Another battle is yet to be fought in Lapayan

Construction machines and equipment for the coal-fired power plant in Kauswagan, LdN have started to clear the area and transport construction materials. Photo: A. Manisan  

After successfully stopping the quarry application and operation in Mialunod River, residents of Brgy. Libertad (formerly called Lapayan) in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte firmed up their resolve in advancing the welfare of their community while protecting their environment.  

The community is one of the hosts of the 540 megawatt coal-fired-power plant which is being constructed in more than 100 hectares of land between Libertad and Tacub in Kauswagan. 

Since the construction started, several complains from the communities have been raised. Among these are displacement of the fisherfolks from their livelihood, relocation and compensation issues, and destruction of marine ecosystem. 

Concerns over the negative effects of the coal-fired power plant are also shared by the residents especially those who are living right beside the plant. 

On March 27, 2015 they formally formed an organization called Libertad Power Movement Association (LMPA).  This initiative aimed at strengthening their voice and efforts in pushing their collective demands to protect their community from disaster and ecological damage.

Anti-quarry wins

The community in Libertad is glad over the cessation of the quarry operation in Mialunod River. 

Mialunod River plays a vital role in the lives of the surrounding community. Some Lapayan residents wash their dishes and clothes in the river. Others also take a bath here. 

The Sanguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Lanao del Norte, released a resolution dated March 02, 2015, to support the resolution of the Barangay Council of Libertad that prohibits quarry operation in Mialunod River. The SP said resolution also implored the Office of the Provincial Governor “to issue a cease and desist order to persons or entity who are quarrying at Mialunod River… without quarry permit issued by the Office of the Provincial Governor.”

While waiting for the “cease and desist order”, the provincial office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted an investigation. According to one of the DENR personnel who refused to be identified, during their actual visit to the area, they had witnessed the actual quarry operation. As such, they requested to stop the operation while their investigation is going on. 

To remember, the community vehemently opposed the application and the quarry operation in Mialunod River as they were afraid of possible floods. Libertad was flooded twice (1999 and 2014) that caused lives and properties. 
   
Few months ago, the residents of the said barangay undertook series of activities from placards display along the highway, mobilization, prayer rally to petition signing which gathered more than 500 signatures. 

They demanded the authorities to prohibit quarry operation in Mialunod River instead set-up “FLOOD CONTROL” to protect the communities from flood. 

Envi talks begin in IC communities

During the discussion in FIL-LUX village, Coal Resistance team presents the rationale why
coal-fired power plant has to be stopped  

April 18-19, 2015- The Coal Resistance group conducted community discussions in three areas in Iligan City: Manuang, Tubod; Fil-Lux Village in Buruun; and, in Sto. Nino, Medical, Palao. The discussion 'Hisgutanang Kinaiyahan' aimed to provide necessary information regarding the issue of coal and its effects to environment.

The people's reaction during the discussion bordered from skepticism to astonishment at how the coal-fired power plant might affect their health and the environment. The people were also generally mortified at how the local government has let this happen given the possible consequences. 

After the discussions, aside from pledging their support to the anti-coal petition, they also committed to actively join in the coal resistance's further activities. 

Sto, Nino Medical Home Dwellers Association members signed the petition against the construction of coal-fired power plant in Iligan City. 

Additional community discussions will also be conducted in Iligan City. The target communities are as follows:
- Caritas Village, Upper Tominobo
- Manuang, Ubaldo de Laya
- Cabaro, Upper Hinaplanon
- Habitat, Sta. Elena

Facts about People Resistance against Quarry Application in Libertad, Kauswagan, LdN

Residents of Brgy. Libertad in Kauswagan, LDN mount placards outside
their houses and along the highway showing their resistance to quarry
application and demanding the re-installation of their suspended barangay captain
Photo Courtesy: Jpoy Cloa Roble 

Barangay Libertad in the Municipality of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte was badly hit twice (in 1999 and 2014) by flood that caused properties, livelihood and lives of the residence.  This experience prompted the people of the barangay to oppose the quarry application in Mialunod River which is a tributary river of Napo River.

