According to recent reports by The Philippine Red Cross, the death toll due to Typhoon Sendong, with an international

name of Washi, has already reached a staggering 569 (as of 1:01 pm, December 18, 2011, Philippine time), with almost 450 people still on the missing list and many villages remaining isolated and unreached by overwhelmed disaster-response personnel. The typhoon hit the south on Friday with Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan as the two of the hardesthit cities. According to the Associated Press, most of the dead were asleep Friday night when raging floodwaters tore through their homes from swollen rivers and cascaded from mountain slopes following 12 hours of pounding rain in the southern Mindanao region. Furthermore, forecaster Leny Ruiz said that the records show that storms that follow Washis track come only once in about 12 years and the complacency of the people is one of the reasons why the fatality was that so high. Nobody saw this coming and the fact that this tragedy reminds us of our own ordeal with Ondoy way back 2009 is one reason enough to help our kababayans to face this dark tunnel of great anguish and painful death. And now that the Christmas spirit is almost palpable in the air, let us give a helping hand in the form of simple donations or even sincere and heart-felt prayers for the people who perished and for their families grieving for this great loss. This is one of the trying moments that we need to awaken the bayanihan spirit in each of everyone of us. The whole of Definitely Filipino is very saddened about what happened and is expressing its heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones

Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you." - John Muir
Just a month ago, a powerful typhoon the worst ever perhaps in my province literally took us by the storm. Wow, the typhoon was so destructive and devastating that the tremendous damage it had made will surely break the record for what is worse with worst. Typhoon "Pepeng" battered our province Pangasinan literally black and blue. Many towns here experienced how to deal with a deluge, house-deep floods we're indeed sweeping. In a town in San Fabian Pangasinan an accounted report of houses in nearby rivers were rooted out and carried away with the strong currents, and many perished with that lonely scenario. In Baguio City, the typhoon and in tandem with the heavy rains triggered a soil erosion that dumped many lives... and what is saddening about this scenario... is that the folks here would be willing to trade their crops (mostly vegetables) for coffins, a truly sad state of poverty that grapples the poor amid a crisis. Natural disasters are indeed erratic, but having a knowledge how it happens would really help. I hope that this hub will continue to ride on the crest of the momentum of the previous hubs related to environment that I made.

Factors in the Occurences of Natural Disasters - Here are the causes of "Climate Change" and it includes: agriculture and cattle-raising, dams and megaprojects, forest fires, Illegal and legal logging, mangroves and shrimp farming, mining, oil and gas production and usage, and plantations. Global warming, and slash-and-burn farming as the other aggravating factors in the presence of powerful natural disasters that inflicts great damage to properties, source of livelihood and infrastructures all over the planet especially the South Asia and South East Asia. Pollution - The pollution emanating from different industrial zones all over the world, vehicles, CFCs from our air-conditioned units and refrigerators, and burnt plastic damages the Ozone Layer that protects our planet from the heat of the sun and us humans, also adds significantly to the Global Warming we are experiencing now. Deforestation - An island nation in the Caribbean, Haiti is reported to have a history of deforestation. Plagued with social problems and population, the forests are indeed threatened. Mudslides smothered thousands of lives a testament of the effects brought by massive deforestation in the country. Deforestation due to "kaingin" or slash-and-burn farming, growing populace, and illegal logging is stripping our forests of the trees that protect us from floods and serves as a habitat to different animals, causing mudslide, soil erosion and landslide.
Environmental law governs any environmental issues regarding individuals, businesses, and government entities. Environment law includes regulations and cleanup regarding hazardous or chemical materials and the consequences of individuals who violate environment statutes; it provides environmental protection for prospective purchasers of environmentally impacted property; and environmental law policy prohibits the dumping of toxic waste or other hazardous materials in our lakes, rivers, streams, and public land. Environment law covers a broad area of the law that regulates the statutes concerning the environment. Environmental law cases can include a wide variety of consumer-concerning events such as pollution, chemical spills, toxic waste dumping, wetland destruction, land development, solid waste, natural resource usage, wildlife protection and Native American Indian Rights.

the top ten environmetal issues is water pollution,soil pollution,air pollution,typhoons,floods,landslides,volcanic eruption,earthquakes,tsunami, and toxic waste

Typhoon Sendong: Did illegal logging cause flash flooding in Philippines?

Typhoon Sendong death toll rises to 1,000. Philippine President Benigno Aquino orders an investigation into national disaster, wonders if violations of logging ban exacerbated Typhoon Sendong damages.

"First priority is to relocate to areas that no longer pose a danger to them," Aquino told a meeting in Cagayan de Oro, issuing instructions to implement disaster mitigation programmes, including reforestation. Aquino said he had formed a task force to investigate the reasons behind the disaster and to determine whether a nationwide logging ban had been violated. He declared a state of national disaster, a move intended to release greater funding, and ordered the speedy restoration of power and drinking water supplies in all affected villages. "If we want this tragedy to be the last of its kind, we need to learn from our mistakes," he saidd."

