Ang Independence Day ay araw ng pagdiriwang natin sa ating pambansang kalayaan – ang ika-sandaan at sampo na pagdiriwang (1898) ng kalayaan sa pagiging colony ng Espanya. Kasama na rin ngayong panahong ito ang kalayaan natin sa pagkakasakup ng iba pang mga dayuhang bansa tulad ng mga Hapones at mga Amerikano. Dahil dito nabibilang na ang ating bansa sa Kapunungan ng Malalayang Bansa o (United Nations).
Sa context ng pambansang kalayaan dapat maitanong natin ang tungkol sa pantaong kalayaan – human freedom. – Ang ating bansa ay malaya sa control ng mga dayuhang bansa, pero ang mga mamamayan naman ay alipin ng kahirapan, o crisis, tulad ng food crisis at gasoline crisis dahilan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at gasoline. Ano pang uri ng pagka-alipin? Pagka-alipin dahilan sa homelessness, unemployment, lack of education o ignorance, health insecurity. Ang ating mga mamamayan ay alipin ng kapwa mamamayan dahil sa inhustisya at graft and corruption.
Magiging mas makatotohanan ang pagdiriwang ng araw ng kalayaan kung mapapalaya pa ng higit ang ating mga kababayan (kapuso at kapamilya) sa pagka-alipin dahil sa hunger, homelessness, unemployment, ignorance, sa pamamagitan ng mga “proyekto na pro-poor.”
Magandang panukala, halimbawa, ang hindi pagtataas ng mga tuition fee ngayong pasukan. Maganda ring panukala ang pagpapababa ng presyo ng mga gamut at pagsugpo sa mga nag ho-hoard ng bigas at sa mga illegal na pagpapataas ng presyo ng bilihin. Ang mga proyektong “pro-poor” ay mas makahulugang pagdiriwang sa Araw ng Kalayaan – araw ng pagpapalaya sa ating mga mamamayan sa pang aalipin ng kapwa.
Dapat ang maging kasabihan “kapwa ko, mahal ko.”
Ang advocacy namin ay ang extension ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program na may kasamang reporma at support-systems para sa mga magsasaka.
Sumasang-ayon din kami sa panukala na suriin kung papaano pinagkagastusan ng CARP sa loob ng dalawampong taon, yung hinihingi na transparency at accountability sa mga disbursements of funds.
Sumasang-ayon kami sa mungkahi na i-extend ang CARP “in principle” pero hanggat hindi handa na isakatuparan ang reporma at suportang pantulong sa mga magsasaka ay hindi muna palabasin ang pondo para sa extended CARP. Baka mangyari ay nagastos na ang pondo ay hindi pa natutupad ang CARP.
Dapat bigyan natin ang mga magsasaka ng tumpak at angkop na kalayaan, upang hindi magpatuloy ang kanilang kahirapan at pagkakatali sa lupang binubungkal.
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO
Archbishop of Jaro
CBCP President
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
COAL POWER OR RENEWABLE ENERGY?
We are stewards of this earth, God’s earth, we are not the absolute owners of this earth. We are caretakers, custodians and stewards of this earth – whether it is here in Antique or there in Panay.
Whatever is your position in society, an ordinary member of civil society or an official of Government or plain user of the environment, you are challenged to leave behind a legacy for this earth, a legacy that the earth has become better or has lessened the earth’s problem, and not a legacy of destruction.
One of our concerns, we are told, is power shortage. There is discussion going on as to the cause of power shortage: is it real shortage or power crisis? Or is it caused by management crisis? Or even worse, is it caused by leadership crisis? Study shows that we have surplus power in Panay until 2010. But there would be gradual shortage of power in 2011.
You here in Antique with the launching of Villasiga and Guianon – San Ramon Mini Hydro Project are leading the way. Congratulations to your Governor who is also the Chairperson of Regional Development Council, the Honorable Sally Z. Perez. You are one step ahead of a future problem. And you are using renewable energy, hydro or water, which is environment and people friendly. It is conceived that by harnessing hydro-renewable energy in this project you will have enough electric power to light the entire province of Antique. Together with the investors, you are impacting a legacy for the province.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by environmentalist, technical groups, scientists, as well as those in the medical profession. We cannot support those who propose the establishment of coal plants anywhere in Panay as we would be party to the commission of the SOCIAL SIN of polluting our environment and putting at risk the health of our communities. We strongly advocate for sustainable solutions – the harnessing of God–given energy from water, wind and sun. We shall support only those who propose renewable energy projects.
