eco freedom day on june 12, 2010...naninindigan kami na bilang mga kabataan, ay may magagawa kami...

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Luntiang Pahina, Issue No. 01-2010

ECO FREEDOM DAY ON JUNE 12, 2010: A DAY TO BE FREE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND DISASTERS

By: Diane Marie Campañano-Bernardo,

Environmental Science and Community Development Specialist

Counting the wasted months since Ondoy struck Rizal in September 2009, there has not been any

development done on the eroded hill in Barangay San Carlos. There were casualties and damaged

properties when the rains of Ondoy caused flashfloods last year. It is already June 2010, and yet, the

eroded hill still poses great risks to the many residents of San Carlos.

As a concerned citizen, Ms. Diane Marie Campañano-Bernardo organized a half-day event in eleven days

that mobilized different organizations and individuals of Barangay San Carlos on June 12, 2010. The

event was entitled the “ECO FREEDOM DAY” which was a joint celebration of the World Environment

Day and the Philippine Independence Day. The activity aimed to urge the Rizal Government for an

immediate rehabilitation of the eroded areas in the barangay and to echo a strong voice to call the

attention of the government officials for a green, clean, healthy and resilient environment – a

community that is free from any form of environmental degradation. The present organizations were:

Youth of Vision and the Young Adults Fellowship-Door of Faith San Carlos Ministries, Sanlex Divine Grace

Academy, Sunday Club San Carlos, Senior Citizen Association of San Carlos, Women’s Club, Boyet Ynares

Movement and the Sanggunian ng mga Kabataan.

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At exactly 6:00 AM, the activity was opened by a community environmental prayer led by Mr. Joel

Felizardo of Door of Faith Church San Carlos. National Anthem was led by the Senior Citizens

Association of San Carlos. After a 10-minute warm up, about eighty (80) runners participated in the Run

for the Environment. The advocacy run started and ended in front of the Barangay Hall. It followed a

route along the main roads of the barangay. Senior citizens had a shorter route within the central area

of San Carlos. Upon reaching the finish line, all runners signified their support for the environment

through signatures and hand prints on the Eco Freedom Wall.

Ms. Bernardo led the singing of “Mahal Mo Ba ang Mundo Mo”, a song composed by Ms. Cathy Untalan

– Executive Director of Miss Earth Foundation, all participants were unified to have one voice in

promoting a community that is free from environmental degradation and disasters.

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THE PLEDGE

A short program followed at 7:30 AM. Representatives from the different organizations shared their

pledges for the environment. All organizations generally said that they are in support of urging the LGU

for an immediate response to the eroded areas in the barangay. The Youth of Vision prepared the

pledge below:

PLEDGE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Kaming mga Youth of Vision ng Door of Faith Church ay naniniwala na

kailangang ingatan ang ating kapaligiran. Ang gumuhong lupa sa ating bundok noong

bagyong Ondoy ay kailangan ng agarang rehabilitasyon. Naninindigan kami na bilang

mga kabataan, ay may magagawa kami para maisaayos ito. Kaya kami narito, dahil

gusto naming ipahayag ang paglaya ng San Carlos mula sa pagkasira ng kapaligiran

na nakasalalay sa ating lahat. Nangangako ang bawat isa na handang tumulong

alang-alang sa bayan ng isang mapayapang pagbabago ng mamamayan para sa

kalikasan. Nais naming mga YOV na pangalagaan at ibalik sa kagandahan ang ating

nasirang kapaligiran.Sisimulan sa sarili ang disiplina mula sa tamang pagtatapon ng

basura. Hindi kami titigil hangga't hindi ito naisasakatuparan. Gusto namin na maging

bahagi ng solusyon at hindi ng korupsyon at problema.

Mabuhay ang Poong Maylikha! Mabuhay ang San Carlos! Mabuhay ang ating

kalikasan! ECO FREEDOM [DAY].

This showed that more individuals now understand the risks posed by the eroded hill in our barangay.

As a wake up call, the activity has elicited support from the various groups to rally for the environment.

