Flawed mining laws blamed for econ damage

Sunday, March 02, 2008
By Grace L. Plata
Sun Star Davao


FLAWED mining laws contribute to the environmental and economic damage brought about by mining operations in the country, said Judge Jesus Quitain Saturday following the roundtable discussion on mining spearheaded by the Defend Davao Oriental! organization.

Quitain said nowhere in the Philippine Mining Act does it stipulate that mining companies should fully rehabilitate the area after its years of operations.

"This is the work of the lobbyists of the mining companies because total rehabilitation means an added cost to them. Especially in strip mining, ubos talaga lahat -- puno, water and any other resource, the area is rendered barren," Quitain said.

According to Quitain, the unrealistic lease rates given in favor of mining companies also hurt the economy even with the fact that they pay taxes.

Based on the data gathered by Panalipdan presented Saturday, mining companies in Davao Oriental only pay local government units an average of P7.50 per hectare in a year as lease for the land utilized.

The rate, Quitain said, has been set in the 1970's but remains unadjusted until present.

"At that time 50 centavos pa lang ang Coke. Now, how much is it? But the lease rates have not been adjusted. They have strong lobbyists especially because they have the money," he said.

He added, however, that because the country is so short of employment opportunities, the government is "bending backward" to accommodate mining companies that employ at least 2,000 to 5,000 workers, thus becoming an immediate answer to poverty driven by unemployment.

"The government really relies on outside investment because it cannot employ everyone on its own and the mining companies are really offering large economic benefits to the locals maong masilaw gyud," Quitain said.

Quitain also said that different views on mining operations have divided indigenous people.

"Lahi ang pamaagi sa pagsikop aning mining companies. Ilang hatagan ang mga communities ug developments. Karsada, hospital, tanang basic necessities para musugot. So sila nga naa didto, talagsa ra ang mu-oppose. Labi na tong nakadawat. Its short-term benefits are really attractive. Pero kita in the outside who know better labi na sa long term effects on the environment, di gyud ta musugot," Quitain said.

According to the judge, non-government organizations (NGOs), the press and the church should combine efforts to let the people know especially those in the locality how bad it (mining effects) will be. This as the short-term benefits cannot even start to repay for the damage done.

He added that the government and its line agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should be pro-people instead of pro-investment.

"If unahon nimo ang tao, surely investment would follow but you cannot favor investment at the expense of the people," Quitain added.