Greed and the unrelenting pursuit of power and wealth are fueling the destruction of Albayโs environment, says Bishop Joey Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, as the province reels from catastrophic flooding that displaced thousands.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Baylon didn’t mince words.ย โLet us regulate our greed because it is greed that is running the show,โ he declared, emphasizing how selfish ambitions are endangering lives and devastating natural resources.
His statement comes as Albay struggles to recover from widespread floods that exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure and governance.
The diocese, echoing the bishopโs concerns, issued an open letter urging the Marcos administration to launch an investigation into the โuncontrolledโ quarrying activities and other environmental abuses that have worsened the regionโs plight.
The letter also pointed fingers at โseemingly substandard infrastructure and the misuse of public funds,โ which it claims exacerbated the damage caused by recent typhoons.
โSomebody has to be made responsible,โ Baylon urged. โIf nobody is responsible, everybody suffers. We need answers, and we need them now.โ
The bishop didnโt stop at calling out officials; he also appealed to ordinary citizens to stand united in demanding accountability and action.
โHopefully, we can build a massive movement of Albayanons saying, โenough,โโ he said passionately. โThere are better ways to address our challenges if we work together. The government should be our ally, not an obstacle.โ
Baylon ended on a hopeful note, calling for a collective resolve to push for change. โLet us walk together and make our hope realizedโwith the help of God. Hope is not passive; itโs something we build together.โ
His plea resonates in a province seeking both immediate relief and long-term solutions. Whether the government and the people will rise to the challenge remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the fight for Albayโs future has begun.
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