Post by seacid on Nov 5, 2007 22:25:56 GMT 8
OPEN LETTER TO SEC ATIENZA
OCTOBER 9, 2007
Gud morning sir,
PEACE! For almost 10 years i'm trying to contribute to
the protection of our 3 watershed in Bulacan -Ipo,
Angat and DRT-Gen tinio watersheds. My interest in
this endevors is to help the marginalized dumagat
indigenous people and to save our remaining forest. i
have been doing this as a Pilgrims of Jesus - a
missionary effort of the Catholic church.
I had been part of the inter-govt and non-govt agency
in Bulakan to promote harmony nd coordination among
stakeholders in Bulakan particularly working in Sierra
Madre like the IPRA convenor Group 1997, Episcopal
Commission of indigenous People (ECIP), Bulakan
Special Task Force on ancestral Domain (BSTFAD, SAGIP
SIERRA MADRE Multi-sectoral and coordinating
council(SSMMSCC), and recently the Task Force
Kalikasan an inter govt enforcement agency for forest
protection.
In Central Quezon province, I'm instrumental in the
creation of the Crusade for Sustainable Environment
(CSE) an enviromental coalition to save Sierra Madre.
Also the a Catholic church alliance of St. Bonaventure
Task Force Kalikasan (TFK) to monitor the construction
of coal fired thermal power plant to be built in
Mauban in order to safeguard the interest of
environment.
I was hoping that working hand in hand with our
government particularly with the DERN in a
constructive way will result more tangible
accomnplishment in the protection of Sierra Madre that
is why I tried to be very cooperative in NPC-AWAT,
DENR, MWSS, DRT-LGU just to create a harmonius working
relationship among our govt agencies, corporations and
govt liders.
I have seen enough of the beauty of Sierra Madre with
assistance of the Dumagat. i was able to document the
Bulacan part of its natural landscape and forest by
just living with the dumagat for one year. Also i
have seen its destruction with non stop illegal
logging, poachers, kaingin slash & burn system,
mining, wild life hunting and entry of ilegal
occupants (non-IPs group).
The issue always ask in so many consultations,
seminars, conferences,forums, meetings is HOW TO SAVE
SIERRA MADRE? How to save our remaining forest? And I
tried to coordinate in the creation and establishment
of: 1.) Bantay Gubat 1998 with the DENR, 2.) Kalasan
Watch (a mountaineering monitoring group against
ilegal loggers in Bulacan based in Galilee Home 1999)
3.) Tribal Defense System (TDS) a local version of BDS
of the military with the of organizing the dumagat
into a potent force against ilegal loggers 2005. 4.)
Bantay Watershed 2006 with the AWAT. 5.)Cafgu Active
Auxialiry (CAA) from the IPs 2007 and including the
recruitment of SCAA for Watershed with the 56IB. 6.)
Task Force Kalikasan (TFK) an enforcement arm of the
PNP as requested by the SAGIP this year.
The culprit of the destruction of forest or the slow
but continuous death of Sierra Madre base on the
gravity (in order) are:
MAJOR REASONS: NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION.
1.) lack of political will among our LGUs to implement
the forest law.
2.) misplaced priority of our national govt agency on
tree planting rather than forest protection.
3.) lack of operational funds even though there are
good men in our goverment.
4.) existence of local armed group involve in logging
like the AMMMA or Aniban ng Magsasaka, Manggagawa,
Mangingisda sa Agrikultura in Angat Dam, New Peoples
Army or NPA in Bulacan-Quezon boundary, and the mayors
protection armed-group (Gen.Tinio of Nueva Ecija and
Rodrigruez (formerly montalban) of Rizal known as
Cuerpo.
