Environment activists underscored Tuesday the continuing destruction of the Philippines' natural resources as Filipinos joined in the global celebration of Earth Day. In a statement, the militant Kalikasan (Nature) People's Network for Environment squarely blamed the Arroyo administration for the worsening natural resources depletion, ecological destruction, and plunder of national patrimony. Kalikasan accused the Arroyo administration of engaging in “a grand clearance sale” of Philippine forests, lands, mineral ores, agricultural produce, biodiversity, water, and marine wealth to the highest foreign bidder. “Instead of responding to the current ecological crisis and defending our national patrimony against plunder, the Arroyo administration has continued to evade accountability for its transgressions and crimes against the environment and the people. Eight years under President Gloria Arroyo have only resulted in more devastation, depletion, and pollution,” the group said. It said the continuing destruction of natural resources is pushing the country farther away from genuine development, self-sufficiency and prosperity. “The Philippines has vast natural resources - enough to keep its population far away from hunger, debt, and poverty. Yet the historical exploitation of its natural wealth by a few elite interests has continued unabated up to the present, leaving less land, water, floral and faunal species, and air for the benefit of the majority,” Kalikasan said. The group said the current rice crisis dramatically shows the ill effects of land degradation and the conversion of vast tracts of agricultural lands to commercial ventures. It blasted the Arroyo government for continuously resorting to massive importation as a solution to the food crisis instead of embarking on genuine agrarian reform. __
