Sensitive Philippine cave needs support for on-line petition
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Hi Elron and Agapito,
In receiving your email message this morning (below), I can assume that your strategy is to contact as many caving organizations as possible and ask them to exert a public outcry against the quarrying that is happening at Pinagrealan Cave.
You've probably sent the same message to all the NSS grottos listed on www.caves.org, as well as caving organizations throughout Europe and anywhere else you can find.
I assume you've sent your message to the National Speleological Society, which is the parent organization of all the local grottos (like mine).
On behalf of local cavers in and around the major U.S. city of Chicago, we sympathize with your plight.?On behalf of all U.S. cavers and members of the NSS, who are dedicated to "the preservation of caves and their natural contents" (--our mission statement), we sympathize with your struggle.
It saddens us that political corruption has allowed a local official to disregard quarrying bans, change the name of the company and continue doing damage that threatens your sensitive cave.
You are correct in assuming that there's not much we in the U.S. can do except to voice our opposition, exert public pressure and let your authorities know that cave conservation and preserving endangered species is vitally important.
I have read the Geologist Reports and Cave Law PDFs that you sent. I also?read House Resolution 1916, the Philippine bill to halt quarrying at the cave (all of which are attached here for the sake of others to whom I'm forwarding my response), all of which convinced me to sign your on-line petition.
www.heritageprotection.org/petition/
I urge all other concerned U.S. cavers to consider doing the same by visiting www.heritageprotection.org/petition/, adding your name and submitting a comment similar to mine:
"On behalf of all cave explorers and conservationists in the United States, we strongly oppose the quarrying that's currently being allowed at Pinagrealan Cave. We urge the national government and local authorities to enforce House Resolution 1916 and immediately halt the quarrying, as required by law. The international community is watching, and we sincerely hope that officials will heed the pressure of cave conservationists, world-wide."
Elron, I hope this helps! Please keep me posted on the status of what happens.
sincerely,
-Gary :)
Gary Gibula
Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto, founder and chair
National Speleological Society
36288RL
-----Original Message-----
From: Elron Garcia <info@...> To: garygibula@... <garygibula@...> Sent: Mon, Jun 28, 2021 1:30 pm Subject: Re: Cave Protection Assistance Request Gary Gibula Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto - URGENT
Hello Gary
Thank you so much.?
I was lucky to hear today that Philippines Congress has a Resolution which will be read at the end of July to ask for an investigation into this matter. The resolution already notes there's damage to the cave
?
Of course - public pressure is always important in countries where corruption is the norm. That's why the more people who can sign the petition and support us the better - so they won't cover it up.?
Thank you so much again.
Agapito Almada and Elron Garcia
From: garygibula@... <garygibula@...>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2021 9:37 PM To: Elron Garcia <info@...> Subject: Re: Cave Protection Assistance Request Gary Gibula Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto - URGENT ?
Thank you for the message, Elron.
I'm off to do some research this morning at the Field Museum of Natural History, in downtown Chicago, and I will respond in more detail later today.
best,
-Gary
-----Original Message-----
From: Pinagrealan Cave Association <admin@...> To: Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto Gary Gibula garygibula@... <garygibula@...> Sent: Mon, Jun 28, 2021 8:08 am Subject: Cave Protection Assistance Request Gary Gibula Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto - URGENT Dear Gary
Re: Cave Protection Petition Assistance / Moral Support Request from Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto
I'm writing to ask if you'll lend your voice to help save a protected cave in the Philippines which is endangered by a quarrying/mining operation.
The name of the cave is Pinagrealan Cave. It is located in Luzon Island (the same island where Manila is), in the Province of Bulacan.? At various times in history Pinagrealan Cave was home to several founders of the Philippines including Andr¨¦s
Bonifacio y de Castro, "Katipunan" Movement (who were attempting to free the Philippines from Spanish rule), General Emilio Aguinaldo and the Imperial Japanese Army (World War II). Besides its historical importance, the site is a wildlife biodiversity location,
with several species of endemic and endangered bats, reptiles and birds using the cave as shelter.
The cave is situated under a limestone mountain (now reduced to half its size). This mountain has been subject to stop-quarrying orders for more than 70 years, yet somehow - either through corruption or gross negligence -? the quarrying company
still continues to operate.? The quarrying company is situated only 100-200 feet from the mouth of the cave - and between 30 feet and 100 feet above it. Needless to say the blasting from the open limestone quarry shakes the cave and surrounding residential
buildings.?
The problem is this:
The Philippines is a poor country where politicians can buy indemnity / favors. Even very minor politicians who have money do this (the quarrying company is owned by a local village elected official - but she has significant money from her quarrying).
There's literally a cave law in the Philippines which states you cannot disturb a cave (https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2001/ra_9072_2001.html#:~:text=Title%20%2D%20This%20Act%20shall%20be,of%20the%20country's%20natural%20wealth.) But appparently laws
don't really matter if you're wealthy.... Various Presidents tried to halt quarrying three times - but like a pheonix, the quarry just renames itself and they start again.
Only public pressure seems to work in a situation like this...
And the quarrying has started again last week - with daily blasting shaking the cave. It's gotten to the point where the vent at the far end of the cave (around 800 meters inside) is now raining limestone dust inside each time blasting occurs.
Thus - I am humbly asking if you'll add your voice by signing our petition to protect the cave:
If you can also provide us with any advice please let me know. We're desperate to save the cave before the quarry finally destroys it.
As background information I have enclosed:
1. Historical Documents About the Cave
2. Maps / Location of the Cave and Quarry
3. Geologist Reports
4. A summary of Philippine Cave Law - all of which constantly denotes PINAGREALAN as being a protected cave
You can see photos of the cave in the Geologist reports and also just by googling "Pinagrealan Cave".
Any other advice you can give or feedback please please let us know. We're truly desperate for advice and moral support.
Elron Garcia & Agapito Almada
Bonifacio Society
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Gary Gibula