BROOKE’S POINT, Palawan, Philippines — The local Roman Catholic Church has thrown its weight behind a campaign to oppose two large-scale nickel mining projects currently applying for a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Palawan Bishop Pedro Arigo spearheaded a rally Thursday attended by over 1,000 supporters and parishioners in the village of Ipilan here in what was apparently a start to the campaign to block the two projects currently in the exploration phase.
Two mining companies, Ipilan Nickel Mining Corp. and MacroAsia Corp., are seeking to upgrade their respective MPSA exploration permits to an operation permit and are required by law to seek an endorsement from the local government unit.
Ipilan Nickel is a subsidiary of Toledo Mining and Development Corp. and a sister company of Berong Nickel Corp., which is already operating a nickel mine under an MPSA in the village of Berong, Quezon, southern Palawan.
Macroasia is a company of business tycoon Lucio Tan that has ventured into mining.
During the rally, Brooke’s Point Vice Mayor Jean Feliciano led the petition signing of local residents to oppose the nickel mining projects.
“Brooke’s Point has learned the lesson from the other towns in southern Palawan that had been ravaged by mining and we will never let it happen,” Feliciano said.
She added that Brooke’s Point “as it is, is one of the most progressive towns in the south because of our agriculture.”
Ipilan village chairman Jonathan Lagrada, a local anti-mining activist, said they were seeking the revocation of a village endorsement issued by the previous village council in 2007, a month before their term ended.
“We want the DENR to respect the real sentiment of the people of Ipilan, that we are against this project because of its effects on our agricultural lands. The endorsement given to the mining companies by the previous barangay council is questionable because it was a midnight resolution and did not even go through council deliberation,” Legrada explained in Filipino.
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Arigo have both expressed support to the campaign launched by anti-mining advocates in Brooke’s Point.
February 1, 2008 at 12:47 pm
interesting and encouraging…. are the usual NGOs involved?
February 1, 2008 at 11:07 pm
The usual NGOs are very supportive but the critical force behind this campaign, IMO, are the agricultural landowners and ordinary farmers. They feel genuinely threatened and they do have the resources to match the mining companies’ lobby
February 2, 2008 at 10:38 am
Is it true that the 1,000 “supporters” are the ones who signed to eat merienda during the rally?
People from Ipilan were saying that there were only 200 “real supporters” involved in the rally while the remaining 800 were the “usyosero” buying supplies in the plaza since it was MARKET DAY at Brgy. Ipilan at that time.
February 2, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I see “dumb” people…
February 19, 2008 at 11:03 am
yes. there were school children attended the rally. Poor children. They are being drag into this.. propaganda.
February 19, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Yeah right. And the mining companies have no use for school children because you pay our corrupt politicians to get your permits approved. You have money to bring a music band in the boondocks to attract people like you did in Ipilon and claim that all those who watched the show supports mining. Aw cmon. be real!
March 3, 2008 at 11:05 am
mining (particularly small-scalers) will bring us no good! don’t just look at one side, ok? and don’t feel helpless by being recipient of mining money…anyway for the campaigners, it’s a good start. i just hope that it would not end there.
April 10, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I am married to a Filipina and love the Philippines, although I’m from the UK. I share your concerns about mining, but RESPONSIBLE mining projects can bring enormous benefits to both the local community and to the economy.
With good planning that addresses local concerns, everyone will gain and the economic success of the region will be assured. With the added wealth, the poverty and pollution that we see around the cities and in the towns and villages can be eliminated. Rather than fighting economic development, we should all engage in the fight against poverty.
The Philippines is rich in mineral wealth. The God-given resources of the Philippines are not just above ground. The wealth that is in the earth needs to be properly and responsibly exploited to the betterment of the population. We need the vision to see the long term benefits that good mining can bring for the enrichment of the Philippines. The fight should be to eradicate poverty. By the responsible management of all land resources, this can be achieved.
April 12, 2008 at 11:08 am
Im glad that you love my country, n. mcIlwain. I expected no less from you cuz you are married to one of us. Love your wife , love her country too(smile). Demps, dont you have emoticons here, still nice to have those so that people wont be offended if you smile after sharing your constructive critisms. I have no disagreement about economic development, , fight against poverty or bringing enormous benefits to both local community and our economy. We really need those but not at the expense of our environment and future generations. Who wants progress if it will destroy our environment. I hope the memories of Ormoc city will not happened in the south. God forbid. About responsible mining,if the mining company will return the mined area to its former self after the end of their operations which is impossible., then that is responsible mining for me. If you noticed that Palawan has fragile ecosystem, Our mountain range is in the middle , long but narrow topography. With all these mining companies around, soon the towns will be submerged in water when heavy rains come. rice fields will be filled with laterite.. what happened to the last ecological frontier? there are other eco friendly industries which will have the same benefits and economic gains. I miz the late Gov. Socrates, if he is alive> He will not compromise our environment against economic gains which will destroy palawan’s environment. We are lucky here in Puerto Princesa because Mayor Hagedorn will never allow mining operations in his city. Both He and the late Gov. Socrates are the real environmentalist leaders in the province. Stay for several years more Mr McIiwain, then you will find out the results of mining operations in those areas. Mining is good but not in PALAWAN!
April 12, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hi Bing.
Thanks for sharing your worries about mining. If you had gold in your garden, would you just leave it there for the love of the garden’s beauty? I think not. You would realize that with the wealth obtained from mining the gold, you would be able to enrich the lives of your children and plant and restore more gardens to your own liking.
I hate irresponsible mining too. >:-( But miners with vision are also environmentalists who are also very concerned that damage is kept within control, allowing for future restoration. Rain water runoff is more a problem resulting from illegal logging. The better mining companies plant far more trees than they uproot.
Only mining companies that are exemplars of good mining practice should be allowed to operate.
April 15, 2008 at 3:48 pm
yes…Let say No to mining act. Please have mercy to youth and next generation. tnx