08 June 2022, from Gems

Dear Fellow Lot Owners: 

Sorry, I have been away again. If you have been wondering about the latest developments, the truth is: there are none so far. The JTF work has seemingly stalled after the last meeting and face-to-face interviews on 01 Apr 2022, which collected the requirements from the second batch of fully paid lot applicants. It was our understanding that DENR would provide us the list of the 3rd batch for processing within that period. It didn’t come.    

Last month we repeatedly called and communicated with our JTF counterparts, but no one would respond. Incredibly. Like you wouldn’t believe. Given the events surrounding the recent elections, we assumed that the DENR Central Office was going to undergo positional transitions at the top levels. Or get really busy with reports and other stuff. Everyone there, it appeared, wanted to do the politically right thing. 

With former Secretary Roy Cimatu out and Acting Secretary Sampulna leaving this month, parang napunta sila sa suspended animation with respect to our applications. They have even become eerily quiet. But we respect their strange behavior. So we are currently biding our time. 

In hindsight, the disruption of our timeline, occasioned by changes in the administration, could not have probably been helped. Decision documents are being handled with deliberate speed. Or kept in place. Ganun din ang nangyayari sa ibang government agencies, I heard. Well, that’s beyond us. And we should have known better. Force majeure. 

But our vision and focus on our goals remain unrelenting.  Right now, we are pressing on with the completion of the documentary requirements of all lot applicants/owners. From our end, the administrative process has not stopped. Tuloy pa rin yung paggawa ng supporting certificates and affidavits at your request. Tuloy pa rin ang pagtawag sa concerned staff ng DENR. Tuloy pa rin ang “call-a-friend” ni Pres Art Abadilla.  And as usual, Gigi and Mark and our AFPOVAI staff have been remarkable.   

The fair development, as I learned the other day from Pres Art, was that DENR’s Atty Constantino had already replied by text, acknowledging our request to meet again. But no explanation was given about their two-month long silence. Additionally, we heard that the applications of the first two batches are now being routed to the concerned offices. 

While we still hold faith in the effectivity of the lifting orders, signed by Acting Secretary Sampulna last 16 March 2022, we want to make sure that the nail would hold and last. So we’re planning to immediately call on the next Secretary of DENR, whoever he or she might be, in order to advance our cause. If some of you happen to be in the loop upstairs, we also request your timely kind assistance.   

The pre and post election period, indeed, might have been a delaying factor, but we don’t want to create a problem out of it with DENR. It is what it is. And we trust that they know what they are doing. But we need to break the silence soon enough. Before June 30 or immediately after.

In our march forward, a battle hymn might sound good. But we cannot afford to sing the lyrics: 

“And in the naked light, I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more

People talking without speaking

People hearing without listening

People writing songs that voices never shared

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence.”  

These coming weeks, mangungulit na naman ako. Thanks for your exchanges and shared concerns. God bless AFPOVAI 678.

Maraming salamat, sirs. Gusto ko rin sanang kumanta nung Simon & Garfunkel. Anyway, the keys – or codes to the combination locks to our gate – lie in the next  leadership of DENR, DND and, ultimately, should matters reach the top, our new President. We should all unite, support and help in any way we can. It’s still a long way. And we cannot assume that the road ahead is already paved or that everyone is working for our interest or that some big agency will come out to protect us. Tutok lang tayo at tuloy lang – with no doubters or dissenters in our ranks. We will resume firing for effect after this temporary lull.