Stop mining operations hurting IPs in Nueva Vizcaya

KATRIBU Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas urges appointed Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to support the call of Novo Vizcayanos and indigenous peoples (IPs) for an immediate stop to mining operations and the cancellation of the permit of Oceana Gold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) in Nueva Vizcaya. IPs have, since last June 15, put up a barricade in an attempt stop OGPI’s operations.

Aware of their destructive impact, the incoming secretary is known for her opposition to irresponsible mining operations wherever they may be. On the other hand, she has been very supportive of people’s initiatives and actions against such mining operations. As environment secretary, we expect her to be consistent in her stand against destructive mining, to be always on the side of the marginalized and affected communities; and, more importantly, to stop such mining operations which she will be in a better position to do soon.

The IPs who are greatly affected by destructive mining also call on the incoming environment secretary to thoroughly pursue incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to heed the people’s growing demand to end large-scale and destructive mining not only in Mindanao but throughout the country. This promise can now be realized with the immediate revocation of OGPI’s mining permit. This would bring relief to the mining-affected communities in Nueva Vizcaya.

The IPs also urge Lopez to investigate all mining operations, stop those that are destructive, hold accountable those guilty of destroying the environment and violating peoples’ rights, and declare a moratorium on the approval of new mining applications.

Lopez is fully aware that the Filipino people, especially the IPs, have not benefited and, in fact, have suffered much from previous regimes’ implementation of a liberalized mining policy. Almost 60 percent of approved mining operations are situated in IP territories and have resulted in the destruction of IP land and their deprivation of livelihood.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Agenda recommends to the Duterte administration a reorientation of the domestic mining industry, the repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 that legalizes the destruction of the environment and violates peoples’ rights, and the enactment of a propeople, proenvironment law.

The Filipino people and IPs’ struggles to uphold their collective rights to their land and environment in the face of destructive mining have gone through so many hardships and trials. Many have sacrificed their lives.

Avaricious, profit-driven mining operations must end now.

—REI A. PAULIN, media liaison, Katribu Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in the Philippines, kamp_phils@yahoo.com