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SORSOGON
CITY—Lafayette Philippines Inc. (LPI) cannot yet rest
easy with the resumption of its mining operations on the
nearby island of Rapu-Rapu in Albay province, a
spokesman of the local hierarchy of the Catholic Church
declared Thursday.
Fr. Reynaldo Mabute, head of the Social Action Center (SAC)
of the diocese of Sorsogon, said antimining groups are
not letting up with their opposition to the mining
operations on the island, even as
Lafayette has been allowed by the government to resume
operations after 16 months of suspension.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
suspended LPI’s Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RPP)
following two toxic waste spillages from its mine
tailings dam in October 2005, but later allowed it to
initiate a test run as it instituted corrective measures
on its toxic waste handling facilities.
On completing the corrective measures and complying with
other requirements, the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB)
of the DENR headed by Secretary Angelo Reyes on February
7 issued a permanent lifting order (PLO) of the
suspension paving the way for RPP’s full-blast
operations.
The integrity of the corrective measure, perhaps, had been
established and the issue on the security from toxic
waste spillage seemingly resolved, then “we give
Secretary Reyes the benefit of the doubt and rely on the
wisdom of PAB,” Mabute said.
However, the Church would keep a closer watch, tighter
guarding and air louder voices in denouncing any false
move that the Australian-owned firm may commit as it
proceeds with mining, he said.
“So be it if this position would make the Church branded as
fault finder later. Anyway, it is for the conservation
of life, a position that sometimes runs counter to the
‘for-money’ outlook of sectors promoting mining,
including the present government administration,” Mabute
said.
“Granting that Lafayette is able to conserve life during the
tenure of its mining operations, will there be still
life left for the communities and ecosystem affected
after that?” he said.
He clarified that the Church is not against mining in the
country but the
island of
Rapu-Rapu
that is rich in ecosystem that must be preserved should
be spared.
Besides, studies conducted by independent authorities on
mining and environment have discouraged mining
operations in Rapu-Rapu because of the inevitable
destructions it would render on the rich natural
resources of the island, he added.
For LPI, on the other hand, Joey Cubias, its community
relations officer, said the Church’s position would be
respected and its apprehensions would be properly
addressed. “We will maintain transparency and maximize
the delivery of our social responsibility among our host
communities,” Cubias said.
On transparency, he said, the RPP mining site and compound,
except those restricted areas, would be open to all
visitors at all times.
Block time programs would be aired over local radio stations
and a newsletter would be published regularly by LPI to
keep the public informed on every event and development
transpiring inside and outside the mining site, Cubias
said. |