How about the LGU of Rizal, do they realize the gravity of the situation posed by the eroded area in San

Carlos?

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RIZAL LGU’s INITIATIVES

Representatives from the LGU of Rizal have been invited and informed that they would discuss the

progress on the rehabilitation of the eroded area in San Carlos. Barangay Chairperson Aliano

Villamayor, Engr. Andy Gonzales and Engr. Jess Gonzaga of the Provincial Engineering Office of Rizal

discussed to the people the initiatives of the LGU in the rehabilitation of the eroded areas in Barangay

San Carlos.

They were able to site the following initial actions in

responding to the effects of the typhoon:

• Barangay Chairperson, Mr. Aliano Villamayor said that tree planting was done during summer months. But

he said that none of the planted trees survived the

conditions at the eroded hill. He also cited the post

disaster initiatives of the barangay that include:

distribution of relief goods, coordination with

organizations for the evacuation of affected families,

among others. He also mentioned about putting

signages to warn the people of the possible danger

posed by the eroded hill.

• According to the Provincial Engineers of Rizal, Gov. Casimiro Ynares III has issued the Special Order No. 06 of 2009 to solicit suggestions from various organizations and government agencies

on how to address the impacts of ‘Ondoy’. Under this issuance, a technical working group

(TWG) was formed to study the appropriate measure for the eroded hill in the barangay. In a

span of seven (7) months, the TWG has yet to develop a concrete plan. Within the remaining

days in June 2010, the TWG will hold another meeting to discuss the appropriate measure for

the eroded area. The engineers talked about the long term and short term measures that were

part of the plan, but none of these referred to planning and mitigation measures. Most

activities pertained to post disaster measures that included emergency response and

distribution of relief.

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• Mr. Russell Ynares, the Provincial Administrator, has shown his support and commitment to follow-up the activities of the TWG under the S.O. No. 06 of 2009. He said that what has

transpired in the entire program will be relayed to the Governor and that all possible

technologies to address the eroded area will be explored.

• Engr. Felicilda has spoken in behalf of Mayor Boyet Ynares who provided an ambulance for the runners. According to Engr. Felicilda, Mayor Ynares would like to extend his support to the

activity. He also thanked the organizers for a successful event. He added that this activity

should be regularly done in order to keep the San Carlos residents involved in community

development.

REACTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY

Two community members gave reactions to the pledges and progress report given by the organizations

and the LGU representatives, respectively.

Ms. Diane Marie C. Bernardo responded to the statements shared by the LGU representatives. She

emphasized that the success of the activity can only be measured by the progress on the rehabilitation

of the eroded area and not just by the number of attendees on that day. She also mentioned her

observations on the shared progress report of the LGU representatives with respect to mitigating

disasters in the barangay and in responding to the ‘Ondoy’ impacts in 2009. She shared her views on

how things can be worked out within the barangay towards an environmental degradation free

community.

Her challenge for the LGU officials are as follows:

1. The TWG under the S.O. No. 06 of 2009 should be able to develop a realistic timeline for the rehabilitation of the eroded area. Given its objective to study the appropriate measures for this

cause, the TWG needs to learn how to become efficient and effective group in addressing the

immediate concerns that would lead to disasters in the future. It is high time to start becoming a

proactive and not a reactive official. People should not act only because a disaster has occurred;

furthermore, they should plan ahead to mitigate the impacts of the identified risks that are

likely to take place.

2. If we really want to do something about the eroded area, and if we really want to contribute to the development of a community, we prioritize these things. Appropriation of budget for the

rehabilitation of the eroded areas (not only in San Carlos) needs to be on top priorities of the

LGUs. This will show that the officials take an active role in promoting public safety among its

constituents and in upholding the rights of every individual to live in a community that is free

from any environmental degradation and disasters that would cause loss of lives and properties.

3. In terms of tree planting, we need to know the appropriate conditions and species of trees that should be planted in an eroded area; as well as the proper management for the planted

saplings. All actions need to be in coordination with the community living in the vicinity of the

tree planting area to elicit support and to engage everyone in the rehabilitation of the area. This

needs assistance from experts and in the traditional knowledge of the people in order to have

good outputs and immediate results.

