11 August 2010

Groups mark Guimaras Oil Spill anniversary with a protest action at the DENR

Progressive environmental and fisherfolks groups held a protest action in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to commemorate the 4-year anniversary of the Petron Guimaras Oil Spill.

"Four years have passed since Petron and Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation (SMDC) spilled more than two million liters of oil in the Guimaras Sea yet until now justice has not been served. Just compensation has been denied and environmental rehabilitation remain unfinished," stated Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment.

13 July 2010

Green groups back CBCP's call to prosecute President Arroyo's environmental crimes

Progressive environmental groups have expressed high expectations now that other sectors, particularly the Catholic Church, are urging President Noynoy Aquino to form a body similar to the Truth Commission that will look into the long standing charges regarding the Arroyo administration's cases of environmental plunder and destruction.

"Environmental groups and other sectors have long demanded for Gloria Arroyo her cohorts be prosecuted for their environmental crimes. With the church sector reiterating this call, and with PNoy seemingly taking positive steps to address demands relating to justice, we are optimistic that our calls will be heard," said Frances Quimpo, Executive Director of environmental research and education group Center for Environmental Concerns-Phils.

23 July 2010

Militant groups rallied in front MWSS to call an end to the current water crisis

Groups headed by Water for the People Network, Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), and other sectoral groups trooped to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS) to urge the agency to immediately address the current water crisis in Metro Manila.

The groups blamed the agency for failure to ensure the provision of clean, adequate, and affordable water supply and services in the region.

"The water scarcity our communities are experiencing is rooted in the water privatization policy of the government. Previous administrations promoted the privatization of our water facilities promising that this will lead to better services and adequate water supply. But the current water crisis is a glaring proof of its failure," said Eleanor de Guzman, BAYAN Deputy Secretary General.

21 July 2010

Water crisis in metropolis caused by watershed degradation, mismanagement, and corporate greed, environmental group says

"Without recognizing their responsibilities, government agencies MWSS, NAPOCOR, NRWB, and private water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water are pinpointing each other as the culprit of worsening water crisis in the metropolis. Primarily blaming Mother Nature for failing to provide adequate rainfall, these institutions try to cover up their record of environmental degradation, mismanagement, and corporate greed as the root cause of the current water crisis," said Clemente Bautista of environmental group Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE).

"The Angat Watershed Reservation, if properly managed, could provide adequate water to the Angat Dam all year round. Water storage and retention capacity of the Angat watershed is decreasing as a result of poor protection of and continuing environmental degradation, such as widespread deforestation and massive soil erosion, in the watershed," explained Catherine Abon, a hydrologist from University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences and a member of the activist scientist group AGHAM.