The Social Action Center of the Diocese of Dumaguete is urging Negrenses to take active participation in environment protection and preservation to prevent disasters like the recent flooding incidents that left thousands homeless in Negros Oriental.

Fr. Burton Villarmente, SAC coordinator, issued the statement after the meeting of the Church-Military Advisory Group of Negros Island hosted by the Dumaguete Diocese at the Negros Oriental Convention Center Thursday.

The CMAG meeting was attended by SAC coordinators of the dioceses of Kabankalan, San Carlos, Bacolod and Dumaguete; and ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in Negros island.

Villarmente said deforestation is the number one cause of climate change and global warning, as well as carbon emission. He noted the greed of people in “taking too much from Mother Earth”.

The ecosystem is now complaining, he added, citing extreme weather conditions that are apparently a result of climate change. “Despite efforts to plant more trees, the problem is that the cutting of trees continues unabated”, Villarmente said. “It takes 20 to 30 years for a tree to grow, but it only takes at least five minutes to cut one down”.

The Diocese of Dumaguete has embarked on an agro-forestry project in Silab, Amlan, in partnership with the provincial Environment and Natural Resources and local farmers have been tasked to take care of the trees, Villarmente said.

He noted the urgent need to engage the people’s conscience in actively preserving the environment, otherwise, uncontrolled human activities that put the environment at risk will certainly lead to future calamities.*JFP

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