MacArthur residents rejoice over dredger’s complete pull-out
Residents of MacArthur, Leyte celebrated the complete withdrawal of the humongous cutter suction dredger that was intended for black sand mining in their community. Many residents kept vigil and joined a Thanksgiving Rally on August 24 as they monitored the dredger’s departure.
Brenie Morcilla of Unahin Natin Lagi ang Diyos (UNLAD-Leyte) said, “Masaya kami dahil sa wakas nagkabunga na ang pinagpaguran ng mga anti- mining groups. Sa dami ng dialogues at meeting sa DENR, dagdag sa Open Letter namin sa Presidente, nagpapasalamat kami na pinull-out na sa wakas ang dredger.”
("We are very happy that the tireless efforts of the anti-mining groups have finally come to fruition. With so many dialogues and meetings with the DENR, in addition to our Open Letter to the President, we are grateful that the dredger has finally been pulled out.”)
Patrocenia Rael, a farmer from UNLAD, added, “Nagpapasalamat kami na wala na ang dredger at yung takot namin na gagamitin ito para masira ang aming palayan. Pero sana, tuluyan ng ipatigil ang mining dito sa amin para mawala na rin ng tuluyan ang aming mga pangamba.”
(“We are thankful that the dredger is already gone and that we are no longer afraid that it would be used to destroy our farmlands. Still, we demand that mining be completely stopped, so that our fears will also be permanently allayed.”)
Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) lauded the residents for their persistence in fighting for the pull-out of the dredger. “From resisting in the barricades, and engaging in dialogues with the DENR to writing a letter to the President and organizing direct actions and information dissemination, the residents were relentless in their struggle to protect their environment and community. The dredger’s pull-out is clearly their victory.”
Meanwhile Atty. Raffy Pajares, Executive Director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), praised the dredger's departure as a success of community action. “This just goes to show that community vigilance and action, no matter how humble or wanting of resources, can make a change and make those in power listen. More than standing up for their rights and welfare, the people of Macarthur showed that they can unite and succeed in pushing for what benefits the many and not just the few.”
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