Review mining, logging policies, government urged

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued a call on the government to review its policy on mining and logging.

“We make an appeal particularly to the authorities concerned to make a serious revisit of many of our laws like our logging laws and practices, as well as mining laws and development plans,” Cebu Archbishop and CBCP President Jose Palma said.

The bishop pointed out that while certain natural disasters do happen, recent tragedies such as flooding and landslides were also due to human negligence.

“With many lamentable calamities, certainly there is the dimension of natural perspective... (but) very simple analysis show that there are human factors, which can be corrected with regards to mining, logging laws, especially with the implementation,” he said.

“The events that happened in the previous months should lead us to be truly serious about our mining and logging laws and the like,” Palma added.

The CBCP has been appealing for the government to repeal the Mining Act and to end illegal logging in the country.

Pitch for tourism

Echoing a similar call, Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo said the province of Palawan must be developed by the government as a prime tourist destination, rather than exhaust its natural resources in mining operations.

He said the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the New 7 Wonders of Nature is a positive indication that tourism is the better way to generate income and provide employment for Palawan residents.

“We don’t need mining because tourism alone, using the pristine beauty of nature of Palawan creates livelihood for the people without destroying the environment,” Arigo said.

The prelate said the Church and other organizations will continue its campaign against mining and other threats to the environment.

“Mining operations there are ongoing. It’s just sad to say that our enemy (in this fight) is the government,” he said.

Arigo made the statement after Bernard Weber, president of the New 7 Wonders based in Zurich, Switzerland, announced that the Puerto Princesa Underground River is among the world’s seven new wonders of nature.