OUR COUNTRY HAS an abundance of cretin and mindless businessmen, whose only concern is profit even to the extent of desecrating our pristine natural resources and scenic spots.
In practically every province of our country, where there are beautiful and lush green-covered mountains and hills, the marine rich dive sites, white sand beaches, there are poachers, illegal loggers, illegal quarrymen and gold diggers and illegal miners, hunters and wildlife smugglers.
The Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the dive sites in Siargao, with its coral reefs a marvel to humans and a useful food source and habitat for marine life; the white sand beaches of Boracay and the continuing desecration of El Nido in Palawan, and now the quarrying on the slopes of majestic Mount Mayon.
‘Do not allow development to become an excuse for destruction … When public projects ignore environmental safeguards, override communities, or enrich only the few, they betray the common good.’
FAILURE TO PROTECT
The government’s continued failure to protect and preserve these rich natural resources from despoilation, perhaps because some officials are on the take from these unscrupulous and greedy businessmen even if nothing would be left of such resources for future generations of Filipinos, is a major contributor to the disastrous effects of climate change. Communities surrounding these resources are powerless, though not voiceless, in denouncing such criminal acts against nature.
Take for instance, the diocese of Legazpi, Albay has been vociferously denouncing and exposing the ecological crisis caused by quarrying on the slopes of the perfect cone of Mt. Mayon.
In an article of Business Mirror, the diocese condemned the worsening environmental degradation in Albay province– thanks to the inutility of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the ousted DENR secretary– because of the irresponsible quarrying, deforestation and a lack of public consultation on infrastructure projects as evidence of “systemic neglect.”
ESCALATING CRISIS
A pastoral statement issued last Corpus Cristi Sunday by Bishop Joel Baylon and the diocesan clergy urged government officials and the public to take responsibility for what they called an escalating environmental crisis.
“Do not allow development to become an excuse for destruction…Albay deserves better—and we can still choose to do better,” part of the statement reads.
Addressing public officials, the diocese called for integrity and transparency in governance.
“When public projects ignore environmental safeguards, override communities, or enrich only the few, they betray the common good,” it said.
UNDER THREAT
The diocese criticized ongoing quarrying activities on the slopes of Mount Mayon—a protected area—and warned about the consequences of clearing forest cover and altering waterways.
It also raised concern over infrastructure projects encroaching on geologically– sensitive and heritage zones “with little regard for ecological impact or the long-term welfare of residents.”
“In various towns, our people have begun to ask: Who benefits from these projects? Why are those most affected rarely consulted?” the statement said.
Albay was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2016—a status the diocese said is now under threat due to ecological degradation.
AN APOLOGY
In the pastoral letter, the diocese apologized for not always speaking out forcefully in the past.
“For the times we remained silent when we should have spoken…we sincerely ask forgiveness,” the clergy wrote. “This is a moment for repentance and renewal, not only in words but in witness,” wrote the CBCP News.