Midnight Mining Deal Hit by Green Groups – Palawan activists get national and international support

Manila – Green groups accused the DENR of fast-tracking a mining contract in Palawan, calling the agreement a “midnight deal that is insulting and a threat to ecological balance not only in Palawan but in the whole Philippines.”  Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) stated that they have reliable information that a mining contract has been approved by DENR, without the necessary consultations and failing to secure consent from affected communities. 

The alleged contract is contained in a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) approved in favor of MBMI Resources, consolidating the previous mining contracts awarded separately to Narra Nickel Mining and Development Inc. (NNMDC), Tesoro Mining and Development Inc. (TMDI), and McArthur Mining, Inc. (MMI).  These smaller mining contracts cover four properties located in the municipalities of Rizal, Bataraza and Narra, all in Palawan.  It is widely believed that this newly approved FTAA application will allow MBMI and its Philippine partners to substantially increase exploration activities and to progress toward development of full-scale operational programs at each property. At least one of the proposed mining operations cover more than 3,200 hectares and will impact the Mt. Bulanjao range in southern Palawan, and its unique ultramafic forest. The area is considered one of the best-conserved biodiversity hot spots on the island. A total of six major rivers from the mountain range supply water to both migrant and indigenous population.

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, challenged the DENR, demanding that the agency uphold transparency and accountability by releasing all documents and information related to this mining contract.  He said that “it is unacceptable that affected communities and the rest of the Filipino people learn about this midnight mining contract from international sources and the mining company, and yet the DENR itself is mum about it”.  He dared the DENR to either deny this mining contract does has not been approved or immediately release all the documents as soon as possible”. He added that “it is the highest form of irony and hypocrisy that a destructive midnight mining deal was fast-tracked in Palawan, a province that is considered as a global biodiversity hotspot, and host to one of the wonders of the modern world – the St. Paul Subterrainean River System”.

Artiso Mandawa, spokesperson for ALDAW/NATRIPAL (Ancestral Land and Domain Watch-Nagkakaisang Tribo ng Palawan), expressed shocked with the news about the approved FTAA.  He claimed that “once again, the rights of our indigenous and farmers communities have been completely bypassed in violation of national and international laws. We will extend any pressure we can to ensure that the Department of Environment and Natural resources will not endorse the FTAA”. He added that “mining is not Development, it creates conflict among people, and it destroys our culture by bringing foreign values to our community”.  He also lamented that mining introduces corruption to them in the form of bribery to the people to allow entry of mining. “Mining is the worst activity of man because it destroys our mother earth; it destroys our livelihood and our Life," he added.  ALDAW and NATRIPAL led a “Karaban” (caravan-rally) against mining last June 7, 2010, where around 500 people expressed their disgust with the reported approved mining contract.  Groups that supported the mobilization included the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ipilan, Brooke's Point, GLACC (Global Legal Action on Cliamte Change), Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), and the Palawan NGO Network, Inc. (PNNI).

HARIBON Foundation also extended support to Palawan activists against mining. Blas Tabaranza, Executive Director of HARIBON, said that “the presence of mining activities will severely disrupt ecological processes which provide crucial services particularly the regular supply of water that is crucial to the survival of both upland and lowland settlements.  The ecological and tourism value of Palawan far outweighs whatever short-term income will be derived from mining.”  HARIBON categorizes Palawan as one of the last frontier of Philippine rainforests.  They cited that there are 11 important biodiversity areas in the province, covering fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystems which harbor endemic or unique species and are the homes of several indigenous peoples tribes.  “Apparently, government officials are taking advantage of the transition in leadership and the people of Palawan will be left to bear the consequences of such reckless action”, Tabaranza added.

Fr. Edu Gariguez, Executive Director of the National Secretariat of Social Action of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP-NASSA), also expressed concern about this development.  He said “the granting of this latest FTAA in Palawan, if true, goes against the Catholic social teaching of stewardship of the Earth and preferential treatment of the poor”. He added that “given the fragile ecology of Palawan and the opposition of local communities, especially IPs, the mining contract should be rescinded as soon as possible”.  The influential Catholic Church in the Philippines has consistently shown its position against large-scale mining, amidst documented reports from its dioceses that mining operations are impacting the ecology, livelihoods and access to natural resources of the poor.

Meanwhile, international groups have also lent their voices to the resistance in Palawan.  Survival International <http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/palawan> and Intercontinental Cry <http://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenous-peoples-unite-against-mining-in-palawan/> have launched international campaigns and online petitions to stop these mining operations in Palawan.  Mr. Dario Novelino, from the Unversity of Kent and a long-time researcher and resident of Palawan, said that this development “only confirms our most dreaded fear, that the richness of Palawan, both in biodiversity and culture are facing imminent peril”.  Novelino has been coordinating with international groups in efforts to popularize the campaign to protect the province from destruction.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) is an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations who are opposing the aggressive promotion of large-scale mining in the Philippines. The group is calling for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the enactment of a new mineral management law.  They are also pushing for the revocation of EO 270-A and a moratorium on all large-scale mining applications and operations.  ATM is convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and PhilDHRRA.

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For more information:
Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19