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| The following is a guest post in the form of an open letter to Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao from Save Kiamba Rainforest Movement urging the lawmaker to act against mining activities in Kiamba and Sarangani. |
URGENT CALL ON CONGRESSMAN MANNY PACQUIAO TO STOP THE BLEEDING OF OUR FORESTS
I was one of the many who was proud when you became our representative in 2010. Our hometown, became famous with you as our prime endorser for tourism. We heaved a sigh of relief because we believed our hometown and our people are safe and secure in your care. You have everything you need and will ever want and we counted on you to defend our paradise.
Today, our forests are bleeding from the indiscriminate cutting of trees. Logs are allowed to be transported despite the logging moratorium and despite the absence of commercial tree plantations in the area. Your people go to sleep with questions in their minds why nobody is stopping this carnage.
Today, our paradise has suffered the worst floods ever. Four major floods in a matter of 7 months, something which Kiamba never suffered before. These floods have already resulted to deaths, destruction of infrastructure with houses and crops being swept away, together with whatever dreams they have for their future.
Today, the people of Kiamba are having their worst nightmares because of the impending doom of mining companies soon to destroy this beautiful paradise.
Yesterday, I posted on Facebook the Google Earth satellite image of Kiamba for everyone to see the hectares of forest that will be destroyed if mining is allowed. Allow me to invite you to see the images for yourself the paradise that will be destroyed and the bio- diversity that will be lost if nothing is done. Even the home of the Philippine Eagle which you have championed will be destroyed together with thousands of other creatures and plant species which may hold promise for the cure of Ebola or other man's malady. Will you allow this to happen under your watch?
In the same thread, Jay Dayupay of ABS-CBN posted images and evidence of truckloads of trees/lumber being hauled to nearby General Santos City. Already, truckloads were released after paper inspection is done by the DENR. Does this not need an investigation? Why can't a trusted team, joined by the academe and POs be formed to really look into the source of these logs and bring those responsible to court? People know that these logs are taken from our forests and it is very sad that it's only government who don't or refuse to see.
Our hearts bleed with the bleeding of our forests Congressman Pacquiao. We are in faraway lands but we have never seen any place more beautiful as Kiamba. It was a paradise for thousands of professionals now around the world. Our forests sustained our farms and made sure our fishermen got the catch enough to send their children to college and succeed in life. Please do not deny the future generation of Kiambans their fair share. You have the power in your hands.
Your wife, Vice Governor Jinkee know how it was to live in a paradise. Nature was a free playground for all. We had springs of water everywhere, waterfalls, whitesand beaches with its blue waters, long stretches of coloful corrals, fish species of all kinds. We did not need toys, nature was enough for a daily blast. You even built a beach house in the Tuka Marine Park, a testament to the beauty of our paradise.
You showed it to the world by having your name associated with it " Pacman's Resort". You owe it to Jinkee, your childen and your people to preserve and protect our forests which give live life to priceless marine life which are in the IUCN red list of endagered species like the Mameng, Oreily, other marine turtles. One day, your children will be asked, what has your father done to defend a paradise when he had the chance?
Congressman Pacquiao, we have questions for you. Why were mining applications approved when Kiamba is part of the Allah Valley Watershed which is a protected area under Proclamation 2455? Why was a coal plant allowed to be constructed in Maasim and why were mining applications approved for Kiamba and Maitum, all under your jurisdiction, when the whole Sarangani Seascape is protected? Don't we all know that whatever degradation that happens in the uplands will affect the lowlands? Don't you think the approval of these mining applications should be closely looked into?
Kiamba supplies the bulk of the shasimi export grade tuna to General Santos. If and when mining start their operations, together with the now dwindling cach of our fishermen due to the degradation happening upstream, will the international market still trust fish coming from our shores?
You know that majority of your people has depended on fishing and agriculture for their livelihood. Will you allow their sources of livelihood degraded due to mining when mining is non sustainable and will only employ a few people? Where will they go and how will they live? Statistics show that mining communties in the Philippines are the poorest communities. Will you allow Sarangani to take this course when there are alternative sources of sustainable livelihood for your people?
Above all Congressman Manny, will you deny your people their constitutional rights to their lives, safety, livelihood and healthy and balanced ecology when you have in your power to defend these rights? MGB itself knows that Kiamba is prone to flloods and landslides yet approved mining applications. Lives have been taken. Will you allow more lives to be sacrificed for the benefit of a few? Should the MGB and the DENR be held responsible for any more loss to lives and property?
Congressman Manny, we embraced you as our own Kiamba native. As the husband of Jinkee who now also holds a position of power as the Vice Governor of Sarangani, you can make a tremendous difference. We implore both of you to defend your children and your people by stopping once and for all the bleeding of our forests by Declaring Sarangani a mining free zone and find ways to implement the log ban. When other politicians who have done so, we believe you posses that political will to do it. The people gave their votes to give you the power to do your job.
A bill declaring Sarangani a Mining Free Zone will show your detractors that you do not have any financial interest in the mining companies or a part of ongoing illegal logging activities. Do not allow other people to drag you further down by associating with illegal loggers and mining enthusiasts. People should not be sacrificed for any monetary value and we count on you to champion the cause of the majority not for the benefit of a few.
As you aspire for a higher position in government, people will ask us, what have Manny done for Sarangani? We hope to answer them, MANNY DEFENDED OUR PARADISE. That too, we hope will be the answer your children will give their friends when asked what has your father done to stop the bleeding of a paradise. We hope to see them answer everyone and proudly say OUR FATHER, THE GREAT BOXER DEFENDED THE BLEEDING OF A PARADISE.
We all live for our children and the generations to come. Let us give them the paradise they truly deserve. Protection and preservation of the environment is our collective obligation but we need you to lead with the tremendous power of the position you hold given by the people.
