Guimarasnons step up campaign vs mining
JORDAN, GUIMARAS—Guimaras residents and officials have launched a signature campaign against applications for large-scale mining on the island-province.
Led by church groups and officials, the campaign coupled with an education drive in villages seeks to pressure mining firms and government agencies not to allow mining operations on the island that is still recovering from the massive oil spill two years ago.
Guimaras Gov. Felipe Nava said they will continue their campaign against mining applications despite the pronouncement of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that the stand and sentiments of the residents will be considered in evaluating the mining applications.
"There is still no guarantee that mining applications will not be approved and that efforts of mining companies to come in and operate will stop. We will never rest until this is clear," Nava said on Friday at the sidelines of a multi-sectoral assembly on large-scale mining.
The assembly was attended by leaders of local government units, religious groups, non-government organizations and people's organizations.
Nava said 65 percent of the island or around 37,000 hectares are covered by three applications for mining. These covers 22 villages in Nueva Vaelencia town, 13 in Sibunag, 12 in San Lorenzo, 6 in Buenavista and five in the capital town of Jordan.
The Fil-Asian Strategic Resources and Properties Corp. (FASRPC), a subsidiary of the Australia-based Rusina Mining NL, plans to conduct exploration for gold and copper deposits in a 2,400-hectare area covering nine of the 20 villages of Nueva Valencia.
The villages covered by the application include Napandong, Sto. Domingo, Lucmayan, San Roque, Salvacion, La Paz, Cabalagnan, Canhawan and Igdarapdap.
Even if no application has been approved, Nava said they will step up their advocacy against mining operations.
"We cannot let our guard down. We have to vigilant," he said.
Fr. Jose Manuel Escanlar, parish priest of Jordan, said they are standing by the pastoral letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines against mining.
"These will destroy the whole island," said Escanlar who was among the church leaders who attended the assembly.
Fr. Remy Barredo, of the Sibunag parish of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, said he also opposes the mining applications because these will threaten communities.
"We do not oppose development but these should not be at the cost of losing our resources," said Pepito Jose Cerrillo, a director of the Jordan Motorboat association.
Fr. Maloney Gotera, parish priest of Nueva Valencia, said lessons should be learned from communities that were destroyed by mining operations.
"We learned lessons from the past in many areas ravaged by mining. Its only the capitalists who will gain from this," said Gotera.
Provincial environment officer Gualberto Galia and health officer Dr. Felicito Lozarita warned during the assembly that mining operations could pollute water sources and could lead to mercury poisoning especially in areas exposed in the long-term.