8 days of rain force 80,000 people out of homes in Bicol

Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGAZPI CITY – At least 80,000 people were moved out of their homes in what officials said was preemptive evacuation to keep them out of harm’s way as rains continued to raise flood levels and the likelihood of landslides in Albay.

Victims of Lafayette mining

Defend Patrimony demands permanent closure of Rapu-Rapu mine, accountability and responsibility from Arroyo, DENR, and Lafayette

Anti-mining liberalization alliance Defend Patrimony today pressed for the permanent closure of the Arroyo administration’s first foreign-owned showcase mining project in the Philippines owned by financially-troubled Lafayette Mining Limited (LML) of Australia.

DEFEND LIFE, UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS - Bishop Bastes

Statement On the Occasion of the 59th Declaration of International Human Rights Day

Life is the most precious gift that man has ever received from God. Man shares in the grace of the Divine Life and man’s image is created according to its Creator. Such likeness magnifies God’s goodness to man and no one has any right to put a sunder. This pristine dignity is inalienable to man. This is the HUMAN RIGHTS.

BARANGAY DEFENSE SYSTEM (BDS): STATE GARRISONS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

On the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day

Vibrant life has been lost in the countryside especially in the far-flung barrios in the Province of Sorsogon. It is no longer a place of KASANGGAYAHAN (place of abundance and peace) but rather state garrisons where military rules the life of the people. Military posts have been installed in the barangays; the movement of the folks are regulated and made to log their whereabouts in the journal of the post. People who enter and leave the area are obliged to give their names and their purpose. Dangerously, the civilians particularly the women (mothers usually bring their siblings in the barrios because they do not have “yayas”) and youth are made to watch the military posts. There are even measures to regulate the supplies coming in the barrios such as limiting the rice purchase to 5 kilos only, more than that is not allowed and would mean supporting the rebels. At times, curfew is implemented in the area; hitherto the economic and social life of the people is affected, not disregarding the political straightjacket that tightens the barrio atmosphere. Members of progressive organizations like Bayan, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas are subjected to intensive surveillance and threatened to cease their activism if they hold their lives precious or their loved ones. Even the traditional civic organizations are asked to disclose their members, the nature of the organization and the source of fund. Fear and suspicion envelop the once tranquil life of the people.

Camp-out vs GMA’s flagship mining project kicks off

Lafayette mine should be closed, affected communities compensated – Kalikasan PNE

Amidst reports of financial woes plaguing the Arroyo administration’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu island, local residents are launching a week-long rally and camp-out in front of the Albay Provincial Capitol to call for the permanent closure of Australian-owned Lafayette Mining Limited’s open-pit mine and compensation for mining-affected communities, green watchdog Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) announced today.

Protest against Lafayette mining heats up

Albay board to review memorandum of agreement between Australian firm and provincial govtProtest against Lafayette mining heats up
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent-Manila Times

Legazpi City: Finally the provincial government of Albay agreed to reinvestigate the fish kill incident off the shores of Rapu-Rapu a month ago and finally settle the issue.

The move came following the appeal made by the villagers from Rapu-Rapu when they stormed the session hall of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Albay on Wednesday.

Investors back out of Arroyo’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu

Green groups call for end to financially-devastated, ecologically-destructive mine ops

Environmentalists today welcomed news of an investor pull-out and a trading halt by Australian-owned firm Lafayette Mining Limited this weekend, hoping that this would signal the beginning of the end for the Arroyo administration’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu island in Albay.

Typhoon ‘Mina’ update

At 2 a.m. today, the eye of Typhoon “MINA” was located based on land radar, satellite and surface data at 220 kms East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (14.3°N, 126.5°E) with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 11 kph.

Forecast:
Bicol region, the provinces of Quezon, Quirino, Aurora, Isabela and Northern Samar will experience stormy weather. The rest of Southern Luzon, Bulacan, Nueva Viscaya, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Western and Eastern Samar including Biliran Island and Northern Leyte will have rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. The rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over the rest of Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the west and southwest with slight to moderate seas.

State of calamity declared in Albay

The entire province of Albay has been placed under a state of calamity as residents continue to flock to evacuation centers in the hours ahead of typhoon Mina’s landfall.

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