Continuous rains displace 100 families in South Cotabato

Posted on January 21, 2011 06:54:00 PM

KORONADAL CITY -- Continuing heavy rains in South Cotabato resulted in landslides in four villages this week displacing 100 families. The situation has prompted the provincial government to provide permanent resettlement sites for their safety.

The four villages, all on the list of landslide-prone areas prepared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region are: Barangay El Nonok in Banga; Canahay in Surallah; and Linan and Palkan in Tupi.

Nelida N. Pereira, provincial disaster risk reduction management council action officer, said "a one hectare lot has already been acquired by the provincial government to ensure safety of affected families." Another two one-hectare lots would be divided into the families affected in Barangays Palkan and Canuhay.

Mines bureau’s geologist Jaime G. Flores said "the villages are located in topographically unsound areas in danger of landslides in times of heavy and continuous rains." Besides being located in mountainous and steep areas, these barangays are also surrounded by plantations, or are near the Allah and Banga river tributaries.

The Allah and Banga rivers connect 341 barangays in South Cotabato to Maguindanao and Cotabato City. Adjacency areas to the rivers are prone to flooding and land slide. Mr. Flores said that plantations reduce the vegetation in the affected areas and heavy rains may loosen the soil, thus landslides could happen.

Meanwhile, a plan to purchase more lots for relocation has been drafted to ensure the safety of families living in low-lying areas in the town of Tupi. Linan’s barangay captain Reynaldo C. Alburo said on Friday that more families in his village would be affected if heavy rains continue.

Linan was affected by flooding, which has damaged infrastructures, fishponds and vegetable farms in the area. The provincial social welfare development office has already distributed relief goods in the form of rice, canned goods and noodles to the affected families.
L.O. Pacardo, SQM, JBE

Read full article from BusinessWorld online.

Open-pit mining supporters fail to sway S. Cotabato board

Posted on 10:13 PM, January 13, 2011, BusinessWorld News

BY LOUIE O. PACARDO, Correspondent

KORONADAL CITY -- Groups calling for a review of South Cotabato’s environment code failed to provide provincial board members in a public hearing last Wednesday "strong and convincing arguments" that amendments -- particularly the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining -- are necessary.

The hearing conducted by the board allowed five stakeholder groups to present their arguments.

But Jose M. Madanguit, vice-chairman of the two committees of the board that conducted the hearing -- those of environment protection and of justice and legal matters -- said in a phone interview yesterday that the arguments presented were not convincing enough.

No choice

The fate of Sagittarius Mines, Inc.’s (SMI) $5.9-billion copper-gold Tampakan project hangs in balance, since the code bans open-pit mining.

Sagittarius had argued that it does not have any choice when it comes to mining method, which is dictated by the kinds of minerals being extracted -- an argument backed by both the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and officials of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

"The majority of the members of the board are saying that many questions we raised were not answered (by the five groups)," Mr. Madanguit said.

The groups that submitted a petition to the board, after the code’s signing into law at the end of June last year, to review Section 22 that bans open-pit mining were: the Regional Mines Development Council (RMDC), Municipal Tribal Council of Tampakan; Provincial Tribal Council; the mayors of Kiblawan (Davao del Sur), Tampakan (South Cotabato) and Columbio (Sultan Kudarat) towns covered by Sagittarius Mines’ project; and South Cotabato’s quarry operators.

Quarrying not covered

Mr. Madanguit said only quarry operators went home happy after the hearing. This sector had been worried by the code, since a quarry is sometimes described as a type of open-pit mine.

"The implementing rules and regulations are clear that quarrying operations will not be banned, except if quarrying is done in danger zones, as defined in the code," he said.

But Mr. Madanguit noted a review is still possible even when the code is already in effect.

"(The) board believes there is no law that is not amendable after all. All possibilities are open," he reiterated.

The board had earlier said it will conduct another hearing in the next two weeks to listen to the arguments of supporters of the ban.

Against national policy

MGB Regional Director Constancio A. Paye, Jr., who also heads the RMDC secretariat, argued that the code contradicts national policy that does not specifically ban any mining method.

"Open pit is only a mining method; thus, it is allowed by national law," he said referring to Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo had ordered the South Cotabato government in November last year to suspend the enforcement of the ban, pending results of a review.

The government has argued that while local governments have the power to make laws that govern their constituents, these cannot contradict national laws.

Kiblawan Mayor Marivic C. Diamante, a lawyer, also argued during the hearing that the issue on the ban is within the ambit of national law.

Ms. Diamante has previously warned that the ban will affect poor municipalities that receive small internal revenue allotment, which constitute local governments’ share in national taxes.

The Tampakan project is located within the ancestral domain of the Blaan indigenous groups found on the borders of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat.

Still committed

In a press statement, Sagittarius Mines said it remains optimistic that the issue would be resolved before it starts mineral extraction in five years. The project is still in exploration stage, hence, unaffected by the ban for now.

Mark Williams, Sagittarius Mines general manager, said in the statement that a continuing dialogue with all parties involved is key to solving the dispute.

"While the Tampakan project is not immediately impacted [sic] by the ban on open-pit mining, given it is still in the exploration phase, we continue to monitor this issue closely and engage with all stakeholders regarding the proposed development of the project," Mr. Williams said.

"SMI appreciated the significant show of support by host tribal communities and local government units for the Tampakan project during the hearing. We share their belief that a project of this magnitude undertaken by a company that is committed to the highest standards of sustainable development offers unprecedented opportunities for the region," he said.

http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=24484

Open Pit Mining will be banned in South Cotabato!

Congratulations to the Earth Warriors of South Cotabato!

With 9 votes for the big Yes, 2 for Abstention and 1 No, the Provincial Environment Code is Finally Approved!

Open Pit Mining will be banned in South Cotabato!
This is one big kick in the ass of SMI!

Kudos to all the warriors!

(in photo: the wife of late anti-mining advocate Boy Billanes, almost into tears after the code was declared approved)

one fact

In my continuing search for the footprints that connects the earth and the ethereal i realized one very important fact: i am human.

Say, ahhhh or uhh!

Should I be glad that she's gone to the church to pray? I think the feeling is more of a disgust, and there's a suppressed laughter.

There's this familiar slithering specie that reminds me of her tongue.

Youth Power?

I have always believed in the power of my generation in shaping up the future. I see the youth as a sector that has always been a great potential energy waiting to light a spark and make change in a very dynamic and controversy-soaked society. But how do we harness this power to really work?

Good idea. Let me write more about it...or you can share your ideas. :)

in photo: Olongapo's PREDA org logo

So little time...

So much to do!

Im lost in the universe of filthy complexities and disorganized thoughts!

Good thing the cosmos has the way out of this..but that i have yet to find out in the days/weeks/months/years to come.