Lord, Deliver the Environment from the Evil One!
(A Statement from Task Force Sierra Madre)
As the nation is focused on the greed unearthed in the ZTE deal, the Task Force Sierra Madre (TFSM) asks the Filipino people to also pay attention to the greed that ultimately jeopardizes especially the next generations of Filipinos. Daily, Sierra Madre continues to be raped in broad daylight and corrupt DENR officials who are being paid by our hard-earned taxes to take care of the environment - from our experience - connive with the rapists. This is a multi-million rape that happens in the whole country daily yet we, especially the people in the cities, are unaware of its extent.
We, from the towns of Real, Infanta, Gen. Nakar of the province of Quezon and Dingalan, Aurora suffered very much during the 2004 calamity which was made worse by the greed of loggers in connivance with corrupt DENR officials. Thousands of cut logs unleased by the flash flood killed 1000 people and destroyed millions-worth of property. Years before that, concerned citizens have been calling the attention of DENR about its obligation - to no avail. Our experience confirmed our conviction that we could not entrust the future of the environment in the hands of the government alone.
TFSM cooperated with the DENR to help it fulfill its task for protecting the environment since 2006. We believed that DENR people can change but gradually we discovered that we were simply taken for a ride. There is a perfected corrupt system that even good people inside DENR are immobilized. We have numerous experiences with DENR, but we name here just a few more striking examples:
1) Just five months after the 2004 calamity, Sec. Ermita re-instated the 34,000 hectares IFMA (Integrated Forest Management Agreement) of Wilson Ng which was already cancelled by DENR Sec. Guzon after numerous protest from the people led by Bishop Labayen. What did DENR Sec. Defensor do to stop this?
It is common knowledge that IFMA in a forested area is simply a cover up for logging. We raised the issue way back in 2005 - this time led by Bishop Tirona - aa have gathered 20,000 signatures against IFMA. In contrast to the quick approval of IFMA by Sec. Ermita 5 months after the flood! Iis now four years since we have petitioned to cancel the IFMA and we have been given a run-around by the DENR. In the meantime, over the last few months we got reports of more intensive logging in the said IFMA area. These were transported through Dingalan.
A month ago the Philippine Daily Inquirer published reports from Agtas on the continued logging in the Sierra Madre. The DENR responded and visited the area mentioned. The barangay captain asked the Agtas to come down and sign a document that there was no logging in the area! By the time Sec. Ermita cancels the IFMA, there would be no more trees in the said area. A perfect deception which is normal in the country today! Logging continues even as we write this statement.
2) Last Dovember 26, 2007 we trusted that maybe Sec. Atienza was sincere regarding the environment. Hence we attended a dialogue he called and told him of the continuous logging. The PowerPoint presentation by DENR stressed the need to protect the environment. We were elated when he promised that the CENROs of Real and Dingalan would soon be relieved. A big disappointment! It is now April and logging still continuing. While there is a new CENRO is now is Real, the one in Dingalan is still there. He must have a very strong backer that not even Sec. Atienza could remove him.
3) Sec. Atienza also promised to follow up the suspended investigation conducted by DENR-National on DENR personnel in Real last December 2006. Among the issues unearthed in the said investigation was the 15 ten-wheeler truckloads of wood whose papers were not even signed by the requesting person, Nenita Torres, yet they were signed by the DENR officials. It is now April and nothing has happened.
4) There are other incidents that TFSM encountered mind boggling but true how can narra flitches found in Polilio be declared by DENR to be retrieved from the 2004 calamity in Infanta when narra submerges in water and could not float in the kilometers of water separating Infanta and Polillo island. This and other mysteries do happen in the DENR office.
We need a lot of trees to reverse the effect of climate change. We need everyone to defend Sierra Madre if we are to survive. TFSM can only report and alert people on what is happening. We especially need DENR personnel who still can listen to their conscience.
We need an independent investigating committee, maybe from the Senate, to stop the continuing rape of the Sierra Madre. The stumps are there and the Agtas among others can pinpoint where the rape happened. We are aware that what is happening is the Sierra Madre is also a phenomenon in other parts of the country.
May we see Jesus in the person of those who are suffering and will be suffering because of our greed. May God bless us with more Lozada’s, sinners yet open to be transformed and to trust in Him. Jesus is Risen and Triumphant. We should not be afraid. God, the real Commander-in-Chief, will deliver us from the Evil One. He loves the Filipinos very much.
Fr. Pete Montallana, OFM
For Task Force Sierra Madre
