Palawan NGOs withdraw support to Gina Lopez as DENR chief

http://palawan-news.com/palawan-ngos-withdraw-support-gina-lopez-denr-chief/

The Palawan NGO Network Incorporated (PNNI), a network of 34 non-government (NGO) and people’s organizations (PO) in Palawan, has withdrawn their support to the confirmation of Regina Paz Lopez as full-pledged Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), this according to Atty. Robert Chan, PNNI Executive Director.

Per Chan, they have decided to refuse endorsing support to Lopez after the latter’s decision to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government to co-manage certain areas in Palawan. The co-management agreement, which covers around 731,710 hectares of forest lands, protected areas, mangrove forest and coastal areas, and around 9,800 square-kilometers of coral reefs, has been criticized by PNNI and other NGOs in the province as lacking scientific basis and public consultation. Non-profit groups also claimed the agreement deprived civil society organizations of proper representation in its Technical Working Group.

“Yung mga kaalyado ni Sec Gina ay kumuha ng endorsement ng Palawan NGO Network Inc. Ang hinihingi nilang suporta para sa kumpirmasyon ni Secretary Gina Lopez ay hindi namin maibigay dahil sa MOA na ito. Napakalaki ng kanyang isinugal sa MOA na ito,” Chan lamented. (“Sec. Gina’s allies have asked for our signature as endorsement of support for her confirmation [as DENR Secretary]. We cannot give her the endorsement they’re asking for because of this MOA. She gambled a lot in this MOA”).

Chain said their organization has sent a letter to Lopez last February 27 urging her to revoke her decision on the MOA. Majority of the group’s member have agreed to withdraw their support to Lopez in a recently-held Board and General Assembly meeting.

“Hangga’t hindi nya nakikita ang kahalagahan ng kanyang pagkapirma, mananatili kaming matigas na hindi dapat magbigay ng suporta sa isang tao ipinagkanulo niya ang halos kalahati ng kalupaan ng Palawan sa isang tao na ang utak ay gamitin ang likas-yaman at hindi ‘yung protektahin,” Chan pointed out.

PNNI’s exec also expressed disappointment on how people only see Lopez as an anti-mining crusader, when in fact the latter is only among the many tasks of a DENR chief. According to Chan, there are other sectors of the environment to be considered, such forestry and fishery, as well as the issue on climate change.

“Kung ang nakikita natin magaling siya mag-handle ng issue sa mining, ang DENR, hindi naman ‘yan Department of Mining lang,” Chan underscored. (“What we see is she’s good in handling mining issues, but DENR, it’s not just a Department of Mining.”)

Chan then went to challenge Palaweños if they see any major accomplishment of Lopez for the forestry and fishery sectors of the province.

“Kung wala kang madidinig, puro mining lang. Kailangang pag-aralan mo ano ba ang basehan ng pagiging magaling niya sa larangan ng DENR kung ang larangan na natutukan niya ay ‘yun lang sa mining?” Chan asked. (“If you did not hear anything, and just mining, maybe it’s time to assess what’s the basis of her being excellent in DENR if she only focuses on mining?”)

Meanwhile, the DENR, along with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and Brooke’s Point’s local government, recently conducted a planning workshop on how to implement the said co-management agreement, with Amas, Brooke’s Point as pilot site.

Relatedly, some 340 members of Indigenous Peoples in Brooke’s Point are opposing the project as it supposedly will cover areas within their ancestral domains. The group also alleged that some of the project’s targets areas include those within the Mount Mantalingan Protected Landscape. Critics also argue that the program’s proposal to plant bamboo and nepier grass as livestock feed will affect the area’s biodiversity.

EXPOSED: Mga kapalpakan ni Gina Lopez

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KUMAKALAT ngayon ang isang opposition paper sa confirmation sa Commission on Appointments ni Gina Lopez bilang Environment Secretary kung saan sinasabi na siya ay naglustay ng milyong-milyong piso, itinaboy ang mga katutubo mula sa kanilang lupa, walang habas na nagputol ng mga puno, at kinopo ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno para sa kapakinabangan ng mga kompanya ng kapamilya gamit ang kanyang estado bilang isang environment advocate.

Basehan nito ang iniulat ng Finance Department na aabot sa halos isang bilyong piso ang mawawalang buwis sa mga lokal na pamahalaan sa desisyon ni Sec. Gina na ipasara ang 28 mining sites sa buong bansa.

Ayon sa report, tatamaan ang kita ng 17 siyudad at munisipalidad sa 10 probinsiya ng bansa.

Lumilitaw din na panget ang track record ni Lopez sa pamamahala sa mga eco-tourism project at ilan dito ang tatlong environment project na in-award sa kanya.

