Media Coverage

The Catholic Church’s social action centers in the Philippine have banded together to again press for a legislative measure that gives trees, rivers, and ecosystems the legal right to exist and thrive.

The Catholic Church’s social action centers have banded together to again push for a legislative measure that gives trees, rivers and ecosystems the legal right to exist and thrive.

Advocacy groups under the Rights of Nature PH movement declare a climate emergency and urge the national government to do the same.

Quezon City, Philippines – A social development and advocacy network, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) and NASSA/Caritas Philippines, the social arm of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, both pushing for ‘Rights of Nature bill’ intended to recognize nature to have its own legal rights just like humans, lobbied to the office of Quezon City 6th District Rep. Kit Belmonte, have been filed today at the House of Representatives.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran on Saturday urged all the three district representatives of Bohol province to support the passage of Rights of Nature bill which was filed last November 25 at the House of Representatives by Quezon City Sixth District Rep. Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte. Rev. Alberto S. Uy, D.D. sent an official letter to First District Rep. Edgar M. Chatto, Second District Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, and Third District Rep. Kristine Alexie B. Tutor on November 29, asking them pledge their support for the passage of the Rights of Nature Bill.

Quezon City, Philippines – The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. demands from DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu an immediate investigation on the 12-Year Extension granted to Sagittarius Mines, Incorporated (SMI) and the Tampakan Mining Group for its Tampakan Copper and Gold Project as executed by Leo Jasareno, former Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau..

The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. demands from DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu an immediate investigation on the 12-Year Extension granted to Sagittarius Mines, Incorporated (SMI) and the Tampakan Mining Group for its Tampakan Copper and Gold Project as executed by Leo Jasareno, former Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. According to the MGB Order, the 12-year extension was due to “Force Majeure” or “acts or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of contractor,” underscoring the following circumstances in the SMI case: rebellion, insurrection, civil disturbance, blockade, sabotage, any dispute with surface owners, and adverse action.

During an Ash Wednesday gathering of environmental activists in Manila, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos said the faithful need to see “ecological sin as the rupture of relationships.” “This sin has triple layers, against God, human beings, and the rest of creation,” the prelate said in his keynote speech at the general assembly of the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc., a network of civil society groups and faith-based institutions.

The overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Germany, Misereor, has stepped down as co-convenor of Philippine-Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), saying the role is no longer necessary. The withdrawal was announced by Steffen Ulrich, Misereor’s Philippine desk officer, during the PMPI’s general assembly in Manila on Feb. 26. However, Misereor remained committed to its role as a partner and donor of the PMPI, Ulrich said.”

MANILA – For more than two decades, anti-mining groups and indigenous communities in the southern Philippines have opposed a massive mining project there, blocking it both in the courts and on the ground. The permit was set to end on March 12 this year — but before the detractors could rejoice, they learned it had won a 12-year extension, issued three years ago but only made public last October. “It was done under the radar of the community, there was no public consultation,” Macki Maderazo of the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), a church-based network of civil society organizations, told Mongabay. “Presumably, the ones who would know first are the civil society groups … but nobody heard about the extension or of the application for the extension until last year.”

For more than two decades, anti-mining groups and indigenous communities in the southern Philippines have opposed a massive mining project there, blocking it both in the courts and on the ground. The permit was set to end on March 12 this year — but before the detractors could rejoice, they learned it had won a 12-year extension, issued three years ago but only made public last October. “It was done under the radar of the community, there was no public consultation,” Macki Maderazo of the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), a church-based network of civil society organisations, told Mongabay. “Presumably, the ones who would know first are the civil society groups … but nobody heard about the extension or of the application for the extension until last year.”

Rather than be enlightened and feel safe, people have become more frustrated and confused, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s press conference last 12 March 2020 as indicated in many social media postings. The press conference was most awaited given the prior announcement by the World Health Organization that the spread is now pandemic and the continuing increase of monitored numbers in the country. People expected to hear the government’s plans to manage the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).