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UMC leaders reaches out to Lepanto striking workers

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 9) — Thirty-six pastors, lay leaders and the District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church , along with Rev. Dr. Benjamin A. Justo, Bishop of the Baguio Episcopal Area went on exposure to the picket lines in Mankayan as part of a Community Organizing Workshop at the Teacher’s Camp held here from August 8 to 12, 2005 with the theme “Living The Gospel in Today’s World”.

On August 9 the participants went to the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (Lepanto) in Mankayan, Benguet as they wanted to have a first hand information on the ongoing controversy between the Lepanto management and the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU).

There was a group briefing before going to the areas. However, on the first gate leading to the Millsite, the participants were halted by the security guards to wait for instructions from their higher officials. They were informed, to their dismay, that they were not allowed by management to proceed to the area. Bishop Justo tried to negotiate, but this effort failed as well. The group then proceeded to Tubo, where they met the strikers and listened to their stories of dispersal by the Philippine National Police (PNP), their plight of not being given just wages, their families being evicted from their bunkhouses, and worst, food restrictions when assistance were given to them by supporters.

At the end of the integration, there was a creative liturgy and the group was challenged how they could be one with the workers and how they will live the gospel in today’s world.

Justo gave a solidarity message to the workers and a prayer to end the day’s activity. . In his solidarity message, he denounced the Lepanto Mining Corporation for the inhuman ways of dealing with the workers. He said that while Lepanto management wallow in richness and profit, the workers are denied of their rights to have a decent living. He also denounced the experience of being deprived to visit the people in the area.

In his homily, Justo affirmed the group’s solidarity as a church saying “Ti simbaan kas iti panawen ni Hesus, ket makipagrikna ken makipagmaymaysa ti panagsagabayo ti panangirupir yo kadagiti karbenganyo a kas tao.” (The Church, as it was in Jesus time, is one with you as you struggle for your human rights.)

Before leaving the picket lines, Justo and the coordinators agreed to shell out P10,000 for the workers’ immediate need such as rice. Justo assured the workers that the United Methodist Church, in particular the Baguio Episcopal Area, will always be one with them.

The seminar-workshop was conducted by the National Innovative Partnership Program (NIMPP) being coordinated by Dr. Anselmo Lupdag, more specifically, the BEA Innovative Ministries Program (BIMP) being coordinated by Rev. Eduard Copliting.

One of the objectives is to have raw information on how mining activities contribute to the livelihood activity of the people. Copliting through Justo, contacted the Regional Ecumenical Council in the Cordillera (RECCORD) for assistance in the implementation of the activity. # via NORDIS

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