Moratorium on mining activities sought to avoid food shortage

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — Foreign environmentalists asked the government Tuesday to impose a moratorium on mining to avoid food problems, specifically rice shortage, in the long term, echoing the sentiment earlier raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The London Working Group on Mining in the Philippines unveiled here results of their study conducted across six mining sites in the country, which was attended by multisectoral stakeholders including the local Catholic Church, academe, nongovernmental organizations, farmers and local government officials. The study was conducted at mining sites in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Libay, Zamboanga del Norte, Tampakan, South Cotabato; Pujada Bay, Davao Oriental; Victoria, Mindoro and Sibuyan Island, Romblon. "Mining in these locations would cause massive environment problems jeopardizing food security and supplies by damaging agriculture and fisheries," the book Philippines: Mining or Food, authored by Clive Wicks and Robert Goodland, said. The book will be launched on Feb. 4 in Manila. Mr. Goodland, a former World Bank environment scientist for 25 years, particularly noted that mining will adversely affect rice production in the country in the long-term if the government continues its pro-mining stance. "[To avert this rice crisis] the government should promote rice production and demote mining in its economic agenda," he told the plenary. He noted that the Philippines was once self-sufficient in rice "but is now the world’s biggest importer," which was rooted in the failure of the government to maintain the health of its agricultural sector. In an interview with BusinessWorld at the sidelines, Mr. Goodland particularly cited threats posed by the venture of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. to food security in the area. "Open-pit mining is terrifying, especially that the mining area sits in an earthquake fault. The oceans surrounding the mining area will be in danger contamination [once the project pushes through]," he said. Sagittarius, which is owned by global mining player Xstrata Copper and Australian firm Indophil Resources NL, is currently in an exploration stage. Sagittarius officials have repeatedly assured that environment protection is one of the company’s key thrusts once they go into commercial production. Mr. Goodland noted the mines development site straddles vital watershed area that also flows towards Lake Buluan, an important source of livelihood for the Moro-dominated town of Buluan in Maguindanao province. "Forget Lake Buluan [in the long-term] once the mining goes into production," Dave E. de Vera, executive director of nongovernment group Philippine Association of Inter-Cultural Development, said in a separate interview. Mr. de Vera presented a map showing the watershed areas within and outside the mines development site of Sagittarius and other prospective mining investors. The map showed Lake Buluan that serves as catchment of water coming down from the mountains of Tampakan, in which 70% of its land area is a prospective mines site, he said. Last month, the CBCP, through its president, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, has asked the government to impose a moratorium on mining nationwide for the sake of the environment, livelihood and food security in the country. "No material gain can equate the value of life. Every Filipino depends on the environment. Because of the threats against these fragile resources, our lives and livelihood are likewise threatened," Mr. Lagdameo said in the pastoral letter entitled "Upholding the Sanctity of Life." The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines has said the CBCP was "out of touch" with the million who rely on the "responsible" segment of the industry. Mining has been one of the investment sectors expected to withstand the impact of the global financial crisis. But investments in the sector have been slow due to issues on ancestral land ownership claims of tribal groups and volatile security in mine sites. — Romer S. Sarmiento, BusinessWorld