In September 2014, Mr. Edgar Tiongco, represented by Mr. Hipolito Arcaso, applied for a quarry permit of 45,000 meters long in the Barangay. During the public consultation to discuss the said application, held on October 3, 2014 with the participation of the Municipal Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Councilors and Municipal Planning and Development Officer, the quarry application was opposed by the community.

In the 19^th Regular Session of the barangay council dated October 15, 2014, the barangay council voted whether to give Mr. Edgar Tiongco permit or not in his application to quarry. Despite the opposition from the community, three (3) councilors voted no while four (4) voted yes. However, considering the clamor of his people to stop the quarry application, Barangay Captain Mervin V. Roble did not sign the barangay resolution permitting the quarry to operate.

With his refusal to sign the resolution, the Barangay Captain was sued with administrative case in the office of Sangguniang Bayan by Mr. Tiongco. As a result, the Sangguniang Bayan of Kauswagan enacted a resolution for his preventive suspension as Barangay Captain while the investigation of the case filed against him is on the process. The preventive suspension order was served on March 10, 2015. With his suspension, the 1^st Brgy. Councilor who is among those who voted yes to grant the quarry permit will act as the OIC.   

Prior to the preventive suspension of the Barangay Captain, on February 7, 2015 the community initiated a petition signing. The petition, which already gathered 589 signatures representing seven (7) puroks, was turned into a unified Purok Resolution reiterating their demand: NO TO QUARRY IN MIALUNOD RIVER, YES TO FLOOD CONTROL.  During the Special Session of the Barangay Council on February 26, 2015, a barangay resolution approving the said Purok resolution was passed and approved by 4 barangay councils.   

Since March 2, 2015 the community has been organizing placard raising, mobilization along the highway, prayer rally in the Barangay Auditorium and sending of complaint letter to the Office of the Governor to demand: NO QUARRY, YES TO FLOOD CONTROL and LIFT THE PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION OF THEIR BARANGAY CAPTAIN.

It is believed that the quarrying is in preparation for the construction of the Coal-fired power plant in Kauswagan. The coal-fired power plant is a project supported and endorsed by the MLGU of Kauswagan through the Municipal Mayor Rommel Arnado. 

Position Paper of Various Student Organizations in MSU-Marawi Campus Regarding the MSU-System Charter Change

INCLUSION OF MECHANISM FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND TRANSPARENCY CLAUSE IN THE PROPOSED CHANGES

IN MSU SYSTEM CHARTER

(Position Paper formally submitted during the consultation on HB____ otherwise known as An Act Strengthening the Mindanao State University System and Appropriating Funds Therefor in Dimaporo Gymnasium, MSU-Marawi Campus, Marawi City on January 29, 2015)

Over the years, Mindanao State University has been successful, as an academic institution, in producing quality graduates who have been serving as manpower of growth not just in the region but in the entire country. With students coming from different regions of Mindanao whose backgrounds are socially and culturally diverse, MSU has been a haven for cultural integration, thus recognized as “melting pot of the south”.

With so much changes and development since its creation, there is indeed a need to enhance its more than 60 year-old charter to make it more responsive to the present condition, needs and demands of the society and of its constituents.

As we support this endeavor, we as well see two important points that need to be addressed in the proposed new charter of the MSU System.

Firstly, we believe that as the majority of the constituents of this system that comprise more or less 69,000 in number, the students in each of the campus under the MSU system must have a voice in the decision-making especially on the matters related to tuition fee increase, student rules and other student welfare issues.