May conflict of interest dahil tumayong managing director si Lopez sa ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. at Bantay Kalikasan na nagkamal ng salapi mula sa mga naturang proyekto.

Tumakbo ang mga tinukoy na proyekto ni Lopez na Sabsaban Falls Eco-tourism Project sa Palawan, La Mesa Ecopark Project sa Quezon City, at Pasig River Rehabilitation Project sa ilalim ng mga nagdaang administrasyon at nagripuhan ang kaban ng bayan ng multi-milyong piso.

Kasabay ng kumakalat na opposition paper na ito, nagpasa rin sa CA ang mga katutubo sa Surigao ng isa pang opposition paper laban kay Sec. Lopez.

Anila, maghihirap silang muli kapag ipinahinto ng kalihim ang pagmimina sa kanilang probinsiya lalo’t lumalabas na walang kahandaan ang ibang departamento ng gobyerno para matugunan ang kanilang sitwasyon na resulta ng padalos-dalos na hakbang ni Sec. Gina.

Is Gina Lopez being used by the Aquinos?

The closure of mines is allegedly a subtle way of bringing down the Duterte administration under the guise of environmental care and concern. The easiest way to impeach the President and get the Yellows ruling again is to let the economy suffer and dive into the pit. 

But why is Gina Lopez allowing herself to be used as a puppet?

History will tell us.

The Lopez family are allies with the Cojuangco-Aquino clan. They are members of the oligarchy that owned much of the Philippine land and assets. This includes Meralco and ABSCBN, the largest TV station in the country. In 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos sequestered the power company and the station.

With the People Power Revolution in 1986, the oligarchs were able to successfully take office through then President Cory Aquino. Within a year in office, Cory returned Meralco and ABSCBN to the original owners without pay at least for the improvements in the interregnum. Meralco was later on sold to the Pangilinans while the station remained with the Lopezes.

The Lopezes owe the Aquinos a huge debt of gratitude. In the country, this entails the “debtor” to provide what the “creditor” is asking. In this case, the Lopezes owe it to the Aquinos to render any service the latter may need from the former. Damn if they don’t.

Is this why Gina Lopez met with President Rodrigo Duterte after winning the Presidential race and held a very long meeting with him? Is this why Gina Lopez immediately accepted the Environment Secretary position when the President offered it to her, which offer was not seriously made as mentioned by the President in his State of the Nation Address? Is this why Gina Lopez refused to acknowledge the audit results conducted by the experts in her very own agency? Is this why Gina Lopez deferred disclosure of the mine audit results?

Ultimately, is this why Gina Lopez ordered the closure of mine sites without having an alternative source of income for the affected families, letting them languish in hunger and poverty? Who cares? They are oligarchs; they will disregard everything else for their insatiable appetite to make money.

The question is, will we let our environment agency be run by a puppet Lopez whose decisions are prejudiced by the dictates of their creditor? For who in her right mind would rally against responsible mining when the family’s business primarily survives because of mining?

Let us not be blinded. Saying no to Gina Lopez is not saying no to her person, but saying a huge no to the real reasons of her decisions and the family behind these irrational unscientific orders. Let us not be blinded by her sweet words and her fake passion. Contrary to her messianic zeal, Gina Lopez is not an environmental heroine but an Aquino-wealth and power feeder. Let’s not kid ourselves –the oligarchs are here to stay and they will do everything to amass wealth for themselves. I know, we will not be fooled.

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Gina Lopez’s History of Drug Dependency and Personality Disorder

Gina Lopez is not only a spoiled brat, she is also a former drug addict. Maybe it would be in everyone’s best interest if she finishes her rehabilitation!

Gina Lopez is not only a spoiled brat, she is also a former drug addict. She was committed to a drug rehabilitation facility by her own mother. She fled the facility knowing that a medical examination would be made to properly diagnose her drug dependence and personality disorder.

G.R.-No.-L-38850-November-28-1975

This bit of history is important, moreso in her role as DENR Secretary. It is highly likely that Lopez has channeled her energy away from drug addiction to a new-found passion–it would soon become apparent to everyone that this was her advocacy in protecting the environment.

It is common for recovering addicts to commit themselves to a higher purpose, submitting themselves to something bigger than them. It is a necessary step in their fight against their own demons.

The problem of course is that government institutions are not rehab facilities. They are not personal churches. They are not a universe you can re-arrange just so they can revolve around you.

Perhaps it would be best if Lopez would subject herself to medical professionals for a proper diagnosis. If you are to be responsible for the death of an industry that mean so much to many communities let alone a nation’s economy, we deserve to know if you are not, in fact, unhinged.

Better yet, maybe it would be in everyone’s best interest if she finishes her rehabilitation in the proper facilities.

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