Green Groups Support New Mining Policy In Congress

MANILA – Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), a national coalition of more than eighty (80) organizations composed of mining-affected communities and civil society organizations, expressed their support and endorsed their position on the proposed new mining policy – House Bill 6342 (Philippine Mineral Resources Act of 2009) popularly known as the Alternative Mining Bill (AMB) in a public hearing facilitated by the House Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Iggy Arroyo held last September 9 at the House of Representatives.

“Upon careful review of HB 6342, ATM strongly believes that the proposed bill puts forward some policy reforms that are reflective of the genuine needs of mining-affected communities, and that the bill will respond to the regulatory framework necessary to implement large-scale mining without sacrificing social and other costs associated with the extractive industry, which the Mining Act of 1995, after more than a decade liberal interpretation and implementation failed to address”, said ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera.

According to Garganera, HB 6342 has a clear declaration of state policy and that adheres to total human development and sustainable development principles.

“ATM is supportive of the clear policy positions that are imbedded in HB 6342, to name a few: 1) Integrating development of communities and science and technology initiatives, which puts local communities at the “center of development”; 2) Adherence to principles of participatory governance in the creation of the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council that reflects true and genuine participation of local communities and their designated representatives, in accepting, studying, approving and monitoring the application and operations of mining projects, which will ensure authentic and legitimate representation, promote transparency and exact accountabilities from the decision-makers; 3) Recognition of local autonomy and just share in revenues of mining by LGUs that equitably outlines the sources of revenues by which LGUs are entitled to; 4) Addressing the social impacts of large-scale mining by mandating the contractor to prepare and submit an Environmental and Social Impact Prevention and Mitigation Plan (ESIPMP), which is a better mitigation measure than the current EIA system that does not fully address the complexity of mining operations; and 5) Improved Access to Justice where there the bill is able to lay down the policy foundations to ensure protection of human rights, definition of corporate and individual acts resulting to human rights violations, as well as prescribe procedures by which these can be resolved,” enumerated Garganera.

“On the same hearing, the House Committee on Natural Resources also deliberated two House Resolutions (HR) related to mining, namely: HR 25 “Urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to uphold its notice of cancellation or termination of Aglubang Mining Corporation’s mineral production sharing agreement No. 167-2000-IV” and HR 360 “Investigation into the effects of large-scale mining activities on the environment and people’s livelihood in Oriental Mindoro”, these covers the provinces that serve as our nation’s food basket threatened by mining operations,” said Garganera.

“The 14th Congress is nearing its end. Yet, ATM remains hopeful that the leadership of Rep. Iggy Arroyo will urgently address the unjust current practices of the mining industry, which is being exacerbated by a flawed mineral policy,” concluded Garganera.

ATM is calling for the passage of HB 6342, filed in Congress last May 13,2009, which was introduced by House Representatives, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Erin Tañada, Walden Bello, Rufus Rodriguez, and Carlos Padilla. The bill is a proposed policy to scrap the Mining Act of 1995 and introduce a new mining policy to regulate the rational exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources onshore (as well as quarry resources, sand and gravel, guano, and gemstones) and ensure the equitable sharing of benefits for the State, indigenous peoples and local communities and for other purposes.

The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group and a people’s movement that upholds the rights of the present and future Filipinos against the persisting injustices related to mining. ATM is convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth – Phils. (LRC-KsK/FOE-Phils.) and PhilDHRRA.

For more information:

Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19 / Roslyn Arayata, Policy Research & Advocacy Officer (0917) 521.7937