Envi group says tragedy in Pantukan should push government to rethink mining policy

Panalipdan Mindanao
April 30, 2011

NEWS RELEASE
for reference : Sr. Stella Matutina, OSB, Secretary General, 0920.497.2204

Envi group says tragedy in Pantukan should push government to rethink mining policy

The environment coalition Panalipdan Mindanao laments the deaths during the mining-triggered landslide in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, and said this should let the government think twice on its push for large-scale mining and other projects that pose similar threats to communities.

In their recent Earth Day Conference held in Digos City, the group says President Benigno Aquino III should heed this incident as a warning.

"It is the irony that the Aquino administration pursues liberalized large-scale mining which brings about far greater effects of waste spillings, denudation of forests, and depletion of water resources. The government’s eleven priority large-scale, open-pit mining projects in Mindanao promise to be exponentially destructive," their statement says.

The groups says the Pantukan incident "showed the dangers posed by the mining industry and stressed the need for government to regulate small scale mining along nationalist development goals."

The group further said that Aquino's Mindanao 2020 program is potentially damaging since it promotes industries that destroy natural resources.

Sr. Stella Matutina OSB, secretary general of Panalipdan Mindanao, says that what the communities need is food security rather than "development" projects that damage resources such as mining, hydro power plants, coal-powered plants and agri-business expansion.

"Such projects have shown its negative impact towards communities, harming their sources of livelihood." she said.

Panalipdan Mindanao held its Earth Day Conference last April 25-27 at San Isidro Parish, Digos City, gathering 360 particpants and 50 organization from indigenous peoples, farmers, church people, academe and environmental advocates.

Among the participating groups and churches are Soccsksargends AGENDA, Panalipdan Southern Mindanao, Caraga Watch, PROTECT Zamboanga Peninsula, Kalumaran, Sisters' Association in Mindanao, United Methodist Church, and Episcopal Church of the Philippines.

The coalition presented their statement to local government units in the Provincial Board of Davao del Sur, municipal offices of Malalag and Sulop, Davao del Sur.

The group vowed to continue education campaigns and lobby with local government unites to come up with environment codes similar to the South Cotabato code that banned the X-Strata/ Sagittarius Mines project in their province.

"More than ever, our campaigns shall continue to educate the people that our land, our future is not for sale to environmental plunder. We seek the nationalization of industries to promote genuine pro-people, ecologically-centered development." the statement said.
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Brgy. Binugao fails to give Aboitiz “resolution interposing no objection”

PRESS RELEASE
April 17, 2011

Brgy. Binugao fails to give Aboitiz “resolution interposing no objection”

Davao City – Brgy. Binugao on its session last Friday came up with a resolution supposedly to give Aboitiz a “resolution interposing no objection.” To the dismay of the council, Kagawad Flora Salandron declined to sign the resolution, strongly stating her opposition to Aboitiz’s proposed 300 MW coal fired power plant.

“Despite the absence of clear acceptability from among the residents of Binugao, their unanswered questions on the issues of coal’s negative impacts, the Brgy Council, save for me, issued a resolution with “dissenting opinion” on the proposed coal plant of Aboitiz,” said Kagawad Flora Salandron, member of the Binugao Brgy. Council and a staunch oppositor of the proposed CFPP.

She added, “All the health, environmental and economic costs of coal plant have been exchanged with mere 3 Million Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) that Aboitiz promised. But what is 3 Million compare to what it will cost on the health of poor residents who cannot even afford to pay for ‘paracetamol’ when they get sick. What is 3 Million IRA if the plant will cause damages to the resources in both marine and agricultural ecosystems that have economic and aesthetic values more than the said IRA?”

“The damage that the Coal Fired Power Plant will bring us is beyond repair,” she stressed.

Kag. Salandron’s opposition roused debate within the council. Salandron cited the Davao Zoning Ordinance and Barangay Development Plan (BDP) which classified Binugao as an agricultural area with light to medium industries. The coal plant, categorized as a heavy industry and environmentally critical project, has therefore no legal basis to be constructed within Binugao, unless Aboitiz convinces the City Council to reclassify the area.

