“We will support Apung Perto and his PGKM in their fight against piggeries in Porac,” said former City Councilor Louie Reyes, one of the officials of the Green Youth Brigade (GYB) which was launched in Barangay Balibago here on Wednesday night. He was referring to Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) Chairman Ruperto “Perto” Cruz whose advocacy group waged a war against at least 12 piggeries in Barangays Sta. Cruz and Manibaug Paralaya, Porac and in Barangay Cutcut here.
PGKM official Sonny Dobles, who is also an adviser of the GYB, welcomed the plan of Reyes and his group whose members are mostly young people.
“As an environmental group, the GYB could definitely join the crusade against piggeries in Porac,” said Dobles. He disclosed that environmentalist Renato “Abong” Tayag also joined the GYB as its adviser and resource person.
Basing his statements on international studies, Dobles said that prolong exposure to foul smell emitted by piggeries would cause cancer, tuberculosis, birth defects and other deadly diseases.
Meanwhile, Reyes said they created the GYB to help save the earth and the environment.
“On the global scale, there is a growing concern on the issue of global warming and climate change. People are becoming aware of the importance of the environment. We have experienced this during Typhoon “Ondoy”. This is a manifestation of global warming and climate change,” said Reyes in a statement.
Citing the case of Marikina, Quezon City, Antipolo and other affected areas, Reyes said “this is a wake-up call on us and people are seeing the effects.”
“It is overwhelming. We cannot tolerate environmental harm at the expense of great human costs. We cannot just sit down and do nothing,” he added.
Sapang Balen Creek initiated by Bishop Ambo David, Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Parish Church. What happened to Marikina, Quezon City and Antipolo may also happen in Angeles City. That is why we are forming a group called the GYB to help Bishop Ambo. We are inspired by what Bishop Ambo initiated. We are certainly supporting him. He is very sincere,” said Reyes.
Reyes said the GYB wants to create awareness among the youths in the academe and in the community. It is also inviting the youths through information drive and open forums.
“We are targeting schools as well — While they are still young. We can instill on them the importance of the environment,” he said.
Reyes also said that the GYB is a network of student organizations, youth base communities, people’s organizations, non-government organizations, and environmental advocates
“It aims to network with other green movements to address environmental issues.”
Reyes said the GYB was established for the following purposes: To protect, preserve and guard the environment; to expose threats to the environment; to promote environmental friendly ideas about public’s environmental choices; to seek and use the media and the internet to create greater awareness; and to organize open forums in schools and in communities on environmental issues.
