Filipino Group urges ‘think green’ for Easter

(April 20, 2011) Environmental groups in the Philippines are calling on Catholics to reflect on the sorry state of watersheds in the southern city of Davao while observing Holy Week. “The redemptive nature of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is not only for healing our broken relationships with God and our fellow men but also for restoring our damaged relationship with the rest of God’s creation,” said Lia Jasmin Esquillo, executive director of Interface Development Interventions, an environmental advocacy group. Esquillo urged Catholics to pray and hope that Davao’s mayor reconstitutes the Watershed Management Council and enforce a code to protect the city’s water sources. Redemptorist Brother Karl Gaspar also joined calls to include “eco-centered reflection” of Christ’s passion and death this Holy Week. How do we translate having a full life in Davao today, considering we are surrounded by a lot of threats that have implications on public health?” he asked.
The Watershed Code identifies areas under threat in the city’s upland watersheds that must be protected, conserved and managed. The absence of definite boundaries has sowed confusion among farmers and plantation owners..