While affected indigenous peoples in Tuba and Itogon towns in Benguet have resolved to stop operations of Philex Mining Corporation, the local office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) ordered another round of dialogues between them and the mining firm.

BY LYN V. RAMO
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 23, July 15-21, 2007

BAGUIO CITY (246 kms north of Manila) – While affected indigenous peoples in Tuba and Itogon towns in Benguet have resolved to stop operations of Philex Mining Corporation, the local office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) ordered another round of dialogues between them and the mining firm.

In a recent directive, the NCIP national leadership asked its Cordillera counterpart to facilitate the negotiation between Philex and the indigenous community to settle issues surrounding the rejection against the firm’s application for a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA).

Around 20 Kalanguya communities rejected the proposal in a series of community dialogues which culminated in the issuance of a statement of rejection in April.

Ancestral Domains Director Myrna Caogas, in a memorandum, directed Atty. Amador P. Batay-an, NCIP Regional Director, to coordinate with Philex and the indigenous cultural community of Tuba for a possible dialogue to settle issues. Caogas said the commission found the need for a dialogue, after discussing the concerns surrounding the rejection of Philex’s MPSA.

NCIP Resolution No. 051 was approved on June 19 by Chair Jannette C. Serrano-Reisland with Commissioners Eugenio A. Insigne, Pablo Santos, Perfecto L. Masagnat, and Reuben Dasay A. Lingating concurring. Commissioners Corazon M. Espino and Lagtum A. Pasag did not sign the resolution.

The NCIP order and resolution came on the heels of community efforts at bringing the issue to the doorsteps of government offices and seeking assistance for the cancellation of a special mines permit obtained by Philex in January.

Philex presently employs 2,383 workers, according to the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement)-Cordillera. Last year Philex officials told the media it was closing in no time due to a depletion in workable mines. In January, however, the company continued operating despite an expired mining permit.

Obviously, it has not obtained the necessary permit to sustain its operations, a former worker told Nordis.

Itogon and Tuba folk said their protests and clamor for the revocation of the special mines permit has reached government agencies concerned. They said they had asked the agencies to order the stoppage of Philex operations in Padcal. Even before MGB-DENR issued the special mines permit in January, there have been letters sent to the NCIP asking the contrary.

“The latest we did was (to) lobby (with) our local government officials for support,” Rufo Gayaso, a resident of Alang in Barangay (village) Camp 3 in Tuba said.

Meanwhile, MGB Regional Director Neoman dela Cruz said he had inquired with DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes through MGB Director Horacio Ramos on the status of the mining permit. He is still awaiting a “categorical” reply, he said. Dela Cruz said he could not issue any order regarding the non-compliance of Philex with the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) because it might run counter to the order of the environment secretary.

The special mines permit was signed by Ramos in January.

The NCIP resolution also authorized Serrano-Reisland to decide on the future steps to resolve related issues. Northern Dispatch / Posted by (Bulatlat.com)

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