Republic Cement Wins Presidential Awards for Environmental Preservation Excellence and Best Mining Forest

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BAGUIO CITY – Republic Cement & Building Materials (RCBM) once again won big at the recently held 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) last November 17, 2023 at the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, Camp John Hay, Baguio City.

Representatives from Republic Cement receive Presidential Awards for Environmental Performance and Best Mining Forest at the recently concluded 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC).

The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) in cooperation and partnership with Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) and Mines & Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recognized RCBM for its achievements and best practices in Quarry Operations, Safety, and excellence in Mining Forestry and quarry rehabilitation.

Republic Cement is proud to have received the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) for Quarry Operations for its Batangas and Teresa plant, the highest honor awarded in the industry, while its Bulacan plant received the Platinum Award in the same category. The PMIEA recognizes companies who are distinguished for superior performance in health and safety, environmental management, reforestation, and social development and management.

Republic Cement Bulacan plant was also recognized with the Best Mining Forest – Non-Metallic Category while its Teresa Plant received the 3rd Runner-up commendation in the same category. Its Batangas Plant was also recognized as a runner up for Safest Quarry Operations.

“While this serves as a testament to our best practices, more importantly, it is a recognition of our commitment to the shared growth we endeavor for with our communities and the environments we operate within,” shared RCBM President Lloyd Vicente. “We look forward to rising to the challenge of doing even more moving forward to push the responsible management of environmental and natural resources even further,” he added.

Republic Cement thanks PMSEA and government partners DENR and MGB for the prestigious awards and also extends its’ congratulations to other industry peers and awardees.

Through this recognition, Republic Cement’s continues its unceasing commitment to the safe and sustainable operation of our quarries, the continued growth and development of its partner communities; and the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the environment towards building a greener, Stronger Republic.

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About Republic Cement

Republic Cement is a leading local cement manufacturing and distribution company in the Philippines with a nationwide footprint. Together with its subsidiaries, it focuses on being the trusted solutions partner for building a greener, stronger Republic. It is backed by the global expertise of CRH, a leading building materials company headquartered in Ireland, and Aboitiz, a diversified Filipino business conglomerate recognized as one of the best-managed companies in Asia. For more information, visit www.republiccement.com

Ten native tree species up for species upgrade

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Tall with beautiful and bold yellow flowers, the Bagoadlau (Xanthostemon philippinensis) is a sight to behold. Found in the forests of Aurora, Camarines Sur, Samar, and Surigao del Sur, it is the hardest and densest of ironwoods, best used for construction. It is also one of the many tree species endemic to the Philippines. 

Unfortunately, rampant logging activities have reduced the Philippines’ once lush forest cover, threatening the species of bagoadlau and other native tree species. As the country began to industrialize, forests were cleared out for timber and for space to develop. To refresh these areas, the government and many private organizations have initiated different greening and other environmental programs. 

However, many of these greening programs are done indiscriminately, planting popular and familiar tree species like Mahogany, Acacia, and Gmelina, which are all foreign and exotic. Unknown to many people, these exotic tree species do more harm to the environment than good. The exotic species invade the biodiversity of our forests and disrupt its balance. This struck uncertainty whether our future generations will still be able to see the beautiful yellow flowers of the Bagoadlau. 

Thankfully, there was still hope in saving our forests. In 2008, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the largest vertically-integrated geothermal producer of the country, launched its BINHI program, a species conservation program that focuses on native tree species. A total of 96 threatened native tree species have been prioritized for this search and rescue program as their numbers have been dwindling, with some even believed to be extinct, making the program a pioneer in corporate-led reforestation programs in the country. Many of these identified species can only be found in the Philippines like Malinoag, Philippine teak, Batikuling, Yakal-yamban and the five endemic iron wood species – the Mangkono, Mapilig, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre Mangkono, and Palawan Mangkono. 

The EDC BINHI team’s arduous search throughout most of the Philippines came into fruition as the 96 identified threatened species were all successfully found in our country’s forests. 

Going beyond rescue 

The BINHI team did not stop there. Just rescuing these tree species was not enough; the next challenge they faced was to multiply and propagate these species. 

To achieve this, EDC has continuously forested the watersheds within its geothermal reservations. Moreover, the BINHI team now has over 150 different partners from different academic and non-governmental organizations, all of which dedicate a specific area for planting of these tree species. 

The BINHI team, then, provides technical support and expertise related to the care of these trees, allowing for their healthy growth. These strategies ensure that more native tree species will be planted in many other areas beyond watersheds within EDC geothermal site. 

Moreover, to further achieve the goal of propagating these species, EDC entered a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau in 2016 under its Adopt a Wildlife Species Program, where selected threatened native trees under the BINHI program will have their ecological statuses updated, as a proof of their successful propagation. This is also in support of the government’s reforestation efforts. Under the partnership, 35 threatened species are targeted for upgrading within three years. 

