Stronger Wildlife Law should be 18th Congress’ legacy – environmental group

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Environmental group Tanggol Kalikasan has called for the immediate passage of the amendments to Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, saying the 18th Congress must make it their legacy.

 

Tanggol Kalikasan executive director Ma. Ronely Bisquera-Sheen said that it is high-time to strengthen the 20-year-old law to address the increasingly sophisticated and organized illegal wildlife trade operations.

 

Leading the country during the pandemic, lawmakers of the 18th Congress must ensure the passage of the strengthened law to effectively combat illegal wildlife trade, widely believed to have contributed to the global health crisis.

 

“We call on the 18th Congress to use their power to pass this much-needed law. It will be a worthwhile legacy that will not only protect our wildlife resources, but also the lives and livelihoods of generations of Filipinos,” Bisquera-Sheen said.

 

“Crime syndicates are exploiting legal loopholes, low fines and penalties, digital technology, and limited enforcement capacity. RA 9147 must be urgently amended. Our law must keep up with the changing landscape of wildlife crimes and enforcement,” she said.

 

Penalties in the current law do not correspond to the gravity of offenses, failing to serve as a deterrent. Most of the sentences under the law are below six years imprisonment, with first-time offenders usually applying for probation to skip detention and paying fines.

 

In 2019, foreign nationals were caught with P1.7 million worth of dried seahorses, considered endangered species, but the offenders ended up paying a measly fine of P15,000.

 

Under the bills, penalties for trading, possession, and transport of wildlife can be as high as 8 years of imprisonment and/or fines of up to P1 million; while penalties for killing or destroying wildlife can reach up to 12 years imprisonment and/or fines of up to P2 million. Wildlife trafficking shall also be treated as a distinct and separate offense if the violation involves more than one species.

 

If the bills are passed into law, the offender shall also pay the wildlife economic value, or the amount proven to have been lost as a result of the crime. Citing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the group said the estimated value of illegal wildlife trade in the country is P50 billion or $1 billion yearly, including the market value of wildlife and its resources, their ecological role and value, damage to habitats, and loss in potential ecotourism revenues.

 

The group, citing Dr Glenn Maguad of DENR-Wildlife Rescue Center, said there is also a need for additional financial and technical assistance to the more than 20 Wildlife Rescue Centers nationwide.

 

“Rescue centers provide a sanctuary for confiscated wildlife, most of which are in critical condition, and play a crucial role in the law enforcement chain nationwide,” Maguad said.

 

With implementation challenges in the regions, Tanggol Kalikasan emphasized the critical role of local government units in wildlife law enforcement,.

 

Under the bills, LGUs shall require businesses and wildlife-related activities to present permits from the DENR and the Department of Agriculture before they can obtain or renew business licenses and clearances.

 

“The LGUs’ knowledge, expertise and law enforcement efforts in the areas will help enforcers at the national level in combating illegal wildlife trade, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling, which transfers higher national tax revenue to local governments,” Bisquera-Sheen said.

 

“Furthermore, imposing rules that complement local ordinances will make it difficult for violators to commit crimes,” she added.

 

“The said ruling increases the national government tax revenue transferred to local governments. Furthermore, imposing rules that complement local ordinances will make it difficult for violators to commit crimes,” she added.

 

Senate Bill Nos. 2078 and 2079, filed by Senator Cynthia Villar and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, respectively, seek the imposition of stronger and more specific penalties, the strengthening of enforcement capacity, and the removal of legal loopholes exploited by illegal wildlife traders. The counterpart measure, House Bill 9833, was approved in August on third and final reading.

 

The Philippines, among the world’s most mega-diverse countries, has become an important source, transit, and destination point for illegal wildlife trade, which is now the fourth largest illicit trade worldwide behind illegal drugs, arms, and human trafficking.

Nominations for the IABC APAC 2022 Communicator of the Year Awards are Open!

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The search is on for the outstanding communicators in the Asia Pacific Region. The International Association of Business Communicators Asia Pacific (IABC APAC) has launched the 2022 Communicator of the Year Awards that recognize and honor exceptional communication excellence and leadership.


IABC APAC is opening the nominations for the prestigious awards in two categories: the Executive Leader and the Senior Communication Professionals.

Executives, who could be president, CEO, a C-suite leader, managing director, vice president, or head of private firms, organizations, or government agencies based in Asia Pacific countries, may be nominated in the Executive Leader category for demonstrating leadership in strategic communication excellence.

Communicators in the Asia Pacific region with at least ten years of work experience in the profession are eligible for nomination in the Senior Communication Professional Category for developing and implementing effective communication programs to support their company’s or organization’s goals.

Sia Papageorgiou of Australia was awarded the 2021 IABC Asia Pacific Communicator of the Year Award under the Senior Communication Professional category. She has published numerous articles about the role of technology and artificial intelligence in communications and donated her time as a leader in IABC at the local, regional, and international levels, among other accolades and accomplishments.

