By Inday Espina-Varona
PHILIPPINES – At least two bishops in the Philippines have called on people to vote against members of political dynasties in midterm elections due in May, because of the detrimental effect they have on the environment.
Such dynasties expanding their plantation-based wealth and working for mining interests are behind deforestation that has increased flooding on Negros Island over the last decade, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos diocese told UCA News on Jan 8.
Another offshoot of their stranglehold on politics, said the bishop, is the watering down of and delays to agrarian reform. In some cases, powerful political clans who also exercise economic control over the country’s fourth largest island, have even tried to roll back agrarian gains for sugar worker communities.
Alminaza’s comments follow a strong pastoral statement issued by Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan diocese in Eastern Samar.
“Do not elect candidates who promote or are part of political dynasties. They impoverish our choices and reduce political positions to family heirlooms,” Varquez said on Jan 5.
Varquez blamed political dynasties for being behind conflicts in the country, especially in Eastern Samar, one of three provinces on Samar Island, the country’s third largest and also one of the poorest.
“Environmental destruction has reached alarming levels, making climate change nearly irreversible,” said Varquez.
He cited the failure of local and national governments to rein in mining operations in the Eastern Samar islands of Homonhon and Manicani.
Both Samar and Negros, located in the central cluster of islands called the Visayas are also known as hotbeds of Asia’s longest communist insurgency.
Under former president Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the restive Visayan provinces have witnessed the killing of activists, forced evacuations due to bombings, and lately, the filing of various anti-terror charges against development and human rights workers.
A few clans have dominated Samar and Negros for decades, often with or close relatives controlling congressional seats, and gubernatorial, mayoral, council, and even village posts.
That is not unique to the Philippines, where dynasties occupy 80 percent of provincial and around 70 percent of national legislative bodies.
“Political dynasties can shape environmental policies to serve their interests, leading to environmental destruction,” said Alminaza.
“Both … involve the exploitation of our resources for personal gain. In the case of environmental destruction, natural resources are exploited for economic benefits, while political dynasties exploit their power and influence for personal and familial gain.”
The San Carlos bishop pointed to the deforestation of Negros Forest before and even after Mt Kanlaon Natural Park and Northern Negros Natural Park were declared Strict Protected Zones.
“This was partly driven by political and economic interests,” and the impunity that comes when elite clans trash accountability systems and regulations to strengthen their grip on economic and political power.
Alminaza said that severe inequalities linked to the plantation systems have been worsened by extractive industries.
“Negros Island’s forests have been cleared for sugar plantations, logging, and mining, contributing to soil erosion and water pollution. Political dynasties have interests in these industries,” he said.
“The sugar industry, dominated by powerful families, contributes to water pollution, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity,” he added.
Alminaza and Varquez said unregulated mining and quarrying, logging, and the plantation economy have been traced to political dynasties or their business patrons.
Both also said dynasties fuel corruption by keeping voters dependent due to the lack of economic opportunities.
“Corruption is rampant. The hard-earned money of the people, collected as taxes, is often lost to graft,” Varquez said. “Money has become the primary means to win elections. Vote buying has become commonplace.”
Varquez and Alminaza urged voters to reject political dynasties.
The Borongan bishop urged Filipinos to back politicians who do not come from political dynasties, although he did not mention names.
Both also asked voters to reject candidates with links to mining and those acting as enablers. – UCA News
