Wednesday, March 12, 2008

RP moves closer to achieving status of ‘mining country’

We will become a "mining country" in a couple of years. And this is supposed to be a good thing? And if you abide by DENR propaganda, the environmentalists are the bad guys. Here's something interesting: can you find the words "sustainable" and "protect" (or its various forms) in this article?



By Jonathan L. Mayuga
Correspondent

Business Mirror / Economy
Mon March 10, 2008



THE Philippines is inching closer toward achieving the status of a “mining country” as mining investments continue to pour in, despite the strong opposition to the government’s mining-revitalization program by various sectors.

Total investment in the country’s mining industry had already reached a total of $1.4 billion as of last month and is projected to reach $1.8 billion by the end of the year with seven more projects advancing to production stage, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said.

The total mining investments covering the period 2004-07 came from the exploration, mining operation, and construction and development activities of some 63 mining companies now doing mining business in the country.

The biggest slice of the investments amounting to $304.59 million came from the Palawan HPAL Nickel Project (Line 1) being operated by Coral Bay Mining Corp. (CBMC) in Rio Tuba, Bataraza in Palawan.

The company’s expansion project poured in an additional $230 million in 2007. CBMC is a Filipino-Japanese joint venture involved in nickel mining.

The second-largest investment, amounting to $230 million, came from Palawan HPAL Nickel Project (Line 2), an expansion project also being operated by CBMC in Bataraza, Palawan, while the third-largest mining investment during the period amounting to $169 million came from Carmen (Toledo) Copper Project, operated by Carmen Copper Corp., in Don Andres Soriano in Toledo City.

Atienza also said that since the start of the mining-revitalization program in 2004, some 6,500 new jobs have been generated by the industry and that an additional of more than 30,000 jobs is still projected to be generated between this year and 2010.

“The government’s revitalization program remains on track and with seven more projects coming on stream. The year 2008 will be a banner for the minerals industry,” Atienza said.

However, antimining groups have not given up the fight against mining operations in the country. Early this month another round of petition was filed before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the constitutionality of the Philippine Mining Act.

Atienza, however, merely shrugged off the move, confident that the Supreme Court, which has already affirmed the legality of the Philippine Mining Act, will not reverse its own ruling.

Atienza said with seven more projects advancing into production this year, total investment could well reach $1.8 billion.

He identified the seven projects as Carmen Copper Project, Didipio Copper-Gold Project, second line of the Palawan Nickel Project, Masbate Gold Projects of Filipino-Australian joint venture, Filminera Resources Corp., Iligan and Manticao Ferronickel Smelter Plants of Platinum Group Mining Corp. and another Filipino-Australian consortium Philsaga Gold Project of Philsaga Mining Corp.

Atienza said that total mining investments coming from the seven projects could reach $300 million.

“With all these projects going into production, we expect our mineral output to increase to a level which would turn the Philippines into a mining country by 2009,” Atienza said.

Under the World Bank standards, a country with mining exports reaching 6 percent of its total exports is considered a “mining country.”

The DENR chief also said the country’s metallic-mineral production, which was estimated at P95 billion last year, could possibly hit over P120 billion next year, a dramatic increase that could also lift the mining industry’s exports contribution to 6 percent of the total Philippine exports.

“We are also confident that by 2010-11, we already have a $10-billion industry that can sustainably generate income to our government and help provide social benefits down to the poorest of the poor in the countryside,” Atienza said.

Among the 63 mining projects currently setting their investments in the country’s mining industry, 10 are operating, seven are in the construction and development stage, nine are under feasibility and financing stage, another nine in advance exploration stage, five projects under the second-tier projects, which are highly potential projects that are still undergoing funding negotiations, and 23 priority exploration projects

Operating mining projects include Palawan Nickel Project in Rio Tuba, Bataraza in Palawan; Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project on Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay; Canatuan Silver-Gold Project in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte; Sto. Tomas II Copper Expansion Project in Tuba, Benguet; Teresa Gold Project in Mankayan, Benguet; Berong Nickel Project in Berong, Quezon in Palawan; Masara Gold Project in Maco, Compostela Valley; SIRC Nickel Project in Surigao del Norte, CTP Nickel Project, and Pasar Copper Smelter Project in Isabel, Leyte.

Exploration mining projects include the following: Acoje PGE/Nickel Project in Candelaria, Zambales; Colet Copper-Gold Project in Negros Occidental; Agata Project (copper-gold-nickel) in Agusan del Norte; Runruno Gold Project in Nueva Vizcaya; Bayugo Copper-Gold Project in Surigao del Norte; Pujada Nickel Project in Davao Oriental; Macro Asia Palawan Project in Palawan; Archangel Gold Project in Batangas; Batoto Gold Project in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

Celestial Nickel Project in Brookes Point, Palawan; Del Gallego Gold Project in Camarines Sur; Hixbar Copper-Gold Project in Rapu-Rapu in Albay; Lobo Gold Project in Lobo, Bantangas; Nalesbitan Gold Project in Labo, Camarines Norte; Panag Gold Project in Compostela Valley Province; Tagpura Copper Project in New Bataan, Compostela Valley; Tapian San Francisco Project in Surigao del Norte; Vista Buena Project in Surigao del Norte; and Capcapo Mining Project in Abra.


DENR pushes environmental protection-boosting initiatives

Can a title and its content ever be this disparate? What words can we describe this article? A paradox, an oxymoron, an irony, a contradiction of terms? Perhaps, an enigma? For how can you explain a government agency in-charged of protecting the environment and yet trumpeting its sell-out to environmentally-destructive industries as among its grand achievements? Another enigma is how these people can lie to their teeth and expect the rest of us to believe them. There really ought to be a hell. Otherwise, we don't know what justice is anymore.


The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) adopted this year several initiatives aimed at further enhancing environmental protection and sustainable use of the countrys natural wealth.

These include forestry policies to better curb illegal logging as well as regulations covering allowable development in protected areas as well as on vehicle emissions.

In October this year, DENR Secretary Lito Atienza banned small-scale miners from cutting down trees in their areas of operation.

Such was among initial moves of Atienza who succeeded in August 2007 former Environment Secretary and now Energy Chief Angelo Reyes.

Well no longer issue them tree cutting permits as their operations dont warrant such since they generally work with hand tools and not heavy equipment, Atienza said after learning mining companies allowed to undertake small-scale mining secured permits to cut down thousands of trees in Romblon province.

He noted the order will help further bolster governments thrust towards promoting responsible mining nationwide.

To help further rationalize such operations, he said DENR will review all existing small-scale mining permits.

Atienza cited as basis for his order Republic Act 7076 enacted in 1991 which defines small-scale mining as mining activities which rely heavily on manual labor using simple implement and methods and do not use explosives or heavy mining equipment.

