20T signatures vs Gingoog logging
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/20t-signatures-vs-gingoog-logging
ENVIRONMENTAL groups presented Monday some 20,000 signatures of individuals opposing the logging operations in Gingoog City, and called for justice in the killing of an anti-illegal logging advocate last Christmas Eve.
Genera Pinagawa believes that the killing of her husband Alberto last December 24 was linked to the logging activities in Gingoog, which the latter had fought against.
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"I demand justice for my husband. I believe he was killed because of his advocacy," said Genera.
Alberto was ambushed by still unidentified assailants while on his way home in Barangay Kalipayan, Gingoog City, to celebrate Christmas with his family. He sustained 20 gunshot wounds, causing his immediate death.
Carl Cesar Rebuta of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth (LRC-KSK/FOE) described Alberto "Ka Berting" Pinagawa as a "staunch advocate against illegal logging activities."
Prior to his death, Pinagawa had organized his community to actively campaign against the operations of the Southwood Timber Corporation (STC), which has an existing Integrated Forest Management Agreement (Ifma) license.
STC's Ifma allows it to cut trees on 11,476 hectares of land in Gingoog City and a portion of the neighboring Claveria town.
But Rebuta said the Ifma permit issued to STC was illegal because the Minalwang Higaonon Trribal Council (Mihitrici)-holder of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) within Minalwangan area-did not issue their community consent through Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process as preserve by Ipra.
He said the natives "non-consent" was certified by National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Region X (NCIP-X). The area in Barangay Minalwang covers some 8,000 hectares.
STC's Ifma issued on May 23, 2008 following an endorsement by the City Council of Gingoog on December 2007.
The City Council took that endorsement back last December 28, this time with an accompanying resolution calling for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel STC's Ifma license.
Rebuta said the 20,000 signatures will be endorsed to the DENR for action. (ALR)
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on January 12, 2010.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Murder boosts locals’ resolve to seek cancellation of forest management agreement
Murder boosts locals’ resolve to seek cancellation of forest management agreement
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The rain has washed off traces of the Christmas Eve crime.
Alberto "Berting" A. Pinagawa was shot to death by still unidentified men on his way home for the holidays, an event that has strengthened the resolve of locals in seeking the cancellation of an integrated forest management agreement (IFMA) in nearby Gingoog City granted to a private firm.
Had Mr. Pinagawa been alive, he would have been guarding his clan’s land, which is part of an IFMA area comprising 11,476 hectares under Southwood Timber Corp. (STC).
According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 99-53, an IFMA is a production-sharing contract entered into by and between the department and a qualified applicant who is given the exclusive right to develop, manage, protect and use a specified area of forest land and forest resources for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years.
Mr. Pinagawa would have been among those celebrating when the Gingoog City Council recalled last Dec. 28 three previous resolution that included an endorsement of STC’s IFMA application.
The council has requested the DENR to cancel the IFMA based on a petition signed by thousands of residents.
Groups composed of the post-disaster task force in Gingoog, the Eco Care of the local Catholic church and others had sought the reversal of resolutions passed in 2007 and 2008 backing the IFMA.
"The [groups are] not against the cutting of trees," said Marites R. Echavez, a member of the post-disaster task force created after flash floods submerged the city in January last year.
"We are not including the cutting of planted trees which is the source of income for many residents. We asked for only three things," she said. "First, we wanted the [city council] to rescind its endorsement of the IFMA. Second, we wanted them to conduct an ocular inspection of the area to see for themselves if the company is indeed following the agreement. And third, we are calling for an objective investigation of the killing of our colleague, Manong Berting."
STC forester Glenn A. Senoc, however, said the company is following the selective logging system.
"We are only cutting big trees and those that will be hit by the felled trees," he said. "We are applying a sustainable method by cutting only a portion of the area at a time so that when we go back to the area where we started, the seedlings we have planted would be matured enough for cutting and the cycle is continuous."
Allan M. Mandokita, the indigenous peoples representative in the city council, argued that his community, which is claiming an ancestral domain area covered by the project, endorsed the venture based on economic grounds.
"When the Anakan Lumber Co. and the Naawan Lumber Co. were operating in our forests, our roads were good. People were able to easily travel from Gingoog to Calabugao in Bukidnon to engage in trading or to find employment. When these companies stopped operation, illegal loggers replaced them," he said.
"We jumped at the opportunity when STC... applied for the area because we see this as a solution to illegal logging. Our roads will be rehabilitated and the company will provide employment for our people."
But the petitioner groups pointed out a lapse in the council’s endorsement of the project since some areas are no longer under the jurisdiction of Gingoog.
Councilor Agnes U. Lee, who opposes the IFMA, also questioned the failure to set up a monitoring committee which is part of the agreement.
