TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016
CLENRO, partners hold river clean-up drive
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In an effort to prevent the sprouting of water hyacinths along the Cagayan de Oro River, the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) and its partners conducted a river clean-up drive on June 24.
CLENRO Head Edwin Dael said water hyacinths can cause adverse effects on the river’s biodiversity, particularly on natural wetlands, native aquatic plants, destroy habitats of water organisms, unstable water temperature, among others. Safer River, Life Saver Foundation, Golden Friendship Eagles Club, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Unit 10, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), CDO Dragon Boat Team, barangays Carmen, 17, 10,
and Kauswagan, and Consolacion Sand and Gravel Quarry Association supported the activity. Water hyacinth is one of the fastest growing plants known and it reproduces primarily by way of runner or stolons, which eventually form daughter plants. CLENRO used the physical control in handling the water hyacinth and mechanical removal is seen to be the best short-term solution to the proliferation of the plant.(CIO/PIA10)
Student biologists win awards in National Biodiversity confab ILIGAN CITY – For four straight years, the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI) have dominated the competition, and all the winning papers this year were products of the collaborative partnership between MSU-IIT and the PBCFI. Biology students did the Institute proud once more when they received the most number of awards during the 25th Philippine Biodiversity Symposium of the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (formerly known as Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines) held last April 2016 at the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan City,
Oriental Mindoro. This year’s symposium highlighted 25 years of Collaborative Biodiversity Conservation in the Philippines: Global Relevance, Local Realities. A total of 10 undergraduate researches were selected as finalists for the Best Undergraduate Paper Presentation Award (Oral category)
while 31 undergraduate studies competed for the Best Undergraduate Paper Presentation Award (Poster category). Rafael Ryno I. Sanchez won first place for Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation for the paper entitled “Altitudinal distribution and habitat requirements of stream frogs in Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP), Negros Island.” His thesis advisers are Prof. Karyl Marie F. Dagoc and Prof. Dennis A. Warguez. Shaira Grace B. Pios won Third Place for Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation for the paper entitled “Distribution, abundance and habitat requirements of endangered babblers in MKNP, Negros Island, Philippines.” Pios is one of the thesis advisees of Warguez. Lara Fe G. Seguia, another advisee of Warguez won third place for Best Undergraduate Poster
Presentation for the paper entitled “Distribution, abundance and habitat preference of doves and pigeons in MKNP, Negros Island.” For the first time in the history of BCSP/WCSP symposium, a Special Award was given to Cecilio D. Docoy, Jr. for a Most Entertaining Poster Presentation for the paper entitled “Diversity and abundance of canopy birds along a habitat gradient in MKNP, Negros Island.” Docoy’s thesis advisers are Prof. Beverly M. Cagod and Prof. Warguez. Sanchez, Pios, Seguia and Docoy are senior BS Biology students majoring in Zoology from the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Science and Mathematics. Lisa Marie J. Paguntalan and Godfrey Philip C. Jakosalem of PBCFI, on the other hand, served as the external advisers. (Christine Cherry E. Solon, CSM/MSU-IIT/PIA-10 LDN)
Camiguin celebrates annual water festival MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – The island-province celebrated anew one of the biggest and oldest tradition where people gather for picnic and games at the beach in honor to the feast of St. John the Baptist held every 24th of June. The San Juan sa Hibok-hibok in Mambajao town. Festival 2016 kicked-off on June 23 A fluvial procession highlighted with sports event at the Lagundi Beach the festivity—locals splashed colorful
decorations on their pump boats as they go around the coast for the religious ritual. It’s the only feast in the province that everybody partakes, locals await for this year after year, leaving almost every shore occupied with families enjoying the water and food they bring along to partake with family and friends. One of the biggest crowd is in Mambajao as the local government
units and national line agencies pool together in one area to witness the games, water sports competition, search for Mr. & Ms Hibok-hibokan, later capped with a shower party. (JCV/ PIA 10)