In 2020, Kate Carnell, ombudsman of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise, and Gabrielle Dolan, founder of Jargon Free Fridays, were named the 2020 IABC Asia Pacific Communicators of the Year under the Senior Communication Professional and Executive Leader categories, respectively. Both Australian women displayed expertise in business storytelling and authentic communication, applying their skills on a local and global scale.

Nominees can either be self-nominated or nominated by an IABC member or non-member. People outside their organization can also nominate them. Nominations must be emailed to awards@iabc.apac.com with the subject “Communicator of the Year Nomination.”

The nomination period for both categories will be from 3 November 2021 to 4 February 2022. Visit the official website of IABC Asia Pacific Region (www.iabcapac.com) for more information on the nomination process, eligibility, and criteria for evaluation.

IABC Asia Pacific is a regional board with 12 chapters in 8 countries throughout the Asia Pacific region, along with members-at-large in Singapore, Pakistan, China, Fiji, and Thailand.

Phl sci, math medalists flourish amid pandemic

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Not even COVID-19 can stop young Filipinos math and science geniuses from hauling medals from international competitions in 2020. 

 

This, as the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recognized 1,395 students in its Youth Excellence in Science (YES) Awards held virtually last Oct. 29. 

 

The number of awardees is down 14 percent from the 1,631 tallied in 2019. But for DOST-SEI Director, Dr. Josette Biyo, the number remains impressive given the challenges faced by the organizers of the international competitions themselves. 

 

“This year’s number of 1,395 medalists—with a total of 3,672 awards amassed from 67 competitions—is proof that despite the pandemic, many of us continue to push for excellence. Many of our teachers and parents continue to believe in our youth’s innate talents. Many of us in the science community hold on to your fire as this country’s hope and strength going forward,” said Biyo. 

 

As with last year’s awarding, DOST-SEI recognized this year’s honorees through a virtual ceremony featuring messages from DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Biyo, and testimonials from a medalist and a school representative. 

 

“Indeed, the past year has been an unexpected challenge for everyone. Which is exactly why your triumphs are all the more laudable and worthy of celebration, for each of you is here against great odds. You are all truly exemplars of the best young minds in the Philippines,” stressed de la Peña. 

 

Triumph amid losses 

 

Andres Rico Gonzales III of De La Salle University Integrated School spoke of his experiences in winning gold in the 2020 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 

 

“During international competitions, we fight not only for our own merit but also for our country. That is why, every year, we are all excited for the YES Awarding because it is the culmination of our hard work being recognized by our government. God has given us the talent and passion for reasons bigger than ourselves—that is, to help and share these gifts for the betterment of many,” he said. 

 

Gonzales began competing in the IMO in 2018 when he settled for an honourable mention. In 2019, he finally nabbed a bronze medal. He said he wants to get the goal in his last year of eligibility. 

 

“As for me, my biggest dream is to win in IMO,” he said. 

 

Gonzales revealed that 2020 was especially challenging because of how the pandemic changed his life permanently. 

 

“Last year was the most trying time in the lives of my family because we’re still grieving for the demise of my father who just died two weeks after he was diagnosed of cancer. Our business closed, and a lot of drastic changes came after this,” he narrated.  

 

He furthered, “Preparing for the IMO is rigid because we all know it is the hardest international math competition for high school students. Then came the pandemic, which delayed the competition, and subsequently coincided with the academic year. It was hard to focus. I had to juggle between studying for school and reviewing for the IMO.” 

 

“I grieved. I prayed. I fought,” Gonzales said, adding he wished to inculcate in the minds of fellow awardees that perseverance and determination truly spell success.  

 

“We don’t know what the future will be. But one thing’s for sure: whatever the challenge maybe, science and technology will serve as the backbone and the frontline of the fight” he disclosed. 

 

Gold Ribbon School Award 

 

The YES Awards also recognized institutions that consistently led the medal hauls in international science and math contests in the past three years. DOST-SEI labeled them as Gold Ribbon School Awardees. 

 

Among the finalists include St. Jude Catholic School, Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus, and De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, which had the most number of medals from 2018 to 2020. 

 

In a testimony, PSHS Main Campus Director, Dr. Lawrence Madriaga thanked DOST-SEI for the award, highlighting that the school joins international competitions not just for performance metrics but to measure their students’ competency against the best of the world. 

 

“We believe that if we want to continually improve as a school, we have to constantly challenge ourselves and aim to be at par with our international counterparts. We always look for opportunities to improve the way we nurture our students to become STEM professionals and be part of nation-building in the future,” Madriaga said. 

 

The YES Award is a DOST institutional award for exemplary achievement of the youth in the fields of science and mathematics and shall come in the form of a medal of distinction to be awarded by the Secretary of Science and Technology or the DOST Regional Director.