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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