Mindoreños rejoice over revocation of Intex’s ECC

The Mindoro hunger strikers return to a hero's welcome in the Oriental Mindoro capital of Calapan City. Photos by Ma Nanette Montellano Geronimo

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro—Local residents warmly welcomed at the Port of Calapan Saturday (November 28) the Mindoro hunger strikers after they camped out for 11 days in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ central office in Quezon City.

From the pier, the group proceeded to the Bishop’s Residence where a press conference was held.

Mangyan Mission coordinator and one of the 25 hunger strikers Fr. Edu Gariguez read the special order signed by Secretary Joselito Atienza which has temporarily revoked the controversial Environmental Compliance Certificate earlier issued in favor of Intex Resources.

Gariquez said the temporary revocation may be considered a significant victory for everyone on Mindoro Island.

The DENR Special Order (No. 2009-921) dated November 27, 2009 said all allegations and issues against the controversial nickel mining project of the Norway-based Intex Resources will be subjected to a formal inquiry.

The same order calls for the creation of an investigating team to be composed of independent experts nominated by the provincial governments of Oriental and occidental Mindoro and the DENR. Civil society and indigenous peoples based in the two provinces will be represented in the committee.

The streamer says it all. Photo by Ma Nanette Montellano Geronimo

Mangyan leader Badang Isidro expressed her personal and her group’s thanks to Frs. Jimson Ruga, Calapan Social Action Center director, and Edu Gariguez for their dedication and commitment to their cause.

“Ang elemento ng grasya ng Diyos at ng hindi matatawarang suportang ibinigay ni Bishop Broderick Pabillo ang naging malaking dahilan para hindi ako mawalan ng pag-asa at magpatuloy pa sa kabila ng panghihina ng katawan,” Gariquez was quoted as saying.

He said their struggle at the DENR Central Office turned into success with the whole-hearted support of the Church and Manila-based non-government organizations as well as foreign organizations.

“Minsan pang napatunayan na tayo’y may magagawa kung tayo’y sama-sama at nananalig sa Diyos,” he concluded. (Fely Sevilla)

Source: CBCP News

Environment chief temporarily revokes Mindoro mining clearance

Mindoro hunger strikers and their supporters, including comedienne Juana Change (extreme right), pose for a souvenir photo following the announcement of revocation of the mining clearance of Intex Resources nickel project in Mindoro. Photo by Roslyn Arayata

PRESS RELEASE

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza on Friday (November 27) yielded to pressure and ordered a temporary revocation of the mining clearance he issued for the Mindoro nickel project of the Norway-based Intex Resources.

The chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personally handed to the hunger strikers camped outside his office the special order he issued on the 11th day of protest fast staged by Mangyans, priests and environmental activists from Mindoro.

In his order, Atienza said that the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) released on October 14 “is hereby temporarily revoked pending completion of a thorough and impartial investigation that will validate all the allegations.”

The hunger strikers–who are members of the Alyansa Laban sa Mina (Alamin, Alliance Against Mining) and backed by civil society groups, Catholic church and local governments of Mindoro–demanded the immediate revocation of the ECC, citing its adverse impacts on the environment, food security and the ancestral domain claim of the Mangyans.

Atienza also directed the formation of a team of experts that will look into the issues raised by the Mindorenos.

Secretary Joselito Atienza shows the official order of temporary revocation of ECC as Victoria Vice Mayor Luis Castillet, Catholic Bishop Broderick Pabillo and other members of the clergy applaud. Photo by Roslyn Arayata

The investigation team will be composed of independent experts to be chosen by the provincial governments of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro and the DENR, said Atienza in his order.

“The investigation team shall also include representatives from civil society organizations and indigenous people’s federation based in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro,” he said.

Atienza said the team has to submit its report and conclusion 15 days after the “completion of the assigned task.”

“The report and conclusion of the investigation team shall be the basis in resolving the issues surrounding the ECC,” he said.

