Environmentalist fears another ‘Sendong’ in Oro
By Nicole J. Managbanag
Wednesday, January 18, 2012

  AN ENVIRONMENTALIST is urging the government to “clear all riverbanks and flood-prone areas with people” the soonest to avoid another “Sendong-like” tragedy that might come in six months’ time.

Orlando Ravanera, an environmentalist who is also the regional director of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), said there might be another flood coming in the city that is even much worse than “Sendong”.

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Ravanera had been tagged as a “prophet of doom” when he revealed the coming of a flash flood two years ago if illegal activities in the mountains such as mining and logging would not stop.

This time, he is again calling local officials and proper agencies to stop these illegal activities.

“During that time, nobody listened to me. They just took it for granted and instead laughed at me, thinking I was just making stories to scare the people. I hope this time, they will listen to me,” he said.

Ravanera issued the call again after Korean expert Do Jeong Ho from Doalnara Philippines made a survey recently in the city and in the mountains.

Based on the survey, he said “another worst flood will come due to illegal mining and logging” in the mountains, the same reasons that residents in the city cited why “Sendong” had caused much destruction to lives and properties last month.

Read full article @ www.sunstar.com.ph