Father Edwin Gariguez, head of the social action secretariat of the country's Catholic bishops, joins environmental activists in calling for the passage of a new mining law. (Photo by Vincent Go)
Church and environmental groups in the Philippines are calling on the government to pass a mining law that will "provide stronger social and environmental safeguards."
"We encourage the government to take a closer look and review our existing mining policies," said Father Edwin Gariguez, head of the social action secretariat of the country's Catholic bishops.
The priest, a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, told ucanews.com that only by replacing the existing mining law can people be protected from the hazards of mining.
"We must replace existing policies with pro-people, pro-environment laws," said Father Gariguez.
The priest said the current mining law favors mining companies instead of protecting the environment and people.
"Unfair provisions of the law allow large mining corporations to exhaust our natural resources with minimal accountability," he said.
Father Gariguez said mining has "only brought more poverty, tragedies, and injustices" to host communities, especially in tribal lands.
Since President Rodrigo Duterte — who banned mining when he was mayor of the southern city of Davao — assumed office at least eight large-scale mining operations have been suspended.
Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of the anti-mining group Alyansa Tigil Mina, welcomed the suspensions.
"The mining industry must uphold not just the strictest environmental standards but also the rights of mining-affected communities and the rest of the Filipino people," Garganera said.
He said, however, that government efforts "must be institutionalized" to prevent mining companies using the technicalities of the existing Philippine Mining Act to continue operations.
Father Gariguez and Gaganera expressed support for the passage of the proposed "Alternative Minerals Management Bill" set to be filed in the Senate on Aug. 25.
The proposed bill aims to revoke the country's existing mining policies and to enact an alternative mining law.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, a proponent of the bill, said there is a "dire need" to review the licenses of mining companies in the country to ensure environmental protection.
Judy Pasimio of the tribal women's group Lilak has called on the government to not only look into alleged environmental violations committed by mining companies but also the "countless cases of human rights violations" in mining communities.
"While there are positive developments in some mining areas, including the suspension of activities and moratorium on the approval of all new mining projects, there are still issues that need to be addressed," Pasimio told ucanews.com.
The mining law, which was passed by Congress in 1995, allows for foreign ownership of mining assets and exploration permits.
