ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local government and private officials here are now taking steps to eliminate Zamboanga City from an existing list as a "hot spot" in the illegal trade of wildlife species in the country.
"Just like in human trafficking, the seaport city of Zamboanga as well as the entire Zamboanga Peninsula are considered to be the major smuggling routes for illegal commodities and this includes the trade of highly profitable wildlife," said councilor Juan Climaco P. Elago, who is now crafting the local version of the Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.
According to Elago, a "culture of concern" among the people must be created to combat the illegal trade of animals."Unmonitored demands for exotic pets, rare cuisines, and traditional medicines are driving exotic animals and many other species to the brink of extinction, threatening global biodiversity.
In the whole context, the awareness of people and the public concern are vital to stop this illegal trade, which is the second largest form of black market commerce, just behind drug smuggling and before arms," he told Mindanao Examiner during a recent public hearing of wildlife ordinance with different sectors here.
"We believe the main problems in the country are the lack of investment in wildlife law enforcement and the light punishment under wildlife trade laws does not act as a deterrent to criminals," he said.
The local law, which he said is expected to be passed early next year, will be the first local ordinance in the country and will further give the necessary powers to enforcement agencies. Even plain citizens can under the law make citizen's arrest. Moreover, maximum penalties are increased to five years, which will enable an immediate arrest of offenders.
Republic Act 9147 of 2001 defines wildlife trade as "the act of engaging in the exchange, exportation or importation, purchase or sale of wildlife, their derivatives or by-products, locally or internationally."
It also includes the species' parts and by-products, such as leather and fur, ornamentation, food, and traditional medicines. These also include the illegal trade of wild plants. Earlier, officials combating wildlife trafficking here were able to apprehend an "alarming" number of wildlife species in Zamboanga Peninsula just this year alone, according to Mussaenda G. Tee, Senior Ecosystem Management Specialist of the regional office of the Environment and Natural Resource's Parks and Wildlife Division.
She said port authorities at the Zamboanga port have been confiscating boxes and sacks of dried green turtle, and other endangered marine life. One seized shipment, which has a market-value of more than half a million pesos, was bound for cooking pots and medicine manufacturers in China.
In Dipolog City, Customs inspectors were also able to rescue two high-valued Indonesian Cockatoos, which were put inside a dilapidated biscuit box. Ms. Tee said the recovery of the wildlife species is just a reflection that the illegal trade of endangered species is rampant in the region.
She said at least 50 percent of wildlife species that are being illegally shipped out are found dead before they reach their destination, "It's because of the conditions and the improper way of handling these animals."
"When birds are transported in commercial quantities, they are kept in cardboard boxes, tranquilized and covered with wet newspaper or clothes, orkept in soda bottles with the bases removed and hidden near the engine room," she told the Mindanao Examiner in a separate interview.
The trade chain begins with local hunters or fishermen who have extensive knowledge of local forests or wetlands. These hunters sell to local markets or low-level dealers who pass products on to higher-level dealers with international clients. Routes used by the illegal trade in wildlife are also used by smugglers of drugs, people,and weapons.
"Traders who buy dry goods from Indonesia on board large pump boats would also buy cockatoos and sold in coastal communities in Sulawesi. The long route through Tawi-tawi and Sulu is often preferred since all smuggled goods including wildlife easily pass through these islands because no apprehensions and confiscations are made," she said.
"After birds are unloaded in Tawi-tawi and Sulu, these are sold to middlemen who sell them to pet shop owners, street hawkers, roadside stall owners, direct buyers or are smuggled to Manila through Palawan. Eventually most of the birds reach Manila through inter-island conveyances like ships, freight and bus via illicit means," she explained.
At $10 billion global trade per year, the profits involved in the smuggling of wildlife can be as high as 800 percent.
Ms. Tee said the price of wild parrots will not go as low to P3,000 each. Elephant ivories, tiger bones, bear paws and rhino horns remain as the most expensive among the wildlife parts trading with a price of $38,000.
While reptiles and other marine wildlife sell from $100 to as high as $30,000 a piece.However, Bernie Concepion, president of Kabuhi Mindanao, a non-government environmental group, notes that despite international and local laws designed to crack down on the trade, live animals and animal are sold in open-air markets throughout Zamboanga City.
"Good examples of these are wild boars and its meat which are being sold in public markets," he said, adding that "what is worse is that the public areunaware that this is illegal," he said.
He said that one of the major factors that contribute to the illegal trade of wild animals is the rising cost of living and rapidly growing population.In the world black market for wildlife, China is considered to be the main destination for the illegal wildlife trade.
Wild animals' meat are used for food and its skins end up as decoration or for medicinal purposes. Some people thought eating wild meat will have various benefits such as longevity, sexual prowess, and confidence.
In April 2001, the government took a significant step forward in tackling the illegal wildlife trade by creating the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Units to man strategic air and sea ports. In addition, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also issued last March an Executive Order 515 directing responsible government agencies for the reation of the National Anti-Environment Crime Task Force, which will be headed by the environment secretary.
However, according to Mr. Elago, aside from establishing the Monitoring Units and Task Force, the city council is also mulling to create a special body to put more teeth to its enforcement.
"Based on the draft ordinance, we will create a Wildlife Enforcement and Protection Council and Wildlife Enforcement and Protection Officer, which will be composed of all government law enforcers, academicians, and non-government organizations," he explained.
He said the principal functions of the council and its officers are the enforcement of environmental laws and the prosecution of violators. The local law will also establish a 'wildlife management fund' to finance the operation of the wildlife rescue centers.
If found guilty, illegal wildlife traffickers will be meted imprisonment from 10 days to four years and a fine that would range from P200 to P1 million.
However, in Zamboanga Peninsula no one has so far been convicted since the passage of the wildlife law, said Ms. Tee. (Mindanao Examiner/Darwin Wee)
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