Tiniyak ng Diocese of Tandag ang pakikibahagi ng diyosesis sa pangangalaga at pagbibigay proteksyon sa kalikasan na ipinagkaloob ng Panginoon sa sangkatauhan.
Sa pastoral statement ni Tandag Bishop Raul Dael kaugnay sa paggunita ng Earth Day 2021 ay binigyang diin ng Obispo ang pagsusulong ng integral ecology na pagkakaroon ng malalim na ugnayan ng buhay ng bawat nilalang at ng likas na yaman.
Ayon sa Obispo, ang pagkasira ng kalikasan ay nagsisimula sa pagkasira at unti-unti pagkawala ng human values at pagpapahalaga sa iniatang na responsibilidad ng Panginoon na pangasiwaan at alagaan ang sanilikha.
“Degradation of the environment is primarily costs by the erosion of human values that no longer acknowledge our creaturehood that entails relationship with the creator and responsibility towards creation. For these reason the Church of Tandag commits herself to the integral ecology that promotes the fullness of the human person with his or her God given rights and the flourishing of creation.” pahayag ni Bishop Dael.
Inihayag ni Bishop Dael na ang pagkakaroon ng maayos na ugnayan ng bawat nilalang at ng sangkalikasan ay isang magandang bahagi ng pagpapamalas ng pananampalataya.
Iginiit ng Obispo na mahalaga ang kagyat na pagtugon ng bawat isa upang agad na masolusyunan ang lumalalang suliranin ng climate change.
“We consider the healthy relationship with creation as an essential dimension of our faith that leads us to the path of conversion until we mirror the image of God in us and build a human family with a world livable for all. Climate change is a reality the world is urgently facing due to unbridled human activities, like most parts of the globe the country has exhibited risking temperatures and the tropical cyclones occurring in the Philippine Area of Responsibility have increased in number.” Dagdag pa ni Bishop Dael.
Ibinahagi ng Obispo na bukod sa pagkakaroon ng mas malalakas na bagyo at matinding tagtuyot ay nagdudulot rin ang climate change ng pagkasira ng natural na tahanan ng may 1,768 Filipino wildlife na kinabibilangan rin ng ilang critically endangered species.
Tinukoy ni Bishop Dael ang sitwasyon sa Surigao Del Sur na sa kabila ng ipinagkaloob na natural na yaman ng Panginoon ay humaharap ang lalawigan sa pagkasira at ecological crisis dahil sa illegal logging at open-pit mining na bumibiktima sa mga mahihirap na kumunidad.
“Surigao Del Sur is one of the provinces gifted with abundant natural resources and magnificent beauty of nature that lavishly nourished its inhabitants, however like in other places in the world we are also facing an ecological crisis that threatens the lives of the people particularly the poor in their access to potable water, arable land, productive marine life and health environment due to the paradigm life that prioritizes profit than people.” Pagbabahagi pa ni Bishop Dael.
Tema ng Earth Day 2021 ngayong taon ang “Restore Our Earth” na layong maisulong ang agarang pagtugon sa climate emergency.
