Saturday, February 23, 2008 Mining villages seek more 'tanods'
TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato -- Foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. has "never won" the support of the general communities covered by the mines development site, a top local official said.
Acting Vice Mayor Relly Leysa made the claims amid plans of three villages here to train 60 to 80 barangay tanods or civilian volunteers' organization members to augment government security forces deployed at the mines development area.
The official said the Xstrata Copper-led Sagittarius did not gain the support of majority of the community members because of the attack on the firm's base camp last New Year's Day by the New People's Army (NPA).
"That time people were in vacation and they are just in their houses. Yet they did not report to the authorities unusual movements. That assault could have been prevented had the residents relayed information," Leysa said, stressing such attitude show the community members' lack of concern on the firm.
The attack cost Sagittarius at least P12 million in damages to several buildings that were razed to the ground.
Roy Antonio of Sagittarius earlier denied that the support of the communities to the Tampakan project is dwindling, but he conceded there has been discontentment from the residents.
Admitting the disenchantment from community supporters, Antonio stressed they have set up an "independent" grievance mechanism where community members can bring their complaints or dismay against the company.
Sagittarius' project area in this town covers the villages of Tablu, Danlag and Pulabato, which according to Leysa want to train more tanods than what is supposedly provided by the law.
"I have reservation on this proposal since each barangay is only allowed to maintain only 20 CVOs as they are a manageable number," Leysa said.
He also questioned where the village officials would get the funding for training and allowances of the additional barangay tanods.
According to Leysa, the purpose of training more barangay tanods is to help military personnel secure the communities and Sagittarius base camp operations from attacks of communist rebels and other armed groups.
Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has warned of more attacks against Sagittarius and other foreign mining companies in the country.
Leysa said the local government unit (LGU) would bring back the "barangayan" program, where basic government social services are brought to the villages.
He admitted the LGU has failed to effectively deliver basic social services due to limited resources.
The LGU has "entrusted" the development initiatives in the villages of Tablu, Danlag and Pulabato to Sagittarius in the contention that limited local government resources can be poured in other barangays, he added. (BSS)