The temporary revocation order was a result of a compromise agreement reached during a closed-door meeting Thursday (November 26) between Atienza and representatives of Alamin—Fr. Edwin Gariguez and Alangan Mangyan leader Librada Isidro—at the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo joined the negotiations.

The hunger strikers ended their protest Friday afternoon following a concelebrated thanksgiving mass officiated by Bishop Pabillo and other members of the clergy at the protest site.

For more information:

Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, ALAMIN, (0919) 8005595, edugariguez@gmail.com, http://earthjedi.blogspot.com/
Jonjon Sarmiento, ALAMIN (0926) 230.32.05
Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19
Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy Officer (0917) 521.7937

Groups vow more actions against Atienza; declare to take anti-mining battle to Manila

The Mindorenos, already feeling hungry and weak on their 10th day of protest, vow to continue with their hunger strike to press the Arroyo administration to cancel an 'illegally issued' mining clearance to Intex Resources. Photo by Raymond Panaligan

PRESS RELEASE

An alliance backed by more than 80 organizations vowed more actions against Atienza today, accusing him of callousness in resolving the demands of hunger strikes camped at the DENR central office. “We will mobilize people here in front of DENR and deliver to Atienza a clear message – he should clean up this mess he created in Mindoro or else face consequences in his candidacy in Manila”, said Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of the group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM).

ATM is backing the hunger strike of Mindorenos who are demanding the cancellation of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of Intex Resources, Philippines, a Norwegian mining company set to operate in the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro. The group entered its 11th day of their hunger strike.
“While the hunger strikers go weaker everyday, we will lend our strength to them by coming out here in front of DENR in numbers” declared Garganera. He also said that they are preparing several support groups to join the hunger strikers in holding solidarity fasting, in the camp itself and in strategic locations in Manila City, to put more pressure on Atienza to act decisively on this issue.

The group also threatened to bring their struggle to Manila, as they are sure that Atienza is set to resign as DENR secretary and file his certificate of candidacy to run for Mayor of Manila by Saturday. “If Mr. Atienza feels that this nightmare will disappear after he leaves DENR, he is sadly mistaken. We will take this opportunity to tell students, workers, teachers, urban poor, drivers and even vendors in Manila, what a callous, heartless and dishonest person he is”, continued Garganera. He rebuked Atienza for raising the bogey that the hunger strike is a political ploy against him, saying that the legitimacy of the Mindorenos’ protest is completely documented.

The threat comes in the heel of swelling support to the hunger strikers, the latest coming from Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Archdiocese of Manila. Bp. Pabillo issued a strongly-worded open letter last Nov. 24, 2009, appealing that Atienza revoke the ECC because of the flawed process it underwent. Yesterday, more than fifty indigenous peoples from the tribes of Aetas, Ifugaos, Dumagats, Remontados and Agtas visited the hunger strikers and expressed their solidarity. The IPs came from provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Zambales, and Quezon.

Supporters of the hunger strike admit that they are getting more worried every day with the worsening physical condition of the hunger strikers, who all come from the local group, Alyansa Laban sa Mina ng Mindoro (ALAMIN). The group was established in 1999 to consolidate opposition to the Mindoro Nickel Project. The alliance has conducted numerous local and national mobilizations and International campaigns were also done in Europe.

The group in hunger strike, together with the local government officials of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Catholic Church leaders, civil society organizations and individuals from the communities affected by the project, reiterated their call for the immediate revocation of the ECC of INTEX and demanding the DENR to respect the LGUs’ mining moratorium in their respective provinces.

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 an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and PhilDHRRA. —(30)

For more information:

Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19
Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy Officer (0917) 521.7937

ON LINE Petition in support of the Mindoro Hunger Strike is on the web. Please manifest your support by signing up to the link below:

http://petitions.contact.ie/content/support-hunger-strike-against-intex-resources-mining-project

Open letter of tribal leader on hunger strike vs Mindoro mining to President Arroyo

Photograph of the original letter written in Hanunuo Mangyan dialect and script.

