MANILA, Philippines – As massive floods hit Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, people are now recalling the words of the late Gina Lopez back when she was still the Environment Secretary in 2017.
As head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Lopez angrily slammed the people behind the denudation of the watersheds. She said that this will cause massive floods, but the authorities did not listen. Instead, her appointment as DENR Secretary was rejected.
During an aerial inspection over the Pasig River and the Marikina Watershed in September 2017, Lopez decried the denuded watersheds due to quarrying activities. She shared some photos that truly broke her heart:
But Lopez met fierce opposition, not just from the mining companies, but even the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as well as several lawmakers. Though her appointment as DENR Secretary was rejected, she continued to lobby for change.
Fast forward to 2020. Massive flooding was experienced in these areas after several typhoons passed.
Typhoon Ulysses even brought Ondoy-like floods. It submerged plenty of areas in Metro Manila and Luzon because the Sierra Madre was already saturated by rainwater due to ‘Quinta’ and ‘Rolly’ that passed through the area within just a matter of days.
As head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Lopez angrily slammed the people behind the denudation of the watersheds. She said that this will cause massive floods, but the authorities did not listen. Instead, her appointment as DENR Secretary was rejected.
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| Photo credit: Facebook/Gina Lopez PH |
During an aerial inspection over the Pasig River and the Marikina Watershed in September 2017, Lopez decried the denuded watersheds due to quarrying activities. She shared some photos that truly broke her heart:
I'm currently in a shoot for the second season of G Diaries. Our first episode, which will air this December will be on...
Posted by Gina Lopez PH on Wednesday, September 20, 2017
But Lopez met fierce opposition, not just from the mining companies, but even the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as well as several lawmakers. Though her appointment as DENR Secretary was rejected, she continued to lobby for change.
“If you kill the environment, you kill everything. One-third of the Filipino depends on our natural resources. Sinong nagdudusa 'pag winawasak ang kalikasan? Sino? 'Yung mahihirap. ... And whose duty is it to protect our people? It is the government. And when you make decisions based on business interests, you have shirked your responsibility. You have lost the moral ascendancy to rule the government because, to you, business and money is more important than the welfare of our people,” Lopez said.
Fast forward to 2020. Massive flooding was experienced in these areas after several typhoons passed.
Typhoon Ulysses even brought Ondoy-like floods. It submerged plenty of areas in Metro Manila and Luzon because the Sierra Madre was already saturated by rainwater due to ‘Quinta’ and ‘Rolly’ that passed through the area within just a matter of days.
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Many recalled Lopez’s words and how she foretold what might happen due to the denuded watersheds…
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
We do miss you here, Gina Lopez.
Posted by KN Pineda on Saturday, November 14, 2020
“It is important that we rehabilitate this watershed because it is the first line of defense of Marikina, Quezon City, Antipolo, Pasig, Cainta, San Mateo, etc., against rainwater surging from the uplands of Luzon,” Lopez warned but nobody listened.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
