SC asked to stop Nueva Vizcaya mining project

By JOAN CAPUNA

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya -- A group of anti-mining activists asked the Supreme Court Wednesday to issue a preliminary injunction against a mining company in this town. Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban and the Sang guniang Bayan said the gold-copper project of the Oceana Gold mining firm in Barangay Didipio lacks social acceptability and failed to get the consent of the municipal government.

In August 2005, the municipal council passed a resolution rejecting the project. “Despite its failure to secure an endorsement from the local government to its socially unacceptable gold-copper project, Australasia Philippines Mining Co. Inc., transferee of Climax Arimco Mining Corp.’s financial and technical assistance agreement, has ignored the will of the people and the authority of the local officials,” said the petitioners’ legal counsel, lawyer Francis Joseph Ballesteros.

The petitioners said the preliminary injunction would prevent “any further damage to the community.” They also asked the SC to remind the company to respect and comply with the demand of the municipal government and not to violate its local autonomy. The petitioners claimed that the operation of the mining company has displaced indigenous groups in Barangay Didipio and nearby communities.

“The actions of local government units should emulate the direct governance and will of the people. Nationally initiated government development projects should be required and subjected to local government clearances to prevent transgressions of the very authority and integrity of the elective offices of local government units to preserve democratic governance structures,” Ballesteros said. He said Kasibu town hosts two large-scale mining operations.

“In 2007 and at the onset of 2008, community resistance is evident as other indigenous people’s communities are physically preventing the entry of mine equipment and personnel encroaching in their villages. Communities in Barangays Paquet, Pao and Kakidugen have so far been successful in preventing the Oxiana mining company from entering their villages since July 2007 and after repeated attempts to break their resolve to defend their lands,” he said.

“Recently, villagers of Barangay Papaya have successfully driven away mine exploration equipment and personnel of Oceana Gold from their community,” he added.