BT hails South Cotabato’s Galing Pook win

MANILA, Philippines-05 September 2015 – Environmental justice group BAN Toxics (BT) hails the 2015 Galing Pook Award confered to the Province of South Cotabato for their program on small-scale mining.

South Cotabato earned the nods of Galing Pook evaluators for its program “Minahang Bayanihan: A small-scale mining program” that helped address various issues and concerns confronting the province’s small-scale mining sector as well as promote responsible mining practices.

“South Cotabato’s win is a testament that positive reinforcement can lead to a responsible small-scale mining industry. The province is a shining example of a government that is responsive to the needs of its constituents,” said Eve Cubelo, BT artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) programme manager.

The program promotes sustainable small-scale mining by responding to the needs and issues of the sector, integrating convergence and good governance. Among the best practices initiated under the said program is the issuance of a Miner’s Identification (ID) to all small-scale miners and workers after they have undergone a series of seminars and trainings. These trainings include basic first aid and safety, disaster risk reduction/climate change adaptations, solid waste management and other relevant trainings.

A key component to the trainings the miners undergo is the mercury-free mining course. South Cotabato works with BT in the elimination of mercury pollution in T’boli ASGM area, and the latter administers the mercury training course for miners. BT advocates for a life-cycle approach in ASGM, facilitating and providing technical support to ASGM areas and building capacity of local partners to fully assess its viability to venture into small-scale mining, including identification of adverse impacts, in all stages.

Local government units and ASGM communities need this kind of support, and we hope that South Cotabato’s ways will be replicated in many provinces in the Philippines and the world. We are very happy that we have them as partners and they are trailblaizing the path to a responsible and responsive small-scale mining industry,” Cubelo added.

The province also established a Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) composed of the province, DENR-MGB 12, NGO partner and representatives. As part of the social responsibility, all small-scale mining stakeholders are involved in environment conservation and protection programs such as the conduct of tree-planting activities.

South Cotabato is a leading province in managing small-scale mining activities in the country. In 2013, it topped Region XII’s revenue collection after it generated P11.5 million from small-scale mining fees, according to a 2014 report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. It lauded the province for its effective monitoring and its contribution to the regional economy. This year, South Cotabato collected P1.7 million from sand, gravel, and mining collections from January and February.

The South Cotabato mercury elimination project was made possible through the support of and in partnership with the Danish NGO, Dialogos, University of Copenhagen, GEUS, and International Center for Occupational, Environmental and Public Health. (PR-BT)