Whom is MGB serving?

July 1, 2015

Press Statement
Panalipdan Southern Mindanao (Panalipdan-SMR)

WHOM IS MGB SERVING?

We draw your attention to the Letter of MGB Region XI Director [3] ordering the Municipal Mayor of Compostela to allow Agusan Petroleum & Mineral Corporation (Agpet) to proceed with its exploration activities despite municipal-level resolution requesting MGB to cancel the exploration permit [1].

With this Order, we ask: who is more powerful in Compostela? The Mayor or the MGB Director?

Also, said letter requests Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to "assist Agpet" in its exploration activities, request which is now being used by the military and police to harass protesting residents including the strafing of the house of Bello Tindasan, the chairperson of Compostela Farmers Association [2].

More than 200 farmers and lumads from the mining-affected communities in Purok 20-28 of Brgy. Ngan, Compostela are now in their six (6) days of kampuhan-picket in front of MGB XI regional office in Davao City (as of June 30). They said they will not leave MGB XI until the exploration permit of Agusan Petroleum & Mineral Corporation is cancelled. They already submitted their opposition to Agpet to the Provincial Board of Compostela Valley last April 4 through a petition letter signed by 1000+ residents of nine (9) affected puroks of Brgy. Ngan including all the purok leaders'.

MGB XI Director Engr. Edilberto Arreza gave assurance he will recommend such cancellation in a dialogue Monday June 29 with the leaders of the Compostela Farmers Association who is leading the mass protest, but he gave the burden on the protesting farmers and lumads to show there is enough evidence for such cancellation. Is the series of protests (barricades, pickets, now kampuhan) plus the escalating human rights violations due to militarization not enough evidence for Engr. Arreza?

Whom is MGB serving?

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Reference: Prof. Chiara Respecia, Spokesperson

[1] For a copy of the municipal resolution and other related documents, please visit our Facebook page here.
[2] For the related news on the strafing of Tindasan's house, read here
[3] For a copy of the MGB XI Director's Order, please visit our Facebook page here.

Environmental advocates want 16 year old mining law scrapped

Source: Remate

May 3, 2011

DAVAO CITY — A local environmental alliance Panalipdan Southern Mindanao Thursday held a protest action calling for the junking of the widely- contested mining law.

Farmers and members of the small scale mining industry also joined the protest outside the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) where they destroyed an image showing the negative impacts of RA 7942.

“The Mining Act is the culprit behind the massive pillage of our mineral resources and the destruction of thousands of hectares of forest covers, watershed areas and water systems. The people have long been demanding for the scrapping of this unconstitutional law and we urge the current president to listen to do the country, the planet, a big favor,” said Francis Morales, Panalipdan secretary general.

Yesterday, small scale miners filed a petition at the province of Governor Chongkee Uy demanding that the mineral rich province declare a local law that prohibits the operation of any large-scale or foreign mining transnationals (TNCs). This is part of a local environmental code that Panalipdan member organizations have been pushing all over the region.

Meanwhile, farmers from Paquibato District strongly opposes the 16,200 – hectare mining application of Indophil Resources covering the areas of Davao City, Talaingod and Bukidnon; the 8,100 hectare application of ALBERTO Mining and the 8,100 hectare application of PENSIONS MINING Corp in Paquibato. The residents of Brgy. Lumiad and Mapula also contested the mining application of a certain Superfields Mining Company which covers more than 6,000 hectares of their barangay.

A local code vs largescale, foreign mining

“We urge the local governments all over Davao region to adopt a code against large scale and foreign mining. Despite the Mining Act, the people should have the right to assert that their localities reject foreign and large-scale mining ”said Morales.

As an alternative, Panalipdan – SMR supports House Bill 4315, An Act Re-Orienting the Philippine Mining Industry, Ensuring the Highest Industry Development Standards, and For other Purposes, which progressive partylist representatives Teddy Casino, Luz Ilagan, Neri Javier et al filed in the lower house yesterday (March 2).

Also tagged as the “Peoples’ Mining Bill,” this alternative mining policy aims to “address the need for an alternative framework for the mining industry which should be anchored on the principles of social justice, respect for peoples’ rights and welfare, environmental conservation, defense of national patrimony and national industrialization.”

“We recognize the importance of mining but developing the mining industry should be on the framework of providing minerals needed for national development rather than for foreign extraction and profit. The national government has the burden of uplifting the status of the small scale mining industry for the welfare of the small scale miners and to minimize the harmful impacts of mining on the environment,” said Morales.

He adds, “Technology, research should be maximized to develop sound small scale mining practices. Mining should also not be allowed within areas of great environmental significance. It is also important that the mining industry remain under government control to avoid foreign monopoly of the mining industry.

The group also stressed that national development must not rely on extractive industries like mining.

“Genuine land reform is still the key to national progress. Pump-priming agriculture is still the number one step to rehabilitate our environment. This is incontrast to the rehashed globalization policies of the Aquino government like the Public Private Partnership agreement which emboldens foreign corporations like mining TNCs for the large-scale plunder of our natural resources,” said Morales.

NEWS: Diarrhea outbreak hits Compostela Valley

What could have caused such a calamity?

Immediate investigation of the factors leading to this incident must be conducted without delay. afterwhich, the public must be informed in order to avoid the recurrence of such a life-threatening outbreak.

Compostela Valley province is known to be host to a number of developmental projects that pose threats on the health and life of its residents.

We are hoping that this problem will be addressed, not only by providing the sick the medication they need as of the moment, but by curtailing environmental and health hazards wrought by mining, banana plantations, and other disastrous projects.

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Diarrhea outbreak hits Compostela Valley

by Ben O. Tesiorna

DAVAO CITY -- Close to 800 residents of Maragusan town in Compostela Valley suffered from diarrhea believed to have been caused by contaminated water supply. The outbreak forced the local government to declare a state of calamity in the said town. Residents started seeking medical assistance since July 19.

Most of them rushed to hospitals that were soon filled to the brims, thus the town gymnasium had to be used.

Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy, however, said the situation is now under control. He said both the municipal and provincial governments have already mobilized health workers and doctors to the area and have requested the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH) for help in determining the source of the outbreak.

"We have enough medicines," Uy said. As of Friday, Maragusan Mayor Cesar Colina said the number of affected individuals has started declining. Based on the last count, a total of 773 residents were affected by diarrhea.

There are still 206 persons admitted in hospitals while 171 others have already been discharged. About 540 residents, on the other hand, were treated as outpatients. Also, no casualty was reported as of Friday.

Of the total number of patients, 68 percent came from Barangay Poblacion; 10 percent from Mauswagon; Bagong Silang, seven percent; New Katipunan, four percent; and Mapawa, two percent.

The remaining nine percent was unidentified. Dr. Efren Pates of the Maragusan municipal office said they are still investigating the possible sources of the bacteria that caused the diarrhea outbreak. He said they are specifically checking on the water sources of the affected barangays as an outbreak of such extent indicates a common and widely available carrier. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)