The Group of Environmental Socialists Inc. (GOES) calls out to leaders to maintain respect in the preservation of the natural resources amidst the on-going pandemic.
“The importance to preserve the basic necessities which provides a community with a good source of land, air, and water (LAW) can easily help instigate which else for the environmental groups to take action to, it said.
The group claims that the common property of LAW which the people have the rights to, may continuously be illegally profited.
The group’s manifesto to protect people’s rights with these resources is at hand by re-evaluating the deteriorating conditions, specifically in the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) which is “discreetly being taken advantage of by people under power due to capitalism and commercialism.”
The NNNP is one of the examples in Negros that the GOES is eyeing, having convinced that some of the protected area continues to deflate through community destruction and unresolved legal issues under private individuals and corporations.
NNNP is at the northeast of Bacolod City, covering a total 11 of cities and municipalities and is centered between Mount Mandalagan and Mount Silay which are known to be rich with their old-growth forests at over 3,300 ft (1,000 meters).
GOES claims some areas in the NNNP still have no source of power supply as promised by its local government. Members of the group personally checked on such areas and discovered a discreet activity of Kaingin, a technique of clearing land by burning and plowing trees, underbrush, and ashes. The system is known to be destructive and causes the loss of animals’ habitats and deprived birds for nesting places as well as soil erosion.
The threats of environmental irresponsibility while the pandemic of the COVID-19 virus is ongoing has also reached the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP), it added.
Pastor Ariel Garzon, Advocacy Officer for GOES, calls out to the government and other private corporations involved to be reminded of the context of promoting the component of sustainable development.
“Sustainability involves the application of social well-being, environmental well-being, and economic well-being. All three must be in harmony to promote and preserve the environment without destroying it,” Garzon said.* (Kristine Galvan Alonso NDB)
