"...COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORLANDO R. RAVANERA "...FEARS ANOTHER 'SENDONG' IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY..."

(Note:  Cooperatives Philippines came across this news story, published in Sun Star Cagayan de Oro.  This was attributed to the Acting Executive Director of the the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Orlando R. Ravanera.  He is listed as the concurrent CDA Regional Director based in Cagayan de Oro City.

Cooperatives Philippines  felt that this is a public-interest story that should be of equal interest to other cooperatives.)


"ENVIRONMENTALIST FEARS
ANOTHER 'SENDONG' IN ORO"

By Nicole J. Managbanag
Sun Star Cagayan de Oro
January 18, 2012


AN ENVIRONMENTALIST is urging the government to "clear all riverbanks and flood-prone areas with people" the soonest to avoid another "Sendong-like" tragedy that might come in six months' time.

Orlando Ravanera, an environmentalist who is also the regional director of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), said there might be another flood coming in the city that is even much worse than "Sendong."


Ravanera had been tagged as a "prophet of doom" when he revealed the coming of a flash flood two years ago if illegal activities in the mountains such as mining and logging would not stop.


This time, he is again calling officials and proper agencies to stop these illegal activities.


"During that time, nobody listened to me.  They took it for granted and instead laughed at me, thinking I was just making stories to scare the people.  I hope this time, they will listen to me," he said.


Ravanera issued the call again after Korean expert Do Jeong H from Doalnara Philippines made a survey recently in the city and in the mountains.


Based on the survey, he said, " another worst flood will come due to illegal mining and logging" in the mountains, the same reasons that residents in the city cited why "Sendong" had caused much destruction to lives and properties last month.


"This time, local government units and other sectors should act now and be vigilant by stopping these illegal activities to prevent another devastation to happen again,"  Ravanera said.


He hoped that this time, officials will listen to his warning "before it is too late..."


(Note:  Comments are welcome.  END).