This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 1, February 5-11, 2006
Pamalakaya:
Cut DENR Budget from P5 B to P1
P1 is all the budget that the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources deserves, said fisherfolk
groups, for its refusal to heed their demand to stop opening coastal areas to
foreign and domestic corporations.
By
Gerry Albert Corpuz The fisherfolk federation
Pamalakaya (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the
Philippines) last week urged lawmakers to reduce the proposed budget of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from P5 billion ($96.32
million at $1=P51.91) to P1 (roughly $.019) for 2006. Pamalakaya and its member
organizations are demanding that the DENR recall the 4,968 environmental
certificates of compliance (ECCs) and scrap DENR Administrative Order 24 which
opened up the country's coastal areas to foreign and domestic investors. © 2006 Bulatlat
■
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Bulatlat
In a statement sent to Bulatlat, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap
described DENR as the “Central Bank of the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo
administration", accusing on-leave DENR Secretary Michael Defensor of issuing
ECCs like guaranteed treasury bills for corporate clients of the Office of the
President.
Hicap asked the Senate to reduce the budget of DENR from the proposed P 5.59
billion to P1 after former Defensor and other environment officials boycotted
last week's Senate hearing on the proposed 2006 budget for DENR.
Pamalakaya's proposal came after the Senate threatened to allot a P1 budget to
the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) after its chair, Camilo
Sabio, refused to divulge the alleged P50 billion compromise deal between
President Arroyo and Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco on the controversial P130
billion coconut levy fund.
”This is not a drastic or extreme proposal. This is legit and politically
correct, given the arrogance displayed by President Arroyo, Secretary Defensor
and their ring leaders in DENR,” Hicap said.
Senators last week froze the proposed P 5.59 billion budget for DENR to force
Defensor to testify before the Senate budget hearing. The lawmakers were
reportedly disgusted to find out that Defensor's office has had two
officers-in-charge since Jan. 17―Undersecretary Armando de Castro from Jan. 17
to 30 and Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio from Jan. 31 to Feb. 10.
Senate President Franklin Drilon said this was the first time he saw a revolving
door policy being effected in DENR and of a secretary on leave determining who
should be the OIC. Drilon said the office of DENR secretary “has a public
character and is not a fiefdom of anybody.”
Divine intervention
Romeo Antazo, Pamalakaya secretary general, said the group would seek audience
with Jaro Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
President Antonio Lagdameo this month to discuss controversial sectoral and
environmental issues involving President Arroyo, Defensor and DENR.
“Call it divine intervention or whatever is the appropriate term. But one thing
is for sure ―we will bring the issue to the portals of the CBCP office in Manila
and appeal to the bishops to support this moral, political and legitimate
crusade in the name of fisher people and the environment," the 65-year old
fisherfolk leader said.
Antazo said his group will also bring to CBCP the issue of Lafayette mining
spill in Rapu-Rapu, Albay, the massive oil and gas hunts in Tañon Strait, a
protected seascape separating the island provinces of Negros and Cebu, and Cebu
Strait, another protected seascape located between Cebu and Bohol provinces and
fishing waters off Northern Leyte.
”This is a matter of life and death to us. We will move heaven and earth to stop
this concerted and well-staged campaign of plunder, corruption and environmental
devastation," Antazo told Bulatlat.
Hearing on Feb.8
Pamalakaya leaders in Albay and Sorsogon are set to testify next week in the
hearing to be conducted by the House Committee on Natural Resources regarding
the mining activities of Australian firm Lafayette Philippines.
The hearing was requested by Rep. Jose Solis (2nd district, Sorsogon) and
Anakpawis party-list Reps. Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano. Solis filed House
Resolution 1058, while Beltran and Mariano filed House Bill 1086, both urging
the house committee on natural resources to conduct an in-depth inquiry into the
Lafayette twin mine spills last October 11 and 31.
Lakas ng mga Mangingisda ng Bicol (Lambat-Bicol), a regional alliance of
small fisherfolk groups affiliated with Pamalakaya said they would seek the
support of Bicol congressmen headed by House Minority Floor Leader Francis
“Chiz” Escudero on their suggestion to permanently close Lafayette mining
operations in Rapu-Rapu and their demand for immediate and sufficient
compensation package for victims of the environmental tragedy.
Lambat-Bicol secretary general Arieto Radores hit the Arroyo government for
DENR’s statement last week clearing the mining firm of charges regarding
presence of cyanide and other highly toxic materials.
”The Arroyo-Defensor tandem is hell bent to save the day for Lafayette to save
the anti-people mining policy and program of the regime. We will not allow this
grand escape to take off," Radores said in a text message. Bulatlat