MACARTHUR, Leyte- Sixty-three year old Alfredo Cordero has been longing to go back to his farm and resume planting rice after supertyphoon Yolanda destroyed his crops last year but could no longer do so.
He blamed the mining operations at their barangay in Maya, once one of the rice-producing villages of their town.
“Because of this mining, I could no longer go to work. These numbness and itchiness on my feet caused me to retreat from going to my farm,” Cordero said as he alleges that what he was suffering on his feet is “due to the water coming from the mine” when the company fixed the water line going to his farmland.
He, however, says that he has yet to see a doctor to check on how bad is the condition of his feet.
Thelma Palana, mother of five children, also said that she lost her livelihood due to the same mining activities in her village.
“Our problem here is mining. We cannot go on planting because of the water coming from the mine. Even if the rain is little, the water coming from the mine overflows to our farm and our vegetables are being flooded,” Palana said pointing to the same black sand mining operation right in the middle of a farmland which according to her, also started from the neighboring village of Pongon.
“What will happen to our children when this farm area will turn into sand in the future” asked the two.
Bernardita Morcilla, 67, who acted as a leader of the farmers on their complaints, identified the different mining groups in Mac Arthur as RT (in Maya), Nicua and Leyte Iron Sand Corporation (in Pongon) and Strong Belt Mining Development Corporation (in San Pedro).
Morcilla, secretary-general of Unahin Lagi Natin ang Diyos – Bito Lake Fisher folks Association (UNLAD-BLFA), also get the support of nationwide alliance of anti-mining groups Alyansa Tigil Mina.
“We suffered during Yolanda; now we are facing another suffering due to the mining. Two planting seasons have already passed yet our farmers were not able to farm because of them. Some of the roads leading to our farms are no longer accessible to us. Their coming here brought only destruction, ”Morcila said, also recalling the fish kill brought by another Nicua mine company in Lake Bito in the village of Imelda in MacArthur last 2012 which killed around 22 tons of tilapia worth about P1.87 million.
Nicua has ceased its operation, Morcilla said.
“But we have heard that these mining are just using other names so they can continue their activities in our town.”
“We don’t have coconuts anymore, we don’t have food, and we even lost our fishes. Do they want us to die here?” she asked.
Nilo Cordero, farmer and a village councilor who also opposed the mining, said that in his village in Maya alone, about 150 households are being affected by the mining.
He added that their village has not yet issued any approval and conducted consultation with the people on the mining activities in their area.
In the neighboring village of San Pedro, Maribel Pulga, 32, said that the mining is operating in their area “without conducting public consultation.”
“The former village captain told me that they have issued resolution on the mining before yet only for its installation,” said Pulga, noting that the mine activities in the area have been ongoing for the past five years already.
“I am not sure that my two children will finish school. I know one of them may be turned into fishing or farming, the reason I am fighting for this. I hope mining will stop here,” Pulga appealed.
Nonita Caguioa, officer-in-charge of Mines Environment and Safety Division at the regional Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), said that farmer and fisher folk need not to worry “because the mine company is compliant.”
“We haven’t heard any problem on the environment. Every now and then, we visited the area to check them. What they are mining now is only small. The 10 hectares for one year will not even be finished by the company,” said Caguioa, adding that the region should have been grateful to them because they have contributed during the clearing operations and the recovery and rehabilitation after Yolanda through their heavy equipment “free of charge from the government.”
The MGB official said that the mining companies did not terminated their workers after Yolanda and even gave them assistance.
Caguioa said that despite receiving many mine applications, the region only have “about three medium scale mining operating here.”
“We have about 20 applicants for mineral production joint agreement. Yet those operational are only about three. Why? Because of its declaration of mining project feasibility, which is difficult to get.”
Caguioa said that those given mining permits are operating in Eastern Samar and in Leyte with the rest are doing sand and gravel extractions.
The mining company granted permit to operate in Leyte is the Strong Belt mining in San Pedro, MacArthur. It was granted permit to mine 2,000 hectares.
“But what they can mine in a year time is less than ten hectares. That is the contract entered by the government thru Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with that company with duration of 25 years,” the MGB official said.
Asked if the farmers are right calling for the suspension of mining activities in their town, Caguioa said she has one answer for it, saying: “If ever it will be stopped, tell me if there is a good company that can give jobs outright aside from mining company?”
Meanwhile, in reaction to Leyte Samar Daily Express inquiry to the Malacanang Palace on the need for suspension of mining in Yolanda-hit Leyte, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said that the Nicua has been suspended to conduct any mining operation in Leyte.
“First, only one company is authorized to undertake mining of black sand in Leyte, this is Strong built Mining. The black sand mining of Nicua is suspended for about two years now while the DENR did not approve the application of another company, Explosives Consultation, pending result of assessment of any contribution of any black sand mining to the impact of Yolanda,” Coloma said in a phone interview. (RONALD O.REYES)
Special Report Villagers blame mining for poor health, unproductive farm lands
Easier compliance for pensioners seen with SSS-NSO partnership
As part of measures to make transactions convenient for members, the Social Security System (SSS) has partnered with the National Statistics Office (NSO) in developing a data matching program that will regularly scan the civil registry for deaths and marriages of SSS pensioners to verify their continued eligibility to pension.
