Mines Operations Endanger UNESCO World
Heritage Site
Palawan, the largest
protected area in the Philippines and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is
facing once again the ill-effects of mining operations. Catholic bishops
and environmentalist groups are calling for a responsible mining policy to
the outright revocation of all mining applications.
Posted by Bulatlat
While the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) recent nixing of the
environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the Platinum Group Metals
Corp. (PGMC) is a clear and partial victory for Palawan residents and
environmental groups, the government should go further by stopping the
operations of other abusive firms in Palawan and in implementing a
moratorium on new mining applications in this last frontier, spokespersons
from Kalikasan-Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) and
Defend Patrimony said today.
Defend Patrimony and
Kalikasan-PNE congratulated the Catholic bishops, people's and
environmental organizations for their role in the concerted campaign to
expose and oppose the damage that the PGMC's operations have inflicted on
the community. Defend Patrimony is a nationwide network of organizations
Supporting the wise use of the country's mineral resources and calling for
the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995.
However, these
environmental groups also said that canceling PGMC's ECC alone was not
enough, as other abusive mining firms continue to freely operate in other
parts of Palawan.
"If the DENR was able
to revoke permits for the PGMC, it must also be able to do so for other
foreign multinational mining firms in which are wantonly guilty of similar
ECC violations," Kalikasan-PNE spokesperson Clemente Bautista said.
"In Palawan alone,
other mining TNCs which may be guilty of similar transgressions continue
to operate wantonly under the DENR's nose. For example, there have been
human rights violations, displacements of indigenous peoples, and mine
pollution related to the HPP Project in Palawan nickel processing and
limestone mining in Bataraza, Palawan, financed by Rio Tuba Mining Corp.
and Coral Bay Mining Corp,” Bautista added.
Bishop Pedro D. Arigo
D.D., Vicar Apostolate of Puerto Princesa, issued a pastoral statement
calling on government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and the
DENR to impose a ban on new mining applications in Palawan. He reiterated
the Catholic Bishops Conference in the Philippines’ (CBCP) stand against
mining, calling on his constituents to be aware and critical against of
the existing mining practices and to work for the common good of the
people.
Bishop Arigo also
said that the 2% excise tax imposed on mining companies did not guarantee
any improvement in the local populace's lives, noting that the areas with
long-standing mining operations such as Benguet, Marinduque, Romblon, and
even Bataraza in Palawan have remained among the poorest regions in the
Philippines.
"Maybe the people
would benefit more if mining areas were used instead in other ways, such
as planting Macasla and tuba-Tuba," Bishop Arigo said.
"Palawenos primarily
source their livelihood from the land and sea. The destruction of these
resources for the needs and profits of foreigners also means the
destruction of their hopes, futures, and lives," he said.
Fish and wildlife sanctuary
The bishop also
expressed concern for Palawan's status as a UNESCO Fish and Wildlife
Sanctuary, World Heritage Site, and the largest protected area in the
Philippines.
He also called for a
genuine and responsible mining policy to be implemented in Palawan's
existing mine projects, the inspection of existing mine tailings and
rehabilitation of "mined out areas.”
Meanwhile, Defend
Patrimony Spokesperson Trixie Concepcion said that they were supporting
Bishop Arigo's call to ban new mining applications in Palawan, stressing
that "the DENR's action against PGMC would only be negated if it does not
hold halt the inflow of new mining projects, especially at the rate at
which new mining applications are being submitted and permits being farmed
out to errant firms."
Bishop Arigpo
confirmed this by revealing that over 100 new mining applications are
pending for the Palawan region alone.
Concepcion added that
the DENR should also follow-up on its commitment to crack down on abusive
firms by "taking long-clamored for action against Lafayette, currently the
most prominent example of abusive mining firms in the Philippines."
"If the DENR was able
to find a sound basis for the disapproval of the PGMC's ECC, then more so
should it find basis for the long-clamored for disapproval of Lafayette's
Phil Inc. permit in Rapu-Rapu. Lafayette has caused the wanton
environmental damage and has repeatedly violated clauses in its permits
but has been allowed by the DENR and the Palace to get away scot-free to
date," she said.
Concepcion added that
more ecological disasters, human rights violations, and plunder of the
country's natural resources would happen if the government continues to
proceed with the Arroyo administration's Mining Revitalization Program.
Posted by Bulatlat
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