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4. The Provincial Government of Rizal should start seeking for experts’ assistance on rehabilitation of the eroded area. One option would be contacting private firms that specialize in

rehabilitations and disaster preventions. A technology like coco net that turns coco husks into

an aid to rehabilitate eroded soils can be an option of the Rizal LGU to adopt for the eroded area

in San Carlos. Another is the vertiber grass that is widely used also to hold the soils together

and make it more intact. Tree planting would come later as soon as the soils become compact

again. The species of trees needed for rehabilitation should also consider all environmental

conditions so that the trees can withstand the natural phenomenon brought by changes in the

weather patterns, as well as the geographical make up of the area.

But adoption of any technology needs a thorough study and social preparation. The success of

any measure for rehabilitation has to be jointly worked out by the community and by the LGU.

While seven months pose a quite long time of preparation; studies should have been done

immediately but with quality to address the impacts of the eroded soil aside from putting up

signages and planting inappropriate tree species; the Rizal LGU has to act very quickly on this

matter in order to mitigate the likelihood of any disaster in the future.

5. Indeed the Rizal LGU has a great responsibility of rehabilitating the eroded area, all community members of San Carlos must also take an active part in promoting measures that would prevent

further damage to the area like campaigning for proper disposal of garbage, preparation of sand

bags that would block the flashflood if ever it happened again, vigilant guarding the San Carlos

hill from burning or “kaingin” and others. Community action and empowerment has a great

part in order to keep a community and an environment intact and strong no matter what the

environmental and political situations are.

The Rizal LGU is already there on the right track. It needs a little more push to strive for an extra

mile in the light of disaster risk management.

Ms. Bernardo also emphasized that the Eco Freedom Day was an activity that did not intend to

blame the LGU of Rizal and put them in the lime light, rather, this was an activity to serve as a

wake-up call for everyone to take part in the immediate rehabilitation of the eroded area in San

Carlos. While the LGU of Rizal must perform its duties in order to uphold the rights of everyone

to live in a community that is free from any form of disaster; the community members in return

need to work with the LGU in order to have a successful rehabilitation project for the eroded

hill.

6. Lastly, Ms. Bernardo awarded a photo collage to the LGU representatives that showed the photos of the eroded area taken in October 2009 and in May 2010. To date, the area is

continuously eroding as rain pours from time to time. Typhoons will be stronger and even more

destructive due to climate change. And the residents of San Carlos do not want another ‘Ondoy’

– how about the LGU of Rizal, what is their position on this one?

Everybody needs to act on this matter efficiently and creatively to be economic in resources –

time, money and effort. As a multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral issue, disaster risk

management needs to be adopted by the LGU of Rizal to be prepared for the possibility of

transforming the risks into disasters in the future. This remains to be a great challenge for

everyone; thus, time is ticking and every second counts.

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Mr. Tony Caraan, a professor in Sanlex Divine Grace Academy, gave the closing remarks for the

program. He called the attention of everyone to be supportive of any environmental activity in the

community. Through this, people become more aware and more proactive in taking care of the

environment. He challenged the LGU of Rizal and the residents of San Carlos for an immediate

rehabilitation of the area. He emphasized that if one wants something to be done; he or she will do it at

any cost. If one believes on something, he or she will perform at its best to achieve it. Through God’s

grace, everything is possible – people have to believe in and to have faith, and to work hard for

something that one thinks is important, everything will follow. He added that the Eco Freedom Day on

June 12 was only a start of a new San Carlos. He encouraged everyone to be vigilant in monitoring any

development on the eroded area and to guard any destructive activities that might take place as well.

The program ended with a group photo at the Eco Freedom Wall. The organizers hoped that this

symbolical event will become a monthly gathering for all San Carlos residents to promote clean, green,

healthy and safe community. This is only the beginning. The battle for the rehabilitation of the eroded

area is a continuous struggle among the residents of San Carlos until the LGU of Rizal acted on this

matter immediately.

