29 September 2016— Filipino community members led by Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. welcomed Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina Paz Lopez during her visit to New York on the occasion of her participation at the Global Leadership Forum at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. 

Around 50 Filipino community members from the Fil-Muslim community, the Lumads, the FilAm press, and the National Federation for Filipino Concerns attended the town hall forum for Secretary Lopez last September 23.  The said forum was organized by the Consulate General.

In his welcome remarks, Consul General De Leon thanked Secretary Lopez for her participation in the forum and recognized the Global Action Platform (GAP) and the Global Platform for Sustainable Solutions (GPSS), represented by Mr. Bryan Thomas who attended the town hall.  

In her presentation, Secretary Lopez said that social justice is a component of DENR projects in provinces and believes that resources of the country should benefit the local population

She laid out plans that included prioritizing happiness (GNH), health, environment, economy, and peace and order.  She cited DENR’s plans to develop Sibugan Romblon, which is known to have the densest forest in the world and Batangas, which is known for its marine biodiversity.    

She maintained that Filipino Americans can contribute to prosperity and national progress in the country and in the dialogue about the Philippines.  She believes in the leadership of President Duterte which is a catalyst for change in the country right now.  The Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC) can help in case Overseas Filipinos wish to invest capital, she added.

During the open forum following her presentation, Secretary Lopez addressed matters concerning the environment such as open pit mining in Davao and Caraga region, and protection of local farmers and fishermen. Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Abella was also on hand to convey the government’s official position on criminality, peace and order and the government’s ongoing war on illicit drugs. 

Earlier in the day, Secretary Lopez was at the UN headquarters to speak at the Global Leadership Forum upon the invitation of the GAP led by Dr. Scott Massey and Bryan Thomas, in support of the proposed Caraga region development project GPSS in Mindanao.  Sultan Julius Mabandos, leader of 21 Lumad Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) attended the UN forum representing his people and also joined the town hall forum as a guest. 

Since 2015, the Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC have been in conversation with Dr. Scott Massey, the Department of Agriculture in Washington DC, and Sultan Mabandos on the proposed Caraga development project in the Lumads ancestral land involving sustainable practices that preserve the environment. END