas of the province is a known source, Mediano added.

He said that Philippine coffees that joined the competition were not just delicious, but were thoughtfully grown, carefully processed, and full of character.

“Many stood out for their complexity, harmony, and individuality. It was a challenge to cup because of the high level of quality across the board,” said Mediano, who also served as one of the competition’s evaluators.

For coffees grown in the slopes of Mount Apo, he attributed the distinct taste to different factors that contributed to its quality.

Mediano said that coffees grown in Mount Apo are shaped by the terroir of volcanic soils, shifting mountain weather, and the deep roots of tradition.

“But what truly sets it apart are the people. The experienced farmers continue to apply proven, tested methods that have stood the test of time, while the younger generation brings a spirit of innovation, curiosity, and openness to the future,” he said.

Mediano lauded the dedication of farmers for producing world-class coffee.

For him, it is not just a competition of flavor but also a celebration of culture, effort, and story.

“In a sense, everyone who brought coffee to the table is already a winner, because they are contributing to something much bigger than themselves.”

Lawyer seeks dismissal of charges over mining protest

 

 

By Keith Bacongco

Published Jul 1, 2025 10:24 pm

DAVAO CITY – The counsel of a multisectoral group in Mati City, Davao Oriental is seeking to dismiss the charges against three of its members who were arrested over the weekend amid the protest against a large-scale mining operation in Barangay Macambol last week.

Lawyer Glocelito Jayma told Manila Bulletin that he will file a motion to quash the charge of disobedience to persons in authority as his clients were illegally arrested.

Jayma said that policemen and Barangay Macambol officials led by chairman Ceferino Salazar forcefully entered a private property without any court order or any warrant.

On June 28, barangay officials along with the police dismantled the barricade on the access road to the mine site that was put up by residents protesting the mining operations of Hallmark Mining Corp. in Sitio Magum.

Three protesters were arrested after the standoff – landowner Claridel Cellona, Bryan Codilla, and Donars Narisma.

The lawyer added that even as Cellona showed a copy of the land title, police officers and barangay officials forcibly entered the property and dismantled the barricade.

“They have not shown a document or paper that would show Cellona's roadway in their land is a barangay road. It was never donated and there was no turn over to the barangay. Also under Republic Act 4136, a roadway of a private person is not a highway. So, Salazar and the police practically committed trespassing, an illegal act,” Jayma said.

The private property in the coastal barangay is located on the foothills of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization-declared heritage site of Mount Hamigutan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Macambol is a known fishing barangay, where many of residents depend on nearby Pujada Bay for living.

Jayma said that the conduct of policemen in Cellona's property are all illegal and an abuse of authority. “There is no lawful performance of duty, hence, there is no basis for disobedience to persons in authority.”

Codilla, chairman of the multi-sectoral group Davao Oriental Pujada Landscape Eco Tourism Association, Farmer, Fisherfolk, Family, and Friends (DAPUPLETA F4), said their protest stemmed from the alleged inaction of government agencies and mining firm on their complaint on damages to their livelihood due to an alleged landslide in the mine site.

According to the group, heavy rains in January 2024 reportedly triggered landslides in the mine site and resulted in a mudflow towards the fishing grounds in the adjacent Pujada Bay.

Fisherman Ernesto Bonotan said that their catch has dwindled since the mining operations began as the coastline would turn murky due to mudslides allegedly from the mine site.

Bonotan said that many of their fish traps, locally known as bobo, have been destroyed by the mud.

He appealed to the mining company to address their concerns.

Codilla also bared that they have been requesting the mining firm to rehabilitate the road since it was damaged by their heavy equipment.

But their request for road repair, which will cover a little less than two kilometers, had not been granted until today, he said.

For two days, protesters barred vehicles owned by the mining firm from passing the only access road to the mine site in Sitio Salingcomot, also part of Barangay Macambol.

The Manila Bulletin sought a comment from Dr. Arvin Carlom, the mining firm’s community relations manager, on the complaint. Hallmark Mining Co. has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.

The Police Regional Office-11 said that they are still waiting an update from the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office.

Jayma said that protesters did not entirely close the private road as they still allowed other motorists to pass through except for the vehicles of the mining firm.

