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
Bulatlat

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.

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

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