ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER BOARD EXAM

On 11-12 June 2008, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Environmental Planning will hold the Professional Licensure Examinations for Environmental Planners. A new set of Environmental Planners will again be available for multi-million projects.

I can vividly remember that during our time, which was actually just two years ago, I was very excited to take the said examinations. I had just finished  my Diploma course from the U.P. School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP-SURP- the only urban and regional planning school in the Philippines). I was so eager to practice Environmental Planning. No one can practice Environmental Planning in the Philippines without a license from the PRC. Fortunately (thanks to my prayers and my very capable professors from UP-SURP), I was able to survive the examinations despite me suffering from flu then. Unfortunately, one (1) out of the twelve (12) students/graduates from the UP-SURP who took the examinations failed.

I am the 574th licensed Environmental Planner in the Philippines. So far, considering the number of hopefuls that pass the EnP Board Exams every year, the Philippines has now have approximately 630 licensed Environmental Planners (this number includes those who have failed to renew their licenses).

One unsolicited advice for those who are going to take and successfully pass the EnP Board Exams this year- consider the profession as a vocation not a money-making business. I have heard a lot of stories from my colleagues that there are some who study Urban Planning and take the Board Exams just to be able to make money. It is true that an Environmental Planner can rake as much as a million per project (that is, if you have built a very good reputation as a Planner). However, the clients that badly need your service are not your multi-million real estate companies or your mutilateral agencies. The clients that badly need your service are your local government units, especially those categorized under the 3rd to 5th class categories.  

As an Environmental Planner, I would like to request the other licensed Environmental Planners and those who are to be licensed soon to share your expertise to our local government units. If you can, at least, take a pro bono project once a year or once very two years. The proof that I practice what I preach is my Plan.Works Co. I, together with the EnP Board Exams topnotcher in 2006, established this planning firm that primarily caters to local government units who cannot even afford to send their Planning and Development Officers to take special planning courses in UP-SURP. However, inspite the pro bono service that we offer, some local government officials and officers are still hesitant to engage us because this would still entail expenses for materials and transportation.

To the EnP hopefuls this year, God bless and may you share your expertise to our needy clients. 

SHARK’S FIN DUMPLING, ANYONE?

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimated that more than 100 million sharks are caught annually[1].  Studies made by Baum and Myers[2] in the years 2002 and 2003 on shark populations established that several species of sharks have vanished at the rate of 49% to as much as 99% in a span of fifteen (15) years.  Other studies reveal an overall decline of 90% in shark population in the last fifty (50) years[3].

The decline in the population of sharks is due to several factors. One of these factors is attributed to the biology of sharks which have low reproductive capacity. The other factors are attributable to human activities. The marine ecosystem has already been destructed. Moreover, the popularity of shark products has resulted in over harvesting.

These factors led to the drop of shark populations which has been faster than ever before. Sharks occupy the apex of marine ecosystem. The drop in their population would mean real dangers to the balance of the marine ecosystem. One of these adverse effects is the increase in the population of prey species which in turn would reduce the number of their prey species. Overharvesting of sharks will lead to the collapse of the marine ecosystem.

Sharks are a public resource that should be protected for the benefit not just of the present generation but more importantly for future generations. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under the Department of Agriculture is empowered by the Republic Act no. 8550 to formulate and enforce all rules and regulations governing the conservation and management of fisheries resources (Sec. 65[n]). Moreover, the protection of sharks can be a good resource for eco-visitorism under the auspices of the Department of Tourism.

In this light, it is crucial that the killing of sharks be completely banned. Again, sharks occupy the apex of marine biodiversity. Since one of the laws of Nature is that every thing is interconnected, killing of sharks will adversely alter the balance of the ecosystem.

Calling on the DENR, BFAR, DA, and the DOT officials.

   1]Rebecca Regney, The Recent International Measures to Protect Sharks Are Not Enough,<http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlife_news/international_measures_to_protect_sharks_not_enough.html>, January 7, 2005.

                2] Facts Endangering Sharks: Fishing,<http://www.shark.ch/Preservation/Facts/index.html>

   3]Rebecca Regney, The Recent International Measures to Protect Sharks Are Not Enough,<http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/wildlife_news/international_measures_to_protect_sharks_not_enough.html>, January 7, 2005.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

The world will be observing the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May 2008 with its theme revolving around Biodiversity and Agriculture. The theme is very appropriate as many countries in the world are experiencing crisis in food. In the Philippines, many families have to line up just to be able to buy cheap rice. It is ironic because our Department of Agriculture has just reported that there has been a rise in agricultural production. 

