Nun says large scale mining, logging still rampant in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines- A Church-based organization's official said Monday that large scale mining and logging in Mindanao remain rampant.

Panalipdan Mindanao secretary general Sister Estella Matutina said the mayors in the region continue to approve mining permits of large foreign mining companies.

Matutina said the permits for 397 mining operations have been signed last April.

"Well kami po dito sa Mindanao ay patuloy kami sa aming advocacy sa anti-mining lalo na sa anti-large scale mining at saka lalo na po after ng elections karamihan po sa mga mayors na nanalo ay pabor towards mining at saka dahil po ito ay polisiya ng government," she said in an interview over Catholic radio station Radyo Veritas.

"Dito po makikita po natin na talaga pong agresibong isinusulong itong pagmimina at lalo po itong pagmimina na ito ay sa mga dayuhan na po ito. Around 397 mining contracts na naman po ang bagong pinirmahan ng government noong April 2013," Matutina said.

Aside from mining, she said said that logging persists in Mindadano notwithstanding that the region has been devastated by typhoon Pablo.

She cited that in Davao Oriental alone, foreign logging companies are operating in around 82,000 hectares of forested area, which are covered by 16 permits.

“Kung pupunta po kayo dito sa Surigao hindi lamang po sa usapin ng mining kundi patuloy din po ang pagla-logging...at hindi pa rin yan na cancel sa kabila ng pananalasa ng bagyong Pablo noon . Dito po sa Surigao ay patuloy pa rin po ang plunder ng environment," she added.