August 28, 2001   *   vol. 1 (9)

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vol. 1 (9)   *   August 28,2001

     A decade ago, it did not take long for people to deduce the cause of the tragic death of over 3,000 people when a freak flood devastated Ormoc City. Reports said that it was caused by the denudation of the city's watershed.
     Logging and development continue to deplete the country's watersheds. As a result of demolition of our watersheds, we drain and mortify our water resources, annihilate many plant and animal species, and worsen global warming. Deforestation has apparently diminished our vast forests to about 5.2 million hectares, and if not abated we will lose all our forests within 10 years. However, there are about 20 million families composed of farmers and indigenous tribes who depend on their existence in forestlands. We need timber to construct homes, roads, highways and bridges, and even as raw material to manufacture paper.
     Logging is not wrong per se. It's the illegal logging. Reports have it that it's this unlawful act that depleted much of our woodland, and much so to the slash-and-burn farming or kaingin, and badly planned developments of villages, subdivisions, and others in the guise of progress and improvements. Worse, even slow-growing and expensive hardwoods so priced are cut. Despite the government's ban on illegal loggings, they do manage to operate and thrive with a little help from politicians, soldiers and cops.
     Heated debates among our brilliant legislators are on going to this date whether the nation should stick to a selective logging ban, meaning a total log ban should be imposed only on virgin forests and watersheds but not on productive forests, or go for a total prohibition. For whatever reasons, let's give trees a respite. Total log ban may sound unrealistic; rather we must help promote not just conservation of, but also the sustainable development of our forest resources. Aggressive reforestation efforts

should be underway, and the pacing for such actions should be given a big boost before we would totally lose our "jungle" and suffer the aftermath.
     Socio-civic organizations should work together with the government and environmental leaders in espousing re-greening of the country. This must be a long-term program, so it needs dedication and commitment. We should lend a hand in planting as many fast growing seedlings, and take good care of them as an antithesis to an acute denudation. Let us rally around to conserve our forest resources. Above all, let us help the government in its crusade against illegal loggers and their evil coddlers.
     Anyone who is not an illicit logger or a protector, and who would have the heart and mind in caring for our environment and natural resources should be a good recruit to our club, as they are clear advocates of "mankind is our business". 

Call to Order                          Pres  Richard Dy
Invocation &                       
Four Way Test                    Auditor Ruel Tana
National Anthem        Treas. Arnel Chanpinco

Entertainment                         Dir. Jerry Parlan
Welcome and                              Terry Bugarin
   Greetings