Entering the partnership has allowed EDC to contribute to the national biodiversity conservation program, focusing on the updating of the Philippine red list of threatened tree species, the protection of the identified trees in surveyed areas, and the planting of these species to save them from extinction. 

Intensive inventory and geo-tagging were done on the first 10 species for status updating from 2016 and 2017. The results of these activities have shown that, through the propagation efforts made by the BINHI program, these 10 species now have enough numbers to have their ecological statuses upgraded with the DENR. These 10 species for status upgrading are the Mapilig, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre Mangkono, Palawan Mangkono, Mangkono, Samar Gisok, Dalingdingan, Malabayabas, Yakal-malibato, and Yakal-kaliot, most of which are known for their strong and durable wood. 

Scientific breakthroughs 

Currently, the BINHI program is still the only corporate-led greening program that focuses on the rescue and propagation of threatened native trees, so the results of the inventory and geo-tagging are considered new and pioneering to the scientific community. 

Hence, the results will be submitted not just to the DENR for the updating of their ecological statuses, but also to different scientific journals, as contribution to the scientific community. 

With the success of updating the first ten species, 25 more species are still in the process of undergoing inventory and geo-tagging, with the next 10 species slated for upgrading this 2018, and the last 15 species in 2019. 

The BINHI (Filipino for seedling) program lived up to its name. It has planted and spread seedlings to grow for the future generation. This success means our future generations will still be able to see the striking and beautiful flowers of the Bagoadlau and other native tree species. 

Tall and adorned with bright yellow flowers, the bagoadlau is the hardest and densest of all Philippine ironwood trees. It is also one of the ten (10) threatened native tree species for updating of ecological status with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2017, after the successful inventory and geo-tagging of these species. These native tree species were propagated under the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) BINHI project, which focuses on native tree species rescue, preservation, and propagation. 

The Bagoadlau distinguishes itself from other Philippine ironwood trees through its stunning flowers, which exhibit a vibrant yellow color and stamens that resemble the rays of the sun.

Boracay to be closed for 6 months for rehabilitation

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Philippine resort island Boracay to be closed for 6 months for rehabilitation. President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of three government agencies to close Boracay down completely for six months beginning April 26 to start its rehabilitation.. 

"Boracay [is] closed for six months effective 26 April," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said. Harry Roque shared that Duterte made the order during a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace late on Wednesday. The recommendation was made by the task force composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The temporary closure is seen by the National Government as a short-term solution to address the environmental woes hounding Boracay.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed Roque's statement, saying that Duterte has indeed approved the "total closure" of the country's most famous tourist destination.

Guevarra said a calamity fund will be activated to help those who will affected by the shutdown, including the residents and the thousands of resort workers who will be displaced.

The island, which has a total land area of 1,064 hectares, has more than 56,000 population, according to government figures.

Duterte has earlier said that he supports the recommendation of three government departments to shut down Boracay for six months to give way to the massive clean-up on the island.

Duterte, who likened the island to a "cesspool," has ordered a crackdown on the island after learning that many of the establishments there have no proper sewerage system and emptying their waste directly into the sea.

Since Duterte gave the order, the government started dismantling illegal structures erected in forest lands and on the beach.

The popular resort island's powdery white sand and calm blue waters attract 2 million visitors yearly.

Biodiversity Bazaar At Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Opens October 15

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The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in partnership with EnPraxis, Inc. is organizing a Demonstration of Biodiversity-Friendly Bazaar to be held at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC), Quezon City.

This is in line with one of the goals of BMB, to promote biodiversity-friendly practices such as the development of Biodiversity-friendly enterprise. These are economic activities and practices of micro, small and medium enterprises, local government units and people’s organizations that promote the sustainable use of biological resources, create wealth and value and open opportunities for the equitable sharing of benefits among stakeholders and in the protection of the environment.

EnPraxis (LUGAR Advocacy Cooperative) envisions creating Agro-Ecological Hubs that pilot, incubate and model Ecopreneurship towards inclusive land and enterprise development. 

The Bazaar will be held every weekends from October 15 to December 2016. The event shall be a venue for local producers and community partners within protected areas, Biodiversity Partnership Program (BPP) sites, among others to showcase their products.

As an enterprise engaged in activities that promote the sustainable use of biological resources, EnPraxis invites the public, individuals and organizations to join in promoting environment-friendly products.

For exhibitors of social enterprise, organic and /or environment-friendly products and enterprises, kindly email Ms. Maritess V. Agayatin of the Caves, Wetlands and other Ecoystems Division at (02) 925-8950 or at cawed@bmb.gov.ph. 

For visitors, the park fees apply: PhP8.00 for adults, PhP5.00 for students and free for Senior Citizens and PWDs.