Meanwhile, the Nagkahiusang Katawhan sa Binugao Alang sa Panginabuhian ug Kinaiyahan or NAGPAKABANA, the local peoples’ organization in Binugao, questioned the lack of public discussions as basic processes to come up with the people’s informed decision.

“Since we are from the coal plant site, there should be massive educational discussion on the impact of the coal-fired power plant. If the barangay or Aboitiz in sincere in consulting the people about this critical issue, why is there a community ”gag” in terms of the truth about coal fired power plants,” said Rody Arellano of NAGPAKABANA.

PANALIPDAN – Southern Mindanao also raised the ethical issues behind the pabaon and other attempts of blackmail by Aboitiz, saying this should be settled first before Abotiz demands any favorable endorsement from the barangay and the city council.

“Aboitiz has the guts to say that they can simply transfer to Brgy. Inawayan if the people of Davao rejects the coal plant. This does not address the people’s strong morale ground to oppose their deadly coal project. This is beyond territorial or geographical issues. Davaoenos remain to be threatened by the impact of coal even if it is constructed in Inawayan. We share the same air, water, seas. And we are all bound to suffer from Aboitiz’s coal project as it poses to exacerbate the impacts of climate change,” said Francis Morales, secretary general of PANALIPDAN and co-convener of the Network Opposed to COAL – DAVAO.

“We will strongly oppose coal-fired power plant to be installed elsewhere in the country,” he concluded.

FOR REFERENCE:
KAG. FLORA SALANDRON

FRANCIS MORALES

0939-4818848

KALUMARAN (Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao)

KALUMARAN (Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao)
&
PANALIPDAN! MINDANAO

MEDIA ADVISORY
April 24, 2011

A THREE DAY GATHERING
of MINDANAO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RECLAIMING CULTURE, LAND and LIFE
and SOLIDARITY of advocates for Land, Ecology, and Patrimony
APRIL 25-27, DIGOS CITY

Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (KALUMARAN) and PANALIPDAN Mindanao (Advocates and Defenders of Patrimony, Environment and Creation), two organizations coming together in an activity in celebration of Earth Day in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

A gathering of 100 tribal leaders from Davao, Caraga, Sarangani, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga, in defense of their ancestral lands, and to reclaim the glorious past of resistance exemplified by the Great Datu Mangulayon who fought American agression in the early 1900s in the Davao Region.

Supported by advocates of environment and indigenous peoples’ rights (churchpeople, academe, youth and scientists) calling for the end of environment plunder such as large-scale mining, coal-powered power plants, and agri-business.

April 25 The DATU BAI Conference alang sa Yuta, Kultura, ug Kinabuhi at Gabriela Silang Training Center at Gabriela Silang Training Center, Digos City
Tribal leaders will gather to unite to share their views on Lumad identity, the phenomenon of ethnocide and defense of ancestral land.
(coverage is optional)

April 26 KULTURANHONG PASUNDAYAG ALANG SA PADAYAONG PAKIGBISOG ug PANAGHIUSA. The gathering continues with a cultural solidarity – A day of songs, dances and prayers signifying the continuing struggle of indigenous peoples to protect their life and culture.
(please cover)
8 am to 12 nn at San Isidro Labrador Parish, corner Aurora-Rizal Streets, Digos City

April 27 Panalipdan MINDANAO Earth Day Conference. A gathering of Environment advocates (churchpeople, environmentalists, academicians) on this Earth Day Conference in solidarity with the indigenous peoples, and for the protection of ecology and life.
(please cover)
PRESS CONFERENCE at 11 am at San Isidro Labrador Parish, Digos City
INTERFAITH LITURGICAL SERVICE at 1:30 pm
CARAVAN at 2pm to communities targetted by large-scale mining and coal-fired power plants (Malalag, Sulop and Padada, Davao del Sur)


Transportation will be arranged for coverage.
Contact Dulphing Ogan, Kalumaran Secretary General. 0909.554.8217