”It was well within the private owner to regulate their private property as an exercise of ownership. So, it cannot be discounted that Salazar and the police were not actually implementing the DILG memorandum to clear roads, but to serve the interest of Hallmark mining,” he said.

Codilla said that they are still open for dialogue with the mining firm to resolve the issues they have raised.

“We are not against or in favor of the mining operations. All we want is for the mining company to talk to us and resolve the issues we have been raising,” he added.

Austral-Asia Link Mining Corp. (AALMC) and Hallmark Mining Corp. hold Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) permit under the management of Asiaticus Management Corp. (AMCOR).

Each MPSA covers 5,000 hectares of mine site. These mining tenements straddle across the towns of Gov. Generoso, San Isidro, and City of Mati.

The mine site sits on the periphery of the protected area of the Mount Hamigutan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Several environmental groups have expressed concerns over the nickel mining project as it could affect the rich biodiversity area of the mountain range, home to many endemic species as well the critically-endangered Philippine Eagle.

78,000 affected by massive flooding in Maguindanao del Sur

By Keith Bacongco

DAVAO CITY – A massive flooding has affected at least 78,000 individuals in the low-lying towns of Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to torrential rains from the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) since May 14.

A report dated May 17 from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said flooding has affected 78,190 persons from 47 barangays in the towns of Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

The NDRRMC is validating reports that three houses were reportedly damaged due to a landslide in Ampatuan, which has the highest number of affected persons with 24,930.

Affected towns are located in the periphery of the 200,000-hectare Ligawasan Marsh that straddles across the provinces of Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat.

Ligawasan Marsh serves as the catch basin of waterways that flow from the mountains of Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat.

Local government officials and concerned agencies have acknowledged that the recurring flood is due to heavy deposit of silt in the Ligawasan Marsh area as well as in all the river systems connected to the catch basin.

Over the weekend, the Office of Civil Defense-BARMM reported a wooden bridge was damaged in Barangay Bagumbong, Mamasapano town, Maguindanao del Sur and has affected the mobility of people.

The OCD-BARMM also said that hundreds of hectares land planted to corn, rice, peanuts, and other crops in Sitio Talisawa, Datu Abdullah Sangki were also flooded. Validation on the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure and crops are still ongoing.

OCD-BARMM chief Joel Mamon, in coordination with Tactical Operations Group-12 and the Division Public Affairs Office of the 6th Infantry Division, conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend to determine the extent of damage in affected localities.

BARMM ministry to form task force to address tribal conflicts

BY KEITH BACONGCO

Jan 18, 2025 02:10 PM

  

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DAVAO CITY – The Ministry of  Indigenous Peoples Affairs  of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is mulling to create a task force to address tribal conflicts  in the region.

Land conflicts, according to MIPA, are said to be the root causes of spate of killings in the region, particularly in mountainous areas of Maguindanao del Sur. 

MIPA said that they recently convened local government, police, and military officials to discuss the creation of the task force.  

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarette said the task force will handle untoward incidents, particularly the IP killings.

Nafarette added that there is an urgent need for the local government of Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur to establish a dedicated task force to address killings.

Two members of the Dulangan-Manobo tribe were ambushed last December in Datu Hoffer. One of them was a tribal leader of the IP in the area. 

“The task force would play a critical role in focusing efforts on solving these incidents and ensuring the safety and security of residents,” Nafarette said. "Legal action would empower the government to pursue and hold the offenders accountable. Filing cases, would serve as a strong weapon in seeking justice for the victims." 

Almost 80 IPs have been killed since in the region have been killed since 2018. Many of these were linked to land conflicts, police said.  Among the unresolved murders was the killing of Upi, Maguindanao del Norte Vice Mayor Roland Benito last August.

Datu Hoffer Mayor Bai Bongbong Ampatuan said that they are facing difficulties in resolving conflicts as residents are apparently afraid to cooperate. But Ampatuan assured that they are doing their best to address the problem especially in Barangays Tuayan Mother and Mantao where most of the killings happened.

Several IP leaders in the region have expressed dismay on the unresolved killings. They are not hopeful justice would be served to the victims.

Late last year, Froilyn Mendoza, a member of parliament representing the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), said the killing is deeply alarming, adding that they are no longer isolated cases.