5.) the rest are MINOR REASONS like:
a.) lack of coordination among enviromental
agencies.
b.) lack of forest rangers of DENR, AWAT.
c.) need to immediately establish
environmental detachment or checkpoint in different
choke points where ilegal loggers & transforter passed
by.
d.) special arrangement on administrative &
operation of cafgus under the one manuevering
batallion.
e.) Establishment of credible group to save
Sierra madre with MOA among all agencies, LGUs and
NGOs.
f.) active participation of LGUs in forest
protection and not protection of illegal loggers.
g.) relocation of non-IPs occupying
watersheds with enough livelihoods geared in
non-forest entry.
h.) organizing of IPs into their cultural
preservation that is ecologically sound and not
contrary on watersheds protection based on IPRA Law.
i.) formal recognition and enpowerment of
government to locally known active and supportive NGO
with track record in monitoring forest protection and
programs.
j.) deputization of credible NGO as forest
ranger with allowance.
k.) removal of due to weekend and no travel
order reasons among the DENR, AWAT, MWSS in their
performance of forest protection since during this
weekend that illegal loggers are very active.
As I have reported to all govt agencies regarding
this but it took them time to act. Good thing I
remember that I got the celphone of former Usec Rene
de Rueda 2 days ago to seek his help. and he advised
me to go to DENR Region 3 with copy furnish the
central office of Sec Atienza. I hope sec. Lito will
remember our NGO who supported and believed in his
appointment as secretary of DENR.
As I said, we have been waiting for almost 2
weeks for the jump off the Task Force Kalikasan to
stop the illegal logging in Lubog, Ilas and Inuman all
located inside the Angat Watershed and beside/
boundary of Ipo Watershed. We strongly believe that
the ilegal activities in this part is protected and
encouraged if not spearheded by mayor Cuerpo of
Rodriguez formerly Montalban based on our experienced
in the confrontation last 2005 operation led by PNP
Col Pedro Ramos who got the ere of Mayor Cuerpo.
It has been a month when we personally requested
PD Asher Dolina of PNP to appoint Deputy Col Pedro
Ramos to lead the newly created Task Force Kalikasan
(TFK) but unfortunately after two weeks unable to move
due to lack funds we just heard that someone up in
their lespu organization transfered him to Angeles
City. The only reason they could give is normal
movement of lespu or reshuffle. i personally do not
believe this because when I talked to Col Ramos he
told me that there's political pressure above where
their PNP leadership succumb higher than his immediate
superior.
Still we continued to look for other PNP to head
the TFK. They appoint Col Pacheco but just in 5 days
they appoint another one again this time Col Lopez and
yet with all these change of leadership we ware still
unable to move in Lubog, Ilas and Inuman area. I felt
that no one is eager or interested to target such area
due to:
1.) lack of funds,
2.) lack of clear responsible agency in that area
since with the existence of boundary dispute.
3.) fear of mayor Cuerpo who had influence among the
PNP and Army in Montalban due to its connection in
malacang allegedly.
I tried to help the government with my personal
money and with the help of our SAGIP SIERRA MADRE
members and the Dumagat IPs as intel / info gatherer.
We are spending our own money for food,
transportation, communication and contacts just to
supply our government without personal benefits or
even allowances /honorarium on our part.
We even don't care if we are not recognize by our
govt with our sacrifice. Our death threat from ilegal
logger groups of AMMMA and NPA is more than enough
recognition and proof that we are a threat to their
ilegal activities. we receive not medal but bullet;
not plaque but black ribbon as recognition and still
the government do not heed our request to do their
job.
I personally lead many anti-illegal operations and
many accomplishments done by our government were due
to our cooperation in supplying them data, maps,
actual movemnets of illegal loggers and even supplying
them of guides from the dumagat people that we
organized all from our own pockets.
We believe that there are few if not many army,
pnp, denr and LGUs (brgy & municipal level even in
provincial govt) that are involve in illegal logging
and ilegal mining. Esdither they are in cohot or
protector themselves particularly in our three LGUs
(DRT, Norzagaray & City of SJDM).
It is very hard to get witness to validate our
claim or the IPs themselves as complainant. We could
not get clear eveidences that could stand in court in
order to pin down rotten govt personnel involve in
ilegal logging since they are in the position to
detect or block our activities against them. normally
they will just lie low their activities before
resuming again.