In this photo: Barangay Chair. Aliano Villamayor, Engr. Pepe Felicilda, Mr. Russell Ynares, Engr. Andy Gonzales, Engr. Jess

Gonzaga, Diane Marie Campañano-Bernardo, Barangay Council of San Carlos, Sunday Club, Level Up Youth of Vision – Door of

Faith of San Carlos, Young Adults Fellowship of Door of Faith San Carlos, Women’s Club, San Carlos Senior Citizen Association,

Sangguniang Kabataan, Sanlex Divine Grace Academy, Mr. and Mrs. Roel Gareza, Fayloga-Maxian-Mago Clan, Reyes Clan,Diane

Bernal and all concerned citizens of Barangay San Carlos.

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Kwentuhang Bulilit By: Diane Marie Campañano-Bernardo

Part of our Eco Freedom Day Celebration on June 12, 2010 was a storytelling session for the children of

Barangay San Carlos, entitled “Kwentuhang Bulilit”. This was inspired by the Read Along Program of

Philippine Daily Inquirer. About 50 children attended and participated in the storytelling session held at

the covered courts of Barangay San Carlos, Binangonan Rizal. Taking care of the environment is the

main theme of the Adarna stories read by the guest storytellers. This activity aimed to revive the culture

of storytelling to children and to teach them the love for reading, for the environment and for God.

Ms. Mary Jane Diestro, an English professor of Angono Private High School and a Theater Director also

to some stage plays and

performances, a mother

and an environmental

advocate, was the first

storyteller. She read the

book entitled, “Nang

Magkakulay ang Nayon” by

Susan dela Rosa Aragon.

She emphasized on the

importance of enthusiasm

in having a clean

community to a healthy

well-being. The children

showed interest on the

story by participating in

the question and answer

portion and by expressing

their thoughts on why

should a community be

kept clean, green and healthy.

The second storybook was

read by Mr. Russell Ynares,

Provincial Administrator of

Rizal and the son of the

former Mayor of

Binangonan – Hon. Ceasar

Ynares. He read the book

entitled, “Si Emang

Engkantada at ang Tatlong

Haragan” by Rene

Villanueva. This story was

similar to the first book, as

it showed other ways on

how children can help the

environment become

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clean and green always. The children actively participated in the storytelling interactive activities such

as singing and dancing the tag lines of the “haragan”.

Ms. Rhea Ynares showed her support by providing the snacks for the children; while the Barangay LGU

of San Carlos has accommodated the activity at the covered courts. The Young Adults Fellowship

Ministry of Door of Faith of San Carlos assisted in facilitating the smooth flow of program of the story

telling session. Campañano-Bumagat Clan and Ms. Diane Bernal provided full support for the success of

this activity.

Mia Jannelle Delfin, a four-year old girl, said that she want to keep their house clean at all times. She

does not want to end up like Pat Kalat who was thrown to a place full of garbage.

Danica Bernardo, a five-year old girl, realized that it is very important to conserve water and electricity

at home. She will not do what Paz Waldas did in the story. As a child, she will remind her parents to

turn off unused lights at home.

Aaron John Campañano, an eight-year old boy, reminded the fellow children to take care of the

environment and not to be like the tatlong haragan.

A monthly Kwentuhang Bulilit is planned to take place at the covered courts of San Carlos on every

second Saturday of the month starting July. It is hope that through this activity, the value of reading and

the fun children can get from reading can be instilled among the participants. Through this activity, the

organizers also hoped to instill values such as love for God; respect for the environment, elderly, family,

pets, among others; and continuous learning. Hopefully, sponsors and celebrity story tellers can be

invited to share with the children of San Carlos their gifts and talents in reading stories.

Kudos to the children of San Carlos who participated in this activity!

Photos by: Diane Marie Campañano-Bernardo

eco freedom day on june 12, 2010...naninindigan kami na bilang mga kabataan, ay may magagawa kami...

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