Environmental Degradation: greatest threat to national security, says former Air Force Chief
Experts point out to mining as a major culprit

BUTUAN – For Gen. William K. Hotchkiss III, retired Chief of the Philippine Air Force, environmental degradation that kills thousands of people and causes terrible damages to the economy is the greatest threat to the country’s national security, thus it should be included as a major item in its National Security Agenda.

“Causes of environmental degradation can be placed in a higher category than any of the usual suspects such as the New People’s Army, MILF and the Abu Sayaf,” Gen. Hotchkiss added, as he addressed more than a hundred of people in CARAGA, including local leaders in the multi-stakeholders conference on the social costs of mining at the Father Saturnino Urios University in Libertad, Butuan City last May 15.

He also said that environmental degradation is a “war” being waged against the watersheds and critical ecosystems such as that in CARAGA region, wherein large-scale mining transport mountains to other countries for a very little economic benefit.

According to Gen. Hotchkiss, it is also not hard to assume that the minerals extracted from the mountains of CARAGA are now being used to build aircraft carriers and even warplanes that may one day be used against the Filipino.

Meanwhile other experts and advocates also shared their researches and strong opposition against mining.

Rev. Fr. Joel E. Tabora of the Ateneo De Davao University pointed out that the damage to the environment caused by large-scale mining is relatively permanent. “Like the Tampakan Mining project where they plan to mine 500 hectares of land, creating a hole of 800 meters deep, which is about twice the height of the Empire State building, in a stretch of fault line and near a volcano; it is like attracting a tragedy. I don’t understand why the government still has not said no to this?”

On the other hand, Dr. Emelina G. Relis of Ateneo De Naga discussed her research on the mostly negative impact of mining on the environment, “Even during the exploration stage, it already clears vegetation and disturbs wildlife; mining starts with the destruction of the forest by cutting and uprooting the trees and this (deforestation) creates exposed soil surfaces that easily erode when it rains.”

Dr. Lina explained that when it rains, mining activities located upland will definitely cause the release of toxic loosened sediments and heavy metals downslope, affecting rice fields and fishing grounds.

Leaders of indigenous communities in CARAGA also participated in the conference. “Pinapakita lamang ng pagtitipon na ito na ang lahat ng sector ng lipunan, kasama ang mga katutubo ay may pananagutan sa kalikasan at dapat na magbigay ng sapat na pansin sa pagtatanggol nito. Sana makasama natin dito ang mga militar at maging ang Commission on Human Rights,” said Elueterio Dakula Jr. second sector Tribal Chieftain of the Mamanwas in Sitio Dinarawan in Jabonga, Agusan Del Norte. (The conference shows that all sectors, including indigenous communities have accountabilities to our environment and so should give focus to protect it. I hope that we will be able to get the military and the Commission on Human Rights to join us on this cause)

At the end of the conference, the organizers and other anti-mining groups like the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) convened the network CARAGA CONCERNS that agreed to promote six points of convergence including prioritization of people’s right for ecologically balanced environment, food security program, and disaster risk reduction initiatives.

The conference was organized by Father Saturnino Urios University with the Save Palawan Movement. Some local leaders in CARAGA also attended the activity as well with the representatives from other government offices like the Department of Agriculture.

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, lauded FSUU for organizing the conference as it strengthens the role of the academe in providing a venue to discuss the issuues surrounding mining. Garganera reiterated the call of civil society groups and the growing number of academic institutions for a moratorium on mining and the repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

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. The alliance is currently pushing for a moratorium on mining, revocation of Executive Order 270-A, repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and the passage of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill. (30)

Contact details:
Dr. Mary Grace M. Brongaco, CARAGA Concerns Secretariat – 0915 1780 444
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator – 09277617602
Edel Garingan, ATM Media and Communication Officer – 09228918972

ATM Press Release
May 16, 2012

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