Environmental villains
Now come the villains, the moguls behind this planned environmental devastation, as they move to expand their operations. Environmental advocates point out that massive swathes of primary forest and ancestral lands have already been cut down and cleared.
In Berong, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has authorized the cutting of additional 26,617 trees at one time. Like in the flood-control corruption scandal, more dirty money is passing hands. Bishop Pabillo said reforestation was “a big lie.” Tree nurseries and seedlings cannot replace a thousand-year-old primeval rainforest.
The Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC) and Ipilan Nickel Corp. are destroying the rainforests. RTNMC is the oldest and largest subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), which holds a controlling 60-percent equity stake in the company.
Their officers also own 65 percent of Taganito, and 100 percent of the Cagdianao, Hinatuan and Dinapigue operations.
Ipilan operates in Brooke’s Point in southern Palawan. It plans to cut down 60,359 trees. Berong Nickel Corp. (BNC) operates in Aborlan in central Palawan and is planning to cut down 71,405 trees.
The people behind these corporations are immensely wealthy, but it seems money is never enough for them. The good, innocent people named here, perhaps, know nothing about the destruction and permanent irreparable damage their companies are doing to the Filipino people. History will never forget or forgive them.
Perhaps, they suffer from misinformation or are ignorant of the destruction being done, which is condemned around the world. In destroying the Philippines’ rainforests, driving wildlife and rare species to extinction, and damaging marine life, they are part of a crime against nature and the Filipino people.
Shame on those who allow it. They will provide no benefit whatsoever for Filipinos; they will leave behind a washed-out, denuded wilderness. God’s creatures — trees, flowers, animals and people — all gone, forever.
This environmental crime scene is made possible by the DENR that has granted these companies special tree cutting and earth-balling permits (STC/EP) to make room for open-pit mining operations. These operations are supported by a 25-year national mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA) handled by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
The mining companies need to get an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to ensure adherence to ecological laws, free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous communities if the mining area overlaps with ancestral domains, and local government unit endorsement from the host community. These they do not have, according to local church groups and networks like the Save Palawan Movement and Alyansa Tigil Mina.
They have bravely stood with Indigenous peoples and launched major campaigns exposing corrupt government-approved permits. They are fighting to block the STC/EPs that threaten to clear over another 218,000 trees across Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, and Aborlan.
On Sept. 1, Pope Leo XIV opened the season of creation and warned that war and environmental degradation were driving a “vicious cycle” of ecological destruction, poverty and further conflict in the world. War against the environment, against people, and against creation is destroying the habitat and the life of the people.
We do well to heed Pope Leo’s words: “War also leaves behind social and ecological destruction that endures for generations.” (shaycullen@gmail.com)/PN
