iBOONDOCK

Mike Enriquez, GMA-7’s talking head and news reader, reports on illegal quarrying in Tuba, Benguet. This is the first part of the report. You can watch the second part here. It’s good of course that a television program is doing these kind of stories. The more illegal activities are brought to light, the lesser the probability that people will undertake them.

Having said that, I must say that its really frustrating to watch Imbestigador. Why? Because it only goes after the small fish. Puro naman pipitsugin ang iniimbistiga ng programang ito. Its reports are mostly about barangay captains who are corrupt, or army soldiers who did something wrong, or some principal out there who was misbehaving.

I don’t think Imbestigador has ever made an investigative report on corruption and illegal activities that are of national significance. I remember watching an Imbestigador episode during the time when Gloria admitted that she manipulated the elections in Mindanao. Mike Enriquez, with his booming voice, did a very short segment on the scandal but then he based his report on the investigative work of PCIJ.

I was like, “What a shame. GMA-7, the biggest network in the country with all the resources at its disposal, is depending its report on presidential cheating on the work of a small, underfunded, struggling but gallant media organization?”

Then and there, I stopped watching Imbestigador. And I lost respect for its talking head. Pipitsugin lang pala ang kaya nilang imbistigahan.

Kudos to Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat for working out this deal which will result in more tax money (in the tune of P57 million) flowing into Ifugao. Equal kudos goes to Isabela Governor Grace Padaca for agreeing to the deal. Finally, the court which brokered the agreement also deserves kudos. As Trublue says, “Cheers to you all!”

Ifugao, Isabela OK deal to split P114M in taxes
By Vincent Cabreza, Villamor Visaya/PDI

BAGUIO CITY – Ifugao and Isabela have agreed to split a P114-million transfer tax paid by the new operators of the 360-megawatt Magat hydroelectric power plant, easing the tension between the two provinces over the power facilities’ profits.

Ifugao Gov. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said he and Isabela Gov. Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca agreed to a 50-50 percent split during a six-hour meeting at an Isabela resort on Monday.

It was the first meeting set to resolve their legal and boundary problems, which resurfaced when Magat was sold to the SN Aboitiz Power Inc. (Snap) in 2007, Baguilat said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue said taxes were paid to Isabela in the last few years of the Magat plant operations because the facility was located in what had previously been acknowledged as Isabela territory.

Magat’s main plant is located in Ramon town. But Baguilat said some of the areas attributed to Isabela are Ifugao lands.
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PHOTO CREDIT: alsmarine.com.ph

Note: This is a “sticky” post. You will find new posts below. Thanks.

Just to be clear, I am not against mining. If it will help to improve the lives of our people, then I am for it. However, I believe that our mining laws give too much power to mining companies at the expense of people who live in remote communities. More often than not, those people are our indigenous brothers and sisters. So, as in the past, we are the sacrificial lambs that the powers-that-be offer before their ill conceived altar “development”.
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Videofied photos of birds in the highlands. The photos were taken from Mt. Data to Banaue according to the person who made the video. Do you think this video can teach us to view birds differently, i.e., that they’re not just a source of meat?

I must admit that I used to scoff at people who were campaigning against bird catching but I have since changed my mind and accepted their views. What precipitated that change? Well, I used to have a boss who was so passionate about birds. He was really into this bird-watching thing and kept talking about birds and birds and birds. Miraculously, I wasn’t turned off by all the bird talk hehe.

VIDEO CREDIT: neon2rossell

If you were in Sagada during the months of November 2007 and January 2008, you would be wetter than if you were in Baguio. You need proof? Aba, meron tayong graphs to prove our point. Here’s the one for Sagada:

And here’s the one for Baguio:

The graphs are from Project Rain Gauge, a joint project of Smart Communications, the Manila Observatory, and some participating schools.

Because the project is only on its fifth month, we still don’t know who is wetter during an entire year — would it be Padma in Baguio or Pagano in Sagada.
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A study by the University of the Cordilleras reveals that at least seven rivers in Tublay, Benguet are contaminated with mercury and cyanide.

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From the Manila Times/Harley Palangchao: At least seven river tributaries in Barangay Ambassador, Tublay, Benguet, were initially discovered to be not safe for human consumption based on the scientific findings conducted by the University of the Cordilleras (UC).

A statement from the university obtained by the media showed that findings on water safety in various areas subjected to tests indicated some traces of mercury and cyanide, which is not safe for human consumption.

The release further quoted Dr. Teresita Doctor of the UC College of Arts and Sciences Biology Department, who said that the contamination might have been caused by improper waste disposal, use of pesticides and commercial fertilizers, and wastes from the already closed Sto. Niño Mines. Read the full story here.

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So how do cyanide and mercury affect you if they get into your system? We’ll try to do some research on that. But some of you may know already and might want to share it in the comments section :-)

UPDATE: Thanks to Karla for the tip on the potential health effects of cyanide and mercury when ingested by a person. According to the U.S. EPA,  cyanide can cause nerve damage or thyroid problems while mercury can damage your kidney. Thanks again, Karla.

PHOTO CREDIT: Drinkwiththelivingdead