PNoy urged to certify as urgent the passage of alternative mining law
Since after nearly two decades, ATM, a coalition of more than one hundred organizations, and part of the TAO MUNA, HINDI MINA campaign, said the Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942) has failed to deliver on its promise of economic gains and jobs to communities where large-scale mining firms are operating. The flawed Mining Act of 1995 has so far resulted in disasters that render the revenue share it has allocated for government ridiculous.
Activists marched to Mendiola to signify outrage against mining corporations. Leaders of the group stepped on and painted red the streamer with logos of major large scale mining companies and prominent businessmen and government people involved in the industry. They also called on PNoy to certify urgent the Alternative Minerals Management and support the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 (RA7942).
“In our report in 2005, we pointed out significant percentage of the forest loss in the Philippines was attributed to mining, in which detrimental impacts to the environment include the deterioration of water catchments, soil erosion and surface run off, the loss of biodiversity and worsening of rural poverty.” Maria Belinda E. de la Paz, Chief Operating Officer, Haribon Foundation.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA) Executive Secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez called for a moratorium on the issuance of new mining permits and the passage of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) has been made more urgent by one mining disaster after another due to flawed framework of the Mining Act of 1995.
EO No. 79 has expanded the “no-go” mining zones in the country to include 78 tourism sites, and farms, marine sanctuaries and island ecosystems in response to the public clamor to protect the environment from mining.
“Again, we reiterate our call to the government to repeal the Mining Act of 1995 and to pass the AMMB, “which offers a far more sustainable approach to utilization and protection of our country’s natural resources,” Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator said.
This week–dubbed “Mining Hell Week” –as a time of reckoning of the tragedies and the irreversible damage mining activities have continuously inflicted on communities since the enactment of Mining Act of 1995. ATM led various actions including a caravan to different government agencies and the House of Representatives calling for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and enactment of the AMMB. ATM
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| The march to Mendiola |
