MANILA, October 1, 2008—The recent mining tragedy in Northern Luzon must become a launching pad for the Church to further strengthen its campaign against mining, a Catholic bishop has said.
Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena said what happened to 14 trapped miners inside a collapsed mining tunnel in Itogon, Benguet must not happen again.
“This particular incident proves strongly our conviction and contention that mining, particularly in upland areas, should not be done because mining in the country, are still irresponsible,” he said.
The bishop is known for his advocacy against a mining operation in Kasibu town in Nueva Viscaya that resulted to a violent conflict between a tribal group and an Australian mining firm.
He said tragedy in Itogon must be blamed on the Benguet Corporation’s socially and environmentally destructive mining operations since 1903 and the government for allowing it.
Villena claimed that “irresponsible mining” in the uplands are doubly hazardous as it is more prone to flashfloods and landslides thus endangering the inhabitants in the lower grounds.
“They always claim responsible mining is already there but that is not a reality based on our experience here (in Nueva Vizcaya),” Villena added. “As you can see, those miners in there are already trapped because of flooding”.
Last week, 14 miners got trapped inside a gold mine in Itogon, Benguet after water rose inside the underground tunnel at the height of typhoon Niña.
As of Tuesday, a total of four survivors were already rescued and were immediately sent to Baguio General Hospital for immediate treatment.
The prelate appealed to both the mining companies and the government to prioritize first development of the environment and the populace in their conduct of mining operations.
“For mining companies, what is important is development, which centers on environment and people. When it is centered on economic, it will be worse as it will be the cause of destruction,” Villena said.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau and local authorities should be very strict and, if possible, not relax about this matter and not allow themselves be bribed in releasing permits lest be called contributory to incidents such as these,” he said. (CBCPNews)
