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| Illegal Logging in Mindanao (Source: Bicol Today) |
The Philippines is in the World's 10 Most Threatened Forest Hotspots.
The Philippines is not the only country experiencing deforestation. However, it is one of the countries experiencing massive deforestation at around 180,000 hectares per year based on a report by the World Wildlife Fund.
The same report said that many logging concessionaires effectively dictated forest policies in our government.
The loss of life and damage to property related to flooding from deforestation have been steadily mounting through the years.
The Ormoc Tragedy tops the list from Typhoon Uring. The list does not include Typhoon Ondoy with an estimated cost of damage at P23 billion and now Sendong with at least P1 billion. If you want to know the historical damage caused by typhoons (1970-2003), click this link.
Alarms have been raised by the following organizations, such as,
(Click links to see full story)
1. World Wildlife Fund
2. Conservation International
3. Food and Agricultural Organization
4. Haribon Foundation
5. Kalikasan: People's Network for the Environment
Media has high praises for those persons and organizations who volunteered and worked through Christmas Day assisting Sendong's victims. They emphasize that Filipinos show much unity in times of calamities. This is just reactive.
If Filipinos can only show the same responsibility, dedication and tenacity in fighting illegal logging, then all of these losses and damages would have been controlled and minimized. This is pro-active.
Many do not know that there is a dark story behind some brave Filipinos who fought against illegal logging. Many end up in very uncomfortable places- their crypts!
What seldom gets media's sustained front page attention is that under the canopy of what remains of our forest cover is a long trail of blood.
(Click links to see full story)
1. World Wildlife Fund
2. Conservation International
3. Food and Agricultural Organization
4. Haribon Foundation
5. Kalikasan: People's Network for the Environment
Media has high praises for those persons and organizations who volunteered and worked through Christmas Day assisting Sendong's victims. They emphasize that Filipinos show much unity in times of calamities. This is just reactive.
If Filipinos can only show the same responsibility, dedication and tenacity in fighting illegal logging, then all of these losses and damages would have been controlled and minimized. This is pro-active.
Many do not know that there is a dark story behind some brave Filipinos who fought against illegal logging. Many end up in very uncomfortable places- their crypts!
What seldom gets media's sustained front page attention is that under the canopy of what remains of our forest cover is a long trail of blood.
2009. A lumad, Alberto Pinagawa, a Higoanon "alimaong," who had been leading an anti-logging campaign against the Southwood Timber Corp. was walking down a remote road with his nephew in Minalwang, Misamis. Oriental when he was shot. His nephew escaped. 20 bullet wounds in the different parts of his face and body. He was unarmed.
2010. One of the nation's foremost botanists, Leonardo Co of UP Diliman , forest guard Sofronio Cortez and farmer Julius Borromeo were killed by the members of the Philippine Army's 19th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan in Upper Mahiao, Barangay Lim-ao, Kananga, Leyte. 3 shots in the back of Co. They were unarmed.
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| Desiderio Camangyan, 52 |
2010. A commentator on radio, Desiderio Camangyan accused Davao Oriental governor Corazon Malanyaon, of cutting a million trees despite leading a flagship program of planting a million trees.
On June 14, 2010, he was invited by Barangay Captain Romeo Antoling to emcee an amateur singing contest in Old Macopa, Manay. He was killed on stage. Charges have been filed against Antoling and suspected gunman PO1 Dennis Jess Lumikid. Antoling is at large. 1 bullet at the back of his head exiting at the bridge of his nose. He was unarmed.
FROM TUKLASIN NATIN:
Kenedy Eber Bayani - Mr. Bayani was Forest Ranger at the DENR when he lost his life in the line of duty on July 9, 2010. He was gunned down while manning a checkpoint in San Isidro, Luna in Apayao province. He was a member of the team that confiscated Tanguile, Red Lauan and Mayapis lumber and flitches.
Rolando S. Sinday, 49 - Mr. Sinday worked as a Tree Marker at the local office of the DENR in Lianga, Surigao del Sur until his death on December 6, 2010. He was on his way home aboard his motorbike when he was fired upon three times at his back by two gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle. He died on the spot. Sinday took part in the “Oplan Kalasangan” inside the forested area of the SAMMILIA Federation of Peoples Forest Development Corp. in Lianga, Surigao del Sur leading to the confiscation of 3,000 cubic meters of illegally-cut logs.
