ATM Press Statement at the GTC Green Scorecard Launching

Mar. 12, 2019

Mining issues are women’s issues.

Responsible Mining is Fake News.

Quezon City – Environmental activist group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) reminded Pres. Duterte to deliver his campaign promise that he will close down destructive mining under his presidency.

Remembering International Women’s Day and the 24th Anniversary of the passage of the Philippine Mining Act, Judy Pasimio said the “mining is a women’s issue. As large-scale mining operations destroy land, water, and forests, mining destroys sources of food, traditional medicine, livelihoods, and ways of life. All of these cause multiple burdens to rural and indigenous women, making them more vulnerable to exploitation.”

Pasimio, Executive Director of LILAK-Purple Action for Indigenous Women, added that mining is an election issue. “We should ensure that those who will be elected in government, at any level, should respect rights, and lives; and will promote life with dignity for all. Mining is the opposite of rights, life, and dignity.

Therefore, no to candidates who are for mining, involved in mining and supported by mining”, Pasimio concluded.

Stressing that responsible mining is fake news, ATM strongly encouraged Duterte not to allow his campaign commitment to eventually become a broken promise.

“Pres. Duterte should immediately cancel the mining contracts of five mining companies and enforce the suspension of 21 others, as ordered by former DENR Sec. Gina Lopez more than two years ago”, said Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of ATM.

“In this 24th anniversary of the passage of the Philippine Mining Act, ATM strongly condemns the continued plunder and destruction of our natural resources with this vicious and risky law. Pres. Duterte should immediately issue a ban on open-pit mining to address this environmental and social crisis brought by irresponsible mining”, added Garganera .

In November last year, the DENR recommended to the Office of the President the immediate suspension of eleven mining operations and the strict monitoring of another mining project. Of the thirteen mining projects audited in 2016 that were underwent a technical review by DENR, only one passed the government’s assessment.

Another eighteen mining projects ordered closed by DENR have submitted their appeals to the Office of the President.

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Judy Pasimio, Executive Director, LILAK – (0917) 526.83.41 – judy@lilak.net

Paul John Nieves Delin, ATM Media and Communications Officer,(0906) 419-2895 media.comms@alyansatigilmina.net

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator – (0917) 549.82.18 – nc@alyansatigilmina.net

Additional Notes:

1. In Mar. 13, 2019, DIdipio-Watch, a multi-sectoral group based in Brgy. Didipio, KAsibu, Nueva Vizcaya, will troop to Malacanang, DENR, DA and DAR to submit a petition for the non-renewal of the FTAA of OceanaGold Phil., Inc. (OGPI). The FTAA is set to expire this June 2019. A delegation from Nueva Vizcaya is available for interviews on Mar. 13, 2019.

2. From Mar. 2-10, 2019, several community actions were led by mining-affected communities to denounce the continued negative impacts of mining to their environment, water resources, agriculture, livelihoods, health and human rights. These included actions in Sta. Cruz, Zambales; Cabangan, Zambales; Aroroy, Masbate; Sibuyan Island, Romblon; and MacArthur, Leyte. Quotes and photos are available on request.

3. The DENR has formally rejected the request of ATM to have copies of the results of the DENR Review of the Mine Audit Reports. DENR justified this non-disclosure citing its internal rules on “Executive Privilege”. Correspondence can be shared to media.

4. ATM will be publishing this Mar. 18, 2019 its latest publication – “Peoples Mine Audit”, which documents violations of mining companies against environmental laws and their own non-compliance with their contractual obligations. Electronic copies will be available on Mar. 13, 2019, and can be cited and quoted already.