Environment groups favor selective mining

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

Correspondent

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0524/eco01.php

ENVIRONMENTAL groups on Tuesday renewed the call to repeal Republic Act 1942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and pushed for the implementation of selective mining instead of large-scale mining activities.

Led by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Joel Virador, members of the groups Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan-PNE, they called on Malacañang to implement the recommendations of the Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Commission (RRFFC) led by Bishop Arturo Bastes and proposed selective mining activities under the concept of the “People’s Mining Policy,” which they said is a viable alternative to the government’s large-scale mining policy.

Virador said Malacañang should not give in to pressure by the Australian government or the Australian mining firm Lafayette Mining Ltd. and its subsidiary, Lafayette Philippines Inc., by allowing it to conduct a test run after the mine-tailings spills in October 11 and 31 last year, which reportedly led to fish kills in the area.

He said President Arroyo should heed the call of the RRFFC headed by Bishop Arturo Bastes which recommended the permanent closure of the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project, rehabilitation of the local ecosystem, compensation for mining victims and a moratorium on mining operations in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Trixie Concepcion of Defend Patrimony said they are not really against mining but she emphasized that the government must ensure responsible mining and implement mining’s best practice that ensure environmental protection while developing the country’s mineral resources.

Under the People’s Mining Policy, which the group vowed to lobby in Congress, both the government and people will benefit first and foremost, instead of foreign mining companies, said Clemente Bautista Jr. of Kalikasan-PNE.

Areas to be explored and developed should be identified based on the need of local industries and not their export potentials, he said.

He added that the people living in the area to be explored and developed should approve of any project, to make sure that those to be affected will be the first to benefit from such mining activities.

Bautista said small islands like Rapu-Rapu should not be explored and developed because they pose great risk to human health and environment in case of a mining incident such as what happened in Rapu-Rapu last year.

“Under the People’s Mining Policy, areas where mining activities are possible, without causing mass destruction of natural resources, will be identified. But the people living in areas to be mined must approve of any mining activity first,” he said.

He added that the government must strictly monitor mining activities to make sure that the companies are not cheating the government of their rightful share through excise taxes derived from the mined-out resources.

Virador, who was asked by Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan-PNE to support their alternative mining proposal, vowed to sponsor a bill pushing for the People’s Mining Policy.

He admitted that while it is hard to convince other members of Congress to support the repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, anti-mining congressmen and those who care for the environment will likely support the selective mining proposal.