Champion for environment

Renato Tibon . 

“As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the Earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.” -Pope Francis speech in Manila, Jan. 18, 2015  

A TIMELY reminder from a speech of the beloved Pope Francis during his recent visit in the country having seen the seeming neglect and degradation caused to the environment. In response, the government’s decisive move to close and rehabilitate Boracay, while creating a stir from those who only see the tree rather than the forest, was met by a resounding approbation from the people who are inured to roughhewn political promises. Similarly, with political will clearly on display for the recent clean-up of Manila Bay which some quarters interpreted differently, the President earned high praises even from erstwhile critics. Indeed, as stewards of nature, it is man’s duty and obligation to preserve the ecological balance and care for environment and to ensure the sustainable development of the earth’s resources. We lay upon the shoulders of our leaders, primarily as policy and decision makers the burden of stewardship, which is nothing less than the careful and responsible management of our forests, mountains and hills, the seas and fresh water and the diverse flora and fauna that thrive therein.

Well-grounded on matters that concern the poor and marginalized who can hardly fend for themselves against the wrath of nature and man-made catastrophes, Congressman Rufus Bautista Rodriguezhas introduced and passed the following legislative measures which will help mitigate the effects of environmental and climate changes.

Republic Act 10452 – An Act reforesting 3,000 hectares of public land in Cagayan de Oro City. This is an ongoing project of the DENR which will help control the flow of water from denuded mountains and hills of the city which contribute to flooding in the lowlands.

Republic Act 09512 – An Act also known as the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 “to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology” and “to promote national awareness on the role of natural resources in economic growth and the importance of environmental conservation and ecological balance towards sustained national development.”

Republic Act 09513 – An Act known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 which seeks to encourage the development and utilization of renewable energy resources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions and thereby balance the goals of economic growth and development with the protection of health and the environment, among other provisions.

Republic Act 10174 – An Act which established the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) amending the Climate Change Act of 2009. This Fund can be accessed by local government units (LGUs) and local community organizations for “adaptation activities in the areas of water and land resources management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development and natural ecosystems.”

He has likewise filed and will push for the passage of the following bills approved by the House and transmitted to the Senate during the 16^th Congress:

House Bill 45 – An Act declaring the City of Cagayan de Oro a Mining Free Zone approved by the House on February 03, 2014 and transmitted to and received by the Senate on February 04, 2014

HB 04868 – An Act imposing a logging ban in Cagayan de Oro City approved by the House on October 20, 2014 and transmitted to and received by the Senate on October 22, 2014.

For District 2, Congressman Rufus was able to secure a total amount of P80 million from DENR for Thematic Tree Planting Programs which include upland, urban, mangrove and riverside tree planting around the environs of the city. These tree planting activities intend to diminish the flow of water from the hills which easily fill the crevices, cogged canals and waterways contributing to flash floods which affect city residents. Along with sound infrastructure programs and other environment mitigating proposals which Congressman Rufus have filed during his three-term tenure, he vows to secure more funding for extensive tree planting programs on riverbanks and reforestation of denuded hills caused by unchecked mining and illegal quarrying activities once he gets back his seat in the House of Representatives.

According to the Philippines’ staunch environmentalist and former DENR Chief Gina Lopez, “We have the most beautiful country: 7,000 islands with coral reefs, mountains, rivers and forests with rare medicinal plants. We have the highest biodiversity on the planet. But our people are not benefiting from it. It is being destroyed because someone wants gold or nickel.” A fact Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez, “Mr. Performance”, Cagayan de Oro’s Champion for Environment, couldn’t agree more.

(Renato Gica Tibon is a fellow of the Fellowship of the 300, an elite organization under Centrist Democracy Political Institute  [CDPI] with focus on political technocracy. He  holds both position as political action officer and program manager of the Institute. He is the former regional chairman for Region 10 and vice president for Mindanao of the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines [CDP].)