Milf Hits Mining Activities In Mindanao

MILF hits mining activities in Mindanao

By Jeoffrey B. Maitem, BalitaPinoy

27th January 2007

COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denounced Saturday the ongoing mining operations in Mindanao, citing it does not bring any good to the people.

"Yes, we oppose activities of mining firms in Mindanao as it remains one of the reason why we are helping break the impasse in the ancestral domain issue in the GRP-MILF talks," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said in an interview.

"We are concerned about the plight of our brothers in the countryside where some of them have been displaced by such activity," he added.

In Central Mindanao, one of the largest mining firm, the Sagittarius Mines, Inc., is presently eyeing mineral deposits in the towns of Tampakan, South Cotabato; Columbio, Sultan Kudarat; and sections of Davao del Sur province. Earlier this month, former British Minister for International Development Clare Short MP has released a report regarding the Philippines' destructive mining practices.

In her fact finding Mission report, Short cited that mining in the Philippines has an extremely poor reputation and has left over 800 abandoned mines throughout the countryside.

These have caused massive environmental damage, she said.

The MILF urged the national government to revoke the Mining Act of 1995 and enact alternative legislation that would effectively protect the interests of affected local communities, indigenous people and the environment. (PNA)