MANILA, Philippines- Bago sumapit ang Annual Meeting ng ADB sa susunod na buwan, nanawagan ang civil society groups sa Asian Development Bank (ADB) na baguhin ang kasalukuyang draft ng Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).
Upang ihayag ang kanilang pagkabahala sa mga probisyon ng polisiya na makaaapekto sa mga indibidwal at makapipinsala sa kapiligiran, inilatag ng nasa 200 raliyista ang kanilang mga hinaing sa ADB Headquarters sa Manila sa pamamagitan ng kilos-protesta at pagtatanghal.
“The ESF W Paper, after two years of consultations, regrettably fails to integrate any of the comments provided by civil society, which have consistently demanded stringent requirements for ADB borrowers to adhere to environmental and social compliance principles, committed to “Do No Harm.” The mitigating hierarchy approach promoted by the ADB in this draft ESF poses a direct threat to communities and the environment globally. It undermines all prerequisites for environmental and social risk assessment and compliance prior to loan approval, granting borrowers absolute freedom to disregard environmental and social risks. This constitutes a dismantling of the fundamental notion of safeguards,” ani Rayyan Hassan, Executive Director ng NGO Forum on ADB.
“We strongly condemn the ADB’s current ESF draft at its 57th annual meeting and demand a complete overhaul to ensure mandatory risk assessment requirements before loan approval, with language compliant with independent investigations for all ADB borrowers. Anything less than this poses a direct threat to communities and the environment,” dagdag niya.
Kinokondena ng civil society groups ang draft ESF dahil sa mga kakulangan nito kabilang ang mga sumusunod:
-Kakulangan ng accountability
-Kakulangan ng paglilinaw ukol sa stakeholder engagement
-Kakulangan ng human rights approach
-Mahinang environmental at social protections
-Gender consideration dilution
-Kapos na climate change standards
-Opaque financial intermediary lending
Dahil sa mga ito, hinihikayat ng NGO Forum on ADB at ng Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) katuwang ang Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), 350.org, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Freedom from Debt Coalition, Sanlakas, Oriang, K4K-QC, Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO), Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KSK), EcoWaste Coalition, Coalition for Human Rights in Development (CHRD), Recourse and International Accountability Project (IAP) ang ADB na baguhin ang draft ESF nito, upang maipakita ang “forward-looking safeguards” na akma sa kabuuang portfolio nito, at nakasalig sa international human rights and environmental standards.
”The ADB’s safeguards should be the backbone of the bank’s commitment to people and the ecosystem’s well-being. Prioritizing community consultation and consent in all energy projects is paramount, ensuring that local communities are empowered in decision-making, safeguarding their rights and livelihoods. For us, the well-being of people and planet are non-negotiable,” giit ni Chuck Baclagon, Finance Campaigner ng 350.org Asia.
“The ADB continues to subject people and planet to further harm. The latest draft of ADB’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) further dilutes already weak safeguards provisions for affected communities. Even worse, the Bank continues to ignore opposition by communities and persists in pushing climate-exacerbating programs and policies and debt-creating finance in many Asian countries,” wika naman ni Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator ng Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD).
“The ADB should walk the talk of eradicating poverty. Heed peoples’ demand for debt cancellation, reparations for past and continuing harms, an end to financing of planet-warming fossil fuels, and a rapid, equitable, and just energy transition,” aniya pa.
Samantala, isang pagtatanghal naman ang isinagawa sa protesta kung saan ipinakita ang masasamang epekto ng proyekto ng ADB sa komunidad na isinalarawan sa pamamagitan ng projection ng isang pamilya na may suot na mga reaksyong-mukha habang kinakausap at nagbubulas ng hinaing sa ADB.