Another issue was the lack of endorsement from the Minalwang indigenous communities under the Minalwang Higa-onon Tribal Council, Inc., of which Mr. Pinagawa had been an active member.
In the document that the groups have secured from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the recommendation was for the issuance of a certificate of precondition covering only 4,000 hectares.
Also, the lobby against the project cited two events of flooding in Gingoog last year that were linked to the project.
STC’s Mr. Senoc, however, said the runoff during a downpour flows to the Odiongan river, not the city.
A supporter of the IFMA, Councilor Rey Y. Mortiz noted that aside from STC’s reforestation program, residents would also benefit from possible employment in the company.
But Ruel, a nephew of Mr. Pinagawa, said: "This is not an issue of technicalities. This is an argument for life. My uncle had once said that one tree is equivalent to four lives. Even before the DENR, we the lumads [natives] had a system of protecting the environment."
"If there are spaces between the trees in the forest, then they plant in these spaces. They do not have to cut existing trees to be able to plant new ones," he added.
"We do not need companies in our forests. What we need are genuine livelihood programs that are not destructive of our ancestral lands." -- Louise G. Dumas
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The rain has washed off traces of the Christmas Eve crime.
Alberto "Berting" A. Pinagawa was shot to death by still unidentified men on his way home for the holidays, an event that has strengthened the resolve of locals in seeking the cancellation of an integrated forest management agreement (IFMA) in nearby Gingoog City granted to a private firm.
Had Mr. Pinagawa been alive, he would have been guarding his clan’s land, which is part of an IFMA area comprising 11,476 hectares under Southwood Timber Corp. (STC).
According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 99-53, an IFMA is a production-sharing contract entered into by and between the department and a qualified applicant who is given the exclusive right to develop, manage, protect and use a specified area of forest land and forest resources for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years.
Mr. Pinagawa would have been among those celebrating when the Gingoog City Council recalled last Dec. 28 three previous resolution that included an endorsement of STC’s IFMA application.
The council has requested the DENR to cancel the IFMA based on a petition signed by thousands of residents.
Groups composed of the post-disaster task force in Gingoog, the Eco Care of the local Catholic church and others had sought the reversal of resolutions passed in 2007 and 2008 backing the IFMA.
"The [groups are] not against the cutting of trees," said Marites R. Echavez, a member of the post-disaster task force created after flash floods submerged the city in January last year.
"We are not including the cutting of planted trees which is the source of income for many residents. We asked for only three things," she said. "First, we wanted the [city council] to rescind its endorsement of the IFMA. Second, we wanted them to conduct an ocular inspection of the area to see for themselves if the company is indeed following the agreement. And third, we are calling for an objective investigation of the killing of our colleague, Manong Berting."
STC forester Glenn A. Senoc, however, said the company is following the selective logging system.
"We are only cutting big trees and those that will be hit by the felled trees," he said. "We are applying a sustainable method by cutting only a portion of the area at a time so that when we go back to the area where we started, the seedlings we have planted would be matured enough for cutting and the cycle is continuous."
Allan M. Mandokita, the indigenous peoples representative in the city council, argued that his community, which is claiming an ancestral domain area covered by the project, endorsed the venture based on economic grounds.
"When the Anakan Lumber Co. and the Naawan Lumber Co. were operating in our forests, our roads were good. People were able to easily travel from Gingoog to Calabugao in Bukidnon to engage in trading or to find employment. When these companies stopped operation, illegal loggers replaced them," he said.
"We jumped at the opportunity when STC... applied for the area because we see this as a solution to illegal logging. Our roads will be rehabilitated and the company will provide employment for our people."
But the petitioner groups pointed out a lapse in the council’s endorsement of the project since some areas are no longer under the jurisdiction of Gingoog.
Councilor Agnes U. Lee, who opposes the IFMA, also questioned the failure to set up a monitoring committee which is part of the agreement.
Another issue was the lack of endorsement from the Minalwang indigenous communities under the Minalwang Higa-onon Tribal Council, Inc., of which Mr. Pinagawa had been an active member.
In the document that the groups have secured from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the recommendation was for the issuance of a certificate of precondition covering only 4,000 hectares.
Also, the lobby against the project cited two events of flooding in Gingoog last year that were linked to the project.
STC’s Mr. Senoc, however, said the runoff during a downpour flows to the Odiongan river, not the city.
A supporter of the IFMA, Councilor Rey Y. Mortiz noted that aside from STC’s reforestation program, residents would also benefit from possible employment in the company.
But Ruel, a nephew of Mr. Pinagawa, said: "This is not an issue of technicalities. This is an argument for life. My uncle had once said that one tree is equivalent to four lives. Even before the DENR, we the lumads [natives] had a system of protecting the environment."
