[Press Release] Solons commend global envi awardee Fr Edu Gariguez -S.O.S. Yamang Bayan

Solons commend global envi awardee Fr Edu Gariguez 2nd Filipino recipient of Goldman Environmental Award Manila—Members of the House of Representatives recognized Fr Edwin “Edu” Gariguez for being awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Award for “Islands and Island Nations” 2012, an achievement he received for his leadership in the Mindoro struggle against mining. Akbayan Congresswoman…

Human Rights Online Philippines

June 5, 2012

2–4 minutes

Climate, current-events, environment, Gariguez, Human Rights, Human Rights and environment, Kaka Bag-ao, Mangyan, Mangyan peoples, Mindoro, Mining, Philippine

Solons commend global envi awardee Fr Edu Gariguez
2nd Filipino recipient of Goldman Environmental Award

Manila—Members of the House of Representatives recognized Fr Edwin “Edu” Gariguez for being awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Award for “Islands and Island Nations” 2012, an achievement he received for his leadership in the Mindoro struggle against mining.

Akbayan Congresswoman Kaka Bag-ao today led the filing of a resolution commending the barefoot priest for his efforts in the struggle against the Mindoro Nickel Project of Intex Resources, a mining project that will affect the watershed forest ecosystem of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro and Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro and affect the livelihood of Mangyans and communities there.

Bag-ao said, “We are proud to be working with Fr. Edu—who was recently proclaimed as an Environmental Hero for his endeavor to protect the Mangyan indigenous communities of Mindoro from impending environmental havoc brought by extractive mining activities in the area.”

Gariguez is now the executive secretary of Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace and one of the lead convenors of SOS-Yamang Bayan Network—a national movement advocating for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and passage of new minerals management bill.

“I represent the people of Mindoro in our campaign and strong opposition against the Mindoro Nickel Project. But this award is shared by many environmentalists and indigenous leaders advocating to protect the fragile ecology of our country against the onslaught of large-scale mining, as encouraged by our present mining policy,” Gariguez said.

Fr Edu as many call him is also much admired for his effort to protect and empower the Mangyan indigenous communities by inculcating to the Mangyans the value of stewardship and ecological sustainability of their ancestral lands for future generations.

Meanwhile, IP champion Congressman Teddy Brawner-Baguilat added, “I commend Fr. Edu for his work and dedication in protecting our environment and our IPs in Mindoro especially from the damages caused by mining. This is a well deserved award for Fr. Edu and I hope that his work will challenge our Congress members to pass the Philippine Mineral Resources Act ”.

“In order to make our mining policy just and truly “responsible,” we appeal to the Honorable Members of Congress to pass the Philippine Mineral Resources Act in toto, without watering down the provisions for ecological and human rights protection,” Gariguez concluded.

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SOS-Yamang Bayan Network is a national, multi-sectoral movement is composed of mining-affected communities, national peoples alliances, environmental organizations and networks, church-based organizations, human rights organizations, national NGOs, sectoral organizations from the indigenous peoples, youth, women, farmers, Congressional representatives, known leaders and personalities advocating for the repealing of the Mining Act of 1995 and the enactment of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill.

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For more information, contact the SOS-Yamang Bayan Network Secretariat through?
Gerry Arances, 0939.241.5575, gerry.arances@lrcksk.org
Farah Sevilla, 0915.331.3361, policy@alyansatigilmina.net

Press Release
June 4, 2012

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