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Thursday, April 21, 2005
Sienes: Denuding our remaining forest covers
By Cris G. Sienes
Different Strokes
"Compostela Valley Province is already flood-prone. Should its remaining forest covers be further depleted, devastating floods will hit the province dealing death, dearth and destruction. When such a tragedy strikes, in whose hands then, as Caballero asked, will the blood be?"
UPON the reported recommendation of Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted the logging ban in three regions in the country. The President also identified regions 11 and 13 as the primary suppliers of the wood requirements of furniture makers in the country.
One local government official who immediately voiced out his strong opposition to the President's decision to make regions 11 and 13 as the primary suppliers of wood requirements of furniture makers in the country was Governor Jose Caballero of Compostela Valley province.
In airing his opposition, Caballero was mainly concerned about the dire consequences of the President's decision upon his province. He said Compostela Valley Province is already flood-prone, a clear indication that its forest covers have been denuded. To further deplete the remaining forest covers of the province would place it at the mercy of devastating floods. Should such floods occur--and they will if the remaining forest covers of the province are denuded--in whose hands will the blood be, Caballero asked.
Caballero is right, and this column supports his stand. Compostela Valley Province is already flood-prone. Should its remaining forest covers be further depleted, devastating floods wil hit the province dealing death, dearth and destruction. When such a tragedy strikes, in whose hands then, as Caballero asked, will the blood be?
In Region 11, our very own region, many areas are also flood-prone. As Area Management Officer of Region 11 for the Office of the President for Mindanao before, I visited these flood-prone areas. These are found in Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte. Even Davao City is flood-prone.
Are the President and Defensor aware of this? Should we allow our remaining forest covers to be denuded to supply the wood requirements of furniture makers in the country and thus place ourselves at the mercy of devastating floods? God forbid!
Article 1, Section of 26 of the Local Government Code expressly states: "It shall be the duty of every national agency or government-owned or controlled corporation authorizing or involved in the planning and implementation of any project or program that may cause pollution, climatic change, depletion of non-renewable sources, loss of cropland, rangeland, or forest cover, and extinction of animal or plant species, to consult with local government units, non-government organizations, and other sectors concerned and explain the goals and objectives of the project or program, its impact upon the people and the community in terms of environmental and ecological balance, and the measures that will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects thereof."
In recommending the lifting of the logging units in regions 11 and 13, did Defensor consult with the local government units in the two regions? Did he explain the possible consequences of further depleting the remaining forest covers in the two regions? Did he inform the local government units what measures will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects of further denuding the remaining forest covers in the two regions?
In identifying Regions 11 and 13 as the primary suppliers of the wood requirements of furniture makers in the country, did President Arroyo consult with local government units in the two regions? Local government officials should assert their right to be consulted for any project or program to be implemented in their regions, especially if such a project or program will have adverse effects upon their regions. They should not allow any National Government agency to ram a project or program down their throats without consulting them first.
In the issue at hand, they should join Governor Jose Caballero in opposing the lifting of the logging ban in their regions and of making regions 11 and 13 the primary suppliers of wood requirements of furniture makers in the country. They owe it to themselves, to their constituents, and to the coming generation to protect and preserve our remaining forest covers.
If they can't join Governor Jose Caballero in calling for a 10-year logging ban to enable our denuded forests to recover and, at the same time, protect and preserve our remaining forest covers, they should at least ask Defensor and the DENR to put in place that needed measures to prevent or minimize the adverse effects of further denuding our remaining forest covers.
Point to ponder: "I never lamented about the vicissitudes of time or complained of the turns of fortune except on the occasion when I was barefooted and unable to procure slippers But when I entered the great mosque of Kufah with a sore heart, and beheld a man without feet, I offered thanks to the bounty of God." (Sadi: Tales from the Gulistan)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 2, 2005 issue)
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