[Press release] Groups slam DENR Chief for “washing hands” in mining – ATM

Says Paje giving the country another cross to carry by endorsing mining Green groups were shocked at the pronouncements of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Ramon J.P. Paje during the Asia Mining Conference in Singapore last week when he said, “We are harmonizing local and national policies toward a more friendly regime…

Human Rights Online Philippines

April 18, 2011

4–5 minutes

Business, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mining, philippines, Pontius Pilate, South Cotabato, Tampakan South Cotabato

Says Paje giving the country another cross to carry by endorsing mining

DENR Sec. Paje File photo source: themindanaocurrent.blogspot.com

Green groups were shocked at the pronouncements of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Ramon J.P. Paje during the Asia Mining Conference in Singapore last week when he said, “We are harmonizing local and national policies toward a more friendly regime for the mining industry.”

Jaybee Garganera file photo source: cfamedia.org — Jaybee Garganera of ATM file photo source: cfamedia.org

Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina national coordinator reacted strongly, expressing surprise and frustration. He said that it was a mixture of sadness and anger, seeing how the DENR chief has engaged the civil society in attempt to resolve controversial mining projects in the Philippines, how easily it seemed for Paje to forget the mining tragedies that beset the country. “His announcements are outrageous, given the strong resistance of mining-affected communities and local government units”, he said. He added that these statements do not reflect the Filipino peoples’ sentiments, and that this action is similar to Pontius Pilate washing his hands of responsbility. Garganera was referring to the recent series of decisions of several provinces to ban mining in their localities, particularly in Romblon and Albay.

Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns Executive Director Myke Magalang reminds, “Fifteen years after the major mining disaster in Marinduque, the DENR and the national government cannot even defend our rights, as Marinduquenos, to compensation and rehabilitation of the damaged ecosystems.”

Magalang added, “Reforms for us is ensuring the capacity and demonstrated political will of the national government to defend its citizens against the abuse of foreign corporations, affording for the expeditious prosecution of civil, criminal and administrative cases, and declaring small islands and strategic biodiversities as “no-go-zones” for mining.”

Meanwhile, legal groups reacted to DENR’s ‘use it or lose it’ policy, saying it is not applicable to communities in the Philippines, emphasizing that communities here are using their lands for their livelihood and daily existence. Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KsK) further argues the disconnection in national and local policies on mining.

They noted Paje’s statement on the Tampakan project in South Cotabato, “The Philippine government commits to pursue the Tampakan project and resolve all attendant issues prior to its operations. The President has mandated that we shall be a nation serious about its commitment.”

Judy Pasimio, executive director of the LRC-KsK said, “Take the case of Tampakan, where the provincial government made a stand to ban open pit mining. Now, they see this as a problem, when it is an assertion of the people’s wishes. When Paje says that there is an effort to harmonize national and local policies affecting mining industry – in reality, this means that there is a concerted effort to discourage, if not prohibit, LGUs to take positions against mining.” The province of South Cotabato is currently implementing a ban on open-pit mining.

Further, groups continue to argue the government’s development framework and priorities.

Fr Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA) added, “The insistence of the PNoy administration to continue the policy of mining promotion contradicts its pro-poor pronouncements. The
CBCP continually asserts that mining brings negative social and environmental impacts, while favoring corporations with big profits and tax incentives.

“This administration should prove that there is no business-as-usual in the mining policy. Kailangan and pagbabago at pagtahak sa tamang daan,” Gariguez concluded.

Garganera further demanded that the government should focus on reforms that will benefit the interest of Filipinos and local government units and not the profit of foreign companies at the expense of our natural resources and livelihoods. He concluded that this action of the DENR chief is yet another cross to be burdened by the rural poor, especially the indigenous peoples. “As we enter Holy Week, it is sad to note that Sec. Paje seemed to be emulating Pontius Pilate, and forgeting that this main responsbility is to ensure that the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of our environment and natural resources”, he concluded.

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.

For more information:
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, (0927) 761.76.02 <nc@alyansatigilmina.net>
Judy Pasimio, LRC/FoE Phils Executive Director (0917) 526.83.41 <judy.pasimio@lrcksk.org>
Myke Magalang, MACEC Executive Director, <marinduque.macec@yahoo.com>
Fr. Edu Gariguez, CBCP-NASSA Executive Secretary, (0919) 800.55.95 <edugariguez@gmail.com>
Farah Sevilla, ATM Policy & Advocacy Officer, (0915) 331.33.61 <policy@alyansatigilmina.net>