Bakun folk reject Oxiana mining 06-02-26

	NORDIS WEEKLY February 26, 2006
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Bakun folk reject Oxiana mining
BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 25) — Around 56 council of elders and leaders gathered at the barangay hall of Gambang, Bakun, Benguet to draft a “certificate of rejection” to the mining exploration application of Oxiana Philippines Resources Incorporated in the said barangay to be submitted to the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP). Earlier, residents of Gambang registered an overwhelming “No” vote to the said mining exploration application on February 15 in a referendum conducted by NCIP. Of the registered 818 household, 454 voted “No”, 45 voted “Yes” to the said exploration application. Gambang Barangay Captain Alvaro Paquito explained that the meeting aims to discuss and put into writing their various reasons of rejecting the said application for the “certificate of rejection”. Most residents believe that exploration activities would destroy their ancestral land and sources of livelihood. They explained that exploration activities such as drilling and tunneling would destroy their gardens and water sources. Gambang residents are mostly farmers. An elder also added that they wanted to protect their ancestral lands for the next generation, just like their ancestors. The residents also feared that their culture as a peaceful and God-fearing community would erode. They agreed that the entry of mining companies would mean employment to a few, however stressed that this will only be temporary as compared to the long-term damage that it will bring to the community. The elders also cited their experience with past mining companies who tried to explore their area such as the Trans-Asia Corporation, a Copper company and Dalton Pacific Resources in 1995. A logging company, the Heald Lumber once exploited the rich resources of the community. The elders said these companies have not contributed to the development of the community as a whole but rather brought disunity among them. They also cited the experiences also of their fellow farmers in Itogon and as far as Colalo, Mankayan as examples of the ill effects of large-scale mining. An elder also remembered that the expansion of Itogon-Suyoc Mines Incorporated towards their community failed because of the people’s opposition. “We have learned our lessons and we hope that the younger generations will also take this into their hearts,” an elder said. Meanwhile, residents asked concerned government agencies not to issue any permit or entertain any person, entity or corporation applying for exploration, exploitation or extraction of mineral resources within their barangay. # Virgie Bandao for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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	NORDIS WEEKLY February 26, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Bakun folk reject Oxiana mining
BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 25) — Around 56 council of elders and leaders gathered at the barangay hall of Gambang, Bakun, Benguet to draft a “certificate of rejection” to the mining exploration application of Oxiana Philippines Resources Incorporated in the said barangay to be submitted to the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP). Earlier, residents of Gambang registered an overwhelming “No” vote to the said mining exploration application on February 15 in a referendum conducted by NCIP. Of the registered 818 household, 454 voted “No”, 45 voted “Yes” to the said exploration application. Gambang Barangay Captain Alvaro Paquito explained that the meeting aims to discuss and put into writing their various reasons of rejecting the said application for the “certificate of rejection”. Most residents believe that exploration activities would destroy their ancestral land and sources of livelihood. They explained that exploration activities such as drilling and tunneling would destroy their gardens and water sources. Gambang residents are mostly farmers. An elder also added that they wanted to protect their ancestral lands for the next generation, just like their ancestors. The residents also feared that their culture as a peaceful and God-fearing community would erode. They agreed that the entry of mining companies would mean employment to a few, however stressed that this will only be temporary as compared to the long-term damage that it will bring to the community. The elders also cited their experience with past mining companies who tried to explore their area such as the Trans-Asia Corporation, a Copper company and Dalton Pacific Resources in 1995. A logging company, the Heald Lumber once exploited the rich resources of the community. The elders said these companies have not contributed to the development of the community as a whole but rather brought disunity among them. They also cited the experiences also of their fellow farmers in Itogon and as far as Colalo, Mankayan as examples of the ill effects of large-scale mining. An elder also remembered that the expansion of Itogon-Suyoc Mines Incorporated towards their community failed because of the people’s opposition. “We have learned our lessons and we hope that the younger generations will also take this into their hearts,” an elder said. Meanwhile, residents asked concerned government agencies not to issue any permit or entertain any person, entity or corporation applying for exploration, exploitation or extraction of mineral resources within their barangay. # Virgie Bandao for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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