Chapter 40
MAGAGAWA NATIN!! (WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER!! )
An Organized Villagers, Moved to Successfully Stopped the entry of a Mining Firm in
their Village
By Pastor Ruth Baldonasa, San Juan Baptist Church, San Juan Barotac Viejo.
That was Saturday afternoon, March 30, 2002, when around 100 residents of Brgy. De La Paz, Banate, Iloilo, some of them with tears in their eyes, while singing a struggle song, “Magagawa Natin!” (We Can Do It!) signed the “Resolution Opposing the Entry of a Mining Firm in Barangay De La Paz.” They were led by Barangay Captain Rolly Villanueva, some members of the Barangay Council and four Convention Baptist Pastors.
The resolution was made in response to the letter the barangay received from the office of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR), on March 28, 2002. The letter informed the Barangay officials and the residents that the mining firm, that have made exploration around the municipalities, several years until recently, would come with their equipment, 15 days after delivery of the letter. The mining firm has made explorations on some 5 municipalities near and around Banate.
When the People’s Resolution was delivered to the DENR three days later, it had the signatures of 400 family heads. It was the people’s decisive and collective action to protect their health, land, the source of their livelihood and the environment from the hazardous mining firm that will enter the barangays.
That day, March 30, the residents together with Alternative Resource Development Center, Inc. and “Hour of Discovery” Radio Ministry, organized themselves and mobilized support to stop the minng firms’s entry in the barangays. They formed committees to divide responsibilities and expand their reached. The Committee was to ask the support of the Catholic, Aglipayan, Baptist, Evangelical churches. Another committee was to seek and request support of different NGOs –including the militant and cause-oriented grous -- Bayan-Panay, Gabriela, Code-NGO, the CPBC- Development Ministries and some cooperative organizations in Banate and Barotac Viejo.
Another Committee was tasked to reached the DENR and other government agencie, asking for support against the entry of the mining firm.
Another Committee was to assigned to work with “Hour of Discovery” Radio Ministry, sent Press Releases to different radio stations in Iloilo City to reach out the whole Western Visayas of the people’s strong opposition to the mining firm.
Another Committee was tasked to reach out to other barangays near Dela Paz and make their opposition heard.
Why Selected as Most Signifant Story
With a strong and wide opposition that reached officials and DENR and exposed in several radio station and broadcast on Hour of Discovery, the mining firm blinked. They hesitated. They did not enter Brgy. Dela Paz with their equipment. They kept silent, perhaps waiting for a more condusive day. But the people were prepared. They knew what to do. They were determined and ready.
The people realized their power. They learned that when they planned, decided and worked together they have strength. They have learned to link with other groups that have similar concerns.
I am glad, I am part of the people’s struggle in De la Paz I am one of the four resource persons of ARDC/HOD sponsored seminars in Northern Iloilo. The project was supported by Diakonia. We held 3 seminars in De la Paz on the months of February and March 2002. The first training was held middle of February with 17 participants.
The 2nd seminar was held March 17, 2002 with 40 participants, mostly elected and appointed barangay/ village officials. And the 3rd seminar, the decisive day was March 30, 2002 attended by about 100 people – many of them have learned their political rights and their collective strength through the previous semnars.
We were four in the team that work in Banate and Barotac Viejo –Rev. Matias Arib, Pastor Dante Penuela, Pastor Rudy Bernal and myself, Pastor Ruth Baldonasa.Barangay that morning in March 30, 2002. Captain Rolly Villanueva with several Barangay Councils met us with deep concerns. They were deeply worried.
They showed us the letter from DENR. We discussed the problem. We reflected on the capacity and readiness of the people to make decision. We decided to bring the case of the people in consultation that morning.
More than 100 residents attended the consultations. Our process? We have an Opening Prayer, group dynamics, sharing. Pastor Rudy Bernal has a Bible Reflection on mining based on the Book of Job – how mining destroyed the “Fertile Crescent” in Bible times. He shared experiences learned from Sipalay mines in Negros Occidental and the destructions of thousand hectares of vegetations.
The Barangay Capitan Rolly Villanueva presided the meeting. A discussion was made, after which the Barangay Captain called on the people to stand together and opposed the entry of the mining firm That afternoon we made a decision. A united stand against the mining firm entry in our area with a Rssolution addressed to DENR and the mining firm.
A newly drafted Resolution was presented. We prayed. Some have tears in their eyes. Our Closing Service was climazed with the signing of the “Resolution Opposing theEntry of Mining in Barangay De la Paz”. Many older residents signed with their trembling hnds. The Resolution carried a strong opposition message. It was the people’s first line of defense. Will they succeed?
They mining firm did not come with their equipment until this year, December 2006. The people were prepared. They knew they have strength when they unite.They have learned to linked with other people and organizations who protect the environment, health and source of livelihood. We heard the mining firm has applications to mine in other areas.
I am thankful to ARDC and HOD for the program that helped developed my skills and that of my colleagues enabling us to help movilize people to protect their rights, lands, health and environment.
Contribution of the Project
Many groups are working in the community. The churches, schools, farmers associations, women’s group, Barangay Council, Barangay Tanod, Barangay Health Workers are in placed. They are the forces in the barangays/villages. The contribution of ARDC /HOD was in leading the groups what actions and decisions they will have to make. And the moral and spiritual support they have with them in the struggle.
They made it possible for me to learn, gain experiences and participate in the works that advocates change.
Added Value by Diakonia
Diakonia’s program of exchange visits and sharing among partners has enabled the project holders and staff to learn additional skills that were helpful for the program implementation.
Lesson Learned and Recommendation
Organizing people for different tasks is important in any mass action. Every individual and organizations in the barangays/villages has skills and capacity. Everyone must be given specific task. The task given must bring expected results. Always close project activities with a diffinite task to accomplish. Then organize groups for the different tasks.
Project Title: “Hour of Discovery” Radio Program and Political & Electoral
Education for Church and Community Leaders (1996-2003)
Implementing Partner: Alternative Resource Development Center, Inc.
Place Where Story Happened: Brgy. De la Paz, Banate, Iloilo
The story happened: March 2002
Story Written: January 27, 2007
Storyteller : Pastor Ruth Baldonasa
Story writer: Hesther A. Bernal
Domain 2: Change in nature of people’s participation in development activities
PARTNERSHIP IN DIVERSITY
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Final Evaluaton of Diakonia Philippine Program
Published in 2007
Part of the series The Ministry Years (chapter 42 of 48)
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