Surigao town celebrate fiesta by opposing mining; Thousands sign petition against mining in Cantilan

More than 3,000 residents of Cantilan town is Surigao del Sur signed a petition yesterday, opposing the entry of mining operations of Marcventures Mining Development Corporation (MMDC). During the celebration of its town fiesta, Cantilanos expressed opposition to the mining operations after exposing irregularities in the mining contract of MMDC, with Mayor Genito Guardo leading by example and publicly declaring that he will continue to deny issuing a business permit for MMDC operations.


The town fiesta was also used for the launching of the Panalipdan Tubig Kinabuhi (Drive for Citizens’ Action to Stop Mining Operations within the Critical Watershed). Baywatch Foundation President and Hermana Mayor Emma Hotchkiss explained that the petition signing was to preserve the watershed area of Cantilan, under Presidential Proclamation 1747, signed by then President Arroyo. “We are not only celebrating our town fiesta, we are also asserting our right to a sound environment and ensuring that the next generation of Cantilanos can enjoy the benefits of our rich natural resources” Hotchkiss proclaimed. The proclamation of protecting the critical watershed and forest reserve was signed by Arroyo last March 23, 2009, and covers 43,601 hectares, encompassing the towns of Cantilan and Madrid in Surigao del Sur and three other towns in Agusan del Norte.


Meanwhile, Mayor Guardo of Cantilan town stood firm on his earlier decision to deny issuing a business permit to MMDC, citing irregularities in the documents submitted by the mining company. “The dates of the mining contract and the incorporation of the company do not jibe, leading us to suspect that there was not enough diligence and lack of transparency in the application”, he said. “We will not allow our natural resources to be destroyed, especially if the transaction is clearly riddled with irregularities”, he concluded. Guardo ran his campaign on an anti-mining platform, and won a landslide victory, reflecting the popular sentiments of the residents against the mining operation in Cantilan.


“We shall continue to be proud of our heritage and rich endowments, and we see this thousands of signatures against MMDC as our clear message to oppose mining”, said Tinty Iriberri, Baywatch Vice-President and Chair of the Town Fiesta celebrations. Iriberri was referring to the Alimio and Panikian Rivers and Sipangpang Falls that are located in their town. “We can only hope that the officials in higher government levels, such as the province, the DENR and even P-Noy, will listen to our voices”, he added.

In the same light, indigenous peoples spoke against the mining project, stressing that they were never consulted about the project, nor did they give their consent for its entry. Datu Jimmy Bat-ao, a Manobo tribal chieftain, argued that their ancestral lands are located within the direct impact areas of the proposed mining project. “No one from the mining company explained to us about the project, no one asked us permission, and we never gave our consent for them to enter and do mining in our lands”, he asserted.


Non-government organizations expressed solidarity with the move of the people of Cantilan. Raimundo Addun, a researcher from Tambuyog Development Center, said that his resource valuation study showed that loss of fish-catch in the Lanuza Bay area has been estimated at 1,000 metric tons per year in the last decade. “Without a doubt, mining operations will exacerbate this loss of livelihood to fisherfolks in Cantilan”, he added. Cantilan is one the towns facing the Lanuza Bay area in CARAGA.


Similarly, Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) National Coordinator, challenged the mining company to address the complaints of the LGU and marginalized sectors in Cantilan. “MMDC has clearly violated the application procedures for its mining project. There are also evidences that it has failed to observe certain provisions in its EIA, including encroachment in major waterways and possible destruction of irrigation systems”, he added.


Atty. Mae Pacinabao-Galong, from the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, also extended support by presenting the New Rules on Environmental Cases,, “These new rules will offer the LGU and residents here additional opportunities to protect their land and water. Hopefully, a legal track of this campaign can be pursued, in tandem with their petition which is targeting the executive and administrative aspects of the mining project”, she stated. The LGU officials have decided to pursue legal cases to prevent the entry of MMDC in their area.