Christmas and the Mindanao floods

This Christmas we are faced with how to reconcile being both happy and sad. Happy because at Christmas we celebrate – gift giving and receiving, family reunions, lots of food. But then hundreds of our larger family, our kababayans in Mindanao have drowned in flashfloods, lost their possessions and now in the grip of sadness that death brings.

When you are out of harm and danger it is easy not to care about other people’s tragedy. An antidote to this passivity is to do something, anything, in your daily life with the tragedy in mind.

In our house, we ransacked cabinets for old clothes that have gathered dust. We had boxes we would normally sell at the neighborhood rummage sent to LBC that offered to send it to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan for free. We used to pass by the Red Cross girl at the ticket barrier of SLEX. Not anymore. All the change goes to her bag not once but every time we drive in and out to Makati and Alabang. We’re cutting expenses, less for food and drink, certainly no new clothes to be able to give a more generous contribution to fundraising for the victims. Perhaps, it is not such a bad thing. Coping with death and disaster do change people – first in small things then on to bigger things.

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When the first pictures of the floods came out, I wrote a daughter that it reminded me of the Bangkok floods. It drove home the point that it was not happening only in the Philippines. A UN official said it was like a tsunami. Although the debate continues whether climate change is natural or man-induced it is time to accept it. It is there and we must do everything to understand it and plan on how to mitigate it.

We would do well to compare the floods in Mindanao and in Bangkok. These are similarities as well as differences. More important is to realize that flashfloods will happen again with far more serious consequences in the future unless we are ready. In both floods, the scientists have said that there was a lot more water than in the past.

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I would not have known that there was such a thing as a portable water filtration. The miners’ group for safety and environment (PMSEA) provided the filtration system which can supply 30 gallons of clean drinking water per minute to the people in the affected areas. The group worked with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

“Our member companies, as well as other partners sent help quickly and efficiently to the victims of Sendong because it is precisely organized for disaster under PMSEA’s Safety Networking Action Program (SNAP).”

Since they work with the safety and care of the environment, they were ready and prepared for assisting in the affected areas.

Because of their experience and available equipment they have been effective. In past catastrophes they helped victims of typhoon Juaning in Albay last July and typhoons Pedring and Quiel in Bulacan.

The mining companies provide the logistics including food, clothing as well as cadaver bags.

Donors include Teresa Marble Corp.; Eastern Rizal Miners Association led by Rapid City Realty and Development Corp.; ANSECA Development Corp.; Coalition for Responsible Mining in Mindanao; Sagittarius Mines, Inc.; Philex Mining Corp.; Carmen Copper Corp.; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co.; Rapu-Rapu Minerals, Inc. & Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc.; Philippine Institute for Supply Management; Holcim Philippines, Inc.; San Miguel Corp.; Apex Mining Co., Inc.; Orica Philippines, Inc.; Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc.; and Expedition Mining.

PMSEA president Louie Sarmiento and MGB director Leo Louie Jasareno, will stay in the disaster area until after Christmas to personally lead rescue operations.

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I was surprised that Bulong Pulungan should organize a forum on mining. This is a controversial issue and unfortunately has often been left to activists against mining to inform the public. So we get a one-sided and false picture. The resource person for the forum was a young and pretty lady who one would think would spend her days on a fashion ramp. What a surprise because the lady, Caroline Tanchay is the chairperson of Oriental Peninsula Resources Group which owns the Citinickel and Development Corp. (Citinickel) in Palawan.

It was good to hear from her that mining groups are now taking time to give their side. It is not true that mining hurts tourism or agriculture. They mine in places outside the touristic places. She spoke of the revenue the mining industry brings to the country as well as providing some 200,000 to 300,000 jobs. The industry contributes about P88 billion taxes annually.

“Oriental Peninsula is committed to being a leader in developing, establishing and implementing good environmental practices,” she told about a dozen women journalists. She deplored attacks from NGOs that make it seem all that mining does is destroy the environment. On the contrary as in many countries, responsible mining is done with effective governance. It is a partnership that balances environment concerns as well as develop natural resources for the sake of economic prosperity.

“Oriental Peninsula recognizes the need to protect the environment but also recognizes the important role and place of the mining industry in attaining national economic prosperity.” In our region, the Philippines long considered as one of the richest in the world for minerals, has not achieved its potential while other countries like Indonesia with less do everything they can to invite investors.

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By the way, the National Mine Safety and Environment Conference will celebrate its 58th annual with the theme “Responsible Mining: Enabling a Better Future”.

It is inspired by a quote from the famous essay of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, entitled “Filipinas de cien años” (”The Philippines a Century Hence” translated by Charles E. Derbyshire) that was published in La Solidaridad, Madrid, between Sept. 30, 1899 and Feb. 1, 1890.

“Then the mines will be made to give up their gold for relieving distress, iron for weapons, copper, lead. And coal...and once more (the Philippines will be) free, like the bird that leaves its cage, like the flower that unfolds to the air, will recover the pristine virtues that are gradually dying out and will again become addicted to peace - cheerful, happy, joyous, hospitable and daring.”

In the National Historical Institute version of the same essay, Dr. Jose Rizal is more direct.

“Then the mines – gold, iron, copper, lead, coal, and others – will be worked again, which will help solve the problem of poverty.”