Day: March 28, 2024

LAOAG CITY: Villagers and personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday rescued a distressed male “pawikan” or green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) weighing 102 kilos in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Rizal Pascual, extension officer of the DENR, told the Philippine News Agency that the turtle was guided back into the sea after being accidentally caught through a net by local fishermen in Pancian village early in the morning.

In coordination with the municipal environment office of Pagudpud town and the DENR office in the adjacent town of Bangui, the marine turtle was immediately released into the seawater.

‘We were not able to put a clip tag on it as we rushed going to the released site after receiving the report from village officials,’ Pascual said.

Last Feb. 1, another 22-kilo green sea turtle was caught and released by wildlife volunteers in Sitio Ayoyo, Barangay Caparispisan in Pagudpud.

‘We are very thankful to the fisherfolk of Pagudpud for reporting immediately when t
hey accidentally net sea turtles,’ said Eduardo Angadol, forestry senior manager of North Luzon Renewables and a member of the Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group.

He said sea turtles eat from the net of fishers, causing their capture.

According to the local fishermen, sea turtles are often spotted in Barangay Saud and other portions of Pagudpud particularly during the months of November to January as sea turtles lay their eggs in the shoreline.

To protect them from predators, the Pagudpud municipal government, in coordination with environment officials, is considering declaring the area as a marine sea turtle sanctuary.

Early on, the DENR and the Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group facilitated conservation and enforcement training in the town to help protect sea turtles.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG CITY: Off the beaten path is the majestic cove of Mingay located in the quaint village of San Julian in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan.

It is described by both locals and visitors as a hidden gem, and unique for being both a recreation and economic place, being located in a fishing village. It is also where the lush forest meets the open sea.

Realizing its great potential for eco-tourism, the local government unit of Sta. Praxedes led by Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo has recently decided to offer overnight stays for visitors looking for a rest disconnected from modern-day distractions. No electricity, no internet, just a moment of peace with nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

‘Mingay is indeed a true gem that can be handed over from generations,’ said Aguinaldo as she enjoined everyone to promote responsible travel practices while nurturing the local community and the environment.

Apart from tents, at least three solar-powered teepee houses with basic amenities are available in the area for
an overnight stay.

Aguinaldo said the local government also set up picnic tables and tents for rent. Showers, restrooms, and swings are also available.

Pre-booking however is a must with no walk-in accommodations for overnight guests to ensure their safety and security, according to the Santa Praxedes Tourism Facebook page.

How to get there

There are two ways to reach the cove. With the aid of Google map or waze, pin Mingay Beach in Barangay San Julian, known by locals as the “greenest garden of the north”.

From the drop-off point in Sitio Mingay, trek downhill for about 40 minutes.

The cove can also be reached by a 30-to-40-minute boat ride after coordinating with the local tourism office. Boats for hire are available at the Taggat blue lagoon in Claveria, Cagayan.

Plan ahead, discover more

For the safety and convenience of visitors, Villamin Lizardo Jr., a member of the rescue team of Sta. Praxedes, said guests are urged to plan their travel and discover more adventures in Mingay.

“Aside from the M
ingay Beach which is divided into small and big cove, there are other beaches such as the Nanaplaan and Kimmansir Beach that visitors may consider visiting,’ Lizardo said.

“These are comparable to the beaches of Palawan,’ he noted.

Beautiful rock formations and waterfalls are likewise worth the adventure for swimming, diving, and underwater exploration, he added.

‘Going to Mingay is an experience of a lifetime. It gives me reasons to love the Philippines even more,’ said Aileen Rambaud, a visitor from Pinili, Ilocos Norte who, along with some friends experienced trekking downhill to reach Mingay last weekend.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: A recent study has suggested that Indonesia’s Javan tiger may still exist.

The Javan and Bali tiger species were declared extinct in 2008 and 2013, respectively, with the Sumatran subspecies remaining “extant in Indonesia,” according to the study by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and published last week by Cambridge Press.

Researchers were prompted to look into any traces of the Javan tiger after a villager reported seeing the big cat near the village of Cipendeuy in the forest of South Sukabumi in West Java in 2019.

They also discovered a “single hair” on a nearby fence that was investigated.

Following an “in-depth interview” with Ripi Yanur Fajar, who saw the tiger, the researchers said they “believed” the hair was from a Javan tiger.

The hair sample was then handed over to geological staff conducting research in the area and forwarded to the West Java Nature Conservation Authority (BKSDA), the study said.

Later, Indonesia’ National Research and Innovation conducted genet
ic analysis, along with several hair strands from Sumatran tigers in North Sumatra province for comparison.

The findings suggested a close relationship to Indonesia’s native Javan tiger, which differed from other tiger species and the Javan leopard.