(Mangyan)

Mahal nimi Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,

Kawo Kanmi Pangulo sa buong Pilipinas. Atay kami kainda sa harapan opisina ni Secretary Lito Atienza bilang pinuno sa DENR. Kami tay nguna ay tanan yi magkalun-os ag magkagasa yi.

Kanmi kabuhayan ay madaot, kanmi sagradong lugay ay madaot din, kami ay mapapalayas ginan sa kanmi daga, ag ti kalikasan ay madaot. Adok mga buhi ti mamatay no ituloy ti planong pag mina, sa sulod daga ginurang. Buo kanmi paghadlang sa daka pagmimina.

Kanmi paghagadon sa kanmo bilang pinakaabwat lider sa Pilipinas ay bul-on yi kay bisa ti ECC na ipinahintulot sa Intex Resources.

Ti mag hagad mga mangyan sa Silangang Mindoro.

Pirmado ti may surat,

Ponyon Kadlos
Tagapag-ugnay ng Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN)

(Filipino)

Mahal naming Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

Kayo ang aming pangulo sa buong Pilippinas. Nandito kami ngayon sa harapan ng opisina ni Secretary Lito Atienza bilang pinuno sa DENR.

Kami ngayon ay lahat-lahat nagugutom at nanghihina na.

Ang aming kabuhayan ay mawawasak. Masisira ang aming pinahahalagahang sagradong lugar, kami ay mapapalayas sa aming lupain at ang kalikasan ay lubos na masira. Maraming mga buhay ang mamatay dahil sa napipintong planong pagmimina sa loob ng aming lupaing ninuno. Lubos naming tinutulan ang malawakang pagmimina.

Hinihingi namin sa iyo bilang pinakamataas na lider sa Pilipinas na ipawalang bisa na ang iginawad na ECC sa Intex Reources.

Ang humihingi ay mga katutubong Mangyan sa Silangang Mindoro.

Ang sumulat at lumagda,

Ponyong Kadlos
Tagapag-ugnay ng Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN)

(English)

Our beloved President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

You are our president, the chief executive of the entire nation. We are here in front of the office of the head of the DENR Secretary Lito Atienza. We are hungry and weak.

Our “whole life” is at risk. Our sacred grounds will be ruined, we will be displaced from our land and the environment will be devastated. Lives are at risk because of the proposed mining within our ancestral domain. We strongly oppose large-scale mining.

As the highest leader of the Philippines, we ask you to revoke the ECC issued to Intex Resources,

We ask this on behalf of the Mangyans at Oriental Mindoro.

Written and signed by,

Ponyong Kadlos
Coordinator, Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN)

Manila, Philippines - Mangyan tribal leader, Ponyong Kadlos, on hunger strike against mining writes an open letter addressed to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The letter is written in Hanuno Mangyan script, known endangered script in the Philippines. The letter presents the strong opposition of the Mangyans on the Mindoro Nickel Project owned by Norwegian mining company Intex Resources. November 23,2009. Photo by Roslyn Arayata, Policy Officer, Alyansa Tigil Mina

Manila, Philippines - Mangyan tribal leader, Ponyong Kadlos, on hunger strike against mining shows his open letter addressed to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The letter is written in Hanuno Mangyan script, known endangered script in the Philippines. The letter presents the strong opposition of the Mangyans on the Mindoro Nickel Project owned by Norwegian mining company Intex Resources. Photo by Roslyn Arayata, Policy Officer, Alyansa Tigil Mina

2 tribal hunger strikers rushed to hospital; groups denounce Atienza’s inaction on ECC cancellation demand

The Mindoro hunger strikers listen to Fr. Robert "The Running Priest" Reyes outside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources head office in Quezon City. Photo by Ma. Nanette Montellano Geronimo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two of the 25 Mindorenos who have been on a hunger strike since Tuesday (November 17) last week in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office in Quezon City were rushed to a nearby hospital after complaining of dizziness, chillness and abdominal pains.