The SSS-NSO partnership was forged under a memorandum of agreement signed by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. and NSO Administrator Carmelita Ericta on February 14, 2014.
Rita Baloy, SSS Officer-in-Charge for Benefits Administration, said the SSS-NSO partnership may pave the way for the eventual waiving of the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) – or the required visit or submission of documents to reconfirm pension eligibility — for certain types of pensioners.
The pensioner’s death, remarriage of a surviving spouse and marriage of a dependent below age 21 are among the reasons for the permanent stoppage of pensions. However, monitoring other factors for pension cancellation – such as employment, cohabitation and recovery from disability — still needs the ACOP since these cannot be checked using NSO data.
“While the development of the new SSS-NSO project is underway, ACOP compliance is still expected of all SSS pensioners at present to ensure the continued release of their pension,” Baloy emphasized.
During ‘Phase 1” or the pilot implementation, the SSS-NSO data matching will initially focus on pensioners aged 80 and above who, in consideration of their health conditions, were allowed to submit their ACOP requirements through a representative or via mail.
“Under the pilot run scheduled this year, SSS will no longer require the yearly ACOP visit or submission of documents for pensioners aged 80 and above, since we will instead check their current status using NSO records,” Baloy said. “If the pilot implementation is successful, we shall proceed to ‘Phase 2’ that will involve NSO data matching for all SSS pensioners.”
With the wider access to NSO records, the SSS can readily secure the necessary certifications to verify the documents submitted by pensioners under the ACOP to ensure their authenticity.
Aside from helping pensioners with the ACOP, benefits of the SSS-NSO partnership are also seen to reach the greater SSS membership, since NSO will provide SSS a facility to secure certificates on behalf of transacting members and beneficiaries, thereby making the process more convenient for them.
The direct release of certificates from NSO to SSS will also help facilitate faster processing of benefit claims and other SSS transactions. NSO documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates are normally required by SSS to ensure the authenticity of claims filed by members and beneficiaries. (PR)
E.Samar on the spot on the Cedric Lee misadventure
Businessman Cedric Lee and his coaccused Simeon Palma also known to many especially his co-mixed martial arts expert – as Zimmer Raz have graced a couple of pages in print media and aired in several broadcast channels for having been charged with serious illegal detention – a non-bailable offense. This was filed by television host and actor Vhong Navarro. Navarro accused them of beating him up and framing him for rape in January this year. The alleged rape charge of model Deniece Cornejo was allegedly committed and Cedric Lee master-minded the event with the objective of collecting P2 milion from the TV host, as reported.
Before the warrant of arrest could be served however, Lee and other coaccused fled to Eastern Samar to evade the long arms of the law. But they underestimated the fact that their faces have become known to everyone who reads and views tv channels so they were identified by some Estehaons that led to their arrest.
To the Estehanons putting their towns of Oras and Dolores on the map related to crimes do not ring well in their minds and hearts by making these towns appear like a perfect haven for criminals which definitely are not. There is therefore a need to counter this belief by highlighting and uncovering places of interest for tourists which abounds in the area. Eastern Samar is host to natural wealth and populated with hospitable, generous, kind-hearted and industrious citizens.
Come to think of it. How rich is Navarro to be a target of a frame up in order for a rich businessman like Lee to demand from him P2million.
There is more than meets the eye in this much celebrated case.
Commendable “Sponsor Philippines”
What was planned to be just a conjugal visit to a wife in Indiana, who has been on vacation for some time now, Sangguniang Bayan Member Dan Antonio Tentativa of Isabel got acquainted with and had intelligent interactions with members of “Sponsor Philippines”. This organization was newly created by Filipinos living in Indiana whose objective is to seek donations from philanthropic Indiana residents for varied relief goods for victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” that hit Eastern Visayas.
Tentativa was able to bring with him substantial packs of relief goods like canned goods, medical supplies, a lot of used clothing and many more. Upon his return from Indiana, USA he immediately went to Atipolo, Isabel Monday April 21, 2014 and distributed these goods to the badly hit families of the barangay. Some 150 households were lucky beneficiaries, and when asked why Atipolo was chosen as beneficiaries the good councilor says that this barangay has a lot of indigents.
JAHs Army, another civic organization organized in Tacloban with the same mission to help Yolanda victims also got a share of these relief goods JAHs Army was organized by Jason Tentativa, son of the councilor. He gave these typhoon aid to indigents of Basey, Samar.
It’s a father and son team-whose hearts bleed for the poor. Jason is a nurse who is still looking for a job and while at it he devotes his time in humanitarian mission. JAHs Army has already served Tacloban and other chosen towns of Leyte, all victims of the super –typhoon Yolanda.
