To have change and protect it to the invader and personal interest of other people. It must be for Municipality of Quezon , and it must be for the tribes surrounded it. And supervise by Province of Palawan Philippines.

The importance of protecting areas like Initao from the development of industrial facilities such as an oil depot and pier can be understood from several critical perspectives: 1. Environmental Protection: The establishment of industrial sites, especially those related to fossil fuels, poses significant risks to local ecosystems. These risks include oil spills, air and water pollution, and habitat destruction, all of which can have devastating effects on wildlife and plant life. Preserving the natural habitats in Initao helps maintain biodiversity, which is essential for ecological balance and the health of the planet. 2. Marine Life Conservation: Coastal and marine ecosystems are some of the most productive and biologically diverse areas on Earth. Protecting these areas ensures the survival of numerous marine species, some of which may be endemic or threatened. Marine conservation efforts help sustain fish populations, protect coral reefs, and maintain the overall health of the oceans. 3. Sustainable Tourism: Initao's identity and economy are closely tied to its natural beauty and resources, which attract tourists seeking white sand beaches and unspoiled nature. Sustainable tourism can provide long-term economic benefits without degrading the environment, while industrialization could deter visitors, negatively impacting local businesses and livelihoods. 4. Community Health and Safety: Industrial facilities, particularly those dealing with oil, can be hazardous to nearby residents due to the potential for accidents, explosions, and exposure to toxic substances. Protecting the community from these risks is paramount to ensuring public health and safety. 5. Cultural and Heritage Preservation: Natural landscapes often hold cultural significance for local communities and indigenous peoples. Preserving these areas maintains the cultural heritage and allows future generations to experience and appreciate their ancestral lands. 6. Climate Change Mitigation: The protection of forests and seas plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide and serving as carbon sinks. Development that leads to deforestation or destruction of marine habitats can exacerbate climate change impacts. 7. Legacy for Future Generations: Preserving natural and unspoiled environments ensures that future generations can enjoy and benefit from them, just as present generations have. It is about leaving a legacy that values the long-term health of the planet over short-term industrial gains. In summary, opposing the development of the oil depot and pier in Initao is about safeguarding the environment, ensuring the well-being of the community, preserving the local economy, and maintaining a commitment to future generations. It is about choosing a path of sustainable development that respects the delicate balance between human activity and the natural world.

