Cantilan residents install checkpoint to prevent mining firm from transporting ore

by MindaNews Friday, 20 November 2009 00:07    

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/19 November) —  Hundreds of  residents of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur led by Mayor Tomasa Guardo  installed a checkpoint at the triangle along the highway crossing in Barangay Pag-antayan Monday morning to prevent a mining firm from transporting nickel ore to what city officials say is an “illegal stockyard in Barangay Consuelo. The checkpoint, to be manned by police and volunteers 24 hours a day, is intended to ensure that Marcventures Mining & Development Corporation (MMDC) cannot transport ore to its Consuelo stockyard,

The stockyard violates municipal ordinance 18-2008 which prohibits the construction of stockyards for storing mineral ore within 500 meters of the shoreline. The stockyard was constructed without permit from the municipality, a press statement from the CarCanMadCarLan Baywatch Foundation said.

According to the press statement, a flag ceremony was held at the town kiosk and from there the mayor led the one-kilometer march to the triangle, passing through the MMDC offices.

The mayor was joined by around 500 placard bearing fisherfolk, farmers, religious groups, teachers and students from Saint Michael’s College but more farmers and students from Surigao del Sur Polytechnic College and Cantilan National High School waited at the triangle.

Fr. Pete Ubalde celebrated the mass with Fr. Paeng Batoliño of Carrascal, Fr. Bebot Pastera of Madrid, Fr. Ritchelle Espinola of Parang and visiting priest, Fr. Tito Maratas who grew up in Brgy. Palasao, a rice-growing community.

Ubalde  in his homily appealed to parishioners to be honest, sincere and open about their “anti-mining” stand. He also challenged the local government to sustain the activity.

The activity is the first of a series of activities planned by the Multi-Sectoral Environmental Protection Task Force led by the mayor to fight the mining firm. Earlier in the week, Baywatch launched its Information & Education Campaign, “Bangon KanTilang, Mina Hunongon, Agus sa Tubig Padajunon.”

In April this year, about a thousand residents led by the mayor and Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar  staged a four-kilometer march bearing placards declaring Cantilan is a “no mining town.”

“As long as I am the mayor, no mining will ever be approved in this municipality,” Mayor

Guardo told protesters then.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Cantilan led by Cantilan Vice Mayor Rosa Carreos had earlier approved an ordinance opposing the entry of  MMDC and Carac-and Development Corporation (CDC).

Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar expressed disappointment over the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) to MMDC and CDC by Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr on December 22 last year.

“I felt betrayed upon learning that the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had already issued Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) to MMDC and CDC two months prior to having been assured in a dialogue with Sec. Lito Atienza that he would look deeply into the watershed proclamation vis a vis mining,” Bishop Odchimar, the incoming President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

The Bishop had earlier expressed opposition to the operation of the mining firms in Cantilan, Madrid and Carrascal.

Emma Hotchkiss, president of the CarCanMadCarLan Baywatch Foundation, said the operation of these mining companies threatens the watersheds critical to the support of the province’s irrigation system, water supply and Cantilan’s proposed mini-hydro power project. “We shall take a unified action and urge the government to cancel the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) of MMDC and CDC,” Hotchkiss said in press statement in April.

The MMDC and CDC, both owned by Butuan-based businessman Mario Vijungco, are eyeing to operate within the Manobo ancestral land in Cantilan, Madrid and Carrascal. Marc Venture Mining has an MPSA over 4,799 hectares in Barangay Cabangahan, for nickel and gold.

MindaNews tried but could not reach an official of the MMDC.

In last Monday’s protest action, Vicente Iriberri, Baywatch Vice President, talked on the alleged violations and inaction of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) and challenged those who want to run for any post in 2010,  “to unite and not get into the trap of the mining companies to ‘divide and rule’ by pushing for two anti-mining groups to run for local elections.”

Iriberi stressed that the 2010 election is “neither about personalities, nor partisan politics but about Cantilan, the watershed, and life.”

Datu James Bat-ao spoke on the violation of indigenous peoples’ rights, while Amping Ortega, president of the Surigao del Sur Irrigators Federation (SURIF) spoke about the opposition of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Irrigators’ Association.

Retired Gen. William K. Hotchkiss III, president of  Cantilan Bank, described the activity as “People Power in Action.”  

Hotchkiss committed his personal support as well as his bank’s to stop mining in Canitlan.

Although MMDC was issued a “Notice to Proceed” with its developmental activities by the Mines Geosciences Bureau Director Horacio C. Ramos, it does not have the necessary permits from the Local Government Units nor does it have endorsements from the LGUs, which are necessary requirements in the Philippine Mining Act.

The firm also violated pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, particularly Sections 26 on the duty of national government agencies in the maintenance of ecological balance and Section 27, which requires prior consultations.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Cantilan, Carrascal and Madrid issued resolutions opposing the MPSA of MMDC claiming it is located in the watersheds of the rivers that supply the three towns’ irrigation systems and domestic water supply. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan refused to endorse the firm’s MPSA for the same reasons.

The Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) granted MMDC mandates the mining company to delineate and exclude from its mining operation all areas within its MPSA that area declared as Watershed Forest Reserve.

On March 23, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo issued Proclamation 1747 declaring that area where the mining site of MMDC is situated as Critical Watershed Forest Reserve. 

MMDC is the respondent to the administrative case filed by the Irrigators’ Association, Baywatch, and Lovers of Nature Foundation with the DENR for violations of the Philippine Mining Act. (MindaNews)