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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on June 27, 2008

Inaction on open–pit mining ban worries religious sector
By Bong S. Sarmiento

KORONADAL CITY—A senior Roman Catholic bishop here expressed dismay at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato for prolonging the approval of an environment code that bans open–pit mining in the area.

Recently, members of the provincial legislative body embarked on a study tour of open pit mining sites in Mindanao as pressures from pro and anti–mining advocates mount for the passage of an environment code.

The provincial legislators visited the mining sites of Philex Mining Corp. in Zamboanga del Norte and of cement maker Holcim Philippines, Inc. in Misamis Oriental.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, however, decided to defer approval of the controversial environment code, which has been pending for a few years now, in that they want to conduct further exposure trips to other mining sites outside Mindanao.

Diocese of Marbel Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez expressed dismay at the board members for the sites they visited.

"They went at the wrong sites. [It seems] there is manipulation. ..They should see Marinduque, Albay, Benguet and Toledo," the bishop said in a radio interview here.

The places the bishop mentioned host mining ventures that had gone awry with the massive destruction brought on the environment.

Mr. Gutierrez urged the people to pray that the board members immediately approve the environment code without striking out the ban on open pit mining.

Earlier, Fr. Romeo Q. Catedral, social action director of the Diocese of Marbel, has appealed to the board members to retain the ban on open pit, stressing this endangers the environment, human health and food security.

Vice Gov. Eliordo U. Ogena asserted, however, that the legislative body "will not be bullied" by any party, saying that the "board members will decide for the greatest interest for the people of South Cotabato."

The proposed ban on open pit mining in South Cotabato has gained a close following not only among local stakeholders but also in the national in international mining circuit.

Sagittarius Mines, Inc., which is controlled by major global mining player Xstrata Copper, has said that, based on initial studies, it will likely employ open–pit method for the copper and gold project straddling the towns of Tampakan in South Cotabato, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur.

In a recent document, Xstrata even cited the proposed open pit ban in South Cotabato as a "legislative risk," along with pending bills in Congress calling for the repeal the Mining Act of 2005.

"The Tampakan project may be affected by changes to the legislative framework such as a proposed South Cotabato environment code to ban the conduct of open–pit mining methods," Xstrata said.

But Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. came to the defense of the Tampakan project by asking the provincial legislature to strike out the ban on open–pit mining in the province's environment code.

"Open pit mining is a legitimate mechanized mining method which is accepted worldwide and is considered the best mining technology in extracting large, low grade, near surface, flat–bedded or massive mineral deposits," said Mr. Atienza, also the chairperson of the Minerals Development Council.

The Tampakan project is one of the 24 key priority projects identified by the Arroyo administration to revitalize the mining industry of the nation.

The upgraded, measured, indicated and inferred resources of the Tampakan project stands at 2.2 billion tons at a grade of 0.6% copper and 0.2 grams per ton gold and contains 12.8 million tons of copper and 15.2 million ounces of gold using a 0.3% copper cut–off grade, the company said in an earlier statement.

As early as March 1996, the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan and Office of the Mayor of Datu Paglas town, Maguindanao sent a letter to then President Fidel Ramos to cancel the mining permit of the copper and gold project straddling the towns of Tampakan in South Cotabato, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur.

The letter states, "The areas about to be encroached by this mining firm are all considered watershed areas and forest perennially perpetuating the smooth flow of Alip River Basin... our source in irrigating our rice fields."

The letter added that the devastation of watershed area would only result to sudden flash floods, soil erosion, land slide, water pollution, and other perilous effects to wildlife sanctuary and human life.

With reports from Ellen Red

END