Environmentalists step up campaign to protect Samar forests

By ALICE NICART, (PIA Borongan)
August 30, 2006

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  – In its bid to fully implement the forest conservation program of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) the Samar Island Biodiversity Foundation (SIBF) is now conducting a more intensive information campaign in the entire Eastern Samar province to protect and conserve the so called remaining biodiversity resources in this part of the country.

Headed by Mr. Agustin Docena, the team has gone to the upstream barangays and municipalities of the province, that is, Maslog and Jipapad. They also visited the students of the nearby schools of the targeted municipalities, particularly the school campuses of Eastern Samar State University in Guiuan, Salcedo and Maydolong.

In the sitio barangays of San Pablo and Can-aga of Borongan, San Raphael, Malinao, Mabuhay, San Pablo and Del Remedio of Taft, reports were common of small scale " Kaingin", but Docena with his group quickly dismissed the idea. He stressed that "kaingin" is detrimental to the lives of the future generation. Instead, he suggested that package proposal for alternative livelihood with forest conservation component be submitted to them so that it can be considered first study and funding rather than inflicting pain and damage to the forest resources. Initially, seedlings of "Kalamansi" were distributed for the farmers to nurture and raise because the kalamansi fruit has a good market, the team advised.

On the whole, Docena reported that majority of the members of their audiences were receptive to their cause and they vehemently reject any form of logging and mining operation in their area. He said that most of the humble residents did not have the idea of how lush and verdant are the trees at their distant backyard until Docena’s team came to their place to inform them so. They were thankful, we came to give them the very important information, Docena concluded.

A foreigner was spotted by Docena and his team in an upstream barangay of Jipapad. Unexpectedly the European approaches them later and likewise listened to the information delivery. Convinced, the visitors agreed to the assertions of the SIBF Team that forests resources must be protected by all means and at all cost. According to Docena, the foreigner even jokingly suggested to burn down mining and logging equipment should there be some attempts to "trample down upon the beloved soils" of the upstream barangays and sitios.