Rationale The Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP) is a vital rainforest area that urgently requires intervention to halt wind turbine construction. PhilinCon has emphasized the need for sustainable development within NPPNP, highlighting the importance of balancing progress with biodiversity preservation. However, the Nabas Wind Power Project Phase Two (NWPP-2) threatens NPPNP's biodiversity, watersheds, and communities in impact zones. We question the continued disregard for environmental mandates within the protected area. While green energy is crucial for sustainability, we must not ignore the substantial environmental toll it may take. Republic Act No. 11038, the ENIPAS Law, aims to protect forest areas, allowing renewable energy development within them with stringent safeguards. Project Briefer The NWPP is a renewable energy project by PetroWind Energy, Inc. (PWEI). The company was granted the Wind Energy Service Contract No. 2009-09-002 located in the north-western section of Panay Island with an area consisting of 2,025 hectares. Following Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, PWEI was then granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) No. ECC-RC-1205-132-4220, dated 01 June 2012, as amended on September 2013, 09 December 2013, 17 February 2021, and 29 March 2021, respectively. The NWPP-1 consists of 18 wind turbines (WTG 1 to WTG 18) with a total power production capacity of 36MW, transmission lines, internal access roads, and a control station located in the barangays of Pawa, Rizal, and Unidos in Nabas and Brgy. Napaan in Malay. Following guidelines mandated by the ENIPAS law, the project was allowed in the NPPNP through PAMB Resolution No. 2014-3 and granted by DENR Region VI with a Special Use Agreement on Protected Areas (SAPA) Application No. A0265DD2BFD107DC last 17 February 2023. From this, the NWPP-2 would involve six additional wind turbines (WTG 20 to WTG 25) with an expected total power generating capacity of 14MW located within the northern boundary of the NPPNP under the jurisdiction of Brgy. Pawa in Nabas and Brgy. Napaan in Malay. Environmental Impacts & Issues 1. Site Inspections Compelling evidence from joint inspections by LGU Malay and Aklan Trekkers revealed the distressing presence of siltation and sedimentation in the Daeamuan River followed by an environmental audit with Protect NPPNP Coalition that exposed that the ongoing constructions of the road network and platforms for the initial three wind turbines in Pawa, Nabas, Aklan have already created conditions conducive to substantial siltation in both Napaan and Nabaoy river watersheds. Notably, the landscape bore witness to extensive tree cutting, improper earth balling practices, conspicuous bulldozing, inefficient earth canals, and ineffective/unfinished/damaged gabions, all signaling the potential disruption of natural water flow and the broader ecosystem. 2. Water Potability & Economic Impact The effects have already damaging impacts on the water quality downstream from the NWPP-2 construction areas. As previously demonstrated, the failure to implement measures preventing heavy siltation and downstream accumulation has caused substantial harm to the entire river ecosystem. It has resulted in muddy water affecting not only Napaan and Nabaoy but also extending to the surrounding communities of Argao, Cubay, and Motag, as well as other coastal communities near these rivers. 3. EIA, ECC, & SAPA The recent Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP), serving as the primary EIA document alongside the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) crafted by PWEI in September 2018, aimed to comprehensively evaluate the impact of the then-proposed NWPP-2. However, upon a thorough examination of these reports, a notable deficiency emerged – a failure to foresee the potential repercussions on neighboring areas and an absence of robust mitigation strategies. The situation in Napaan epitomizes this issue, where although mitigation measures were presented, they have failed to adequately address the current challenges, leaving the area in its current compromised state. The EIA report and ECC have limitations, failing to address extensive impacts and mitigation strategies. Amendments to ECC beyond the allowed timeframe raised concerns about document legitimacy. Agreements also failed to mention impact site areas like the Nabaoy River Watershed. Furthermore, Nabaoy was notably absent from the SAPA agreement furnished by the PAMB. In PAMB Resolution 2014-03, titled 'Resolution Approving the Project Proposal of Petrowind Energy, Inc. (PWEI) in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park for its Nabas Wind Power Project – Phase 2,' the project's area description was exclusively limited to Pawa in Nabas. Current Status Nabaoy passed a resolution complaining about the direct impacts of the initial road construction and requested SB Malay revocation of the resolution (2021) endorsing NWPP-2 due to its adverse impacts on water supply and decreased quality of community life. SB Malay also conducted committee hearings to repeatedly review and assess the environmental impacts of the project. The committee found inconsistencies and problems with PWEI's documents, leading to resolutions revoking prior endorsements and urging DENR to cancel the SAPA as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 140-A, Series of 2023 RESOLUTION NO. 140-B, Series of 2023 RESOLUTION NO. 140-C, Series of 2023

We must defend Manila Bay and its rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and contribution to food security for the sake of Filipinos today and generations to come. As such, we must all say no to reclamation in Manila Bay.

The Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in the world, with a total length of approximately 36,289 kilometers. These coastlines are threatened by dredging, dump-and-fill projects, and other activities related to reclamation. The Philippines currently has over 180 proposed and ongoing reclamation projects. Coastal reclamation in the country has negatively impacted our marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of fishing communities. Reclamation activities can destroy coral reefs, our mangroves, seagrass beds, wetlands and other marine habitats which disrupt fish migration patterns, and decrease fish stocks, leading to a decline in the income of fisherfolk. The current form of reclamation projects also pose an increased risk of flooding and erosion, especially in areas that are prone to natural disasters such as typhoons and storm surges.The sites of these projects are vulnerable to ground shaking and liquefaction that raise red flags to people’s safety when earthquakes and flooding occur. The youth of the Philippines will be the most affected by the long-term impacts of these projects, which is why it is essential that our voices are heard in decision-making processes. We enjoin you to strengthen our efforts to defend and protect our country's natural resources. Stop dump-and-fill and dredging projects that threaten life both in land and sea! Break the silence, sign on, and let our voices be heard. Stop reclamation! #NoToReclamation #ClimateJusticeNow

Ang oil spill mula sa paglubog ng MT Princess Empress ay isa na sa pinakamalalawak na oil spill sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Umabot na ang langis sa pampang ng iba’t ibang probinsya, mula Oriental Mindoro hanggang Palawan. Namataan na rin ito sa Verde Island Passage, isang bahagi ng katubigan na mayaman sa marine biodiversity. Nananatili rin itong banta sa mga tanyag na tourism spots gaya ng Boracay at Puerto Galera. Sa loob lamang ng ilang linggo, libu-libong pamilya at mangingisda na ang dumaraing dahil sa insidenteng ito. Lampas 19,000 mangingisda na ang nawalan ng kabuhayan, mahigit isandaang residente na ang nagkakasakit, at nangangamatay na ang mga isda sa Oriental Mindoro at sa mga karatig-probinsya. Ngunit hanggang ngayon, ni isang kusing ay wala pang binabayad ang mga kumpanyang dawit sa sakunang ito. Maging ang charterer ng barko ay hindi pa rin lumalantad. Ang gastusin sa pagbangon ay dapat sagutin ng mga kumpanyang may sala — hindi ng gobyerno lamang o ng mga komunidad na mismong naaapektuhan ng kanilang mapaminsalang negosyo.

