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Anti-mining sentiments growing

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 00:00

DAVAO City-If there is one important lesson that the destruction wrought by Typhoon Sendong in Northern Mindanao last Dec. 17 and followed by Landslides in Pantukan, Compostela Valley has taught Mindanaons, that is the need to care for the environment. It is becoming clear that massive and wanton destruction of our forest covers, natural water ways and mining operations, both legal and illegal have aggravated the plight and risks of the victims. The Isla de Oro, a resettlement site where most of those perished once lived was literally swallowed by raging water, mud, stones, fallen trees and forest debris from the hills surrounding the ill- fated cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Open pit mining and quarrying for aggregates to supply the construction boom of these cities made easy for floodwaters to drown the whole communities in lightning speed. Shanties and houses of residents made from semi-concrete materials were no match to the raging horror. Only the eerie cries of helpless victims could be heard in the dark in that fateful morning that leaves about 1,500 dead and scores still missing either swallowed by a meter-deep mud or swept to the blue waters of Macajalar Bay. The Landslides that hit the mining town of Pantukan were part of a series of disasters that hover over all mining sites in Compostela Valley and adjoining mineral-rich provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental. Last year, the same town was closed for mining because of Landslides that killed several small-scale miners but this time the number of casualties and missing persons was higher.

This incident prompted Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to order the permanent closure of the site to small-scale miners and giving stern warning for nonfeasance local government executives of his orders. Not so long ago the mining areas at Mount Diwata and Mr. "Buringot" also saw similar tragedies that claimed countless lives since the gold rush in late '70s. Both the provincial and municipal governments of Comval and Pantukan have vowed to follow the orders of the secretary and to undertake stricter measure to regulate mining in other areas not yet hit by disasters.

Sparked by the real culprits of these recent disasters, moves are growing especially from the private, academe and religious sectors to stop logging and mining in various parts of Mindanao. Despite the order of PNoy during his inaugural speech for a logging moratorium in the country, cutting of trees continues unabated. In fairness, some DENR field offices have run against illegal loggers and confiscated voluminous logs but their effort is not enough to cur tail logging operations. Coordination among government offices also poses a problem. The local office of DENR in Davao City had a row with another government agency over apprehended alleged illegal logs. Some LGUs made use of confiscated logs by making School chairs and desks for children as what Mayor Rey Uy of Tagum City did. He even donated chairs and desks to many municipalities including Davao City when some Schools were destroyed by flashflood mid last year.

Last Jan. 26, an international forum on mining was held at the Ateneo de Davao University. This was spearheaded by the Jesuit community, Gabriela and Akbayan Partylists, church groups and environmentalists groups in various parts of the world. Many environmental experts gave their views about the state of our ecosystem and the effects of continued mining in Mindanao. Gabriela Rep. Luz Calolot-Ilagan talked about the bill which she co-authored about an Alternative Mining Act to replace or amend the pro- foreign Philippine Mining Act of 1995. She said that the present mining act protects the interest of the capitalists and big mining companies and does not benefit the Filipino people in general. Fr. Joel Tabura, president of Ateneo de Davao and convenor of the forum, said the issue of mining would go beyond economy because it touched on Philippine sovereignty and the collective right of the Filipino people of the country's wealth.

On the other hand, some LGUs have already contemplated of passing measures to stop or to limit mining operations in their area of jurisdiction. I think some politicians and private sectors in Cagayan de Oro City have expressed their desire to stop mining operations in the city. Davao Mayor Sara Duterte was more vocal by saying that Davao City would be of f limits to mining. She said that the resources of the city would be best preserved for the future generations of Dabawenyos and not for faceless foreign beneficiaries. Good decision, Madam Mayor, and for those who care for the environment.