In tagaytay.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Water BenderMonday, October 15, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Maganda pala sa Sibuyan. Puntahan Natin
WHEN GOVERNANCE FAILS
A Murder on Sibuyan Island
By Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan
Vice-Chairman, WWF Philippines
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----
On October 2, at 10am in the morning, a vehicle carrying personnel of Altai
Mining Corporation, approached a group of approximately 150 Sibuyanon
rallyists protesting against mining activities on the island. Heated words
were exchanged. The vehicle driver drew his gun. A shot rang out. The
vehicle's engine revved, dragging a man with it, then swerved out of
control. A second shot rang out. Armin Marin, municipal councilor from
Barangay Espana of the town of San Fernando, fell to the ground, dying.
A civil engineer by training, Armin spent most of his adult life in the
service of his island. His first blush with public service was as kagawad
of his own barangay, Espana. Then, from 1997 to 2002, he worked with WWF as
a community organizer and farm supervisor, overseeing livelihood projects
for poor communities in Espana and other barangays in San Fernando's
northern sector. As part of his work, he dealt with farmers in the
lowlands, the Mangyan Tagabukid communities in the uplands, even carabao
loggers involved in illegal activity. It is said that Armin clearly
understood how dependent Sibuyanons were on the exceptional ecology that
characterized their island home. For him, people came first. He understood
that without people's support, conservation would be a losing battle. He
was a realist. After his exposure to WWF, Armin continued his service to
his island, working with Fundacion Santiago on a project with the Department
of Agrarian Reform, as a project supervisor for institutional development
and cooperative formation. In 2004, he ran for councilor and lost. He
continued his NGO work, and in May 2007, he ran again. This time around, he
won. A man as large as life, father of 5 children, he saw Sibuyan evolve,
from the time its economy was almost entirely dependent on illegal logging,
through the years of out-migration, through the introduction of a
conservation ethic. He understood that the solution was not simple. He
also understood that unless Sibuyanons took it upon themselves to change
things, his island home would vanish, and everything he gave his life to,
would be for nothing.
Among the 7,000-odd islands of the Philippines, Sibuyan Island stands out.
A 46,000 hectare island in the province of Romblon, one-third of Sibuyan is
a protected area. Despite its proximity to Manila, it is one of the more
difficult areas to access in the country. Having been separated from the
mainland as far back as the last Ice Age, Sibuyan boasts some of the highest
endemicity among all the islands of the archipelago. There are plants and
animals that you find here, on the slopes of Mount Guiting-Guiting, that are
found nowhere else in the world. In 1997, it still had as much as 75%
forest cover, as well as the most beautiful and clean rivers. As a key site
of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), the mountain and
its park enjoyed protection under Presidential proclamation. Unfortunately,
rare plants and animals do not often make a significant contribution to
development in emerging economies. Many traditional products of Sibuyan,
e.g., copra, abaca, basketry and a natural varnish drawn from almaciga
trees, were replaced by synthetic substitutes and lost their
competitiveness, reducing the island to what was described as an economic
backwater. Out-migration began and the remittances of overseas workers
became its main source of income.
A Dutch embassy officer once described Sibuyan as a microcosm of the
Philippines. Everything you saw elsewhere in the country, both good and
bad, was found here. It was no surprise, therefore, to see mining land on
its shores. In July 2006, the Sanggunian Barangay of Taclobo approved the
island's first endorsement of a mining application. Armin, together with
many other Sibuyanons drew a line in the sand and the mining debate started.
Through the last twelve months, many things transpired. A consortium of
mining companies, called the Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development
Corporation Limited (SNPDC), was formed. Among the applicants for mining
activity in Sibuyan are Altai Mining, Sun Pacific, All Acacia, San Roque
Mining, and Pelican Resources. On the other side of the fence, the
Sibuyanons against mining organized rally after rally on the island,
feverishly lobbying at government offices and in Congress for support.
Local anti-mining groups revealed that mining activity on the island has
grown exponentially to the point where, at present, there are thirteen
active mining sites surrounding the mountain and its national park. The
mining juggernaut churned on, fuelling even greater local opposition. The
mining debate rose in decibels.
