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Friday, December 23, 2005
Lumads unite against mining, logging firms
MORE than a hundred lumad tribal leaders, youths and professionals from Caraga, Davao Oriental signed a manifesto opposing the entry of any logging and mining company in their area.
A total of 127 lumads signed in the manifesto expressing their antagonism against the entry of foreign mining and logging operators like the Matuguina Integrated Wood Products Incorporated.
In their manifesto, the lumads said the entry of Matuguina in their area would disrupt their peaceful lives. They claimed that Matuguina's entry is without their "free prior informed consent", which is in violation of RA 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.
The lumads fear that the entry of a logging company in their area would ultimately lead to the destruction to their watershed and the sacred burial grounds of their ancestors.
"The flooding of the Caraga river in 1962, 1966 and 1974 and the other floods of the past years are the living testimony of why we are opposing any movement with a goal of removing the natural resources in the forest," the manifesto read.
The lumads also called for the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to probe the Matuguina entry without the consent.
"We urge the NCIP to support the tribe and not the foreign investors," the lumads said.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Council (PENRC) of Davao Oriental headed by no less than Governor Ma. Elena T. Palma earlier declared that it "strongly opposes the resumption of logging activities in the province," in a two-page resolution.
The PENRC resolution reached during a meeting last December 7, but announced only last week, was approved by Governor Palma Gil as PENRC chairperson and certified correct by Gilbert L. Pajo, ENRO/PENRC officer.
The council noted that most of the hinterlands of Davao Oriental affected by logging operation are "classified ancestral domains of the Indigenous People occupying the territory."
It said the effects of "forest degradation" and "environmental degradation" have not only resulted in damaging the precious flora and fauna endemic to the province, they have "also exposed several barangays to possible "destructive flooding and landslides" similar if not greater in magnitude as that in the Ormoc, Leyte, Aurora and Quezon province tragedies.
The council said the well-founded fears of the effects of indiscriminate cutting of trees are now manifested in the abnormal rise in water levels during heavy downpour experienced in the towns of Cateel, Baganga and Caraga in recent years.
"The danger to life and property brought heretofore by those logging concessions far outweigh the economic gains to the residents" of the province, it said.
In crafting its resolution, the PENRC also considered the resolutions earlier passed by Municipal Boards and tribes who oppose the resumption of the suspended timber license agreement 354 of Matuguina Integrated Wood Products.
First to oppose the Matuguina resumption was the Municipal Board of Caraga. (BOT)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 23, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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