Environmental Coalition Green Convergence held the 354th installment of the monthly Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan Forum about the status of water security in the country on September 20, 2019 (Friday) at Kamayan Restaurant, EDSA, Mandaluyong City.
Energy Development Corporation CEO Federico Lopez explained that the country’s water security problem is part of the ongoing global climate crisis. He said, “Shrinking glaciers will impact freshwater supply…Sea level rise and flooding will intrude aquifers.”
He noted that even without the effects of climate change, Metro Manila is still vulnerable due to very delayed flood control projects. He stressed, “There is a lot of ground subsidence…If water extraction continues.”
On the other hand, retired Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, Administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), in defense of the government’s initiatives said, “Measures have been adopted by MWSS to strengthen Angat Dam which was constructed in 1967 and other water structures to make these earthquake-resilient, for any damage to it will affect water supply, food supply, public safety, and energy resource especially in Metro Manila.”
Salamat promised to resign from his position if his leadership does not solve the water crisis that the metropolis is currently facing.
Alternative solutions were also provided by the forum’s speakers. Lopez recommended that the government must invest in research to develop a technology to utilize the abundant rainwater that the country receives.
Network for Sustainable Water’s Paolo Pagaduan emphasized, “Ang daling sabihin na kailangan nating magpatayo ng bagong ganito, bagong ganyan (It is easy to say that we need to build new this, new that),” when the problem is the people’s excessive consumption of water.
Pagaduan cited Seattle in the United States, where despite the city’s increasing population, water demand stays the same. He exclaimed, “We can reduce consumption to a more manageable level that is acceptable.”
In addition, a tribute to the late environmental champion and former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez was also given. Dr. Angelina Galang of Green Convergence and Dr. Carlo Garcia of the Miriam College Environmental Studies Institute partnered and pledged to plant 65 trees in Barangay Laiban, Tanay, Rizal in honor of the 65 years of life of the champion.
Galang described Lopez, “In the firmament of the environmental movement, she is the supernova, the brightest of all…Probably, a lot of us here became better because of her.”
“Siguraduhin natin na ang mga punla, binhi na inilagay niya [Gina Lopez] ay patuloy na magbunga (We must ensure that the seeds she placed must continue to grow),” Jaybee Garganera of Alyansa Tigil Mina said.
“Mining, coal, [and] small island ecosystems; she wanted these issues to be at the forefront of the 2016 elections,” he added.
Since March 1990, Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan Forum has become an institutionalized platform that enables NGO and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss pressing environmental issues in the country. This month’s forum is organized by Green Convergence and is supported by Kamayan Restaurant EDSA with the assistance of the Forest Foundation Philippines.
[big_title heading=”1″ bigtitle_content=”Reason for the Season”]
The Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar is divided into several meaningful periods: Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. These seasons are meant to celebrate the birth, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They reveal how God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to show us how to live, love, and serve others
Redemption, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, definitely was an expression of total love of the Father. However, long before Jesus came along, God had been revealing this love through His Creation. From the Big Bang 15-20 billion years ago that formed an infinite number of galaxies, stars, planets, moons and other celestial objects to the formation of our planet 4.7 billion years ago to the origin of life 3.7 billion years ago to the moment He breathed life into the first human.
For the human race, the stage had been set for his use, enjoyment and appreciation. Before him had been the evolution of the Earth from a molten mass of inanimate molecules to the formation of the varied features – mountains, plains, oceans, rivers – to the organisms that were suited to their specific settings of soil, water, and air. The grandiose biodiversity was a reflection of the Almighty’s own glory. God was revealing Himself to us through this creation. And most of all, He gave us the intelligence and consciousness to be able to make use of all these for our growth in knowledge, joy and actualization of our human potential individually and collectively.
Green Convergence participates in this year’s Season of Creation celebration by offering this booklet to the parishes to help them be engaged in the environmental movement.
