Media Pickups

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte–Amid the unabated destruction of the famed pebbles resources in this province, a Church-based environmental group arrived here on Tuesday in a nationwide caravan called “Salakyag (Sama-samang lakad, sakay at lakad) para sa sangnilikha” to push for heightened environmental protection. Yolly Esguerra, the caravan lead convenor, told the Philippine News Agency that the march started in Zamboanga City and aims to end in Manila where they will seek a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang.

A caravan of church-based activists has been visiting communities across the Philippines to raise awareness ahead of World Environment Day on June 5. The activity called “Salakyag,” short for “Walk, Ride, Sail Together for Creation” in Tagalog, aims to gather at least a million signatures to be presented with a list of demands to President Rodrigo Duterte next week. The group wants the government to initiate measures to protect the most vulnerable groups from the impacts of natural disasters and destruction caused by humans.

Sinimulan ngayong araw sa Zamboanga City ang kampanya ng Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) kasama ang CBCP NASSA/Caritas Philippines, na Salakyag o Sakay, Lakad at Layag Para sa Sangnilikha. Tema ngayong taon ang “Protektahan ang Inang Kalikasan! Ipagtanggol ang karapatang panlipunan ng mga tao para sa masagana at balanseng ekolohiya.” Ayon kay Father Edwin Gariguez, Executive Secretary ng CBCP NASSA/Caritas Philippines, layunin ng Salakyag na paigtingin ang panawagan at pataasin ang kamalayan ng tao sa mga negatibong epekto ng pagmimina, gayun din ang mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa mga mining affected areas.

Gikatakdang ilusad na usab pagbalik ang programang “SAKAY, LAKAD at LAYAG para sa Sangnilikha” (SALAKYAG) alang karong tuiga dinhi sa nasud. Kining maong kalihokan ang gimugna sa pipila ka mga Non-Governmental Organizations dinhi sa nasud nga gipangunahan sa CBCP NASSA-Caritas. Sumala pa nga kining nasangpit nga kalihokan maoy usa ka nasudnong kampanya isip panawagan alang sa pagpanalipod ug pagdaginot sa atong kinaiyahan.

Tell me what good mining operations have brought communities, and I will give you a rundown of unrest. Not a few watersheds are massively destroyed. The most affected ethnic minorities live in a frustrating situation, with their boys engaged in child labor and deprived of education. The girls are buoyed by returns from sex work, making health a waning issue.