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ARE WE LOSING THE WAR AGAINST THE RED-STRIPED SOFT SCALE INSECT?

ARE WE LOSING THE WAR AGAINST THE RED-STRIPED SOFT SCALE INSECT? The bad news is that, as of now, we appear to be losing the war against the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) . More areas are becoming infected despite the efforts of government agencies, researchers and farmers. But the good news is that the war is not over yet . We could still win this war if we finally get our act together. The RSSI was first officially documented in Bacolor, Pampanga, in June 2022. It subsequently reached the sugar-producing areas of the Visayas, particularly Negros, and the infestation has continued to expand. The uploaded material reports more than 39,000 hectares affected nationwide, with more than 37,000 hectares in Negros alone. Why is this happening? One major problem appears to be the movement of infected planting materials between islands and districts. Another is that farmers often fight the pest individually, while the pest itself does not respect farm boundaries. The crawler stage can m...
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HOW TO COMBAT THE RED-STRIPED SOFT-SCALE INSECT WITH MULTISECTORAL COOPERATION

HOW TO COMBAT THE RED-STRIPED SOFT-SCALE INSECT WITH MULTISECTORAL COOPERATION It is difficult to understand why, after four years, we are still struggling to control a pest that was first officially documented in Bacolor, Pampanga in June 2022. I am referring to the Red-Striped Soft-Scale Insect (RSSI) , identified in research materials as Pulvinaria tenuivalvata , which has become a serious threat to sugarcane, particularly in the Negros Island Region and other sugar-producing areas. The good news is that there is now a promising multisectoral effort involving the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Central Philippines State University (CPSU), RU Foundry Machine, Inc. (RUFMI), and entomologist Dr. Ravindra C. Joshi . RUFMI was represented by its President, Mr. Ramon Uy, Sr. of Bacolod City I find this cooperation particularly encouraging because it demonstrates something I have always advocated: the government, the academe and the private sector should work together when confrontin...
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BOHOL DEVELOPS A MOBILE APP TO TRACK DOWN AND COMBAT PLASTIC POLLUTION

BOHOL DEVELOPS A MOBILE APP TO TRACK DOWN AND COMBAT PLASTIC POLLUTION There is something refreshing about seeing a province outside Metro Manila come up with an innovative solution to a very serious national problem. Bohol has adopted the “PlastiZen Basura Patroller,” a citizen-science mobile application that allows residents, visitors and organizations to report plastic pollution by simply taking a photograph and submitting it anonymously. The application automatically records the location, creating geotagged information that can be used to identify pollution hotspots. Bohol has separately been expanding its provincial ecological solid-waste management structure, which makes the app particularly timely.  What makes this initiative particularly interesting is that it was developed through cooperation among the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), Bohol Island State University (BISU), UP Baguio, DOST-PCIEERD and the Provincial Government of Bohol . The ...
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HOW CAN WE CREATE MORE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS IN MANGROVE FORESTS TO MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE?

HOW CAN WE CREATE MORE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS IN MANGROVE FORESTS TO MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE? I have an idea. It is such a simple idea that it is almost a no-brainer: If we want people to protect mangrove forests, let us create more livelihoods from the forests without destroying them. I am an alumnus of the Sigma Rho Fraternity of the University of the Philippines. Years ago, two distinguished Sigma Rho alumni, former DENR Secretary Fulgencio Factoran and former Aklan Congressman Allen Quimpo, helped establish what is now known as the Bakhawan Nature Study and Eco-Park in Kalibo, Aklan. Both have passed on, but their legacy lives on. I visited the mangrove forest about ten years ago, and perhaps it was there that I became seriously interested in mangrove advocacy. The lesson I learned was fascinating: healthy mangroves support plankton; plankton support shrimp and other marine organisms; and these, in turn, attract fish. Crabs also thrive in mangrove ecosystems. But why stop there? I ...
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WHAT IS A KIDNEY DONOR CHAIN SYSTEM AND WHY NOT BUILD ONE FOR THE PHILIPPINES?

WHAT IS A KIDNEY DONOR CHAIN SYSTEM AND WHY NOT BUILD ONE FOR THE PHILIPPINES? Ask any mountaineer why he climbs mountains, and he will probably answer, "Because it's there." It has been many years since I stopped climbing mountains as a member of the UP Mountaineers, but I still remember that simple philosophy. I also remember a famous line from the television series The Six Million Dollar Man : "Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology." Those two expressions came to mind when I learned that the United States has successfully implemented what is known as a Kidney Donor Chain. Why should we build one for the Philippines? My answer is just as simple: because we have the technology. A Kidney Donor Chain, also known as a Paired Kidney Exchange, allows patients with willing but medically incompatible donors to exchange kidneys through a carefully matched chain of donations. A single altruistic donor can even trigger a series of transplants that could s...
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WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN TRUTHS BEHIND THE OMBUDSMAN'S GARBAGE TRUCKING EXPOSE?

WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN TRUTHS BEHIND THE OMBUDSMAN'S GARBAGE TRUCKING EXPOSE? For many years now, I have been writing about corruption in the hauling of municipal garbage. That is why I am glad that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has finally brought this issue into the national spotlight. In my opinion, the alleged corruption in garbage hauling could even be bigger than the much-publicized flood control scandals because it affects almost every city and municipality in the country. According to the Ombudsman, garbage hauling has become the "biggest business" of many local chief executives. That is a very strong statement. While the Ombudsman did not publicly present specific evidence during his interview, his remarks should be enough to trigger serious investigations and institutional reforms. His proposal to assign Resident Ombudsmen in local government units is certainly worth considering. However, I cannot help but ask: doesn't the Commission on Audit (COA) already as...
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HOW COULD COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT SITES BECOME THE KEYS TO REFORESTATION?

  HOW COULD COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT SITES BECOME THE KEYS TO REFORESTATION? Could watershed restoration, environmental protection, indigenous peoples' welfare, and reforestation possibly be combined into one national strategy? Many people think these are separate programs that should be managed independently. I disagree. In fact, I believe they should be integrated into one comprehensive program. Better still, why stop there? We could also incorporate wildlife protection, rewilding, food security, climate security, and sustainable livelihoods. Let me clarify one important point. Wildlife protection is not the same as rewilding. Wildlife protection means conserving the animals that still survive in their natural habitats. Rewilding goes one step further by breeding native species and restoring them to the wild where they once thrived. Likewise, reforestation is not incompatible with agriculture. That is precisely the essence of agroforestry, where trees and crops are grown...
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