The Season of Creation is a time for reflection of God’s omnipotence and love. But it is also a time to reflect on how we have shown our gratitude or ingratitude through our use or misuse of His bounty. Sadly, the state of nature today seems to manifest our indifference and worse, our selfishness, as we see the state of the environment today. From deforestation to air and water pollution to toxic substance, to nuclear contamination and the most urgent global crisis – global warming and its flip side, climate change, it is imperative that we take stock of our systems, actions, and world views and take a wiser course if we are to preserve the Earth’s grandeur, God’s creation.
Lord,
the lofty mountains proclaim Your greatness;
the fields of grain reveal Your goodness;
the teeming seas announce Your benevolence;
the tiny leaf is witness to Your omnipotence;
the mighty forests reflect Your glory;
the brilliant flowers bare Your beauty.
In the song of birds,
in the chirp of crickets,
in the cry of babies, we hear life.
In the warmth of sunshine,
in the kiss of the wind,
in the smile of friends, we feel Your love.
Lord, You so loved, the world that You gave us this beautiful world that gives nurturance of body and spirit. Give us the commitment to care for Your Earth, to pass on this commitment to our families, friends and neighbors so that our children will inherit a planet that will still yield their sustenance, so that they too will know You through Your creation, so that generation after generation will sing Your praises forever.
[big_title heading=”1″ bigtitle_content=”About the Season of Creation 2019 Booklet”]
This booklet hopes to help Catholics celebrate the Season of Creation. It is divided into 5 sections.
In Section 1, the first article gives the over-all perspective that situates the Season among the significant seasons that the Church observes; it points to the plan of God from the beginning of time. The second article adds that creation is continully unfolding and that we are called to cooperate with God in this as co-creators.
Section 2 offers a guide for the liturgical celebration of the Season. It weaves into the standard parts of Holy Mass appreciation and gratitutde for God’s bounty. The liturgy is further enriched by reflections, life focus questions and passages from Laudato Si.
This is followed by suggested prayers for other occasions.
Section 3 introduces several saints of ecology.
Section 4 enjoins the faithful to be environmentalists themselves through behaviors that conserve the earth’s resources and respect its ecology, one of them the creation and nurturance of gardens of native trees.
Section 5 features games that challenge our knowledge of Philippine biodiversity.
Green Convergence together with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and the Forest Foundation Philippines, and with the support of Partnership for Clean Air, Palawan State University, Palawan NGO Network, Inc. (PNNI), and the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) held the 2019 State of Nature Assessment (#GreenSONA): Pilipinas, #ParaisongNanganganib at the Hue Hotel, Puerto Princesa City on August 27, 2019. An environmental tour in three learning sites in Puerto Princesa City, namely, Bacungan Mangrove River, Puerto Princesa City Landfill, and PNNI Office was conducted after the event on August 28, 2019.
The Green SONA commenced with the National Anthem and Invocation led by singers from the Palawan State University. An opening number featuring songs in Cuyonon and Filipino languages were also performed by the group. Their performances were shortly followed by an orientation to the Green SONA by Green Convergence President Angelina P. Galang, Ph.D. In her message, she emphasized that “We are literally paraiso. And therefore we should protect the integrity of this ecology for the sustenance of our life, livelihood and development. Unfortunately, through the years, in the name of modernization, we have assaulted precisely these characteristics.”
Green Convergence President Angelina P. Galang, Ph.D. orients everyone about what the annual State of Nature Assessment or Green SONA is all about.
The first part of the annual assessment of the national environment dealt with its threats. Kimberly Alvarez, Policy Advocacy Officer of Kaisahan tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan or Solidarity Towards Countryside Development and Agrarian Reform (also known as Kaisahan) discussed the negative implications brought about by the lack of land use policy in the country. She mentioned, “Existing land use policies are sectoral and overlapping, leading to inefficient use and management. Sobrang luma na ng [land] laws natin. Kailangang iupdate [sila] na suitable sa context natin.”
