Bulatlat - The Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine

This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. IV, No. 52, January 30 - February 5, 2005

Notorious Mining Firms in Gov’t Priority List

BY IBON Foundation
Posted by Bulatlat

Several mining firms that have notorious records in environmental and social damages are among those endorsed by President Arroyo to be accorded with an array of incentives as Investment Priority Projects (IPPs).

But independent think-tank IBON Foundation urges the Arroyo government to go after these notorious mining firms and make them accountable for their environmental and social crimes, instead of rewarding them with more incentives.

These corporations, whose mineral projects are expected to infuse at least $6 billion in the next six years, will enjoy a longer list of incentives than ordinary mining projects such as 6-year tax holiday and exemption from import duties and corporate taxes, among others.

Firms included in the IPP list are:

-Marcopper Mining Corporation, owned by Canadian company Placer Dome, which plans to open the San Antonio Copper Project in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque despite failures to rehabilitate its old mines and provide just compensation for hundreds of families that were victimized by the 1996 mine spill.
Canadian firm Toronto Ventures Inc. (TVI), which operates the Canatuan Gold Project in Zamboanga del Norte. The local Subanon tribes have complained of deceptive tactics by the company to avail of its consent, as well as harassment from military and paramilitary elements stationed to guard TVI premises.
Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation and Philex Mining Corporation, two of the country’s biggest mining corporations, which until now have not answered to reports of environmental destruction and community displacement in Benguet.

IBON executive director Rosario Guzman said: “It is already worrisome that the country is foregoing more taxes to mining firms in exchange of investments, but it is more dangerous that many of these corporations have inflicted harm on the environment, as well as violated human rights in their host communities.”

She notes that other mining firms availing of incentives might also harbor notorious records in other countries. “Instead of attracting more investors, government should instead promote sustainable and community-based mining practices so that the people will truly benefit from this sector,” said Guzman. Posted by Bulatlat

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