Philippines: No Local Government Consent, No Mining
Published by MAC on 2012-01-16Source: MindaNews, statement
There have been two important victories in the Philippines, confirming the primacy of local government in denying mining companies the license to operate.
In the first instance, the Government has accepted that Xstrata's Tampakan project cannot get its environmental clearance certificate as long as the province concerned has a ban on open-pit mining.
The project is probably the most controversial, and promises to be the largest, in the Philippines (see: Philippines: Details of the Tampakan project challenged).
The executive of the national government is trying to over-turn the local ban, but recognises that, at least while the ban stands, the project cannot be legalised.
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| Message from indigenous peoples against the Mindoro nickel project. Source: Andy Whitmore |
The second case involves the Norwegian company Intex in Mindoro (see Philippines: Intex Resources Found in Breach of International Guidelines).
Earlier we covered the international (OECD Guidelines) investigation, which ultimately condemned the company. We also noted there was an on-going national investigation into the Environmental Compliance Certificate that was issued to the company, but then withdrawn after protests, including a hunger strike (see Philippines: Victory for hunger strikers against Norwegian miner).
That multi-stakeholder investigation has now produced its report. As noted in a press release, "the report stated that lack of social acceptability was evident with the declaration of [the] 25-year [Provincial] Mining Moratorium, and several cease and desist orders to stop activities related to the conduct of EIA".
This led Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. Paje to assure "the people of Mindoro that no mining project shall operate in the island without the consent of the local government units [LGU]."
Even as these vindications of the local campaign and national laws should be giving peace of mind to local campaigners, Intex is announcing they will tie up with Chinese capital, in the form of a subsidiary of Jinchuan, to finalise the project.
"No LGU Consent, No Mining": Paje
Alyansa Laban sa Mina Press Release
9 January 2012
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. Paje assured the people of Mindoro that no mining project shall operate in the island without the consent of the local government units. The statement was made by Paje in the recent presentation of the investigation report on the environmental compliance certificate of the Mindoro Nickel Project held at the Bulwagang Ninoy, Parks and Wildlife Center, Quezon City.
Also present in the event, in December 2011, were Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr., Occidental Mindoro Josephine Ramirez-Sato, Presidental Adviser on Environment Neric Acosta and Presidential Adviser on Climate Change Elisea Gozun.
"Kung ayaw ng mga Governors, hindi yan matutuloy", (If the Governors do not want the project, it will not proceed) Paje said. Secretary Gozun, a former DENR Secretary herself, supported Paje's statement saying that approval of the concerned Sanggunian [local government council] should be considered. She added that it is the prime mandate of the DENR to protect areas that are important not only to economic activities but also to national patrimony.
On November 27, 2009; the ECC of the proposed Mindoro Nickel Project of Intex Resources was temporarily revoked by then Secretary Joselito Atienza following a 10-day hunger strike of some 25 Mindoreños in front of the DENR National Office demanding for the immediate cancellation of the proposed mining project. Atienza's decision also ordered the creation of an investigation team to look into possible violations in the application and approval of the ECC.
The Report produced by the investigation team stated that lack of social acceptability was evident with the declaration of 25-year Mining Moratorium, and several cease and desist orders to stop activities related to the conduct of EIA. Indigenous Peoples consultation was also limited to a small group within the declared CADC of Alangan and Tadyawan Tribes which do not represent all the affected indigenous cultural communities. Also, the Report says that the proposed mining project falls within the critical Mag-asawang Tubig watershed.
Secretary Acosta conveyed his appreciation for the effort of the Investigation Team whose recommendations may contribute to the on-going study on mining policy of the government. "Kung sinabi ng Governor na hindi pwede yan, hindi talaga pwede yan" (If the Governor said the project is not accepted, then it is not accepted).
Paje also instructed EMB Director Juan Miguel Cuna to draft an order compelling Intex Resources to suspend all their activities.
DENR denies SMI's ECC application; SMI to appeal for reconsideration
By Bong S. Sarmiento
MindaNews
13 January 2012
KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/13 January) - Efforts to bring the massive Tampakan copper-gold project to commercial phase suffered a major blow after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources rejected the proponent's application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
Documents obtained by the Diocese of Marbel showed that Environment Secretary Ramon Paje rejected the ECC application of Sagittarius Mines, Inc., (SMI) due to the open-pit mining ban imposed by the provincial government of South Cotabato.
