Community residents of MacArthur, Leyte, are dismayed by the outcome of the April 29 Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue concerning mining operations in their area, calling it a “failure” for lacking any concrete commitment to the pull-out of the gigantic cutter suction dredger and the cancellation of the mining contract of Strong Built Mining Development Corporation (SBMDC).

Jesus Cabias, Founding Chairperson of Unahin Natin Lagi ang Diyos (Leyte), said, “We deeply resent the lack of sincerity of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in listening to our grievances and acting on our demands. We witnessed how they manipulated the process and acted as spokespersons, and even lawyers, for the mining company.”

Cabias said they were surprised when the MGB decided to put the four options presented for the dredger’s pull-out to a vote. “They brought in a crowd of pro-mining people and asked them to sign in the attendance sheets, saying it would be used as a basis for the voting. But we have been clear from the very start – the dredger must be removed, and the mining operations must stop. It should have been settled then and there, the manner by which the dredger would be removed.”

Cabias added that the matter of putting the dredger pull-out up to a vote was only added towards the end of the forum, when most of the attendees had gone home, including the media. No instructions were given at the start of the forum which led to the confusion.

Brenie Morcilla, Secretary-General of UNLAD, “It seemed the dialogue was just for show. Pakitang-tao lang. There was also no solid plan to rehabilitate 56.79 hectares of farmlands destroyed by mining operations since 2020. They also made no mention of our demand for the complete cancellation of SBDMC’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).”

The leaders of UNLAD, which was the main organizer of the barricade in MacArthur that brought the community’s opposition to black sand mining to national attention, stated they will continue their barricade until the dredger is removed, rehabilitation is implemented, and the SBDMC’s contract is canceled.

Meanwhile, Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) threw its support behind the community resistance. “MGB-DENR should abide by its mandate for environmental protection and prioritize the community’s rights and concerns over the interests of mining corporations. It should exhaust all means to address the residents’ concerns and demands.”

On the other hand, Atty. Rafael Pajares, Executive Director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center had this to add: “What is happening now in MacArthur should be a cautionary tale to the other municipalities within the coverage of this mining company’s MPSA, with all the documented complaints of damages sustained to farmlands of community members unwilling to have their properties mined, and even to government infrastructure as in the case of the still unrepaired NIA irrigation canals, it’s hard to understand why no disciplinary action has been imposed against them. The DENR, especially the EMB and the MGB, should initiate a thorough review of this mining company’s operations and impose the necessary sanctions, including the cancellation of their MPSA.”

AlyansaTigilMina #ATM #IpamanaHuwagIpamina #NoToMiningInMacArthurLeyte #NoToBlackSandMining

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