Butuan official urges public to plant trees
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY (21 December) – City Councilor Ryan Anthony Culima of this city urged the public especially the Butuanons to join and support the city government in its effort to mitigate the impact brought about by climate change.
Addressing before the members of the Bustillo clan during its 1st Grand Reunion and Christmas Party held at the covered court of Brgy. Obrero here, Councilor Culima emphasized the importance of planting trees as the city government headed by Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. is geared towards planting one million trees a year.
“I would like to enjoin the public especially the Butuanons to take part in the project of the city government to mitigate the impact brought about by climate change where creatures in this planet are starting to feel and experience,” Culima said.
Culima added, with this global problem, each one of us must do our share not only for our present generation but more importantly for the future generation.
The Bustillo clan is one of the biggest clans in Butuan City being considered as one of the “lumads” or natives of this city. (PIA-Caraga)
Bustillo clan holds 1st grand reunion, Christmas party
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY (21 December) – To celebrate the spirit of Christmas and to be able to acquaint with relatives, the Bustillo clan here recently conducted its first grand reunion and Christmas party in a simple but memorable gathering held at the covered court of Brgy. Obrero, this city.
Highlighting the reunion is the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected chapter officers inducted by Butuan City Councilor Ryan Anthony Culima, also a true-blooded Butuanon.
Inducted into office were officers of Bancasi Chapter, Babag Chapter, Pinamangculan Chapter, Ambago Chapter, San Ignacio Chapter, Doongan Chapter, and the Obrero chapter who played host to the activity.
In his speech, Mr. Edgar B. Rivero, Executive Vice President of the Bustillo Clan Organization composed of Board of Directors of every chapter expressed his thanks and gratitude to those who attended the activity.
He said the 1st grand reunion is just a prelude of the Summer Grand Reunion which is scheduled on May 2011. “I hope that our attendance this evening will double or even triple during our summer grand reunion on May next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Councilor Culima also challenged the officials and the entire clan to organize projects that may somehow help not only the entire clan of the Bustillos but also the entire Butuanons.
Culima said one of the projects that have been initiated by the city government is to protect and preserve the environment by planting trees. He said, since the city government is eyeing to plant one million trees per year, he enjoined the public to take part in doing such noble project to mitigate the impact of climate change.
With these developments, the clan through VP Rivero accepted the challenge and vowed to support the project of the city government. (PIA-Caraga)
PRO 13 Bats for Zero-Casualties on Yuletide Season
BUTUAN CITY – Police Chief Superintendent Nelson Nario, Deputy Regional Director for Administration of Police Regional Office 13 has ordered all uniformed PNP personnel in Caraga Region to refrain from indiscriminate firing so that the region can attain zero casualties during the holiday season.
“Sealing policemen's firearms does not, however, mean that they could not use their guns in pursuing criminals, they could use their firearms in a proper way against lawless elements so long as they can explain why they fired their guns during legitimate operations,” said DRDA Nario.
The same sealed firearms will be subject for re-inspection and checking on January 3, 2011, right after the celebration of the New Year to see to it that said firearms were not fired and whether the personnel complied with the directives.
DRDA Nario further disclosed any firearm that will be found with altered or tampered seal will be dealt with accordingly and whoever is the owner of the gun will face appropriate administrative charge.
“The public can help a lot by pinpointing persons who illegally discharged their firearms during the celebration, and we appealed to all gun holders to be responsible as PRO 13 intensified its campaign to attain zero casualties,” urged DRDA Nario.
Legarda tells Filipinos: Be frugal and eco-friendly in celebrating yuletide season
As millions of Filipinos celebrate the holiday season organizing and attending numerous parties and holiday events, Senator Loren Legarda has urged everyone to be mindful of the environment.
Legarda said that enjoying the season does not entail sacrificing the environment through tons of trash if celebrations are made frugal and eco-friendly.
“Every holiday season, from the abundance of gifts and food we exchange, we also generate heaps of trash from leftovers, gift wrappers, containers and utensils. At a time when our environment has become more fragile, as we feel in the impacts of climate change, it is best if we practice being thrifty and eco-friendly,” she said.
“We should refrain from preparing an excessive amount of food or getting more than what we can consume to avoid wastage. Instead of using disposable food ware we can just use our washable plates and regular cutlery. We can also recycle the wrappers, boxes and ribbons from gifts that we receive. These are just simple acts, which if we practice would be a great gift to Mother Earth,” she added.
Legarda also supported the EcoWaste Coalition’s call to use banana leaves on bamboo woven plates instead of polystyrene plastic (Styrofoam) to reduce plastic trash.
The Senator noted the group’s waste audit of Manila Bay last November 28 which showed that 75.55% of the trash collected in the area was composed of plastic discards, 20.47% of which are polystyrene plastic.
Data from the National Solid Waste Management Commission also showed that an individual generates about 0.7 kilo of garbage on an average day, but it increases up to 1.2 kilos during the holiday season.
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the season through grand celebrations, but if we want to enjoy our future holidays, too, we have to be mindful of the effects of our actions. In the end, what happens to our environment will ultimately affect us, too,” Legarda stressed. (Office of Senator Loren Legarda/PIA-Caraga)
