Environmental woes not agenda of PGMA meeting with Caraga execs

Planned protest rally in time of PGMA visit didn’t push through

by Ben Serrano – April 19, 2008

CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur- Environmental problems raised by different church-based environmentalist groups in the towns of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza which was supposedly one of the reasons why President Arroyo made her first ever visit here were not one of the agenda of the executive committee meeting presided by the President herself held at the grandiose house of Surigao del Sur Governor Vicente Pimentel, Jr. Thursday morning.

The President flew in Thursday morning in this middle-size town of Carrascal from Siargao Island aboard presidential chopper and were met by Surigao del Sur provincial officials headed by Governor PImentel and his brother, Johnny who is Provincial Administrator, regional directors of the different government agencies.

The President then went to Barangay Adlay to inspect road condition allegedly damaged by mining companies’ huge cargo trucks and were greet by cheering workers of mining firms, Carrascal Nickel Corporation and Clarence T. Pimentel Construction and Mining Company.

Two other big mining companies, Carac-an Development Corporation and MarcVentures Mining were conducting exploration works within areas of Cantilan and Carasscal towns.

Last March 27, 2008, in a close door meeting with President Arroyo and five Bishops held at luxurious Almont Inland Resort and Hotel, Surigao del Sur Bishop, most Rev. Nereo Odchemar, D.D. personally brought the attention the growing clamor of farmers, irrigators, church-based environmentalist groups and other multi-sectoral groups about fast conversion of farm lands into mining areas.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Provincial Office asked the President to stop and cancel the mining operations of Carac–an Development Corp. and Marcventures, as they affect the watershed areas of its irrigation projects in the Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza (CCMCL) area.

The NIA alleges that the Mineral Product Sharing Agreement (MPSA) applications of both mining companies did not mention the pre–existing irrigation systems of the NIA.

The government agency since 1994 sent 10 resolutions to the Presidents of the Philippines asking his/her Excellency to proclaim the entire Surigao del Sur forested area as watershed for its irrigation projects. The NIA never got its wish, the multi-sectoral environmental watch groups said.

In that Butuan meeting with President Arroyo, Surigao del Sur Bishop, most Rev. Nereo Odchemar hand delivered the petition by the multi-sectoral groups to the President and right there and then, Arroyo promised to Bishop Odchemar she will personal visit Carrascal town to personally look into the issues raised.

President Arroyo arrived here finally and met two bishops, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchemar and Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, D.D.. This time it was not publicly disclosed outcome of the meeting with Bishop Odchemar neither was there any actual meeting occurred or discussions about environmental problems posed by growing mining activities at all.

In different mullt-sectoral group meetings here in Carrascal, environmentalists expressed desire to hold protest rally in time of President Arroyo visit here.

But alleged disapproval of local officials as it will embarrassed the President, it allegedly resulted to none issuance of permit to rally. Different regional directors who came out from that EXECOM meeting at Carrascal claimed the meeting was focused more on Provincial Governors asking infra projects from the Chief Executive.

ational Irrigation Administration officials were also allegedly scolded for alleged failure to present irrigation programs during EXECOM meeting which were attended by almost all provincial governors of Caraga Region, almost regional directors of national line government agencies, military and police officials.