Jacinto P. Dragas, 55 - Mr. Dragas was also a Forest Ranger of the DENR when he lost his life in the line of duty on January 13, 2011. He was manning the checkpoint in Barangay Tabon, Bislig City in Surigao del Sur when he was shot dead by three unidentified gunmen with .45 caliber pistols. Two days before the incident, Dragas apprehended a six-wheeler truck passing the checkpoint that was loaded with 305 pieces of suspected illegally-cut Lauan and Toog timber.
Pierre Gillo, 51 - Mr. Gillo was a community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) in Sta. Rita, Samar when he lost his life in the line of duty on February 25, 2011. He was shot down in front of his residence by two gunmen riding in tandem on motorcycle. He was known for his strong advocacy against illegal logging and pouching in his area of jurisdiction in spite of several death threats he received.
Nelson Luna - Mr. Luna lost his life in the line of duty on October 29, 2010. Mr. Luna was on a volunteer work with the DENR Forest Products Monitoring Station in Bislig, Surigao de Sur and contributed to the apprehension of illegally-transported wood products. He was gunned down while manning a check point in Bislig. Luna’s wife allegedly started to get death threats through texts since Luna started reporting for duty the past three months before the incident.
Christopher P. Mazo - Mr. Mazo was the police chief of Lianga, Surigao del Sur when he lost his life on August 21, 2010. Police chief Mazo was killed by a sniper in an ambush allegedly by NPA rebels while his convoy was conducting a verification/assessment of SAMMILIA’s log stocks and logging operations in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.
Elpidio “Jojo” Malinao – Mr. Malinao was a Forest Guard at the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystem covering Mt. Makiling when he lost his life on May 9, 2011. He was gunned down at Bry. Maitim, Bay, Laguna after attending an MTC hearing.
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| Rudy Segovia as he lies in a poolof his own blood. (Source: Independent Catholic News) |
2011. Rudy Segovia a farmer and an activist was shot to death by company guard Arnie Omongia in broad daylight because he joined protests against the operations of the Canadian mining firm, TVI Resources Dev't. Phils. in Siocon, Zamboanga Sibugay. 5 shots to the body. He was unarmed.
We have sufficient laws to protect the environment. The situation on the ground however paints a different picture
Article II, Section 16 of our present constitution states:
The former president Gloria Arroyo imposed a total log ban in 2004 but lifted it after a year.
But it's always an uphill battle. By all measures, it would seem that even our government is tolerating the wanton destruction of our natural resources and compromising the lives and properties of thousands of our fellow Filipinos.
MORE: A Light Under Jesse Robredo's Watch
An article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on October 9, 2007 would show that our own Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued permits to mining firms allowing them to cut down legally a total of 114,000 trees in Sibuyan Island in Romblon alone.
Early this year, after Typhoon Ondoy, President Noynoy Aquino issued Executive Order No. 23 ordering a total log ban in the country until his term will expire in 2016.
Pictures of logs washed ashore during the onslaught of Sendong proves that the executive order was not followed and that illegal logging continues to be perpetuated unpunished.
The Supreme Court, then under Chief Justice Renato Puno issued the Writ of Kalikasan which gives the ordinary citizen protection against the onslaught of environmental degradation by politicians, the military and businessmen who take advantage of their positions to unlawfully exploit our natural resources.
But it's always an uphill battle. By all measures, it would seem that even our government is tolerating the wanton destruction of our natural resources and compromising the lives and properties of thousands of our fellow Filipinos.
MORE: A Light Under Jesse Robredo's Watch
An article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on October 9, 2007 would show that our own Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued permits to mining firms allowing them to cut down legally a total of 114,000 trees in Sibuyan Island in Romblon alone.
Hanjin, a Korean company was able to secure permits to construct a condominium inside the Subic Bay Watershed Forest Reserve.
Google Maps' satellite image of Surigao del Norte shows a scarred landscape as documented in Liquid Druid's Blog.
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| (Click on Liquid Druid's Blog for an explanation on the colors on this map) |
Logging, legal and otherwise, is big-time business in the Philippines. Political dynasties who have ruled the countryside for decades are accountable for the massive deforestation in their respective areas. If these activities are done under their very noses, we can only arrive at a single conclusion.
In Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East countries, the countryside has always been ruled by tribal leaders for decades. The Philippines is a democratic country but it is no different here than in those countries. Click this link to learn more abut political dynasties in the Philippines. Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr. also documented the political dynasties in his blog.
There are many disasters in line just waiting to happen. All it needs is a name. After Ondoy, came Sendong. The next disaster is just up to PAG-ASA to name. Only the number of dead and missing and the total cost damage will change.
The saddest part is that the government has to borrow more money to repair the damages wrought by flash floods. Poor Juan dela Cruz has to shoulder the tab again.
The government in Manila, by its patronage of political dynasties, already looks helpless in the eyes of its people. Worse, many in government are believed to be protectors of these environmental rapists.
In Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East countries, the countryside has always been ruled by tribal leaders for decades. The Philippines is a democratic country but it is no different here than in those countries. Click this link to learn more abut political dynasties in the Philippines. Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr. also documented the political dynasties in his blog.
There are many disasters in line just waiting to happen. All it needs is a name. After Ondoy, came Sendong. The next disaster is just up to PAG-ASA to name. Only the number of dead and missing and the total cost damage will change.
The saddest part is that the government has to borrow more money to repair the damages wrought by flash floods. Poor Juan dela Cruz has to shoulder the tab again.
The government in Manila, by its patronage of political dynasties, already looks helpless in the eyes of its people. Worse, many in government are believed to be protectors of these environmental rapists.
There are plenty of others still who died protecting the environment and we cannot name all of them here. Suffice it to say that here in the Philippines, environmental activism at the grassroots level are met by bullets and the government seems inutile in stopping these killings.
This is the reason why, even with much fanfare, post-Sendong, the fight against illegal logging will be thrown to dustbin once the hoopla dies down, to be resurrected only once the the next environmental disaster strikes.
In the meantime, the people and even mainstream media can only continue to cower in fear.
In the meantime, the people and even mainstream media can only continue to cower in fear.
So ok. Who's next? Please raise your right hand!
These people have become the next victims since this post was written (UPDATES / NEW KILLINGS / OTHER DEVELOPMENTS)
1. Jordan Manda (September 4, 2012) - Bulatlat.com, The Seattle Times, Human Rights Online Philippines, ABC News, Miami Herald, Philippine Daily Inquirer
2. Country's First Mine Town (October 20, 2012) - Philippine Daily Inquirer
3. Dr. Isidro Olan (October 30, 2012) - Philippine Daily Inquirer
4. Philex / Biggest Mining Disaster (November 12, 2012) - GMA News Online
5. MGB Inutile against Illegal Mining (November 13, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
6. Daguil Capion (October 18, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
7. Gilbert Paborada (October 3, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
8. DENR hand in degrading environment, human rights as dirty as the military’s – IP and green groups (December 8, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
9. Jimmy Liguyon (March 5, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
10. Cheryl Ananayo (December 7, 2012) - Yahoo News
11. FCF Minerals Inc. (December 16, 2012) - Yahoo News
12. Alfredo Almueda (January 2, 2012) - Interaksyon.com
2. Country's First Mine Town (October 20, 2012) - Philippine Daily Inquirer
3. Dr. Isidro Olan (October 30, 2012) - Philippine Daily Inquirer
4. Philex / Biggest Mining Disaster (November 12, 2012) - GMA News Online
5. MGB Inutile against Illegal Mining (November 13, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
6. Daguil Capion (October 18, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
7. Gilbert Paborada (October 3, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
8. DENR hand in degrading environment, human rights as dirty as the military’s – IP and green groups (December 8, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
9. Jimmy Liguyon (March 5, 2012) - Bulatlat.com
10. Cheryl Ananayo (December 7, 2012) - Yahoo News
11. FCF Minerals Inc. (December 16, 2012) - Yahoo News
12. Alfredo Almueda (January 2, 2012) - Interaksyon.com
Giant clams and other marine life allowed to be stolen by China and other countries. Politicians and government leaders earning profits from closing their eyes to this.
ReplyDeletePhilippines is getting raped and natural treasures destroyed or stolen. Foreign countries allowed to build on and destroy our forests and oceans? How much does the government get in permits and outrageous fees from these peoples to destroy our country? These are the ones who need to be shot, not the protectors. God is our witness.