To help bolster forest protection, DENR intensified its watch on renewing operation permits the agency issued to existing wood processing plants (WPPs) nationwide.

This developed as DENR said forest cover accounted for some 24 percent of the Philippines' total land area in 2002 due to government's reforestation efforts after dropping to 18.3 percent in 1988 from 70 percent around 1900 because of unabated logging.

Based on DENR Administrative Order 13, DENR's regional executive directors (REDs) can't renew permits for WPPs unless each has an approved regional wood processing plan upon which to base such action.

Such plans are required before DENR issues permits to establish and operate new WPPs.

In September, DENR began requiring stakeholders concerned to forge with protected area management boards special use agreements in protected areas (SAPAs) before allowable development there can commence.

Such is provided in Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2007-17 which DENR began implementing this month to promote sustainable development and biodiversity conservation so ecological balance there can be maintained.

SAPAS will be cancelled if warranted, DENR warned.

DENR also issued Administrative Order 2007-7 requiring compliance with revised emission standards for motor vehicles with compression-ignition (diesel) engines and spark-ignition (gasoline) engines.

This aims to help improve the countrys air quality as emissions, which are composed of measurable air contaminants, pollutants, gas streams or unwanted sounds from known sources, are passed into the atmosphere.

DENR said the revisions will cover new, in-use, rebuilt and imported used motor vehicles nationwide.

As specified in AO 2007-27, all new motor vehicles introduced in the market beginning January 1 next year must comply with EURO 2 emission limits.

EURO 2 refers to requirements defining acceptable limits for new vehicles exhaust emissions as provided for in EC96 and Directives 94/12/EC or 96/69/EC, DENR said.

In August, Atienza said he will look into whether DENR can streamline further its processing of mining permit applications.

If the objective is productivity, then lets cut short unnecessary steps involved in processing permit applications, he said.

Among matters he committed to study is lessening the number of officials signatures required for an application to be processed completely.

Atienza decided on such move to help generate nationwide more mining that can contribute to the countrys development, particularly since government identified such activity as an economic driver.

DENRs Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) projected a bullish performance for mining this year as it reported the industry posted in 2007s first quarter a 56 percent surge in metallic mineral production value (MMPV) to PhP17.38 billion from PhP11.13 billion during the same period last year.

MGB also said Philippine minings MMPV in 2006 was PhP55 billion or about 48 percent more than 2005s PhP37 billion.

This is by far the highest growth rate to be recorded for the last 20 years, MGB said.

2007 was also a year of advocacies for DENR.

Among these are more technology transfer among countries to help address climate change or global warming, harmonizing government action on global warming and establishing an environmental ombudsman to help ensure public officials action on environmental protection.

DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said technology transfer is needed so developing countries can access and use technologies these find to be either cost-effective or commercially preferential for climate change monitoring, adaptation and mitigation.

Such could be done through enhanced international cooperation so existing and new environment-friendly technologies could be made available to developing countries through preferential commercial transfer and/or flexible innovation and knowledge access regimes rather than full market-based conditions, he said.

He also noted several incentives can be promoted to help hasten technology transfer.

These include levying tax on carbon, adopting new product licensing rules, providing special pricing so poor countries can access patented technologies of developed nations and abolishing subsidies that arent environment-friendly.

Atienza said harmonized action is needed so the country can better prepare for adverse effects of global warming.

Theres no doubt effects of climate change (CC) are being felt in the Philippines already, he said.

He noted harmonizing output of public entities created to address CC will help government generate the best possible course of action on this matter.

Atienza created through DENR Special Order 2007-653 a council to advise the agency and recommend policies on CC mitigation, adaptation and information communication.

He is heading this eight-man council with ex-senator and environment secretary Heherson Alvarez as co-chairperson.

Atienza also said establishing an environmental ombudsman aims to help ensure public officials action on environmental protection.

We want to punish those who neglect their duties, he said.

He also noted this is in line with Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 which mandates local officials nationwide to help protect the environment.

Atienza said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is open to the idea of establishing an environmental ombudsman.

Shes very supportive of this, he said.

DENR undertook several major projects this year to help hike public awareness and participation in environmental protection.

In Norzagaray, Bulacan this August, DENR held regional launching of its Trees for Life (TFL) project on planting 20 million trees nationwide.

This aims to help further bolster Malacanangs Green Philippines Program on reforestation, reef and waterways preservation, anti-pollution and energy independence.

Atienza, Bulacan Third District Representative Lorna Silverio, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Lorenzo Jamora, Manila Water Company president Antonio Aquino and Maynilad Water Services Inc. president Rogelio Singson were among officials who each planted a tree during the launching.

DENR chose Norzagarays Ipo watershed as launching site since TFL is focused this month on greening protected areas and watersheds nationwide.

The agency said TFL supporters will plant in some 13,000 hectares of protected and watershed areas nationwide about 10 million indigenous and endemic tree seedlings.

In June, DENR signed with Department of Education (DepEd), Quezon City government and non-government organization Pablo P. Reyes Sr. Foundation a memorandum of agreement for the Environment-Friendly Schools (EFS) Project.

EFS seeks to promote public environmental protection awareness through tree planting activities in Philippine public schools and to support governments Green Philippines program on planting some two million trees so denuded areas nationwide can be reforested.

All good things in life come to an end but life itself will end if we dont care about our environment, former environment chief Reyes said during a program marking EFS launch at Quezon City High School in Kamuning District.

He, DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, Quezon City 4th District Councilor Ariel Inton representing Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and PPRSr president Dr. Josefina Perlado signed the agreement during the program.

Also in June, DENR and Philippine Association of Refrigerant Importers Inc. (PARII) led groundbreaking for construction of the Philippines first reclamation facility for refrigerants.

This project aims to support governments thrust towards reducing and eventually stopping nationwide importation of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), said Teresita Peralta, project manager of the National CFC Phase-Out Plan DENR is implementing through the Philippine Ozone Desk.

The country committed to phase out CFC by 2010 as scientists said this odorless, inert, non-flammable, non-corrosive and non-toxic chemical compound is depleting the ozone layer which protects the earth from the suns ultra-violet rays.

Authorities also expect equipment for this project to minimize venting of other ozone-depleting substances.

DENR also commenced this year planning for redevelopment of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City.

Atienza aims to transform this area into governments environmental showcase to help increase peoples knowledge about Philippine natural resources so these can be protected better and tapped more sustainably for economic purposes.

NAPWC can be a model for other centers of flora and fauna nationwide, he said.

Copyright (C) 2008 Asia Pulse Data Source. All rights reserved

News Provided by COMTEX


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Rapu Rapu secures ISO award

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Monday, 10 March 2008

Goings-On / B9


RAPU RAPU MINING Inc. has earned its ISO 14001:2004 certification after passing the final audit of its environmental management systems ( EMS ).