There are five (5) hot spot in Bulacan that we
need to focus our forest protection not so much tree
planting because our forest can regenerate itself
naturally if we just allow our forest-watershed to be
free from human activities.
1. HOT SPOT 1: Lubog/Ilas?Inuman Area
2. HOT SPOT 2: Ipo/Sapang Munti/ binit Area
3. HOT SPOT 3: Hilltop/Kabayunan Area
4. HOT SPOT 4: Talagyo/Camachin Area
5. HOT SPOT 5: Kalawakan/sumacbaw river Area
Our government is spending too much money on tree
planting but less on forest protection because theres
so much media exposure and less antagonism from local
people and LGus who will determine the political votes
that politician in every level needs. How many million
of trees we need where there are already full grown
trees that we need just to protect from greedy people
and corrupt politicians.
for two (2) years we have been complaining the
korea based mining in HOt SPOT area 1 where they got
mining permit from DERN Region 3 for road clearing but
what they do is not clearing for road but the whole
mountain itself. why such raod to be built? whose
benefits and what kind of economic activities that are
pursuing?
At this moment (Oct.9, 2007) there are tons of
sawn wood or tablon, I just felt bad and cry for help
from our government but they dont find it crucial and
necessary to move fast. It will take time to assemble
an opertion unit and usually they will complain that
they don't budget. Always no budget but the ilegal
loggers have always and enormous funds.
I call and appeal to our highest official of our
Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Secretary Lito Atienza to step in to save our Sierra
Madre. There's a lot of stake here. If Banawe terraces
is an engineering genius of the Igorot people, Sierra
Madre with all its water supply to Metro Manila is an
ecological genius of our brother Dumagat.
I pray to God with the intercession of Saint
Francis of Assisi save our Sierra Madre. Gabayan po
kayo ni Makedepat at ang inyong pamilya!
Working for environment,
brad martin Francisco, bsmpPJ
Sagip SIERRA MADRE Secretariat
OCTOBER 9, 2007
Gud morning sir,
PEACE! For almost 10 years i'm trying to contribute to
the protection of our 3 watershed in Bulacan -Ipo,
Angat and DRT-Gen tinio watersheds. My interest in
this endevors is to help the marginalized dumagat
indigenous people and to save our remaining forest. i
have been doing this as a Pilgrims of Jesus - a
missionary effort of the Catholic church.
I had been part of the inter-govt and non-govt agency
in Bulakan to promote harmony nd coordination among
stakeholders in Bulakan particularly working in Sierra
Madre like the IPRA convenor Group 1997, Episcopal
Commission of indigenous People (ECIP), Bulakan
Special Task Force on ancestral Domain (BSTFAD, SAGIP
SIERRA MADRE Multi-sectoral and coordinating
council(SSMMSCC), and recently the Task Force
Kalikasan an inter govt enforcement agency for forest
protection.
In Central Quezon province, I'm instrumental in the
creation of the Crusade for Sustainable Environment
(CSE) an enviromental coalition to save Sierra Madre.
Also the a Catholic church alliance of St. Bonaventure
Task Force Kalikasan (TFK) to monitor the construction
of coal fired thermal power plant to be built in
Mauban in order to safeguard the interest of
environment.
I was hoping that working hand in hand with our
government particularly with the DERN in a
constructive way will result more tangible
accomnplishment in the protection of Sierra Madre that
is why I tried to be very cooperative in NPC-AWAT,
DENR, MWSS, DRT-LGU just to create a harmonius working
relationship among our govt agencies, corporations and
govt liders.
I have seen enough of the beauty of Sierra Madre with
assistance of the Dumagat. i was able to document the
Bulacan part of its natural landscape and forest by
just living with the dumagat for one year. Also i
have seen its destruction with non stop illegal
logging, poachers, kaingin slash & burn system,
mining, wild life hunting and entry of ilegal
occupants (non-IPs group).
The issue always ask in so many consultations,
seminars, conferences,forums, meetings is HOW TO SAVE
SIERRA MADRE? How to save our remaining forest? And I
tried to coordinate in the creation and establishment
of: 1.) Bantay Gubat 1998 with the DENR, 2.) Kalasan
Watch (a mountaineering monitoring group against
ilegal loggers in Bulacan based in Galilee Home 1999)
3.) Tribal Defense System (TDS) a local version of BDS
of the military with the of organizing the dumagat
into a potent force against ilegal loggers 2005. 4.)
Bantay Watershed 2006 with the AWAT. 5.)Cafgu Active
Auxialiry (CAA) from the IPs 2007 and including the
recruitment of SCAA for Watershed with the 56IB. 6.)
Task Force Kalikasan (TFK) an enforcement arm of the
PNP as requested by the SAGIP this year.
The culprit of the destruction of forest or the slow
but continuous death of Sierra Madre base on the
gravity (in order) are:
MAJOR REASONS: NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION.
1.) lack of political will among our LGUs to implement
the forest law.
2.) misplaced priority of our national govt agency on
tree planting rather than forest protection.
3.) lack of operational funds even though there are
good men in our goverment.
4.) existence of local armed group involve in logging
like the AMMMA or Aniban ng Magsasaka, Manggagawa,
Mangingisda sa Agrikultura in Angat Dam, New Peoples
Army or NPA in Bulacan-Quezon boundary, and the mayors
protection armed-group (Gen.Tinio of Nueva Ecija and
Rodrigruez (formerly montalban) of Rizal known as
Cuerpo.
5.) the rest are MINOR REASONS like:
a.) lack of coordination among enviromental
agencies.
b.) lack of forest rangers of DENR, AWAT.
c.) need to immediately establish
environmental detachment or checkpoint in different
choke points where ilegal loggers & transforter passed
by.
d.) special arrangement on administrative &
operation of cafgus under the one manuevering
batallion.
e.) Establishment of credible group to save
Sierra madre with MOA among all agencies, LGUs and
NGOs.
f.) active participation of LGUs in forest
protection and not protection of illegal loggers.
g.) relocation of non-IPs occupying
watersheds with enough livelihoods geared in
non-forest entry.
h.) organizing of IPs into their cultural
preservation that is ecologically sound and not
contrary on watersheds protection based on IPRA Law.
i.) formal recognition and enpowerment of
government to locally known active and supportive NGO
with track record in monitoring forest protection and
programs.
j.) deputization of credible NGO as forest
ranger with allowance.
k.) removal of due to weekend and no travel
order reasons among the DENR, AWAT, MWSS in their
performance of forest protection since during this
weekend that illegal loggers are very active.
As I have reported to all govt agencies regarding
this but it took them time to act. Good thing I
remember that I got the celphone of former Usec Rene
de Rueda 2 days ago to seek his help. and he advised
me to go to DENR Region 3 with copy furnish the
central office of Sec Atienza. I hope sec. Lito will
remember our NGO who supported and believed in his
appointment as secretary of DENR.
As I said, we have been waiting for almost 2
weeks for the jump off the Task Force Kalikasan to
stop the illegal logging in Lubog, Ilas and Inuman all
located inside the Angat Watershed and beside/
boundary of Ipo Watershed. We strongly believe that
the ilegal activities in this part is protected and
encouraged if not spearheded by mayor Cuerpo of
Rodriguez formerly Montalban based on our experienced
in the confrontation last 2005 operation led by PNP
Col Pedro Ramos who got the ere of Mayor Cuerpo.
It has been a month when we personally requested
PD Asher Dolina of PNP to appoint Deputy Col Pedro
Ramos to lead the newly created Task Force Kalikasan
(TFK) but unfortunately after two weeks unable to move
due to lack funds we just heard that someone up in
their lespu organization transfered him to Angeles
City. The only reason they could give is normal
movement of lespu or reshuffle. i personally do not
believe this because when I talked to Col Ramos he
told me that there's political pressure above where
their PNP leadership succumb higher than his immediate
superior.
