Philippines Update
Published by MAC on 2006-06-17
Philippines Update
17th June 2006
The government decision has finally been made over Lafayette's Rapu Rapu mine. After the Bastes Commission advised the closure of the mine, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources has instead - but unsurprisingly given their support for mining - ordered a 30 day trial period of operation. The decision has of course been criticised by many in the church, the environmental movement and other civil society groups (including the mine-affected communities on Marinduque, who suffered from the Marcopper spill). The Communist Party of the Philippines has also made threatening noises about disrupting the mine. Nationally there is still an ongoing debate about the amending / repealing the 1995 Mining Act (which was also a conclusion in the Bastes Report), and the Senate is meeting on this. Finally, away from the Rapu Rapu controversy there was some coverage in the Philippines of the visit by community representatives to the UK to lobby Crew Development over their proposed nickel mine in Mindoro.