INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND THE CHURCH: PROMOTING SOLIDARITY
AGAINST THE MINING ISSUE
CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF THE
PHILIPPINES (CBCP) EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (ECIP)
March 12, 2008
CBCP BLDG., 470 GEN. LUNA STREET , INTRAMUROS 1002 MANILA , PHILIPPINES TEL.# 527-4062. TEUFAX: 527.4155. EMAIL: ecipns@info.com.ph
Mining, in the Philippine experience, not only destroys the environment but has become the vehicle for the violation of human rights, ethnocide of IP communities, and even deaths.
It
has been a decade since the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) first released a statement of concern regarding
mining in the Philippines, and yet through these years, the
Philippine government has been unwavering in implementing
'development aggression'. The unceasing invitation for foreigners
and local governments to enter into or accept mining ventures is
contradictory to the Constitution which explicitly states that the
environment and human rights should be nurtured in communities,
especially in that of indigenous peoples.
Statements from various dioceses and Indigenous Peoples Apostolates (IPA) in the country strongly oppose the ongoing mining program of the government. In the Mindanao dioceses like Dipolog, Ipil, Ozamis, Pagadian, Iligan and Marawi (DIOPIM), calls have been consistently raised to halt the operations of Toronto Ventures Incorporated (TVI) which have been documented to displace indigenous communities and are destructive of large tracts of land, flora and fauna in Zamboanga del Norte and nearby provinces. Mining activities of TVI also encroach on the sacred grounds of the Subanen, a blatant violation of their rights, culture and jurisdiction over their ancestral domain since they have a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) which was given by no other than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself. To date, numerous mining applications are also threatening various localities in these dioceses.
In a joint resolution of indigenous communities in SOCCSKSARGENDS (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, Gen. Santos, Davao del Sur), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has been accused of being the instrument for foreign firms to lay claim on large tracts of land by giving these firms certifications stating that IP communities have given their "free, prior, and informed consent" (FPIC) even if they have not. The resolution also states that in the process of implementing RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, many victims have violent experiences with the military, CAFGU, SCAA or other paramilitary groups so that IP communities will be harassed, divided and forced to leave their ancestral domains, as seen in their experience with Sagittarius Mines, Inc. in Tampakan, South Cotabato and nearby areas.
In the statement of the clergy, religious and faithful of the Vicariate of Puerto Princesa in Palawan province where RA 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act is being implemented to ensure the care, maintenance and development of the unique environment and natural resources of the province, it has been noted that exception after exception has been forwarded by many municipalities in the "Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Zones" to favour mining applications. This is a blatant violation of laws that ensure the welfare and rights of affected communities.
The Mangyan Mission in the Vicariate of Calapan also strongly opposes the manipulation being done by INTEX Mining Co (CREW Minerals Inc.) in Mangyan communities. For mining operations to be accepted in Oriental Mindoro, INTEX has been documented to divide communities, co-opting one group to agree with mining activities. This not only destroys the environment but also destroys the culture and unity of these communities. All ten areas covered by mining applications or ongoing mining activities are in the ancestral domains of the Mangyans.
Similar experiences have been reported by other dioceses like the Dioceses of Hagan, Bayombong, Sorsogon, and Romblon.
Given these experiences, the ECIP and Indigenous Peoples Apostolates (IPAs) and their partner indigenous peoples communities in the country are calling for the following:
• the cancellation of all types of mining applications and the
revocation of approved mining agreements;
• the stoppage of all mining operations especially those in
ancestral domains;
• recognition and respect of the right of IP communities to their
ancestral domains whether or not they have CADTs;
• for the FPIC process not to be rendered powerless but to encourage
more participation of IP communities in the FPIC process;
• the strengthening of authentic IP organizations, respect for their
systems of governance and adherence to their culture; and
• forwarding of the nation's genuine progress that is founded on
sustainable development.
We are also calling on all sectors of society to actively participate in making the government understand the plight of our co-Filipinos so that the bounty of our Creator will be enjoyed by future generations.
In the name of ECIP-IPA,
(signed) +SERGIO L. UTLEG, D.D. Bishop of Laoag and ECIP Chairperson
Signed
+Sergio L. Utleg, D.D.
Bishop of Laoag and ECIP Chairperson