"If there are spaces between the trees in the forest, then they plant in these spaces. They do not have to cut existing trees to be able to plant new ones," he added.
"We do not need companies in our forests. What we need are genuine livelihood programs that are not destructive of our ancestral lands." -- Louise G. Dumas
DENR prodded to cancel largest logging permit
DENR prodded to cancel largest logging permit
Manila Bulletin
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
January 13, 2010, 2:54pm
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/238284/denr-prodded-cancel-largest-logging-permit
Copies of at least 20,000 signatures of affected residents who are seeking the immediate cancellation of the largest logging permit issued in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) was received Tuesday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Quezon City.
Accompanied by the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), some residents of Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental delivered the copies of signatures for the immediate cancellation of the logging permit issued to local logging firm Southwoods Timber Corporation (STC).
Copies of the signature campaign were also delivered to the DENR-Forest Management Bureau (FMB) in Quezon City.
In a press statement, LRC-Cagayan de Oro City team leader Car Cesar Rebuta said efforts to cancel the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) awarded to STC stemmed from its underlying privileges of “abusing and profiteering” from at least 11,476 hectares of forest area in Mt. Minalwang in Misamis Oriental, allowing illegal logging to take place.
In a check with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Rebuta said STC is registered under the name of STC general manager Johnny Young.
LRC further said that the STC logging permit in the guise of tree plantation was issued last May 23, 2008.
“The IFMA permit issued is illegal as the Minalwang Higaonon Tribal Council (MIHITRICU), the IP community and Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) holder within Minalwang area did not issue their community consent through an FPIC (Free Prior and Informed Consent) process as enshrined by the IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 2007),” it pointed out.
It said that there was no consent from the community, which it claimed was certified by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Region 10 (NCIP).
“In this case, the area of operation of STC within the Minalwang area which is more than 8,000 hectares and within the CADT of MIHITRICU is illegal,” the group said.
LRC further noted that the City Council of Gingoog endorsed a resolution last December 2007 favoring the Tree Plantation project of the STC, considering that all the requisites are fulfilled.
However, it said the city council revoked their endorsement and issued a resolution for the DENR Secretary to cancel the IFMA permit issued to STC in a special session last Dec. 28, 2009.
“The grant of IFMA would also destroy the critical area which is considered a watershed for the communities’ livelihood and everyday needs,” Rebuta said.
Last Dec. 24, Alberto “Berting” Pinagawa, a staunch advocate who fought against the encroachment in their traditional boundaries as one of the legitimate CADT holders, was killed.
LRC said the killing of Pinagawa is not an isolated case, because since 1988, the group documented at least 48 cases of Higaonon Tribal Leaders and Lumad who have been killed for being in the frontline of defense against human rights violations, development aggression and environmental
protection.
“The death of Pinagawa only fuels the fight against these large-scale industries, such as mining, logging, and plantations, who continue to defy the law with the help of the government and local government institutions and trample upon the rights to life, liberty and property of the masses, especially the Lumad.” LRC said.
Manila Bulletin
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
January 13, 2010, 2:54pm
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/238284/denr-prodded-cancel-largest-logging-permit
Copies of at least 20,000 signatures of affected residents who are seeking the immediate cancellation of the largest logging permit issued in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) was received Tuesday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Quezon City.
Accompanied by the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), some residents of Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental delivered the copies of signatures for the immediate cancellation of the logging permit issued to local logging firm Southwoods Timber Corporation (STC).
Copies of the signature campaign were also delivered to the DENR-Forest Management Bureau (FMB) in Quezon City.
In a press statement, LRC-Cagayan de Oro City team leader Car Cesar Rebuta said efforts to cancel the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) awarded to STC stemmed from its underlying privileges of “abusing and profiteering” from at least 11,476 hectares of forest area in Mt. Minalwang in Misamis Oriental, allowing illegal logging to take place.
In a check with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Rebuta said STC is registered under the name of STC general manager Johnny Young.
LRC further said that the STC logging permit in the guise of tree plantation was issued last May 23, 2008.
“The IFMA permit issued is illegal as the Minalwang Higaonon Tribal Council (MIHITRICU), the IP community and Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) holder within Minalwang area did not issue their community consent through an FPIC (Free Prior and Informed Consent) process as enshrined by the IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 2007),” it pointed out.
It said that there was no consent from the community, which it claimed was certified by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Region 10 (NCIP).
“In this case, the area of operation of STC within the Minalwang area which is more than 8,000 hectares and within the CADT of MIHITRICU is illegal,” the group said.
LRC further noted that the City Council of Gingoog endorsed a resolution last December 2007 favoring the Tree Plantation project of the STC, considering that all the requisites are fulfilled.
However, it said the city council revoked their endorsement and issued a resolution for the DENR Secretary to cancel the IFMA permit issued to STC in a special session last Dec. 28, 2009.
