PANGASINAN PEOPLE’S STRIKE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (PPSE)

Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment (PPSE) is a provincial environmental defenders alliance established in 2020. The PPSE convenes church workers, the youth, and concerned Pangasinense for environmental campaigns, programs, and defense work across the whole province.

Among the environmental issues they pursued includes the protection of the Lingayen Gulf from black sand mining; opposition to the six (6) nuclear power plants proposed in the town of Labrador, Pangasinan; coal-fired powerplants, and proposed waste incinerators for waste-to-energy projects.

In a short span of time, they were able to raise critical mass awareness among environmental issues in Pangasinan, that may have led to the abductions of their convenors, environmental defenders Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and Joxelle “Jak” Tiong last March 24, 2024. They were later on surfaced after three harrowing days of torture and sleepless nights.

Their work includes research and documentation of environmental risks and dangers of projects in Pangasinan, organizing people’s dialogue of communities and the local government, mobilizing institutions to support environmental defense and conservation works, and genuine community development and journeying with marginalized fisherfolk and peasant communities of Pangasinan.

Moreover, the recent abduction of Eco and Jak raises the alarm to better protect environmental and human rights defenders. Despite these harrowing challenges, the people of Pangasinan find the hope and resolve to continue their environmental defense endeavors.