Source: Davao Today
December 9, 2009
DAVAO CITY—Environmental rights network, Panalipdan–Southern Mindanao expressed an indignant response to the so called ‘win-win solution’ proposed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) on the water sharing of Hedcor-Aboitiz and Davao City Water District (DCWD) of the Tamugan-Panigan rivers.
“The issue on the utilization of the Tamugan – Panigan rivers and watershed is not about what agency has the right to use it or if it could be shared by the DCWD and Hedcor. The main issue that should be addressed is how these agencies should keep their hands off this watershed that is categorized as critical and is in fact off-limits to any developmental use by virtue of the Davao City Watershed Code,” said Francis Morales, spokesperson – convener of Panalipdan – SMR.
“It is lamentable that the Unesco and DOST forum have given more importance to the corporate interests of companies who are after our watershed rather than upholding the people’s rights to water and the protection of the Tamugan – Panigan watershed from corporate plunder and destruction,” Morales added.
Panalipdan–SMR has long been campaigning for the cancellation of Hedcor’s environmental compliance certificate (ECC) as well as the National Water Regulatory Board’s (NWRB) nod to Hedcors application for water rights permit.
Morales also pointed out that the win-win solution being proposed by Hedcor, DOST and the Unesco may be part of conditioning the public opinion to the eventual DCWD-Hedcor collaboration in sharing of the rivers.
“We urge the City Council to act prudently on this matter which underscores environmental protection and defense of the peoples’ consumer rights in contrast to the systematic plunder of our water resources for corporate gain and profit,” Morales urged.
Citing a statement of University of the Philippines economist Dr. Maria Diokno-Pascual, Panalipdan-SMR debunked the urgent necessity for additional energy supply for Mindanao.
In her study of the Hedcor project, Pascual said the threat of a power crisis has been often used to force the public to accept their power projects. “Often times when you look at the time when the supposed crisis should have hit, the supply of electricity is in abundance because of the wrong projections made.” She also pointed out that Mindanao has the least energy requirement as compared to the Visayas and Luzon.”
“Our network, which is composed of 36 environmental and peoples’ organizations in the region, is similarly alarmed that the DCWD’s proposed surface water development in the watershed may lead to the privatization of the DCWD which is among the few remaining public water utilities in the country,” Morales added.
Morales also said that surface water development projects in Cagayan, Manila, Iloilo and in other provinces have ultimately led to the privatization of water utilities as these kinds of projects require huge budget—a situation that paves the way for corporate take-over.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
STATEMENT: Save Davao Region's Rivers!
SAVE DAVAO REGION'S RIVERS
RESIST PSEUDO-DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS GEARED FOR CORPORATE PROFIT AND CAPITALIST PLUNDER!
Statement of PANALIPDAN – Southern Mindanao
for the International Day of Action for Rivers
March 14, 2009
On the International Day of Action for Rivers, PANALIPDAN*- Southern Mindanao enjoins the people of Davao to join hands and collectively assert the peoples' rights to water resources and unite in the protection of our rivers and water systems.
Today our rivers are threatened with the encroachment of projects implemented under the guise of development and progress that are crafted within the anti-people, and anti-environment framework of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) that by all means espouses and facilitates globalization policies at the expense of the Filipino people's land, resources and food security.
The influx of large-scale foreign mining, small scale mining funded by foreign corporations, hydro-power and mega dams, mono-crop and agro-plantations, and other foreign investments that are geared for capitalist profits have caused irreparable damages on our rivers, water systems, forests and agricultural lands as well as on the people.
In Davao City, the Talomo-Lipadas rivers are in a critical state, contaminated with toxic chemicals after several years of aerial spraying and unregulated use of fertilizers within the surrounding banana plantations in the area. Traces of lead and nitrate have been found in these rivers which is Davao City's main source of the world-famed “dumoy” water, hailed as the second cleanest water in the world.
Also threatened for the construction of a hydro-power project is the Tamugan – Panigan Watershed Areas in Davao City. HEDCOR Inc., a multi-million company owned by Aboitiz, plans to generate electricity and targets an annual income of Php 6 Billion from the project by diverting the Tamugan and Panigan rivers alarming Davao City residents due to consequences that that the project will pose on the 40,000 – hectare watershed area in the city.
The same company is now constructing a 42.5 megawatt hydropower plant in the sacred ancestral grounds of the Tagabawa – Bagobo lumads and has by far caused the destruction of hectares of coffee and vegetable farms. There is no measure of the dam's impact on the peace and harmony and cultural heritage of the Bagobo tribes.
Meanwhile in Davao Oriental, the mining operations funded by Skynix Holdings Inc. through the seven Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) of five companies posing as small scale pose ominous dangers on the Sumlog Watershed which provides irrigation to more than 4,000 hectares of ricefields in Banay – Banay and Lupon towns. Aside from the Sumlog Watershed, these mining operations also threaten the Davao Gulf, the Kingking River, the Caraga River and Tagum Rivers.
The BHP-Billiton-backed Pujada Nickel Project also spells devastation to the farmers, fisherfolks and indigenous peoples who are much dependent on two protected areas, the Pujada Bay and Mt. Hamiguitan which are home to various endangered and endemic water and land species.
With this, we join the millions of people in the world in decrying the onslaught of destructive projects that ruin our rivers and our lives.
The following are the current actions being waged by the different communities in Davao Region for the defense and protection of Davao's threatened rivers and water systems.
Water for Life, Not for Profit!
SAVE DAVAO REGION'S RIVERS!
RESIST PSEUDO-DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS GEARED FOR CORPORATE PROFITEERING AND CAPITALIST PLUNDER!
* PANALIPDAN is a Visayan word meaning “to defend.”
Francis Morales
Spokesperson
PANALIPDAN – Southern Mindanao
RESIST PSEUDO-DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS GEARED FOR CORPORATE PROFIT AND CAPITALIST PLUNDER!
Statement of PANALIPDAN – Southern Mindanao
for the International Day of Action for Rivers
March 14, 2009
On the International Day of Action for Rivers, PANALIPDAN*- Southern Mindanao enjoins the people of Davao to join hands and collectively assert the peoples' rights to water resources and unite in the protection of our rivers and water systems.
Today our rivers are threatened with the encroachment of projects implemented under the guise of development and progress that are crafted within the anti-people, and anti-environment framework of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) that by all means espouses and facilitates globalization policies at the expense of the Filipino people's land, resources and food security.
The influx of large-scale foreign mining, small scale mining funded by foreign corporations, hydro-power and mega dams, mono-crop and agro-plantations, and other foreign investments that are geared for capitalist profits have caused irreparable damages on our rivers, water systems, forests and agricultural lands as well as on the people.
In Davao City, the Talomo-Lipadas rivers are in a critical state, contaminated with toxic chemicals after several years of aerial spraying and unregulated use of fertilizers within the surrounding banana plantations in the area. Traces of lead and nitrate have been found in these rivers which is Davao City's main source of the world-famed “dumoy” water, hailed as the second cleanest water in the world.
Also threatened for the construction of a hydro-power project is the Tamugan – Panigan Watershed Areas in Davao City. HEDCOR Inc., a multi-million company owned by Aboitiz, plans to generate electricity and targets an annual income of Php 6 Billion from the project by diverting the Tamugan and Panigan rivers alarming Davao City residents due to consequences that that the project will pose on the 40,000 – hectare watershed area in the city.
The same company is now constructing a 42.5 megawatt hydropower plant in the sacred ancestral grounds of the Tagabawa – Bagobo lumads and has by far caused the destruction of hectares of coffee and vegetable farms. There is no measure of the dam's impact on the peace and harmony and cultural heritage of the Bagobo tribes.
Meanwhile in Davao Oriental, the mining operations funded by Skynix Holdings Inc. through the seven Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) of five companies posing as small scale pose ominous dangers on the Sumlog Watershed which provides irrigation to more than 4,000 hectares of ricefields in Banay – Banay and Lupon towns. Aside from the Sumlog Watershed, these mining operations also threaten the Davao Gulf, the Kingking River, the Caraga River and Tagum Rivers.
The BHP-Billiton-backed Pujada Nickel Project also spells devastation to the farmers, fisherfolks and indigenous peoples who are much dependent on two protected areas, the Pujada Bay and Mt. Hamiguitan which are home to various endangered and endemic water and land species.
With this, we join the millions of people in the world in decrying the onslaught of destructive projects that ruin our rivers and our lives.
The following are the current actions being waged by the different communities in Davao Region for the defense and protection of Davao's threatened rivers and water systems.
- Campaign against the mining operations of Jake Mining, Oro East Mining, Southern Horizon Mining, Eastern Horizon and Viclode Mining under the umbrella of Chinese mining firm Skynix Holdings;
- Campaign against mining giant BHP Billiton;
- Campaign against HEDCOR's hydro-power projects in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz and Tamugan – Panigan – Suawan, Marilog District;
- Campaign for the protection of the Talomo – Lipadas Rivers by the Obo-Klata indigenous peoples in Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Davao City
Water for Life, Not for Profit!
SAVE DAVAO REGION'S RIVERS!
RESIST PSEUDO-DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS GEARED FOR CORPORATE PROFITEERING AND CAPITALIST PLUNDER!
* PANALIPDAN is a Visayan word meaning “to defend.”
Francis Morales
Spokesperson
PANALIPDAN – Southern Mindanao
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