NEWS ARCHIVE

as of SEPTEMBER 2007

Co-creating Sustainable Bioregional Communities (CSBCom) Update:

CSBCom AdHoc Leaders Assembly held in ASI Last Feb. 16, 2007

By Dr. Gina A. Yap

After the successful launching of CSBCom in Cardona Rizal last Jan 12, 2007, the CSBCom Adhoc Leaders who were elected during the launching gathered in Asian Social Institute (ASI) on Feb. 16, 2007 to further discuss the project and to get to know more about each other and the Institute. Around 82 participants attended the Assembly comprising of community leaders from eight Municipalities including Cardona and Binangonan, some government officials and professors from the University of Rizal System (URS), and faculty, staff and students from ASI. The Governor of the Dumagat Tribes based in Antipolo Rizal was also present together with other tribe leaders.

The specific objectives of the assembly were: 1) To deepen participant’s understanding of the concepts of “sustainable bio-regional community organization and management”; 2) To relate the concept of sustainable bio-regions to the dreams and aspirations of the people of Binangonan and Cardona (out-put of the previous assembly); 3) To broadly identify the natural and human wealth of various municipalities, and how they are giving life to people in general; and 4) Identify those aspects that facilitate and threatens the sustainability of natural and human resources.

After a meaningful ritual led by Ms. Arlene Natocyad, the ASI president, Dr. Mina M. Ramirez gladly welcomed the community leaders to ASI, and the objectives of the assembly were discussed by prof. Carmen M. Cabato. It was followed by the lecture of Dr. Sixto K. Roxas of Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development (MTKISD) on “Ecosystems-based Community-centered Sustainable Organization and Management” or ECSOM.

Synthesis of Dr. Roxas Lecture :

Dr. Roxas pointed out that the essence of “Bio-region” is the interconnection of all beings and everything that has life, and that the ecosystem makes that web of connections of life. According to Dr. Roxas, increasing human population and poverty coupled with the depletion and destruction of the ecosystems are the most urgent problems of our country today. It makes life very unsustainable for present and future generations. At the global level, 20% of the world’s population consumes 80% of natural resources while the remaining 20% is shared by 80% of world’s population.

The ecological footprints (bakas-ekolohiya) of the Philippines from 1961-2001 was presented. Statistics show that ecological footprints (ecological impact) of Filipinos rose steadily from 0.9 to 1.1 global hectares per person while the sustaining capacity of Philippine ecosystem continue to decline from 1.2 to 0.6 hectares per person. This data indicates that there is now an acute scarcity of natural resources in the Philippines and all over the world. The rich are buying-up while government officials are too eager to sell public lands in the name of development. Land and water are the most important resource, and if the local citizens and communities will not protect their ecosystems, who will?

The idea of “ancestral domain” Dr. Roxas explained, does not apply only to indigenous peoples, but also to lowlanders. There is an urgent need to identify and care for the common properties of communities for the interest of present and future generations. He went on to illustrate the contours of bio-regions in the Philippines using the water-shed map of Rizal Province prepared for the Assembly. The participants were able to visualize the interconnections of various life support systems from the mountains, river systems and down to Laguna Lake. The urban centers must support rural food production to sustain their basic needs, while the rural areas should be able to increase their productivity to meet the demands of the urban areas for food, water supply and other needs. However, since management systems are enterprise centered rather than community-centered, local communities are neglected and are unable to develop. The youths continue to march to the urban areas for employment and better opportunities. Since unsupported rural productivity is low, urban areas rely on foreign imports to meet their needs. Ironically rural areas also tend to rely on outside sources for their basic needs.

To make our communities sustainable an ecosystems-based and community-centered organization and management is much needed. We must prioritize economic activities that can meet the needs of families living in the locality and further develop their productive capacities. Community managers who will serve as “collective bargaining agents” (for grassroots leaders “collective bargaining agents” may be called “servant leaders”) for communities must also be trained. In developing this alternative resource management strategy, there is also a need for research and studies to develop a knowledge system that will guide the people in analyzing their situations and help them make wise decisions.

In the whole province of Rizal, Dr. Roxas identified three possible bioregional districts. Families in each water-shed district may be organized by clusters and people can choose community managers who will be trained in sustainable community resource management. The leaders were challenged to take the initiatives because given the condition of our country today; local citizens are the true hope of the nation.

Review of Leaders Life-giving Aspirations and Dreams

Dr. Gina Yap presented the general themes that came out from the last workshop in Cardona on the things that give life to the people as well as their dreams and aspirations. They are as follows:

• Being able to meet their daily needs (food, housing, clothes, education, health etc.)
• Wholeness of the family and family participation in community affairs;
• Stable livelihood and additional income;
• Education and a good future for the children;
• Active cooperation and good relationships among neighbors and community service;
• Being able to contribute to the development of culture and nature (ecosystem);
• Continuous education and skills development of people;
• Close relationship with God and being grateful for all blessings;
• Integration or improving relationships of families, communities, churches, organizations and the government.
• More researches and immersion to communities.

