The youth of Dumaguete City Negros Oriental have registered their opposition to House Bill 1462 which seeks to reduce the area of the BTLNP from 8,749 hectares to a mere 3,749 hectares. The PAMB of the BTLNP has decided to allow the Philippine National Oil Corp. to occupy and use 5,000 hectares of forest for energy generation.
Reducing the already small area will endanger the fresh water supply not only of Dumaguete City but also adjacent towns of Sibulan, San Jose, and Valencia who depend on this important watershed. The use of it other than its purpose should be prevented, even for development purposes. The move will affect the last remaining habitat of southern Negros’ endangered species and critically-endangered wildlife like the Philippines Spotted Deer, the Writhed Billed Hornbill. The Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon, the Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, the Negros Shrew, the Philippine Leopard Cat, the Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat, and the Negros Forest Frog among others.
Environment does not have to be sacrificed for development. Alternative options for the sustainable development of Negros Oriental should exists.
Water and Biodiversity are more important than Electricity. Development is also important, but water is more essential. Without it, there is no development, and no life.
Negros Island just cannot afford to lose anymore of its less than three percent forest cover. Its people have a right to a secured future.
(Editors Note: Mr. Claparols is a director of the Ecological Society of the Philippines.)