Ecological Restoration, Disaster Preparedness Urged

The Gabriela solon called on concerted efforts toward ecological restoration and disaster preparedness and urged President Aquino to order the immediate cancellation of all mining and logging operation permits in Mindanao and certify as urgent, HB5276 Mindanao River Systems Rehabilitation and Conservation Authority and HB4315 People’s Mining Bill.

“This disaster is a result not just of the wrath and rainfall of typhoon Sendong. This disaster should be seen in the context of environmental plunder and destruction and urgent government action towards the prevention of such disasters from happening again should be put in place. It is thus imperative that mining and logging operations which caused the erosion of loose soil, mud flows and flooding and the destruction of lives be halted immediately.”

Ilagan who authors HB4315 or the People’s Mining Bill also led militant solons and Mindanaoan legislators in pushing for HB5276 or the Mindanao River Systems Rehabilitation Center. Aside from Ilagan, Reps. Emmi de Jesus (Gabriela), Teddy Casino (Bayan Muna), Neri colmenares (Bayan Muna), Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis), Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers’ Partylist) and Raymond Palatino (Kabataan) co-authored the measure.

Mindanaoan solons also signified support for the bill. These include Reps. Isidro Ungab (3D Davao City), Yevgeny Emano (2D Misamis Oriental), Carmen Zamora-Apsay (1D Compostela Valley), Nancy Catamco (2D North Cotabato), Florencio Flores (2D Bukidnon), Daisy Avance-Fuentes (2D South Cotabato), Angelica Amante-Matba (2D Agusan del Norte) and Anthony Del Rosario (1D Davao del Norte). Rep. Rodolfo Albano, (1D Isabela) also co-authored the measure.

Ilagan explains, “The bill seeks to rehabilitate the Mindanao’s four major river systems including the Mindanao River, Agusan River, Davao River and the Cagayan de Oro River. The bill seeks to rehabilitate the rivers’ ecosystems but improve drainage areas which, in recent years, have become flood basins.”

“These disasters, including the flashfloods experienced in Davao City and Cotabato City in June and September of this year were unheard of prior to the destruction of Mindanao forests and eroded drainage areas. The disaster that occurred with the onslaught of typhoon Sendong should not have happened if we heeded these warnings from nature. Let us do what we can to avoid these disasters. Let us pro-actively preserve our natural resources and mitigate climate change.” #