Here in Antique water resources are found in the rivers of Sibalom, Valderrama, Tibiao, Culasi and Patnongon. In Panay, God has gifted us with water to harness for electricity in San Joaquin, Igbaras, Lambunao, Maasin, Barotac Viejo, Lemery, Leon, Janiuay and Miag-ao. The big question and challenge is why waste money on importing expensive coals from other countries? Knowing the Filipino propensity for short-cuts and ningas-cogon, the cleanest coal will come out polluting Panay.
Antique is leading the way. We would like the Secretary of DENR, the Honorable Lito Atienza and the Secretary of DOE, the Honorable Angelo Reyes to please reserve Panay or Western Visayas for renewable energy of water, wind and sun for electric power.
The seven bishops of Western Visayas and Romblon in a Pastoral Letter last January 16, 2005 have already expressed their objection to the entry of coal-fired power plants.
We are challenging the leadership in Panay to leave a clean legacy for the province. Clean Coal is a misnomer, a myth. Coal is a pollutant of the environment, its effects in the air and water have been proven to cause asthma, cardiac problems, upper and lower respiratory tract problems. Pollution from dirty power plants kills more people every year than drunk drivers and murderers. The elderly the children and those with respiratory diseases are more severely impacted by this pollution. Coal plants contribute greatly in global warming. Let us not condemn the future of young Filipinos who will blame us without end for having cared less for their future.
Antique is leading the way. Thank you for showing Panay the way.
Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo
June 5, 2008
Whatever is your position in society, an ordinary member of civil society or an official of Government or plain user of the environment, you are challenged to leave behind a legacy for this earth, a legacy that the earth has become better or has lessened the earth’s problem, and not a legacy of destruction.
One of our concerns, we are told, is power shortage. There is discussion going on as to the cause of power shortage: is it real shortage or power crisis? Or is it caused by management crisis? Or even worse, is it caused by leadership crisis? Study shows that we have surplus power in Panay until 2010. But there would be gradual shortage of power in 2011.
You here in Antique with the launching of Villasiga and Guianon – San Ramon Mini Hydro Project are leading the way. Congratulations to your Governor who is also the Chairperson of Regional Development Council, the Honorable Sally Z. Perez. You are one step ahead of a future problem. And you are using renewable energy, hydro or water, which is environment and people friendly. It is conceived that by harnessing hydro-renewable energy in this project you will have enough electric power to light the entire province of Antique. Together with the investors, you are impacting a legacy for the province.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by environmentalist, technical groups, scientists, as well as those in the medical profession. We cannot support those who propose the establishment of coal plants anywhere in Panay as we would be party to the commission of the SOCIAL SIN of polluting our environment and putting at risk the health of our communities. We strongly advocate for sustainable solutions – the harnessing of God–given energy from water, wind and sun. We shall support only those who propose renewable energy projects.
Here in Antique water resources are found in the rivers of Sibalom, Valderrama, Tibiao, Culasi and Patnongon. In Panay, God has gifted us with water to harness for electricity in San Joaquin, Igbaras, Lambunao, Maasin, Barotac Viejo, Lemery, Leon, Janiuay and Miag-ao. The big question and challenge is why waste money on importing expensive coals from other countries? Knowing the Filipino propensity for short-cuts and ningas-cogon, the cleanest coal will come out polluting Panay.
Antique is leading the way. We would like the Secretary of DENR, the Honorable Lito Atienza and the Secretary of DOE, the Honorable Angelo Reyes to please reserve Panay or Western Visayas for renewable energy of water, wind and sun for electric power.
The seven bishops of Western Visayas and Romblon in a Pastoral Letter last January 16, 2005 have already expressed their objection to the entry of coal-fired power plants.
We are challenging the leadership in Panay to leave a clean legacy for the province. Clean Coal is a misnomer, a myth. Coal is a pollutant of the environment, its effects in the air and water have been proven to cause asthma, cardiac problems, upper and lower respiratory tract problems. Pollution from dirty power plants kills more people every year than drunk drivers and murderers. The elderly the children and those with respiratory diseases are more severely impacted by this pollution. Coal plants contribute greatly in global warming. Let us not condemn the future of young Filipinos who will blame us without end for having cared less for their future.
Antique is leading the way. Thank you for showing Panay the way.
Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo
June 5, 2008
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