YR 47 Issue 1 2011
Scenes
Thomasians intensify campaign against mining in Palawan
By MARIANNE ANGELA B. DEE
THOMASIAN student leaders from local councils and university-wide and collegebased organizations gathered together last July 8 at the Medicine Auditorium to strengthen the campaign against mining in Palawan and to save what was said to be the country’s remaining ecological frontier.
According to Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC) secretary Rochelle Obleno, the forum was in response to the University’s pledge of one million signatures to the “No to Mining in Palawan” campaign spearheaded by Gina Lopez, ABSCBN Foundation Managing Director, last March.
“Ms. Lopez came here last March and talked to student leaders regarding the case in Palawan that is why she launched the 10 million signature campaign here in UST,” Obleno said.
The administration committed one million signatures to her. Lopez said Palawan is the Philippine’s last ecological frontier with 17 out of 128 key biodiversity areas, 40 percent of the country’s remaining mangroves, 30 percent of coral reefs, two United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization heritage sites, eight protected areas declared by law, and an unmatched number of endemic flora and fauna in the world
compared to Madagascar and Amazon.
She also mentioned the “Dirty Seven”, the major abandoned mines in the country that are severely damaged and have not been cleaned until now.
It includes the Tagburos Mines in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
According to Lopez, these abandoned mines have not only destroyed land areas but also affected the people’s living condition and economic status. To achieve the needed number of signatures, each Thomasian is to complete one “No to Mining in Palawan” campaign form that contains 30 signatures.
“Our plan is to tap all the class presidents to distribute the forms and each student must accomplish one sheet. The president will be the one in charge to talk about the campaign that is why we invited almost all of them so that they will be properly equipped with the necessary information when asked about it,” Obleno said.
She assured that they are not merely after fulfilling the University’s pledge of one million signatures but they also aim to promote environmental consciousness among students.
“We are not after the signatures. What we are after is the awareness of students especially when it comes to environmental issues,” she added.
The campaign already gathered 1.4 million signatures as of mid of July and is targeting to reach five million this August.
According to Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC) secretary Rochelle Obleno, the forum was in response to the University’s pledge of one million signatures to the “No to Mining in Palawan” campaign spearheaded by Gina Lopez, ABSCBN Foundation Managing Director, last March.
“Ms. Lopez came here last March and talked to student leaders regarding the case in Palawan that is why she launched the 10 million signature campaign here in UST,” Obleno said.
The administration committed one million signatures to her. Lopez said Palawan is the Philippine’s last ecological frontier with 17 out of 128 key biodiversity areas, 40 percent of the country’s remaining mangroves, 30 percent of coral reefs, two United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization heritage sites, eight protected areas declared by law, and an unmatched number of endemic flora and fauna in the world
compared to Madagascar and Amazon.
She also mentioned the “Dirty Seven”, the major abandoned mines in the country that are severely damaged and have not been cleaned until now.
It includes the Tagburos Mines in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
According to Lopez, these abandoned mines have not only destroyed land areas but also affected the people’s living condition and economic status. To achieve the needed number of signatures, each Thomasian is to complete one “No to Mining in Palawan” campaign form that contains 30 signatures.
“Our plan is to tap all the class presidents to distribute the forms and each student must accomplish one sheet. The president will be the one in charge to talk about the campaign that is why we invited almost all of them so that they will be properly equipped with the necessary information when asked about it,” Obleno said.
She assured that they are not merely after fulfilling the University’s pledge of one million signatures but they also aim to promote environmental consciousness among students.
“We are not after the signatures. What we are after is the awareness of students especially when it comes to environmental issues,” she added.
The campaign already gathered 1.4 million signatures as of mid of July and is targeting to reach five million this August.
Year 47 | Issue 1 | 2011
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