19/07/2026
๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ
NextEarth Movement stands in firm, unwavering solidarity with the people of Sibuyan Island, Romblon, as they face a renewed threat to their ancestral lands, ecosystems, and future. We vehemently condemn the recent endorsement and proposed mining activities on the island.
Known globally as the "Galapagos of Asia," Sibuyan Island is a priceless ecological treasure. Its dense, pristine rainforests, unique biodiversity, and untouched watersheds are irreplaceable. To allow destructive extractive industries to touch this sanctuary is not just an environmental oversightโit is an ecological crime and a direct threat to the communities that depend on its natural balance.
As dedicated advocates of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NextEarth Movement firmly believes that true progress must balance economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Mining in Sibuyan directly derails global and local efforts to achieve these targets. Extracting finite resources for short-term corporate gain at the expense of an island ecosystem completely violates the principles of sustainable development. We cannot achieve a prosperous future by bankrupting our natural capital. Specifically, endorsing mining on the island actively undermines:
- SDG 15 (Life on Land): By threatening one of the world's most dense and biodiverse endemic forest ecosystems.
- SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): By endangering pristine watersheds and rivers that local communities rely on for survival.
- SDG 13 (Climate Action): By stripping the natural defenses of an island highly vulnerable to severe weather and climate disasters.
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By disrupting the sustainable livelihoods, agriculture, and eco-tourism of the Sibuyanon people.
NextEarth Movement firmly believes that true progress cannot be built on the destruction of our environment. Wealth generated by extracting finite resources at the expense of a communityโs future is a false economy. We demand Strict Accountability from local and national government agencies to uphold environmental laws, honor the SDGs, and prioritize the long-term well-being of their constituents over short-term corporate gains.
We call on our fellow environmental advocates, youth leaders, and the global community to turn their eyes to Romblon. Let us amplify the voices of the Sibuyanon people who have bravely stood on the frontlines to defend their home.
Nature does not have a voice, but we do. We will not look away.
