Mining destroys farmers’ lives – int’l group

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  —Mining operations in Negros Occidental have destroyed the lives of poor farmers in the province, according to the International Fact-Finding and Environmental Mission (IFFEM) group that conducted a study of mining operations in this area last week.

“We witnessed how mining operations affected the miserable conditions of fisherfolk and landless farmers in Negros Occidental,” Antonio Flores, national council member of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and part of the 85-member IFFEM to Defend Land and Livelihood against Mining Operations.

The IFFEM group went to Sagay City in northern Negros Occidental and Hinoba-an town and Sipalay City in southern Negros Occidental from Nov. 7 to 11 to investigate and document the impacts of mining activities on the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.

Joining Flores in a press conference that disclosed the group’s findings were Indonesians Rahmat Ajiguna and Bal Ram of the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC); British Mark Dearn, IBON International policy and communications  officer and of the People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty; Zen Soriano of Amihan, a peasant women’s group; and Manny Correjado of KMP-southern Negros.

Citing their findings, Flores said, “Fisherfolk in areas affected by magnetite mining in Sagay reported a 700-percent decrease in their daily income, while farmers in Hinoba-an and Sipalay complained of lower production and destruction of portions of their farmlands, while their children suffer skin diseases from polluted water.”

The effects of mining operations and the ensuing pollution have resulted in rice production decline, from an estimated 30 hectares to merely 10 hectares, Flores said, adding that mining also results in the decrease of food production, with farmers and fisherfolk being deprived of their food needs.

Mining operations also destroyed three big rivers in Sipalay City and Hinobaan, as well as mountain areas and forests there, he added.

The IFFEM report added that mining operations have destructive impact, which subsequently violate the people’s right to productive land, safe food and clean water. Philex Mining Corporation is currently conducting exploration activities in southern Negros Occidental.

While calling for an end to mining activities, Ajiguna said the group suspected of a possible “collusion” between local government  and mining companies in their activities whenever  they approved of mining operations.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. however denied there has been magnetite mining in Sagay City, his hometown. He added that mining operations in Negros are the concern of the DENR. (FREEMAN)