Leonardo DiCaprio to Visit Albay

The PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) welcomed the planned visit of international actor Leonardo DiCaprio to Albay to launch environmental promotion and protection activities in the province.

According to Professor Joel Batanes, president of the Board of Trustees of PANGATAMAN-Bikol, "while it is welcome that an international environmental advocate will be coming here to boost our advocacy, it would be best if DiCaprio prioritize visiting eco-critical areas in the province rather than be more of a tourist."

Batanes said that the international celebrity should visit areas like Rapu-rapu Island and see the creeks that have been contaminated by mine tailings, Palanog in Camalig where a cement factory destroyed the local habitat, and Tiwi, where "a dubious solid waste injection project is being done."

"We are not asking him to forgo the tourist spots of Albay but he should see the real situation of the environment in the province first, without the packaged tour. He should interview the people and the victims firsthand so that he can effectively convey their message and suffering," said Batanes.

The green group added that DiCaprio's handlers ought to allow the actor to dialogue with local environmental groups and non-government organizations (NGOs) to be informed first-hand of the different initiatives for the environment being done in Albay and the whole region.

"We hope that DiCaprio's visit here will be very fruitful and serve to internationally highlight the environmental damage being done to the province by big foreign companies. We hope that this will also entail other nationalities to help in our struggle to combat climate change," ended Batanes.