THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Dr. Jun Ynares Two recent developments sparked Hope for many. The first was a Senate Committee hearing which looked into the causes of recent massive flooding. The second were announcements from the United Kingdom and the United States regarding the vaccine against COVID-19. Last Thursday, the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar called for an inquiry on the recent flooding that affected several areas, particularly the eastern portions of Metro Manila. During the hearing, our Senators paved the way for Rizal Governor Rebecca “Nini” Ynares to read a statement. This gave Rizaleños the opportunity to air their plea and position once more regarding the large-scale mining and quarrying operations using more than 6,000 hectares of land in eight municipalities in the province of Rizal. In her statement before our Senators, Governor Nini reiterated the call which the Provincial Government made some 10 years ago to the National Government. The call has been for the cancellation of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) granted by national agencies to several mining companies. She echoed the aspiration of the people of the province that our land be given a much-needed respite from such activities and for nature to be allowed to recover. This aspiration had met a lot of challenge over the years. As mentioned by a number of officials of environment-related national agencies during the Senate Hearing, their position is that stopping the mining and quarrying activities would have negative effects on the national economy. The Rizal Provincial Government had been given the very same explanation several times in the past – that if the quarrying operations in Rizal were stopped, the construction industry, particularly in Metro Manila, would suffer significantly. This must have been the reason why the late former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez issued a memorandum during her watch which lifted an initial moratorium on quarrying activities. It was unfortunate that her order opened the doors for the resumption of these activities in many parts of the country, including Rizal Province. Environment officials also told our senators what they had initially said to the public: that the mining and quarrying activities being undertaken by companies whom they have authorized were not the cause of the flooding that hit portions of Rizal province and Metro Manila, particularly Marikina City. Governor Nini made it clear to our Senators that the plea of Rizaleños for a halt on mining and quarrying in the province stands, regardless of what reasons national government agencies may have advanced regarding the continuation of mining and quarrying activities. We are grateful to our Senators for the opportunity to be heard. We are hopeful that the hearings being conducted by the Committee of Senator Villar would pave the way for local communities to have a greater say and a stronger voice on matters related to the fate of natural resources located in their provinces. Meanwhile, news that the United Kingdom has started the vaccination of residents in that country against COVID 19 has raised hopes that the pandemic would be over soon. International news networks have also announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration is also set to give the greenlight for the anti-COVID 19 vaccine. It feels good to know that a real antidote to the deadly virus does exist. We do not know when the vaccine would be available in our country. We do not know who will get the vaccine first once it arrives in the Philippines. Still, the fact that Science has come up with a response to the pandemic is reason enough to keep our hopes high that we can soon be free from the fear and restrictions triggered by the virus. This sense of hope, however, should not cause us to let our guards down. We must continue to exercise prudence and caution. Medical authorities believe the virus may be set to make one big attack before massive vaccination could finally put its spread under control. We are almost at the finish line. Let us make sure we all get there safe and whole. These two sources of Hope recall for us an old carol which goes, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”. *For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to #4 Horse Shoe Drive, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Bgy. Beverly Hills, Antipolo City, Rizal.