Manifesto on Samar Island sustainable development.

(Approved by the SICSD General Assemble during its 6 th Partners’ meeting held at the Diocesan Catholic Center, Catarman, N. Samar on Jan. 12, 2005).

We, the Samarnons, in a multi-sectoral assembly coming from the three (3) provinces of Samar Island bound by common interest and aspirations for its sustainable development through biodiversity conservation consecrate ourselves to preserve the God-given gift nature for future generations to come.

As vanguards of environmental protection and conservation, we strongly manifest our strong opposition to all forms of logging and mining in Samar Island. We reaffirm our stand for the 25-year logging moratorium and that cancellation of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) and Timber Licensing Agreements (TLAs).

We believe that Samar Island must be given special case of exempting this area from logging and mining due to its uniqueness being considered as one of 200 eco-significant wonders of the world. The forests resources of the island seats above the mineral resource, hence, extracting mining would destroy both resources causing more environmental havoc and destruction on the lives and properties of people. The vas t resources coming from the 25 river systems of Samar Island and all its flora and fauna will compensate the mineral resources that are irreplaceable.

Given the degree of environmental degradation in the island caused by massive ravaging our natural resources, the continuing threats to our lives and our children’s future by insistent movies to pursue mining and logging operations in Samar Island, even with the declaration of the area as Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We forged a strong bond among ourselves, the various sectors of the Samar Island community to carry out the needed activities in pursuit of our common vision and aspirations through the Samar Island Council for Sustainable Development (SICSD ).