Human Rights Online Philippines

Davao hosts int’l conference on mining in Mindanao
By Mindanews
January 23, 2012
 DAVAO CITY -The Ateneo de Davao University and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines are hosting a two-day international conference on mining in Mindanao on January 26 and 27.

The conference will focus on business and economics of mining, environmental impacts, human rights, international standards and state of play in the Philippines.

Dr. Catherine Coumans, Research Coordinator of MiningWatch Canada, will deliver the keynote address. Coumans has done extensive work on mining in the Philippines and on international framework on responsible mining.

In his invitation letter, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ, ADDU President, said the conference’s four-point objectives are “to get updated on and analyze current mining operations in Mindanao and how these impact on the environment, livelihood, rights and lives of people within and outside mining communities in Mindanao; to share people’s initiatives and gains in addressing the negative effects of mining and to promote the need for new mining policies in the country that are pro-Filipino and pro-Environment; to strengthen the networking among people’s organizations and NGOs doing work on mining and help ensure that continuing information and education activities on mining are sustained; and to promote greater participation in dialogue and exchange among the peoples of Mindanao affected by mining, and by doing so, to strengthen the national and local call for responsible mining.”

According to the conference kit, proceedings of the conference will be published with a focus on policy recommendations and as a resource for educators and legislators. Recommendations will be forwarded to the Executive, Legislative body and/or pertinent government agencies “in the re-assessment of the Mining Act of 1995 to regulate mining in the country according to the concept of sustainability.”

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