Illustrative of the problems faced by concerned citizens who seek government action in remedying an environmental problem is the class action suit brought by the Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay. The 1999 suit seeks to hold the Philippine Government and all polluting corporations jointly liable and responsible for the clean-up of Manila Bay. Among the 15 government defendants named in the suit are the DENR, Metro Manila Development Authority, Metropolitan Waterworks, and the Philippine Ports Authority. In the complaint the Citizens asked for cleanup of the Bay, installation, operation and maintenance of adequate sewage systems, waste water treatment facilities, recycling and disposal facilities, hazardous and toxic waste treatment facility, health studies, information and education campaigns, restocking with native fish, enhancing monitoring of illegal fishing operations, and compliance with septic and sludge removal rules.155

Environmental Management: Our initiatives promote improved regulatory environmental compliance and conformity to voluntary systems through the promotion of sector specific conformity assessment systems. These systems provide environmental impact and auditing support while actively supporting clean production and pollution prevention technologies in numerous sectors, including agrifood, energy and water utilities, mining, manufacturing, and tourism.

Emerging markets face complex environmental challenges. Urban populations cope with pollutants and inadequate water supplies. Agriculture, forest, and biodiversity assets are overexploited. Production systems must internalize energy and waste costs, or climate change will further impact competitiveness.

What is "Climate Adaptation"? Adaptation is not about carbon emissions or greenhouse gases. In that respect, it's less Al Gore and more Bob the Builder. It's how managers lower risks from environmental impacts caused by climate change. Things like building levees to protect homes from floods; managing forests to prevent droughts; building smarter, stronger infrastructure; and preparing public health officials for increased rates of pests and

diseases. These things are managed by smart people. I help them understand how climate will affect their fields so they make better decisions.

Tropical storm Sendong is shaping up to be one of the deadliest cyclones to hit the Philippines in the last 12 years. with this targic happened in Philippines, many Filipino people died

The flash floods caused by the typhoon in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Northern Mindanao and Negros Oriental caused the deaths of 1,257 people, according to government data. Over 45,000 homes have been damaged, leaving thousands homeless.

FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

THE LAW ON ILLEGAL LOGGING
Section 68 of PD 705 as amended by Executive Order No. 277 (1987) is the law governing illegal logging. It provides: Sec. 68. Cutting, Gathering and/or Collecting Timber, or Other Forest Products Without License. Any person who shall cut, gather, collect, or remove timber or other forest products from any forest land, or timber from any forest land, or timber from alienable and disposable public land, or from private land, without any authority, or possess timber or other forest products without the legal documents as required under existing forest laws and regulations, shall be punished with the penalties imposed under Article 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code: Provided, that in case of partnerships, associations, or corporations, the officers who ordered the cutting, gathering, collection or possession shall be liable, and if such officers are aliens, they shall, in addition to the penalty, be deported without further proceedings on the part of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation. The Court shall further order the confiscation in favor of the government of the timber or any forest products cut, gathered, collected, removed, or possessed, as well as the machinery, equipment, implements and tools illegally used in the area where the timber or forest products are found. Sec. 68 A. Administrative Authority of the Department Head or His Duly Authorized Representative to Order Confiscation. In all cases of violations of this Code or other forest laws, rules and regulations, the Department Head or his duly authorized representative, may order the confiscation of any forest products illegally cut, gathered, removed, or possessed or abandoned, and all conveyances used either by land, water

or air in the commission of the offense and to dispose of the same in accordance with pertinent laws, regulations or policies on the matter.
PHILIPPINE FOREST AND WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT: SITUATIONER AND CORE ISSUES 11

Prior to EO 277, prosecution of illegal logging cases was difficult. The State has to prove beyond reasonable doubt the various elements of the crime such as the cutting, gathering, collecting, or removing timber from forest lands or from alienable and disposable land. In EO 277, mere possession of timber or forest products, without the legal documents consummates the crime of illegal logging. Likewise, EO 277 has authorized the DENR to conduct administrative confiscation proceedings in illegal logging cases. In the case of Paat vs. Court of Appeals (1997), the Supreme Court has occasioned to rule that when an administrative confiscation has been initiated by DENR, the courts can no longer issue replevins, until such time that the administrative proceedings are terminated. This has somehow cured the exasperating experience before of DENR forest officers who, risking lives and limb proceed with the detection, apprehension and seizure of forest products or timber, only for these timber and forest products to be

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND TENURE HOLDERS IN FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT

DENR
Under Section 5 (k) of EO 192, DENR shall assume responsibility for the assessment, development, protection, conservation, licensing, and regulation as provided for by law, where applicable, of all natural resources; the regulation and monitoring of service contractors, licensees, lessees, and permittees for the extraction, exploration, development and utilization of natural resources products.

LGUs
Under RA 7160 the following are the powers of LGUs:
12 THE

To share with national government the responsibility in the management and maintenance of ecological balance within their territorial jurisdiction. Specific: For Cities and Municipalities Pursuant to national policies and subject to supervision, control and review of the DENR, implementation of community based forestry projects which include integrated social forestry programs and similar projects; management and control of communal forests with an area not exceeding fifty (50) square kilometers; establishment of tree parks, greenbelts, and similar forest development projects. For