A show of Support to TOBSPA's call

BROOKE'S POINT, PALAWAN: A Protracted Battle Against Mining

This article was posted in the yahoo group of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines Association (TOBSPA). I decided to post it in this blogsite in order to do my share in spreading this concern to all those who believe in the Battle that these people are fighting for. Mario Esquillo TOBS94,James L. Gordon Council, Olongapo City
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Brookes Point is a small, idyllic town at the southeastern tip of Palawan (voting population, 27,000). It has one of the highest Internal Revenue Allotment in Palawan, yet it is also the second poorest town in the province. Since last year, its citizens have been up in arms over the endorsement given by their town officials to the planned entry of a mining firm. Town officials have endorsed the application of Macro Asia Corp, owned by Filipino-Chinese tycoon Lucio Tan, to explore for nickel and other minerals. The endorsed plan, however, violates several environmental laws. First, the endorsement was given without public consultation, a basic requirement for any environmental clearance. And second, the identified mining area falls within core and buffer zones, which under the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan should be "fully protected and free of human disruption". The residents have held sit-down rallies, gone to the dawn mass wearing black shirts on which were written, "NO TO MINING," and have gathered 9, 935 signatures on an anti-mining petition. They have gone around the schools, explaining that they could do without mining since their town is earning enough from agriculture, and that the proposed mining would only harm their environment and might leave them poorer than before. Once they understood the issue, even the children and the youth joined the protests; after all, it is their future at stake. They, too, were signatories to the petition against mining. Last year they had their faces painted as they joined a rally against their town officials the day after Christmas. Young professionals who were working in Manila, even applied for a permit to rally in front of Macro Asia's office in Makati. The Makati government denied it, saying they were all tied up at the SEA Games and could not assign security personnel to the rally. Town officials have so far turned a deaf ear. After all, if Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could ignore the people's cries, here in Manila, for a credible government, why not the town officials of Brookes Point in Palawan? Now the residents are talking about a recall petition for their town mayor, the vice-mayor, and pro-mining councilors. The logistics of the recall alone would cost P2.5 million.The people have no money, and no political organization to match that of their local officials. But they are determined, courageous, and willing to sacrifice. This gives them creativity and power that no money can buy. Several non-government and civic organizations conducted the public fora and led the protests, but in the end, all these were done by ordinary people, who believed that citizens have the right to determine their future. In behalf my townmates, I would like to appeal for TOBSPA's help( in whatever way possible) in campaigning for the protection of Southern Palawan from further environmental abuse.

Jose Manuel F. Alba
TOBSPA' 91, Palawan Council