We, the Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment are preparing for the worst from the Marcos-Duterte regime. We know their bottom lines are mega infrastructure, dirty energy, and extractive projects to feed their edifice complex, and we know they will employ massive disinformation tactics to ‘greenwash’ over the destruction.
We will hit the ground running on day one of the Marcos-Duterte era with demands to reimpose a moratorium on mining applications and a national ban on open-pit mining.
Marcos Jr.’s promise of unity should be applied to the post of DENR Secretary through the appointment of an independent scientist or environmental lawyer who has extensive field and community experience. The environment chief should serve as a check and balance to the various big business interests already present in the Cabinet.
The next DENR secretary must put a stop to the business-as-usual approach to large-scale mining expansionism pursued by the Duterte government. He or she must not be a yes-man to Marcos Jr. who is clearly of the belief that ‘clean mining’ is possible under current mining laws that deregulate the industry.
Watershed protection must be one of the main thrusts of the DENR in the context of the worsening climate crisis. They must resolutely close down extractive and destructive economic activities encroaching into important critical watershed areas such as the Masungi Georeserve.
The incoming DENR chief must put an end to the bastardization of the Environmental Impact Statement system by the current bureaucrats in the department. The EIS must be strengthened to comply with global due diligence standards, and not reduced to mere guidelines that are negotiable.
We call on the Filipino people to fortify our ranks for the long game against greenwashing, disinformation, and the historical revisionist campaign of the Marcos regime. The scars on our land will not be forgotten with the rotten lies of plunderers.
We continue the call to abolish the NTF-ELCAC and the junking of the ATL as instruments of state-sponsored violence and repression against environment defenders.
We also continue the call to demand accountability and justice from the Rodrigo Duterte regime for its crimes of humanity against environmental defenders and ecocide of the Philippine environment.#
