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Through the years, CBFI was
actively involved in community empowerment activities
through the organization of BFARMCs throughout the coastal
barangays, policy advocacy, drafting and signing of position
papers denouncing “liba-liba”, lobbying before the national
and local government agencies, and other community campaigns
like march rallies to condemn illegal fishing activities. In
addition, CBFI helped establish the “Alsa Kadagatan Pagmata”
to coordinate the actions of the LGU, law enforcement
officials, and the Bantay Dagat in enforcing Cantilan’s
fishery regulations. CBFI also supported LABAG (Lanuza
Bantayan Gayod) in their campaign against the Ventura Timber
Company in late 1999. CBFI was jointly involved with Green
Mindanao in a series of basic marine ecology seminars in
General & Ayoke Island barangays in Cantilan. Funding from
the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE) was granted
to CBFI to pursue its efforts to capacitate paralegals in
aid of local fishery ordinance enforcement. CBFI was also
instrumental in bringing ABS-CBN, a national television
network, to document the illegal fishing activities in
Cantilan. In the year 2000, CBFI built the monumental
watchtower at Sitio Ayoke, Bgy. General Island, Cantilan,
Surigao del Sur. CBFI was also the prime mover in organizing
the Lanuza Bay Development Alliance.
CBFI worked closely with the Social Action Center of the
diocese of Tandag and was accredited as a local NGO of the
LGU of Cantilan and a local resource partner of the
Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program.
In the year 2006 to 2007 CBFI became inactive. There was
crisis in leadership.
Revitalization of
Mining in cantilan
Triggered by the revitalization
of the mining claims over the watershed areas of the
existing irrigation systems of Carrascal, Cantilan and
Madrid, a new group of local environmentalist bonded and
organized the Cantilan Movement Against Mining (CMAM) in
December, 2007.
As an initial move, a petition to denounce mining was signed
and sent to President Arroyo in support of the opposition of
the National Irrigation Administration, Surigao del Sur
Provincial Irrigation Office and the endorsement of the good
Bishop of Tandag, Nereo P. Odchimar, DD, JCD, MBA. The
signatories were: Fr. Pete Ubalde, SSJV, Fr. Ruben de los
Reyes, DCT, Fr. Joe Zafra, III, DCT, Dr. Isidro Olan, Jr.,
Dr. Valentin Olan, Engr. Rafael Alas, Jr., Atty. Cyril June
Yparraguirre, SB Member Virgilio Azarcon, Emma Y. Hotchkiss,
Vicente Cirilo A. Iriberri, Leonito Gawat and Cosme Loren.
The new group was determined to move forward with its cause
to stop mining in the area, thus the need to acquire
juridical personality. After realizing that the name was a
deterrent in attracting
members and active sympathizers, the
idea to revive BayWatch was agreed. BayWatch and CMAM share
a common environmental concern. CMAM formally asked to be
integrated into the organic structure of the BayWatch in a
referendum called for the purpose. On February 25, 2008,
CMAM was absorbed into Baywatch and its officers became the
active officers of CBFI.
Current Work
Baywatch is forging a working
relationship with Alternative Forum Research in Mindanao (AFRIM).
In partnership with Legal Resource Center (LRC), Balay
Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanao (BALAOD
Mindanao), CBFI is heavily involved in activities to stop
the operations of any form of mining particularly in the
watershed areas. The shift in focus, from the sea to the
mountain, is inspired by its adherence to the basic
principles of ecology that “everything is connected to
everything else” and that “everything must go somewhere.” ® |
