Gina Lopez: The Philippine Government's Ultimate Environmental Crusader

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"After two decades as a yoga missionary, Environment Secretary Regina Lopez is unleashing her inner rage on the mining industry while aiming for Bhutan-style gross national happiness." -Inquirer.net

They said no to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Perfecto Yasay but Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez's Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmation hearing was pushed back to May 3, 2017.

Can we clone the political will, passions and genuine intentions of Lopez? There has been no environment Secretary in the past has ever stood against giant mines as Lopez does. She deserves the appointment because she clearly has the heart in saving our environment.

President Rodrigo Duterte hopes for a "happy compromise" on mining but more on the side of "public interest." He says Gina Lopez "has a good case." He asks the CA to listen to her decision to shut down mining firms. "You cannot ignore the cries of Gina Lopez. Allow Gina to present her case."

Mining is destroying the Southeast Asian archipelago’s ecosystem, and that the natural resources on offer can be used in much more sustainable ways.

If you must know, Caraga is the mining capital of the Philippines, yet the poorest region in the country.How come? Because only the mining corporation benefits from the business and leaves the local community impoverished.

As also mentioned by DENR Sec. Gina Lopez during a press conference in Butuan City, 95% from what has been invested and earned in Dinagat/Surigao areas goes out of the local economy. The department thus plans to adapt an area development approach where the income goes around the local economy.

Last month, Lopez ordered to close 23 mining operations and suspend five others following a months-long audit. She also canceled 75 mining contracts. Not only are many harming the watersheds, they are also killing the mountains.

“Not everyone has the guts and the wherewithal to stand on big business’s toes. Right now I have that platform.”

No sacred cows? Opponents and critics grilled Lopez on conflict of interest. Local executives in Caraga mining areas joined the opposition.

When she told San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, whose brother is into mining, to tell him he has totally killed the mountain, now that was kick-ass!

Lopez said this during the CA committee on environment and natural resources hearing, where Zamora is an ex-officio member.

"Sorry, Mr. Chairman, but that's your mine," Lopez said as she made a presentation before the CA panel.

Lopez was referring to Hinatuan Mining Corp., the operations of which she ordered closed last month.

Hinatuan was earlier told that its operation has "impaired the functions of the watershed in the area," according to a copy of the closure order.

Zamora corrected Lopez and said: "My brother's mine."

Lopez was giving a quite passionate presentation about the DENR's plan for a Green Economy but people in the Senate are just like bored and sleepy. She remains unfazed amid growing oppositions. Just because Lopez's methods are more modern and relaxed, it doesn't mean she doesn't have what it takes to save the Philippines' natural resources. She is savage for a conserved environment in a humane world!

Lopez may be the epitome of ignorance, self-contradiction, and stupidity with what she is saying right now. She may not know all of the technicalities of mining, but she does know that the environment must be saved.

Lopez's appointment has 23 oppositors, while 12 others filed oppositions against the closure order of mining operations.

If Lopez survives as environment secretary and gets to serve her full six-year term, she has much bigger plans for remodeling the Philippine economy.

The Mighty Corporation and the Nationwide Smoking Ban

Wazzup Pilipinas!

President Rodrigo Duterte was said to sign an Executive Order (EO) on Nationwide Smoking Ban, just around the same time we are blessed with other good news like the National Broadband Plan, the Maternity Leave Extension, and the Enchanted River Swimming Ban.

Under the Executive Order, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said smoking indoors would also be prohibited aside from public places. We believe it should also include e-cigarettes at vapes since the Department of Health fully recommends their inclusion being found also harmful to health.
Now, there's an obvious "heat" for Mighty Corporation, a local cigarette manufacturer owned by Filipino-Chinese businessmen, for using fake tax stamps on their cigarettes. But how come the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is handling the inspection when the cigarette products are locally made? Imported ingredients? Or are the cigarettes actually imported and just packaged here in the Philippines. Now, they're saying they could not arrest the owner, Wong Chu King, for there are no charges filed yet even though the company has been caught red-handed deceiving the government of tax liabilities.

Duterte ordered his arrest, but it seems there has been a bribery attempt because now they are saying he should not be arrested when Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre stepped in. Duterte denies alleged 'bribery' attempt but we would like to think otherwise.

Atty. Raymond Fortun confirms Mighty Corporation was able to secure a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Manila to stop BOC inspection on its cigarettes. If they have nothing to hide, there is no need for legalities.

According to Aguirre, the owner expressed his willingness to fully cooperate with the government to probe the alleged tax deficiency because of the fake tax stamps discovery. The Philip Morris Philippines competitor has rampantly been using fake tax stamps on all of their products.

The BOC was set to suspend the import accreditation of Mighty Corporation last February for cigarette smuggling. The drive against fake tax stamps for cigarettes has been intensified by the government several weeks ago, and we see Mighty Corporation deceiving the government thus losing billions in tax revenues for the country.

But are the tax stamps the only fake here? What about the cigarettes themselves?

Regardless if they are genuine or not, cigarettes should no longer exist in this world. They should be banned permanently on a global scale since we all know they are harmful to our health. We don't have to enumerate the harmful effects that it causes the body. It is not enough to have photos indicating negative effects printed on cigarette packs, because even those who do not smoke are in danger from second-hand smoke by smokers who have very low IQ to understand that they are not welcome to smoke in public places. Smokers should also be forced to inhale their smoke so there won't be the equally dangerous second-hand smoke that threatens the lives of non-smokers. If smokers want to kill themselves, they should not endanger others. There should never be a smoking section too. No one should be allowed to smoke themselves to death.

However, who will implement the law that has actually been existing for the longest time, but no one has the will and capability to strictly implement it.

The sin tax law had never deterred the continued proliferation of the harmful product because companies like Mighty Corporation found a way to beat the system, and I'm sure they will continue to do that, just as how other products are also capable of going around and twisting the law with their cunning lawyers.

Smoking has been proven to destroy your health and eventually kill you in the long run. This goes the same for second-hand smokers. Cigarettes or tobaccos are just as addicting as drugs, so why make it legal to smoke?

We need a worldwide smoking ban now!

FEU DepComm Team Tops PMC Online Video Tilt

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A group of communication students from Far Eastern University (FEU) - Manila recently won the grand prize in the Pinoy Media Congress (PMC) online video competition organized by the ABS-CBN Corporation and the Philippine Association of Communication Educators Foundation, Inc. (PACE).

Jannine Ancheta directed the winning entry "BK8 LIST" based on the script she co-wrote with Patricia Salic and Juan Pablo Pineda III. Their fellow FEU Film Society members Keith De Venecia and Francis Guillermo served as director of photography and editor, respectively. Raven Relavo and Allen Sabanal, both from the FEU Theater Guild, star as best friends planning for an audition in the online video.

The winning team brought home the grand prize trophy and 40,000 pesos cash prize during the 11th PMC held at the Mother Josefina Yamzon Auditorium, St. Mary’s College, Quezon City. They also got a chance to be considered as content creators of ABS-CBN's multichannel network Chicken Pork Adobo.

A group from St. Louis University won the second prize trophy and 25,000 pesos in cash while a team from University of the Philippines - Diliman bagged third place and 10,000 pesos.