“From this comprehensive DNA analysis, we conclude that the hair sample from South Sukabumi belongs to the Javan tiger and that it falls in the same group as the Javan tiger museum specimen collected in 1930,” the study noted.

This finding underscores the need for “further genetic and field studies” to confirm the existence of Javan tigers in the wild zone due to the lack of “conclusive evidence.”

The last survey, conducted in 1999-2000, discovered no tigers but did record “some prey species and many poachers.”

Source: Philippines News Agency

CEBU CITY: Mayor Michael Rama on Thursday assured the public that he is for the preservation of heritage amid the ongoing construction of the multi-billion peso Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

In a statement, Rama clarified that the city government’s stand is aligned with the view that heritage sites, such as the Cebu Provincial Capitol building, need protection from obstruction.

‘We the people from Cebu City give great care to preserve the heritage sites. We are very proud and we will not let it go so that the next generation will have something to continue,’ Rama said in Cebuano.

According to him, his administration supported and endorsed the BRT project believing that ‘it will not harm our heritage buildings.’

The mayor said there is a way to address the concern of other local chief executives who said that the beauty of the Capitol would be obstructed by the bus station being constructed across the old landmark.

This concern, he said, had been discussed during a meeting with the financing agenc
ies such as the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement, as well as officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

‘Let’s agree that we will protect the Capitol, there is no argument there. The issue is the involvement of the governor who ordered that the CBRT be stopped,’ he said.

On Wednesday, Cebu BRT project management office head, Engr. Norvin Imbong, told the Philippine News Agency that the DOTr would comply with the National Commission for Culture and Arts’ (NCCA) request to submit an archeological impact assessment to ensure that excavations and construction activities would not affect the Capitol.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the capitol a national historical landmark and is protected by law.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday debunked the statement of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque linking the alleged agreement between the Philippines and China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal to his father, former president Joseph Estrada.

Estrada said the statement is disappointing and it is unacceptable for Roque “to make such baseless claims when he’s not privy to such information.”

“Minsan ko nang pinanindigan sa isang privilege speech na walang kasunduan o pangakong binitawan ang aking ama, ang dating president Joseph Estrada, sa pagtanggal ng BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal at ito’y pinatotohanan pa ng mga noo’y defense and security officials gaya ni dating (I already have affirmed in a privilege speech that there was no agreement or commitment given by my father, former president Joseph Estrada, to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, and this was already proved by former defense and security officials like former) Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado,” he said in
a statement.

Estrada, who chairs the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, said statements like what Roque made sow confusion and doubt in the country’s integrity and capability to fight for its sovereignty amid the “worsening aggression and bullying” of China.

“Amid all these pronouncements, it’s praiseworthy that the Marcos administration is taking concrete actions to protect our sovereign rights and territorial integrity. Any efforts made to address this ongoing and escalating aggression by China should be supported and encouraged,” the lawmaker said.

“We must remain firm and united in defending our sovereignty, and in safeguarding our maritime territories for the benefit of present and future generations,” he added.

When asked in an interview with Politiko about a previous agreement between China and the Philippines to remove the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Roque said that he is not “privy” to the said agreement but only to the engagements made by t
he Duterte Administration with China.

He said that as far as he knew, the agreement about the removal of the grounded warship had been attributed to former President Estrada.

“Kung di ako nagkakamali, ina-attribute naman nila yang kasunduan na yan sa administrasyon po ni president Estrada at hindi kay (If I am not mistaken, they attribute that agreement to the administration of president Estrada and not to) president Duterte,” Roque said.

Roque said in the same interview that the Philippines entered into a “gentleman’s agreement” with China during the Duterte Administration, which supposedly barred the country from sending repair materials to the BRP Sierra Madre.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday said former President Rodrigo Duterte acted beyond his authority and surrendered the country’s rights if he did indeed enter into a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with China not to maintain BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine Marine outpost in Ayungin Shoal.

“Duterte knew that without repairs the BRP Sierra Madre would soon collapse and thus end our presence in Ayungin Shoal,” Carpio said in a statement.

‘Yet Duterte agreed, in a concession to China, that the Philippines could only bring food and water to BRP Sierra Madre, and would not bring materials to repair the Sierra Madre.”

Carpio explained that Duterte made this concession even as the Arbitral Tribunal had already ruled in its July 12, 2016 ruling that Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with the Philippines having exclusive right to erect structures on Ayungin Shoal.

“Duterte’s ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ was lopsided in favor of China, which under t
he Arbitral Award, had no right to erect any structure on Ayungin Shoal, and had no right to stop the Philippines from erecting any structure on Ayungin Shoal, much less any right to stop the Philippines from repairing the BRP Sierra Madre. That ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ was a disguised surrender of our EEZ rights over Ayungin Shoal, as it gave China veto power over our exclusive right to erect structures on Ayungin Shoal,” Carpio said.

Source: Philippines News Agency