Greens in Philippines urge Catholic Church to do to protect environment

(April 18, 2012) In the Philippines, an environmental group is urging the Catholic Church to do more to gather a million signatures to help save the country’s natural beauty and wildlife from destructive mining. “I hope the Church can give me one million signatures,” said Gina Lopez, organiser of the Save Palawan Movement, during a forum in Manila on Tuesday. Lopez said the Catholic bishops’ conference has so far only provided 30,000 signatures. “We hope the priests can take the time to get these signatures,” she added. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, said the Church has been doing its best to help in the campaign. “We have been helping through our social action centers. In fact, the signature of students that they have came through us,” he said. The prelate called on diocesan social action centers around the country to support the campaign. He said the bishops are hoping that the signature drive will achieve its 10-million target to pressure the government into halting destructive mining. Catholic bishops have been calling on the government for a mining moratorium and the amendment of mining laws in the country, he added.