Eco groups laud DENR for not burning confiscated ivory

ENVIRONMENTALISTS lauded the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for its decision to forgo the ceremonial burning this coming Friday of confiscated elephant tusks. 

Heeding the appeal of several groups of environmental advocates, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje on Sunday instructed the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) to skip the ceremonial burning and instead use a road roller to squash the tusks.   

“We welcome this enlightened decision by the DENR leadership,” Von Hernandez, President of the Quezon City-based EcoWaste Coalition, said. 

“We hope this translates to a wide ranging directive against the usual practice of burning confiscated goods.  The law is clear on the issue prohibiting open burning,” he added.  

Some 30 advocates led by EcoWaste Coalition last Thursday asked the government agency to forgo the burning of the tusks as doing so will send a wrong message to the public that open burning is acceptable. 

They also argued the act is violative of R.A. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and R.A. 8749, the Clean Air Act. 

But the groups maintained that while they strongly oppose open burning, they are supportive of the efforts “to end elephant poaching and stop illegal wildlife trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).

The coalition had earlier recommended to DENR to destroy the tusks and bury these for composting at an appropriate site within the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center to ensure that the ivory tusks are not returned to illegal trade.

 

Pope assures Filipino Catholics of spiritual solidarity at national consecration

Parishioners pay homage to the statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary after the National Consecration at the Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral in Baguio City, June 8.
 

POPE Francis assured Filipinos of his spiritual closeness and prayers as Catholic leaders led the national consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in all cathedrals, parishes, shrines and chapels throughout the country at 10 am today. 

“The Holy Father unites himself spiritually with you on this important occasion, praying that the Most Pure Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary may inspire all Filipinos to devote themselves through her, to Jesus her divine Son,” said a letter from the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.   

Bertone said the Holy Father is hoping the Filipinos’ devotion to Mary may lead them to appreciate and respect more the value of life in all its stages. 

“He hopes that devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, beating in unison with that of her unborn child, may inspire an ever greater appreciation and attention to all human life, from conception through natural death, and lead to greater service to the poorest and the weakest, those who are closest to God himself,” part of the message read.

Addressed to Archbishop Jose Palma, president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the pope’s message was relayed through the Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.