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MAQUITACDG holds third general assembly

MANKAYAN, Benguet (May 26) — The Mankayan, Quirino, Tadian, Cervantes Danggayan a Dunglo (MAQUITACDG), an inter-municipality alliance in the Abra River district met for its 3rd General Assembly on May 20 at the Bulalacao National High School here.

The said towns situated in Benguet (Mankayan), Mt. Province (Tadian), and Ilocos Sur (Quirino and Cervantes) convened to strengthen their defense for land and life against the dangers of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company’s (LCMCo) mining operations.

Local government representatives, labor union members, church leaders, doctors, and other professionals participated in the event.

This years’ theme is “Umili ti MQTC, Pairuten ken Palawaen ti Panagkaykaysa ken Pairtengen ti Nangatngato a Tignayan a Mangsalaknib iti Daga, Pangkabiagan, ken Biag”.

Dr. Ana Leung, spokesperson of the Save the Abra River Movement (STARM), discussed the nature and contents of the Mining Act of 1995, and EO 270, or the National Policy Agenda for the Revitalization of Philippine Mining. Leung also shared several mining applications applied for in the Cordillera, including the new guidelines on the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

Despite these developments, she reiterated that the Filipino people are not hopeless, since greater mobilizations have intensified the struggle against destructive mining while Cervantes Vice Mayor Robert Harnois emphasized the continuing need to heighten of the level of struggle.

“Awan ti daduma pay a pangsanggiran tayo no saan a ti panagkaykaysa, panagorganisa, panagpalawa ken tuluy-tuloy nga pangiinadal ken mangbitok ti umdas ken rumbeng laeng nga solusyon a mangpasardeng ti expansion ti Lepanto”, he said. Harnois, is a founding member of MAQUITACDG.

Alfonso Tigan, a councilor in Brgy. Balaoa, Tadian, reported that they have observed frequent aerial monitoring by a certain helicopter, which was allegedly carrying a gold-detector device last year. The LCMCo’s expansion sites include this town. Tigan relayed that when the helicopter landed in the village of Bunga also in Tadian, he learned from an engineer that gold was detected and needed to be drilled.

Felix Dengaley, barangay captain of Lamag, Quirino said that government troops, specifically the Re-Engineered Special Operations Team (RSOT) and elements of the Philippine Army dispatched in their town sows fear among the residents. He cited cases of harassment and attempted rape by the 58th IB.

Vigilance in trying times

Peasant leader Julian Gayumba of DAMAYAN called on the assembly to be vigilant in the face of flawed laws like the IPRA and the Mining Act. He said that IPRA does not really support indigenous peoples and their struggles.

“Idi ket naipa-close ti tattao ti adu a minas gapu its reklamo dagiti masiknan. Ti Lepanto pay ngata ket haan?” he said.

Gayumba slammed the Supreme Court for reversing its decision on the constitutionality of the Mining Act, which means a sell-out of the country’s sovereignty and national patrimony.

Workers of the LCMCo also supported the alliance’s campaign through the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

“Maawatan mi ti ilablaban dagiti mannalon gapu ta agpada tayo a gungundawayan dagiti kapitalista kas iti LCMCO. Datayo a mangmangged ken mannalon ket masapul nga agtitinulong, ket ekspektaren mi manen ti tulong yo kasla idi nag-strike kami idi 2003,” (We understand the cause that peasants are fighting for because we are both exploited by the capitalists like LCMCo. Workers and peasants have to forge cooperation as we look forward to your continued support just when we went on strike in 2003) said Laurence Farrol of KMU-Mankayan.

Last month, majority of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) voted YES in a strike vote referendum (SVR) due to a deadlock between the union and the management on the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In Tadian, a cultural caravan took place on the people’s resistance against LCMCo’s expansion, more particular in the villages of Demang, Kayan and Poblacion.

According to Gary Dulag, chairman of TAMANAITO (Tadian Movement Against Nepotism, Aggression, Intimidation, Transgression, and Oppression), there were some petitions passed by barangay captains and signature campaigns conducted opposing the entry of LCMCo or any mining firm in Tadian.

The assembly ended with the election of the alliance’s new set of officers. # Nars V. Laminta for NORDIS

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