Compromise needed in mining sector, says P-Noy

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines  — President Aquino said yesterday that there is a need to go into a compromise with the various sectors involved in the mining sector. While acknowledging that the wishes of the local communities must be respected, he noted that large-scale mining companies have shown a strong sense of accountability compared to small-scale miners.

In a press conference following his visit to a local hog farm here, the President was asked about his position on the continuing impasse in the open pit mining ban in South Cotabato that is stalling the $5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project.

President Aquino ( speaking in Filipino) acknowledged that “for mining in general, if the community does not want it, they should have the last say.” However, the President just as quickly pointed out that “there is an inherent problem in the opposition (against mining).”

According to the President, “if you have large-scale mining companies, you can regulate them, monitor them and ensure that they don’t do harm to the environment.”

At the same time, the President pointed out, “if you stop large-scale mining, mining does not stop because there are the small-scale mining activities that you cannot regulate, you cannot monitor, and they don’t care to protect the environment.”

The President cited the recent imposition of a mining ban in Romblon province due to an increasing level of mercury.

According to the President, “the increasing level of mercury in that province is due to small-scale mining.”

President Aquino, therefore, stressed the need for a compromise.

“There has to be a compromise in our position wherein we achieve our objectives such as there has to be benefits for the community, benefits for the state, but at the same time, we should ensure the protection of the environment,” he said.

The President noted that dialogues continue to be held by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the local government units that would be affected by the Tampakan copper-gold project to resolve the open pit mining ban in South Cotabato.

The Tampakan copper-gold project would affect the provinces of South Cotabato where the Tampakan mine is located, Sarangani province where the power line infrastructure would pass, and Davao del Sur where the tailings mound, power plant, port and filter plant would be located.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines has warned that if the Philippine government reneges on its financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) with Sagitarrius Mines, Inc. (which is majority controlled by Swiss mining giant Xstrata) it would be liable to reimburse SMI for what it has spent so far on the project.

SMI took over the Tampakan project in 2006.