Freedom from Debt Coalition

125 V. Rama Avenue, Calamba

Cebu City 6000 Philippines
(032)5054382
www.fdc.ph

April 28, 2011

Greetings of solidarity!

With the aim of raising revenues, the government continues to promote investment
in mining for mineral extraction. According to the Department of Energy (DOE),
Cebu is among the 12 mining areas in the country with potential coal reserves. Coal
mining and exploration have been encouraged to cater to the domestic coal
requirements of existing coal plants. Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) data reveal that mining permits have been issued to corporations
for mineral extraction i.e. limestone, manganese, nickel among others in the
southern areas of the province.

Last April 8, 2011, an environmental symposium on the mining initiatives in Cebu

was held to discuss the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the mining situation in Cebu
and the launching of a South-wide anti-mining campaign. To further strengthen
what has been agreed and amplify the social movement response to mining and
climate justice, Freedom from Debt Coalition - Cebu (FDC), Task Force Detainees of
the Philippines Visayas (TFDP), Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and
USC Lex Circle will hold a an Environmental Seminar on Mining and Climate Change
on May 7, 2011 (Saturday) from 8:30AM-5:00PM. The Venue will be at the
Conference Hall of Redemptorist Parish in Cebu City.

We hope to gather 45 community leaders from the affected areas, sectoral leaders,
Social Movement representatives and environmental advocates for a discussion
regarding the mining situation in Cebu and Central Visayas, Mining and Human
Rights, Climate Justice and Finance, Minerals Management Initiative and the
launching of a South-wide anti-mining campaign.

In this regard, we would like to invite you to the said activity. Please see attached
program for the activity. For inquiries or confirmation, please contact us at the
numbers provided below.

Thank you. Padayon!

JUSTIN RYAN D. MORILLA

Program Support Staff
Freedom from Debt Coalition – Cebu
Cell No. 09197463034/09276734867
Tel. No. (032)505-4382
Freedom from Debt Coalition
125 V. Rama Avenue, Calamba
Cebu City 6000 Philippines
(032)5054382
www.fdc.ph

Environmental Seminar on Mining and Climate Change

Date: May 7, 2011

Objectives of the Activity:

o To understand the real score of mining in Cebu province

o To locate mining issues in the context of Climate Change and challenges to
Human Rights
o To link the existing local initiatives on mining in the province if there any
o To create a south wide network against mining and climate change together
with the legal community, academe, faith-based organizations and social
movements

Proposed Program:

8:00-9:00 Registration and Arrival of participants

9:00-9:30 National Anthem, Invocation, Rationale

Mrs. Inday Toling-Olayer, Vice President FDC Cebu

9:30-10:00 Mining situation in Cebu and Central Visayas

Proposed Speaker, Mining and Geosciences Bureau

10:00-10:30 Locating Cebu and Central Visayas in the discourse on

Climate Change
Proposed Speaker, Climate Change Commission

10:30-11:00 Climate Change, Mining and Human Rights

Proposed Speaker, Commission on Human Rights

11:00-12:00 Open Forum

12:00-1:00 Lunch Break

Social Movement Response to Climate Change and Mining

1:00-1:30 Climate Justice and Finance

Aaron Pedrosa
Secretary-General, FDC-Cebu
Freedom from Debt Coalition
125 V. Rama Avenue, Calamba
Cebu City 6000 Philippines
(032)5054382
www.fdc.ph

1:30-2:00 Minerals Management Initiative

Gerry Arances, LRC KSK
National Secretariat MMB Now Network

2:00-2:30 Voices from the Communities

• Talisay City
• Minglanilla
• Naga City
• San Fernando
• Carcar
• Sibonga
• Argao
• Alcoy
• Dalaguete

2:30-4:30 Ways forward

Facilitator: Rolando Lacanaria, Human Rights Education
Program Staff
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines – Visayas

4:30-5:30 Synthesis and Closing Remarks

Atty. Michael Enriquez
President, FDC Cebu