Mining and murder of a broadcaster

Of course we deplore the murder of a broadcaster or anyone for that matter. What is objectionable is when “environmentalists” use the murder as a platform to attack mining in general. These are two different things. Those who were against mining were quick to make allegations that “he must have been murdered because he was against mining.”

This is unfortunate and part of an insidious form of propaganda. There is after all another interpretation of mining’s benefits to a community. And it is the community itself that needs to be informed about its benefits. They should not be at the mercy of vested interests against mining.

In many countries, responsible mining was seen as a way out of the poverty of millions. I am afraid tourism and agricultural projects simply will not be adequate to meet the needs of the masses. There is continuous mining going on safely in many countries that have benefited the people, especially the poor.

Therefore when sectors use media and disinformation to vilify mining, they also deprive the poor the opportunity to lift up their lives and create wealth for the country. Moreover they build a false impression that their projects alone should be accepted as the norm of what is good for the country. It is hypocritical do-gooding.

The murder of broadcaster Ortega is a case in point. Even without the facts and evidence on hand the murder was immediately condemned because the broadcaster was against mining.

I wonder if any correction will now be made with facts and evidence of his murder pointing to alleged graft that had nothing to do with mining.

An audit report that allegedly revealed irregular transactions of the provincial government of Palawan was unearthed as strong evidence on why the broadcaster was murdered. Ortega was reportedly against these transactions and aired his views in his radio program. “The cost of constructing the 10 Water Supply and Sanitation Facilities Projects implemented by the provincial government of Palawan was found excessive by P52,312,334.45, which was further reduced to P49,187,326.45, after further review/verification,” auditors said.

The audit report questioned the integrity of the transactions on consultancy services contracted by the local government, after official receipts on the payments were not submitted.

This does not mean that he was also against mining but I wonder why anti-mining should have been blamed immediately. What it boils down to is that there is obviously an agenda against mining using the cover of “environment protection” as the excuse.

Is it because Ortega aside from being a radio commentator was also program manager of the Philippine Ecotourism Palawan of the ABS-CBN Foundation? Not surprisingly, it was Ms. Gina Lopez, a member of the Lopez family that made its fortune in power and electricity (not a great protector of environment either) who made the insinuations that “it must have been because he was against mining.”

With the facts now on hand, media must be equally assiduous in clearing “mining’ as the cause of his death. Too many times, the issue of mining is made a bogeyman of vested interests and corrupt local officials. Yet it is well known that only mining, if properly implemented, can help save the poor as our resources dwindle and only a big ticket industry like mining can solve. The problem is not in mining but the implementation of a Philippine mining law that is known worldwide as one of the best mining laws.

It is good that Cotabato church Pastor Romeo Gonzales of the United Pentecostal Church in Koronadal came forward to say that “mining will bring progress” in reply to the smear tactics of alleged environmental protectors.

“What can the church offer as an alternative to the loss of economic benefits for Tampakan and surrounding communities?” he asked. As a witness on the ground he said with confidence how “a mining project brought progress to Davao del Norte, and until now no environmental disaster has been directly linked to that project. That is responsible mining.”

But statements alone are not enough. I think that pro-poor mining advocates must launch their own counter moves through a more concerted effort against virulent attacks on mining itself rather than violations of rules that should govern it. The poor should also be made aware that it is they and their future that are under attack by the campaign against mining. 

“I have personally observed the mining project in Davao del Norte through the years. I have seen the economic development being enjoyed by the host communities there.” This should be spread as widely to other communities who are being fed with false information.

“I have seen places where there are no good investment and I saw poverty,” Gonzales said.

“But in Davao del Norte, the mining projects have also brought in infrastructure such as roads that are used to bring down the products of upland farmers,” he adds. Had the Philippines used mining as a strategic industry it would have benefited as experts said because we have some of the world’s best mineral resources. It would have been like oil to the Middle East in its enormity and quality. 

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I missed the visit to the PICAT (Philippine-Israel Center for Agricultural Training) in Nueva Ecija recently but met with Ambassador Zvi Vapni a few days ago for an update. It was the day after the EDSA bus bombing, so strict security measures were up in the embassy that day. More and more Filipinos farmers are gaining expertise in this very important industry. I am personally interested in agriculture as a weekend farmer myself.

Too few are aware that there is a lot of help coming from different countries, Israel just being one of them. According to Ambassador Vapni, their agricultural experts found Philippine soil so rich we should have plentiful harvests if farmers were taught the technological advances available.

Some of the help includes monitoring, evaluation and planning for the PICAT projects. Agricultural experts visit the projects every now and then to make sure more modern approaches are followed. The projects in vegetable production included tomato and finger pepper plantations. Training was also given to rice production, vegetable in open field, greenhouse vegetable production, food processing, animal and fisheries.

The Israeli government, through its Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) in the Philippines has donated seeds to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The seeds are for crops such as cucumber, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and wild onions.