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[av_heading heading=’URBAN FARMER | Rejection of Gina Lopez is a ‘rejection of change’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Friday, May 5, 2017
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THE Commission on Appointments’ rejection of Gina Lopez as head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has earned the ire of different sectors.
“The rejection of Gina Lopez is a rejection of change,” stressed Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Yeb Saño.
“Her rejection as DENR Secretary by the Commission on Appointments is very disappointing and worrying, and shows how destructive industries continue to hold Philippine lawmakers by their necks,” Saño pointed out.
The group believed that through her appointment last year, reforms, environmental protection, and social justice are still possible in this country.
“But the CA, dominated by politicians with questionable loyalty, some of whom are receiving campaign contributions from various mining interests, blocked what could have been the golden era of Philippine environmental rehabilitation and protection under Gina Lopez,” Saño said.
The rejection undermines the reforms the current administration is pushing and could be an indicator of factions between those who have benefited from old corrupt practices and those who are genuinely advancing for true, genuine, and people-centered changes.
“As a country with scarce forests left, and with dwindling natural resources, turning to extracting minerals as a solution to poverty is superfluous at the very least, and glaringly reveals the short-sighted mindset, if not corrupt interests, of our politicians,” Greenpeace said.
Citing the mining sector’s impact on water resources, the group said the situation demands that it is time to weigh if which is more important – money or life.
“The next major battle will be fought over water, not gold. And Ms. Lopez has chosen right: she must stand proud over those who choose the foolish and obtuse option of trying to solve poverty by destroying the environment,” the group said.
While the CA members were worried about the legality of Lopez’s mining audit and ignored the other reforms she has officiated in the agency, they seem to forget about the Filipino’s constitutional right to a clean and healthful ecology.
“The Commission’s double standards show where the true loyalty of its members’ lie: nitpicking on legalities and standards when Gina chose to protect the environment, when those laws and standards were not applied when big industries were destroying the environment. Lopez upheld and pushed for our right to breathe clean air, to drink clean water, and to live in a clean and safe environment,” Saño said.
“Her appointment inspired us last year: her rejection today inflamed us to do more, and to further push for other urgent environmental issues, such as stopping the proliferation of coal; arresting coastal reclamation; the need for a pollution release and transfer registry; addressing plastic pollution; wildlife trafficking; waste importation and the ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment; opposing waste-to-energy technologies; going after illegal fishers and supporting small fishermen and poor Filipinos; among other concerns.
When someone is ill and dying, you don’t take his wallet and rob him. You try to do everything you can to revive him. Our environment is dying, and our politicians choose to rob it more.” (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
DR. FLORETE, KIND AND UNDERSTANDING
DR. ROGER Florete immediately consented to the request of the residents in Barangay Q. Abeto, Mandurriao district to allow Panay Electric Company to repair a fallen electric pole on his land due to heavy rains yesterday.
A business tycoon and owner of the biggest radio network in the country and other giant businesses, the popular philanthropist is indeed a man with a great heart.
He is also kind and understanding on the plight of those who are in need, especially during emergency situations.
No wonder Dr. Roger Florete he is much blessed.
MOST EXPENSIVE NIGHTCLUB
OUR sources frequenting a popular nightclub in Iloilo City related their experiences – both happy and melancholy.
While they all agreed that the place is good and its lady entertainers are beautiful, sexy and voluptuously blessed with physical assets, they are so expensive.
For instance, the so-called lady’s drink (soft drink or ordinary juice) is P400 per small-sized glass.
Every 30 minutes a lady claps her hands and orders for it, aside from the food that is quite expensive. An order consisting of a few pieces of shrimps is priced as much as P1,200 – or more. The price of beer is almost P200 for each bottle.
There are women, mostly hungry for sexual combat, who have the penchant for drinking expensive wines.
Some aggressive and promiscuous Casanovas spend at least five hours in the club. And when they go out, they bring along their partners after paying exorbitant bar fines.
Many became bankrupt, sold or mortgaged their properties – and due to sexual gratification.
“The great question that has never been answered and which I have not been able to answer, despite my 30 years of research into the feminine soul, is ‘What does a woman want?’” – Sigmund Freud
Say mo, Lex?
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