[...] Blog Addicts : Bloggers unite for environment [...]

Hail the eco-warriors, its about time we unite against those who abuse the environment. Up to now even the basic issues of cleaning up the garbage and relocating squatters from waterways to decent dwellings (despite all the government land that lay idle and undeveloped)

I have suggested this before to people in government. Some adopted it part, some did not.

1. Make a credible census of who are now living illegally in the waterways. Have credible NGOs do this, not the government.

2. Make a satellite real time survey of these areas while the census is being conducted. Good satellite surveys is now relatively inexpensive compared to the past decade. Again have a group of credible NGOs do this.

3. Find a place where the squatters can be relocated if possible not far from where they live with access to electricity and water.

4. Next build basic structures allied with housing NGOs when possible. Gawad Kalinga had done this in an efficient, honest and affordable manner. There is no reason that this cannot be done in the same efficient and honest manner. Small parks, schools, small library with museum (for heritage purposes) and barangay multipurpose hall included.

5. Give the squatters a deadline date to decide whether to transfer to the new housing or not. Those who agree must have fingerprint scan for their whole family and dependents where the NGOs and government both have duplicate copies of this (to prevent possible future bureaucratic corruptions). They cannot sell or rent out the new dwelling they have. Squatters caught squatting again in other places should be fingerprint scanned once more and if they are the same individuals previously awarded housing; they must be jailed immediately - no ifs not buts.

6. Esteros and creeks cleared of squatters should be cleaned then be covered (on the top only) with modular cement slabs which can be lifted by small cranes, set in place over the estero without blocking the water way, put cement drainage grills and cement manholes (steel ones gets easily stolen), then put soil, then build garden parks which the barangay will be responsible for its maintenance and making sure that no vagrants or squatters return to the area.

7. The former squatter colony on the estero is now gone. The waterway is protected from further garbage as overhead cement slabs and a garden park now covers the cleaned (now underground) estero. We make the community cooler because of the garden and the people remaining in the area would be happy with the new cool garden which replaced the ugly garbage strewn estero.

8. Require that public utility vehicles in these areas would be Philippine made electric jeeps or tricycles. Tri-sikads are also acceptable. No foreign or China made electric vehicles allowed. We must make our own indigenous vehicles. The jobs and techs must go to the Filipinos. We must not be too dependent on foreign made products especially in clean energy industries.

9. Everybody wins; lesser floods, better drainage, less diseases, no garbage, happily relocated squatters (who cannot squat again due to checks and balance), a green environment, cooler environment, people gets better disposition, cleaner air, a new recreation area, a happier populace.

10. The important key here is the NGOs must be fully authorized to take the lead in checks and balances while the government provides additional equipment and resources. Some may say this is too expensive, however what are the money in government for? It should be for the people and this is DEFINITELY pro-people. If we check the losses we have caused by corruption, these losses are in itself enough to implement this long term vision. Besides, many cities are capable of implementing this if they want to.

10. Make sure a master plan is in place so that succeeding mayors cannot do slapdash changes in the program. The program must not be co-terminus to elected leaders, whether they be a barangay captain, mayor, or even a president of the nation.This must be implemented to very end with no delays or fund reallocation.

11. Get your butts moving and those in power should do this honestly and with integrity. NGOs should be strict in monitoring such that corruption do not pervade in the system. Make sure that there are no “fly-by night” squatters who will simply arrive protected by corrupt men and women in power.

12. If this works in the Philippines, this would also likely work in many other nations.

Is this too tough to handle for those who rather be corrupt and do the things in the regular inept bureaucracy? Find another job.

For the honest NGOs out there, please consider this proposal.

Hi Erwin,

Quite interested in this project! Are there any efforts in Philippines/Asian region to do this kind of thing for environment? How can we mobilize this kind of effort too?

Cathy

I personally signed for DENR Lito Atienza to joint this BLOG, unconditionally. Pity the environment of the Philippines for having him the Secretary of DENR.

Go for it!
Give chance for those who wanted to express their thoughts!
Meeting of minds and creativity will be explore.
Gather and ideas for good!
Keep up the good work

[...] Blog Addicts : Bloggers unite for environment [...]

[...] Blog Addicts : Bloggers unite for environment [...]

Hi Cathy,

I’m not aware of any similar local blogging event as massive as this. But since this is being done on the Web, we Filipino bloggers can make our voices heard.

thanks for the feedback.

Kabayan! Salamat sa mga inputs. Might want to share these inputs to the rest of the world on October 15th!

thanks for dropping by!

I am very sorry to be off-topic on this one, but I really think that Filipino bloggers should take a look on this.

This is a video of Naruto Shippuuden with Filipino song and Tagalog lyrics with an ABS-CBN logo on the top left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZc_5Hptus

while this one is the dattebayo fansub website news that talks about that video posting on youtube and the concurrent release of episode 26 of Shippuuden:
http://dattebayo.com/pr/43

The following issues somewhat turns the heat up and everyone else is being racist against us Filipinos:
1. The video on YouTube is fan-made and not by ABS-CBN, for the fact that Naruto episodes aired in Philippines are still from past seasons.
2. Dattebayo claims that Filipino has stolen their opening credits.

About Naruto:
Naruto is a Japanese anime about the life of a ninja and his friends and Shippuden is the current season being aired in Japan where Naruto is about 13 or 14 years old.

The one being aired in Philippines is when Naruto is still 8 or 9 perhaps or maybe younger.

About Dattebayo:
Dattebayo does not own Naruto or an official for that sense, but they produce decent translations and quite popular among fans of Naruto.

My concern is that everyone who downloads from Dattebayo website and found and read that news, the very thing that we build all these years, the Filipino pride, will shatter if not handled properly.

Please take a look on this while it is just two days old. I hope we are not too late.

BTW, it’s completely fine with me if you opt not to post this as comment.

My best regards and more power,
Wilson, Filipino programmer from Japan
dyinyus@yahoo.com

Your Online News has joined in.

http://youronlinenews.blogspot.com/2007/08/take-blog-action.html

[...] Blog Addicts : Bloggers unite for environment [...]

A friend of mine called it “commercial mobilization” or “zombification of bloggers” but I personally thought it’s a very cool concept. And to support both the initiative and the saving environment movement, i signed up too! Someone now has to remind me to blog about it. haa

Thanks for sharing!

[...] read Erwin Oliva’s previous blog post. digg_url=’http://inquirerbloggers.net/blogaddicts/2007/10/09/video-of-blog-action-day/’; [...]