Trees are good but …
Today is a great day for Cebu City and Cebu province as we host the prestigious Ironman 70.3 with about 1,700 participants from different parts of the world. This sporting event has brought together well known athletes to participate in a triathlon that used to be held in Camarines Sur for three straight years. Cebu will host the Ironman 70.3 for three years as well and have the opportunity to show the world our hospitality and tourist spots. So, welcome and good luck to all participants of the Ironman 70.3 triathlon. And to all Cebuanos, let’s welcome the participants with a smile and our traditional warmth.
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I am so happy that the Department of Envrionment and Natural Resources (DENR) intervened to stop the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from cutting down or doing a wholesale transfer of 155 trees, including 25 century-old Acacia trees, as part of the preparations of DPWH’s road-widening work on the Naga-Carcar section of the N. Bacalso Avenue.
I don’t know what’s the future of these trees given the fact that it has become necessary to widen the road to give way to development and progress in southern Cebu. But I think that if given a chance to apply a partnership of between the public-private sector, we can find a solution that would address the concern of some environmentalists and the government.
Let us preserve the 100-year-old acacia trees which provide shade for people to rest and enjoy the wind. But we should not also stop development just because of the trees.
Development can’t be and should not be avoided because it is for the welfare and interest of the people.
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I don’t know the status of the RH bill in the Lower House, whether it it was passed or not, but what’s important is that the Cebu Archdicoese is ready to fight the bill to the end.
To reinforce its campaign against the RH bill, the archdiocese yesterday led a prayer rally to marshal its flock to oppose the bill which is against the teachings of the Church.. Ricardo Cardina.Vidal and Archbishop Jose Palma are leading the campaign against the RH bill and are using their influence by targetting politicians who are in favor of the bill. They are hoping that politicians will change their mind if it means not being voted upon in the 2013 election.
Rep. Tommy Osmeña of Cebu City south asserted that the warning and the lists of the church don’t threaten him because he has already made up his mind. Rep. Pablo Garcia is leading members of the House of Representatives in its battle against the RH bill. Apparently his strategy is to delay the passage of the controversial bill.
President Aquino in his State of the Nation Address emphasized the importance of responsible parenthood in order to help people free themselves from poverty. Our resources are very limited and with so many people in the county today resources may not be enough to answer their basic needs.
But the Church believes otherwise and asks why is China an emerging superpower and the largest world economy despite its population of almost one billion?
I think the issue is how we distribute resources among people in a country where the rich are very few and control the wealth of the Philippines.
It’s clear that the Church is not against responsible parenthood but it is against the promotion and use of artificial contraceptives because it is against doctrines of the Catholic Church. It is hoped that the government and the Church will find an agreement on this issue because both are interested in the genuine welfare of Filipinos.
Responsible parenthood should be pursued in order to address the need to uplift the standard of living. We should look beyond the RH bill as the sole solution.