“Too many of our indigenous brothers and sisters have been victims of violence, and yet justice continues to elude us. This lack of accountability fosters an environment of fear and insecurity in our communities,” Mendoza said. 

Bangsamoro Parliament OKs Indigenous Peoples' Act of 2024

BY KEITH BACONGCO

Dec 12, 2024 10:12 PM 

DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Parliament passed the long-awaited Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Act (BIPA) of 2024 on third and final reading during a special session on Dec. 10.

The BIPA, also known as the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Code, was approved with 63 votes in favor, zero against, and no abstentions. 

FARMERS haul bags of corn in Barangay Kuya, South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur. (Keith Bacongco)

The BIPA is one of the priority measures that must be passed during the transition period under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

As mandated by the BOL, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was tasked to pass  the IP Code, one of the six codes eyed to be passed before the end of its term and in time for the first BARMM parliamentary elections next year.

The BTA has passed other priority measures, including the Administrative Code, Education Code, Civil Service Code, Local Governance Code, and Electoral Code. 

The BOL recognized the IP groups within region as Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP), composed of the  Téduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, Erumanun Ne Menuvu, Higaonon, B’laan, Badjao, Sama Dilaut, Jama Mapun, Sama Bangingi, and Sama Pangutaran, among others. 

In a statement, the Bangsamoro Parliament said the passage of the law is a historic success in  the region’s ongoing peace process and commitment to inclusive governance.

It added that the law seeks to address the long-standing challenges faced by tribal communities in the Bangsamoro region, adding that the newly-enacted law introduces a comprehensive legal framework to protect and empower the NMIPs that represent about two percent of the BARMM’s 4.4-million population.

Many of these IP groups are located in the hinterlands of Maguindanao provinces and some villages in the Special Geographic Areas.

Under the newly-enacted law, one of its core provisions is the explicit recognition of IPs’ ownership over their ancestral domains, referred to as fusaka ingëd, which include the lands, forests, rivers, and other natural resources historically owned and utilized by these communities.

The IP Code also established the Fusaka Ingëd Development Office (FIDO) under the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) which will coordinate efforts for the socio-economic development of ancestral domains.

Prior to its enactment,  various NMIP groups have expressed concern on the version of the IP code that the BTA had been pushing.

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The NMIP groups are wary that the BTA’s version of IP Code may not truly reflect the aspirations of IPs in the region. 

Among the groups that expressed concern are the Gempe te Kelindaan ne Kamal te Erumanen ne Menuvu (Erumanen ne Menuvu), Mënubù Dulangan Tribal Justice and Self-Governance (Mënubù Dulangan), and Timuay Justice and Governance (Tëduray and Lambangian). 

These IP groups have yet to issue a statement on the enactment of BIPA as of posting time. 

BTA Committee on Indigenous Peoples Affairs (CIPA) Chairman Ramon Piang said that the BIPA is an enhanced version of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.

Piang added that the BIPA is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the Bangsamoro indigenous population.

He said that the law also aims to rectify historical injustices and combat the socio-economic marginalization of IPs, ensuring they have better access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Under the new law, an Indigenous Peoples’ Council will be created to ensure the voices of tribes are heard in matters affecting their communities.

Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong said that BIPA is aligned with the Bangsamoro government’s larger vision for creating a better and more just society in which no group is left behind in its pursuit of development.  

Indigenous Peoples' from Philippines set to join United Nations biological diversity confab in Colombia

BY KEITH BACONGCO

  

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DAVAO CITY – A Indigenous Peoples delegation from the Philippines is set to join the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia next week to share an IP-led plan to help save key biodiversity areas in the country.

DELEGATES to the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia.

In a statement, representatives from IP groups and IP rights’ advocates said that they will present an indigenous-led plan to save the globally important biodiversity hotspots of the Philippines. 

It added that 96 out of 128 key biodiversity areas are located in IP territories.

At the COP16, delegates from governments, corporations, industry, and non-government organizations will gather  to discuss mobilization of resources to support global action on biodiversity. 

Jill Cariño, an indigenous Ibaloi woman leader and coordinator of the Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP), said that along with IP advocates, they have been developing an Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IPBSAP) which binds their collective commitments to protect the country’s last remaining ecological corridors.

