Saving the environment

My column on criminal deforestation prompted environmentalist Leonarda M. Camacho to send me information on a project being undertaken by the UNESCO Commission on Science and Technology to help save the Philippine environment. Narda said the Commission, of which she is a member, is undertaking a comprehensive audit or inventory of the Philippine environment the findings of which the national and local government units and the private sector can plan their natural resource conservation programs.

The Commission, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which prepared the comprehensive survey form, sent out 5,000 survey forms to all the DENR regional, provincial and municipal directors, 79 provincial governors, 115 city mayors, 1,496 municipal mayors and the members of the three largest women‚s groups in the country – the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines, the National Council of Women of the Philippines, and the Rural improvement Clubs of the Philippines.

Those sectors, according to Narda, will cross-validate one another, thereby getting the most realistic situation. She says an environment audit will map biodiversity hotspots and sensitive bio-regions, track down land cover changes due to deforestation and flooding and monitor actual status of fishing grounds and coral reefs.

Reports received by the Commission since May 30 this year, showed the danger of extinction of the only existing "pygmy forest" in the Philippines in Mati and San Isidro, Davao Oriental if foreign mining companies are allowed to mine the cobalt deposit under the forest ground. The residents of mountains in the Caraballo Range in Nueva Viscaya also oppose allowing foreign companies to mine the gold and copper deposits in their mountains.

Now this columnist takes the position that mining is not evil. As a matter of fact it can greatly help the country advance to a world-class economy. But of course miners should abide by rules and regulations in the exploitation to safeguard the environment. The Commission should take note of the motives or objectives of environmentalist groups rejecting mining explorations to see whether they are beneficial to the country.

Some communities are making their own conservation programs. In Maguindanao, for example, people are fighting off soil erosion by weaving coir mats and placing them on eroding roads and highways. They are also using vetiver grass to fight soil erosion.

More data will be coming from the communities. These will be submitted to the government and economic planners for remedial measures. "Then and only then, will the Philippine government be able to correctly plan to reforest denuded forests, stop unnecessary mining, clean the rivers and lakes, prevent over-fishing and destruction of corals. . . (and) the biospheres of the Philippines be protected and conserved."

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The name of down-to-earth eatery is catchy – Adobo Republic – and it appeals to Pinoys who just love adobo. Its main dishes are cooked adobo style – in vinegar and toyo, garlic and pepper – whether they be chicken, beef, squid, liver, and kangkong. The seventh, and most recent Adobo Republic fast-food chain is on Pasong Tamo (now Chino Roces) avenue in Makati. It is run by a young pair of law students at Arellano University – Dennis de Leon and Mavi Joya – with the backing of Dennis’ aunt, former Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary and former Civil Service Commissioner Cora de Leon, her sister Marita de Leon, and Mavis‚ brother, Vizen Joyas.

Dennis and Mavi, who attend school during the day, had been looking for a business project, and found franchise-holding for Adobo Republic just the right thing. The main dishes are delivered by the mother company half-cooked (for standardization purposes) and the Pasong Tamo staff completes the cooking in the kitchen of the cozy eatery. Non-adobo dishes are also served, such as pork and bean stew, beef asado, AR special pancit, sizzling pork, pork barbecue and pork inihaw, and desserts (called "Sweet Endings‚") that include Guinumis Special. They’re sold at value meal prices affordable for students, the working class and professionals – that is from P58 for adobo special (chicken or pork), and served with adobo rice, salted egg, tomato and ice tea, and for the special value meal priced at P89, one can have banana cinnamon.

Many of the walk-in customers are jeepney passengers who happen to pass by the place. By far the biggest orders for 150-200 packed value meals have been Citibank and RM ( just 10 minutes away by car from the place). A very regular customer is Aunt Cora, who brings friends who used to prod her to set up her own restaurant, having enjoyed her "orig" recipe of culao, a version of pochero but which uses pork pata with eggplant sauce, and her lumpiang hubad. But Cora says her nephew has made that dream come true. Delivery express is offered for a mininum order of P150 and up. Call 728-1401.

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