Over 1,000 people joined the march-protest for environmental justice and good governance in Bacolod City on June 27. Students, fishermen, environmental activists, and church people gathered in the activity.

The march highlighted the threat of environmental destruction and cases of human rights violations as an oil palm plantation entered Candoni town in Negros Occidental.

They condemned the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for allowing commercial fishing in the 15-kilometer municipal waters and approving magnetite mining in several towns on the island without sufficient community consultation.

“We, the youth, must stand firm; we must not allow destruction to our world; we must not allow ourselves to be ignored […] And we must promote cooperation and for the government to listen to the people who give them the mandate,” said Joshua Villalobos, secretary general of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), one of the participating organizations.

The organizations delivered a People’s Environment Agenda to the Provincial Capitol, where their march ended. The agenda contains policies the groups are demanding for the newly elected local government officials.

Caritas Bacolod Social Action Foundation Inc director Fr. Julius Espinosa said they hope provincial leaders will listen to the people’s grievances and environmental concerns and respond with conscience and courage.

The groups marched through the streets of Bacolod City confident that more fellow Negrosanons will stand up for the environment.