Indigenous Peoples were ‘shocked’ to learn this week that the application of three new Philippine mining firms has been approved into one Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) on Palawan, a UNESCO “Man and Biosphere Reserve” in the Philippines. 
Approval of this FTAA application will allow the Canadian mining firm MBMI and its Philippine Partners to substantially increase exploration activities and to progress toward full-scale nickel operations in the municipalities of Rizal, Bataraza, and Narra.
In response to the news–and the ongoing incursion of mining developments in Palawan–more than 500 Indigenous Peoples have arranged to hold a ‘Karaban’ anti-mining rally on 7 June, 2010.
Sign a petition to Stop Mining in Palawan! http://petitiononline.com/PA2010/petition.html
STATEMENT: PALAWAN ANTI-MINING PROTESTERS RETURN TO THEIR HOMES: FEW GAINS ACHIEVED AND MORE CHALLENGES AHEAD
The anti-mining “karaban rally” composed of about 600 protesters from farmers and indigenous communities had reached the capital city of Puerto Princesa on the 7th of June (see previous IC release). The rally had been supported by various organizations and religious groups such as the Ipilan parish of “Our Lady of Lourdes”, Augustinian Missionaries, the Global Legal Action on Climate Change, The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), the Palawan NGO Network, Inc (PNNI), Haribon Palawan, The Federation of Tribes in Palawan (Natripal), Bangsa Palawan Philippines, Inc and ALDAW (Ancestral Land/Domain Watch). The main scope of the peaceful effort was to request the Provincial Government not to endorse the proposed plans of MacroAsia and Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC), and to clarify matters on the Canadian-based MBMI mining company’s newly approved Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) application. Such approval has also been announced by the TORONTO, ONTARIO- GC-Global Capital Corp, a merchant bank, providing bridge loan services (asset back/collateralized financing), to companies across many industries such as oil & gas, mining, real estate, etc. Global’s Chief Executive Officer, Jason Ewart commented “The FTAA license approval represents a major milestone for MBMI Resources. MBMI can now begin to capitalize on its large nickel resource and pursue contracts for its product from its network of targeted customers within the region. We also expect that this will allow the company to pursue discussions with several major potential strategic partners for the development of large-scale production facilities in the Philippines. We look forward to following MBMI’s progress in 2010.” On the same day (7 June) in which this statement was made public: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gc-global-capital-corp-announces-that-its-client-company-mbmi-resources-inc-has-received-ftaa-application-approval-in-the-philippines-2010-06-07?reflink=MW_news_stmp –
Palawan anti-mining protestors were marching towards Palawan Capital City to deliver their complains to the Provincial Government. In the evening they met with the anti-mining Puerto Princesa Mayor, Hon. Edward S. Hagedorn who sympathized with the motivations behind the rally. Until the afternoon of 8 June a delegation of the rally’s organizers, supported by their NGOs counterparts, engaged in intense meetings with the Provincial Regulatory Board (PMRB) and with the Committee on Environment of the Provincial Government. In one of such meetings, the rally’s delegation questioned the legitimacy of MacroAsia and Ipilan Nickel Corporations’ applications being endorsed by the local government of Brooke’s Point Municipality. Atty Mary Jean Feliciano, former Municipal vice-mayor, said “MacroaAsia was endorsed by the local government in less than one hour without any public consultation. It is surprising that the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, the agency in charge of protecting Palawan environment, has in fact, allowed mining companies to explore in ‘core zones’ and ‘watersheds’ of maximum protection” she said. According to Atty Feliciano also “the National Council for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), rather than defending the interests of their constituents, are convincing local indigenous communities to accept mining in their territory, because it will make them rich, will give them motorcycles and cellular phones. So they are conspiring with mining companies by bribing indigenous leaders” (http://vimeo.com/11462206). Artiso Mandawa, spokesperson for ALDAW/NATRIPAL (Ancestral Land and Domain Watch-Nagkakaisang Tribo ng Palawan) added that for the indigenous peoples “mining is not Development, it creates conflict among people, and it destroys our culture by bringing foreign values to our community. Some of my people still have limited contacts with the outside and are not even registered in the national and provincial census. They are the first inhabitants to arrive on this island and yet, for the government, they appear not to exist (http://vimeo.com/11491685).
