Sept. 21, 2018
AlyansaTigil
Mina (ATM) fully supports the initiatives of House Speaker Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo to pass a bill that puts a ban on open-pit mining in the
Philippines.
Our
alliance recommends to Speaker Arroyo that the House review DENR Administrative
Order (DAO 2017-10) issued by former DENR Sec. Gina Lopez. This order provides policy arguments why a
ban on open-pit mining is necessary and desirable for the Philippines.
ATM
believes that open pit mining is the most destructive form of mining, as
experienced in mining provinces in the country. Open pit mines have left many
mining areas devastated since miners explored and exploited the country’s
mineral resources.
A
very glaring example is the Marcopper Mines in Marinduque Island, which has
been closed down for over two decades already but still remains a threat to
communities. By-products of mines, mostly open pit mines, remain even after
mine closure. This leaves the task of long-term and perpetual maintenance of
mined areas to the government.
The
recent experiences in Sta. Cruz (Zambales), Aroroy (Masbate), Bataraza
(Palawan), Cantilan (Surigao del Sur) and Itogon (Benguet) prove that open-pit
mining have disastrous impacts to livelihoods, access to water, agriculture and
coastal resources. These impacts then
introduce environmental issues, social conflict and even increasing the risks
and vulneariblities of mining-affected communities to extreme weather events.
We
also urge DENR Sec. Cimatu to ensure the full implementation of DA 2017-10.
“We
believe that the implementation of DAO 2017-10 is a big step forward on the
part of DENR – the agency tasked to balance the protection of environment and
natural resources and exploitation of our national wealth. While the Mining Act
of 1995 allows for all methods of mining, we believe the DENR has the power to
impose a stronger regulatory of banning open-pit mining policy for the right
reasons,” said ATM national coordinator JaybeeGarganera.
DAO
2017-10 was signed into order by then Sec. Gina Lopez who led the audit of more
than 40 large-scale mining projects. During Lopez’s stint in the DENR, a study
on open pit mines in the country was down which resulted in a strong evidence
of perpetual damage and liabilities caused by such mines.
While
Congress will deliberate on the proposed bill, we call on Pres. Rogrigo Duterte
to issue his Executive Order to ban open-pit mining. (Jaybee Garganera, ATM National
Coordinator )
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