Friday, September 19, 2008 Lawmakers lack interest on mining issues: Tañada By Carlo P. Mallo
IT IS still a numbers game in Congress after all, even if it has to give the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 a second look.
In Thursday's Mining Forum and launching of National Resources Management Agenda at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City, Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III said the number of representatives Congress who are opposed to mining does not comprise the majority.
"We are not the majority, we do not have the numbers," Tañada said.
Instead, Tañada said the people who live in the areas affected by mining activities should lobby before their representatives to look into the issues of mining.
One of the biggest issues of mining, apart from the environmental issues, is the economic benefit that will trickle down to the community, if there is any.
"I am surprised that representatives are not interested on the issues of mining," Tañada said.
"It is either they do not know, or they do not care," Tañada added.
The Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao Inc., (Afrim) spearheaded a forum on mining Thursday where numerous issues hounding the mining industry were discussed by various non-governmental organizations, religious leaders, academe, and community organizations shared their insights on the effects, both good and otherwise, of the mining industry on their respective communities.
Mary Luz Feranil, Afrim's executive director, said with the forum, they hope to identify useful strategies to respond to the challenges of the mining industry.
"It is high time to push for ways and strategies on how each community affected by mining activities of large and influential companies could assert their rights on their lands, livelihood, and resources," Feranil added. (CPM)