We strongly condemn the railroading of the amendment of the Environment Code of South Cotabato, specifically the lifting of the ban on Open-Pit Mining. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato did not consider the magnitude of the effects their actions have on the people and the environment, not only in South Cotabato. With this action alone, it will affect multiple watersheds of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Davao del Sur. Further, it will also threaten the ecological integrities of Allah Valley (102,000 hectares) in Sultan Kudarat, the watershed of the Padada River (120,000 hectares) in Davao del Sur, and the watershed of the Marbel River (122,000 hectares) in the Province of Cotabato. Watersheds are geographical ecological units, and what happens in one part of the watershed will influence the whole watershed from forests, agricultural, urban, and coastal to estuarine ecosystems due to its geomorphological characteristics, connected rivers and tributaries at the surface, and including groundwater reserves. Open-Pit or Strip Mining is a metallic mining method assessed as one of the most extensively difficult to mitigate and manage; its impacts do not focus on one contained area. It also requires mass deforestation and removing 20-30 meters of the laterite zone to access the metallic resources underneath. This large-scale industry demands enormous hectares of land for operational processes from stripping, extraction, and tailings treatment, to ship loading and refinery. Furthermore, the Tampakan Open-Pit Mining will demand and use groundwater resources and transport highly toxic wastewater through a 150-km pipe from the Municipality of Malalag draining to Davao Gulf. There is a treatment process presented, however, the risks of overland flow, flooding disasters, or possible collapse of tailings ponds will inevitably impair marine and aquatic biodiversity, fish stocks, and aquaculture in the coastal areas, similar to the incident in Mapagba River in Banaybanay last January 2022. The Open-Pit Mining in Tampakan will hugely affect the long-term viability and sustainability of these watersheds that currently provide ecological services and natural resources to the people of South-Central Mindanao. The Tampakan Open-Pit Mining will become the largest mining in Southeast Asia. According to the project information, it is estimated to extract 2.94 billion tons of metallic resources, 15 million tons of copper, and 17.6 million ounces of Gold. According to S&P Global Market, Open-Pit mining emits a vast amount of greenhouse gases than underground mining methods. On average, copper mining emits 2.3-2.5 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per ton of metal and nearly 1 ton of CO2 emitted per ounce of gold produced. Combining both Copper and Gold extractions, it is estimated that around 55 million tons of CO2 will be added to the country’s greenhouse gas contribution. Hence, this is ironic to our country’s commitment during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow that said it is moving ahead with urgency in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and committed to reducing its emissions by 75% in 2030.

The Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape is Metro Manila and Rizal Province's natural defense against the climate crisis, increasing flooding and landslides, and the loss of clean water. Despite many laws and policies that protect it from exploitation since 1904, the failure of environmental enforcement has led to a disappearing forest cover of only 11%, based on an ongoing study. If this continues, scientists predict that the watershed will only have 5% forest cover left and will ultimately lose its ability to protect Filipinos from impending disasters. Habitats of endangered trees, birds, and other biological heritage will also be destroyed.

Makabol Forest and Watershed has sustained hundreds of residents for several decades already. It is also a habitat of thousands of Flora and Fauna which includes the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and other avifauna, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, sapling vegetation which relies on emergent dipterocarp trees and many many more. This forest is a metaphor of life and Davao City has renowned banner "Life is Here", so let it be sustained by protecting this forest and watershed. Additionally, Davao City has comprehensive watershed management code, which is totally the best if not the only option to protect this forest even if it is privately owned. Please help us with this cause and support the revocation of the logging permit. Please sign the petition and together let us save Makabol Forest and Watershed for our future generation.

The proposed project will cause irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem specially that there are four marine protected areas and will directly affect the livelihood and food source of fishing communities in the area who depends on the city's coastal waters for sustenance.

