Eco movement gaining grounds

CEBU, Philippines - The Eco-warriors initiative of former senator Miguel Zubiri received an all-out support from the local officials in Cebu.

Eco-warriors is a volunteer movement to help monitor and report to authorities the violators of existing environmental laws.

 Zubiri announced his plan to launch the movement during his recent visit to Cebu to speak in the graduation ceremony of the maritime students in Southwestern University.

According to Zubiri, he informed the mayors of his plan and they were all supportive of it. Zubiri said they consider Cebu as the movement’s second base outside Metro Manila because of its strategic location in the Visayas.

Borbon Mayor Bernardo “Butch” Sepulveda said they support Zubiri’s projects even before when he was still senator. Zubiri steps down after losing in an election protest to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr.

Sepulveda said Zubiri has been very supportive of Cebu ever since. In fact, he allocated P1 million during his incumbency to finance the priority projects of every town in Cebu.

The former senator told reporters that they had an initial agreement with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and different students’ organizations in Cebu to push his environmental crusade.

Zubiri said they will use social networking media in his environmental crusade to protect and preserve the environment.

Joining Zubiri as lead convenors of the newly-formed movement are singer-songwriter Rico Blanco and TV host-athlete Chris Tiu.

The group targets volunteers not only in Metro Cebu but also in different parts of the country.

The former senator said that they had a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and they will report the violations to them.

“DENR has promised immediate response. DENR has told us that they lack eyes and ears on the ground, so that’s where we’re coming in. Social networks are very powerful,” he added. — (FREEMAN)