Group brings anti-mining campaign to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -  The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) helps push for the repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the passage of the alternative minerals management bill (AMMB) by spreading awareness to the public.

Atty. Mario Madarazo, the advocacy and legal officer of PMPI, discussed the matter before over a hundred students and professionals yesterday during the Urbanization and Mining Forum at the Legislative Building of the Cebu City Hall.

Madarazo said that President Benigno Aquino III approved and signed Executive Order No. 79 which aims to provide a more equitable revenue-sharing scheme, strengthen environmental protection and promote responsible mining in the country.

He added that the palace sees EO 79 as “panacea for all mining-related concerns.”

Among the contentious provisions of the implementing rules of E.O. 79 includes the term of the mining contract, the areas barred from any mining activities, the primacy of national over local laws and a no-new-contract policy put in place while the government and the mining firms pursue a revenue-sharing scheme in Congress.

    However, Madarazo also discussed about the mining issue and what’s in it for urban dwellers.  He revealed the triple burden of mining which includes poverty in mining communities, irreversible environmental and social impact and unpaid cost by mining companies.

    The AMMB has been deliberated at the Committee on Natural Resources and its report was adopted by the Committee last October 17. The counterpart of the bill at the Senate is sponsored by Senator Serge Osmeña.

    Madarazo said that among the reasons why AMMB should be pushed is because EO 79 is focused on governance, increase in share of government revenue while the AMMB is focused on environmental protection.

The AMMB is designed for a stable and predictable investment climate and the stewardship of mineral resources.

 “E.O 79 should not divert us from our main call to repeal the Mining Act of 1995. We renew our call to PNoy to certifiy as URGENT, the bill, Philippine Mineral Resources Act of 2012 or the Alternative Minerals Management Bill,” said Madarazo.

Meanwhile, the PMPI is engaged in a national anti-mining advocacy and campaign to promote social awareness on the irreversible impact of mining to the environment and its social and cultural cost.

PMPI believes that the way large scale corporate mining is being done today in the coutry runs counter to “responsible” mining. –JPM (FREEMAN)