Govt draws flak over Tampakan ECC as groups warn of more environmental disasters, rights violations
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com
February 20, 2013

ANGELES City, Pampanga – The government is coming under fire for granting an ECC to Sagittarius Mining Inc., with senatorial candidate Migz Zubiri saying the move ‘disregards’ concerns for the environment and local stakeholders.

“I’m saddened by the decision because it shows disregard for a provincial ordinance that bans open pit mining in the province” of South Cotabato, Zubiri said on Wednesday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – acknowledging South Cotabato’s ban on open pit mining – had earlier denied an ECC to Sagittarius, the local unit of mining giant Xstrata Plc, which seeks to operate the $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project.

SMI appealed the decision to Malacanang and, earlier this month, the Palace ordered the DENR to “resolve the company’s ECC without any consideration of requirements other than those imposed under the Environmental Impact Study system.”

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