The Authors' Position on Mining in the Philippines

The Authors' Position on Mining in the Philippines

Mining undermines food production, we therefore believe that Responsible Mining (outlined below) is barely possible in most of the Philippines.

Irresponsible mining (e.g.: in watersheds, above food production areas, in densely populated areas, high rainfall, seismically active areas, ethnic minority areas, and areas of social conflict etc.) is already severely damaging the Philippines.

We empathize with and support those municipalities and provinces that have enacted or proposed moratoria on mining. We agree that such moratoria are needed. The switch to "Responsible Mining" would only be feasible with a moratorium on new mining. We doubt if this switch can be achieved pari passu. Moratoria will provide a breathing space for the switch. We feel the switch to "Responsible Mining" will be a major challenge.

Towards a Definition of "Responsible Mining"

"Responsible Mining"* is where: (a) Social and environmental impacts are very low (e.g., in deserts) or absent and can be mitigated. (b) Fully informed agreement of impacted communities to process is obtained through the FPIC of indigenous communities and the broad community support of all other impacted communities (c) Benefits and compensation** for the impacted peoples are high and long term, and unambiguously outweigh possible impacts and effective monitoring and grievance mechanisms must be in place.

"Responsible Mining" avoids the following: (a) Densely populated areas (no forcible displacement of humans); (b) Zones of social conflict; Ancestral domains and indigenous peoples. (c) Conservation units and biodiversity areas e.g. national parks, watersheds, wetlands. (d) High rainfall: typhoon prone belts; cyclone areas; active seismic faults, tectonic areas, earthquake prone areas; steep slopes, especially where protective forest has been destroyed, above food-and fish- producing areas; erosion- prone and landslide areas.

*The World Bank Group's 2004 "Extractive Industry Review" report (eir.org) "Striking a Better Balance" amplifies responsible mining (6 vols). Frameworkforresponsiblemining.org is richly comprehensive. We have searched the literature and have asked widely for 12 months for examples of "Responsible Mining" in the Philippines, but have not managed to find any as
yet. The term sustainable mining is an oxymoron; by definition minerals (e.g., oil, coal, metals) are not renewable. They can be exhausted at slower rates and can and should be recycled to the fullest extent possible, but this cannot be called sustainable.

**FPIC is granted only after impacts and benefits have been negotiated and respectively been acceptably mitigated and allocated, in a legally binding agreement, usually in the "Consent-Benefit Contract" (aka "Benefits-Compensation Agreement").

More: 

• 
  Summary of Main Findings

Recommendations of this Report to Stakeholders:

• 
  Recommendations to Government (and Line Agencies)
• 
  Recommendations to Mining Companies
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  Recommendations to Development Agencies
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  Recommendations to the Investor Community
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  Recommendations to Mining Affected Peoples