Official Statement of the ADDU- CEAP-International Conference on Mining, 26-27 January, 2012

 AWARE of the current state of the mining industry in the Philippines driven by corporate greed and the existing policy framework promoted by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and inherited by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III,

AWARE of the confession of the government that ‘there is no standard resource and environment valuation’ and institutional issues need to be addressed to ensure sustainability of the country’s fragile environment and natural resources’ (Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, pp. 310, 320-322),

AWARE that harsh effects of mining on water systems, biodiversity, air, land and island ecosystems lead to environmental destructions and disasters aggravating the impacts of hydro-meteorological hazards and threatening agriculture and food security,

AWARE that the Philippines is the most vulnerable to typhoons in the world; ranked third in disaster risk and natural hazards; and sixth considered in extreme risk due to climate change,

AWARE that the mining industry’s available economic data on value added, employment, exports and revenue contributions are aggregated, thus not helpful in economic analysis; and revenue shares of national and local government amounting to only 0.91% average contribution to Gross Domestic Product,

AWARE that mining companies in collaboration with concerned government agencies have been grossly violating human rights of communities and advocates through threats, extra-judicial killings, Investment Defense Force, mining militias, fabricating ‘free, prior and informed consents (FPIC)’, dividing and exploiting indigenous peoples communities and perpetuating other acts degrading human dignity,

AWARE that small-scale miners and workers have been blamed for various environmental disasters by the Chamber of Mines in favor of large mining companies, however, further aware that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and other agencies failed to fulfill its mandate to provide technical and, when displaced, extend immediate sustainable economic assistance,

AWARE that the number of local government units who are standing up to oppose mining in their respective jurisdictions is increasing, however, not recognized by the national government and mining companies,

AWARE of the aforesaid REALITIES,

We, therefore, call for the promotion of sustainable, responsible and equitable management and utilization of our natural resources, toward the conservation and protection of the environment and rehabilitation of mined areas.

We call for the REPEAL OF THE MINING ACT OF 1995 (RA 7942) and REVOCATION OF ARROYO’S REVITALIZATION OF THE MINING INDUSTRY (EO 270 and 270-A), which are ANTI-FILIPINO, ANTI-ENVIRONMENT AND VIOLATIVE OF HUMAN RIGHTS,

We call for the ENACTMENT OF THE CONSOLIDATED ALTERNATIVE MINERALS MANAGEMENT BILL pending in the House of Representatives,

We further call for an IMMEDIATE MINING MORATORIUM and suspension and cancellation, if applicable, of all mining operations, licenses and applications, while the relevant mining policies are being reviewed; and concerned government agencies be held accountable.

With this declaration, we therefore INVOKE

OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A BALANCED AND HEALTHFUL ECOLOGY IN THE SPIRIT OF PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE AND INTER-GENERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Reiterating the words of our brother MACLIING DULAG, an environmental martyr of the Cordilleras:

“Such arrogance to speak of owning the land, when you shall be owned by it. How can you own that which will outlive you?”

LET THIS DECLARATION RECLAIM THIS LAND FOUGHT FOR BY THE HEROES AND MARTYRS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

ALL THESE FOR TRUTH, COUNTRY, AND THE COMMON GOOD.

Source: www.ecoteneo.org