Cordillera Administrative Region

Cordillera Day 2008: Resist Mining Plunder and State Terrorism!

John B — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:28:28 +0100

We gather this Cordillera Day 2008 to strengthen our unity, reaffirm our commitment and carry on the militant struggle of our people in defence of land, life and resources. We mark the 24th Cordillera Day with greater resolve to resist mining plunder and state terrorism and to fight for and secure our individual and collective human rights against the backdrop of a regime clinging to power through state terror and hell-bent on the sell out of our national patrimony.

No commitment to settle land claims of Ibaloi folk

John B — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:11:39 +0100

No commitment to settle land claims of Ibaloi folk

SN Aboitiz can’t take over 2 dams if claims are not settled

Dexter A. See, Manila Bulletin – http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2...

2 May 2008

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The five decade quest of the displaced families for proper compensation for their vast track of land used as basins for the Ambuclao and Binga dams in Bokod and Itogon, Benguet, respectively, is not going anywhere.

Bakun Community hosts Mines Unsafety Celebration

Kailash — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:26:21 +0000

Barangay Gambang in Bakun municipality, Benguet province will host the Mines Unsafety Celebration on November 15, 2008 in the said community as part of its continuing opposition to the mining application of Australian mining company Royalco, formerly Oxiana, which has applied for a 986-hectare project (EP 005 CAR 2008) in Gambang, mainly for gold and copper mining.

The celebration is organized by the Benguet Mining Alert and Action Network (BMAAN) and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), and hosted by BAKUN AYWANAN.

Youth forms HR alliance

Kailash — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:57:19 +0000

BAGUIO CITY — The young generation of Baguio is ready to face the new year with the resolve to forge a tough group of human rights defenders come 2009.

“Our resolve to provide avenues for the promotion of human rights by the first quarter of 2009 is as ready as our fireworks for this new year,” said Anjo Rey Cerdeña, member of the committee formed to prepare for the first general assembly of Young Defenders.

He says their generation has read, heard and seen so much about the country’s poor human rights record in the past years.

Philippine army targets mines to defeat rebels

Kailash — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:50:19 +0000

MANILA – The Philippine military will step up efforts this year in two small-scale gold mining regions that have become the focus and funding source for a Maoist-led insurgency, defence and military officials said on Thursday.

Security forces are targeting dismantling guerrilla bases of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels around mining areas in Compostela Valley on the southern Mindanao island and northern mountains in Abra, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

“I am now beginning to doubt the intentions of the communist rebels in these mining areas,” Teodoro told Reuters

ADB Chico, Agno forest aid futile as Mine applications blanket Cordillera

Kailash — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:08:56 +0000

BAGUIO CITY — Community elders and environmental groups in the region branded the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded reforestation projects of the Agno and Chico Rivers’ watersheds as an exercise in futility.

Cordillera Elders’ Alliance (CEA) and Benguet Mining Action Alert Network (BMAAN) hit the project that is supposed to protect the watersheds as useless, because the government also allows mining applications that threaten to destroy these watersheds.

The watersheds for the Chico and Agno Rivers were among the forest areas in the country which would be financed by the $80 mill

Anglo To Explore For Copper, Gold In N Philippines - Official

Kailash — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:14:27 +0000

MANILA – Anglo American PLC (AAUK) is looking for copper and gold in Apayao province in the northern Philippines, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said.

The agency has already approved an exploration permit that would allow Anglo to look for minerals in the area, MGB director Horacio Ramos told reporters.

The approval follows Anglo’s decision to terminate an agreement with local mining firm Philex Mining Corp. (PX.PH). on joint exploration of the Boyongan copper-gold property in the southern Philippines, due to differences over how to proceed with the project.

Lepanto Mine Workers, IP & Envi Groups Picket Lepanto

Kailash — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:57:40 +0000

On March 3, 2009, Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) leaders, representatives of MACQUITACDG, APIT TAKO-Mankayan, Tignayan dagiti Babbai iti Minasan a Lepanto (TBML) and Cordillera Peoples Alliance picketed the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company’s main office in Makati City to air their grievances and demands towards the company on its unjust labour practices and against the expansion of its operations.

According to LEU representative Junibong Saldo, “The reduction of workdays to 10-15 days has adversely affected the miners’ economic conditions.

Lepanto workers dismayed anew over failed dialog with management

Kailash — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:49:13 +0000

BAGUIO CITY — Workers of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company are impoverished further after the company imposed a reduced work scheme.

Three unions in Mankayan braved travel woes hoping to get paid what was due them.

Instead, mineworkers and their wives went home empty-handed after security forces literally slammed the door at them at the Makati office of the Lepanto where they intended to negotiate management on their grievances.

“Hindi humarap sa amin ang management,” said Junibong Saldo, vice-chair of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU).

Forum on Mining Denied Permit in Abra Town

Kailash — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:26:37 +0100

BANGUED, Abra (400 kms north of Manila) – The Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin ti daga a Nagtaudan (KASTAN) criticized barangay (village) officials for denying them permission to hold a municipality-wide forum on mining scheduled on March 15 at Brgy. Tiempo, Abra.

KASTAN spokesperson Irene Timbreza questioned the said denial and found it suspicious because the barangay officials set a meeting with representatives of the Philippine Metal Corporation (PMC).