| Home | News/Activities | Position Papers/Articles | Statements of Support | Photos | Links | Contact us |
Mt. Kanlaon, Its Myths and Wildlife, Painting by Masaste
"PROTEST
ACTION IS NOT A SIGN OF DESPERATION”
June 28, 2008
Bacolod City - In black "PNOC Out of Mt. Kanlaon" t-shirts and and carrying a mock wind turbine and solar panel, members of Green Alert Negros stormed the closing rites of the Provincial Environment Week last June 27. The protest action at the Provincial Multi-Purpose Center solicited comments from PEMO Edwin Abanil and provoked security personnel of the Provincial Government to push some of the protesters.
Provincial Environment and Management Office chief Edwin Abanil stressed "I respect the protesters' stand on the issue. But they should air it in an appropriate time and venue.. They should display good manners and right conduct if they want to gather sympathy for their cause”. He also added that the said protest action is a sign of desperation.
“Mr. Abanil is the one who should display good manners and right conduct after he called the protesters “bastos” in front of the stage. What we did was right and the Provincial Government has to face all kinds of indignation against what they have done to Mt. Kanlaon. There is nothing to celebrate in the Provincial Environment week because the Province played the role of architect in selling Mt. Kanlaon to a private corporation like PNOC-EDC.” Green Alert said.
Green Alert Negros together with the Save Mt. Kanlaon Coalition, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Catholic Lay Forum and other non-government organizations oppose the entry of PNOC-EDC inside Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. Bayan Muna also asked for a Congressional inquiry on the said entry of PNOC-EDC inside the park.
“It is irresponsible of Mr. Abanil to call our protest action during the closing rites of the Provincial Environment Week a a 'sign of desperation'. When we aired our position at the proper time and venue, the Province played deaf and numb to our call, listening instead to the deceptions of PNOC-EDC. Let us see who will be desperate when more floods affect Bacolod and the Province because we no longer have enough forest cover to protect us”. Green Alert added.
Mark Cervantes
Green Alert Negros
09052961281