A local environmental group has expressed its support of the Bikol bishops' opposition to the ongoing mining operations at Rapu-rapu, Albay. PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) external vice-president Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, says his group "welcome[s] and support[s] this letter to the Pope by the bishops because it is a way to highlight the environmental degradation being experienced by the island of Rapu-rapu and also the whole region as well."
PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) has joined the Social Action Center of Legazpi City in organizing a "Round table Discussion on the Regional Mining Situation" in which the Bikol bishops' anti-mining letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was publicly read.
The letter which was read by Bishop Lucilo Quiambao, D.D., Administrator of Legazpi appealed to the Pope regarding "the intransigence of the Philippine Government in allowing a multi-national company to continue an open pit mining operation on . . . Rapu-rapu, Albay, Philippines in the Diocese of Legazpi . . . in spite of our appeals to have it stopped because of its destructive consequences on the island and its surroundings."
The bishops wrote that "even prior to the commencement of operations, various environmental groups have already opposed the project based on findings of many scientific investigations that declared the island unsuitable for mining because of the potential ecological damage it can bring into the island."
In writing the letter to the pope, the Bikol bishops intended to "share their pains" and "seek solidarity in hope" for their campaign against the mining operations which persist in Rapu-rapu.
The letter was signed by Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi of the Archdiocese of Caceres; Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon; Bishop Lucilo Quiambao of Legazpi; Bishop Manolo de los Santos of Virac, Catanduanes; Bishop Joel Baylon of Masbate; Bishop Gilbert Garcera of Daet, Camarines Norte; and Bishop Jose Rojas Jr. of Libmanan, Camarines Sur.
Perdigon says PANGATAMAN-Bikol joins the prelates and their communities in opposing the mining operations. "It is also good now that the different provinces of Bikol are represented here to know the updates on the destructive mining activities in their areas and to formulate a way to stop these," he stressed.
"We just hope now that the Philippine and local governments would act positively on our plea and not just pay lip service to the protection of our environment," ended Perdigon.