On August 24, 2007, shortly before Secretary Angelo Reyes left the DENR, he
approved five Special Cutting Permits to clear forest land for mining
activity on Sibuyan. Clearance was given to cut down an estimated 59,000
trees, making up more or less 4 Million board feet of timber from Sibuyan's
lowland dipterocarp natural forests. Some areas approved for cutting, sit
barely 100 meters away from the core zone of the protected area. These
permits included areas around the headwaters of the Cantingas, Punong and
Olango rivers, water sources of Bgy Taclobo and Bgy Espana. In a world
facing climate change, where all remaining forest stands provide a major
umbilical toward the future, an action as severe as this is simply
dysfunctional.
Everything many Sibuyanons had fought for were now going to officially
disappear, through a clearance given by the very Department whose mandate it
was to sustainably manage this area. The permit was reportedly issued to a
consultant of Altai Mining. The proceeds from this sale would once again,
leave Sibuyan and bring greater wealth to the mainland. The injustice was
palpable, a sense of betrayal filled the air and the mining debate roared.
In late September, Armin Marin and many Sibuyanons, who continued to oppose
mining on their island, felt it was time to speak again. On the evening of
October 1, a crowd of from 150 to 300 people gathered at Sitio Olangos in
Barangay Espana. Their objective was to simply to show the mining company
there, that many Sibuyanons in Espana were not in favor of mining. Through
the night, many speeches were delivered. The crowd thinned. But with
daybreak, it swelled once again. Councilor Marin was there.
At ten in the morning, the Altai Mining vehicle approached the crowd. On
board were its driver, a female staff member and two security officers. A
witness, standing about 40 meters away, recounts that he heard a first
shot. When he turned, he saw Armin being dragged by the jeep, held by the
driver's arm. The jeep then seemed to veer out of control. A second shot,
and Armin fell.
Other witnesses nearby, narrated that while the driver collared Armin with
his left hand, he held a gun to Armin's mouth with his right – which is
probably why the jeep veered out of control.
An official of the Philippine government lay dying on the ground. His
friend, Ariel, ran up to him. He recounted that there was blood pulsing out
of Armin's neck. He wanted to talk to Ariel, but could not, because blood
was frothing from his mouth as well. Ariel held his hand, and applied
direct pressure on the gaping neck wound. His eyes locked with Armin's and
knew that his friend was going to die.
An elected public servant was shot in broad daylight, in full view of more
than a hundred witnesses, by a gun-toting employee of a private company who
believed that, simply because they had a government permit, they also had
the absolute right to clear this ancestral forest, take away the only
resources these people have, and forever alter the lives of Sibuyanons who
choose to reject this change.
A line must, once again, be drawn in the sand. If sustainable development
remains a sincere objective, there is a limit to everything. In the case of
mining, what is that limit? It must be defined. And, if government does
not have the will to make that definition, communities will. Shall we allow
it to get to that? Where are the standards? They must be made public. And
all who choose to venture into this business, must be transparent and remain
fully accountable to abide by these limits and standards. Companies that
fail to comply, must be closed down. This is the rule of law.
Our country is a patchwork of land-use overlaps. Protected areas overlap
ancestral domain titles, that in turn, overlap mining claims and
watersheds. We have allocated more land than we actually have. This, by
its very structure, is a patchwork of conflict. Seeing this, if a mining
company does not demonstrate the sincerity and capability to deal equitably,
amicably and productively with local communities, it should be closed down
and all its permits withdrawn. The promotion of a culture of violence is
not in the strategic interest of this nation and goes against the public
good. As an artifact of the Dictatorship and our recent political past,
this is something we should get rid off. It is simply wrong, and positions
our country as a pariah in the greater community of nations. Lasting
solutions are founded on fairness, true dialogue and the establishment of
mutually beneficial relationships.
Consistent law enforcement and public compliance have been one of our
greatest national weaknesses for decades now. Whether in logging, or in
fishing, in government contracts, tax collections or simple traffic rules –
the story is the same. This must stop. We pay our taxes to ensure peace and
order, a stable economy and a predictable future. This is our contract with
government. It is the people's right to demand good governance and full
delivery. When government calls the shots, government must make things work
well. The best laws that are not enforced consistently are not good laws.
They are a waste of public funds. They erode, rather than build, our
nation.
In a government of the people, by the people and for the people, that is the
least we deserve. And, when human life is taken, justice must be served.
