DINALUPIHAN, Bataan: Members of the indigenous peoples under the Aeta Magbukun Tribe in Morong, Bataan said on Tuesday that they used not to feel the effects of climate change but because of pollution and the environment getting dirtier due to use of plastics, they too are no longer exempted from it.
Belinda Restum, IP chieftain of Sitio Kanawan in Barangay Binaritan, Morong, said Aeta natives before were not using plastics. “Kaming mga katutubo noon, sa buho lang kami nagluluto at kumakain kaya dati ay hindi kami nakakaranas ng ganitong init. Ngayon ay nararanasan na namin ang matinding init dahil sa palawak at palaki ang populasyon at isa pa, madumi na ang kalikasan.”
She also noted that water became scarce. “Humina ang tubig dahil sa matinding init. Malaking epekto ito sa amin dahil ang tubig na dating sagana at malinis ay kakaunti na ngayon dahil natutuyo na ito at marumi na. Isa pa, hindi lang kaming mga katutubo ang kumukuha sa gubat.”
The tribal leader cited the importance of the mountain and the trees in their livelihood. “Kapag nawala ang gubat ay hindi na kami masasabing katutubo dahil sa gubat kami nabubuhay at doon kami kumukuha ng pagkain.”
In order to protect the forest, Restum said that they followed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in not resorting to kaingin farming. “May ginawa kaming batas na hindi maaaring pumutol ng kahoy kung ang parte nito ay mura pa at kung puputulin ay kailangang magtanim ng maraming kapalit.”
She noted the benefit of having more trees that she said help in providing abundant water and clean air.
Restum was one of the speakers during the forum on Climate Innovations and Enhanced Community Engagement held by the Presidential Commission on Climate Change in coordination with the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) – Bataan chapter in Dinalupihan.
Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz said that the Philippines is considered as the most vulnerable country as per world risk index on climate change. “Lagi tayong nasa numbers 1, 2, and 3 because we are the recipient of all the impacts of climate change.”
He said that they are in the UNC to rally the support of the university together with the students on the problem on climate change. He said that earlier, he and his group talked with Dinalupihan Mayor Herman Santos as a way of asking the support of the local government units.
Dela Cruz said President Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos is in full support of the commission.
UNC administrator Russel Brian Mallari announced that the school has adopted measures that will help in the protection of the environment. He said that their Board of Directors has approved the use of solar energy as part of the university’s lighting requirements.
They hold continuous discussions, he said, in the simplest way in the level understood by school children on issues of caring for the environment and the effects of climate change. “Dapat malinaw sa kanila kung ano ang magiging problema, paano ito nangyari, ano ang magiging hakbang para sa sarili nilang mga paraan ay mababago nila ang kanilang lifestyle.”
The school administrator encouraged the students to use bikes in going to school like what he sometimes does.
UNC has for its enrollees 1,000 school children. Felicito “Tong” Payumo, former Bataan congressman and chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Bases Conversion Development Authority, is its president.
