Over 300 people joined the culmination activity of the ‘Season for Creation’ where they signed a “call for action” urging Dumagueteños to “live a zero-waste lifestyle” to help ease the suffering brought by the “culture of taking and having”.
The statement called on spiritual leaders to constantly accompany and guide the faith community “that we may truly understand our role as stewards of creation, and as keepers of our brothers, especially those who are voiceless, weak, and marginalized.”
It also admonished local government leaders to embrace nature-based solutions, and urged them to “engage stakeholders through meaningful discussions, to apply the Precautionary Principle in evaluating projects, and to comply with the regulatory processes and procedures.”
The Precautionary Principle is an approach that emphasizes the use of caution and extensive review before leaping into “innovations that have potential for causing more harm” than good — especially when there is too much scientific uncertainty.
The call for action particularly rejects the use of pyrolysis, calls for genuine shoreline protection projects, and recommends the construction of tree-lined avenues and forest parks.
The culmination was held at the beach area of barangays Piapi and Looc here, which started with a coastal clean-up that generated several sacks of trash from the roads and beachfront areas.
The ‘Walk for Creation’ was joined by priests and ministers from the Roman Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and Iglesia Filipina Independiente; seminarians from St. Joseph College, and SU Divinity School; members of different church organizations; student leaders, barangay workers, and environmental advocates.
An ecumenical service for creation, consisting of prayers, songs and interpretative dance followed. (Gary Rosales/Kinaiyahan)
