MANILA — Over 100 civil society groups and religious leaders on Monday urged voters to pick candidates with environmental development plans in the upcoming May elections.
“In May 2022 we urge you to support candidates at the local and national levels who listen to the ‘cry for the poor’ and cry for the Earth and push for this nationalist green developmental path for the Filipino people” the groups stated in a joint statement.
“Economic growth is not about more profit, vehicles, or skyscrapers. Economic growth can no longer be at the expense of the environment, but rather, the economy must be directed towards sustained progress that prioritizes planetary and peoples’ health,” they said.
Among those who signed the statement are the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Secretariat for Social Action, EcoWaste Coalition, Environmental Science for Social Change, Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples National Secretariat, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines, Greenresearch Environmental Research Group Inc., Laudato Si’ Movement – Pilipinas, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.
Other signatories include:
- 350 Pilipinas
- Action for Nurturing Children and Environment, Cebu, ANCE
- Action on Smoking & Health Philippines
- Agro-Technical Assistance and Livelihood Opportunity in the North, Inc.
- AlterTrade Foundation, Inc
- Arugaan
- Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc.
- Ban Toxics
- Bangon Marawi CSO Platform
- Bangus Fry Catchers Association of Zambales
- Bayay Sibuyanon Inc.
- Get Rid of Plastic
- Buklod TAO
- Camarines Norte Movement for Climate Justice
- Caritas Caceres
- Caritas Capiz
- Caritas Cebu
- Caritas Gumaca
- Caritas La Union
- Caritas Libmanan
- Caritas Novaliches
- Caritas Palo
- Caritas Sorsogon
- Caritas Tarlac
- Caucus of Development NGO Networks, Inc.
- Cavite Green Coalition
- Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc.
- Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
- Centro Saka (Philippine Center for Rural Development Studies).
- Citizens Environment Network (CEN)
- Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative (KASALI).
- Multiversity Community Organizers (CO-Multiversity).
- Community-led Empowering Action for Resilience Networks
- Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales
- Consumer Rights for Safe Food (CRSF).
- Boac Diocesan Social Action Center
- Diocesan Social Action Center Bontoc-Lagawe
- Cabanatuan Diocesan Social Action Center
- Calapan Diocesan Social Action Center
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Cotabato
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Digos
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Dipolog
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Kabankalan
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Kidapawan
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Marawi
- Marbel Diocesan Social Action Center of Marbel
- Diocesan Social Action Center of Mati
- Diocesan Social Action Center of San Carlos
- Diocesan Social Action Center of San Jose in Mindoro
- Ecological Society of the Philippines
- Ecosystems Work For Essential Benefits Inc.
- Ecoteneo, Davao
- Environmental Legal Assistance (ELAC).
- EveGrocer
- Foundation for the Development of the Urban Poor
- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines, (FCAP).
- Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God – SFIC
- Freedom from Debt Coalition
- Freedom from Debt Coalition – Western Mindanao Chapter
- Gitib, Inc Resource Center – Mindanao
- Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia – Philippines (HCWH)
- Igorota Foundation Inc.
- Indigenous Peoples Apostolate of Archdiocese Nueva Caceres
- Palawan: Indigenous Peoples Apostolate of Taytay Vicariate, Palawan
- Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment Through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS).
- Institute for the Development of Educational and Ecological Alternatives Inc.
- Institute of Spirituality in Asia
- Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, Inc.
- International Visitor Leadership Program – Philippines (IVLP-PH)
- Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, JPICC-AMRSP).
- Kaalagad Katipunang Kristiyano
- Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan ng Atimonan (KAPAKANAN)
- KATARUNGAN(Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungan ng Lipunan)
- Koalisyon Isalbar T Pintas T La Union (Save the Beauty of La Union).
- Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa Maralitang Lungsod (KPML)
- Lanao del Sur People’s Council
- Managing Alternatives Group Inc.
- Medical Action Group (MAG).
- Mindanao Center for Local Governance, Inc.
- Mother Earth Foundation (MEF).
- Musica Publiko
- National Coalition to Save the Trees
- Oriang Womens’ Movement – Mindanao
- Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI)
- PAMUO, Inc
- PARAGOS-Pilipinas
- Partnership for Clean Air
- Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
- Philippine Movement for Climate Justice – Cebu Chapter
- Philippine Movement for Climate Justice – Davao Chapter
- Philippine Movement for Climate Justice – Eastern Visayas Chapter
- Philippine Movement for Climate Justice-West Mindanao Chapter
- Piglas – Kababaihan
- Prelature of Infanta -Community Organization of the Philippines Inc.
- Protect Manicani Island Society Incorporated (“PROMISI”)
- Provincial Women Council – Lanao Del Sur
- Pusyon Kiyahan
- RIGHTS (Rural Poor Institute for Land and Human Rights Services), Inc.
- Sanlakas – Mindanao
- Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance Inc.
- Save Sual Movement
- Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement
- Social Action Center (SAC), Diocese of Borongan
- Southeast Asian Institute of Development Alternatives – SAIDA
- Suara Kalilintad (Maguindanao)
- Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities (SEED)
- TAO (Technical Assistance Organization) Pilipinas, Inc. (TAO-Pilipinas)
- The Climate Reality Project Philippines – TCRP
- Urban Poor Associates (UPA).
- Women in Development (WID) Foundation
- Youth for Climate Justice (Y4CJ).
- Zambales Lingap Kalikasan (ZALIKA)
- Zambales Movement for Climate Justice, ZMCJ
- Zamboanga Society of Environment and Ecology Defenders, (ZSEED).
- 115. Zero Waste Baguio
Signatory groups recommended that single-use plastics be phased out, that there be a promotion of “zero waste” culture, as well as formal integration of climate education and environmental education in schools.
The groups stated that the next leaders must also be capable of directing the country towards cleaner energy resources, and reducing dependence on coal.
“The Philippines must end its dependence on coal before the decade ends. We also need to stop the rapid expansion of fossil gas. [and]Rapidly scale up renewables, ideally at least by at most 50 percent in the national blend by 2030,” said San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza who is also vice chair of Caritas Philippines.
However, the groups refused to name a presidential candidate they would support and insisted on remaining “non-partisan.”
FROM THE ARCHIVES