Groups nix mining permits in Mt Province, Northern Luzon

No mandatory consultations done 

By Gina Dizon and Sherwin De Vera

SAGADA, Mountain Province —More than 300 church and community leaders assailed here mining applications in Cordillera provinces of a Nickel Asia subsidiary during the  Aywanan Environment and Mining Summit here last week of August in this tourist town.

Participants came from areas covered by the mining application of Cordillera Exploration Company, Inc. (CEXCI).

They opposed entry of the Nickel Asia Corporation subsidiary in their communities.

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Luzon of the Anglican Church, the Movement for the Advancement of Inter-tribal Unity and Development, and Binnadang-Innabuyog organized the gathering to provide a place for communities to share experiences on anti-mining struggles in the region.

Participants said their consent on the application of said mining applications have slipped through and approved without consent of affected constituents like indigenous peoples requiring their free prior and informed consent (FPIC).

In a separate interview, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Mountain Province director lawyer Wilson Kalangeg said FPIC is required in mining applications as provided in the FPIC guidelines of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

 It was noted mining applications have been registered with the Mining Geo-Sciences Board-Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources without the required FPIC.  

Rocky Ngalob of the regional NCIP office said an FPIC is required when a company intends to enter a community for extractive and non-extractive mining activities.

 Ngalob in a separate interview said NCIP does not have budget to facilitate FPIC processes.

A company who files for the required FPIC handles expenses of securing the consent of the communities in what is referred to as certification pre-condition.

In the same petition, participants called for local government officials to prevent and stop large scale mining applications.

Previous resolutions of the provincial government noted their opposition to large scale mining.

Discussions focused on corporate mining, particularly the past and present record of Nickel Asia Corporation, the parent company of CEXCI.

Delegates also identified the engagement of local governments to pass resolutions and ordinances against corporate mining as an important part of the campaign.

They adopted a resolution to establish the Aywanan Environment and Mining Network.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance Secretary-general Sarah Dekdeken said the mining applications of CEXCI that covers the different provinces were the reason for the gathering.

According to her, since the enactment of the Philippine Mining Act in March 1995 mining companies failed to secure financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) in the Cordillera. She attributed this to the "strong and united opposition of the people."

CEXCI has two applications for mineral exploration, labeled EXPA 14 for Kalinga and Abra covering 13, 269 hectares and another 11,170 hectares under EXPA 116 for Benguet and Ilocos Sur. Its biggest application is under AFTA 08 with 43,523 hectares within the adjacent areas of Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.

FTAA is a contract for large-scale mineral exploration, development, and utilization between the government and a mining company. It allows foreign-owned companies to extract and export minerals from the Philippines.

Reverend Father Marcial Lloyd Castañeda of the Kilong Catholic Mission saw the activity as "a big help for church leaders" to learn more about the integral connection between human rights and the environment.

In his message read by Rev. Leoba Achawon, Bishop Brent Alawas of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) reminded the participants that protecting and preserving nature is a collective task.

Provincial folks and cause oriented groups have been opposing  large-scale mining operations in the province or Northern Luzon.

This while, small scale mining (SSM) is getting unpopular in Mountain Province where downstream communities are complaining.

In their petition directed to the regional offices of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), participants called for the cancellation of AFTA No. 8  of CEXCI-NAC with covered areas spread out in some 60,000 hectares of Benguet (Bakun, Buguias, Mankayan); Cervantes, Ilocos Sur; Calafug, Cupis Puguin, Conner, Apayao; Abra (Baay-Licuan, Malibcong, Daguioman): Balbalan, Kalinga; and Mountain Province ( Bauko, Besao, Tadian, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sadanga, Sagada).

Destruction of the environment was cited as reason for cancellation of said mining applications and stopping of large scale mining in the region.

 Testimonies from mining communities noted the adverse impacts of mining in their localities in this summit sponsored by the Movement for the Advancement of Intertribal Unity and Development (MAITUD), Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP).

 Ceasar Lokino of Bulalakaw, Mankayan said five houses were already asked to relocate due to sinking in their area. Lokino said his house and so with other houses have cracks he suspects is due to mining in their area.

Barangay Bulalakaw is an expansion area of Lepanto Mines.

Mountain Province lawmakers and constituents have called for the stoppage and cancellation of applications, permits and grants of mining intents.

 A 2011 resolution was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of their opposition to large scale mining.  

Malibato Mining Co. intended to explore Mountain Province in 2011.

A resolution forwarding their opposition to large scale mining was also forwarded in 2010 by the same provincial legislative body on the application for a mining permit by the Horizon Resources Corporation and Mt Franz Mining Corporation.

Elders of Mountain Province also in 2011 and 2014 passed a resolution upholding the protection of the environment in opposing projects namely mining, energy and logging; and the need for an FPIC before any project is done. 

 Provincial indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IPMR) Tomas Tawagen during said summit called out to barangay and municipal IPMRs to be vigilant in asserting IP interests in their legislative functions.

 In the same occasion, elder and indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IPMR) Laurence Farong-ey said Sadanga had long opposed both large scale and small scale mining.

Asked why in a separate interview, Farong-ey said mining shall pollute their rivers they rely on for irrigation and washing purposes. He refers to the small scale mining activities of nearby Mainit, Bontoc located above Sadanga where downstream waters flow to Sacasacan.

An application of Mainit, Bontoc small scale miners for minahang bayan leads to the boundary at Sacasacan, Farong-ey said. What he is most concerned of is the pollution of waters that lead to their community in Sacasacan. 

Small scale mining was opposed by downstream communities due to mining wastes that found their way to the river.

Eastern barangays of Sagada namely Tetep-an and Kilong have expressed too their discontent with the small scale mining of upstream Fidelisan.

 Though the application of small scale mining depends on the wants and consent of communities directly conducted in, both types of mining are destructive, said geologist Ricarido Saturay of AGHAM during the summit.

Saturay said impact of mining whether large scale or small scale, results to pollution, erosion, aquifer disruption, vibrations due to blasting, mine waste release and flooding due to tailings dam failures.

Santos Mero, vice chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) said destructive operations of Nickel Asia Company have operational sties at Rio Tuba, Palawan; Taganito,Surigao del Norte;Cagdianao,Dinagat islands;  Hinatuan,Sirugao del Sur and Dinapigue, Isabela.

He said nickel ore of the high-iron limonite ore is sold to Chinese customers and low- grade limonite ore is processed in the Philippines.