Edgardo Cruzado, 38, community leader from the Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing NInuno – KPLN (Organization of Seven Tribes), was brought to East Avenue Medical Center at around 9 p.m. on Saturday (November 21) after suffering locked jaws and cold sweats.

On Sunday morning (November 22), Jose Cruzado was brought to the same hospital after five days of fasting with fellow Mangyan leaders, priests and other anti-mining activists from Mindoro demanding the immediate revocation of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to the Mindoro Nickel Project of Norway-based Intex Resources, said Jeff Rafa of the Alyansa Laban sa Mina (Alamin, Alliance Against Mining).

“We decided to rush them to the hospital after complaining of dizziness,” said Jonjon Sarmiento of Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN), the broad alliance anti-mining groups in Mindoro.

“We will hold Secretary Atienza personally responsible for whatever happens to the hunger strikers. He is using the sham suspension letter as an excuse not to cancel the ECC. He is again raising the issue of local autonomy, and the responsibility of local officials and communities to oppose the mining in their localities,” Sarmiento, who just arrived from a civil society summit in Rome on food security, said.

Attending physicians at the hospital said the two tribal protesters were suffering from hypoglycemia, a condition produced by a lower than normal level of blood glucose triggered by their lack of solid food intake.

But Edgardo Cruzado, after being examined and given dextrose, was discharged at around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. He joined the camp again.

Edgardo Cruzado vowed to remain with the group, despite the medical order to stop his hunger strike. KPLN is an organization of Mangyan communities from Oriental Mindoro.

Cruzado is a widower with five children. His main livelihood is farming in Oriental Mindoro, and is a member of the Tadyawan tribe that holds an ancestral domain land certificate (CADC-086) in the mining-affected area.

The Mindorenos decided to go continue their hunger strike after DENR Sec. Atienza merely issued a letter to mining company Intex Resources Philippines, informing them that their ECC is suspended for 90 days, pending submission of additional documents.

Gardo Cruzado

Atienza issued the letter suspending the ECC after a dialogue last November 18 with local government officials and civil society organizations from the two Mindoro provinces. The delegation was led by the island’s two governors, two bishops and a host of community leaders representing the indigenous peoples, farmers and women from Mindoro.

“Secretary Atienza has missed the fact that all legal and extra-legal measures have been exhausted by the Mindorenos to oppose the entry of Intex, and yet he still signed the ECC, even under questionable circumstances. The real issue here now is whether or not Atienza wants to uphold the law,” said Mangyan Mission Coordinator Fr. Edwin Gariguez.

He said that the ECC was signed by Atienza despite the absence of consultations among communities, and the lack of permission of LGUs as stated under the Mining Act and the Local Government Code.

“The local governments and the people have withdrawn their consent and launched mobilizations against Intex, but these have been disregarded, both the mining company and the DENR”, Gariguez added.

The Alyansa TIgil Mina (ATM) condemned the continuing callousness of Atienza and DENR officials on their inaction on the demand of the hungers strikers, saying that there seems to be a lack of genuine leadership and commitment to resolve the matter, as the election mode grips the department.

ATM National Coordinator Jaybee Garganera also denounced Atienza’s insensitivity, saying the DENR secretary continues to ignore the Mindorenos despite their hunger strike.

“He had only met the group once, and only after being pressured with the presence of high-level personalities such as the governors, congressional representatives and bishops from Mindoro. He had never tried to face the group but had all the time and energy to host Manny Pacquiao in his triumphant return,” said Garganera.

“We, in ATM, strongly support the fight of the Mindoreños against Intex Resources and we intend to continue providing all forms of assistance to these communities and groups that have strongly aired their resistance and decisions to stop the entry of mining operations that continuously threatens environmental sustainability and most especially lives of Filipino people,” concluded Garganera.

Father Robert Reyes, known as the “running priest,” continued his solidarity fasting for the group and gave out rosaries to the hunger strikers yesterday. He called on Atienza to heed the hunger strikers’ just demand.

