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Philippines activists disappointed by Aquino's scarce words on environment

President ignores responsibility to protect rich biodiversity, green groups say
Philippines activists disappointed by Aquino's scarce words on environment

Environmental activists protest outside the Philippines' Department of Environment office in Manila July 28, a day after President Benigno Aquino delivered his State of the Nation Address. (Photo by Joe Torres)

Published: July 29, 2015 05:28 AM GMT
Updated: July 28, 2015 08:01 PM GMT

Climate activists have decried the Philippine government's failure to address environmental issues in President Benigno Aquino's State of the Nation Address on July 27.

"It seems that the president ... has forgotten his responsibility to take the lead in protecting the Philippines' rich biodiversity and natural resources," said Franciscan Sister Cres Lucero, convenor of the Philippine-Misereor Partnerships Inc (PMPI).

PMPI is a social development network of people’s organizations, faith-based groups, and Misereor, the overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Germany.

The group expressed "deep disappointment" in Aquino's scarce remarks on the environment.

Sister Lucero called on the president on July 29 to listen to the "spirit of Pope Francis' call to hear the cry of the poor and the cry of Mother Earth".

"In these times that we need the most support from all sectors to promote the care for our common home ... we expected [Aquino]'s encouragement in line with the pope's vision to take action to protect our environment," Sister Lucero said.

Yolanda Esguerra, national coordinator of the PMPI, said Aquino has been "inconsistent in terms of pushing reforms in the mining industry that has been linked to several [instances of] major environmental destruction and controversies".

In 2012, the president issued an order aimed at reforming the mining sector to ensure environmental protection. While the order identified categories in which mining would be prohibited, Esguerra said the president did not specify areas or provinces that would be covered by these categories.

In June, the House of Representatives approved eight bills declaring eight areas in the country as mining-free zones, but it cannot be implemented until the Senate and the president approve them.

"What the country really needs is ecological rehabilitation and conservation, and this is almost impossible with the poor implementation of our current environmental policies," said Edel Garingan, PMPI project officer for the anti-mining campaign.

On July 28, a day after Aquino delivered his State of the Nation Address, some 300 environmental activists staged a rally outside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Quezon City to protest "the plundering by large-scale mining" around the country.

The activists noted that Aquino did not include the proposed "People’s Mining Bill" among the "priority bills" he wanted Congress to pass. The proposed measure aims to reorient the mining industry toward ensuring national industrialization, environmental protection and safety.

"Aquino and his cohorts clearly intend to perpetuate his regime’s legacy of mining pollution and plunder in refusing to listen to the growing clamor to protect the people’s lands, livelihood, and environment," said Clemente Bautista, coordinator of Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment.

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