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Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Group launched vs mining
By Maricar Aranas
SIBULAN, Negros Oriental -- Environmentalists and militant groups launched Wednesday the Defend Patrimony-Negros Oriental chapter, an alliance of men and women promoting the protection of the environment.
Trelly Marigza, chair of the group and head of the provincial chapter of the militant women's group Gabriella, said the launching of the watch body followed their alarm over the reactivation of the Mining Act of 1995 that has opened the country to massive mining operations.
In a press conference at the launching of the group at the Carmelite convent in Sibulan town, Marigza described the development as an alarming sign because most mining companies were foreign-owned.
Moreover, the Gabriella leader said, the development is disadvantageous to the country since would it belong to foreigners.
The Gabriella leader said farmers and fishermen end up suffering from the environmental contamination resulting from mining operations.
She said Defend Patrimony has identified and mapped out the province's major mining areas awaiting exploitation.
These are in the municipalities of Ayungon, Guihulngan, Siaton, Basay, Pamplona, Zamboanguita, and the cities of Bayawan and Bais.
Marigza said mining operations have increased because securing license to open mines has become easier.
She clarified that the group was against mining per se but only wanted it to be nationalized so that benefits could go to the people.
"We are declaring our strong objection and opposition of the globalization of the mining industry, environmental destruction, and plunder of our wealth by the few to the detriment of the vast majority," Marigza said.
The Gabriella leader hopes that with Bayan Muna partylist, the calls to review or repeal the mining act would prosper in Congress.
In the same press conference, Clemente Bautista, executive director of Kalikasan Foundation, said a number of congressmen have expressed support to repeal the mining law.
Meantime, Defend Patrimony Regional Director Fr. Ireneo Gordoncillo said fishermen along the coasts of Tañon Strait were, even now, being affected by the ongoing oil exploration in the strait.
Gordoncillo said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has admitted that the oil exploration being conducted by the Japanese firm, Japex, in the strait would affect existing corals and other marine resources.
Defend Patrimony director said the diocese of San Carlos and Negros Occidental fishermen have already come up with a statement opposing the exploration and were disappointed with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for allowing the "environmentally-destructive" operation.
(October 23, 2005 issue)
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