During the reflection session with the hunger strikers, he said “If anything happens to these people, the mining companies and DENR Secretary Atienza will have blood in their hands. This is not simply about land anymore, but about justice and sharing what God had given to us. Sustainable development and genuine local autonomy, if it will succeed in this case of resistance of local people against mining, will mean peace, justice and no more lying without end. Respect the decision of these indigenous peoples and the LGUs of MIndoro, Mr. Atienza.”

The group in hunger strike, together with the local government officials of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Catholic Church leaders, civil society organizations and individuals from the communities affected the project calls for the immediate revocation of INTEX ECC and demand the DENR to respect the LGUs’ mining moratorium in their respective provinces.

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 an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and PhilDHRRA.

For more information:

Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, ALAMIN, (0919) 8005595, edugariguez@gmail.com, http://earthjedi.blogspot.com/
Jeff Rafa, ALAMIN (0918) 9443561
Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19
Jonjon Sarmiento, ALAMIN (0926) 230.32.05
Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy Officer (0917) 521.7937

Tribal hunger striker hospitalized

Gardo Cruzado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUEZON CITY, Philippines—A tribal protester, one of the 25 hunger strikers demanding the revocation of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued to Intex Resources, was brought to the hospital on Saturday night.

The Alyansa Laban sa Mina (Alamin) said Gardo Cruzado was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center after he complained of dizziness.

Cruzado, 38, is one of the 25 hunger strikers from Mindoro island who began their protest fast on Tuesday in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) head office along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

Cruzado is from the Tadyawan tribe and a resident of Barangay Alcate, in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.

The hunger strikers, two of whom are Catholic priests, are protesting DENR Secretary Lito Atienza’s issuance of the ECC to Mindoro Nickel Project, which covers 11,216.6 hectares of land on Mindoro island.

Mindoro hunger strikers vow more actions to press revocation of mining ECC

Hunger strikers greet Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao whose victory parade kicked off at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Quezon City. Pacquio, a close ally of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, was urged by the protesters to convince the former Manila mayor to revoke Intex Resources’ clearance to mine on Mindoro island. Photo by Raymond Panaligan

PRESS RELEASE

MANILA, Philippines—The Mindoro hunger strikers have vowed to take more actions to press for the cancellation and not just mere suspension of an environmental clearance issued by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to a Norwegian mining firm.

“We have expressed our strong opposition to the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) for more than fifteen years now. Our call is for the revocation of the Intex environmental compliance certificate (ECC) and not merely a suspension, which reflects the government’s bias on the mining company over the interest of the people of Mindoro,” said Fr. Edu Gariguez, spokesman of the Mindoro-based Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN, Alliance Against Mining).

Gariguez is one of the 25 hunger strikers from Mindoro, who since November 17 are camped outside the head office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

“Our protests have already escalated to the level of putting our lives at stake. We will not leave the grounds of DENR and we are committed to continue our protest until the Intex ECC is revoked,” said the Catholic priest.

Atienza on November 18 ordered a 90-day suspension of the ECC he issued to Intex, asking the Oslo-based firm to submit a documentation of the public consultation held in Mindoro and to ascertain that the project does not cover a watershed area.

Sensing that the order was just meant to ensure the continued operations of Intex, the hunger strikers decided against ending their protest.

“We are not satisfied with our dialogues with the DENR. Our call for the revocation on the Intex ECC should not be watered down to a suspension of the ECC,” said Oriental Mindoro Vice-Governor Estela Aceron.

“We will further exhaust all legal and all extra-legal means to fight for our local autonomy to protect the long-term interests of our people,” Aceron said.

Oriental Mindoro Governor Arnan Panaligan recalled that in 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo revoked the mining firm’s permit to extract nickel on Mindoro island following then Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez’s order cancelling its ECC.

“In 2001, the Philippine government scrapped the MNP based on environmental and social impacts. We still carry the same issues why we strongly oppose the MNP,” said Panaligan.

At the same time, Panaligan found Atienza’s attempts to railroad the process as an affront to the authority of the local governments of Mindoro.