As per experience in this Campus, the previous tuition fee increase and the removal of tuition privilege (TP) for students who have good academic performance did not undergo a proper consultation. It is important to note that majority of population of the students in this campus is coming from the poor section of the society. That is why they chose this university because it does not only offer quality education but also affordable tuition fee. As such, any increase in the tuition fee may jeopardize or worse, deny the students of their chance for education and defeat the social responsibility of the university which is stated in Section 8 of the proposed charter.

While the proposed charter emphasized the role of the student council, it is a fact that student body organizations have only limited power and therefore inadequate to participate in the actual decision-making. Thus, we suggest that the proposed charter should add, in the Section 9 Democratic Access, “Consultation as mechanism for democratic participation of students on matters pertaining to their welfare and interests. Any decision contrary to this process will be rendered invalid.”

Secondly, in the exercise of its functions as democratic institution, MSU has to be transparent and accountable to all its actions and decisions. There must be a mechanism for easier access on the decisions, project engagements and monetary collections of the university. This way, the university will establish a transparent relationship with its stakeholders.

Moreso, the unresolved criminal cases involving students and faculty members inside the MSU Marawi campus actually question the accountability of the university itself. Hence, issues of this kind have to be immediately addressed.

We, therefore, suggest that there must be a separate section pertaining transparency and accountability in the proposed charter which would address the above-mentioned issues.

To the men and women in congress, we ask your serious consideration of this position paper in the crafting of the proposed changes in charter of the MSU-System.  As students, we view ourselves as active contributors to the development process and success of the Mindanao State University.   

Signed:

Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan-MSU Chapter

Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Panlipunang Agham at Humanidades (SAMAPAH)

College of Agriculture Student Society (CASS)

Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Filipino (SAMAFIL)

 ______________________________

This document is a result of consultations among students and student leaders in the Mindanao State University-Marawi Campus. 

Justice for Crish Lanne Masancay! Justice for all the victims!

Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan-MSU Chapter
Statement on the Death of Crish Lanne Masancay
December 9, 2014

 

December 8, 2014 at around 11am, Crish Lanne Masangcay was shot by an unidentified person in the Commercial Center of Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City. He sustained 2 gunshot wounds and the reason of murder is still unknown and the suspect is still at large.

Crish Lanne, who just turned 17 years old last December 1, is a first year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management in MSU-Marawi. He is from Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

Over the past years, unresolved criminal cases inside the Mindanao State University- Marawi Campus is increasing which made the campus unsafe for the students from the MINSUPALA region and from all over the country.

This increasing danger directed towards the students in the campus is a clear manifestation of weak security system in the university and lack of priority in ensuring the rights and welfare of the students.

To remember, Samuel Go III, a 4th year Agricultural Engineering student was also shot dead in the campus on June this year. Two years ago, Prof. Othello Cobal and Erwin Diaz were both murdered in broad daylight. These three (3) people were just among those who were killed inside the campus and until now, the perpetrators are still wandering freely. Justice was not delivered and served. It has never been served.

Their deaths left a chilling effect in the entire studentry. It even intensified biases and division among the tri-people constituents in the university.

As state institution, it is imperative for Mindanao State University to promote, uphold and protect the human rights of its constituents.  In the spate of murder victimizing the students, the Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan-MSU Chapter believes that the MSU Administration is fully accountable for all violence and crimes involving the students, faculty members and staff. These violence and crimes are apparently a violation of their human rights. The MSU Administration’s leniency in immediately bringing justice to the victims and its inability to put an end to this violence is intolerable and devalue human rights.

We, therefore, demand from the MSU Administration to:

• undertake transparent, accountable, and speedy actions to bring justice to the victims;
• conduct immediate investigation on the cases of murder in the campus; and
• strengthen the security mechanism centered on the rights and welfare of the students in the campus.

We are taking this stand because we believe that MSU is not mandated only to provide quality education but to secure and uphold the rights and welfare of the students.

