Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Mindanao clash, polls top fiesta message By Stephen Capillas
EVEN as city residents and visitors were caught up in the fiesta mood, the Cagayan Archdiocese set a somber tone in this year's festivities as it called on the National Government to address concerns on the Basilan crisis, the environment, and the empowerment of young voters in the coming elections.
In a message e-mailed to local media, Cagayan Archdiocese Archbishop Monsignor Antonio Ledesma said even as Cagayan de Oro commemorates the feast day of its patron saint St. Augustine, city residents should push for inter-religious dialogue amid the "escalation of hostilities in Jolo and Basilan."
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who visited Cagayan de Oro Monday, gave commendations and hailed the soldiers and police officers who laid their lives in the war against terrorism in Mindanao.
"We should continue to promote a culture of peace through inter-religious dialogue, despite the escalation of hostilities in Jolo and Basilan. We regret the loss of lives on both sides of the conflict and pray that peace talks be resumed as soon as possible," Ledesma said.
Mining operations
Ledesma also voiced concern on what he said was the "unregulated mining operations reported in the upstream areas of Dansolihon, Pigsag-an, and other nearby places."
He said the irreversible erosion of the topsoil through flush mining has polluted Iponan River and nearby waterways and may pose a negative impact on the city's premier tourist attraction -- the whitewater rafting.
Young voters
Finally, the Archbishop said they are voicing their concern on the inability of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accommodate all the eligible young voters during the limited registration period last July.
He said a conservative estimate of 100,000 young voters may have been "disenfranchised" throughout the city and province simply because of the cumbersome procedures of Comelec.
Fr. Ledesma said a manifesto from the young voters of the city recommended a school-based registration campaign instead.
"These then are our three wishes for the present and future well-being of our region - to preserve the peace, to conserve the environment, and to empower our young voters for coming elections," he said.
The archbishop said through the example of St. Augustine, he hopes that city residents and visitors "learn to fashion the City of Man in the light of our higher calling in the City of God."