“The grant of IFMA would also destroy the critical area which is considered a watershed for the communities’ livelihood and everyday needs,” Rebuta said.
Last Dec. 24, Alberto “Berting” Pinagawa, a staunch advocate who fought against the encroachment in their traditional boundaries as one of the legitimate CADT holders, was killed.
LRC said the killing of Pinagawa is not an isolated case, because since 1988, the group documented at least 48 cases of Higaonon Tribal Leaders and Lumad who have been killed for being in the frontline of defense against human rights violations, development aggression and environmental
protection.
“The death of Pinagawa only fuels the fight against these large-scale industries, such as mining, logging, and plantations, who continue to defy the law with the help of the government and local government institutions and trample upon the rights to life, liberty and property of the masses, especially the Lumad.” LRC said.
Pinagawa Slain Over Land Dispute: Police
Pinagawa Slain Over Land Dispute: Police
By LITO RULONA - Correspondent Updated January 14, 2010 12:00 AM
http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=8930
TRIBAL leader and environmental activist Alberto Pinagawa was killed due to a land dispute among Higaonons and not because of his anti-logging advocacy, the former police director of Misamis Oriental has claimed.
Speaking before the provincial board on Monday, Senior Supt. Alberto Patrimonio revealed that Pinagawa was murdered by people he considered as family friends.
Pinagawa’s murder in Sitio Papataon, Barangay Eureka last Dec. 24 fanned aflame the advocacy against logging operations in Misamis Oriental, particularly in Gingoog city where the victim had fought a firm called Southwood Timber Corp.
The firm holds an industrial forest management agreement (Ifma) which serves as Southwood’s permit to cut trees on an area being claimed as a Higaonon ancestral land in eastern Misamis Oriental.
Patrimonio’s disclosure came after provincial board member Wayne Militante started an official inquiry into the Dec. 24 murder.
‘‘The motive behind the killing is land dispute,’’ Patrimonio said.
Patrimonio served as police director of Misamis Oriental until last weekend when Camp Crame reshuffled local police chiefs because of the May elections.
Patrimonio did not identify any suspect but he said they were supposedly close family friends of Pinagawa.
“Mura ba og kanang ga-ingnon nga pareha kita og pagtuo, pareha kita og ginikanan. Kita managsoun pero lahi atong bulsa,” he told the provincial board.
Patrimonio said police were still digging deeper in the hope of making arrests soon.
The 54-year old Pinagawa was killed by at least two to three suspects day before Christmas, according to an initial police report.
The victim had claimed ownership of a four-hectare property right in the middle of a logging area that stretches from Misamis Oriental to Agusan del Norte, police said.
Pinagawa was also a leader of the Minalwang Higaonon Tribal Council that has been claiming ancestral domain over eight thousand areas within a former logging concession of a company called Anakan
By LITO RULONA - Correspondent Updated January 14, 2010 12:00 AM
http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=8930
TRIBAL leader and environmental activist Alberto Pinagawa was killed due to a land dispute among Higaonons and not because of his anti-logging advocacy, the former police director of Misamis Oriental has claimed.
Speaking before the provincial board on Monday, Senior Supt. Alberto Patrimonio revealed that Pinagawa was murdered by people he considered as family friends.
Pinagawa’s murder in Sitio Papataon, Barangay Eureka last Dec. 24 fanned aflame the advocacy against logging operations in Misamis Oriental, particularly in Gingoog city where the victim had fought a firm called Southwood Timber Corp.
The firm holds an industrial forest management agreement (Ifma) which serves as Southwood’s permit to cut trees on an area being claimed as a Higaonon ancestral land in eastern Misamis Oriental.
Patrimonio’s disclosure came after provincial board member Wayne Militante started an official inquiry into the Dec. 24 murder.
‘‘The motive behind the killing is land dispute,’’ Patrimonio said.
Patrimonio served as police director of Misamis Oriental until last weekend when Camp Crame reshuffled local police chiefs because of the May elections.
Patrimonio did not identify any suspect but he said they were supposedly close family friends of Pinagawa.
“Mura ba og kanang ga-ingnon nga pareha kita og pagtuo, pareha kita og ginikanan. Kita managsoun pero lahi atong bulsa,” he told the provincial board.
Patrimonio said police were still digging deeper in the hope of making arrests soon.
The 54-year old Pinagawa was killed by at least two to three suspects day before Christmas, according to an initial police report.
The victim had claimed ownership of a four-hectare property right in the middle of a logging area that stretches from Misamis Oriental to Agusan del Norte, police said.
Pinagawa was also a leader of the Minalwang Higaonon Tribal Council that has been claiming ancestral domain over eight thousand areas within a former logging concession of a company called Anakan
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