Region 4a

Mining critics question board approval of nickel project

Kailash — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:03:18 +0100

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—-Lucio Tan’s first venture into nickel mining, through his flagship company MacroAsia, has hit a snag as the provincial board declared Tuesday it would look into a controversial resolution issued by the business’ host town to begin actual mining operations.

The provincial board said it would rule next week whether to uphold a resolution passed by the Brooke’s Point municipal council endorsing MacroAsia and another company, the Ipilan Nickel Corp., amid allegations raised by antimining groups that the local endorsement was invalid.

Midnight Mining Deal Hit by Green Groups -- Palawan activists get national and international support

Kailash — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:22:30 +0100

Manila — Green groups accused the DENR of fast-tracking a mining contract in Palawan, calling the agreement a “midnight deal that is insulting and a threat to ecological balance not only in Palawan but in the whole Philippines.” Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) stated that they have reliable information that a mining contract has been approved by DENR, without the necessary consultations and failing to secure consent from affected communities.

Catholic bishops urge mining moratorium

Kailash — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:56:38 +0100

AN official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and affected residents of Mogpog, Marinduque, have asked President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to look into the possibility of imposing a moratorium on mining activities in some areas in the country to prevent further environmental degradation.

Fr.

Indigenous Peoples Unite Against Mining in Palawan

Kailash — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:16:01 +0100

Indigenous Peoples were ‘shocked’ to learn this week that the application of three new Philippine mining firms has been approved into one Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) on Palawan, a UNESCO “Man and Biosphere Reserve” in the Philippines.

Approval of this FTAA application will allow the Canadian mining firm MBMI and its Philippine Partners to substantially increase exploration activities and to progress toward full-scale nickel operations in the municipalities of Rizal, Bataraza, and Narra.

In response to the news—and the ongoing incursion of mining developments in Pa

Anti-mining activist shot dead in Oriental Mindoro

Kailash — Tue, 25 May 2010 11:31:32 +0100

CITY OF CALAPAN, Philippines — An active member of the anti-mining movement in Oriental Mindoro was shot dead shortly before he was to attend a church service Sunday morning in the city, police said Monday morning.

Chief Superintendent Paul Mascarinas, MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police director said Mike Rivera had just alighted from a car at around 9:15 a.m. in front of the Calapan United Evangelical Church of the Philippines on Ramirez St., San Vicente Central, when two unidentified gunmen fired at him.

Justice to Mining Disaster Victims in the Philippines

Kailash — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:16:21 +0100

March 24, 1996, Exactly 14 years ago, the worst mining disaster happened in Marinduque Island, Philippines put the country in the global map. The mine tailing collapse occurred a year after the passage of the Philippine Mining Act or R.A. 7942. The disaster resulted in the release of over 1.6 million cubic meters of tailings along 27 km of the river and the coastal areas. The impact on the river and the people who depend on it for their livelihoods was massive.

Groups demand transparency in Palawan mine community dealings

Kailash — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:25:02 +0100

MANILA, Philippines — Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group on environmental and human rights issues and people’s movement composed of more than eighty (80) organizations from mining-affected communities and civil society organizations nationwide, demands transparency in community dealings of MacroAsia Nickel Corporation in Brooke’s Point, Palawan.

It was reported by mining affected communities in Brooke’s Point that MacroAsia conducted a closed door focus group discussion (FGD) exclusive to its pro-mining allies held at the Palawan State University (PSU) on Saturday, March 20.

Groups slam 'joint forces' of DENR and 2 mining firms in Palawan

Kailash — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:50:37 +0000

MANILA, Philippines — Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group on environmental and human rights issues and people’s movement composed of more than eighty (80) organizations from mining-affected communities and civil society organizations nationwide, slam the joint public scoping consultation of MacroAsia Corporation and Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC) facilitated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held at Barangay Mambalot, Brooke’s point, Palawan on Saturday, March 13.

Judge in Marcopper case gets inaction complaint

Kailash — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:42:41 +0000

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Residents of Mogpog, Marinduque filed a complaint against a judge for allegedly failing to take action on an nine-year old case involving a mining company’s bursting dam whose contents killed two people, various livestock, and a river.

On Monday, residents of Bocboc and Magapua villages filed an administrative complaint before the Office of Court Administrator (OCA) of the Supreme Court against the presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 38 of Boac, Marinduque.

The court has yet to set a trial for a 2001 case of Rita Natal, et. al.

Anti-mining priest to head CBCP's social action apostolate

Kailash — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:10:31 +0000

An anti-mining priest has been named as new head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA).

The CBCP said Fr. Edwin Gariguez will be executive secretary of the NASSA of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action-Justice and Peace (ECSA-JP).

“(Fr. Gariguez) is going to work closely with ECSA-JP chair (Manila auxiliary) Bishop Broderick Pabillo, a very dynamic figure in the church’s social action advocacies,” the CBCP said in its news site.

Gariguez, 47, will succeed Sr.