“We find the DENR disrespectful of our local autonomy for not recognizing our province’s existing 25-year mining moratorium issued in 2002,” he said.

Librada Isidro, one of the 25 hunger strikers and leader of the Alangan tribe, said the project, which covers 11,216.6 hectares, will encroach on their ancestral land.

“Our tribe has an existing certificate of ancestral domain claim (CADC) to our land and we are in the process of securing our certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT). If the MNP pushes through, all our hard efforts in asserting the indigenous peoples’ empowerment will simply be gone to waste,” said Isidro.

“We ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, if she truly stands for the interest of the Filipinos especially the marginalized sector, to protect our rights as IPs by revoking the Intex ECC,” she said.

“The campaign of the Mindoreños against large-scale mining has already reached international attention and has already impacted the mineral trade. The government should stop undermining or insulting the protest of the Mindoreños with a mere suspension order on Intex ECC instead of an ECC revocation,” said Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of the anti-mining network Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM, Alliance to Stop Mining.

“In fact, it was reported that the share trading of Intex Resources is halted by the Oslo Stock Exchange after a 8.2 percent fall to a 10-week low for the stock following the suspension of a mining permit issued due to the pressure of the Mindoreños” Garganera said.

“We, in ATM, commend the strength, high spirits and bravery of the Mindoreños and we vow to continue our utmost support on their fight for a sustainable future,” he said.

The 25 hunger strikers symbolize the 25-year ban on large-scale mining imposed by the local governments of Mindoro. The protesters are composed mostly of Mangyans, with two Catholic priests and some residents joining them.

The protest action also has the support of more than 80 environmental organizations nationwide.

For more information:

Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, ALAMIN, (0919) 8005595, edugariguez@gmail.com, http://earthjedi.blogspot.com/
Jeff Rafa, ALAMIN (0918) 9443561
Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19/
Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy Officer (0917) 521.7937

DENR’s technical review body recommends the non-issuance of ECC to Intex mining project

Indigenous children sit on the roof of their house in Kisluyan, one of 26 Mangyan villages facing threat of displacement when Intex Resources begins its nickel mine operations within their ancestral land. Photo by Allan Lissner

PRESS RELEASE

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) technical review committee has recommended the non-issuance of an environmental clearance to a nickel mining project of the Norway-based Intex Resources on Mindoro island.

In a brief report, Rene Rollon, chairman of the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee, said the recommendation of the group is the non-issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to the Mindoro Nickel Project.

The recommendation, however, was ignored by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who on October 14 gave Intex the go-ahead signal to mine 11,216.6 hectares of land in Mindoro, the Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN, Alliance Against Mining) said.

In his letter to Cesar Ciador Jr., chief officer-in-charge of the DENR’s Environmental Impact Assessment Division, Rollon said the review committee voted in its fourth and final meeting on September 23 to recommend the ECC denial.

The multidisciplinary group cited the project’s lack of baseline information on the terrestrial flora and fauna in the proposed project site.

“Considering the uniqueness of Mindoro island in its biographic status, the review committee believes that approving the mining project with such inadequacies would be highly irresponsible,” said Rollon, who is also the director of the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology.

The review committee also found that the delineation of impact areas, more so of the indirect impact areas, has been poor.

“Although some adjacent areas, e.g. Sablayan, Calapan, Naujan lake, etc., might not be among the indirect impact areas the justifications of such should have been very clear,” Rollon said.

“Overall, the integration among modules has been very poor, making inference of possible major impacts vague and extremely difficult to evaluate,” he said.

The review committee also noted Intex’s failed attempts to conduct public hearings in Victoria and Pola towns after the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro served cease orders, invoking the province’s 25-year ban on large-scale mining.

In Occidental Mindoro, similar mining moratorium ordinances were passed by the municipal governments of Sablayan, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Looc and Lubang. Eight out of 11 municipalities in Occidental Mindoro passed a resolution against the nickel mining project.

The only successful public consultation was done in Mamburao, in Occidental Mindoro.

