PNoy must certify as urgent the passage of alternative mining law – group

An environmental coalition on Thursday called on President Benigno Aquino III to certify as urgent the enactment of the alternative mining law, saying the Mining Act of 1995 has failed to deliver on its promise of economic gains and jobs to communities where large-scale mining firms are operating.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), a coalition of more than one hundred organizations and mining-affected communities, and part of the TAO MUNA, HINDI MINA campaign, said the present mining law, Republic Act No. 7942 enacted in 1995, is flawed and has so far resulted in disasters and environmental destruction.

“We reiterate our call for government to repeal the Mining Act of 1995 and to pass the Alternative Minerals Management Bill, Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator said, adding that the AMMB "offers a far more sustainable approach to utilization and protection of our country's natural resources.”

Garganera also noted that the revenue the government is getting from the exploitation of the country's natural resources is only a pittance compared to the profits huge mining firms are amassing at the expense of the country's natural resource reserves.
 
In 2005, Haribon Foundation reported that a significant percentage of the forest loss in the Philippines may be attributed to mining, in which detrimental impacts to the environment include the deterioration of water catchments, soil erosion and surface run off, the loss of biodiversity and worsening of rural poverty.

Mining moratorium

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA) Executive Secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez called for a moratorium on the issuance of new mining permits.

Also, he said the passage of the AMMB has become urgent as mining disasters that happened one after another have marred the 19 years existence of the Mining Act of 1995.
 
“There is a need to push for this AMMB because the Executive Order No. 79, is not the solution to our problem,” Gariguez added.
 
He was referring to EO No. 79 which has expanded the “no-go” mining zones in the country to include 78 tourism sites, and farms, marine sanctuaries and island ecosystems in response to the public clamor to protect the environment from mining.
 
Lawmaker pushes AMMB passage

Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya Representative and Deputy Speaker Carlos M. Padilla, in a privilege speech on Wednesday, said the enactment of alternative mining law is important to provide a new policy in managing our country’s mineral resources.

“Given the track record of mining in the Philippines under the Mining Act of 1995, we have witnessed one mine disaster after another, displacement of population and the militarization of communities where mining operations exist,” Padilla said.
 
Also he said the flaws of the Republic Act No. 7942 otherwise known as the Mining Act of 1995, should be corrected by a new law.
 
Likewise, he cited the increasing opposition and public opinion towards mining due to various disasters attendant to large-scale mining operations.
 
“In light of the foregoing facts, it is high time for Congress to put premium in the human dignity of communities and biodiversity value of our country’s mineral resources. No less than an alternative minerals law will do this,” Rep. Padilla said.
 
The present law allows 100% ownership of minerals by foreign entities through Financial and Technical Assistance Agreements (FTAAs); allows for more open areas to mining than to mining-free zones; grants auxiliary entitlements to mining firms such as timber rights, water rights and even the right to use explosives among others; and allows tax deduction, yet leaving communities divided and underdeveloped and which traditional livelihoods directly dependent on natural resources destroyed.
 
The province of Nueva Vizcaya is home to two large-scale mining companies, OceanaGold and FCF Minerals. One of the first Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) approved under the law is Didipio Gold Project in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, now under the operation of Oceana Gold Philippines Incorporated (OGPI).
 
“The two mining companies are all threats to my province’s mountains, water systems and agricultural products. This is true because at a broader scale the impacts of mining are not contained within the mining area but the use of explosives naturally results in deforestation and slope destabilization,” Padilla said. — Jerbert Briola /LBG, GMA News