Erwin M. Mascariñas, News5-InterAksyon
Butuan City – Militant, church and indigenous people (IP) groups from the four component provinces of the Caraga Region held a protest rally for the defense and protection of the environment here, simultaneously with their counterparts in Surigao City and those in the town of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur to mark Earth Day.
The environmental group, Caraga Watch, spearheaded the massive distributed protest rally that, altogether, mobilized an estimated 3,000 people at all three venues across the region.
“The massive degradation and destruction of our environment here in Caraga can no longer be denied or dismissed, driven by the greed of the large mining companies. The indiscriminate large scale digging at the various uplands by 23 big mining concerns has resulted in severe deforestation and massive siltation of our rich agricultural lowlands, our coastal areas and our oceans,” said a statement issued by Caraga Watch.
Caraga Watch pointed out that about 5% of the entire land area in Caraga Region, or about 85,132.85 hectares, are being mined for nickel, chromite and gold. The environmental damage has cascaded to wider territories engaged in agriculture and fisheries on which the majority of the population depend for livelihood.
Sammy Asay, a 34-year old resident of Sitio Zapanta Valley in Barangay Bangayan, Kitcharao town, Agusan del Norte, who is a Mamanwa tribesman, explained why they are calling for protection of the environment: “The IP communities should be empowered to stand firm on their way of life and cultural traditions, and to defend against transgressions on communities and the environment. We attended this rally today to engage with on-going developments regarding the state of our environment and natural resources, especially those impacting on indigenous people and our ancestral lands.”
Asay disclosed that several investors have shown interest in their lands. “Our tribal leaders will not allow the big companies to come in, especially if they are into mining, because we know that, if they start operating in our lands, it will slowly destroy our beautiful environment that has been the home to countless generations of Mamanwa.
“We will continue to defend the lush vegetation and forest in our mountains, the beauty and bounty that has sustained us since the time of our forefathers.”
In Surigao del Sur, an estimated 1,000 people representing various groups gathered in Tandag City, then took a motor caravan toward the town of Cantilan, stopping along the way at different towns to hold short programs of awareness raising. The group then held their protest rally at the Immaculate Conception Parish.
In Surigao City, a massive group camped outside the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for a series of vigils lasting to April 22 against large-scale mining operations not implementing the suspension and closure orders issued by environment secretary Regina Lopez.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERWIN MASCARIÑAS, NEWS5-INTERAKSYON
