Oracion, Emata turn ambassadors of environmental protection

DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, Bulacan — Heracleo Oracion and Erwin Emata of the First Philippines Mount Everest Expedition (FPMEE) team have turned "ambassadors of environmental protection" yesterday as they led hundreds of Bulakenyos in climbing the summit of Mount Manalmon here to show the effects of marble mining.

"Gusto lang naming tumulong para mabigyan ng proteksyon ang environment (We just want to help protect the environment)," Oracion told The STAR in an interview.

He said they want to make people aware of the effects of environmental abuse.

"Marami na kasing incidents sa bansa natin ng mga (There were already many incidents here of) environment-related disasters like in Ormoc and Guisaugon, that’s why we want our people to be conscious of what’s going on around them," he said.

He added that they are ready to support environmental causes but will strictly keep off politics.

Oracion and Emata led hundreds of Bulakenyos to the summit of Mt. Manalmon in Barangay Kalawakan here early yesterday morning for the Save Biak-na-Bato Trek 2006.

Participants crossed two rivers and traversed the rocky, muddy and steep trail to the summit of 525-feet Mt. Manalmon to see the damage done to the enviroment after decades of marble mining in Mount Mabio.

Oracion and Emata said that Mount Manalmon’s summit is not even comparable to the first base camp they entered before reaching the summit of Mount Everest last month.

After the trek, the participants proceeded to the Biak-na-Bato National Park for a brief program where they signed a declaration of unity to stop marble mining within the immediate vicinity of the national park.

San Miguel Mayor Edmundo Jose Buencamino told the participants that marble mining have affected the water quality in the rivers of San Miguel.

Emata, on the other hand, recounted that when they conquered Mount Everest, they planted the Philippine flag, but in Biak-na Bato, environmental preservation is their primary concern.

Isagani Giron, former president of the Samahang Pangkasaysayan ng Bulacan (Sampaka), said that to stop marble mining in Mount Mabio needs a court order. Joey Munsayac of Kaisambuhay, an environmental group, however, said that the government lacks political will.

According to Bong Abando, the municipal administrator of this town, it is a case of wait and see, while Mayor Buencamino insist on more protest actions to get the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

For Jim Valerio, the chief-of-staff of Rep. Lorna Silverio, said he wishes the provincial government to win its cases against Rosemoor.