Over 200 conservationists attend annual RP biodiversity forum

by: Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 13 (PIA) --- They come from all over the country and around the globe - from Batanes to Zamboanga in the Philippines and from Australia, United States, Guam, Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium - and they have one common goal, which is to discuss the state of biodiversity research and conservation in the Philippines. 

Over 200 delegates have convened today for the four-day Philippine Biodiversity Symposium from April 11 to 14 now underway at this year's host university, Silliman University in Dumaguete City. 

The delegates are composed of representatives from different sectors concerned with conservation such as members of the symposium' organizer, the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines (WCSP), personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), non-government organizations, research institutions, teachers and students. 

Prompted by its theme “Celebrating 20 Years, Preparing for Future Challenges,” the four-day symposium will review the status of the country's biodiversity over the past two decades, WCSP's growth and contribution, and planning and networking to continue to advance wildlife research and conservation in the Philippines, according to a statement from WCSP. 

According to Dr. Angel Alcala, former DENR Secretary and former president of Silliman University and one of the forum's speakers, only few faculty members in selected higher education institutions were involved in biodiversity research in the early 1990s. 

“There is probably no question that WCSP has, through its annual symposia, contributed to the increasing number of teachers in higher education institutions who have been conducting research on biodiversity and are involved to varying extent in conservation activities," he said. 

The annual symposium started 20 years ago when a group of 26 wildlife conservation practitioners met in Silliman University to discuss conservation issues and plot out collaborative researcher and conservation efforts. 

That fateful meeting turned out to be the first of yearly conferences with the number of participants growing each year.

WCSP said in its statement that the growing participation in the annual symposium demonstrates the increasing interest in biodiversity in the Philippines. 

Sponsors of the current symposium include Flora and Fauna International, Smart Communications, Conservation International, Bat Conservation International, the University of Kansas, The Field Museum of Natural History, and the Province of Negros Oriental (offices of the Governor, the Vice-Governor, and the Congressman of the 1st District).

During the symposium, it was cited that Negros Oriental makes an excellent venue for this year's symposium with its rich biodiversity, which has been the target of conservation efforts from DENR and the local government through the Provincial Wildlife Conservation Council. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental)

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RP saves P60B if companies follow energy saving measures

By: Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr 13 (PIA) An estimated of P60 Billion can be saved annually if all the companies in the Philippines will implement the energy efficiency measuresusing the ASEAN developed energy management system.

This was cited by the Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Director Jesus Anunciacion during the opening of National Training-Workshop on Energy Efficiency and Conservation today in Dumaguete City.

Director Anunciacion said to achieve the desired saving, the DOE in cooperation with Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) has targeted to train 600 companies in 15 selected cities in the country on energy management system.

The organizer aimed to promote the energy efficiency and conservation for buildings and share best practices from different sectors so that they can adopt the strategies and innovations that lessen climate change.

For Dumaguete City, around 100 participants representing different industrial, commercial, academe, and public utilities sectors directly responsible for energy conservationof the factory/company attended the said capacity-building.

DOE official said for those companies which can save five percent (5%) or more of its electric consumption will receive a Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards as an incentive.

The Award recognizes remarkable contributions of companies and energy managers insustainable energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) and in their efforts to mitigate climate change.

All companies are required to submit Quarterly Energy Consumption Report andAnnual Energy Conservation Report to the DOE to qualify this prestigious recognition award, Anunciacion said.

In fact last year, he said 49 companies received the awards with an estimated savings of P5 billion. 

The Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards is an industry-based recognition given to agencies and establishments with outstanding performance in energy conservation and efficiency in government, business and industrial sectors. 

Its objective is to encourage the government and the private sector to reduce the use and cost of energy in their facilities and establishments by adapting energy efficient technologies and practices. (PIA NegOr/JCT)

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New, upgraded banknotes now making its rounds in RP
by: Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 13 (PIA) --- Don't be surprised if you soon get ahold of a different-looking peso bill. It may look very different but it's still the same Philippine money. 

This is the message that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) wants to get across to the community after the central bank started circulating the new generation currency. 

The newly re-designed bills now making its rounds in the country are in six denominations, namely: P1,000, P500, P200, P100 and P20 bills. 

The new banknotes started circulating after it was formally launced in December 16 last year by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino II at Malacañan Palace, December 16, 2010. 

Although the bills sport new designs that pay tribute to Filipino historical figures and world heritage sites, BSP have retained the denominant colors of the old banknotes such as orange in P20, red in P50, violet in P100, green in P200, yellow in P500 and blue in P1,000.

According to Divine Labitad, branch research head of BSP here, the old banknotes which are still in circulation will eventually be demonetized. "Maybe by three years after, the old banknotes will be taken out of circulation," she said

Labitad added that the old notes are already in circulation for around 25 years and it is high time that we need new and upgraded ones, especially in terms of its security features. 

The move to change the designs of the banknotes is in line with the central monetary authority's drive to safeguard Philippine money against counterfeiters as the new bills' security features have been upgraded along with the design makeover, making it easier for the public to quickly spot a fake bill.  

A primer posted on the BSP website said that "by making it difficult and costly for counterfeiters to produce exact copies of our money, we protect the integrity of our currency against criminals."

Labitad said that central banks in other countries regularly change their currency's designs every 10 years on average as an anti-counterfeit measure. 

To avoid confusion among the public and educate them as well on how to tell genuine banknotes from counterfeits, the BSP here will conduct two separate briefings for different community sectors on April 25 and 26 in Dumaguete City in line with a nationwide information campaign mounted by the central bank. (RMN/PIA7 Negros Oriental)