These dreams and aspirations are already being addressed by the people themselves and their organizations, even by the local government. These existing local initiatives could be further enriched by CSBCom. One of the most significant insights of the leaders in the launching activity last Jan. 12, 2007 was the statement of Dr. Roxas that the chronic problem of poverty and mal-development of the country indicates a “wrong diagnosis and ineffective medical prescriptions” (maling pagsusuri ng sakit at mga gamot na panlunas), and if our “ailments” have not been cured for a long time, we must now explore other options to improve our condition.

The general vision of CSBCom is the promotion of a meaningful life and livelihood that is rooted on our godliness and wealth of our culture and nature (Pagtataguyod ng isang makabuluhang buhay at kabuhayan na naka ugat sa ating kabathalaan at yaman ng ating kultura at kalikasan). Its ultimate aspiration is the fullness of life for all.

Workshop on Natural and Human Resources of Rizal Province

In the afternoon, the leaders were divided into several workshop groups to identify their collective natural and socio-cultural wealth (likas-yaman at likas-tao) and the facilitating and destructive forces. Ms. Zinia Arcinue gave the instructions for the workshop. The perceived wealth for each town was presented by the participants while connecting their local map to the map of other municipalities.

Workshop reports have shown that the whole province of Rizal is very rich ecologically and culturally. The Phil. Commission for Culture and the Arts designated Angono Rizal as the art capital of the Philippines. The elementary school in the island of Talim always excels in nationwide achievement tests. Cardona is also known for winning bands and bamboo crafts. The state University of Rizal System (URS) has branches in all municipalities with particular specialization for each system. It facilitated the development of human resources in the province. Rizal Province is also ecologically endowed including a rich source of limestone, metal and mineral deposits among others, and it is also a very economically progressive province. It has many river systems, rich mountains and lake and productive lands.

As in many parts of the country however, destruction of the ecosystem were also noted in all municipalities with waste-water and solid-waste disposal problems being widespread, and there is a frequent incidence of flooding specially at the town centers. The indigenous people from Antipolo and Montalban also shared their observation about the loosening of rock boulders and apparent water movement underneath rocks and caves which could trigger disastrous landslides in the future. Participants were also concerned about aggressive land acquisition by rich people from Manila and also some mining explorations. The workshop output was synthesized by Professor Linda Acierto.

Suggestions for Immediate Actions and Call for Commitment

After the workshop, Mr. Vir Cristobal presided the plenary session for immediate actions. The following were recommended:

1. Environmental education and information drives for communities and local government officials
2. Organizing of communities and municipalities
3. Zero-waste management, and toxic waste management specially in Angono
4. Increase food production
5. Use of idle lands (public or private) for gardening
6. Tree planting
7. Connecting with the indigenous people from the mountains; establish schools for indigenous children
8. Develop organizational capacities for engagement with local government and participation in development planning and implementations
9. More researches
10. Continue local discussions about collective wealth and sustainable community resource management.

The assembly was put to a close by Dr. Villy Vital. He noted the richness of the province of Rizal and the collective responsibility of the people to be good stewards for God’s creation and the enrichment of the local culture which can be an enduring legacy for the future generation. We must also have a good mind and that if we are able to act on the obstacles, our dream of the fullness of life it is already near its fulfillment.

Mr. Francis Asayas from Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA), led the closing prayer.

Report on Ms. Melba Matula’s Trip

Ms. Matula attended a conference on the Social Teachings titled The Asian Presentation of the Compendium of the Social Doctrines of the Church from January 25 – 27, 2007 at the Bann Phu Waan Training Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

Aside from attending the conference, she was also tasked to follow up on the ASI graduates in Bangkok. She was able to interview two ASI graduates who were among those who spearheaded the secretariat of the conference namely, Bro. Anthony Rogers and Ms. Achara Somsaengsruang. She also visited the community of and the Foundation run by another ASI graduate, Ms. Boonsom Namsomboon.

A fellow participant in the conference from the Assumption University of Thailand expressed interest in collaborating with her in the future in the formation programs of the Center for Catholic Social Thought in said university. Dr. Ramirez welcomes this development as it may support ASI’s application for the IQUAME (Institutional Quality Assurance for Monitoring and Evaluation).

A roundtable discussion with Rev. Fr. Sean McDonaugh

A roundtable discussion was held in ASI in collaboration with Dr. Ernie Gonzales, (Graduate of ASI in Master of Economics and the Doctoral Program in Applied Cosmic Anthropology), Director of UST Research Center and Sr. Aida Velasquez, director of an environmental organization on “Climate Change” with Rev. Fr. Sean McDonaugh, Columban Father, who came over from Ireland to do advocacy on the phenomenon of climate change. Participants in the conference were not only from Metro Manila but also from the North and the South of the Philippines. Dr. Villy Vital presented the CSBcom or ECSOM paradigm of development. From the other speakers, one gleans how many exposure sites can be offered to participants of the CSBcom.