Twelve years ago, my colleagues at work, members of the Focolare local community in Dumaguete City, and numerous partner organizations started cleaning a local beach area. From the simple act of picking up trash, our activities expanded to mangrove propagation and planting, deployment of reef domes,1 and ecological awareness campaigns.

Four years later, we started to experience volunteer fatigue and frustration. Yet providence came at the right time but in an unexpected way. In May 2015, Pope Francis released the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ on care for the Earth, our common home. Addressed to all men of good will, the document analyzes the root causes of our ecological problem, shows the interconnectedness of humanity and creation, and proposes ways to move forward.

In Paragraph 245, the Pope wrote, “God, who calls us to generous commitment and to give him our all, offers us the light and the strength needed to continue on our way. In the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much, is always present. He does not abandon us, he does not leave us alone, for he has united himself definitively to our earth, and his love constantly impels us to find new ways forward. Praise be to him!”

Inspired by the words of Pope Francis, the core members decided to establish the environmental NGO2 Kinaiyahan (Nature) which would not only sustain and expand the environmental activities but also engage in dialogue with other NGOs, sectoral groups, churches, and government offices.

True to its calling, Kinaiyahan was able to promote and support the zero waste movement which started locally in 2018. It has likewise popularized the Reef Dome project such that other local government units and civic organizations have taken interest and have sent representatives for workshops. Some institutions have also entered into medium-term partnerships in producing reef domes for deployment in marine protected areas.

While we hoped that the release of Laudato Si’ would spark stronger actions to mitigate the climate crisis, we saw the opposite happening in our city. The government adopted pyrolysis3 technology to “solve” the waste problem. This kind of technology has been shown to be extremely expensive to acquire and maintain, even for developed countries. Another downside is it brings numerous health and environmental concerns because the toxins4 produced are considered the most dangerous known to science. Worst of all, what was purchased by the government costs only a very small fraction of the machines deemed “safe” by developed countries; thus, casting doubt on its ability to filter poisonous gases.

Another area of concern is the city’s penchant for reclamation. In 2021, the city government attempted to enter into an agreement with a private company to build two islands with an area of 174 hectares off the coast of Dumaguete. Such development was envisioned to make the city a highly urbanized area. However, concerns such as lack of transparency, destruction of marine and terrestrial environment, and loss of local culture forced the proponents to shelve the project.

However, since 2019, under the guise of shoreline protection, nearly four hectares of the marine environment of the boulevard area has been dumped with earth and, in some portions, waste from the dumpsite. With decent coral and sea grass cover, the area not only helped absorb atmospheric carbon but also provided livelihood and a source of sustenance for nearby communities, especially during the pandemic. This reclamation project has been implemented to provide additional open space for beach volleyball courts, a swimming pool, and a parking area. Along with the swimming pool, bleachers that will displace informal settlers nearby will also be constructed.

These projects did not go through transparent, participative and meaningful discussions with stakeholders. The latest reclamation which is 90% complete has not even secured permits from relevant government agencies.

We have engaged in numerous dialogues with government agencies, politicians, church leaders, other advocacy groups, and influential figures in our city to secure records and gain support for our advocacy. Our progress is painfully slow. Meanwhile, irreversible damage has been done.

In his Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, Pope Francis wrote, “With the help of these means (marketing and false information), whenever plans are made to undertake a project involving significant changes in the environment or high levels of contamination, one raises the hopes of the people of that area by speaking of the local progress that it will be able to generate or of the potential for economic growth, employment and human promotion that it would mean for their children. Yet in reality, there does not seem to be any true interest in the future of these people, since they are not clearly told that the project will result in the clearing of their lands, a decline in the quality of their lives, a desolate and less habitable landscape lacking in life, the joy of community and hope for the future; in addition to the global damage that eventually compromises many other people as well.”5

It is in moments like these, when the cry of the Earth joins with the cry of the people, that I am reminded of Jesus Forsaken on the cross and beneath it, Mary Desolate. These two images of perfect obedience to God’s will personally encourage me to keep moving forward in telling the truth about these projects and in seeking justice despite the risks. I continue to be comforted by the thought that God loves us immensely and will never forsake his people.

Gary Rosales

1 Artificial reef modules made out of sand and cement mixture.

2 The non-governmental organization is called “Kahugpongan Para sa Kinabuhi ug Kinaiyahan, Inc.” Majority of its board of directors are members of the Focolare local community in Dumaguete.

3 Thermal combustion in the absence of oxygen. It is one of the incineration technologies that scientists claim to contribute to the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

4 Of most concern are furans and dioxins which have been shown to mimic hormones, especially those affecting reproduction and development.

5 Laudate Deum, 29.