As we said here several weeks ago, the acid test for PDu30 was the confirmation of the fighting erstwhile DENR Secretary Gina Lopez. She is now past tense as far as the DENR is concerned.
There is no denying, however, her passion for the environment. Many groups and individuals were frustrated at her not having made it through the Commission on Appointments. Who will now care for the environment against the rapacious big businesses, especially the wealthy and, thus, powerful big mining companies?
Nobody in this administration. Gina Lopez was the hope. But she was no contest to big money. Her last hope was PDu30 but he did not come to her rescue. Note that all the votes she got from the Commission on Appointments were from the Senate. The Lower House (which became infamous for the statement of the speaker, “Sino ba ang walang girlfriend?”) members went against her though that body is controlled by the administration. A strong leader that the President was, he could have swayed it either way he wanted.
Expectedly, the President would say, as he said before a gathering of doctors the other day, “He was sorry about Gina Lopez’ not having made it, but this is democracy and that the Congress is an independent body.” How convenient.
Sure, this is a democracy. And nobody could get to the very top, without owing some favors. This is true across the board, PDu30 included. So when the “favor-givers” come to call, 99% of the time, the debt of gratitude has to be paid. And, sure, there was the big lobby money against Gina Lopez. Just like any other kind of money, it can buy anybody.
Even in the USA which is said to be the best proof of the goodness of democracy, the president therecannot become one without the support of the Jewish businessmen. So, no matter what, that country is always behind Israel.
Everybody is also aware of the recent tiff between the President and the Lopez owned ABS-CBN. The President even went public as to his opposition to the renewal of the latter’s franchise as a TV station.
So, environmental care in this country? Tell that to the marines.**