IP tribes ink unity pact for Diwalwal mining project

Manila, Philippines - Jake Mining Co., owned by businessman Eric R. Tagle, is set to start negotiations with the unified indigenous people (IP) tribes of Mandaya, Manobo, Mangguangan and Dibabawon in Monkayo, Compostela Valley in Mindanao following the signing yesterday of a unity agreement among the four IP communities that have laid ancestral claims over areas of the Diwalwal mineral reservation.

In an interview with reporters following the signing of the unity agreement, Tagle hinted at the possibility that previous mine operating agreements auctioned off by the Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC) within the Diwalwal area may now encounter problems with the four tribes who have chosen JMC to explore and develop their 950-hectare tribal mining Areas (TRIMA).

The leaders of the Mandaya, Manobo, Mangguangan and Dibabawon tribes yesterday signed a unity declaration stating that they have all agreed to end their differences will henceforth jointly develop their tribal mining area with Jake Mining Corp. as their investor and mining partner.

Present during the signing of the unity agreement were National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) chairman Roque N. Agton Jr.

The Monkayo ethnic leaders who signed the unity declaration were Rajah Carlito C. Buntas of the Dibabawons, Datu Victoriano F. Tulik Tunggay of the Manobos, Datu Rozalino B. Andresan of the Mandayas and Datu Carlito Maligamon A. Alejo of the Mangguangans.

They were accompanied by United Tribe Council of Leaders chairman Datu Juanito C. Magandam, Bae Concepcion Andresan-Baluran of the Mandayas, Datu Carlito Chavez’s two successors-Alberto Chavez and Arcela Chavez.

Diwalwal has been haphazardly mined by small-scale miners since the 1980s. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas buys around P2 billion worth of gold annually from small-scale miners operating in the area.

Tagle said JMC is the successor in interest of Apex Mining Co. which held the Diwalwal claim in the 1980s.

Apex lost its claim following the decision of then Environment and Natural Resources Fulgencio Factoran Jr. to declare the area a protected forest reserve, resulting in a haphazard takeover by small-scale miners.

Under the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Tagle said the area was declared a mineral reserve.