By John Rizle L. Saligumba
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY — Groups commemorating the 19th year of the passage of the country’s law on large-scale mining opposed a Congress bill passed yesterday which allowed changes in the Philippine Constitution such as lifting foreign ownership restrictions.
Save Pantukan Alliance spokesperson Belen Galleto said the Charter change will encourage more foreign large-scale mining projects and “pave the way for foreign control over our natural resources.”
For his part, Rep. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna partylist said that government should instead “provide capital to local industries, agriculture and businesses because we cannot compete with transnational companies who have large capital and subsidies from their governments.”
“Marcopper destroyed Marinduque, Cha-cha will destroy the country with the entry of big foreign mining firms. This would have adverse implications on areas and communities affected by extractive industries, such as mining and logging,” said Colmenares.
Colmenares warned further that “(l)ifting the existing Constitutional restrictions on the foreign ownership of land, natural resources and strategic industries such as utilities and media is practically giving up the country’s future to foreign investors.”
“It abandons our national patrimony and resources for future development and leaves these to the hands of profit-seekers, allowing our remaining natural wealth to be plundered at their will. If Cha-cha pushes through then what happened in the Marcopper environmental disaster may become a nationwide occurrence,” he said.
The Save Pantukan Alliance also marked Wednesday’s anniversary with a protest rally in front of the office of US-owned large-scale mining firm St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd. The mining firm is operating a 1,656-hectare MPSA (Mineral Production Sharing Agreement) gold and copper concession in Pantukan town.
In a statement obtained by Davao Today, the company said that they are “committed to continuing the constant dialogues with the Pantukan community and welcome every opportunity for engagement with the small scale miners, the local government, tribal elders, civic and business leaders, and all those who share our genuine concern for the welfare of Pantukan and its residents.”
With regards to the protest, the company “believe(s) that the proper forum for discussion is in the community with Pantukan residents, and in this regard we have been conducting extensive public consultations in and around Pantukan in order to get the thoughts and opinions of those who will be affected by the proposed operation.”
The company also said that they “will be providing opportunities for skills training, livelihood, employment, and even business partnerships” for the small-scale miners who may be affected by their operations “so that they too may benefit from this $2billion dollar project just as much as the Pantukan community and the country.”
In 2010, US-based St. Agustine Gold and Copper Ltd (SAGC) and Russell Mining and Minerals, Inc. (RMMI) was tapped by the National Development Corporation (Nadecor) to fund the $2-billion Kingking gold and copper project. In 2012, Queensberry Mining & Development Corporation, which is reportedly owned by former Philippine Senator Manuel Villar, invested $11 million to St. Agustine.
According to the website of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, there are three mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA) in the town of Pantukan as of December 2013. These are the Nadecor and Benguet Corporation (1,656 hectares), the King Eagle Exploration and Mining Corporation (324 hectares) and the Napnapan Mineral Resources, Inc. (4,920 hectares). (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