-oOo-
Like what this column said several issues ago, Mayor Matin Petilla of Palo never tires and continues to be so to make a leadership difference in gthe local government of Palo.
The new municipal building that was partially destroyed by Yolanda is restored.
Recently she has made some improvements to Ginhangdan hill, a tourist area of Palo. She has initiated the planting of flowing trees along the slopes upstairs where a religious relic is built for adoration from catholic believers. . It is also being developed unto a picnic area. It has a viewing deck where one can enjoy savoring the beautiful scenery of Palo – a tourist haven.
Pretty soon we shall be seeing what she initially calls Palo Green Park with a renovated basketball and tennis courts. Along the sides will be food parks and a Tindahan Ha Barangay to sell basic commodities needed in barangay homes.
So many development projects are now sprouting in Palo that it has become quite hard to monitor them regularly.
In spite of her outstanding achievements for greater and more substantial performance as its town’s executive compared to former administrations, she is still being criticized NOT by tue-blue Paloanons, but from a very small group of broadcasters of the well-funded political opposition. Unfortunately for them nobody among well-meaning Paloanons believe them. Rightly so!!
What we need to teach
The climate is changing. We in Tacloban are living witnesses of the climate’s macabre leap.
Scientists have attested that climate change is fueling stronger and more powerful typhoons classified as category five typhoons. These typhoons, seemed to have been made from hell, would normally ravage the Philippine typhoon ring every 50-60 years. But now, they are markedly doing an annual stopover. Pablo (2012) and Yolanda (2013), strengthen the postulate that this year, another monster might destroy another city. Mother Nature is providing us with obvious signs and patterns that we have to understand and deal with.
For a fact, we may not be able to wholly reverse the effects of climate change given the sustainable growth of urbanization, but, we can decelerate it. While doing this, we should also leap towards intensive mass education on disaster and calamity awareness. On an average citizen’s level, this is one of the most doable preventive measures. As a victim city of a great typhoon, I feel we should initialize and pioneer this.
By saying mass education, this means the inclusion of disaster and calamity awareness in school’s lessons. In grade school, the apt subject for this type of lesson would probably be Science. Classroom lectures and discussions on disaster causes and effects and courses of action during actual tragedy, are recommendable to allow the students understand and put to heart nature’s ruinous U-turn. This will also help the students value the rationale of cascaded procedures in case the actual calamity comes. Aside from the routine of classroom lectures, application should also be done through frequent and random drills facilitated by teachers and other school officials. Drills should allow students to execute the best actions and procedures during crisis. This will help students experience the feel of a calamity, so that come actual disaster time, they will react accordingly.
DSWD and PAGASA should work hand-in-hand to train and educate the teachers as well. The two organizations should ensure that these teachers are fully equipped with knowledge to avoid critically erroneous teachings. This is also the best time to reactivate our dormant barangay officials. The government needs to tap them and oblige them to propagate preventive measures to their subordinates especially those who are illiterate and cannot afford schooling. I remembered, before the typhoon, that many barangay officials have poorly reacted towards warning reports of the media, resulting to the historic number of casualties.
This is no one-man effort. This will not work out without the cooperation of everyone. Let us stop blaming people already. I guess it is about time to stop dining on ashes and rubbing salt on our wounds. The best action now is to recover, understand and make use of the learning we acquired from the Yolanda experience. Let us please move on and brace ourselves for a rougher ride with nature. If we comply with the information we are spoon-fed with, the life that we save maybe our own.
Faith, fiction and the imagination
HUMAN as we are, we are always in some need of imagination. We cannot rely on our senses alone, or only on the things that we see, touch and smell. There’s a far richer universe than the physical and sensible world.
Neither can we be too dependent on abstract ideas. These concepts need to be embodied somehow to be truly enjoyed. What is usually termed as intellectual joy would be greatly enhanced if what causes it is also enfleshed or put, at least, in some sensible form.
This is where imagination comes in. The physical gets conceptualized, the material is spiritualized, on the one hand, and the ideas assume sensible shape and form, the spiritual is materialized, forming an image, on the other.
I believe we all realize how important it is to develop our capacity to imagine. In fact, we have to make it as powerful and rich as possible. But, of course, we also need to take precautionary measures so as to avoid going into extremes, resulting in some obsessions and perversions.
In this regard, we have to help one another—the elder, like the parents, taking care of the younger, the children; the more knowledgeable and better endowed taking care of the more simple ones among us.
It’s important that as much as possible we get to know each other well, entering into each other’s inner world of thoughts, desires, and yes, the imagination. That’s because that’s where we can truly say we are in communion as we ought to be.
Our unity and being together simply cannot be a result of a physical grouping or of blood and social relation. Our true unity is forged when we enter into each other’s inner world, and despite our legitimate differences, we are united in the basic, absolute truths.
Anyway, with regard to imagination as a result of putting some sensible form and image to abstract ideas and spiritual realities, we have to learn how to distinguish between an imagination