Although some passengers of the jeep are in police custody, Armin's murderer
has escaped. How could this be possible?
A Murder on Sibuyan Island
By Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan
Vice-Chairman, WWF Philippines
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----
On October 2, at 10am in the morning, a vehicle carrying personnel of Altai
Mining Corporation, approached a group of approximately 150 Sibuyanon
rallyists protesting against mining activities on the island. Heated words
were exchanged. The vehicle driver drew his gun. A shot rang out. The
vehicle's engine revved, dragging a man with it, then swerved out of
control. A second shot rang out. Armin Marin, municipal councilor from
Barangay Espana of the town of San Fernando, fell to the ground, dying.
A civil engineer by training, Armin spent most of his adult life in the
service of his island. His first blush with public service was as kagawad
of his own barangay, Espana. Then, from 1997 to 2002, he worked with WWF as
a community organizer and farm supervisor, overseeing livelihood projects
for poor communities in Espana and other barangays in San Fernando's
northern sector. As part of his work, he dealt with farmers in the
lowlands, the Mangyan Tagabukid communities in the uplands, even carabao
loggers involved in illegal activity. It is said that Armin clearly
understood how dependent Sibuyanons were on the exceptional ecology that
characterized their island home. For him, people came first. He understood
that without people's support, conservation would be a losing battle. He
was a realist. After his exposure to WWF, Armin continued his service to
his island, working with Fundacion Santiago on a project with the Department
of Agrarian Reform, as a project supervisor for institutional development
and cooperative formation. In 2004, he ran for councilor and lost. He
continued his NGO work, and in May 2007, he ran again. This time around, he
won. A man as large as life, father of 5 children, he saw Sibuyan evolve,
from the time its economy was almost entirely dependent on illegal logging,
through the years of out-migration, through the introduction of a
conservation ethic. He understood that the solution was not simple. He
also understood that unless Sibuyanons took it upon themselves to change
things, his island home would vanish, and everything he gave his life to,
would be for nothing.
Among the 7,000-odd islands of the Philippines, Sibuyan Island stands out.
A 46,000 hectare island in the province of Romblon, one-third of Sibuyan is
a protected area. Despite its proximity to Manila, it is one of the more
difficult areas to access in the country. Having been separated from the
mainland as far back as the last Ice Age, Sibuyan boasts some of the highest
endemicity among all the islands of the archipelago. There are plants and
animals that you find here, on the slopes of Mount Guiting-Guiting, that are
found nowhere else in the world. In 1997, it still had as much as 75%
forest cover, as well as the most beautiful and clean rivers. As a key site
of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), the mountain and
its park enjoyed protection under Presidential proclamation. Unfortunately,
rare plants and animals do not often make a significant contribution to
development in emerging economies. Many traditional products of Sibuyan,
e.g., copra, abaca, basketry and a natural varnish drawn from almaciga
trees, were replaced by synthetic substitutes and lost their
competitiveness, reducing the island to what was described as an economic
backwater. Out-migration began and the remittances of overseas workers
became its main source of income.
A Dutch embassy officer once described Sibuyan as a microcosm of the
Philippines. Everything you saw elsewhere in the country, both good and
bad, was found here. It was no surprise, therefore, to see mining land on
its shores. In July 2006, the Sanggunian Barangay of Taclobo approved the
island's first endorsement of a mining application. Armin, together with
many other Sibuyanons drew a line in the sand and the mining debate started.
Through the last twelve months, many things transpired. A consortium of
mining companies, called the Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development
Corporation Limited (SNPDC), was formed. Among the applicants for mining
activity in Sibuyan are Altai Mining, Sun Pacific, All Acacia, San Roque
Mining, and Pelican Resources. On the other side of the fence, the
Sibuyanons against mining organized rally after rally on the island,
feverishly lobbying at government offices and in Congress for support.
Local anti-mining groups revealed that mining activity on the island has
grown exponentially to the point where, at present, there are thirteen
active mining sites surrounding the mountain and its national park. The
mining juggernaut churned on, fuelling even greater local opposition. The
mining debate rose in decibels.