1.) WTE incineration is known to cause health and environmental problems to surrounding communities. Burning municipal waste produces pollutants that persist in waterways, air, and surrounding farms for decades. The process creates dioxins and furans which are known to cause respiratory and reproductive diseases, birth defects, and cancer. WTE will not only harm the already marginalized low-income agricultural communities in Barangay Biao Escuela and surrounding barangays in District 1 and 3 of Davao City; its toxic by-products may reach our plates through the food chain. The proposed WTE site in Davao is located just 2.2 km from the elementary school, and 550m from a relocation site. Its impacts may also reach those living within and beyond the 10-km radius of the facility. Our fate may become similar to several cases of pollutant exposure in several parts of the world. For example, people in an urban area hosting two waste incinerators in Italy were found to have higher concentrations of metals barium, manganese, copper, and vanadium that have accumulated in their bodies (Di Ciaula et al., 2020). In Japan, children studying in schools near municipal waste incineration plants were reported to have experienced wheezing, headache, stomach ache, and fatigue (Miyake et al., 2005). Locally hired workers may also be exposed to toxins like those incineration plant workers in Shenzhen, China who were found to have high levels of phthalates and bisphenols (Lu et al., 2020). 2.) WTE worsens the climate crisis. Burning of waste releases greenhouse gas emissions. Even the European Union is defunding WTE incinerators with the realization that such facilities do not contribute to climate action. WTE also cannot be considered renewable energy because the feedstock will come from plastic waste, which are products of fossil fuel extraction. 3.) WTE is expensive, yet produces minimal energy compared to genuine renewable energy resources. Instead of reducing waste at source, it encourages production of more waste in order to feed the facility. The proposed WTE project of Davao City requires a minimum of 600 tons. At 30% residuals, Davao City wastes are only 180 tons per day: a shortfall of 420 tons. This produces minimal energy despite capital expenses reaching Php 5 billion. This will cause a huge drain on the city’s finances because of compensation obligations to the special purpose company. To make up for these arrangements, the public will shoulder the cost through payment of higher tipping fee. 4.) WTE threatens the job security of waste workers. WTE will displace workers in the formal and informal waste industry such as waste pickers, recyclers and haulers, as well as from the numerous companies and groups who upcycle, recycle and compost. 5.) WTE violates the Clean Air Act, Renewable Energy Act, and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The proposal also didn't undergo proper community consultation. As of writing, the project does not have an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), yet the land for the facility has already been bought by the city government of Davao. 6.) The Philippines has limited technical and financial capacity to regularly monitor emissions such as dioxin, furan, and other toxic WTE by-products. 7.) The technology proposed by Japanese contractor NSENGI is a grate stoker furnace-type, which is a relatively old waste treatment technology that is incapable of burning waste at a safe temperature. Solid by-products such as toxic ash cannot just be disposed in the municipal landfill since these are hazardous wastes. Thus, a new landfill will still be opened just for the hazardous ash from the incinerator. 8.) The establishment of WTE facilities will encourage Global North countries to dump their waste in the Philippines, a practice which still happens to this day. Davao can and should commit to genuine Zero Waste approaches and join the many other communities around the world who have committed and set Zero Waste targets. This can be done through supporting communities to properly implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003). For example, Barangay Potrero in Malabon was able to divert 80% of its solid waste from landfills through composting and recycling. This resulting in daily savings of Php 15,000 from hauling and tipping fees while generating 65 jobs. In the city of San Fernando, Pampanga, the implementation of Zero Waste has resulted to 80% waste diversion. They were also able to save Php 20 million in the process. We need not go far to find another model Zero Waste community. In Davao City's Purok Onse, Barangay Tacunan, the homeowners and the barangay, through the support of Sustainabe Davao Movement, were able to reduce the monthly volume of waste sent to the landfill by 3000 kgs, after only 7 months of implementing Zero Waste solutions such as scheduled collection of segregated waste, door-to-door collection of food waste, weekend recyclables deposit, and sari-sari store refilling stations. Still in Davao City, Barangay Mintal was able to divert an average of 2 tons of food waste per month and 6.7 tons of recyclables per month, through collecting segregated waste from food establishments and households, empowering resource collectors, and partnering with junk shops and a food upcycling company. The program also yields an average of Php 45,822 monthly income from sales of recyclable materials. We foresee that waste diversion will further improve if the LGU supports this kind of solid waste management program that is clearly safer, more productive, and more sustainable compared to incineration. These model communities in the Philippines show that Zero Waste is possible, without the polluting and costly presence of WTE incinerators.

