A couple of years ago, the
three bishops of the Samar Island (Bishops Medroso of Borongan, Palma of
Calbayog and Hobayan of Catarman who retired and replaced by Trance now
actively involved in the cause) together with representatives from various
sectors, initiated the establishment of the Samar Island Development
Council, which later became a Unification group and recently proposed to
become a solid Partnership for Peace and Development.
This group precipitated from
an invitation of Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) which originally
was trying to solicit support for the passage of the SINP (Samar Island
Natural Park) Bill in both congress and senate.
Issues and concerns about
the environment were raised and stirred the interest of the bishops, the
preservation of the remaining biodiversities and specially the move to
minimize if not to stop further destructions of forest and irresponsible
extraction of the natural deposits by no less than the big wigs in economy
whose interests are protected by strong connections with authorities.
“We are not banking on
legalities because it can easily be manipulated, we are on the issue of
morality”, Bishop Medroso reiterated referring to the lifting of logging
moratorium and continued threats to environmental destructions with the
existing approved MPSA (Mineral Production Sharing Agreement).
Where are we now with our
crusade? Much has been said and done yet it seemed not enough. So, what’s
next? After hearing Defensor saying “NO LOGGING ACTIVITY IN SAMAR ISLAND AS
LONG AS I AM THE SECRETARY”. What if he is replaced? Does it mean back to
SQUARE ONE? Shall we continue the campaign for the passage of SINP? Does it
make sense? These were the most pressing questions asked by the participants
during the meeting at the 4th floor of the Bishop’s house in Borongan.
First issue resolved: What
is the extent of “NO TO LOGGING” when we need wood for our basic needs, this
was raised by the mayors seconded by the Governor Evardone of Eastern Samar.
The issue that followed: Carabao? Or Commercial logging?
Carabao logging is small
scale harvesting of mature tress answering the need of the local users, as
defined by NGO representatives engaged in the reforestation program of DENR.
Commercial is practically the likes of San Jose Timber Corporation’s logging
concession.
The meeting of the minds
between the church leaders and local chief executives of Eastern Samar
bottom-lined at recognizing the need for logs at the local level for the
consumption of the constituents. As to the official stand of elected
officials (especially governors and congressmen) in other provinces of
Samar, remains
unclear. Bishop Emmanuel C. Trance of the Diocese of Catarman noticed this.
The primary consideration of
the “NO TO LOGGING” issue is the protection of the old growth forest and its
biodiversity, the watershed areas and the big rivers connecting the 3
provinces of Samar.
Governor Ben Evardone
further qualified as to who are allowed to cut and where? He was referring
to alternative logging for “house use”. “This has to be very clear, we
cannot actually say totally “NO” to logging because our people, we, also
need logs for house use”, Evardone stressed.
Bishop Palma proposed to
invite DENR to disclose programs offering alternative logging and bare out
rules on cutting or harvesting tress in identified areas. Supported by
Governor Evardone suggesting the conduct of an extensive research and inform
Local Government Units of its role.
Evardone committed one hour
radio slots sponsored by the provincial government of Eastern Samar to be
utilized in educating and informing people on environmental concerns. He
also urged members of the partnership to sit down with the LGUs during a
Provincial Development Council conference to ventilate problems besetting
development as viewed by their group.
Meanwhile, the Samar Island
Partnership on Peace and Development identified some targets they seek to
achieve in the next quarter before the 4th Meeting to be hosted by Bishop
Jose Palma of the diocese of Calbayog.
Among the targets the
Partnership seeks to achieve; 1).Urge local legislators of the three
provinces (Eastern, Western and Northern Samar) to approve a resolution
strongly endorsing the passage of the SINP Bill, 2) Bishop Leonardo Y.
Medroso to write follow a up letter to DENR re: Defensor’s commitment not to
allow logging in Samar Island and a 2-point letter for the cancellation of 2
existing MPSAs and appropriation for SINP Bill, 3) Raise an appeal to
President GMA to carefully choose a new DENR secretary who will have the
heart for a genuine environmental protection.
