By
Aldwin Quitasol
VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur
– The Ilocos Network for the Environment (Defend Ilocos) urged Environment Sec.
Regina Lopez to cancel mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) that
straddle watersheds supporting Ilocos rivers, even as officials of Cervantes
started a signature campaign against mining in the town among other areas.
“We urge Sec. Lopez to
include in the cancellation order all applications that cover watersheds areas
in the region and in other parts of the Cordillera,” the group said after Lopez
cancelled 75 MPSAs of mining companies nationwide.
The group said the
region suffers from dry spells and drought almost annually and “mining
operations in watershed areas will increase the suffering of the people,
especially the farmers who largely depend on creeks, streams and rivers for
irrigation”.
Based on records of
the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, seven companies have applied for permits
covering key watershed areas in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, namely, Cordillera
Exploration Company, Inc., Newmont Philippines, Olpaten Resources Corporation,
Diamond Drilling Corporation, Rhenzel Resources Corporation, Benguet
Corporation, and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company.
“The cancellation of
MPSAs in Baay-Licuan, Abra and Mankayan, Benguet are commendable since streams
and rivers in these locations drain to the Abra River but the surface water
system in the region remains under threat because applications and permits of
other companies remain active,” said Sherwin De Vera, regional coordinator of
the group.
He added that Lopez
should support the clamor of environmental groups to repeal the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995 and passage of the People’s Mining Bill to realize watershed
protection against corporate plunder.
This, as the Cervantes
municipal government here, in a public statement urged residents to sign a
petition supporting resolutions opposing
entry of large scale mining companies passed and approved by the municipal
officials.
“Just like what we did
when we voiced out our deep implementation of Aluling Bridge for several
decades, we believe that the stand of the stakeholders would be heard too and
this will counter the petition being passed around by (Cordillera Exploration
Company, Inc. (CExCI), which was allegedly signed by several people from
Cervantes who already sold their souls over ‘thirty pieces of silver.’ Watch
out for their ‘Kiss’,” the LGU officials expressed as one in the statement.
Aluling bridge was
dubbed “longest bridge “in Ilocos Sur because it took 35 years to be completed.
Some critics said the
project was completed after more than three decades because of corruption and
inefficiency.
CExCI is a subsidiary
of Nickel Asia Corporation, the Philippines' largest producer of lateritic
nickel ore and one of the largest in the world.
It has a pending
Exploration Permit Application (EXPA No. 116) before the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) covering 11,170 hectares in Mankayan
and Bakun, Benguet and in Cervantes.
It has also an
Application for Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (AFTA) No. 8,
covering 43,524 hectares in Mankayan, Bakun, and Buguias, Benguet; Tinoc,
Ifugao; Bauko, Sabangan, Besao, Sagada, Bontoc, and Sadanga, Mountain Province;
Cervantes, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, and San Emilio, Ilocos Sur; and Luba,
Abra.
According to the
statement, the municipality of Cervantes for several administrations takes its
stand against mining in the town. “Your elected officials are united in this
stand, from the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilors and the barangay representatives
in the municipal council or Sangguniang Bayan. Silently and without fanfare,
your officials had been fighting for this battle,” the officials added.
In the statement, the
officials revealed that just recently, the officials were solicited by Lepanto
Consolidated Mining Company (Lepanto to pass a resolution opposing the
appointment of DENR chief Gina Lopez. “…but this request by Lepanto Mines, was
politely denied with the explanation that Ms. Gina Lopez could be of great help
in disapproving any mining activity in our beloved town,” read the statement.
The Cervantes
officials mentioned that “while everyone believes they have good reasons and
goodwill, no one holds the monopoly of it.”
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