“Indigenous governance and knowledge systems currently protect over 1.35 million hectares or one-third of the Philippines’ key biodiversity areas situated within our ancestral domains,” said Cariño. 

The delegation to the COP16 represents the Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity Coalition Philippines (IPBC PH), a newly formed national gathering of IPs and support organizations upholding the tribes’  rights towards the protection, conservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of biodiversity.

It added that the IP-led plan is aligned with the 23 targets set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the latest agreement passed by the UN CBD in 2022 in which the Philippine government is a party to.

“The IPBSAP aims to highlight local indigenous plans, agro-ecological knowledge systems and practices, and other culture-based nature solutions as indispensable to halting biodiversity loss in the country.”

The IPBSAP, Cariño said, is a living document that is rooted in the realities of the ancestral domains and indigenous territories across the country.  “It is supported by actual local community knowledge, practices, and initiatives that need to be recognized as valuable contributions of indigenous peoples to biodiversity conservation in policy formulation,  legislation, and governance.”

Asami Segundo, a young Ikalahan-Kalanguya woman from the northern Philippines, said that bringing the IPBSAP to Colombia is part of the process to enrich the home-brewed plan.

“We hope to share this indigenous-led plan with the rest of the world at the CBD COP. The IPBSAP can cross-pollinate with other strategies and innovations from other nations. But most importantly, we hope it sends the signal to world leaders that they must let indigenous peoples lead as we have the blueprints to save life on Earth as we know it,” Segundo said. 

She added that seven of the 23 KMGBF targets reaffirm the respect and recognition of rights, knowledge and practices, and territories of IPs.

“Clearly, indigenous peoples are part of the plan. We hope the IPBSAP inspires other nations on one hand, and instills deeper commitment for the Philippine government on the other, to support the time-honored customs of biodiversity governance of indigenous peoples.” 

Philippine Eagle ‘Uswag’ dies 1 month after release

BY KEITH BACONGCO

Aug 5, 2024 03:12 PM

  

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DAVAO CITY – Philippine Eagle “Uswag” died after the raptor crashed and drowned in the coast of Baybay City in Leyte on July 30, just a month after its release in the forests of the province. 

The Philippine Eagle Foundation said in an incident report on Monday, August 5, that Uswag, which was equipped with a solar-powered global positioning system transmitter, may have crashed into the sea sometime on July 30 based on GPS record.

USWAG flies during its release in Leyte last June 28. (Keith Bacongco) 

It coordinated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other partners to conduct a search and rescue operation on July 31.

“But after July 31, we have not received any GPS reading until August 2 that stated that Uswag was already along the coast between Poro and Ponson Islands (Camotes Islands) in Pilar, Cebu,” Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF Director for Operations, said.

The PEF searched the coast of Baybay City on August 1 with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard. Heavy rains prompted them to abort the search after 14 hours at sea and covering 700 hectares.

The following day, PEF and PCG continued the search between the shores of Baybay and Cuatros Islas and covered an area of about 6,000 hectares. They still failed to find the carcass of the eagle. 

After 42 hours of search covering about 1,000 hectares, Uswag’s carcass was eventually retrieved near Ponson Island in Pilar on August 3.

It was brought to the College of Veterinary at Visayas State University in Baybay City for necropsy. An X-ray was conducted in a pet clinic. 

Based on veterinarian’s estimates, Uswag has been dead four to five days before it was retrieved.

“There’s no foul play, no indication that it was shot. It’s just accidental drowning,” Ibañez said.

Ibañez added that Uswag was healthy and fit and there was evidence based on field observations that it has already hunted successfully in the wild during the first few days after his release.

Uswag, a male Philippine Eagle about three- to four-years-old, was released along with female eagle named “Carlito” in the forests of Barangay Kagbana in Burauen, Leyte last June 28.

Ninth case

Ibañez said that Uswag was the ninth documented case of an eagle that crash-landed at sea since 1993.

He theorized Uswag may have lost his flight bearings and was sucked towards the sea by the rains and winds from the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” 

Like Uswag, the eight other eagles that crash-landed at sea were also immature eagles.

