ENVIRONMENT Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez has found a strong ally in her campaign against “irresponsible” mining, particularly in the Caraga region, which hosts some of the country’s large-scale mines.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the 500-strong Caraga Watch, a coalition of progressive environmental and workers’ groups in the industrial and agricultural sectors, have expressed support behind President Duterte and Lopez’s campaign.
The group staged a rally in front of the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on Thursday to manifest their support behind the Duterte administration’s ongoing mine audit, which, so far, has caused the suspension of 10 large-scale mining operations.
MGB officials in Region 13 welcomed the support of anti-mining activists.
“This is the first time in my over 25 years in the service to have witnessed such a display of support from the left-leaning organizations here in Caraga, expressing their optimism in the government’s effort at environmental governance in the mining sector,” MGB Region 13 Director Alilo Ensomo Jr. said in a news statement.
The rallyists belong to the Nagkahiusang Gamayng Minero, Anakpawis, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas based in the Caraga region.
Caraga Watch officials held a one-hour dialogue with Ensomo, where they expressed their appreciation of Lopez for her eagerness to hear the struggles of local and indigenous peoples in Mindanao that were caused by erring mining firms.
In a position paper, Caraga Watch said Lopez’s advocacy bode well for the region and its people. They said the time has come to stop indiscriminate mining, which result in environmental destruction in the region.
The group also decried the prevailing contractualization in the mining industry in Caraga and called on the DENR leadership to list it as a priority concern in its agenda for the region.
According to Ensomo, while the government is clamping down on contractualization in the country, the DENR commits to put mining contractualization on the spotlight of its agenda, as well.
Data from MGB Region 13 show that Caraga is home to one of the world’s largest iron-ore deposits, and largest nickel and gold deposits in the country with significant reserves of copper, chromite and coal.
The region is primarily an agricultural economy, with mining accounting for a negligble 3 percent of the region’s total employment.