Environmental groups seek alternative to Arroyo Administration

August 11, 2005
Press Release

Environmental groups seek alternative to Arroyo Administration,
Optimistic of reforms under a ‘new government’

ENRAGED, a broad alliance of environmental advocates calling for President Arroyo to step down, organized a forum entitled “Alternatives to GMA and Prospects of Environmental Reforms.” In their statement, ENRAGED says, “Given the track record of Arroyo administration on environmental protection and management, our environment will further deteriorate. We have had enough of Gloria and its time to seriously consider a pro-people and pro-environment alternative.”

The forum discussed different alternatives to the Arroyo administration several political groups and sectors are proposing and their respective agenda on the environment. Atty Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of Unity for Truth and Justice, Dr. Carol Araullo of Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM) and Dr. Ernesto Gonzales of Kilusan para sa Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME) were among the speakers of the forum.

Dr. Gonzales who has a post-doctoral degree in London School of Economics and Political Science says, “The neoliberal economic framework of the Arroyo administration perpetuates the present environmental crisis. As long as the Arroyo administration remains, we do not expect environmental reforms.”

“The present administration globalization policies and program like the mining liberalization and commercial logging not only contributed to our economic woes but also to wanton exploitation of our national patrimony such as mineral and forest resources. The People’s Transitory Council (PTC) serves as a viable alternative to the administration. Among its agenda for reforms is the junking of Mining Act of 1995 and cancellation of timber licensing agreements (TLAs) which facilitate the massive deforestation and depletion of natural resources,” says Dr. Araullo of GSM and a known political activist.

During her four-year term, President Arroyo approved 96,141 hectares of lands for mineral exploitation and166,511 hectares of forestlands for large scale logging oepraqtions. Foreign transnational mining companies and big commercial loggers own most of these concession agreements.

Clemente Bautista of the Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment, and a convenor of ENRAGED! remarks, “An alternative to President Arroyo will be acceptable to the people and be viable if it carries the people’s demands for genuine environmental protection and wise utilization of our natural resources. It must heed the call of the people to stop and reverse Arroyo’s globalization policies detrimental to the people and the environment.” ###