CANTILLAN, Surigao del Sur, April 29, 2009—During the recent celebration of World Earth Day, more than 1,000 residents from various towns and sectors of Surigao del Sur joined a three-kilometer march at the heart of this town to condemn mining operations in the area.
CBCP Vice President and Tandag bishop Nereo P. Odchimar joined the march and presided over the concelebrated mass held after the march.
The mining operations have threatened watersheds providing critical support to the province’s irrigation system, water supply and Cantilan’s proposed mini-hydro power project. To top it all, the proposed mining sites infringe upon the indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands.
The march was convened by the CarCanMadCarLan Baywatch Foundation, Inc. (CBFI), Surigao del Sur Irrigators’ Federation, Inc. (SURIF), Cantilan Irrigation System Federation of Irrigators Association, Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center, Philippine Eagle Foundation, Immaculate Conception Parish (Cantilan), Parish Youth Apostolate, CAHAYAG and Lovers of Nature, Inc.
The groups are supported by Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Legal rights and Natural Resource Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/ Friends of the Earth-Philippines (LRC-KSK/FOE-Phils.), and BALAOD MINDANAW.
Expressing his disappointment with the government, Odchimar said that he “felt betrayed upon learning that the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had already issued Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) to Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) and Carac-an Development Corporation (CDC) two months prior of having been assured of ‘looking deeply’ into the watershed proclamation vis-à-vis mining in a dialogue with Sec. Lito Atienza."
Cantilan Mayor Tomasa Guardo in unity with her Sangguniang Bayan members issued an ordinance against mining.
“As long as I am the mayor, no mining will ever be approved in this municipality," said Guardo.
Emma Hotchkiss, president of CBFI, read Presidential Proclamation 1747, declaring the portion of the public domain of Alamyo, Buyaan, Paniki Rivers and Sipangpang Falls situated in the Municipalities of Carascal, Cantilan and Madrid, Province of Surigao del Sur and in the Municipalities of Jabonga, Santiago and Cabadbaran, Province of Agusan del Norte as critical watershed forest reserves.
“We shall take a unified action and urge the government to cancel the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) of MMDC and CDC and not only depend on the protection of the said presidential proclamation,” Hotchkiss said.
Rodne R. Galicha, ATM Sites of Struggle officer, presented the national mining situation and strongly stated that “real progress is to live sustainably, in accordance with the processes of nature and should not abuse the rights of those who live at present and of the coming generations.”
The gathering ended with the symbolic signing of the petition by sectoral representatives and stakeholders for the cancellation of the MPSAs of the two aforementioned companies. They are legally supported by BALAOD Mindanaw's lawyer Pilipinas Palma. (Tinty Iriberri)
