Philippines Update

Philippines update

17th Feburary 2007

For yet another week, objections to the permission granted Lafayette to resume full operations at its Rapu Rapu project, dominate Philippine mining news. On 14 February a petition was launched by local objectors and their supporters, calling on the project financiers to withdraw support. It can be signed onto digitally, at:

http://www.banktrack.org/index.php?show=aletter&va=76.

The local Bishop continues to condemn the project, while, significantly, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has reaffirmed its call for repeal of the 1995 Mining Act.

The Philippines has now overtaken Australia in exports of nickel ore (by bulk, as it is low grade) to China.

However, even the Philippine Government has had to think twice about selling off mining rights to foreign multinationals (including Crew) for the troubled 'gold-rush' area of Mt. Diwata.