Smuggling out of "uwang" aborted!
(as the detection machine can not lie…)

by
Alex Marcaida
Media Bureau Chief

The recent smuggling out of over 2000 bark beetles (Dorcus titanus, locally called "uwang") was aborted after the baggage detection machine of the Airport check in terminal positively spotted the insects packed inside a travel bag. A Canadian national Shen Lun Teng, 36 years old and Taiwanese Wei Hui Fan, 25, plan to surreptitiously ship out the insects to Manila but authorities held them for violating RA 9147 (Wildlife Act). The composite enforcement team of the Airport police, Kilusang Sagip Kalikasan, Filipino Alliance Movement and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) apprehended the suspects and confiscated the items. PCSDS filed a case before the City Court against the two while the insects have been turned over to Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC). Airport police manning the x-ray detection machine said that the "uwang" were properly packed and piled one over the other and individually wrapped with polythelene (like lumpia) frozen with ice inside the briefcase. This prompted them to hold and inspect the baggage. Suspects disclosed that the beetles were bought from local gatherers in Bataraza, Palawan.

The Third in a Row

This is the third apprehension in a month. The first was in July 22, 2006 at the PPC Port area where the x-ray detection machine also spotted a baggage filled with the same items (of the same packaging) numbering almost 1000. The questionable cargo was owned by Amie Potestad of Bgy. Poblacion, Bataraza, Palawan, who said that these were bought from Indigenous People in Bataraza. Potestad disclosed that the insects would have been shipped out to a Japanese buyer in Manila but found their way instead to the City ENRO then to PCSDS and to PWRCC after port authorities confiscated the items. On August 12, 2006, the next batch numbering 736 was confiscated also at port area.

A lucrative industry

Apparently, the beetle trafficking had been going on for years. Observers indicated that the upsurge of beetle collection is in fact now on its reverse trend. Way back, the trade had been in bulk unnoticed. As for Potestad's case it was his second shipment with the first attempt successful. Potestad further disclosed that he bought these beetles at P45.00/pair (male and female) and sells it to middlemen in Manila at P100 to P300/pair. Trade of beetles is openly done over the internet. WorldwideWeb auctions indicated that the price for each Dorcus titanus ranges from $20 to $30 in Taiwan and Thailand, and at about $80 each (P 4,000.00) in Indonesia, especially at breeder size. The collection maybe on its downward trend, yet the price is greatly tempting. The demand is high such that the illegal gathering and trading zoomed aptly high. Usage of beetles had been of varying fad. Reportedly, these are used for sports (like gagamba wrestling)/pets, decorations, souvenir items, necklace, and food as it is edible. It is a special delicacy among men in some Asian countries who believe that it is aphrodisiac. In some areas, there had been commercial products produced from out of beetles. Undoubtedly, the apparent exodus of beetles outside Palawan is an indication that it has become a lucrative and tempting business endeavor.

Trading Regulation

With Palawan media fiesting-over the series of apprehension, providing ample air-time and tabloid space, the PCSDS had been poured with various inquiries about the processes of securing permit for beetle gathering and trading. Unfortunately, the matter is yet under study. PCSDS emphasized that passing a permitting policy should be based from scientific findings so a reasonable regulation could be enforced. The bottomline is keeping the population of beetles at a balance state. With the ballooning speculations among locals over the high demand for "uwang", the effect of massive collection is unimaginable. Thus, PCSD is objectively careful. Presently however, the PCSD accepts application for farming or breeding beetles. Under this scheme, only parent stocks (as breeders) can be collected from the wild, therefore maintaining the beetle population in a reasonable number enough to continue the task of keeping the environment bio-diversed.

A pest but a decomposer

Dorcus titanus is not considered endangered or threatened as there are battalions of them in the wilderness of Palawan. PCSDS classify them in the "other species" category-which is not as vulnerable. It may be considered economically important species given its face value in the market today. Beetles are considered the most successful group of complex animals on Earth forming almost one third of all described
Durcus titanus, male pupa animal species and about two fifths of all insects. Beetle diversity is extreme with about 300,000 species known, Dorcus titanus is one. Most local farmers consider Dorcus titanus as pests, as they damage crops especially coconut trees/plantations. In ecological principle however, these ugly and wriggly beetles play a special role in improving the natural cycle of the nutrient replenishment as they are considered decomposers that facilitates material decomposition turning the soil fertile. Economically, it can serve as alternative income generating activity for gatherers. However, guidelines to this effect are yet to be designed by PCSDS, and scientific research yet to be done. With the absence of a permitting system, any act of collection, trading and transporting of the same is illegal, by virtue of RA 9147.