Ecofeminist spells out culprit for ecological crisis

Marijke Colle delivers her presentation to the participants who are coming from Lanao provinces and Iligan City

Iligan City- Marijke Colle, a veteran climate justice activist from Belgium, was the main speaker of the recently held forum on Climate Crisis, Ecofeminism and the Alternatives which was participated by more than 200 participants coming from different sectors in Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Iligan City. 

She spoke on the Ecofeminist Answer to Climate Crisis. She pointed out that the ecological crisis is not a crisis in nature but it is a human crisis that is responsible for the destruction of nature. She added that there is a need to identify the main cause of this ecological crisis. 

Colle told the participants that the growth of capitalism is responsible to the exploitation of nature because it is interested in producing more goods and profit. In achieving a balanced society, she proposed that the whole way the people produce goods has to be changed as the exponential production of goods implies exponential destruction of nature.

While women have been very involve in food production and care for their family, they remain invisible and labor division worsen their condition. Colle emphasized that, “the struggle for a safe, healthy and ecologically sustainable environment combined with the struggle for social justice, will strengthen and motivate half of humanity, to be the conscious force for women’s liberation, for the overthrow of capitalism and for an ecosocialist and ecofeminist alternative.” 

For a copy of the presentation of Marijke Colle, click this link.

For the local campaign and concrete alternative actions in the community level, Ma. Gittel Squilabon, the Coordinator of the Tri-people Program on Food Sovereignty and Peace-building of Sumpay Mindanao, shared their initiatives specifically on sustainable agriculture where they work for organic food production while working for the enhancement of people’s control of land, water, seeds, market  and to all things necessary for safe food production including technology and knowledge.

Professor Elaine Baulete of the Center for Human Rights Education of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research Extension, MSU-IIT, shared their successful experience in building collaborative projects involving the community, academe and government units in mitigating the impact of climate change through mangrove rehabilitation in Bayug Island in Iligan City. 

Some important action points were also raised during the forum. Among these are the continuing partnerships among non-government organizations and academic institutions in the promotion of the successful alternatives; to deal with the ongoing construction in Lanao del Norte of coal-fired plant for power generation; and the City Agriculturist Office of Iligan to support the aquamarine culture of the community in Bayug Island which is currently assisted by MSU-IIT.

The forum was a concerted efforts of Sumpay Mindanao Inc.; Sustainable Alternatives for the Advancement of Mindanao (SALAM), Inc.; Mindanao Tri-people Youth Center (MTPYC); Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM)- Katawhang Migrante, Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK); Ranaw Women and Children Resource Center (RWCRC), Inc. in partnership with MSU-IIT’s Political Science Department, Kataastaasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral (KASAMA), and the Center for Human Rights Education of the OVCRE in coordination with International Institute for Research and Education (IIRE)-Manila. It was conducted in CED Amphitheater, College of Education, MSU-IIT on July 25, 2014.

Palayasin lahat sa pwesto at Pamahalaan ng mga Mamamayan, Itayo! Walang natamong pagbabago sa Bulok na Gobyerno!

Sa okasyon ng ika-5 SONA ni Presidente Aquino III
Hulyo 28, 2014

Sapat na ang apat na taon upang malantad ang tunay na mukha ng admistrasyong Aquino. Sa likod ng maskara ng reporma para sa “tuwid na daan” ay ang umaalingasaw na amoy ng katiwalian, pandarambong sa bayan, panlilinlang at maka-kapitalistang interes.

Ang iligal na paglustay ng bilyun-bilyong pundo sa ilalim ng Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) ay hayagang paglabag sa saligang batas ng Pilipinas. Kaya, kung ang mga sangkot sa anomalya ng PDAF ay hinakot sa kulungan, ang mga sangkot sa DAP ay dapat ding managot sa sambayan.

