Quezon City (March
9, 2018) – Environmental and civil groups stormed the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) in a protest rally that challenged the 23rd
year of RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and condemned the ignorant
actions of DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu against large scale mining-affected communities,
Friday, March 9, 2018.
Activists called
the current mining regime under Philippine Mining Act of 1995 “plunder”. The
law opened the mining industry to foreign investments which led to abuse of the
country’s natural resources, and operations that destroyed the environment
without holding these foreign companies and owners accountable.
According to the
group, they demand for the passage of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill
(AMMB) which aims to let Philippine government manage its minerals and secure
that mining operations fall within required environmental and human standards.
Alyansa Tigil Mina
(ATM) National Coordinator, Jaybee Garganera said, “March 10, 2018 marks the 23rd
anniversary of the Mining Act of 1995. 23 years of destruction. 23 years of
injustices, disasters, and human rights violations. It’s time to scrap RA 7942
and pass AMMB! We need a law that is pro-Filipino. And to DENR: We will be
vigilant. We had enough of your ignorance on the suffering of these
communities.”
Last February 5,
2018, Kampuhang Bayan ng Zambales was demolished by the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) under the request of Sec. Cimatu. After more than a month of
peaceful protest in front of DENR, no action was delivered to the people of
Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Rather, their rights to freedom of expression were
violated.
“Cimatu, you are
fake news! You are concerned of the dirt in Boracay, while these communities
from mining areas breathe, eat, and drink poison three times a day,” Garganera
added.
On the issue of
mining in Masbate, Malou Verano of Ang Aroroy Ay Alagaan (AAAA) said, “We have
more than a thousand cases of tuberculosis per barangay. Our local government
is pro-mining. We don’t have fish to catch, and farms to plant. Anti-mining
activists are harassed by neighbors who are for mining. We don’t need mining!
We need safe sources of food and water, and clean air.”
Activists raised
placards while chanting their calls “Mapanirang
pagmimina, ipasara! Ipasara!” (Destructive mining! Close them now!) “Cimatu, fake news ka!” (Cimatu, you are
fake news!) “Itigil ang mapanirang
pagmimina, hindi Cha-Cha” (Stop destructive mining, no to charter change)
In culmination of
the week-long activities that aimed to challenge the current mining regime, ATM
led the protest action. Leaders of Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales
(CCOS), Ang Aroroy Ay Alagaan (AAAA), and Unified Civilian Society Incorporated
(UCSI) of Masbate, were joined by national groups AKBAYAN, Piglas Pilipinas,
SENTRO, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Kalipunan ng Kilusang
Masa (KALIPUNAN), Oriang, and Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka
(PAKISAMA).
The group marched
to DENR at 9:30 AM. Representatives from supporting organizations spoke of the
grave effects of large-scale mining in farming, fishing, health and human
rights in a program in front of the agency’s Central Office, 10 AM.
One of the calls
raised in the rally was the groups’ stand “Not this charter change, not this
Federalism.” Their main concern was that green bills, including AMMB, which are
under deliberation in Congress, may be put aside once charter change is pushed
through. (press release)
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