Villagers Up in Arms Against Mining Firm’s Exhaust Reopening

They took the land and its natural resources from the indigenous peoples. With the planned reopening and reinstallation of the Toking exhaust, even the air they breathe will be taken away.

BY MARLON GOMARCHO
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

MANKAYAN, Benguet  – Almost 11,000 indigenous peoples will be affected by the reopening and reinstallation of the Toking exhaust at Pacda, Suyoc, Mankayan, located at the tri-boundary of  Barangays (villages) Bulalacao, Suyoc and Sapid of Mankayan town. Benguet which has a land area of 2,655 sq kms is located in Region I (Ilocos). Many mining companies operate in the province.

During last week’s session here at the municipal hall, residents of the three barangays submitted a petition paper to the Sanguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) of Mankayan and Sanguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) of Benguet calling on Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) to desist from re-opening and re-installing the Toking exhaust.

Barangay leaders and people’s organizations challenged the two councils to endorse a petition they made to Joel Salvador, regional director of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urging him not to issue a permit for the re-opening and re-installation.

Julian Gayumba, chairperson of Alyansa Dagiti Pesante Iti Taeng Cordillera (Apit-Tako Cordillera, or Alliance of Peasants in the Cordillera Homeland) and a resident of Guinawang Mankayan, said In Ilokano, the regional dialect, “Kasapulan mi iti dagus nga aksyon ken posisyon iti SB iti Mankayan, isuda  kuma iti kangrunaan nga mangidaulo a mangitakder kadagiti dawat iti umili” (We need immediate action and position from the council of Mankayan, they should lead in asserting the demands of the community.).

Gayumba revealed that the opening of the exhaust at Toking is due to the bogging down of two exhausts located somewhere in Barangay Sapid. He said, “Daytoy a panangilukat iti pasngaw ket  paset met laeng iti panagtultuloy a panagminas ken expansion iti Teresa Gold Project iti Lepanto, isu nga nu ipilit iti kompanya a mangilukat ti pasngaw nakarkaro manen nga agrigat iti umili” (The opening of the exhaust is part of the mining maintenance and expansion of the Teresa Gold Project, and if the company pushes through  with it, the community will further suffer.).

“Nu ipalubos tayo daytoy nga exhaust, kakaasi dagiti umili, adun tu manen iti talon ken balay a marga-ay gapu iti cracks nga epekto iti minas” (If we allow the exhaust to be opened, pity the people, vast farmlands and houses will sink again because of cracks caused by the mining.), he stressed.

Test of scrubber

Enrique Camat of Danggayan dagiti Umili a Maidadanes iti Mankayan (DAMAYAN, or Association of Oppressed People in Mankayan), and a barangay official of Suyoc, revealed that last July 29 the EMB conducted a test of scrubber, a tool that sprays the smoke coming from the exhaust which consumes a great amount of water supply for it to be able to operate for 24 hours. The result of the test has already been presented by the EMB to the Mankayan council for further endorsement but council members said they have not yet approved it as of Sept. 13.

Camat said that LCMCo held consultations with some community members at Sitio Pacda, Suyoc on Aug. 19 to enforce its plan to re-open and re-install the Toking exhaust and ventilation. Together with an EMB representative the LCMCo convinced the residents through the presentation of the scrubber test result conducted by the Berkman System Inc., he added.

“Iti tongtongan mi kadagiti taga-LCMCo ken EMB idi kalpasan iti panag-testing da idiay Toking exhaust ket haan da kuman nga uliten manen iti panag- asok inggana adda iti pammalubos iti umili. Ti rigat na inggana tatta ket ilimlimmed da nga usaren iti Toking exhaust iti panang iparuar ti rugit manipud iti minas kada rabii nga nakaturog amin nga bumaryo” (After  the testing of the Toking exhaust, we agreed with the LCMCo and EMB that they should not repeat emitting the smoke until the community approved it, but the problem now is that they secretly use the Toking exhaust to release mine wastes and this they do every night while the community is asleep.), Camat also explained.

Pastor Jun Paplonot who is assigned in Bulalacao and a resident of Barangay Sapid summed up the history of mining operations and blamed the latter for the “bastardization” of the indigenous social life and the destruction of physical indigenous communities and traditional culture.

Paplonot added that the domination of LCMCo has frustrated the residents, and the mining operations caused pollution, erosion and damages to farm lands and water sources.

“They should not pass their problem of mining operations to the people of Mankayan. The company has billions of money so they should relocate their exhaust. They should not operate in Toking because many residents are affected. The entire residents are opposed to the re-opening of the exhaust,” the pastor stated.

“Angin laengen ti nabatbati a kinabaknang kanyami a residente ken agtutubo iti Mankayan. Kasanu ngay nu agtuloy nga mailukat dayta nga pasngaw di pay asok tun ti maanges mi. Kasanun ngay ti masakbayan iti baro a henerasyon nga sumarsaruno kanya tayo?” (Air is the only remaining wealth for us residents and youth of Mankayan. If they open the exhaust then it is smoke that we will breathe. What does the future hold for the generation that will come after us?), Paplonot asked the Council. Bulatlat

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