Maliban sa kurapsyon, sa 4 na taon ng Pangulong Aquino sa pwesto, kapu-punang walang pagbabago sa buhay ng mga Pilipino. Bagamat lumubo ang ekonomiya ng bansa ayon sa mga datos, patuloy pa ring mataas ang antas ng kahirapan na tinatayang pumapalo sa mahigit 22 milyong mamamayan ang mahirap at samantalang mahigit 30 milyon ang walang trabaho. Ayon sa pananaliksik, ang nakinabang sa malaking bahagi ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa ay iilang pamilya lamang habang ang kakarampot na porsyento ay siyang pinaghati-hatian ng mayoryang mamamayan.

Wala ring pagbabago sa pagsagot sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan. Mabagal pa rin ang usad ng gobyerno sa pagpatupad ng mga programa kaya milyon-milyong mamamayang biktima ng mga kalamidad ang wala pa ring matirhan at hanapbuhay, sa halip ay isinusulong pa ng pamahalaang Aquino ang malawakang pagbenta sa soberenya at yamang likas ng Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao sa mga Korporasyon at dayuhang bansa. Mabagal din ang pamimigay ng lupa at suporta sa mga magsaska at mangingisda na nag-sadlak sa kanila bilang pinakamahirap na mga sector sa lipunan. Kakulangan ng serbisyo pa rin at hindi pagkilala sa mahalagang ambag sa ekonomiya ang danas ng hindi bababa sa 12 Milyong OFWs. Sa kabila nito, walang habas ang pagtaas ng mga presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin merkado na siyang lalong nagpalugmok sa mga mamamayan. Patuloy din ang pagtaas ng mga matrikula at babayarin sa mga paaralan na kung saan kumakailan lang 244 na mga pribadong paaralan sa elementarya at hayskul ay pinayagan ng Department of Education na dagdadan ang tuition fee samantalang 287 unibersidad at kolehiyo naman ang pinayagan ng Commission Higher on Education. Kitang kita din ang kakulangan ng suporta ng gobyerno sa usaping pangkalusugan at transportasyon.

Wala ding pagbabago sa kalakaran at negosyo sa pagpapatupad ng serbisyong sosyal. Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino, hayagan din ang praybitisasyon ng mga serbisyong sosyal sa ilalim ng Private Partnership Program. Ang pagnenesgosyo na siyang naging sanhi ng problema sa suplay ng kuryente ay tinugunan ng mas malawak pang pagnenesgosyo nito. Ang haka-hakang kukulangin ang suplay ng kuryente sa 2015 ay nagbibigay daan upang madeklara ni Pangulong Aquino ang State of Emergency. Nakikitang ito ay mas lalo pang magpapalawak sa papel ng mga pribadong kompanya na uling ang pambala sa mga planta sa pagsagot sa pinangangambahang krisis sa kuryente. Dahil dito ang Pilipinas na ang kampyon sa pinakamahal na singil sa kuryente sa buong Asya.

Patuloy ang mga pamamaslang sa mga lider-komunidad at organisayong nagsusulong sa karapatan at kapakanan ng mga maralita’t mahihirap at maging ang patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga pinaslang na mga mamamahayag at kay kupad ng pagbigay ng hustisya.

Ang usaping pangkapayapaan ay hamak na ginagamit lamang upang mas iangat ang popularidad ng administrasyon at interes ng mga Kapitalistang bansa’t korporasyon ay ang hayag na balangkas ng pamahalaan at hindi ang sinserong pagtugon sa karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapasya ng Mamamayang Lumad at Bangsamoro sa Mindanao.

Sa makatuwid, walang pagbabago dahil baluktot pa rin ang daang tinahak ng Administrasyong Aquino. Palayasin na lahat ang nasa pwesto at ang Pamahalaan ng mga Mamamayan ay Itayo!

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Ranaw Tri-people Movement for Genuine Peace and Development (RTMGPD)
Alyansa sa mga Kabus sa Lungsod ug Siyuda (AKLAS)
Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK)
Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA)
Demokratikong Kulusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (DKMP)-Lanao
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK)
Lanao Fisheries Advocacy Network (LFAN)