As a result of the negotiations taking place between the protesters’ delegation and policy makers in Puerto Princesa, the Provincial Government agreed that endorsement of both MacroAsia and INC should require further investigation and – until all issues are clarified – their applications will be ‘frozen’. Specifically, Hon. Vicky De Guzman, member of the Provincial board, took an open stand in favour of the protesters, encouraging them to be vigilant of all irregularities dealing with mining application processes, and to report them promptly to the Provincial Government”. However, according to Atty Dong Lorenzo of the Environmental Legal Assistance Centre (ELAC) the search for irregularities must start first in the Presidential Palace of Malacañang and in the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “The trend is clear that mining companies are doing everything their money and influence can buy to get permits and put their projects in place before the new government officially takes over in a few weeks” Lorenzo said. This view has been confirmed by Jaybee Garganera, National Cordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM). With reference to the recent Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) approved in favor of the Canadian MBMI Resources he said “it is unacceptable that affected communities and the rest of the Filipino people learn about this midnight mining contract from international sources and the mining company, and yet the DENR itself is mum about it”. He dared the DENR to either deny this mining contract does has not been approved or immediately release all the documents as soon as possible”. He added that “it is the highest form of irony and hypocrisy that a destructive midnight mining deal was fast-tracked in Palawan, a province that is considered as a global biodiversity hotspot, and host to one of the wonders of the modern world – the St. Paul Subterrainean River System”. On the contrary if DENR will push for the endorsement of MBMI, three mining companies: Narra Nickel Mining and Development, Inc. (NNMDC), Tesoro Mining and Development, Inc. (TMDI), and McArthur Mining, Inc. (MMI) will begin their operations in the Municipality of Narra, Bataraza and Rizal with severe consequences for the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers and indigenous people, not to mentioned the irreparable damage to agricultural production and fisheries on which such municipality depend. At least one of the proposed mining operations cover more than 3,200 hectares and will impact the Mt. Bulanjao range in southern Palawan, and its unique ultramafic forest. The area is considered one of the best-conserved biodiversity hot spots on the island. A total of six major rivers from the mountain range supply water to both migrant and indigenous population (http://vimeo.com/11353087 – http://vimeo.com/11386137).
Fr. Edu Gariguez, Executive Director of the National Secretariat of Social Action of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP-NASSA), also expressed concern about these new developments. He said “the granting of this latest FTAA in Palawan, if true, goes against the Catholic social teaching of stewardship of the Earth and preferential treatment of the poor”. He added that “given the fragile ecology of Palawan and the opposition of local communities, especially IPs, the mining contract should be rescinded as soon as possible”. The influential Catholic Church in the Philippines has consistently shown its position against large-scale mining, amidst documented reports from its dioceses that mining operations are impacting the ecology, livelihoods and access to natural resources of the poor (http://vimeo.com/11359268).
While the ‘karaban’ anti-mining rally has served to channel more public attention on mining aggression on Palawan’s UNESCO-declared Man and Biosphere Reserve, it has also provided additional encouragement to local communities in consolidating their local struggles. For instance, farmers from the village of Calategas in Narra, where the Canadian-backed nickel mining project is set to operate, said they would resort to “human barricades” to stop the project if a permit is issued by Malacañang. “We will form a barricade if they issue the permit. We will gather the entire Calategas and set up a barricade. We won’t mind getting hurt,” said a spokesperson of a group of farmers opposed to the project. Similar sentiments were also expressed by people from the Northern Municipality of Roxas, where the Fujian mining company received an initial endorsement despite the absence of Free and Prior Informed Consent Processes being carried out with the affected communities. Surprisingly, also those companies that have already been apprehended for their illegalities are still allowed to continue. This is the case of the Citinickel Mine and Development Corporation in the Municipality of Punang, Sofronio Espanola, which has been accused for the violation of Section 103 of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and for the illegal deforestation of mangroves during the construction of their company’s pier.
Undoubtedly, the future of mining in the so called “Philippine’s Last Frontier” will depend on how the newly elected administration will implement fundamental environmental reforms and actions. ”Now that Noynoy Aquino is set to be proclaimed as the new president, the question that comes up is whether he will fulfill his promise to bring about a government different and opposed to the previous Arroyo administration. This would mean taking concrete steps in implementing positive reforms and reversing the policies that negatively impacted our people and environment,” said Clemente Bautista Jr. of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Sign a Petition to Stop Mining in Palawan!
http://petitiononline.com/PA2010/petition.html
And address your concerns to:
* PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF PALAWAN
[email protected] [email protected]
Hon. Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra
*PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
*DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONEMNT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MINES AND GEOSCIENCE BUREAU
Also forwards your complaints to:
Michael T. Mason
President and Director
MBMI Resources Inc
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Jason Ewart
Chief Executive Officer
GC-Global Capital Corp
Toronto Ontario, Canada
For more information watch ALDAW videos
http://www.vimeo.com/aldawnetwork http://www.youtube.com/user/ALDAWpalawan
http://hub.witness.org/en/users/aldaw-network
or contact the ALDAW Network (Ancestral Land/Domain Watch) [email protected] and Alyansa Tigil Mina ([email protected]/ [email protected])