Last year, RRMI's sister company, Rapu Rapu Processing Inc., secured its own ISO 14001:2004 certification for its EMS .

Carlos G. Dominguez, chair of the Rapu Rapu Group., said: "Environmental protection and safety is and will always be our first priority. That we have certifications for both mining and processing shows our commitment to responsible mining."

The certification credits RRMI's mining operations, tailings dam construction and management, and support services at its mine site in Rapu Rapu, Albay.

Certification International UK Ltd., an Independent International ISO certification body, also subjects the mining firm to a semi-annual surveillance audit.




Improving Transparence of Payments and receipts in the Mining Industry

A rather interesting "strategic document" at the basis of the Chamber of Mines attempts to Improve Transparency of Payments and Receipts in the Mining Industry. Read on and let your diligence be rewarded.



Technical Report

Improving Transparency of Payments and

Receipts in the Mining Industry

by Nelia Halcon, Team Leader, Ed Coronel, and

R.S. Bernaldo and Associates

Prepared for Chamber of Mines of the Philippines

Submitted for review to

USAID/Philippines OEDG

July 2007

Economic Modernization through Efficient Reforms and Governance Enhancement (EMERGE)

Unit 2003, 139 Corporate Centre, 139 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227, Philippines

Tel. No. (632) 752 0881 Fax No. (632) 752 2225


FINAL REPORT

IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY OF PAYMENTS AND

RECEIPTS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY

Executive Summary

The emergence of mining as one of the major drivers of the Philippine economy at the turn of the twentieth century has prompted industry stakeholders to evaluate the means of reforming a sector that is continuously beleaguered by a plethora of controversies despite exhibiting potentially large economic and social returns to local communities.

The Philippine mining industry and localized governance

Revitalizing the mining industry requires a substantial consideration of the growing role of local government units in resource planning and management in order to address their distinct development issues. One manifestation of this trend is the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2006 which incorporates a provision that allows mining companies to directly pay the local government units (LGUs) in mining areas their share of taxes. Ideally, the provision will facilitate LGU access to these revenues, allowing them to initiate programs benefiting local communities. However, these payments are highly vulnerable to abuse due to the absence of an appropriate mechanism for the public disclosure of large potential payments from mining companies and the utilization of mining taxes by LGUs. This is currently the main threat to reforms introduced in the industry. Estimates show that on an annual basis, mining revenues may reach up to US$1.2 billion.

Industry reforms and pilot project

To achieve greater accountability and transparency in the industry, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines is spearheading the adoption of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI)[1], an implementing system that institutionalizes a mechanism of disclosure from both mining companies and their host governments of the legitimate payments the former make to the latter.

A technical assistance for a pilot project was provided by EMERGE for the improvement of transparency of payments and receipts of mining taxes and other payments. The project’s objectives were: (1) to develop a template for conducting an EITI-aligned audit of tax payments by mining companies; and (2) to stimulate the audit and reporting process for a single mining operation. The Philex Mining Company’s Padcal mines in Itogon, Benguet and the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Company’s operations in Bataraza, Palawan were selected as subjects. Both companies are home-grown, hence, unrestricted by any influence or pressure from a foreign partner or majority owner.

The project was implemented in two phases. The first entailed the development of a reporting template and audit plan in agreement with the mining company, the LGU, the national government[2] and where necessary, the civil society. The reporting template and audit plan attempted to: (1) investigate the existence and role of all financial payments required by the Mining Law and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)[3] and (2) incorporate all benefit streams from the mining operation including payments made to the national and local governments and other Filipinos. The second phase involved the preparation of reports, reconciliation of company submissions with the government submissions, and analysis of information with regard to any gaps and discrepancies. A series of public consultations were held in the capital of Benguet and Palawan and were attended by the host LGUs and officials of the subject mining companies.

Marketing the EITI

The main issue that surfaced during the project implementation was crafting a marketing program founded on incentives that would convince companies and governments to commit to the practice.

The EITI’s success would largely depend on what it can offer for the parties involved – what’s in it for mining companies, LGUs, the National Government and civil society. Once the answers are firmed, the actual promotion, selling, testing, expanding and refining of the EITI’s processes and procedures will logically follow.

The following factors are vital in effectively marketing EITI:

1. Product Positioning. Requires strategic positioning vis-à-vis the needs of its target market arising from the distinct nature of the industry.

a. Demand - what is it responding to and who should be spearheading its promotion?

b. Transparency - as a “transparency” product, correct incentives must be given to companies to transform their defensive position into a public relations value.

c. Governance - as a governance tool of mining companies adhering to global standards within an environment of government regulatory agencies saddled with corruption reaching up to levels of institutionalized rent-seeking politics.

d. Industry segmentation - recognition of the industry’s segmentation (the big players, the “juniors”[4], the cross-over “juniors”[5] and the home-grown mining companies) and articulating the incentives corresponding to their distinct behaviour.

2. Price. Includes weighing the cost-benefit implications of doing the process and the actual cost of committing to the EITI.

3. Promotion. Clear communication of the EITI’s goals and objectives as well as the benefits and responsibilities that come along with the commitment to the process.

4. Place. Setting a clear set of procedures for companies undergoing an EITI audit.


Other Issues

There were also issues encountered during the pilot project’s implementation that may require administrative and pseudo-legislative actions. These issues include:

1. LGUs deprived from accessing to their “rightful share” from the company’s operations due to delayed releases of LGU allocations;

2. Tension between LGUs and medium to large-scale mining operations again due to the delayed release of LGU shares from the national government;

3. LGU-led promotion of the process;

4. Inclusion of an assessment as to whether mining-related revenues are actually utilized for what they are intended;

5. Emergence of other needs of stakeholders’ that the EITI may need to focus on; and

6. Utilizing the EITI as a government response to evaluating the effectiveness of a designated fiscal regime.

Recommendations

The EITI can play an integral role in revitalizing the Philippine mining industry. The pilot project was an exercise that allowed the prioritization of issues in order to refine the EITI and look at the possibility of expanding its capacity to address other concerns of industry stakeholders. There are seven broad areas that need attention in packaging a Philippine-adapted EITI process:

a. For product positioning, it is recommended that the EITI should be marketed as a voluntary initiative of the mining or resources industry but having the recognition by government as a seal of good housekeeping.

b. For promotion and expansion

§ package EITI adaptation in the Philippines as a joint government, NGO and private sector initiative by formulating the processes and instruments of a local EITI initiative through a consultative process involving key stakeholders; and

§ manage the initiative via a dedicated private sector Secretariat advised by a joint Government-NGO-Industry EITI Advisory Council

c. For improving national government releases to LGUs, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must observe the law mandating the automatic release of LGU share in taxes collected from national wealth.

d. For LGU capacity-building, they need to acquire training and the development of skills necessary to assess the proper taxes particularly those covered by real property tax.

e. For ensuring transparency on taxes paid and collection, a body must be created with the authority to examine the production report of the mining companies and at the same time review the books of the LGU on how they accounted for the receipt of their share.

f. For the growing demand to assess the real impact of mining payments, funding for mitigating measures and community development expenditures must also increase.

g. The effectiveness of the different monitoring mechanisms institutionalized by the Mining Act of 1995 must be measured to initially establish benchmarks and identify practical targets for companies and their host communities to commonly agree to.



