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No permit yet for mine firm in Kibungan
By Dexter A. See

KIBUNGAN, Benguet – The Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau bared it will not issue a permit to a company for mining exploration in Barangay Lubo here without approval of the project by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

The Cordillera MGB issued the statement in reaction to fear of villagers in Lubo that the mining agency would railroad the issuance of a permit to Almagan Mining Corp. to conduct mining explorations in their village despite their vehement opposition.

Earlier, thousands of residents of Lubo were alarmed by frequent visits by engineers allegedly connected to Almagan.

They were reportedly gathering rock samples from the mountains of Lubo. The residents of the village said technical persons of the company have no business in the area.

But MGB officials allayed fears of residents, saying activities of the engineers would not adversely affect the community if they (engineers) are getting only small rock samples.

The MGB said it will not issue any exploration permit to the Almagan Mining Corp., proponent of the ambitious exploration project in the village, until the community endorses mining activities in the area.

Indigenous people of Lubo here have reiterated their strong opposition to any activity which would lead to mining operations in their village, having learned their lessons from their experiences in mining, noting the destruction of the environment, the pollution of the water systems, and rampant landgrabbing.

Lubo was host to Western Minolco, which was blamed for depletion of water resources of the village.

The nearby town of Atok was also greatly prejudiced by the operations of the company which reportedly closed shop in the early 1980s due to financial difficulties. Local officials said more than 1,000 families in the village will be adversely affected once the company is given the opportunity to explore the rich mineral resources of the area.

The villagers said they prefer to be involved in the production of agricultural crops than allow companies to explore the rich mineral deposits in the village.

The proposal of Almagan to conduct exploration activities in one of the villages here is considered controversial because of the firm’s plan to pursue pre-mining operations.

MGB needs a certification pre-condition from the Cordillera office of the NCIP after the affected community has given its free and prior informed consent (FPIC) for the exploration. MGB will issue the exploration permit to the proponent only after the NCIP issues the certification.

The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) provides that indigenous people and indigenous cultural communities should first give their free and prior informed consent before companies could tap or explore the national wealth in a certain locality.