|
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Tribal group decries suspension of RUPs
By Edwin G. Espejo
THE Danlag B'laan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BDMPC) on Saturday said they should not be lumped together with holders of Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) agreement found to have violated the law, prompting DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun to suspend the issuance of resource use permits (RUPs).
In an interview with Sun.Star, B'laan tribal chieftain Dalina Samling, said the suspension of the RUPS is unjust as it directly threatens their livelihood, and they have been complying with the rules and regulations of DENR regarding the utilization of timber products within their ancestral domain area.
Samling, head of the B'laan indigenous cultural community in Danlag, Tampakan in South Cotabato, is also the chairperson of (BDMPC), which was granted a certificate of ancestral domain claim (CADC) in 1998.
BDMPC's application for CBFM was approved in June 2000.
Gozun last week however ordered the suspension of RUPs after reports came out that some CBFM holders have violated permits issued by DENR.
Among those cited was Zion Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Zifamulco) in Maitum, Sarangani, which was admonished by DENR officials for allegedly encroaching into areas outside its CBFM agreement.
Reports also said Zifamulco had illegally cut trees in the former logging concession area of Miludeco, a defunct logging company owned by the Antoninos.
"Wala man kami violation. Dapat kung ano sala sadtong uban mga CBFM holders, dili tanan (We did not commit any violation. Whatever violations other CBFM holders committed, they should not punish everyone)," Samling however said.
She also maintained that BDMPC is a CADC holder. "Kung i-cancel nila ang CBFM, dili nila kaya i-cancel ang CADC kay balaod na kana siya (If they will cancel our CBFM, they could not cancel our CADC because it was created by law)," Samling also insisted.
Samling said they were also puzzled why mining explorations over their CADC area were not included in the suspension order.
The suspension order of Gozun covers only the harvest of timber products in forest plantations and natural forests.
Danlag, incidentally, is reportedly being eyed as center of the operations of Tampakan Mineral Resources Corporation, a mining firm that bought the Australian-owned Western Mining Corporation.
Sources say Danlag and nearby barangays in Tampakan are reportedly sitting atop a mineral-rich area.
Reports also disclosed that more than 7 million metric tons of copper ore and 6.7 billion of gold deposits lie beneath the mountain ranges and communities within the South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Davao del Sur tri-boundary.
"Kung gi-okay nila ang mining, dapat i-okay nila ang CBFM," she further appealed. (If they have approved of the mining, they should also honor our CBFM)
She said the proposed open pit mining operation within their CADC area would undoubtedly destroy their environment.
She also criticized what she perceived is selective application of the suspension order.
"Nganong may pinili man? Ang mining mga dagkung tao (ang nagpaluyo)," Samling decried. (Why is their selective treatment? In mining, influential people are backing it up). Samling said questioning the logic of the policy.
DENR officials in the region and those in the province could attest to their faithful compliance of environmental laws, the tribal leader added.
South Cotabato community environment and natural resources (Cenro) officer Andrew Patricio Monday said he has not yet receive a copy of the suspension order from Gozun.
He nevertheless said he would endorse a petition for reconsideration from BDMPC as they have not found any violation committed by the cooperative.
"Ang CBFM maayo nga programa. Ang mga gulang-gulang nga kahoy lang ang dapat i-harvest. Pagkatapos, para sustainable, may reforestation (The CBFM program is good. Only the mature trees are harvested. And then after, to make it sustainable, there is reforestation)," Samling explained and added they would write Gozun a letter asking for a reconsideration of her order.
(January 21, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