We will be on the watch. Meantime, STOP THE BLEEDING OF OUR FORESTS.
=========
Please share in your timelines and pass to organizations, family and friends. Thank you.
Life was simple and serene in Kiamba, Sarangani till you came Congressman Manny.
I was one of the many who was proud when you became our representative in 2010. Our hometown, became famous with you as our prime endorser for tourism. We heaved a sigh of relief because we believed our hometown and our people are safe and secure in your care. You have everything you need and will ever want and we counted on you to defend our paradise.
Today, our forests are bleeding from the indiscriminate cutting of trees. Logs are allowed to be transported despite the logging moratorium and despite the absence of commercial tree plantations in the area. Your people go to sleep with questions in their minds why nobody is stopping this carnage.
Today, the people of Kiamba are having their worst nightmares because of the impending doom of mining companies soon to destroy this beautiful paradise.
Yesterday, I posted on Facebook the Google Earth satellite image of Kiamba for everyone to see the hectares of forest that will be destroyed if mining is allowed. Allow me to invite you to see the images for yourself the paradise that will be destroyed and the bio- diversity that will be lost if nothing is done. Even the home of the Philippine Eagle which you have championed will be destroyed together with thousands of other creatures and plant species which may hold promise for the cure of Ebola or other man's malady. Will you allow this to happen under your watch?
In the same thread, Jay Dayupay of ABS-CBN posted images and evidence of truckloads of trees/lumber being hauled to nearby General Santos City. Already, truckloads were released after paper inspection is done by the DENR. Does this not need an investigation? Why can't a trusted team, joined by the academe and POs be formed to really look into the source of these logs and bring those responsible to court? People know that these logs are taken from our forests and it is very sad that it's only government who don't or refuse to see.
Our hearts bleed with the bleeding of our forests Congressman Pacquiao. We are in faraway lands but we have never seen any place more beautiful as Kiamba. It was a paradise for thousands of professionals now around the world. Our forests sustained our farms and made sure our fishermen got the catch enough to send their children to college and succeed in life. Please do not deny the future generation of Kiambans their fair share. You have the power in your hands.
Your wife, Vice Governor Jinkee know how it was to live in a paradise. Nature was a free playground for all. We had springs of water everywhere, waterfalls, whitesand beaches with its blue waters, long stretches of coloful corrals, fish species of all kinds. We did not need toys, nature was enough for a daily blast. You even built a beach house in the Tuka Marine Park, a testament to the beauty of our paradise.
You showed it to the world by having your name associated with it " Pacman's Resort". You owe it to Jinkee, your childen and your people to preserve and protect our forests which give live life to priceless marine life which are in the IUCN red list of endagered species like the Mameng, Oreily, other marine turtles. One day, your children will be asked, what has your father done to defend a paradise when he had the chance?
Congressman Pacquiao, we have questions for you. Why were mining applications approved when Kiamba is part of the Allah Valley Watershed which is a protected area under Proclamation 2455? Why was a coal plant allowed to be constructed in Maasim and why were mining applications approved for Kiamba and Maitum, all under your jurisdiction, when the whole Sarangani Seascape is protected? Don't we all know that whatever degradation that happens in the uplands will affect the lowlands? Don't you think the approval of these mining applications should be closely looked into?
Kiamba supplies the bulk of the shasimi export grade tuna to General Santos. If and when mining start their operations, together with the now dwindling cach of our fishermen due to the degradation happening upstream, will the international market still trust fish coming from our shores?
You know that majority of your people has depended on fishing and agriculture for their livelihood. Will you allow their sources of livelihood degraded due to mining when mining is non sustainable and will only employ a few people? Where will they go and how will they live? Statistics show that mining communties in the Philippines are the poorest communities. Will you allow Sarangani to take this course when there are alternative sources of sustainable livelihood for your people?
Above all Congressman Manny, will you deny your people their constitutional rights to their lives, safety, livelihood and healthy and balanced ecology when you have in your power to defend these rights? MGB itself knows that Kiamba is prone to flloods and landslides yet approved mining applications. Lives have been taken. Will you allow more lives to be sacrificed for the benefit of a few? Should the MGB and the DENR be held responsible for any more loss to lives and property?
Congressman Manny, we embraced you as our own Kiamba native. As the husband of Jinkee who now also holds a position of power as the Vice Governor of Sarangani, you can make a tremendous difference. We implore both of you to defend your children and your people by stopping once and for all the bleeding of our forests by Declaring Sarangani a mining free zone and find ways to implement the log ban. When other politicians who have done so, we believe you posses that political will to do it. The people gave their votes to give you the power to do your job.
A bill declaring Sarangani a Mining Free Zone will show your detractors that you do not have any financial interest in the mining companies or a part of ongoing illegal logging activities. Do not allow other people to drag you further down by associating with illegal loggers and mining enthusiasts. People should not be sacrificed for any monetary value and we count on you to champion the cause of the majority not for the benefit of a few.
As you aspire for a higher position in government, people will ask us, what have Manny done for Sarangani? We hope to answer them, MANNY DEFENDED OUR PARADISE. That too, we hope will be the answer your children will give their friends when asked what has your father done to stop the bleeding of a paradise. We hope to see them answer everyone and proudly say OUR FATHER, THE GREAT BOXER DEFENDED THE BLEEDING OF A PARADISE.
We all live for our children and the generations to come. Let us give them the paradise they truly deserve. Protection and preservation of the environment is our collective obligation but we need you to lead with the tremendous power of the position you hold given by the people.
We will be on the watch. Meantime, STOP THE BLEEDING OF OUR FORESTS.
=========
Please share in your timelines and pass to organizations, family and friends. Thank you.