The left-leaning Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) called on Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec. Michael Defensor to rescind all the 28 “midnight orders” of former Sec. Elisea Gozun, that has a large impact on the recent tragedy that struck our nation. 
According to Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “ DENR Administrative Orders (DAO) 37 to 59 are detrimental to our forestlands and will inevitably lead to more disasters. As provisions of DAO 59 would show, the DENR is allowing shipyards, airstrips, cell sites, power stations and even bodegas to be built in the middle of our forestlands. How on earth can this save our environment?

“Is this the DENR’s concept of developing our forestlands or a means to optimize its use? It is apparent that they have a lot of thinking to do, because if what is contained in this DAOs continue, much bigger disasters are in store for our countrymen,” added Ala.

“All the proposed industrial projects enumerated on the Special Forest Land-use Agreements (FLAG) under DAO 59 are not even remotely linked to current needs to bring about a more sustainable forest cover for a country as ecologically threatened as the Philippines. On the contrary, and worse, all these projects have almost certain potential of further ruining the environment, aside from decimating our forests,” Ala explained.

“As for the debate on what to impose a total or a selective log ban, what is clear that up till now Malacanang and DENR are protecting the interests of large commercial logging corporations. This is a case of tough talk and no action on the part of Gloria, it is as if the loss of thousands of lives of our countrymen were not enough for the government to do something right,” ended Ala. # # # 
 

KMP - 8 December 2004