The head of the Catholic Church in Bayombong has called on religious, civic, and educational leaders to join the November 30 protest action against mining in Nueva Vizcaya.

Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao encouraged the public to form a human chain to oppose destructive mining and affirm “our deep love and care for our beloved province that is now under serious threat.”

The message, released on November 20, followed a recent gathering of Religious and Civic Leaders against Mining, where participants agreed on “several concrete actions to more strongly communicate our collective stand.” 

The prelate said the concern extends beyond Nueva Vizcaya because “the fate of our land is inseparably tied to the well-being of the entire Cagayan Valley Region.”

He noted that the province’s mountains and forests sustain the headwaters of the Magat and Cagayan River systems, which feed farms and communities across Isabela, Quirino, and Cagayan. 

“If our watersheds are destabilized, if our rivers are poisoned, or if our mountains are stripped bare, the harm will ripple downstream,” he said.

Bishop Mangalinao said the call to action is also meant for those who rely on the region’s rivers and farmlands. “Our stand today is a stand for the entire Cagayan Valley—our shared home, heritage, and future,” he added.

The human chain will take place simultaneously in every municipality from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in solidarity with the nationwide Trillion Peso March. 

The bishop described it as a symbol of “unity and determination, inspired by the brave men and women in the Barikadas, who literally stand shoulder to shoulder to protect their land.”

“Their locked arms symbolize courage and resistance—and by doing the same, we extend not only their cry but ours too to every corner of Nueva Vizcaya,” he said.

Communities are encouraged to gather in open and visible spaces, such as churches, schools, or municipal halls, and wear white “as a sign not of political affiliation, but of purity and our shared call for the environmental purification of our province from destructive Mining.” 

Participants are asked to link arms, prepare placards, and document the action through photos and videos.

Bishop Mangalinao expressed hope that the province will act together to protect its future. “May our united efforts, rooted in love for our province, bear the fruits of justice, protection, and the common good for all,” he said.