ANGELES CITY Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President Pablo Virgilio David lauded the recently launched environmental project called “Subli” here.
“Allow me to congratulate you my fellow environmental advocates...I am particularly elated that you’re doing this in partnership with the Angeles City government,” David said in a video played during the project’s launching on January 23 at SM City Clark.
SUBLI, a Kapampangan acronym which stands for Subli ing Upaya, Bie, at Lugud king Indung Gabun, is a whole-year information and education campaign (IEC), initiated by the Angeles City local government unit (LGU) and Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc. (ARAW-ACI).
“We are no longer waiting for the initiative [for reforestation] to come from the top. This is from below,” David, a native Pampanga said.
The bishop shared that the late Gina Lopez, who served as officer-in-charge of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was planning on a similar project but it never took off since her life was cut short.
David also thanked the people behind the Subli project for the inclusion of indigenous people particularly the Aetas in the project.
“The Aeta communities are now our closest allies in reforesting the Zambales mountain ranges that extend all the way to Pampanga and feed our watersheds. You cannot have watersheds without planting trees, preferably native hard wood like native trees like bamboo,” the Kapampangan bishop said.
“Thank you for the brilliant idea of partnering with the Aeta communities,” he added as he acknowledged ARAW-ACI president Renato "Abong" S. Tayag, Jr.
David, along with other bishops in the country, assured support to the project.
“Count me in as your ally as well as other bishops that are very serious in following the magna carta for the environment advocacy prepared by Pope Francis,” he said.
Before becoming CBCP president and bishop of the Archdiocese of Kalookan, David served as parish priest of the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City.
During his time here, David initiated environmental projects including the “Sagip Sapang Balen” aimed at saving the rivers in Angeles City.