USWAG’S transmitter showing latest location between Poro and Ponas Islands Camotes Islands on August 2. (PEF)

Seven of these eight eagles that crash-landed in the water were from coastal towns in Mindanao.  The other one crash-landed at Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur.

The PEF said that Uswag was the first reintroduced wild eagle and the first with a GPS tracking device to crash at sea. 

The other eagles were untagged. But seven out of eight birds were miraculously alive and saved by fishermen, the PEF said.

Ibañez they will investigate Uswag’s case further and ask assistance from government experts to study how weather patterns affect the movement of Philippine Eagles.

He said that they are saddened by the incident but said that it also serves as a lesson to further improve their release and conservation decisions.

“We will further investigate and explore systematic GIS mapping and modelling of topography, wind patterns, and other climate parameters at these crash sites to determine patterns and assess risks,” Ibañez said.

Flood swamps Mindanao

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By KEITH BACONGCO

DAVAO CITY – Several provinces in Mindanao were flooded on Friday, July 12, and left some road networks temporarily impassable following heavy rain in the last two days.

One of those severely affected was Maguindanao del Norte and parts of Lanao del Sur due to flashflood triggered by heavy rains amid the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) since July 10. 

RESIDENTS cross a damaged bridge in Barangay Kidayan, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on Satuday, July 13. The bridge linking the towns of Kalamansig and Palimbag was damaged due to flooding caused by heavy rains. (Photo courtesy of Sukelco Lebak-Kalamansig)

Reports showed that at least five persons were reportedly killed in the flashflood while seven others remain missing as of Saturday morning, July 13.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) disclosed that 19 individuals were injured in the flashflood. 

It added that the flooding also affected at least 4,000 residents in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte.

A portion of the Narciso Ramos National Highway in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, which links the towns within BARMM and to Zamboanga Region, was temporarily closed to traffic as of 6:40 p.m. on July 12. As of 11 a.m. on July 13, the highway remains closed to traffic.

The severe flooding also affected the neighboring town of Kapatagan in Lanao del Sur.

The highway linking Wao town, also in Lanao del Sur, and Kalingangan in Bukidnon province, was also temporarily closed at 9:45 p.m. on Friday due to a landslide.

It was cleared and declared passable at 1:30 a.m. on July 13, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Lanao del Sur.

On Friday evening, the PDRRMO issued an orange warning over Lanao del Sur, which means there could be about 75,000 to 150,000 drums of rain per square kilometer in the province.  

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a weather advisory at 11 p.m. on July 12 stating that the southwest monsoon will bring heavy to intense rains (100 to 200 millimeters) over BARMM, Zamboanga Peninsula, Sultan Kudarat, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte until Saturday night.

Severe flooding and landslides were reported in some barangays in the coastal towns of Lebak, Kalamansig, and Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat province on Friday.

As of 10 a.m., the Department of Public Works and Highways-12 reported that the Kalamansig-Palembang Road remains unpassable due to landslides and damaged bridge in Barangay Santa Clara in Kalamansig.

The Kalamansig-Lebak Road, which was briefly closed on Friday night, is now passable after the DPWH cleared the road of debris following a landslide in Barangay Bolebak on Friday.

In the neighboring province of Sarangani, some rice farms in Kiamba were swamped by floodwaters since Friday due to heavy rains.

In Zamboanga City, the local government reported on its Facebook page that about 3,000 individuals from 11 barangays were evacuated to higher grounds due to severe flooding on Friday.

At 6:34 a.m. on Saturday, the city government announced that flights to the city have been suspended due to flooded runway.

On Friday evening, some areas of Cotabato City were also submerged in floodwater.

These severe weather disturbances took place just as PAGASA issued a La Niña alert on Friday stating that its climate monitoring and analyses suggested a 70 percent chance of La Niña forming in August-September-October (ASO) 2024 season and is likely to persist until the first quarter of 2025.

This was due to further cooling of the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP), it added.

“With this development, the DOST-PAGASA ENSO Alert and Warning System is now raised to La Niña alert,” PAGASA said.

“The country may experience a higher chance of increased convective activity and tropical cyclone occurrence which may bring above normal rainfall over some parts of the country in the coming months. Potential adverse impacts may include floods and landslides over vulnerable areas, with varying magnitude.”