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Opposing views surface at people’s mining summit

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya (June 20) — The People’s Mining Summit attended by some 700 individuals on June 20 at the Kasibu market turned out a venue of opposing views on mining. Nevertheless, both camps of pro-mining and anti-mining advocates claimed victory at the close of the summit. The activity aimed to assist local legislators in determining Kasibu’s policies on mining.

Tebtebba Foundation’s presentation on mining disasters in the Cordillera and the findings of a medical team on the extent of diseases caused by toxic waste generated by Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) raised environmental concerns such as fears of poisoning the tributaries to the Addalam River.

Peasants had a glimpse of the future of agriculture after the discussion on the comparative study between the potentials of mining and agriculture. Nevertheless, the topic elicited a negative response of a mining advocate who could not understand why there are people who would want to stick depending on agriculture.

Pro-mining arguments include the possible employment opportunities from mining operations, the taxes Kasibu town will generate from such operations. The town will host the mining operations by the Australian Climax-Arimco Mining Company (CAMC) in Didipio. The summit results may be the basis for Kasibu law-makers whether or not they will endorse the project.

Despite a ten-year denial of its official endorsement by the local development councils and the regional development council, CAMC persistently pursued its mining operations. It is one of two foreign companies granted a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

At present, Kasibu’s Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance does not include mining. Provincial and national bodies are reportedly reviewing the Plan. RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 imposes taxes, specifically property taxes, aside from other taxes to be collected by the national government. This, however, were to be countered by a tax holiday incentives the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 offered foreign mining investors.

Commissioner Corazon Espino of the National Commission in Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said the summit was a waste of time. A native of Nueva Vizcaya, Espino wanted a bigger role in the holding of the mining summit. However, organizers of the activity retorted that they have long waited for NCIP to initiate such dialogues especially that the CAMC operations directly affected Kasibu indigenous peoples. Non-government organizations present also said they expected NCIP to mediate during the processes of the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).

One Peter Atiwon, reportedly a CAMC employee, who said that California Energy refused to pay local taxes generated by the Casecnan Multi-purpose Irrigation and Power Project because of the prelate’s opposition, interrupted Monsignor Ramon Villena, who was then delivering his speech.

CAMC also had a space at the summit and stressed that it would not employ the use of cyanide and mercury, toxic substances proven to have contaminated river systems in many mining areas. According to the CAMC representative, the company would use an alcohol-based compound instead. Its CEO Joey Leviste said the summit was an anti-mining propaganda.

A man claiming to have worked for LCMCo testified that the reported poisoning of the Abra River was a hoax.
An NGO convergence and the local government unit of Kasibu sponsored the summit. # Save the Valley, Serve the People! Alliance for the Environment, Via NORDIS

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