MINDANAO PAGADIAN FRONTLINE: Interfaith launch “Panaw-Sinati uban sa Kabuhatan” for the Protection of Food Source

Panaw contingents on their way to Mt. Pinukis

(Photos by Saida Lapasaran of Ummah Fi Salam)

By JONG CADION

Photos by Saida Lapasaran

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR (PAGADIAN Frontline/Wedneday December 11, 2013) – The Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), Local Government Units, some National Government Agencies, members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army and other environmental groups had showing their support for the protection of Mt. Pinukis with a covenant signing during their “Panaw-Sinati Uban sa Kabuhatan” (Walk-experience together with Creation) Tuesday in Barangay Lison Valley, Pagadian City.

The group assembled early Tuesday morning in front of San Jose Parish Church beside City Plaza in Pagadian City as their convergent point and left on convoy towards Barangay Lison Valley for PANAW after a departure ceremony program as part of the culmination in celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace following the celebration also of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Interfaith convenor Diosdado Marquez from United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) said, more than 1000 PANAW participants coming from the different barangays of Pagadian City and municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur were welcome by the residents and officials of Brgy. Lison Valley witnesses the actual situation regarding the destructions done by the illegal loggers and small scale mining operations in the area.

The Subanen Tribe leaders headed by Chieftain Vencio Bawan from the area also welcome the PANAW contingents thru their Tribal Ritual conducted particularly at Purok Mati and Purok Atis in Brgy. Lison Valley located near the foot of Mt. Pinukis.

Photos by Saida Lapasaran

Moro perspective on the stewardship of creation was based on the Qur-an and Hadith was given emphasis as the Moro representative Bong Balimbingan, Jr the chairman of Ummah Fi Salam delivered the Muslim statement.

PANAW organizer Roman Catholic Priest Fr. Roi Ramos expressing his hopes that President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will listen to the tri-people petition for the protection of Mt. Pinukis.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) had recently approved the Mineral Permit Sharing Agreement (MPSA) to 5 mining companies out of 42 mining applicants but they cannot start their operations because of the strong resistance of Indigenous People (IPs) Subanen Tribes and the community in the area due to none compliance of Free and Prior Informed Consent from the Tribal leaders as mandated in the Republic Act 8371 otherwise known as ‘The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA Law)’,” Subanen Tribal Chieftain Norberto Tilao also said.

Mt. Pinukis has the height of 1,562 meters above sea level located in the municipality of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur was identified as the only remaining sources of waters that supplies the 5 rivers that irrigated at least 90 thousand hectares of Riceland in 5 provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, part of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.