Philippines Update

Philippines update

24th April 2007

Elections are not far off in the Philippines; mining is a serious issue for many candidates and certainly for voters. Lobbying is taking place against pro-mining candidates while a Catholic priest is standing in Mindoro on an anti-mining platform.

The long-running campaign against Lafayette's Rapu Rapu mine has become more internationalised, with a co-ordinated day of action urging the Dutch bank ABN-AMRO to disinvest.

We highlight the international aspect to on-going local opposition to BHP Billiton's Pujada Bay project. As reported last week on this website, two Igorots from the Cordillera attended the Anglo American AGM in London to raise local issues: an article from the Cordillera-based publication Nordis is included below.

There's been tribal opposition to mining in Benguet, also in the Cordillera. Meanwhile, the ever-present threat from attacks and intimidation against international mining companies by the communist New Peoples Army is being widely reported