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Panalipdan
Tubig Kinabuhi Surigao del Sur Farmers' Martsa Rally
Brgy. San Pedro
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur 8317
Philippines
World Earth Day 2009 begins the Green
Generation Campaign, a two year initiative with the core principles
of a carbon-free future based on renewable energy; an individual’s
commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption; creation of a
new green economy that lifts people out of poverty.
Committed to the
cause, the farmers of Madrid, Cantilan and Carrascal will start the
Green Generation Campaign on Monday morning, April 27 with a Martsa
& Rally to call attention to the importance of the watershed to our
livelihood and to thank PGMA for PP1747 proclaiming the area as
Critical Watershed. The Martsa will start from Madrid to Cantilan
and will culminate with a rally at the Cantilan town kiosk. Joining
the march and rally are representative farmers from the SDS southern
towns, the Social Action Center, religious groups, Baywatch, Lover’s
of Nature, KAHAYAG of Carrascal, and Cantilan LGU officials.
A symposium will
be conducted in the afternoon with guests from the local and
national anti-mining networks to provide recommendations with
regards to the impacts of mining operations to the local
environment.
There are two approved Mineral Product
Sharing Agreements, Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation
(MMDC) and Carac-an Development Corporation (CDC) operating in the
municipality of Cantilan Surigao del Sur and its neighbor towns,
Madrid and Carrascal.
Largely impacted
by these mining companies are the irrigated farmlands of the three
localities. Both MPSAs are located in the watersheds of the rivers
that support their irrigation systems. The municipality of Cantilan
consistently opposed mining since 1992 when the above MPSAs were
approved and has since issued several resolutions opposing these
operations and also petitioned the President to cancel these MPSAs
and declare the areas’ watersheds. Carrascal and Madrid LGUs also
issued resolutions opposing the operations of MMDC because of the
impact to their watershed. The Sanggunian Panlalawigan also endorsed
its support of the opposition and has written the President of MMDC
that it is not going to endorse their operation. The SP has also
issued several resolutions against mining in the province, one of
them preventing heavy duty vehicles to pass through provincial
roads. The SP has also expressed concern over the lack of prior
consultation of local governments as required by the Local
Government Code of the Philippines.
The National
Irrigation Administration, Tandag office is also opposed to these
mining companies to protect the farmers and its projects costing
over PhP2M. The Most Reverend Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar, Tandag
Diocese supports the farmers’ claim and has also expressed concern
over the lack of oversight on the part of the DENR, MGB, EMB which
has continued to allow the mining company to operate despite the
DENR Secretary’s suspension order due to complaints from the NIA,
Baywatch, Lovers of Nature, and the Church led by the Tandag Bishop.
Due to the demands of the farmers, the NIA and others, and through
the representation of the Reverend Bishop, the area was declared a
Critical Watershed Forest Reserves by virtue of Proclamation No.
1747 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 23, 2009.
Congressman Philip
A. Pichay and Governor Vicente T. Pimentel, Jr. totally support
these mining operations. Massive opposition from their constituents
and the LGUs concerned continue to be ignored. Several petitions
were sent to them but were never acknowledged by their offices. Gov.
Pimentel was a signatory to a Mines Rehabilitation Fund Committee
Memorandum of Agreement which was organized on March 26, three (3)
days after the Proclamation 1747 was approved, where about 50 fully
armed Philippine National Police was mobilized upon the rumor that
Baywatch was going to lead a rally at the meeting venue in Oasis
Beach Resort in Carrascal.
The Martsa Rally
hopes to send a strong message to the mining companies and their
protectors that we mean business in protecting water and life at
whatever cost.
The activity also intends to mobilize
the farmer-irrigators throughout the province, various social action
centers and GKKs throughout the diocese in coordination with the
local government units and officials who had already taken a
critical position on these mining projects which undermines local
development initiatives. It will also serve as a venue for
government officials, church leaders, laymen, NGOs and the
marginalized sectors to create unities and forge an alliance among
them in asserting their right to manage the resources appropriately
within their jurisdictions in line with their own vision of
development.
The list of invited participants
include our Reverend Bishop Odchimar, the Tandag Diocese Social
Action Center, officials of LGU Cantilan, Carrascal and Madrid, the
Surigao del Sur Federation of Irrigators Association Presidents, NIA
officials, Tandag Branch, media and other local and national
anti-mining networks.
Party list
representatives were invited to share their insights particularly on
the congressional inquiry on MMDC’s barangay road rehabilitation
projects. The inquiry was initiated by Bayan Muna, Anakbayan and
Gabriela.
Emma Y. Hotchkiss
President
CARCANMADCARLAN BAYWATCH FOUNDATION
emmayh @ yahoo.com
0918 415 1879 |
