Gov’t should take responsibility for anti-environment policies —IBON

The government should take responsibility for pushing anti-environment policies which contributed to the recent widespread flooding and destruction of communities during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses instead of going after local politicians, research group IBON said Wednesday.

In a statement, IBON said Malacañang and the National Irrigation Administration's calling out local officials involved in logging and mining is “hypocritical” so long as the government “does not reverse policies that degrade the environment.”

IBON said the government’s priorities such as the Build, Build, Build and the National Land Use plan continue to “encroach into the public domain and degrade land.”

The group added that the government also continues to promote large-scale mining, corporate and chemical plantations and lade use conversion, as well as reclamation for real estate and infrastructure.

“The government prioritizes the building of large dams, megaports, ecotourism complexes and export enclaves,” IBON said.

“Government policies and programs enrich a few at the expense of the nation, the people and environment,” it added.

Further, the group said the businesses of tycoons Sy, Villar, Gokongwei, Razon, Ayala, Tan, Caktiong, Ang and Ty are the biggest gainers from government priorities.

“The corporations of these richest Filipinos, according to the latest Forbes’ list, dominate the real estate, construction, ports development, power, energy, water, oil, mining, and agriculture sectors,” IBON said.

With this, the group said the government should “own up to upholding environmentally destructive policies that drive corporate profits instead of pointing fingers at others.”

“The Philippine government’s bias for profit-seeking interests even at the expense of the environment are the root cause of the logging, quarrying and land conversion in Rizal and Cagayan provinces that have caused such devastating floods,” it said.

“Deforestation, flooding and the sufferings of communities will continue unless these are stopped and corrective measures are taken,” IBON added.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to investigate illegal mining and logging activities in Cagayan Valley after various parts of the region were submerged in flood due to the heavy rains brought by Ulysses.

Duterte said mining could have loosened the soil, increasing the chances of landslides, especially during heavy rainfalls.

Duterte also earlier said he would call for an investigation into the alleged quarrying operations that residents of Guinobatan, Albay complained about after the province was hit by Super Typhoon Rolly.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu had suspended quarrying operations in Guinobatan following the damage brought by Super Typhoon Rolly. He said floodwaters traveled down the slope of Mayon Volcano and reached three rivers where 11 quarrying operations were ongoing.

But Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara appealed against the suspension of quarrying operations in the province, saying they would run out of aggregates for reconstruction and rehabilitation if it happens.

He also urged the national government to first investigate the matter before suspending quarrying operations in the province. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News