January 2008 Archives

INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla interviewed Greenpeace Southeast Asia toxics campaigner Beau Baconguis, who talked about the environmental activist group's campaign to increase awareness on the water pollution problem in the Philippines and the rest of the world.
Online Videos by Veoh.com

By Alex Villafania INQUIRER.net THE PHILIPPINE Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has refurbished its upper air station in Legazpi City that will cover the Bicol region. The refurbishment is part of PAGASA's efforts to complement the three other upper air stations in Laoag, Tanay and Cebu. Upper air stations are responsible for monitoring and forecasting in real time the movement of thunderstorms, rainfall, flashfloods and ash fall in specific regions. These facilities send weather balloons with attached wind speed and temperature measuring equipment. The Legazpi upper air station was damaged during typhoon "Reming" in 2006. While the station did operate afterwards, some of its equipment could not be fully utilized. In a press conference, Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro said the cost of rebuilding and upgrading the equipment of the Legazpi station would amount to P18 million, at least P11 million of which will be used just for the weather balloons. In a day, an upper air station sends out at least two disposable weather balloons, costing between P26,000 to P30,000. The number of daily balloon releases could be as high as three during inclement weather. Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul noted that the upper air stations, particularly in the Bicol region, will be complemented by additional seaborne meteorological buoys and wind sheer equipment. He also noted that PAGASA will be putting up several Doppler radars, which are more accurate than regular radars in monitoring the specific movement of storms affecting the country. Alabastro said that part of their upgrading plans for PAGASA is adding more weather forecast professionals in the Philippines, deployed in different regions in the country, particularly those that are frequented by storms.

By Alex Villafania INQUIRER.net THE SOON-TO-BE opened Manila Ocean Park (MOP) has tied up with the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) largely to highlight public awareness, as well as to monitor the MOP's adherence to local and international laws on animal acquisition and maintenance. The partnership aims to strengthen the WWF's public information on the protection of marine ecosystems in the Philippines through the educational materials provided by the MOP to visitors. The WWF will also ensure that the MOP does not include protected or endangered species of marine life as part of its exhibits.
Online Videos by Veoh.com MOP president Lim Chee Yong told reporters that the park, which will open in February this year, has been given strict limitations not to include protected species of marine flora and fauna, which includes wild corals, sea turtles and all marine mammals. The only time that the MOP can maintain such protected animals is if some caught specimens are unable to fend for themselves due to physical injury but otherwise, the MOP cannot keep such creatures. MOP will also hire marine sciences experts, mostly coming from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute. One expert is UP assistant professor of Environmental Science Benjamin Vallejo, who said the MOP can also serve as a research facility. Potential studies they could be conducting are human-assisted coral farming as well as testing the effects of global climate change on local species of coral. WWF vice chairman Jose Lorenzo Tan said the MOP is a good venue for informing the public regarding the importance of the country's marine ecosystems, as well as the dangers of disregarding it. While the MOP will only maintain up to 300 species of marine creatures, Tan said this number already represents the sea ecosystem of the Philippines. Tan said the WWF will continuously provide the MOP with the latest information on marine sciences and will collaborate with them on the educational materials to be developed for their environmental conservation drives. The MOP will initially open its oceanarium, a huge facility housing several water tanks. It will then build a park and a hotel after the opening. The entire facility will cost approximately P1 billion to build.

By Alex Villafania INQUIRER.net INDEPENDENCE from fossil fuels by using local flora for biofuel development is a key component in reducing ozone-depleting carbon emissions, according to the head of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). In a press conference on climate change, ICRISAT Director General William Dar also pointed out that the Philippines has enough locally available plants that can be used for soil conservation and managing food requirements.
Online Videos by Veoh.com Dar stressed that the impending global climate change has changed the economies of many countries, especially those in the arid and semi-arid tropics of which the Philippines is included. He said that there are warning signs pointing toward food supply problems, storms, flooding and droughts that could adversely affect a nation's way of life. "Global climate change is already affecting everyone. We can't solve it but we can definitely reduce its effects on the people," Dar said. For one, he said the Philippines should increase its biofuel development programs. In which case, sweet sorghum and jatropha are prime products for creating bio-ethanol and bio-diesel. He said ICRISAT is already working with the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Agriculture to teach farmers how to increase production, as well as scientists in extracting the necessary materials for biofuel development from these plants. Dar also said sweet sorghum is also useful as a flood deterrent as it absorbs excess water from the ground, preventing it from loosening. During the dry season, sweet sorghum lasts much longer than most crops as it retains water. Dar noted that Filipino farmers should start changing their seasonal planting methods to accommodate other plants that can be sustained during the longer dry season. Plants such as peanuts retain moisture in the ground long enough for other plants to grow. Other moisture-retaining plants include pearl millet, pigeonpea and groundnut, all of which can also adapt to high temperatures. Dar said ICRISAT is getting enough support from the government in terms of promotion of ICRISAT's mandate to help farming communities and biofuel development. Aside from the DOST and DA, ICRISAT is also working with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, several state colleges and Universities, and the Department of Energy. Climate change has become a main subject of concern in the Philippines, especially with the onset of powerful storms and long dry spells. Government initiatives to alleviate the effects of global climate change in a local scale include developing new forms of energy sources, soil conservation implementation, among others.

HERE'S a YouTube clip from the PBS show "NOVAscienceNOW" that sheds some light on the mysteries of dark matter.