Unusual silence at NCIP

Reliable sources have revealed that the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), in its last en banc meeting, vote 4-3 in favor of issuing the much-delayed certificate of precondition (CPC) for Lucio Tan-controlled MacroAsia Corp., a requirement before it can start engaging in its mining activities.

But inspite of an overwhelming support from the 3,000 tribal people from Brooke’s Point in Palawan for the mining project, there seems to be a hesitancy on the part of the NCIP to make public the results of that en banc meeting.

It has been three weeks since the NCIP en banc voted in favor of the issuance of the CPC, and more than one year from the time the basis for that decision was completed via the free and prior informed consent process, yet the commission has remained mum about it.

We first heard about the NCIP decision from an anti-mining personality who heads a non-government organization. Then there is this congressman who is asking the majority who voted for the grant of the CPC to explain their votes.

Whether we like it or not, this MacroAsia mining project has the backing of the people who anti-mining advocates say would be adversely affected the project. More than 50 tribal chieftains supported by about 80 percent of the indigenous people in Brooke’s Point have welcomed the project. Then of course we have three women-commissioners of the NCIP and three anti-mining tribal leaders opposing it.

There are rumors that the NCIP, particularly the four commissioners who voted in favor of the grant of the CPC, is under pressure to reverse its decision. Thus the deliberate silence of the commission.

Those who voted in favor of the CPC grant to MacroAsia are commissioners Roque Agton, Percy Brawner, Santos Unsad and Cosme Lambayon while those voted against it are are chairperson Zenaida Pawid and commissioners Dionesia Banua and Conchita Calzado.

Talks are rife that House committee on cultural communities chair Teddy Baguilat, who hails from the Cordillera Region like Pawid, is behind the effort to delay the issuance of the CPC while he and Pawid are putting pressure on Unsad to change his yes vote to no. Baguilat after all was the one who endorsed Unsad to be appointed to the NCIP.

It is also questionable why Baguilat is asking those who voted to grant CPC to MacroAsia to explain their votes, and not those who voted against it.

Baguilat in the recent public hearing on mining in Palawan said that he would urge the NCIP to issue as soon as possible the CPC for MacroAsia if indeed the corporation has been extending help to the tribal people.

He also said that he would push for reforms in the NCIP to make it an ally of the indigenous people. But if the IPs are in favor of mining, then who is Baguilat to say that those who voted for the grant of the CPC are against the people? After all, the IPs future and economic survival are at stake here.

By the way, the en banc meeting and the voting on the issue is said to have been the reaction of the NCIP on orders of President Noynoy Aquino himself to NCIP overseer Teresita Deles to ask the commission to explain why it has not acted on the IP’s request despite the MacroAsia having complied with the requirements.

Experience worldwide has shown that mining can be an ally toward economic progress. Just look at Australia. The few instances here of mining disasters caused by the irresponsibility of some mining companies should not deter our government from accepting the fact that a responsible mining industry can be our nation’s savior.

This former company president of Negros Navigation/ATS turned non-executive chairman has, with the backing of the Kuwaiti owners of Negros Navigation (minority group in Negros Navigation/ATS) put him back as Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Here’s from our source from the shipping industry.

At the start of the year, this recently returning CEO boasted that Negros Navigation/Aboitiz Transport System, under his leadership and management will realize profits of up to P1 billion for 2011.

However, NN/ATS had already lost over P500 million as of midyear 2011.

In addition, sources within the company revealed that NN/ATS for July 2011 alone recorded a loss of almost P300 million.

NN/ATS’ troubles do not end there, if we take into account the expected third quarter losses which is a given for shipping/transport companies during the monsoon season.

As a result of these daunting figures, suppliers of NN/ATS are getting fidgety and are concerned that they will not be paid.

Creditor banks of NN/ATS have reportedly closed their faucets so no drop of relief will come from them. This CEO is hoping for some relief from majority stakeholder China ASEAN Fund or from the Kuwaitis of Kuwaiti Gulf Link for additional funding but the odds favoring this CEO are just not there.

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