Groups slam Tampakan copper-gold mining project

March 4,2010

Press Release

Groups slam Tampakan copper-gold mining project

MANILA, Philippines – Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group on environmental and human rights issues and people’s movement composed of more than eighty (80) organizations from mining-affected communities and civil society organizations nationwide, said the Tampakan mining venture in South Cotabato create environmental devastation and will further induce conflict in the area.

“The Tampakan Copper-Gold project (TCGP) dubbed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Regional Mineral Development Council (RMDC) as their flagship project is a bad business that will put lives of the people in South Cotabato in danger due to the environmental threats and conflict-inducing nature of the project,” said ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera.

“The TCGP lies within the watershed areas, wherein an estimated 20,000 hectares of sustainable farmlands would be threatened by the environmental impacts of mining that will jeopardize South Cotobato’s local economy and food security. The project also encroaches the ancestral homes of the B’laan indigenous community,” said Garganera.

“The presence of the Xstrata-Saguittarius Mines, Inc (SMI) in South Cotabato has its environmental and socio-political implications what put the lives of people in South Cotabato in grave danger,” said Garganera.

“Last month, there was an incident of burning in a school building of Datal Biao Elementary School in Barangay Danlag, where the mine development area of Xtrata–SMI in Tampakan is located, wherein the military blamed the New People's Army (NPA) for the incident. In 2009, anti-mining activist Eliezer “Boy" Billanes in Koronadal City and in 2008 SMI’s base camp was attacked by the NPA that destroyed P12 million worth of property landscape, there are still issues of land dispute, which has yet been resolved,” enumerated Garganera.

“The people of South Cotabato will continuously live in fear, specially with the presence of the 27th Infantry Battalion who are strengthening the barangay defense system (BDS) in the area.The BDS is the local translation of the investment defense forces created to protect the Xtrata–SMI investment,” added Garganera.

"We are not surprised by the decision of the RDC and RMDC to highly favor the TCGP.  For many years they have closed their eyes to the bitter truth that Xtrata-SMI’s mining venture has brought endless conflicts in the area.  In fact, the people are now living in fear knowing that they will soon be relocated.  We would really like to challenge the RDC and RMDC to go to the affected communities and listen to the sentiments of the indigenous peoples.  Their decision to back the TCGP as the region's flagship project would not result to mutual benefits.  It will only lead to cultural ethnocide," said Jean Marie Feraris, team leader Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC) – Davao. 

“It is ironic and sad that our government recognizes extractive activities such as mining as a flagship project.  Mining severely endangers lives, livelihoods and the environment, which is our national and natural security.  It is unfortunate that the local development council lacks the clear vision for a perpetual means of livelihood that will ensure the balance between developmental needs and the environment," said Blas Tabaranza, Executive Director of the environmental group HARIBON.

Meanwhile, a multi–sectoral coalition of various groups working for climate justice and is campaigning for the pull out of Xtrata–SMI in the region - SOCSKSARGENCAN (Climate Action Now) spokesperson Sr. Susan O. Bolanio, OND expressed her sentiments on the possible rationale of RDC and RMDC’s endorsement on the mine project. SOCSKSARGEN CAN

“Is this RDC recognition and endorsement of SMI as the flagship of the region’s development not self-serving considering that Governor Dominguez who is its chairperson is at the same time connected with the Dominguez family involved with the business interest of SMI? Did he not have the professional decency to abstain from the deliberation on this matter?,” said Bolanio.

Bolanio adds, “that the real stakeholders are the broader community – indigenous peoples, other barangays, the neighboring towns, etc. – whose natural environment and well being of future generation are put to risk because of the mining presence of this company and not just the selected few community who directly benefited from Sagittarius in terms of jobs and other short-lived benefits”.

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI in “Caritas in Veritate” (48), Bolanio stressed that, “The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole”, added Bolanio.

ATM is convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and Philippine Parntership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA). (30)

For more information:

BlasTabaranza, HARIBON Exec. Director,  (0922) 815.20.21

Jean Marie Feraris, LRC-Davao team leader, (0908)860.74.13

Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19, <nc@alyansatigilmina.net> 

Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy & Advocacy Officer, (0917) 521.7937, <policy@alyansatigilmina.net>