ATM Statement - DENR should be a regulator and not a "promoter" of mining

March 22, 2019

ATM Statement: DENR should be a regulator and not a “promoter” of mining

Quezon City – Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) vehemently denounces the statement of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, that DENR should promote mining, and note merely act as its regulator.

This attitude of Speaker Arroyo exposes her true agenda that is anti-poor and her narrow perspective that refuses to recognize the negative impacts of irresponsible mining.

Our alliance is deeply frustrated that Speaker Arroyo fails to understand the distinct role of the state to regulate business practices, and ensure that economic interests of corporation are balanced with social justice for communities and ecological balance for the planet.

Speaker Arroyo maintains her regressive perspective that mining is a driver of economic growth, yet fails to see the numerous risks, threats and negative impacts that mining-affected communities have faced. Especially in the context of climate change we are facing.

ATM is not surprised with this backward perspective of Speaker Arroyo, as we recall that she championed the enactment of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942) when she was a senator.

In her stint as President, Arroyo also issued EO 270-A in 2004, which revitalized the large-scale mining industry. This paved the way for the fast-tracking of the application and commercial operations of more than 40 large-scale mine projects.

ATM strongly rejects the proposal of Speaker Arroyo for the DENR to promote mining.

In the same light, ATM strongly rejects the proposal of Speaker Arroyo for Charter Change and federalism, embodied in Resolution of Both Houses 18 (RBH 18).

This version of ChaCha and federalism being championed by Speaker Arroyo will lead to the plunder of our mineral and natural resources, with the proposal to lift the restriction on foreign ownership of land and corporations.

With Speaker Arroyo, corporate agenda and business interests are at the forefront, and community well-being and a safe and sound ecology take back seats.

The Philippines deserve better leadership than this.

For details, pls. contact:

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, (+63917) 549.82.18 / nc@alyansatigilmina.net