[1] An initiative of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002.

[2] Primarily the Department of Environment and Natural Resources/Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Department of Finance

[3] Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund (CLRF) and its Technical Working Group, Rehabilitation Cash Fund (RCF), Monitoring Trust Fund (MTF), Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) and Social Development and Management Program (SDMP)

[4] Considered the “lifeblood” of the mining industry, the “juniors” are exploration companies that are born every time a group of investors launch for listing an exploration property in a remote location. A majority of their funding are sourced through the stock market.

[5] Evolution of a company from exploration to operation.



Voices Crying in the Wilderness: No to Large-Scale Mining and Unimaginable Greed

Press Release

What if your government, instead of serving the people, was favouring powerful transnational corporations? What if public officials cited executive privilege even when you demand for transparency? What if you and your whole community’s cries went unheard because you weren’t rich or educated or well connected? What if the courts discriminated against you because you were poor?

None of the above is truly a “what if”; they are all part of the harsh reality of the Philippines . What is important to note is that this drama does not simply play out at one level of government. These patterns of corruption repeat themselves across the country, when government chooses profit over people.

We here in Manila see it unfolding in terms of broadband contracts and golf course deals.

Meanwhile, in the provinces, the communities of indigenous peoples have seen this pattern unfold when mining companies and the government work together to deprive them of their lands, livelihood and life.

Yet, just as Senate investigations and noise barrages and prayer rallies finally begin to come together to shine a light on the government’s worst behaviour, the indigenous peoples of the country continue to defy the government’s attempts to shove mining down their throats.

When the lands of the of the indigenous settlers in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya were threatened by a mine that was insisting on a right to delve a hole in the heart of the area’s rich citrus orchards, a coalition of people from diverse tribes, counting members from the tribes of the Bugkalots, Ifugao, Kalanguya, Ibaloi among them, united to blockade their roads against mining equipment. The line held against the miners, local politicians and even the military, offering up such stiff and continued resistance that the DENR was forced to order a halt to operations, neatly glossing over their complicity in allowing a mine to dig up a watershed area.

When the native Subanons of Zamboanga del Norte lost their sacred Mt. Canatuan to a Canadian mine, and the site of their rituals obliterated, a whole chunk of their culture was destroyed. What had been theirs since time immemorial was lost in the blink of an eye. Yet they refused to stop fighting, finally bringing their case before UN courts in Geneva , and effectively forcing the Philippine government to answer for its inability to protect the Subanon’s rights.

The country’s Indigenous Peoples are the country’s most marginalized group. Their voice is ignored by government, and their struggle is well outside the public consciousness. But it is their voice that stirs the Church to action; that rouses the community to outrage; that brings the government to account before the international community. And their fight is not only for justice, but for the survival of their way of life. We should honor them, and take their lesson and example to heart – a voice raised in outcry never goes unheard for long – so that our collective voice can burst through the wilderness that breeds greed and injustice.

We continue to raise our voices with our indigenous brothers and sisters: No to Large-scale Mining!

ALYANSA TIGIL MINA



Anti-Mining Solidarity Week

March 7, 2008

ALAMIN * Amnesty Int’l.-Pilipinas * Bayombong DSAC * Brigadang Berde * CARE-Phils. * CAVAPPED * Christian Aid * CSC-CSD * COASTAL CORE/BAAM * CONCERN * CORDNET * DCMI * Earth Savers Mov’t. * Eco.Society of the Phils. * El Pescador * Environmental Legal Assistance Center * Environmental Broadcast Circle * Foundation for the Care of Creation * Foundation for the Philippine Environment * Gabaldon Reform Mov’t. * GOMBURZA * HARIBON Foundation * Homonhon Environment Resources Organization * Huk Vets Foundation*Institute of Sisters of Mercy * JPICC-AMRSP * KAISAMPALAD * KASAPI * Lingkod Tao-Kalikasan * LRC-KSK/FOEI * Mangyan Mission * Miriam College-PEACE * PhilDHRRA * Phil. Federation for Environmental Concerns * Phil. Indigenous Peoples Links * PREDA Foundation * SAC-TANDAG * Sibuyanons Against Mining * TANGGOL Kalikasan * TEBTEBBA Foundation * WEDPRO * Yakan Integrated Rural Development Foundation Inc. * Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns * Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly


Anti-Mining Solidarity Week 7-14 March 2008

ALYANSA TIGIL MINA

Invites you to its

Anti-Mining Solidarity Week

March 7-14, 2008

Malawakang Pagmimina,

Katutubo at Kalikasan Nagdurusa

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

March 7 (Friday)

PRESS CONFERENCE and OPENING RITUAL

10:00 AM

Peace Bell , Quezon Memorial Circle

CONTEXTUALIZED VIA CRUCIS

11:00 AM

Peace Bell – DENR – MGB – Peace Bell

March 8 (Saturday)

Participation in Women’s Day Mobilization

9:00 AM

Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, March to Mendiola

The JPICC-AMRSP will conduct

2nd Solidarity Mission in Sibuyan Island ,

Romblon come March 8-11, 2008.

Radio Guesting: DWIZ

March 9 (Sunday)

Photo Exhibit at Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claret) Parish

UP Village, Quezon City

*5 minute talk after Communion – ALL Masses

March 10 (Monday)

Mobilization at the NCIP National Office

10:00 AM

*IP representatives from Nueva Vizcaya, Mindoro and Zambales

Radio Guesting: Radio Veritas

March 11 (Tuesday)

Legislative Lobby at the House of Representatives

10:00 AM – 12:00 NN

Minority Room, Basement, North Wing, Batasan Complex


March 12 (Wednesday)

Press Conference at the CBCP

11:00 AM

Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg, D.D. (ECIP),

Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, JR, D.D.

Sr. Eden Orlino SPC,

Fr. Brian Gore MSSC/AMRSP

Photo Exhibit

2:00 PM

Colegio de San Juan de Letran

Stations of the Cross

3:00 PM

Manila Cathedral

March 13 (Thursday)

Solidarity March with the Sumilao Farmers

9:00-11:00 AM

Solidarity Meal with the Sumilao Farmers

12:00 NN

Radio Guesting: DZRH

10:00 PM

March 14 (Friday)

School Forum: Colegio de San Juan de Letran

(time to be confirmed)

Participation in Manila Mobilization

(Awaiting Final Details)



Friday, March 7, 2008

NGO Submission to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review Mechanism

UPR 1st Session, 7th – 18th April 2008

Philippines



Submitted on Behalf of the following Organizations:


Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD).

