DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 April)—An environmental activist said on Wednesday that the Mount Apo Natural Park must be off limits to “touristic type of activities” and expressed dismay at how environmental laws are flouted resulting in the encroachment of businesses into protected areas.
Dr. Jean Lindo, co-chair of the “Panalipdan! Mindanao,” noted the country’s lack of “sustainable governance” and weak implementation of environmental laws in light of the proliferation of commercial activities within the protected areas like Mount Apo, particularly in Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City.[]
She said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should ensure to live up to its mandate as “environmental defenders.”
Lindo also called on decision-makers to deal with the environmental concerns through a “rights-based approach” by taking into consideration the population because the communities are often neglected in the decision-making.
“Naiiwan ang communities sa (communities are always neglected in) decision-making and resorts are the signs and symptoms of this kind of development,” she added.
Lindo said that defending a protected area needs a multi-sectoral approach, encouraging the environmentalists and conservationists to continuously engage the DENR “because not all of the crucial decision-makers are experts in the environment and development.”
Instead of destructive commercial activities, she said more efforts should be poured into protecting biodiversity by focusing on “sustainable food production, conservation, and development of people and resources.”
“We also have problems with the language. We use the terms like ‘responsible’ and ‘sustainable’ and do otherwise when it comes to implementing laws,” Lindo said.
Leo XL Y. Fuentes Jr., regional coordinator of farmers’ group Masipag Inc.[]
