INDIGENOUS Higaonon people and environmental advocates held a prayer vigil last Tuesday in Barangay Dansolihon, calling for stronger climate action from local governments in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.
The event coincided with global Earth Day observances and was part of a national campaign led by the Power for People Coalition under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet.” Participants included members of the Kinaiyahan Coalition, youth groups Hirang ng Hiraya, Mundomuna USTP, Nature Crusaders of Xavier University, and Dakila CDO, all calling for pro-people, pro-environment energy solutions.
“This is a climate emergency — dili na nato ikalimod ni tungod kay gakabatian ug gakakita na natong tanan ang epekto sa climate crisis. Ang hilak sa kinaiyahan ug sa katawhan na undangon na ang exploitation sa natural resources, hilabi na sa sektor sa enerhiya na maoy naay pinaka hugaw ug makadaot na gigikanan,” said Juris Agustin, Mindanao coordinator for renewable energy development at the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development and co-convenor of Kinaiyahan.
Agustin said corporations are rushing energy projects that harm both the environment and communities, often with the support of authorities enticed by profit.
“To establish a stronger voice for climate action, importante ang partisipasyon sa mga igsoon natong lumad, hilabi na ang mga kabatan-onan, kay kitang tanan pareho rang mga konsyumer na gaka-apektohan sa pagmahal sa kuryente, mga gapuyo sa lugar na pinaka vulnerable sa polusyon, ug, labaw sa tanan, gihimo sa Magbubuhat na tig-ariglar sa kinaiyahan sama sa pag-prayoridad niini sa mga igsoon natong Higaonon,” she added.
Cagayan de Oro, a climate-vulnerable city in Misamis Oriental, is surrounded by manufacturing and industrial zones and sits near several coal-fired power plants. Misamis Oriental is home to the largest cluster of coal power facilities in Mindanao: Minergy, FDC Misamis Inc., and Steag State Power. Despite a national moratorium on new coal projects, some existing plants are pursuing expansion.
Agustin underscored the importance of inclusive climate advocacy, particularly the involvement of Indigenous peoples and the youth.
“To build a stronger call for climate action, the voices of our Lumad brothers and sisters are vital, especially the youth. We are all affected — as consumers facing rising power costs, as residents vulnerable to pollution, and as people entrusted by the Creator to care for the Earth, just as the Higaonons have always done,” she said.
Simultaneous Earth Day climate actions were held nationwide, including a protest at the Meralco headquarters in Metro Manila and rallies in Batangas City, Cebu City, and Mindoro, denouncing continued reliance on coal and liquefied natural gas.
Datu Fidel ‘Ontong’ Bisoy Sr., a leader of the Dansolihon Indigenous Peoples community, urged reflection on environmental issues in the lead-up to the elections.
"Kanunay mahisgotan ang climate change, mabanggit ang problema sa kalibutan — pero pagpauli walay mahitabo. Kitang tanan, ang tawo, importante kaayo dinhi na ang atong pagtuo ug nangatun-an ilambigit jud nato sa kinaiyahan. Sama sa amo mga Higaonon, nagtuo kami na kung wala ang kalasangan, wala ang atong kinaiyahan, patay ang among kultura. Mao nga dili pwede na among ibulag among pagtuo ug among kultura na gibilin ni Magbabaya,” he said.
He added that elections are a time for communities to reflect on environmental protection and good governance.
“Kani nga panahon karon (sa eleksyon) angay na atong pamalandungan, apil sa pagpamalandong ang para sa kinaiyahan, ang maayong pagpadagan sa atong gobyerno. Dili nato makaya na kita lang ang mulihok kay, sama sa pag-ampo sa atong Baylan kaganina, nadaot (ang kinaiyahan) tungod kay naa tay mga igsoon nga nag-guba niini na wala nasayod sa ilang kahapkuhan. Diha sa atong pakiglambigit, diha nako nakita na importante kaayo ang pakig-uban sa atong isig-katawo sa maayong katuyoan sama niini.”
The coalition vowed to continue advocating for clean, renewable energy and just climate policies, stressing that public health and environmental integrity must be central to development.