Alavarez’ report was followed by Atty. Jennifer Lao Ramos’ presentation on the impacts of reclamation activities to marine biodiversity. She stressed that reclamation should not be the operative word used for the activity, and it must be “dump and fill.” She cited the planned aerotropolis in Bulacan as an example, “205 million cubic meters of filling materials will be used to make the aerotropolis in Bulacan. 20 million dump trucks ‘yan. Ito rin ay [equivalent sa] 1900 Chocolate Hills, at 1500 lang ang Chocolate Hills sa Bohol.”
Father Pete Montallana, Executive Director of Save Sierra Madre Network, on the other hand, was the one to talk about the dangers with large dams, with focus on the controversial Kaliwa Dam to be built in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range region. He reminded the audience that, “Mahalagang makita po natin na hindi ang dams ang nagkicreate ng tubig. Ang forests ang nagkicreate ng tubig.Ang Kaliwa Dam ay magpapalubog ng 300 hectares of forests. We need na ang carbon emission ay mahigop ng forests.”
The session then moved to talk about an important local issue in Palawan that can affect the environment in a national scale. Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda, Executive Director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center on the division of Palawan into three separate provinces emphasized, “Sabi ng SEP Law [Strategic Environment Plan for Palawan o RA 7611], kailangang may environmental research. ‘Yong paghahati ba ng Palawan na isang patakaran, pinag-aralan ba ng PCSD [o Palawan Council for Sustainable Development]? Hindi. Wala silang pinag-aralan…The fact that no cost-benefit analysis, no surveys, no studies, mapanganib ‘yon.” She further exclaimed that the division will turn Palawan into a lost ecological frontier.
An open forum was held after the first four speakers delivered their talks.
Participants of Green SONA 2019 shout, “One Palawan!” in support of the ongoing campaign of the province’s environmental defenders to protect the nationally significant ecosystem of Palawan from greedy political ambitions of some.
For the second part of the assessment, the environmentalists then evaluated the status of government programs related to the environment. Prominent Executive Director of PNNI, Atty. Bobby Chan was tasked to talk on the status of the enforcement of the Expanded National Green Program and Forest Laws in the Philippines. He reminded the participants that any policy will not be successful if the personal interests of a few overwhelm the interests of the public. He connected his presentation with the division of Palawan and said, “This division is not about economic shares or better governance. It’s about promoting one person’s political dynasty! On this, all arguments for it must fail. To stop this dastardly design, we have to vote no on May 2020! Because no division means no dynasty.”
Energy Development Corporation’s Assistant Vice President Miko de Vera shared the advocacy of his company to promote renewable sources for the country’s energy needs. Unfortunately, many barriers have to be overcome. He pointed out that, “The good news is, in many parts of the world, coal plants are being shut down. The bad news is, in the Philippines, we’re going for the opposite direction.”
Finally, for the last report on the state of the Philippine environment, Living Laudato Si Executive Director Rodne Galicha encouraged the audience that should divest from companies and institutions that contribute to the further destruction of the environment. He noted that, “Ecological protection is a moral responsibility…May karapatan ang kalikasan dahil ito ay karugtong ng mga karapatan ng mga tao…Industrialization is obselete. Sustainability, the revolution is the new trend.”
Similar to the first part of the assessment, an open forum followed the speeches of the speakers. After this, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado, Ph.D. was asked to react to the reports and assessments delivered by the speakers, as well as the questions raised by the members of the audience. He assured everyone that, “In every management plan that we do, we [will] ensure that NGOs are invited.”
Upon the presentation of Imelda Sarmiento, Green Convergence Philippine Native Trees Program Head, of the Children’s Book Project featuring the Philippine native trees, Green Convergence Vice President delivered the resolutions of the annual Green SONA. It was immediately followed by a closing message by Atty. Louie Cascara, Legal Counsel of Palawan State University who spoke in behalf of the University President Ramon Docto, Ph.D
Green SONA 2019 was hosted by Victoria Segovia, a member of the Board of Trustees of Green Convergence, and Cris Ecaldre, a Faculty member at the Palawan State University. Green SONA is an annual gathering of the members of civil society organizations, the academe, the Church, the media, the indigenous communities, and other sectors to assess the state of the Philippine environment.