But technical issues were raised during committee deliberations whether the public consultation in Mamburao, which is far beyond the direct and indirect impact areas, “could pass as a site for such a meeting, and whether such meeting could pass as a public hearing in view of the publication requirement which was not met,” Rollo said.

“No further public hearing efforts were conducted, with the proponents and preparers  arguing that, with the circumstances surrounding the project, the public hearing requirement has been complied with,” he said.

To expound on some of the reasons why Mindoreños oppose the nickel project in Mindoro, ALAMIN spokesman Fr. Edwin Gariguez enumerated the following:

a) Watershed destruction, Mindoro’s economy is largely based on agriculture. The Mindoro Nickel Project is directly located in the Mag-asawang Watershed, a source of irrigation water for some 50,000-hectare rice fields in the towns of Victoria, Naujan and Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. These three towns account for about 51 percent of the total rice production of the province;

b) Biodiversity concerns. The mine-site is a major biodiversity conservation area. The nickel project’s processing site falls within the Verde Island Passage Marine Biodiversity Area;

c) Indigenous peoples’ concerns. The mine site encroaches on the ancestral domain of Alangan and Tadyawan Mangyans. Mining will have great impacts on their livelihood and culture; and

d) Local government opposition.

Early this month, the island’s two governors, Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro and Josephine Ramirez-Sato of Occidental Mindoro, threatened to sue Atienza over the “patently illegal” issuance of the mining clearance.

Since Tuesday (November 17), 25 protesters, mostly Mangyans, have been on a hunger strike in front of the DENR head office in Quezon City, demanding the immediate revocation of Intex’s clearance to mine on Mindoro island.

Read the brief Review Committee Report

Mindoro Nickel Project ECC

Groups dismayed over Atienza response to Mindoreños hunger strike

Oriental Mindoro's Victoria Mayor Alfredo Ortega Jr. speaks during the start of a hunger strike by Mindoreños in front of the Department of Environment of Natural Resources central office in Qezon City on Tuesday, November 17. Photo by Roslyn Arayata/ATM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MANILA, Philippines–Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group and a people’s movement composed of more than eighty (80) organizations from mining-affected communities and civil society organizations nationwide, is dismayed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) response to the Mindoreños hunger strike, which is clamoring for the revocation of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued to a Norwegian company – Intex Resources’ Mindoro Nickel Project.

On Wednesday (November 18), DENR Secretary Joselito Atienza signed a suspension order on the Intex ECC after the dialogue with the Mindoro contigent composed of the chief executives and local officials of Mindoro, Mangyan tribal leaders, civil society representatives and with the presence of Bishops Broderick Pabillo and Warlito Cajandig held during the second day of the hunger strike.

“The Mindoreños had a dialogue with Secretary Atienza in good faith but upon closer inspection of the signed order, the Mindoreños felt dissatisfied by Secretary Atienza’s response, which merely gave a 90-day suspension to the ECC and failed to reflect accurately the address the issues and agreements during the dialogue such as the call of Mindoro local officials to respect Oriental Mindoro’s 25-year mining moratorium ordinance issued in 2002 prohibiting the entry of all large-scale mining in the province and the presented local resolutions opposing the mining project ,” said ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera, belonging to support groups of the Mindoreños.

The Mindoreños also acquired on Wednesday (November 18) a copy of the letter issued by Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee (EIARC) that recommended an ECC denial on the Mindoro Nickel Project. With the series of dissappointments from the DENR’s actions the Mindoro Hunger Strike being staged in front of the DENR will continue.

“We, in ATM, is dismayed by Secretary Atienza’s obvious bias on Intex Resources over the interest of the people of Mindoro when he ordered a suspension instead of a revocation of the Intex ECC. Despite the lack of social acceptability of the mining project and the EAIRC’s recommended denial of the ECC, Secretary Atienza still signed Intex ECC!”, exclaimed Garganera.

“Secretary Atienza, should be held accountable to this continued tense situation, ATM will continue to provide utmost support to the decision of the Mindoreños to continue with their battle against the unjust actions of the DENR and Intex Resources” concluded Garganera.

