Bishops Call for a Stop to Large-Scale Mining Operations; Repeal of Mining Law

 

The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) issued a statement at the end of the two-day mining forum of the organization's Southern Luzon Regional Conference in Legaspi on October 6, 2011. The organization of Catholic and Protestant bishops urged the government to repeal the Mining Act of 1995 and to issue a moratorium on large-scale mining.

 

The bishops expressed alarm over the excessive mining operations by both local and foreign firms particularly in Southern Luzon and Bicol. Church leaders and workers along with mining-affected community representatives attended the anti-mining forum.

 

The group cited several areas in Bicol province where large-scale mining has become prevalent, causing environmental degradation in the area. They labeled the mining venture in Matnog, Sorsogon as “a deeper quagmire of maldevelopment of mining”, claiming operations there have turned from a small-scale to a large-scale operation.

 

In liberalizing the mining industry, the bishops said the government has failed to protect the environment and the people by favoring businessmen. “Thus, to further liberalize the mining industry in favor of the mining corporations as being trumpeted by the Aquino administration will mean more suffering and death, dislocation, displacement and ruin of the environment,” it said.

 

“It is lamentable that the national government equates TNC mining with development, and is remiss in its duties in protecting the environment to the detriment of the people,” it added.

 

The bishops also call for the demilitarization of mining communities and the passing of House Bill 4315 or the People’s Mining Bill.

 

“The People’s Mining Bill provides a mining policy framework that ensures the protection not only of the environment but more importantly the people’s basic rights and welfare. Unlike the current mining policy, the said bill once enacted will lead to the resolution of mining conflicts in the mining-affected communities,” Bautista explained.