SMI President Peter Forrestal said they were extremely disappointed with the decision but added they intend to "immediately to file an appeal for a reconsideration of the decision as permitted under the ECC application process."
In a memorandum on January 3, Secretary Paje said they are "returning herewith the application documents with instruction to deny the same, without prejudice to resubmission, until the issues and concern on the use of open-pit mining method shall have been clarified and resolved by the company with the provincial government of South Cotabato."
The memorandum was addressed to Juan Miguel T. Cuna, national director of the Environmental Management Bureau, who in turn issued an order to SMI, dated January 9, advising it to "refrain from undertaking any development activity in the areas mentioned in the application for ECC until the same is issued in your favor, including permits from concerned government agencies."
Rene Pamplona, advocacy officer of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel, said they obtained the documents on Thursday from their partners in Manila.
Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez on Friday urged South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr. to stand firm in banning open-pit mining in South Cotabato and to facilitate the declaration of the mountains in Tampakan as a protected watershed area.
"Do not be afraid. We are strongly behind you. We have these resources: enlightened voters and the praying nuns - the Trappistines, Poor Clares and Passionists," the bishop said in a letter obtained by MindaNews.
Two other bishops - Kidapawan Bishop Romulo dela Cruz and Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable - also oppose the project. The Tampakan project straddles the provinces of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat.
Protector of constituents
Fr. Gillarme Joy Peliño, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel, on Friday also wrote South Cotabato Vice Gov. Elmo B. Tolosa that the provincial environment code that bans open-pit mining "has become the protector of the constituents of the province."
"It has become a powerful legal means for the protection of the interest of South Cotabateños against emerging and real threats cast by an open pit mining method of the proposed copper and gold project of SMI and other environmentally destructive means," the priest said.
Peliño described the decision of the Environment department as the "fruits of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan's labor emanating from the environment code."
With the ECC rejection, the priest appealed to the board members to continue protecting and upholding the environment code and pass an ordinance for the declaration of the mountains in Tampakan as a protected watershed area.
The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan also rejoiced at the ECC rejection of Sagittarius Mines.
In a statement on Friday, Sagittarius Mines, Inc. confirmed it has received official notification from the DENR denying its application for an ECC for the Tampakan mine project until issues with the use of open pit mining methods have been resolved with the provincial government of South Cotabato.
SMI President Forrestal said they are "concerned this decision was not made on the merits of our Mine Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which fully complies with the requirements of the DENR's own ECC process and is backed by a world-class environmental impact assessment study."
Forrestal noted that their EIS "is one of the most comprehensive environmental impact assessment studies ever undertaken in the Philippines, which was prepared in line with international standards and further strengthened by the feedback gained from a two-year consultation process that involved at least 9,000 stakeholders.
"During the 40-day review period of our ECC application by the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee, an independent panel of experts established by the DENR's Environmental Management Bureau, all queries regarding SMI's EIS and its ECC application were addressed to the satisfaction of that committee," Forrestal said.
Inconsistent?
"The decision to deny SMI's ECC application on the basis that the open-pit ban in South Cotabato must be resolved before the national government can issue an ECC is inconsistent with the DENR's established procedures for the processing of ECC applications," he added.
"We believe this decision sets a precedent that contradicts the publicly stated views of the Aquino Administration - namely that national laws which permit open-pit mining methods should have precedence over conflicting provincial ordinances," the company statement said.
"This lack of consistency by the national government poses a very real threat to investment confidence in the Philippines and introduces significant uncertainty to national government approval processes," it added.
"It also hampers the project's potential to make what would be a significant contribution to the economic and social development of Southern Mindanao and the Philippines," Forrestal said.
Sagittarius Mines is controlled by Xstrata Copper, the world's fourth largest copper producer.
Indophil, the junior equity partner in the Tampakan project, also confirmed the ECC rejection in a disclosure to the Australian bourse.
Richard Laufmann, Indophil chief executive officer, identified the key stumbling block- in moving forward to approvals and commitment to proceed with the development of the Tampakan deposit- as the resolution of the provincial open pit ban, a mining method approved under national law.
Indophil said it has become more active in seeking local Philippine shareholders and together have made recommendations to improve the operating structure and effectiveness of SMI.
"We believe that this delay can be overcome in the near term with the support of our Philippine corporate shareholders, and a committed and aligned response from Xstrata and Indophil," Laufmann said.
Indophil is eyeing to be listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange