B7 L8 Marapara Heights Subd. Brgy. Bata
We the participants of
the Awareness and Educational Marine Camp in collaboration with the Green Alert
Negros, the Coral Triangle Initiative, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the
Province of Negros Occidental and City of Sipalay, the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the
Department of Toursim are hereby proclaiming our appreciations and concerns of our
remaining coastal and marine frontier in Negros. Our insightful communion with Campomanes Bay in Sipalay
City, deserves a merit that this is indeed worth a global attention ---
the cooperation of the citizens, the Non-Government Organization, and the
Government Agencies being one in the agenda
of protecting our fragile ecosystems for specific reasons.
Our three days Marine
Camp opened our eyes to the stark reality of the dwindling coastal ecosystem
and it would further erode if we will not act together and further address the
root causes.
We hereby outline, our
observation and convictions in finding
solutions towards our common good.
ECONOMIC
Ø We believe that only the Political Will of our LGU’s can stop the existing illegal logging
activities inside the “Wilderness” in upland Sipalay and adjoining
Municipalities, which is accounted to be the remaining 300 hectares of virgin
forest in the area. We have learned that until today “unknown culprits” keeps
on coming back in the area cutting indigenous trees. The said activities could
render irreversible destruction to the forest ecosystem and will put Sipalay and
the adjacent municipalities in South Negros at risk to disasters such as
flashfloods, Soil Erosion, etc. With only 4.7% forest cover left in Negros, we
stand firm on the decision: Our forest are non-negotiable.
Ø We have seen the
challenges on Solid Waste Management around the area of the Bay, which directly
affects the Corals and the Marine Biodiversity. We implore the local government
to address this challenge to ensure the mutual benefits of the coastal
ecosystem and the local economy because of safeguarding the livelihood of the
people and tourism industry.
Ø We believe
that the Department of Tourism - Sipalay City and Province of Negros Occidental
take the lead in promoting the area to generate more jobs, develop and
improve infrastructure, and increase tourism activity through Environmental
Awareness and Sustainable Eco-Tourism. With collective support and technical
expertise, of other government agencies such as CENRO, PEMO, and BFAR to the
community then it would pump the local economy that would benefit all.
Ø We
Highly Encourage the implementation of alternative (environmentally and
economically sound) livelihood projects (i.e. organic farming, rice husk
charcoal making, fish nursery for high value fishes) for the upland and coastal
dwellers to avoid if not minimize intrusion to protected areas for resource
extraction as livelihood.
Ø Improve the implementation of the Integrated Social Forestry Program
(i.e. multiple cropping, and agroforestry) and the Philippine Fisheries
Code of 1998 or Republic Act No. 8550 which puts emphasis on conservation,
protection and sustained management of the country's fishery and aquatic
resources. We highlight that Municipal Waters has to be respected and
local fisherfolks that employs manual fishing methods be given
priority. That commercial fishing vessels that employ compressor methods and
uses ring and fine mesh nets that is found violating RA 8850 be penalized to
the full extent of the law.
Ø We give
our full support to the strict enforcement of the total commercial log ban on
the remaining strands of hardwood forest that covers the Wilderness and in
Negros in general specifically in Northern Negros Natural Park and
Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, to serve as example and eventually the remaining
forest cover all over Negros. We strongly recommend the creation special body
comprising of community leaders, civil society organizations including the
Religious Groups and the LGU to ensure the protection of the “Wilderness”
in Sipalay.
Ø We
recommend the protection of the flora and fauna inside the Wilderness within
the Bay Area and other linking Ecosystems, most especially the remaining coral
reefs in Campomanes Bay including the historically integrity of the
sunken SS Panay in the bay. We condemned the cutting, poaching, and
trading of common, rare, threatened, vulnerable, and endemic wildlife and plant
species in the area.
Ø We
encourage the local government to implement community managed tourism programs
to provide focus on the cultural and economic aspect of upland and coastal
villages. These community managed tourism programs must be community led and
managed to directly channel the economic benefits and strategically empower the
upland communities.
POLITICAL
Ø We
challenge the reelected and newly elected government officials
in Sipalay and the rest of the province to prioritize the protection
and preservation of the province’s remaining natural resources for the next
years to come, during the duration of their “borrowed” position in government.
Ø We
call for the review of the status of the “Wilderness” under recognized forestry
laws and declare it as a significant area for conservation in South of Negros
including Campomanes Bay.
Ø We admire
the commitment of the City Officials of Sipalay City, towards the protection of
its Natural Resources and tapping the potential of Environmentally sound
LGU in promoting Sustainable Eco -Tourism.
Ø Government
organizations like DENR, DA, DAR, NIA, other GOs, and NGOs/private
organizations should improve coordination and collaboration among themselves
for a more effective and efficient delivery of basic and other support services
that will lead to environmental protection and Sustainable Development.
Ø That
the newly elected officials of the local government units of City of
Sipalay including the Provincial Government should engage itself in
Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Ecological Based
Approaches program so it can reduce risks of communities to disasters brought
about by climate related and other natural hazards. We urge the government to
resolve the underlying root cause of disasters like irresponsible mining
practices, poverty, and corruption.
Ø That
the National Government should not impose laws and policies that is oppressive
to the environment and has an effect on the livelihood, survival, domicile and
security of the people but rather would move for the adoption of a more
progressive laws geared towards saving the remaining natural heritage in the
island.
Ø Highly
Commend the Provincial Government in improving the much needed
Environmentally Friendly Infrastructures that supports different areas
that helps elevating poverty which is primarily the reason why most
environmental issues are coming from, especially with the status of Negros
Coral Reefs.
SOCIAL
Ø Ensure
community participation in the whole process (visioning, planning to
evaluation) of any development program like the utilization of the Ecological
Port in Campomanes Bay.
Ø We
call for a comprehensive disaster risk reduction program that will prevent and
mitigate the effect of floods and landslides brought by the depletion of forest
cover and impacts of sea surge or tsunami in Campomanes Bay.
Ø That
through the collective efforts of the community, they can solve and take
actions on the problems they encounter in their everyday lives. That peace and
security can be delivered because of their congenial relationship and that the
Task Force Ilahas and Bantay Dagat must work hand in
hand with the community and the Civil Society Organizations.
CULTURAL
Ø We
would like to start off in Sipalay the Balay Libro sang Kabataan in cooperation
with Maricalum Elementary School and Partner Schools in Bacolod City, which is
going to be an Eco-Library that would help the community of Campomanes Bay Area
tap the Market of Tourism in making the Area as a venue for education in
understanding the importance of Coral Reefs and the linking Ecosystem to our
everyday lives.
Ø We
would like to work with BFAR Sipalay, CENRO Sipalay, and DOT Sipalay in
establishing protected areas around its coastal areas - Protected Marine Turtle
Nesting Sites, Magrove Forest Reserves, Upland Forest Reserves, River System
Reserves, Marine Reserves, Giant Clams Sanctuary. Which recently concluded by
discovering a Leather Back Sea Turtle measuring 7ft in length and 4 ft in width
– this suggest the significance of the area as a hotspot for biodiversity that
requires protection.
Ø We
commit ourselves to the continuing education and awareness on environment and
development issues among the general public. Furthermore, we call for an
extensive integration and implementation of environmental education and values
for formal (school level) and non formal curriculum including
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.
Ø We
call for the review of programs and activities of outdoor groups
(mountaineering, spelunking, marine camps, etc.) for the integration and
promotion of environmental education.
Ø Ensure
collective efforts towards information campaign on environmental protection
through mix media (blog, web base communities, broadcast, print,
folk, fora, eco-mountaineering activities, etc.)
Ø We commend
the efforts of the Local Governments in providing the much needed services
(i.e. Hospital, Government Agencies, etc ), we are hoping that this
would extended to the remote Indigenous People Communities not only in
Sipalay but in the whole island of Negros.
Ø Concrete
efforts should be made to ensure the sanctity of Indigenous People culture and
tradition and the preservation of indigenous knowledge handed down through
generations. This very essence of Identity will closely give significance of
caring for the environment, as this is considered as the core of what make us
everything Negrense.
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Above all, the three day
marine camp made us realize that man’s relationship, intervention and outlook
has a big impact to the balance of our fragile ecosystem. This inter and intra
relationship of the different ecosystems generally affects the life support
mechanisms of the planet we live in.
As we realize the human
footprint on the natural environment, we should take the responsibility in any
activity we do (as individual or group) in our own communities and in the
communities we visit and work with and question programs and policies that is a
threat to the very existence of our fragile ecosystem. Such that, as we promise
to care and preach for the protection of our environment, we realize the need
to be models in our own little way.
We appeal to our
fellow Negrenses and Filipinos, to strengthen our fraternal bondage
and to join our solidarity with nature and to help us attain the objectives and
ends as stipulated in this declaration.
We call to the present
government administration in both local and provincial levels to come up with a
clear Green Agenda for the next 3 year term. That the said Green Agenda went
into series of consultation with other stakeholders including the communities,
civil society organizations, Church and
others. Further, we call that the said Green Agenda will have emphasis on
Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and
Ecological Based Approaches.
So be it.
