Groups wait for new mining policy
Says Pnoy move to craft one a welcome development

Manila – Groups today expressed their excitement over President Aquino’s recent instruction to several Cabinet members to craft a new mining policy.  They said that this move is in line with the reforms being done by his administration under its “tuwid na daan”. President Aquino last week announced that he has instructed Sec. Paje (DENR), Sec. Acosta (LLDA Board member and Presidential Adviser on Environmental Concerns), Sec. Sering (CCC) and Sec. Gozun (Presidential Adviser on Climate Change).

Alyansa Tigil Mina national coordination Jaybee Garganera said that this move is ont only timely, but also singificant in light of the recent developments on mining affected communities.  He was referring to the recent attacks in Taganito Mines in Surigao del Norte and the recently passed provincial ordinance in Zamboanga del Norte that bans open pit mining operations in the province. The recent killing of Fr. Pops Tentorio in Cotabato, is also widely believed to be related to the mining issue, as the Italian priest is a well-known supporter of IP issues and peace-building in the area.

“The President’s move is a welcome one, and we are preparing to engage the national government on an objective and meaningful consultation process to craft this new policy”, Garganera said.  He aslso added that they have given copies to the four secretaries of their policy papers that they have prepared.  Their groups are also preparing to meet the secretaries separately for informal briefings with civil society organizations.

Meanwhile, local groups also expressed their support for this move of Malacanang.  Rene Pamplona, Advocacy Officer for the Social Action Center – Marbel (SAC-Marbel) in South Cotabato, said that this move of Malacanang can also benefit their province, as they confront the exploration activities of Sagittarius Mines in Tampakan, South Cotabato.  South Cotabato has a standing Provincial Environment Code that bans open pit mining, a local law that is being challenged by the mining company.

Alyansa Tigil Mina is a national alliance of mining-affected communities and their supprot groups, challenging the mining revitalization policy of the government.  They are calling for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the enactment of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) in Congress. They are aslo seeking the revocation of EO 270-A or the Revitalization of Mining policy of the previous administration, and are demanding a moratorium on new and operating mining projects.

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For details:

Jaybee Garganera, ATM  (0927) 761.76.02
Rene Pamplona, SAC-Marbel (0908) 126.45.30