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 an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and PhilDHRRA.

For more information:

Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, ALAMIN, (0919) 8005595, edugariguez@gmail.com, http://earthjedi.blogspot.com/
Jeff Rafa, ALAMIN (0918) 9443561
Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19/
Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy Officer (0917) 521.7937

Filipino farmer goes on a hunger strike in Rome to protest nickel miningg project

Environmental activist Jonjon Sarmiento stages a hunger strike in Rome protesting the Norwegian nickel mine on Mindoro island. Sarmiento is in the Italian city attending a meeting to coinside with FAO's World Summit on Food Security.

PRESS RELEASE
By Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA)

ROME–On the opening of FAO’s World Summit on Food Security, Jonjon Sarmiento, a young farmer for Mindoro Island in the Philippines, and a participant to the CSO Forum Parellel to the World Summit on Food Security, will go on a hunger strike to protest the mining project to be operated by Intex Resources, a giant mining company in Norway.

The Mindoro Nickel Project is located at Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, an island in the Southern Part of the Philippines. It will cover 9,720 hectares of critical watershed areas . The project will affect the rice farmers in the nearby towns , since the watershed area is the farmers’ main source for irrigation.

From November 17 onwards, volunteer campaigners in Mindoro will hold a hunger strike and fasting at the Philippines; Department of Environment Office in Quezon City, Philippines. “

I am from this town. I am a farmer. I am a youth leader. I am here in Rome. So , I will join my townmates in their hunger strike while I am here in Rome”, Mr. Sarmiento said.

Mr. Sarmiento farms a .044 hactare land, using integrated, diversified , organic farming. In his farm, he has some plots for organic rice, vegetables and fruits. He also raises some goats and pigs. He is the Youth Organizer of the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka ( PAKISAMA) or National Confederation of Peasant Movement. PAKISAMA is a member organization of Asian Farmers’ Association or AFA, one of the International Steering Committee members of the CSO Forum .

The Mindoro Nickel Project has been opposed by the people and the local authorities for the past 15 years. But last October 14, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). The ECC allows for the extraction of nickel ore covering 11, 216 hectares of mining tenement, a big part of which is identified as critical watershed catchment of Mag-asawang Tubig and Bucayao River systems, as affirmed by the recently concluded Norwegian Agency Development Corporation (NORAD) study. House Resolution No. 25 states that the mining site encroaches on the largest source of irrigation water for the 40,000 hectares of rice lands in Calapan City, and the towns of Naujan, Baco and Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.

“Today, governments all over the world will be in Rome to discuss for the World Food Summit. We urge to FAO, and to the governments to stop all activities ,that threatens the food security of the local people of a developing country and to respect the rights of indigenous peoples. We ask the Norwegian government to investigate the operations of Intex Resources,” said Sarmiento.

The province of Oriental Mindoro, which is ranked third as the province that produces the most food in the country, and known as the food basket of the southern Luzon region is threatened by Intex Resources’ attempt to open up a nickel mine despite local opposition. The proposed mine site is located within a critical watershed area that provides the irrigation for 70% of the provinces vital rice fields and fruit plantations.

“Thus, the INTEX ECC should be revoked by the government!” concluded Sarmiento.

In Occidental Mindoro, the Municipality of Sablayan is one of the major rice- and corn-producing areas in the province and any major mining operations would greatly affect the agriculture production and endanger social economic conditions in the area. Sablayan’s 22 barangays and its Sangguniang Bayan are opposed to mining operations expressed through their respective resolutions and through a municipal mining moratorium ordinance.

Source: Asian Farmers Association

Contact persons:

Mr. Jonjon Sarmiento labuyo28@yahoo.com
Mr. George Fernandez, george fernandez georgedixon72@yahoo.co.in
Ms. Esther Penunia, afaesther@asianfarmers.org
Fr. Edu Gariguez, edugariguez@yahoo.com, +63919 800 5595