Anakpawis urges Poe, Escudero to support call vs mining
MABALACAT CITY --- The Anakpawis Party-list Central Luzon chapter has urged Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero to support the people’s barricade against destructive mining operations in Sta. Cruz town, province of Zambales.
Town farmers and residents led by Movement for the Protection of Environment (Move Now!) has been blocking trucks hauling mining ores since January 19, while Anakpawis Central Luzon chapter is actively supporting the people’s barricade.
“We totally support the heightened campaign of the people of Zambales against mining that led to the destruction of the mountain, rivers and water sources, and farms. To protect the people and the environment, we urge senators Poe and Escudero to express their support,” Anakpawis Central Luzon regional coordinator Joseph Canlas said.
Anakpawis is confident that Poe and Escudero who banner the slogan “Walang Maiiwan” (no one left behind) would support the people of Sta. Cruz town, according to Canlas.
Based on a fact-finding mission in 2012, Anakpawis Central Luzon reported the impact of mining operations to the people of Sta. Cruz town.
The report stated the impacts on the environment as: the forest at the mountains were totally wiped out; the river died or the people could already not use it, the water is itchy to the skin, fishes and other food sources vanished, it is heavily silted; water from wells are already contaminated and made undrinkable forcing residents to buy purified water; landslides occurred in Brgy. Guisguis and Lomboy, flashfloods also eroded the lots by the river and floods became regular during continuous raining.
On livelihood: rice yield dropped by 30 to 50%, previous yield reaches to 70-100 cavans per hectare which dropped to 50-70 cavans; rice lands have been polluted with “red soil” especially during rainy season; rice production is lower during rainy season; lower production declined their income to sustain their daily needs; farmers could no longer source the mountain and river for wood, food, cogon and other necessities.
On health: residents who accidentally drink the water from the river or contaminated wells suffer loose bowel movement and those who use it experience skin irritation; people regularly suffer cough and colds, eye irritation, itchiness as dust from trucks scatter around their community and they fear that dust contain nickel deposits; in Brgy. Canaynayan, trucks pass by the school, thus, residents fear health hazard on children.
On safety: people are restless as they are aware of tragedies that took place in different parts of the country caused by mining, logging and other activities that destroy the environment, such as “baka ma-Ormoc kami,” (we could experience like what occurred in Ormoc), “baka matulad kami sa Mindanao,” (what happened in Mindanao could happen here) said by residents, referring to what happened in Ormoc, Leyte in 1991 that killed more than 6,000 people by landslides and flash flood. Residents could not sleep calmly during rains as they stay alert for flash flood; people estimate that 100 to 200 trucks pass by their community thus fearing children could be ran over.
Anakpawis also condemned the violent dispersal by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and illegal arrest of three protesters on February 3 at Barangay Bayto of the town. The group called on the immediate release of the arrested.
“The mining firms were always involved in contaminating the environment and farms that led to their suspension in July 2014 and July 2015,” Canlas said.
Last July 2015, the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau Region III suspended the permits of the mining firms found practicing unsystematic strip methods that lead to inefficient recovery of minerals and cause adverse environmental impact like siltation in bodies of water and generation of dust.
They were ordered to remove all standby stockpiles of ore in open cut areas and store these in designated stockpile areas with proper drainage systems.
“We renew our call for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and the passage of a bill alike House Bill No. 171 or the People’s Mining Bill, and we expect Poe and Escudero’s commitment as they usually say ‘walang maiiwan,’” Canlas said.