We the Church people together with the farmers, fisherfolks, youth, professionals, the academe of Davao Oriental together with our national and international advocates hereby urge Hon. Roy Cimatu, DENR Secretary, TO STOPTHE MINING OPERATIONS NOW AND TO REVOKE ANY MINING AGREEMENTS WITH AUSTRAL ASIA LINK MINING CORPORATION AND HALLMARK MINING CORPORATION BOTH UNDER THE ASIATICUS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (AMCOR) IN MAGUM, PUJADA BAY AND SALINGCOMOT, MATI CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL. We are also against any large-scale mining activities in the whole province of Davao Oriental, as they are apparently detrimental to nature. The Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) was issued on June 8, 2004; hence, in 2020 they have been mining for 16 years already and still have 9 more years before the twenty- five years agreement expires! During these sixteen (16) years of mining operations, the residents of the localities have witnessed the deteriorating conditions wrought by the mining lodged between two protected areas: MT. HAMIGUITAN -proclaimed as a Wildlife Sanctuary (R.A. No. 9303) and a UNESCO World Heritage and PUJADA BAY - declared as a Protected Landscape/Seascape (R.A.7586, Executive Order no. 431 July 31, 1994). Likewise, Pujada Bay was also declared one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the world during the 15th World Bays Congress in Toyama prefecture, Japan held from October 16-20, 2019. In addition, the forested area of barangay Cabuaya in Mati City which is also located near the region was also declared a protected area as it is the natural habitat of the endangered Philippine Eagle. In Mt. Hamiguitan, the cutting of trees not excluding the pygmy forests and watershed areas, had caused forest denudation, soil erosion and siltation. The residents decried lamentations on the decreasing water supply to their communities. They were likewise saddened with the discovered wastage of cut logs left untended until they were rotten. There was also no rehabilitation nor replacement of cut trees. In Pujada Bay, researches on nutrient mapping showed its risk on eutrophication, reducing productivity and declining marine life diversity. Once more, we reiterate our main contention on opposing these mining corporations even at the onset of their mining application. Based on the study published on http://bhpbilitonwatch.net/2009/10/21pujada-hallmark-nickel laterite-project profile/, some 4,778 hectares of mining permits overlap on five major drainage water systems and watersheds which either drain to Pujada Bay or to the Davao Gulf. These bodies of freshwater are the main water supplies for the communities living within and around the area. Additionally, the Pujada region is situated on the Pacific Cordillera fault line. The 2008 report “Philippines: Mining or Food” recommended that “no mining should take place on Mt. Hamiguitan or near Pujada Bay which are centres of biodiversity with high ecotourism potential.” Under these conditions, any mining activity in the area should be strictly prohibited. The loss of forests and woodlands entails loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future – not only for food but also for curing diseases and other uses. Different species contain genes which could be key resources in years ahead for meeting our needs and regulating environmental problems (Laudato Si # 32). With their extinction, they will no longer give glory to God in their very existence nor convey their message to us. People have no such right! (Laudato Si # 33). The Philippines is one of the 17 richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity; with more than half of it, found nowhere else on earth! In the final report: Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priorities (2002), there was an appeal to take action now...“We are simply running out of time to meet the biodiversity crisis” Researches done by DOSCST have shown decreasing diversity indices of the different species on both Mt. Hamiguitan and Pujada Bay (2017- E 17; 2015 P8). Studies on Blue Carbon Stock Assessment (2016- D 4; 2017, D 5; 2019- E-22) have also shown that coastal vegetative habitats including sea grass resources capture carbon up to 70% in the marine realm; hence part of this threatened biodiversity is a crucial potential climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy! Because of the dire conditions of Philippine biodiversity, Eugene Linden (Environmental Journalist) and John Terbough (Plant Ecologist) assessed that our country was already being damaged beyond repair. But the DENR and the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) still believe that there is still a small window of opportunity through urgent conservation action... “To stem the tide of destruction before a point of no return is reached.” (Theresa Mundita Lim, Treasures of Philippine Wild, 2014 by BMB and DENR). From the start of their existence, these mining firms have been existing illegally in violation of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (R.A. 7942) Chapter III Sec.19 f – “Areas closed to Mining Applications include ‘old growth or virgin forests, proclaimed watershed forest reserves, wilderness area, mangrove forests, national parks, provincial/municipal forests, parks, greenbelts, game refuge and bird sanctuaries’ as defined by law and in areas expressly prohibited on the National Integrated protected Area system (NIPAS) under Republic Act No 7586, Department Administrative Order No. 25, series of 1992 and other laws.” Damages had been done and ‘the dangerous point of no return’ might be reached if mining operations are not stopped now. We ought to remember that the environment can exist without us but we can never exist without the environment. We have only one common home: planet Earth and there is no other.