Bago-Ilog wetlands pushed
for Ramsar certification

The wetlands from Bago City to Ilog town in Negros Occidental are being pushed for Ramsar certification and become the 7th “Wetlands of International Importance” in the Philippines, a government press release said.

Ramsar, a place in Iran where the Convention on Wetlands was first held, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The six Ramsar sites in the Philippines are the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Norte, the Tubattaha Reefs Natural Park and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park, both in Palawan, Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro, and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical habitat and Ecotourism Area, the press release also said.

Biodiversity Management Bureau ecosystem management specialist, Joy Navarro, of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said the BMB needs endorsement from concerned local government units that they want to become a Ramsar site, their management plan, and accomplish the Ramsar site information sheet.

To get the Ramsar certification, the site must be proven to be biologically important or unique in its bio-geographic region, which means it is not only important to Negros Occidental, but to the Philippines and Asia, too.

The Bago-Ilog wetlands is important because it is a flyway of migratory birds and the route will be cut off if these habitats are not taken care of. Wetlands regulate ecosystem services, like the filtration of pollution going to the sea especially in Negros where there are a lot of tidal or mud flats that not only serve as food sources of the migratory birds, but is also the womb of the sea where fishes spawn, Navarro said.

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39 students get scholarship

Thirty-nine scholars were selected by the JS Jalandoni Foundation Inc. with the Lucky Beagler Inc. for the technical-vocational scholarship program that was launched recently, with the first batch to start in January 2015, a press release from the Capitol said.

The launching was held at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, where Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office acting chairman and general manager, Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, lauded the JSJFI and SLBI for initiating the program for the towns and cities in the province, the press release also said.

SLBI is the sole authorized agent-corporation of the PCSO small town lottery in Negros Occidental. Its director, Dino Jalandoni, said the scholars, will undergo a two-to-three months training program in shielded metal arc welding NC I, with 25 scholars, and electrical installation and maintenance NC II for 14 scholars, at the TESDA Regional Training Center in Talisay City.

JSFFI and SLBI will shoulder their expenses for the training program that will include tuition, lodging at the TESDA dormitory, and allowance for food and other incidental expenses, the press release said.

A new batch of scholars will be sponsored every quarter for two years, the press release also said.

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