Columban Faith and Justice Office.

Indigenous Peoples Links.

Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland Galway . IUCN

Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy. Trocaire.


23rd November 2007



Background / Context of Submission


The extractive industries have been described as having an ‘enormous and intrusive social and environmental footprint’ throughout the world. The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, Professor John Ruggie, has acknowledged the deplorable record of the extractive industries in relation to human rights violations resulting largely from militarization and corruption. This has led to a broad array of abuses ‘up to and including complicity in crimes against humanity’. He described the extractive industries as ‘utterly dominating’ in terms of reported abuses, accounting for two-thirds of the total reported to him under his mandate. This trend is evident in the Philippines with abuses affecting local communities, especially indigenous people on whose ancestral domains most of the countries mineral reserves are located. This submission focuses on the impacts of the Philippine Government’s current mining plans - which target up to 30% of the country for mining applications - on the human rights of its indigenous peoples and other affected communities.


i) The methodology and the broad consultation process followed nationally for the preparation of information provided to the UPR by the country under review.


The Catholic Bishops of the Philippines attracted international attention because of their concerns regarding the proposed expansion of the mining industry. A fact finding team (henceforth FFT) consisting of the Rt Honourable Clare Short MP and former UK International Development Secretary; Clive Wicks, a Member of CEESP the IUCN Commission on Environmental Economic and Social Policy; Cathal Doyle, a representative of the Irish Centre for Human Rights; and Fr Frank Nally, Columban Faith and Justice Office, visited the Philippines in July / August 2006. The aim of the FFT was to assess reports of human rights abuses, environmental degradation and corruption associated with planned and current mining operations. They met with representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, a broad range of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indigenous peoples’ organizations, academics, Senate and House members, the Chairperson of Transparency International-Philippines, a provincial governor, the World Bank, the Under-Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, the British Ambassador, the Chair-man of the Chamber of Mines, the Minerals Development Council, the Chief Justice, and the Ombudsman. The findings were documented in the report Mining in the Philippines : Concerns and Conflicts (Attached). A Working Group on Mining in the Philippines (WGMP) was subsequently established by a number of the submitting organizations. This submission reflects findings of the FFT as well as the on-going research being conducted by the members of the WGMP and their partner organizations.


ii) The current normative and institutional framework of the country under review for the promotion and protection of human rights: constitution, legislation, policy measures …


The Philippines has ratified the major UN human rights treaties. The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines , in line with international law, recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities. It upholds the right to practice their customary laws governing their ancestral domain, guarantees respect for their traditional institutions, which are necessary for the administration and promulgation of same, and ‘recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development’.


The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA 1997) was enacted to facilitate compliance with these obligations and requires that the State recognizes their rights to self-governance and self-determination and respects their customary law and institutions. IPRA also requires that where development projects impact on indigenous peoples their Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) must be sought ‘in accordance with their respective customary laws and practices’. The right to FPIC extends to natural resource extraction projects. FPIC is defined as: the consensus of all members of the ICCs/IPs [Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples] to be determined in accordance with their respective customary laws and practices, free from any external manipulation, interference or coercion, and obtained after fully disclosing the intent and scope of the activity, in a language and process understandable to the community. (IPRA Section Chp III 3 g)


iii) The implementation and efficiency of the normative and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights described in ii). …


Indigenous Peoples’ Rights


The Philippines gained international credibility for its legislation on indigenous peoples’ rights, which is in-line with the newly adopted UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples. However, the FFT heard compelling evidence that indigenous peoples’ rights, in particular the right to FPIC, are being systematically denied in the context of mining on their ancestral lands. The indigenous communities the FFT met raised a number of issues that they claim were serious impediments to the effective implementation of their right to FPIC and resulted in violations of their customary laws, disregard for their institutions and destruction of their sacred sites [i].


Firstly, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is the body mandated to ‘protect and promote the interest and well-being of the ICCs/IPs’. It is responsible for ensuring adherence to the implementing rules and regulations of the IPRA. The perception among indigenous peoples, based on their experience of the FPIC process to date, is that the NCIP is failing in its mandate. Rather than protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous peoples, it appears that the NCIP is facilitating the entry of mining companies. Some blame this on a lack of funding for the NCIP, others on its lack of independence from a political agenda that is strongly pro-mining; others still attribute it to corruption and bribes by mining companies. They feel that the selection process for its commissioners, which is under the office of the President and not under the control of indigenous peoples, is at the root of its problems.


Secondly, indigenous peoples felt that there was inadequate respect for their traditional cultures. Their right to FPIC was viewed as a technical obstacle to be overcome as quickly as possible. Meetings organized by the NCIP as part of the FPIC process often took place in a location that was not in accordance with traditional customs of the indigenous peoples. In addition the decision making process did not adhere to the requirement that consensus of all members of the community be reached in accordance with customary laws [ii].


Thirdly, and related to the above point, the NCIP guidelines for the implementation of FPIC impose restrictions on the time, manner and process of FPIC, which are not in conformity with the customs, laws and traditional practices of indigenous communities. One of these restrictions is the imposition of restrictive and discriminatory timeframes for completion of FPIC process. The total time now allotted to the conduct of an FPIC process is only 55 days, effectively only allowing in the region of 15 days for community consensus building[iii]. This does not give indigenous peoples sufficient time to conduct their traditional indigenous decision making processes or to consider the wide-ranging implications of mining, thereby eliminating the possibility of taking informed and culturally appropriate decisions about whether to grant their FPIC.


The fourth issue concerns factionalism and misrepresentation. A pattern appears to exist where the NCIP in conjunction with the mining companies attempt to capitalize on, or generate, division within indigenous communities. In cases where the consent of the indigenous people has not been forthcoming, non-representative indigenous leaders have been created and recognized by the NCIP and the mining companies[iv]. Some communities also described manipulative processes including the misuse of attendance sheets as proof of consent and offers of cash or food in exchange for consent[v]. The indigenous people view the selection of leaders through procedures that do not respect customary laws as a violation of their culture, traditions and rights. According to them consent obtained in this manner should not and cannot be the basis of FPIC. This view is supported by IPRA, which requires that consent be obtained ‘in accordance with the customary laws and practices’ and ‘free from any external manipulation’. Cases similar to those recounted to the FFT, where mining companies were involved in engineering consent, have been documented throughout the country.[vi]


Finally, expert or even rudimentary independent information regarding mining is not being made available to indigenous peoples. Rather than being informed about the potential impacts of mining, as required by IPRA, the information they are currently provided to communities appears to amount to little more than promotional material by the mining companies[vii].


