Small scale miners urge rescue missions in Pantukan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2011

Small scale miners urge rescue missions in Pantukan
Fear possible ban of SSM operations in light of the tragedy




Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province --- Small scale miners’ cooperatives here called on the local government to intensify rescue and aid missions in light of the recent landslide in Purok Mabaros, Panganason, Brgy. Kingking. They also pointed to the bulldozing operations of Hexatt Mining, a medium-scale mining company, as the landslide’s culprit.

At the wake of the tragedy, more than 20 miners are feared to have been buried in the rubbles and mud, their fate still uncertain.

The miners feared that the landslide will lead to the prohibition of SSM operations in Brgy. Kingking which would lead to the full takeover of large-scale mining operations.

“In the 30 – year existence of the SSM industry in Pantukan, the SSM reached a population of 8,000 families or 48,000 individuals at the minimum. Where are we to go if we are expelled from our areas? Does the government have any alternative livelihood to provide us?” said Omar Aquino of the Panganason SSM Association in the vernacular.

This fear is shared by the Save Pantukan Alliance, group of SSM associations, religious environmentalists and professionals advocating nationalized mining industry vis-à-vis largescale and foreign mining.

“The P-noy government has already taken an anti-SSM stance categorically saying that SSM operations are harder to regulate compared to those of large-scale mining operations. It did not even consider that we have long been waiting for the government to do its role in developing and rehabilitating the SSM industry so that we could better contribute for national development and change the practices which affect the environment,” said Rolando Dela Cerna, member of the
Save Pantukan Alliance.

Dela Cerna also recounted the killing of Santos Manrique on April 12 which occurred in the midst of the Pantukan SSM’s campaign against largescale operations of Napnapan Mineral Resources Inc. and the open-pit mining operations of US- based Russell Mining and Minerals Inc. in Brgy. Kingking.

“Ricky has been at the core of the SSM community’s fight for us to be given ‘minahang bayan’ permits hoping that by engaging with the government, there would be more efficiency in our practices and we could access to government assistance in ensuring safe mining standards and better working conditions for the workers . But he was instead killed, without realizing his dream,” said Dela Cerna.

Manrique as president of the Federation of Miners’ Aggrupation in Pantukan (FEDMAP) was also part of the successful campaign of the people of Pantukan against Toronto Ventures Inc., a Canadian mining company back in the 90’s, notorious for its open pit mining operations in Mt. Canatuan, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Regional environmental group PANALIPDAN – Southern Mindanao also echoed similar contentions, lambasting the “open-arms treatment of mining multinational companies (MNCs) and foreign investments.”

“The government has completely neglected the SSM industry while it has assured through laws and policies high support for large-scale and foreign mining investments -- assurance of government support, lower duties and tariffs, tax breaks and holidays and low payments for environmental damage,” said Francis Morales, PANALIPDAN Secretary General.


Morales added, “The deregulated mining industry makes the government a mere toothless tiger in making large-scale and foreign mining TNCs accountable just like the case in the Masara tragedy, the mine spill and fish kills in Rapu-Rapu in Bicol. We should not forget the Marcopper Mining tragedy which spilled millions of tons of toxic waste destroying the rivers, seas and livelihood of Marinduquenos.”

PANALIPDAN research said mining applications in the country covers almost half of land area of the Philippines or a total of 14,498,526 hectares. #

FOR REFERENCE:
OMAR AQUINO
ROLANDO DELA CERNA
c/o 0939-4818848