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Friday, April 29, 2005
Bukidnon solon: Gov't can't enforce environment laws
By Ben Serrano
Caraga Correspondent
BUTUAN CITY -- While the government is dead set to open 180 mining sites in Caraga Region for foreign investments, various anti-mining groups there continue to increase their ranks and voice their determination to oppose mining to the end.
The Diocese of Butuan's Social Action Center, non-government organization (NGO) Alterdev and other socio-civic organizations in Agusan del Norte and Butuan City held a recent Mining Forum at the Urios High School Audio Visual recently with 300 anti-mining core groups and advocates from all over the region.
Earlier, NGOs like Green Mindanao Foundation, Legal Rights Center, Balaod Mindanao, Balay Mindanao, all based in Cagayan de Oro City, the Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center in Surigao del Sur, various lumad organizations like Kalasag and others vowed to oppose mining and destructive logging operations in Caraga.
Bureau of Mines and Geo-sciences and officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the region earlier blamed religious leaders like Bishops Odchimar of Surigao del Sur and Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan City and Agusan provinces for spearheading the growing anti-mining opposition without first listening to the mining firms's side and the employment it can contribute to the growing unemployed workers in the region.
"Religious leaders as they are and respectable at that, religious leaders must listen also to us and discuss things why there is a need to revive mining industry in the region as one of the ten point agenda for economic development of President Arroyo," MGB Caraga Regional Director Alilio Ensomo said.
Anarchy
Unfazed, Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, D.D. of the Diocese of Butuan, said in a press conference here that mining has given the Philippines a scarring experience like toxic poisoning from mine tailings and flooding of villages.
He said mining activities have depleted natural resources, posed ill effects on health polarization and polarization of locals and abandonment of mines.
The bishop said mining continues to harm environment, displacement of lumads unfulfilled promises of community development, militarization, intimidation and threats.
Bukidnon Representative Nerius Acosta (LP), House Committee chairperson on Ecology and Clean Air in a separate interview told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that non-consultation of the affected communities for opening up of mining operations is like a social volcano waiting to erupt.
"If not handled well by the government it will cause anarchy in the end," he said.
Acosta said he is batting for responsible mining and added there is a need for government to strengthen agencies who are supposed to enforce laws in protecting ecology.
The lawmaker said as of now, the government is facing a certain "inadequacy" in enforcing laws against violators in the destruction of the environment.
Irresponsibility
Cory Flores, media liason officer for Sen. Jamby Madrigal, in a separate interview told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the eagerness of government to earn revenues allegedly in billions of pesos caused them to disregard corruption in government in favor of easy money through mining.
She said this has resulted in government's failure to effectively implement environmental laws.
For his part, Green Mindanao Foundation Inc. Executive Director Butch Dagondon blamed DENR, saying it is supposedly mandated to protect the welfare and interest of the people from environmental harm.
Yet he said the agency is promoting and lawyering for mining and logging firms.
And in his pastoral letter entitled "Nature is Groaning: A Statement on Revitalization of Mining in the Philippines" Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, D.D. said nature is groaning due to man's irresponsibility."
"The pressures that humans imposed are causing her to collapse. In the end, we are the ones who suffer the anguish when nature unleashes its wrath," he said.
The church official said genuine development upholds human dignity and is compatible with the ecological integrity and ensures well-being of future generations.
(April 29, 2005 issue)
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