On August 24, 2007, shortly before Secretary Angelo Reyes left the DENR, he
approved five Special Cutting Permits to clear forest land for mining
activity on Sibuyan. Clearance was given to cut down an estimated 59,000
trees, making up more or less 4 Million board feet of timber from Sibuyan's
lowland dipterocarp natural forests. Some areas approved for cutting, sit
barely 100 meters away from the core zone of the protected area. These
permits included areas around the headwaters of the Cantingas, Punong and
Olango rivers, water sources of Bgy Taclobo and Bgy Espana. In a world
facing climate change, where all remaining forest stands provide a major
umbilical toward the future, an action as severe as this is simply
dysfunctional.
Everything many Sibuyanons had fought for were now going to officially
disappear, through a clearance given by the very Department whose mandate it
was to sustainably manage this area. The permit was reportedly issued to a
consultant of Altai Mining. The proceeds from this sale would once again,
leave Sibuyan and bring greater wealth to the mainland. The injustice was
palpable, a sense of betrayal filled the air and the mining debate roared.
In late September, Armin Marin and many Sibuyanons, who continued to oppose
mining on their island, felt it was time to speak again. On the evening of
October 1, a crowd of from 150 to 300 people gathered at Sitio Olangos in
Barangay Espana. Their objective was to simply to show the mining company
there, that many Sibuyanons in Espana were not in favor of mining. Through
the night, many speeches were delivered. The crowd thinned. But with
daybreak, it swelled once again. Councilor Marin was there.
At ten in the morning, the Altai Mining vehicle approached the crowd. On
board were its driver, a female staff member and two security officers. A
witness, standing about 40 meters away, recounts that he heard a first
shot. When he turned, he saw Armin being dragged by the jeep, held by the
driver's arm. The jeep then seemed to veer out of control. A second shot,
and Armin fell.
Other witnesses nearby, narrated that while the driver collared Armin with
his left hand, he held a gun to Armin's mouth with his right – which is
probably why the jeep veered out of control.
An official of the Philippine government lay dying on the ground. His
friend, Ariel, ran up to him. He recounted that there was blood pulsing out
of Armin's neck. He wanted to talk to Ariel, but could not, because blood
was frothing from his mouth as well. Ariel held his hand, and applied
direct pressure on the gaping neck wound. His eyes locked with Armin's and
knew that his friend was going to die.
An elected public servant was shot in broad daylight, in full view of more
than a hundred witnesses, by a gun-toting employee of a private company who
believed that, simply because they had a government permit, they also had
the absolute right to clear this ancestral forest, take away the only
resources these people have, and forever alter the lives of Sibuyanons who
choose to reject this change.
A line must, once again, be drawn in the sand. If sustainable development
remains a sincere objective, there is a limit to everything. In the case of
mining, what is that limit? It must be defined. And, if government does
not have the will to make that definition, communities will. Shall we allow
it to get to that? Where are the standards? They must be made public. And
all who choose to venture into this business, must be transparent and remain
fully accountable to abide by these limits and standards. Companies that
fail to comply, must be closed down. This is the rule of law.
Our country is a patchwork of land-use overlaps. Protected areas overlap
ancestral domain titles, that in turn, overlap mining claims and
watersheds. We have allocated more land than we actually have. This, by
its very structure, is a patchwork of conflict. Seeing this, if a mining
company does not demonstrate the sincerity and capability to deal equitably,
amicably and productively with local communities, it should be closed down
and all its permits withdrawn. The promotion of a culture of violence is
not in the strategic interest of this nation and goes against the public
good. As an artifact of the Dictatorship and our recent political past,
this is something we should get rid off. It is simply wrong, and positions
our country as a pariah in the greater community of nations. Lasting
solutions are founded on fairness, true dialogue and the establishment of
mutually beneficial relationships.
Consistent law enforcement and public compliance have been one of our
greatest national weaknesses for decades now. Whether in logging, or in
fishing, in government contracts, tax collections or simple traffic rules –
the story is the same. This must stop. We pay our taxes to ensure peace and
order, a stable economy and a predictable future. This is our contract with
government. It is the people's right to demand good governance and full
delivery. When government calls the shots, government must make things work
well. The best laws that are not enforced consistently are not good laws.
They are a waste of public funds. They erode, rather than build, our
nation.
In a government of the people, by the people and for the people, that is the
least we deserve. And, when human life is taken, justice must be served.
Although some passengers of the jeep are in police custody, Armin's murderer
has escaped. How could this be possible?
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
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