Economic Social and Cultural Rights: Rights to Food, Water, Livelihoods and Health


Mining has a poor record in the Philippines as a result of environmental disasters[viii]. The 1996 Mar-copper mine tailings spill, on Marinduque Island , was so severe it resulted in the Boac river being declared biologically dead by the UNEP[ix]. According to locals the effects of the disaster were still having an impact on their livelihoods and health almost a decade later[x]. Spills of cyanide and tailings at the Lafayette mine on Rapu Rapu Island in 2006 resulted in fish kills. An independent commission established by the Government to investigate the spills at the Lafayette mines, found the company guilty of negligence and recommended that the mining operation be closed down[xi]. However, the mine remains open and locals fear that recent fish kills are again attributable to the mine[xii].


This poor record is partly a result of the conflict of interest that exists in the mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). On the one hand it is responsible for the approval of exploration and mining applications and on the other for environmental regulation, monitoring and legal enforcement. While the DENR recognizes that ‘pollution of water sources such as rivers and lakes is evident in many parts of the country’, there appears to be a disjunction between this assessment and its recommendations that 28% of the landmass of the Philippines ‘has yet to be developed’ for mining[xiii]. Those most likely to be adversely affected are indigenous and local communities who rely on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods and food. The population of the Philippines is expected to grow from its current level of 84 million to over 150 million within 30 years. The countries food security will suffer if agricultural lands, waterways and the seas are negatively impacted by numerous large-scale mining operations[xiv].


Mining can also be a major consumer and a major polluter of water. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, water contamination from mining poses one of the top three eco-logical security threats in the world. In the Philippines , many mining and exploration concessions overlap watershed areas where demand for water exceeds the available supply. Mining in these areas would therefore be likely to compete with the needs of other users, including farmers and house-holds, for scarce water. Many mining sites are located on mountains that act as watersheds for numerous rivers, potentially compounding the threat. The communities and organizations the FFT met with, all voiced grave concerns about the potential and current impacts on the volume and quality of water. Where exploration and mining are in the feasibility stage, local communities fear that pollution and siltation of rivers may deplete water sources. This can reduce rice production and fisheries and have serious health impacts. These concerns are reflected in the documented experience of many communities downstream of existing mines[xv]. The crisis of water management and irrigation has been raised by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Philippine Medium Term Development Plan 2004-2010[xvi].


The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food highlighted that indigenous peoples’ right to food embodied the notion of cultural acceptability i.e. ‘sufficient food corresponding to the cultural traditions of the people’[xvii]. Obstacles he recognized to their enjoyment of this right, included, inter alia, lack of recognition and effective implementation of rights to land and resources; lack of control over development projects that impact them, appropriation of resources and a lack of access to justice. In the Philippines , as was the case of the Subanon at Mount Canatuan , mining has also lead to the destruction of indigenous peoples’ sources of medicinal plants fundamental to their culture and well-being


Civil and Political Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Right to Life and Freedom of Expression (Extra-judicial killings)


According to Karapatan (a Philippine NGO) and other human rights organizations, more than 800 people have been extra-judicially killed in the Philippines since 2001[xviii]. Many of the victims were journalists, human rights and environmental activists or members of legal political opposition groups. The consensus emerging from organizations that have investigated the killings, such as Human Rights Watch, is that mining activists are among the target groups, with claims made that at least 18 killings were of activists involved in anti-mining protests[xix].

A deeply engrained culture of impunity exists in the Philippines with the government systematically failing in its responsibility to adequately investigate these crimes or prosecute and punish the perpetrators[xx]. The Philippine Commissioner on Human Rights has warned that the country is in danger of being blacklisted by the UN because the ‘authorities have failed to stop the spate of killings and abductions of activists’. In 2007 the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Summary or Arbitrary Killings, Mr Philip Alston visited the Philippines in response to growing concern about the number of extra-judicial in the country.


A climate of fear exists among legitimate protesters against government policies and commercial projects due to the lack of effective protection of the right to peaceful protest and opposition. This has been compounded by concerns around the recently enacted anti-terrorism legislation, the 2007 Human Security Act, which NGOs fear will be used to label and silence those questioning government policy, including its policy with regard to mining.


The Right to Liberty and Security of Person (Security firms and Militarization)


The global trend of increasing human rights violations associated with mining security and militarization is evident in the Philippines . Following his Philippine country visit in 2003, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, Professor Rodolfo Stavenhagen, stated that the ‘militarization of indigenous areas is a grave human rights problem’.


Members of the Subanon indigenous people, from Zamboanga del Norte Province, Mindanao Is-land, told the FFT that 169 armed security guards, hired by a Canadian mining company, TVI Pacific, were manning checkpoints and blocking access to their ancestral domain. Presentations to the FFT by church and other groups report that the use of intimidation and force by mining security forces, military and police against indigenous peoples and small-scale miners at mining sites is widespread.


In addition, militarization is associated with mining in conflict zones. Past payments of protection money by mining companies to armed groups has also been documented. The issue arose during a 2005 Canadian parliamentary hearing into the activities of Canadian mining companies overseas. In taking evidence the parliamentary committee referred to statements made by a former project manager of a mine located in Southern Mindanao where he claimed that it was the practice for the mine to make illegal payments of protection money to a range of terrorist and military groups[xxi].


Right to Access to Justice – Ineffectiveness, Influence on the Judiciary and Corruption.


Despite the existence of a relatively strong legal framework, lack of resources, corruption and ineffectiveness of the judiciary have greatly hindered the ability of indigenous and local communities to obtain timely and effective resolution of cases submitted at municipal and regional trial courts. The FFT heard from the Subanon at Mount Canatuan and Subaanen of Midsalip of cases rendered moot through court inaction and of petitions and demands that have not been addressed by the responsible administrative bodies, such as the NCIP and DENR.[xxii]


At the Philippine government’s mining road show in London in June 2005, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jose de Venecia, told international mining investors about his role in the controversial reversal of a Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the Mining Act in the La Bugal-B’laan Tribal Ass’n v. Ramos case of 2004. He announced that, together with the Chamber of Mines ‘we mounted a strong campaign to get the Supreme Court to reverse itself. It was a difficult task to get 15 proud men and women of the Supreme Court to reverse themselves. But we succeeded. Finally, the law was declared constitutional.’ This statement appears to indicate that the Philippines judiciary may be vulnerable to pressure from legislators.


The Philippines was categorized by Transparency International in 2004 as suffering from ‘rampant corruption’. The mining sector in the Philippines appears to be no exception to this. The FFT heard allegations of corruption linked with mining at local government level. A 2005 European Commission report stated that the DENR had ‘shied away’ from introducing ‘internal controls to curb corruption, which has traditionally been notorious with respect to illegal logging and mining concessions’.


Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief – Protection of Sacred Sites


The lack of respect of indigenous peoples’ traditional religions and beliefs has resulted in the destruction of their sacred mountains and sources of their medicinal plants. In the case of the Subanon at Mount Canatuan this happened despite the recognition of their ancestral domains and their pleas to the responsible government bodies that these sacred places be safeguarded.


iv) Cooperation of the country under review with human rights mechanisms, and with NHRIs, NGOs, rights holders, human rights defenders, and other relevant national human rights …;


At the international level the Philippine Government’s track record with regard to adhering to its reporting obligations under international treaties has been poor. In its 2002 report the HRC raised the issue of the effectiveness of the implementation of IPRA and its protection of indigenous peoples in the context of mining operations on their lands. CERD also raised this issue at its last review in 1997 and more recently under its early warning and urgent action procedure in 2007. The Philip-pines has accepted visits of a number of UN Special Rapporteurs who have also addressed the issues raised in this submission in their reports.


v) Achievements made by the country under review, best practices which have emerged, and challenges and constraints faced by the country under review;

IPRA, which was enacted to facilitate compliance with the constitutional obligations and the rights of indigenous peoples, is regarded by many as a landmark piece of legislation. However, as noted, its implementation, particularly with regard to recent procedural revisions, has been found wanting and is seriously threatening the culture and survival of indigenous communities.


vi) Key national priorities as identified by NGOs, initiatives and commitments that the State concerned should under-take, in the view of NGOs, to overcome these challenges and..;


a) It is imperative that the weaknesses of the NCIP, which to date has proved incapable of implementing IPRA and upholding indigenous peoples’ rights, are urgently addressed. Its lack of legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of indigenous peoples requires that the commission be either completely reformed or replaced. To ensure representation of indigenous peoples, the staff and commissioners of the NCIP must be chosen by indigenous peoples themselves, and not the office of the President. The commission must also be granted sufficient financial and human resources with which to carry out its mandate and its operations of must be free from political interference.


b) To ensure implementation of laws to protect indigenous people in the Philippines , there must be independent monitoring of FPIC processes. Participation in such monitoring by civil society, the National Human Rights Commission, relevant religious and academic institutions and indigenous peoples organizations is necessary ensure credibility of the process and the provision of independent accurate information.


c) The FPIC implementing rules and regulations, which fail to adhere to the intent of IPRA, by imposing restrictions on the time, manner and process of FPIC that are not in conformity with the customs, laws and traditional practices of indigenous communities, should be revoked.


d) Measures to improve the regulation of mining in the Philippines should be urgently introduced. The DENR should be restructured to eliminate the conflict of interest in its mandate. The office for approval of exploration and mining applications should be divorced from the office of environ-mental regulation, monitoring and legal enforcement.


e) In keeping with the spirit of the Philippine Constitutional provisions and IPRA the Philippine Government should ratify ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.


f) In line with the 1987 constitutional recognition of the prior rights of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands the Government should end the contradictory practice of allowing mining companies to assert prior rights over indigenous peoples’ (the traditional owners/occupiers of the land) ancestral lands.


g) The Philippine Government should take urgent steps to halt the continuing spate of killings of politically active citizens and prosecute the perpetrators.


vii) Expectations in terms of capacity-building and technical assistance provided and /or recommended by


NGOs through bilateral, regional and international cooperation.


a) All Governments should be encouraged and assisted to establish binding frameworks to regulate mining, and ensure access to courts and other effective mechanisms of redress within home countries of transnational mining companies and financial institutions that support them.


b) The World Bank Group should uphold its mandate to help reduce world poverty and protect the environment by halting any promotion and support for mining expansion in the Philippines under current conditions. The Bank should assist with the country’s sustainable development by providing technical and financial support for the protection and development of renewable resources, sustain-able activities and poverty reduction programs and support Strategic Environmental Appraisals (SEAs) of the islands and regions targeted for, or affected by, mining. The Bank should be strictly guided by its OP 4.10 on Indigenous Peoples, OD 430 on Involuntary Resettlement and IFC Safe-guard policies, all of which should be updated to be in compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically reflecting the provisions of Article 32 of the Declaration requiring Free Prior Informed Consent as opposed to the Banks inadequate standard of Free Prior Informed Consultation. The Asian Development Bank should adopt and implement similar policies.


c) The WHO should consider conducting a study on the impact of cyanide and heavy metals on the right to health of Philippine indigenous and local communities impacted by mining.


d) UNESCO with the assistance of other relevant UN bodies and individuals (e.g. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief) should address the issue of discrimination with regard to indigenous religions and beliefs and establish the mechanisms necessary for the formulation of 'comprehensive policies based on recognition of religious, political, social, cultural and spiritual rights, including of indigenous peoples sacred sites' as called for during the 6th session of UNPFII.


e) Where requested to do so by indigenous communities, the relevant UN Agencies could assist in the monitoring and provision of independent information in FPIC processes..




[i] The destruction of Mount Canatuan , the sacred mountain of the Subanon people in Zamboanga del Norte province, Mindanao , is a clear example of this. Similarly, the Subaanen of Midsalip in Zamboanga del Sur fear a similar fate for Mount Pinukis , also sacred mountain.. See Attached report Mining in the Philippines : Concerns and Conflicts pages 3 – 8 & Appendix 2. See also Mining a Sacred Mountain , Human Rights Impact Assessment, Rights and Democracy, 2007, available at http://www.humanrightsimpact.org/publications/item/pub/202/


[ii] In October 2002, a meeting was called by NCIP supposedly to obtain the consent of the Subanon of Mount Canatuan. The venue rather than being in the community was in a hotel in Zamboanga City . An employee of the mining operations of TVI proposed a motion to allow the mining operations. A vote was forced in contravention of IPRA’s requirements as well as Subanon traditional practices. 16 out of the 30 members voted in favour and the resolution allowing mining was adopted in the absence of a consensus being reached or the presence of any community observers. Strong objection was voiced by a number of those present as this process was a violation of customary law and IPRA. The Subanon court subsequently found that many who voted in favour of the resolution were not qualified under their customary law to act as representatives of the Subanon people. The NCIP has facilitated a similar decision making process in Midsalip where by leaders of questionable legitimacy were given the power to decide for the Subaanen people. The decision were taken in a manner which violates their customary laws which require consensus decisions be reached. See Submission to the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination regarding Discrimination against the Subanon of Mt Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte , Philippines in the context of large-scale gold mining on their ancestral domain. CERD 71st Session, 30th July – 17th August 2007 (henceforth Subaanon CERD Submission) para 27. Also Petition filed by Subaanen of Midsalip to NCIP 20 June 2006 Demand for Non Issuance of Certificate Pre-condition on file with FFT


[iii] These restrictive and discriminatory timeframes were introduced in the 2002 FPIC guidelines. A total of 55 days was allocated for all steps with fixed time windows on each step of the FPIC process - namely notice period, consultative community assemblies, community consensus building and decision making meetings. 15 days were allocated to community consensus building. The 2006 revision retails this restrictive timeframe requiring that all steps involving the indigenous peoples in the FPIC process be completed within 55 days but does not allocate fixed time windows to each step. This has the potential to reduce the community consensus building period to even less than 15 days.


