Mt. Kanlaon, Its Myths and Wildlife, Painting by Masaste

PROTEST CLIMB SETS OFF TODAY

June 5, 2008

Bacolod City  - About thirty (30) trekkers led by Green Alert Negros set off for the Mt. Kanlaon Protest Climb today.

The group participating in the protest climb will be entering Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park without permit coming from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a manifestation of their defiance to the support and submission of DENR to a private corporation like PNOC-EDC.

The protest climb is also an act of rage to the recent endorsement of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to allow PNOC-EDC to proceed with its geothermal project inside Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park without considering the arguments of the environmental groups and the church that we have depleted forest cover and loss of biodiversity, watershed in crisis and is no power crisis.

“We are holding this protest climb to show that we disagree with the decision of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, DENR, DOE and PAMB in endorsing the project of PNOC-EDC. If DENR and other forces will stop us from entering the park they should also stop PNOC-EDC from entering the buffer zone for the said company will murder rich biodiversity including endemic flora and fauna inside Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.. The Protest Climb is the translation of the provisions under Section 4(f) of the NIPAS Act that Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park is for scientific, educational and recreational use”. Green Alert stressed.

Green Alert Negros conducted the first protest climb in 1998 when it defied the order of then Governor Rafael Coscolluela not to enter the park. But the group reiterated that if the province will bar them from entering, then it should also prevent PNOC-EDC to enter Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.

“The Protest Climb is our defiance to the government on their decision to open Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park for destruction to a private corporation like PNOC-EDC. The Memorandum of Agreement that the province is now crafting with PNOC-EDC is a justification of their endorsement and lack of principle in policy making.” Green Alert added.

“We will not stop the fight to reclaim Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park for our children and their children’s children. We will reach the summit and banner the cause so the whole world will know that small voices like us stood guard to protect and defend it.” Green Alert declared.

(sgd)
Mark A. Cervantes

Green Alert Negros