The Philippines is endowed with one of the highest biodiversity in the world. Many scientists even consider the Philippines as the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the planet. Sadly, this biodiversity is also the fastest to diminish. This problem is a result of the concept that is very prevalent in the Philippines- the tragedy of the commons.

The Visayan Sea is a good example of the Tragedy of the Commons. Because of the abundance of marine resources and the misconception that all of these resources are for free, people take everything from it to their hearts’ content. Since there is a conception that these resources in the Visayan Sea are not owned by anyone, everybody uses them to the point of being abusive to the environment. People worry that if they do not harvest all these resources somebody else would do so. Hence, instead of just harvesting within the sustainable yield of the area, it results in overharvesting.

In this light, it is urgent for the Philippine Government to declare certain areas in the country as biodiversity hotspots. These biodiversity hotspots will ensure that the resources in these areas are protected and set apart for the future generation. Moreover, the Government has to fastrack its determination of the maximum sustainable yield as required by the Philippine Fisheries Code. In this way, it will be ensured that the harvesting of marine resources is  sustainable. 

And most importantly, the people must have to change their mindset. Our generation is not here to exploit the resources that we have. Our generation is here to make sure that the generation to come will enjoy the same resources that we have today.

6.8 EARTHQUAKE

Early this morning, I received this sms saying that a 6.8 earthquake is predicted by the US GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY in Hawaii to hit Philippine plates tonight, 15 May 2008. Although I do not discount the possibility that the Philippines will experience a strong earthquake sooner or later (our country lies on an earthquake belt), I have some apprehensions about the 6.8 earthquake prediction.

First, I think that the agency in the United States that is considered to be the authority on earthquakes is the US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. This actually is the US counterpart of our very own PHIVOLCS. I did not know that a certain US Geological Society exists.

Second, I took up a few Geology major subjects under my B.S. Geology program at NIGS  and we were taught that nobody can predict earthquake as we can predict storms and typhoons. Hence, this US Geological Society prediction about the 6.8 earthquake is something new to me. I thought that even the most advanced USGS cannot predict earthquakes but here is the US Geological Society predicting not just the occurence of an earthquake but also the time as well as the magnitude of it. If ever the US Geological Society really exists, I believe that the person who started this 6.8 earthquake prediction should be held accountable.

One good thing that this sms brings us, though, is that people are becoming more aware and alert on the possibility of the occurence of a destructive earthquake in the Philippines. Most of us actually might not be aware but since January 2008 until 14 May 2008, the Philippines has experienced more than eighty earhquakes with magnitudes ranging from 1.9 to 6.5 (PHIVOLCS, Latest Earthquake Information, see the list). 

There is no need to panic. Let’s just be more alert and be always prepared because the occurence of a strong, desctructive earthquake in the Philippines is not remote. And, let us all wait for the clarification and announcement from PHIVOLCS officials. 

"ANG DAGAT AY BUHAY"

I visited the website of oneocean.org, which is sponsored by the USAID and I got this music file, which is appropriate for the celebration of the Month of the Ocean. The song is entitled "Ang Dagat ay Buhay" from the music and lyrics of Vehnee Saturno and vocals by Chris Villongco.

ANG DAGAT AY BUHAY

Music and lyrics by Vehnee Saturno/Vocals by Cris Villongco

Courtesy of BMG Records, Inc.

Karagatan ay buhay, pagyamanin mo

Mga ilog at dagat, ito’y bigay sa’yo

Bakit natin hahayaan na sila’y masira pa

Ang kulay asul na tubig, paiitimin mo ba?

CHORUS

Ating pagyamanin ang bigay sa atin

Ang asul na tubig ay buhay

Huwag nang sayangin pa

Ang lahat ng dagat, ilog at ang lawa

Ito’y dapat na mahalin, ito’y dapat na sagipin

Pagka’t ang dagat ay siyang buhay natin

Ang yaman ng dagat di pang habang-buhay

Ngayo’y halos wala na, ang yaman niyang taglay

Mahalin natin ang dagat, tulad ng mga pangarap

Dahil ito ay buhay ng lahat

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE

Ang buhay ng dagat ay nasa atin

Pagka’t ang dagat ay siyang buhay natin

ang dagat ay buhay