Bacolod, Western Visayas, Philippines — On March 5, 2024, more than two hundred organizations, including faith-based groups, NGOs, and people’s organizations nationwide, participated in the second day of the 7th Philippine Misereor Partnership Incorporated (PMPI) General Assembly.
Most. Rev. Cosme Damian R. Almedilla, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Butuan, who celebrated the mass, took off from the gospel on forgiveness and highlighted that if God always forgives, people can ultimately forgive. Still, he warned that nature might not be able to forgive if humans continue to harm them and violate their rights. He stressed the need for the network to pursue its work on protecting and upholding the rights of nature campaign.
PMPI started the Rights of Nature campaign in the Philippines. A Rights of Nature bill is now pending in Congress. Two local ordinances, a provincial code in Marinduque and a municipal code in Infanta, had been filed and were waiting for passage.
The attendees also witnessed a powerful cultural and musical performance from Bacolod Contemporary Dance Group depicting social issues and challenges currently faced by the country – mining, land degradation due to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, climate change, and coal-fired power plants.
Vice Governor Adeline Marciano Angeles of the Province of Marinduque, through her keynote speech, encouraged civil society organizations to partner with local government to create a bigger impact on the lives of the most vulnerable, the poor, and the environment.
Young climate activist Joshua Villalobos from Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment gave a passionate speech on human and environmental rights and the importance of youth participation in the fight to mitigate climate change. He stressed that polluters should be held accountable and asked to pay for what they destroyed, including damages to future generations.
Different sectors comprising the network also shared their experiences working on their advocacies and with PMPI. Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Director of the Social Action Center of Calapan, Ms. Catherine Ruiz, Executive Director of Kaabag sa Sugbo NGO, and Mr. Bonifacio Laborada, President of ZSEED People’s Organization, inspired the delegates with their reflections about advocacy, dedication, and gratitude for partnership within and among members of PMPI.
The afternoon session was a simultaneous forum called the Fair of Ideas Session, which showcased members’ good practices on food security, food sovereignty, and governance, and discussed urgent social issues about human rights and the rights of nature. A cultural night capped the day with the 15 regional clusters and the PMPI National Secretariat showcasing their regional cultures.
The 7th PMPI General Assembly started on March 4 to 7, with a solidarity night on March 6.
