IT’S HARD TO set aside the issue of corruption these days. Although much of the stench reeks in the flood control project under the Department of Public Works and Highways, fertile minds can also imagine it in some other Philippine government offices where the potential to manipulate public funds is high.
And so, I take the timing opportunity to backtrack on when the environment (this column’s scope) had its share of mud.
GINA LOPEZ AS ADVOCATE
One most welcome Cabinet appointment by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2016 was that of the late Gina Lopez as Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources.
Already an iconic figure in the civil society’s environment advocacy, she was trusted to always wear a green heart in the department’s programs to protect the environment. For one, in her impassioned stand against large-scale mining that was destroying mountains and ecosystems, she went eyeball to eyeball with mining titans, some of whom were politicians (senators, representatives, and local officials) known or perceived as allies of the president. The resulting non-confirmation of her appointment by the Commission on Appointments was a blanket backlash on her full potential as prime earth steward. A case of influence-dangling with enticing rewards, any way one looks at it.
‘One of our biggest forest ecosystems which is home to a rich biodiversity has been greatly damaged in the massive construction. Indigenous communities have been displaced…’
DUTERTE AS SPOILER
As the former president languishes in a detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands pending his trial by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, innuendos on his other crimes are now boldly flagged in the local circuit. One is on his actions harmful to the environment affecting the country and the people. To name the more prominent ones:
West Philippine Sea: His downplaying the Philippines’ territorial rights to its part of the exclusive economic zone in favor of China’s interests has definitely compromised our sovereignty. In economic terms, it means letting the superpower compete in the wealth of the sea’s natural resources that ensurelivelihood in the coastal villages around it and the food security of the country.
In environmental terms, it is allowing same country through its aggressive fishing and military installations,to damage the coral reefs which shelter, feed, and multiply the fishes.
Kaliwa Dam: PRRD’s Build, Build, Build Program included the building of this huge dam which spans from the Rizal to Quezon corridor of the Sierra Madre mountain range.Intended to provide water to nearby communities and Metro Manila which are facing shortages, the trade-off has more serious consequences.
One of our biggest forest ecosystems which is home to a rich biodiversity has been greatly damaged in the massive construction. Indigenous communities have been displaced losing their ancestral homes, farms, livelihood, and culture. And in contracting the project to Chinese companiesworth around 2-billion pesos, it’s not hard to speculate on the bonanza to those who awarded the contract.
Dolomite Beach: Just the thought of extracting mountains of dolomite from a forest in Cebu to beautify a part of the Manila Bay coastline (which can also be wiped out) was already offensive. Environment destruction for tourism boost seemed to be a low-brained strategy. An unnecessary funding item especially at the onset of the Covid pandemic projected was heartless. But still proponents remained giddy about the white sand along the boulevard and the DENR with the president went along. Scorn and snicker, after a curious look and photo snapsby the locals, still hover on who could have made a killing in the project.
FILIPINOS AS VICTIMS
Whether it is massive floods during rainy season or environment destruction year-round, or in the unceremonious daily grind of millions of Filipinos, what is worst is that only a few people tricked us, robbed us of taxes, comfort, progress, the good life. Damn the korap, a breed in government and out, that doesn’t deserve space in a country rooted on laws and the sense of right and wrong.