Still we continued to look for other PNP to head
the TFK. They appoint Col Pacheco but just in 5 days
they appoint another one again this time Col Lopez and
yet with all these change of leadership we ware still
unable to move in Lubog, Ilas and Inuman area. I felt
that no one is eager or interested to target such area
due to:
1.) lack of funds,
2.) lack of clear responsible agency in that area
since with the existence of boundary dispute.
3.) fear of mayor Cuerpo who had influence among the
PNP and Army in Montalban due to its connection in
malacang allegedly.
I tried to help the government with my personal
money and with the help of our SAGIP SIERRA MADRE
members and the Dumagat IPs as intel / info gatherer.
We are spending our own money for food,
transportation, communication and contacts just to
supply our government without personal benefits or
even allowances /honorarium on our part.
We even don't care if we are not recognize by our
govt with our sacrifice. Our death threat from ilegal
logger groups of AMMMA and NPA is more than enough
recognition and proof that we are a threat to their
ilegal activities. we receive not medal but bullet;
not plaque but black ribbon as recognition and still
the government do not heed our request to do their
job.
I personally lead many anti-illegal operations and
many accomplishments done by our government were due
to our cooperation in supplying them data, maps,
actual movemnets of illegal loggers and even supplying
them of guides from the dumagat people that we
organized all from our own pockets.
We believe that there are few if not many army,
pnp, denr and LGUs (brgy & municipal level even in
provincial govt) that are involve in illegal logging
and ilegal mining. Esdither they are in cohot or
protector themselves particularly in our three LGUs
(DRT, Norzagaray & City of SJDM).
It is very hard to get witness to validate our
claim or the IPs themselves as complainant. We could
not get clear eveidences that could stand in court in
order to pin down rotten govt personnel involve in
ilegal logging since they are in the position to
detect or block our activities against them. normally
they will just lie low their activities before
resuming again.
There are five (5) hot spot in Bulacan that we
need to focus our forest protection not so much tree
planting because our forest can regenerate itself
naturally if we just allow our forest-watershed to be
free from human activities.
1. HOT SPOT 1: Lubog/Ilas?Inuman Area
2. HOT SPOT 2: Ipo/Sapang Munti/ binit Area
3. HOT SPOT 3: Hilltop/Kabayunan Area
4. HOT SPOT 4: Talagyo/Camachin Area
5. HOT SPOT 5: Kalawakan/sumacbaw river Area
Our government is spending too much money on tree
planting but less on forest protection because theres
so much media exposure and less antagonism from local
people and LGus who will determine the political votes
that politician in every level needs. How many million
of trees we need where there are already full grown
trees that we need just to protect from greedy people
and corrupt politicians.
for two (2) years we have been complaining the
korea based mining in HOt SPOT area 1 where they got
mining permit from DERN Region 3 for road clearing but
what they do is not clearing for road but the whole
mountain itself. why such raod to be built? whose
benefits and what kind of economic activities that are
pursuing?
At this moment (Oct.9, 2007) there are tons of
sawn wood or tablon, I just felt bad and cry for help
from our government but they dont find it crucial and
necessary to move fast. It will take time to assemble
an opertion unit and usually they will complain that
they don't budget. Always no budget but the ilegal
loggers have always and enormous funds.
I call and appeal to our highest official of our
Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
Secretary Lito Atienza to step in to save our Sierra
Madre. There's a lot of stake here. If Banawe terraces
is an engineering genius of the Igorot people, Sierra
Madre with all its water supply to Metro Manila is an
ecological genius of our brother Dumagat.
I pray to God with the intercession of Saint
Francis of Assisi save our Sierra Madre. Gabayan po
kayo ni Makedepat at ang inyong pamilya!
Working for environment,
brad martin Francisco, bsmpPJ
Sagip SIERRA MADRE Secretariat
