DEFEND ILOCOS AGAINST MINING PLUNDER

BANTAKARAYAN KEN BAYBAY, SALAKNIBAN!

c/o BAYAN-Ilocos Office Balaleng Sentro, Bantay, 2727 Ilocos Sur www.defendilocos.weebly.com e-mail: defendilocos@yahoo.com UNITE AND STRIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, END THE PLUNDER OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES! April 21, 2014 Much has been gained since Defend Ilocos together with different organizations, institutions and environmental advocates launched the campaign against large-scale, foreign-dominated, and destructive mining operations in the Ilocos Region. In Ilocos Sur, the joint efforts of the church and the people were able to pressure the national government to act and dismantle the magnetite mining facilities in Metro Vigan and file charges against the perpetrators. Their vigilance have also resulted in a series of arrests and charging of individuals who attempted to steal from the confiscated stockpiles in San Vicente. Likewise, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Justice have issued separate orders to stop the dredging operations in Sta. Cruz noting that the dredging program should have been completed in the third quarter of 2013. Recently, the revolutionary movement have taken notice of the plight of the people of Quirino and burned the drilling equipment of Phelps Dodge in Patiacan. The strong opposition of the people, the church and municipal officials in Ilocos Norte has also forced the provincial government to backtrack its support on mineral extraction. The recent passage of a provincial board resolution against magnetite mining in the province and a municipal ordinance in Carasi banning the extraction of decorative rocks are gains from these campaigns. The people have successfully opposed the declaration as mineral reservations of mineral rich municipalities which would affect the last primary growth forest and the river systems of the province. Learning from its previous experience, the Province of La Union has also passed a similar legislation opposing magnetite extraction from its coastal areas. In the Municipality of Bangar, the vigilance of the church and people was able to expose and put a stop on the exploration operation for magnetite deposit in the area. However, the damage has been done and the threat of massive destruction from mineral extraction still looms over the region. As of December 2013 there are 125 approved mining permits, 18 are for renewal and 99 are under process covering 243, 203.07 hectares of inland and offshore deposits. These do not include industrial sand and gravel permits issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the provincial governments. Nine mining firms are currently operating in Ilocos and La Union. Hectares upon hectares of shorelines and sand dunes devastated by magnetite extraction are yet to be reconstructed and rehabilitated. Our watersheds are being destroyed and our rivers continue to be silted and polluted by mining effluents from the widespread mining in the upland areas and Cordillera. Meanwhile, government agencies are very slow and inefficient in extracting accountability and justice for Mother Nature. In December 2013, the charges for mineral theft against a certain Alex Gaspar, who tried to smuggle three truckloads of magnetite sand from San Sebastian, San Vicente were dismissed due to incompetent handling of evidence three truckloads of magnetite sand turned over to the Provincial Police Office and received by PSI Redentor A. Arce were released, thus, the police failed to present the evidence to the court. The cases filed against the companies Wellresource, An Bang and Hong Ze and their local partners are snail-paced. Worse, no charges were lodged against the local officials who condoned the illegal and destructive operations as if they have no accountability whatsoever. The National Commission on Indigenous People has likewise favored South Ocean Mining in its bid to acquire a Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) despite the violation of the company of the governments own environmental policies and destructive record from its previous operations in Mindanao. The case filed against the chief executive of Quirino in the Office of the Ombudsman is yet to be resolved. The Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur remains mum and indifferent on the said issues. There is no better way to commemorate Earth Day but to be part of the battle in exacting environmental justice and social accountability. Let us face the challenge head on, take a stand for Mother Earth and humanity. Let us strive for pro-people environmental legislations, a progressive mining law and freedom from foreigndominated extractive industries. Scrap the Mining Act of 1995! Pass the Peoples Mining Bill! Make the environmental plunderers and their cohorts in the government accountable!

Reference:

DONNA RABANG PETA Convernor, Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder 09078540100