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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on January 16, 2010

Anislagan villagers block entry of Philippine largest mining firm

ANISLAGAN, PLACER—Forming a human barricade, almost the entire populace of Anislagan, a small village in Placer town, province of Surigao del Norte prevented last January 11 the entry of the 6–vehicle convoy of the Philippine largest mining firm Philex Mining.

The Philex Mining 6–vehicle convoy backed out after they failed to pass through the human barricade.

Representatives of the mining firm went to Anislagan supposedly to inaugurate a proposed livelihood training center. The mining firm recently bought a one hectare agricultural land in Anislagan for the proposed livelihood training center.

Rizalina Lisbos, one of the frontliners in the human barricade, said: "Women and children here are ready any time to defend our land. This land is where we survive. We should fight for it!"

Philex Mining started its actual mining operation in the adjacent village of Timamana, Tubod, Surigao del Norte in the first quarter of 2009. Philex operation in Tubod also known as the "Bayugo Project" started as early as 1999 in their exploration activities. Strong opposition from the Tubod people prospered for awhile. Opposition, however, soon wavered when the mining company started their community relations projects like livelihood, drainage improvement and sports activities.

In the adjacent village of Anislagan, villagers, led by Anislagan Bantay Kalikasan Task Force (ABAKATAF), have sustained their opposition to mining for almost ten years now.

Exactly one year ago, ABAKATAF members blocked the mining workers of the second largest mining company in the world Anglo American from conducting exploration activity in Anislagan.

Anislagan is an area very rich in natural resources. It has been identified by the government as priority area in mining because of its rich mineral resources. It has first–class nickel and gold minerals. Lakes, rivers and springs also surround it. The environment does not only provide attractive scenic spots to communities and tourists alike, but primarily it gives sufficient food and livelihood for the communities in order to survive for the coming years. Anislagan provides potable water to the entire town of Placer. Anislagan also provides irrigation to rice fields in the village and to adjacent villages.

Mr. Ormega, newly installed ABAKATAF President, said: "We don't need a livelihood training center inside our village from a mining company. What for? We have an existing self–sustaining and community livelihood here. The mining company already affected our irrigation, our rivers, and even to our water supply from their Bayugo Project and now they are proposing a livelihood center."

Kagawad Merlyn Gamus, vice president of ABAKATAF, said: "The Barangay Council (of Anislagan) already filed a resolution as early as 2002 not to allow any mining activities in our village. They should respect it!"

Report from Carl Cesar C. Rebuta, Team Leader of Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC—KsK)—Cagayan de Oro Regional Office

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