agrarian reform, rural development, local governance, Philippines

Mining remains the single biggest economic activity that poses the most serious threat to Philippine environment, local marginalized communities, and peace. Despite its nature as the top peril that undermines the country's future, however, mining continues to enjoy favorable government policy, with violations of laws for the protection of the environment and the local communities, especially the indigenous peoples, generally tolerated, if not outright encouraged, by both national and local governments.

Farmers says no to mining in Calatagan

Mining activities are everywhere. They are in watersheds, in prime agricultural lands, in ancestral domains, in protected areas, in marine sanctuaries, in bio-diversity sites, and in practically almost any place where mining operations should not occur.

The link between mining operations and environmental degradation is undeniable. There is no need at this point to cite statistics about the ill effects of mining activities in the Philippines. The country has had a series of disasters directly attributed to mining activities, which serve as hard evidence of the damage caused, and the continuing danger posed by mining. Furthermore, the environmental destruction is almost always combined with the displacement of local communities and the loss of their traditional livelihood sources, and often causing conflicts not only between the communities and the mining perpetrators, but also within and among these communities themselves.

It is an understatement to say that there is opposition to mining activities in the country. To be more accurate, it should be emphasized that many local communities, individual POs and NGOs and their networks and coalitions, church-based groups and religious organizations, and many other sectors of society, have waged decades-old campaigns against mining operations in various fronts and venues. While there are some success stories in the past, the challenge becomes greater as years pass by, with an increasingly favorable policy environment for mining operations, the combination of both blatant and creative disregard of laws by mining companies, and the worsening poverty and conflict situation in the countryside.

This mining-friendly policy environment consists of both favorable policy on paper, i.e., policy that promotes and encourages mining activities, and favorable policy in action, i.e., policy that should otherwise restrict mining activities, but are implemented differently to favor mining operations. The need, therefore, is to constrict this policy environment and introduce policy roadblocks that will halt the rampaging mining companies. These roadblocks will enable affected communities to defend their rights and resources, and pursue biodiversity conservation of their affected areas.

This mining campaign responds to the problem by directly attacking and weakening the policy infrastructure that allows mining operations to thrive. This includes imposing additional restrictions and prohibitions, requiring more pre-conditions, and setting up stronger safeguards for the protection of the communities and the environment. This will also mean strengthening available venues for community involvement in decision-making processes concerning the entry and operation of mining companies in their areas. By weakening the mining-friendly policy environment, and strengthening, on the other hand, policies that protect the environment and the rights of affected communities, the project will greatly benefit not only those communities and areas currently affected by mining operations but even those that may, in the future, be covered by mining operations.

Advocates says no to mining in the Philippines

In the past, separate struggles have been staged by communities against mining operations in their respective areas. There is a need and an opportunity at this point to highlight that the mining threat is cross-sectoral, cross-boundary, and cross-resource base. It adversely affects everyone, and causes damage everywhere. The response, therefore, must necessarily be national, integrated, strategic and comprehensive.

The Alternative Law Groups (ALG), in which KAISAHAN is a member, has been involved in the anti-mining advocacy for the past several years. Through individual member organizations and as a collective, the ALG has been at the forefront of legal actions, policy advocacy work and community empowerment projects aimed against mining operations. With its nationwide geographic reach, combined with its strong presence at the policy arena in the capital, the coalition, through the leadership of the proponent organization, is in a strategic position to launch and implement a nationwide policy advocacy campaign against mining.

AMB Legislative Timeline

• CARP Extension

• Discuss the mining issue to your community, school and friends
• Organize forum in your community, school and organization to discuss the mining issue, AMB and other proposed mining policies
• Organize a photo exhibit in your community, school, church or anywhere which features the mining advocacy and its effect to communities and the environment
• Talk to your Congresspersons and local government officials
• Send support statement or position paper to Congress