MindaNews » Multisectoral Council, not DENR , should decide to allow or not allow mining.

Multisectoral Council, not DENR , should decide to allow or not allow mining

By Carolyn O. Arguillas

January 29, 2012

 DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 January) — A Multisectoral Mineral Council (MSMC) not just the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or its Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau should decide whether or not mining should be allowed in a particular area, the consolidated alternative mining bill proposes.

Gabriela partylist Rep. Luz Ilagan told the International Conference on Mining in Mindanao last Friday that the MSMC will be composed of representatives from state and local governments, local communities, affected Indigenous Peoples.”

As member of the MMSC,  the Lumads or Indigenous Peoples will be part of the process of decision making from approving the application of mining forms to monitoring and revoking the permit if the mining firms have committed violations. “Their non-consent to the mining project acts as virtual disapproval since unanimity of the MSMC is required,” Ilagan said at the conference held for two days at the Ateneo de Davao University.

At the end of the conference organized by ADDU and the 1,345-member Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines, participants passed a Mindanao Declaration calling for a repeal of  RA 7942 or the 1995 Mining Act, the enactment of  a pro-Filipino, pro-environment alternative mining law and the declaration of a mining moratorium.

Ilagan noted that RA 7942 or the 1995 Mining Act has caused divisiveness within IP communities, as well as bred questionable FPICs (Free and Prior Informed Consent),  destroyed the IP’s customary ways of settling disputes,  is based on the regalian doctrine and  “imposes the will of the mining companies over tribes.”

The MMSC is just one of several features of the consolidated mining bill.

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