Church says no to mining, 'warns' entry in 22 towns
The Church is set to assume a more active and defensive stance against the operations of mining activities throughout Iloilo even as confirmation has been made on the approved and pending application of such in 19 Iloilo towns and 3 Guimaras municipalities.
In an interview, Monsignor Meliton Oso told The News Today (TNT), the Archdiocese of Jaro thru the Jaro Social Action Center are bent on being in the forefront of the campaign against all forms of mining in Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras.
With a Church-backed symposium held Friday, local executives from Iloilo and Guimaras particularly those with pending and approved mining applications were invited. Three speakers gathered by the Church spoke of the ills brought by the mining activities and operations in their respective areas such as the devastating Marinduque incident and similar destruction in Antique.
The Church chose to come in, Msgr. Oso said, since if the government is left to do the job, "mining investments and operations are all explained as very heavenly. Puro lang matahum kag positibo (Just all good and positive). "
What the Church is most serious in objecting, Msgr. Oso added, "is the irresponsible mining that are all centered and geared towards profit."
"Ang ginalantaw nila ganansya lang, indi ang halit sa (What they are after for is profit and not the destruction to the) environment. They will readily sacrifice the fate and well-being of the people and the environment all for the sake of profit," he continued.
The symposium also saw the presence of a multi-sectoral group comprised of students, lay ministers, priests and bishops and religious organizations.
Asked on priority areas for the anti-mining campaign, Msgr. Oso pointed to the 22 towns namely Jordan, Buenavista and Nueva Valencia in Guimaras. Iloilo towns include Ajuy, Carles, Sara, Concepcion, Oton, Sta. Barbara, Pavia, San Dionisio, Barotac Viejo, Anilao, Dingle, San Enrique, Banate, Maasin, Leon, Alimodian, San Joaquin and San Rafael.
As such, Ilonggos will soon see primers and video campaigns from the Church against mining operations and activities for distribution to the Ilonggo faithful and the entire community served by the Archdiocese.
And they are "very serious and very concerned," Msgr. Oso shared while saying everybody should be aware of the 2% forest cover of Iloilo when the normal number is pegged at "40% to 50%."
"Kung pasugtan pa naton ang mina, makalbo ang Iloilo (If we still allow mining, Iloilo will be left with zero-forest cover). And there is danger posed by these open pit caused by mining. Mabutang gid ang kabuhi sang pumuluyo sa peligro (The lives of the people will be put in peril)," Msgr. Oso ended.