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LATEST
NEWS: |
Group
says Samar folk back antilogging drive |
| Editor's Note: Published on Page A19 of the December 2, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer |
TACLOBAN CITY—The effort to protect and conserve the remaining
forests of Samar Island has the support of most residents of the
country’s third largest island, which is rich in biodiversity. |
Jose
“Don” Mabulay Jr., co-manager of the Samar Island Biodiversity
Project (SIBP) based in Catbalogan town, Samar, issued the statement
in reaction to the earlier claim of Napoleon Poblador, San Jose
Timber Corp. (SJTC) legal counsel, that the antilogging effort “does
not represent the true sentiment” of the Samarnons. |
Mabulay
said the Samarnons support the local environmentalists and the priests
who are in the forefront of efforts to save the 333,300-hectare
natural park on the island from logging and mining activities.The
Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) is now being threatened by logging
after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
lifted the 16-year logging moratorium when it allowed the SJTC to
resume operation and extended its permit by 16 years. |
Mabulay
said the SINP’s establishment went through a process of consultation
and majority of the people supported the creation of the natural
park to protect and conserve the remaining forest. |
He
added that since then and until now, the clamor of the people of
the three provinces of Samar Island—Samar, Eastern Samar and
Northern Samar—is still to save the forests. |
| “Actually
the pro-SINP sentiment started with the floods of 1989 with the
people clamoring for a logging moratorium,” said Mabulay. |
The floods killed about 100 people. |
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