Philippines Update

Philippines Update

30th March 2006

Even as the MAC website was publishing an update on the 10th anniversary of the Marcopper disaster on Marinduque, the Philippine government were still talking up the prospects for mining saving the Philippine economy, and no doubt even the faltering government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Yet even Philip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, stated that in order to revitalize the local mining industry, the real test will still be in the communities. However, at the PDAC Convention in Canada, as well as the later Asia Mining Congress, Philippine prospects have been sold as if there is no opposition on the ground. Yet there continues to be both legitimate, legally endorsed community opposition in many projects, as well as the risk of violent confrontation - despite the continued deaths, threats and disappearances of those who would oppose large-scale mining. This is excellently illustrated in the two articles below on Climax Arimco's Dinkidi project. The opposition to TVI Pacific at Canatuan continues to manifest itself, this time in an inter-faith re-consecration of the minesite. Meanwhile at the sinking 'flag ship project' that is the Rapu Rapu mine, the government has to clarify that Lafayette have no permit to re-open the mine after the company announced via a press release that it was soon to re-open. So business as usual really through the looking glass of the new, 'responsible' Philippine mining industry.