[iv] Id. Indigenous communities at Mount Canatuan , Midsalip and Mindoro have all attested to and provided clear evidence of the NCIP’s involvement in the creation of ‘representative’ structures that do not adhere to their traditional law and practices. See also ‘National Consultation with the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples February 2, 2007’ available at http://ecozoic.multiply.com/journal/item/22


[v] Past experiences of communities throughout Mindanao and in Mindoro attest to such practices. For examples of these practices see attached report Mining in the Philippines : Concerns and Conflicts page 13 & also Appendix 5


[vi] For example, Mining Ombudsman case report: Didipio gold and copper mine, Oxfam Australia , September 2007 and cases documented by Indigenous Peoples organizations in the Philippines on file with FFT.


[vii] The Subaanon of Midsalip have provided the FFT with extensive documentation regarding problems of the recent FPIC processes conducted there which is illustrative of this pattern. They also provided petitions that had been forwarded to the NCIP and DENR. According to their documentation the only information provided at the FPIC process was by individuals with a direct interest in mining. Many of the promises made were unrealistic and the potential impacts were not addressed. The NCIP official, whose role is merely to facilitate instead spoke in favour of mining. At the same time community members wishing to raise their concerns were not allocated sufficient time to do so. Following these processes complaints were submitted to the Ombudsman and petitions to the NCIP highlighting this fact but no action was taken to address the issue.


[viii] As of 2003, there had been at least 16 serious tailings dam failures in the preceding 20 years and over 800 abandoned mine sites have not been cleaned up see Chronology of Tailings Dam Failures in the Philippines (1982-2002) Compiled by Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links http://www.piplinks.org last updated: 29 October 2003 see also Ronnie E Calumpita, ‘857 abandoned mines pose health menace, say NGOs’, The Manila Times Reporter, 11 October 2005.


[ix] UNEP report Final Report of the United Nations Expert Assessment Mission Marinduque Island, Philippines 30 September, 1996 pp65, 69, which declared the river biologically dead.


[x] Oxfam Australia Case Study: Marinduque Philippines Available at http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/mining/ombudsman/ 2004/cases/marinduque/marinduque.html ‘Although the mine closed almost a decade ago, communities throughout Marinduque report that their daily lives and environment are still affected by the mine… Women and men of Marinduque told the Ombudsman that they have experienced loss of livelihoods and serious health impacts which they attribute to the mine. Fish are no longer abundant or healthy and some fishermen have lost limbs, they believe as the result of long-term exposure to arsenic in the mine waste. Children have also suffered lead poisoning which community members attribute to the mine. Several children have undergone painful blood detoxification and at least three have died.’


[xi] “President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Administrative Order No. 145, created the Rapu-Rapu fact-finding commission. See Findings and Recommendations of the Fact-Finding Commission on the Mining Operations in Rapu-Rapu Island May 19th 2006 Executive Summary p12, p24. The DENR’s own report also stated ‘The main cause of the two incidents can largely be attributed to the negligence and un-preparedness of the company to address such emergencies.’ DENR Assessment of the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project P35 available at http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/seasia/en/press/reports/denr-assessment-of-the-rapu-ra.pdf.


[xii] See BFAR tests: Rapu-Rapu waters safe for marine life - But Lafayette not yet cleared in fish kill By Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer 9 November 2007 http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=99885 see also Lafayette Mining - Rapu-Rapu Folk Going Hungry after Fish Kill, Lisa Ito, 11-17 November 2007 Bulatlat, Vol. VII, No. 40 - http://bulatlat.com/2007/11/rapu-rapu-folk-going-hungry-after-fish-kill-locals-reportpossible-seafood-poisoning

[xiii] In its mining plan the DENR states that ‘8.5 million hectares or 94.4 percent of mineralized areas [approximately 28 per cent of the total land area of the Philippines ] have yet to be developed’, without reference to potential environmental damage & impacts on livelihoods based on agriculture & fisheries.


[xiv] ‘What does it gain a nation to be short-sighted and merely think of money when an irreparable damage to the environment will cost human lives, health, and livelihood capacity of our farmers and fisherfolk endangering the food security of our people?’ Then DENR Secretary Heherson Alvares 2001.


[xv] International experience suggests that if pursued on the scale currently proposed by the Philippine government, mining

could weaken the food security and threaten the right to food of affected communities and even of the country as a whole. According to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Rodolfo Stavenhagen Mission to Philippines E/CN.4/2003/90/Add 3, para 63 threats to health were one of the negative impacts of mining in the Philippines that urgently needed to be halted.


[xvi] According to the NEDA development plan, ‘the management of watersheds has not been properly given attention. This has led to shortages of water for irrigation, industrial and domestic uses and is thus likely to negatively affect future development initiatives.’


[xvii] Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Mr. Jean Ziegler, submitted in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/10 UN Doc E/CN.4/2001/53 7 February 2001 para 14


[xviii] Investigations into the issues of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines have been conduced by, amongst others, Amnesty International, The UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Summary or Arbitrary Killings Mr Philip Alston and the Melo Commission, an independent commission created under the order of the President of the Philippines.


[xix] Karapatan estimate the number at 18 extra-judicial killings of mining activists see http://www.kalikasan.org/kalikasan-cms/?q=node/145. Other sources also identify extra-judicial killings of mining activists but do not provide estimates of the total numbers killed. While the number of and reason for extra-judicial killings can very be difficult to ascertain and verify there appears to be widespread agreement that mining activists are among the target groups. International human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) identified anti-mining activists along with political activists, student activists, political journalists, clergy, and agricultural reformers as the groups targeted. Out of a sample of 13 cases that HRW investigated 2 were anti-mining activists: Pastor Isias de Leon Santa Rosa in Bicol and Manuel Balani both killed in 2006. In both cases the evidence available points military involvement in the killings see http://hrw.org/reports/2007/philippines0607/4.htm see also http://www.miningwatch.ca/index.php?/ Newsletter_22/Political_Killings_Increase


[xx] A 2006 Dutch Belgian delegation of lawyers and judges described a developing ‘culture of impunity’ Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, From Facts to Action Report on the Attacks Against Filipino Lawyers and Judges. The International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM), 24 July 2006 pages 37–39.


[xxi] Statement by Allan Laird to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Meeting May 18, 2005. Ottawa Kingking Mines Inc. Corporate Support of Terrorism in the Philippines available at http://www.dcmiphil.org/Allan_Laird%27s_Statement.pdf


[xxii] Subaanon CERD Submission para 64 – 68, lists a number of these cases filled by the Subanon of Mount Canatuan.