QUEZON CITY, May 12, 2009—Environmentalists has launched another fact-finding mission, aiming to uncover new threats on the coastal waters of Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay, as the controversial Lafayette Mining Limited starts operating again.
Rapu-Rapu is considered as a haven for marine biologists and diving enthusiasts alike for its rich marine resources.
A three-day International Solidarity Mission (ISM), which has started last May 10, was organized by the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) and the Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines (CEC Phils) along with international and local delegates from the church, health professionals, scientists, youth and members of the media.
“The case of Rapu-Rapu is one of the most popular and dynamic of the mining struggles in the Philippines. The relentless campaign of the local organizations and residents with their supporters from local, national and international organizations has lead to a bittersweet victory when the previous major shareholder of the project Lafayette Philippines, Inc. (LPI) with its wholly foreign-owned joint venture company Lafayette Mining Limited (Australia) caved-in to the protests of the people and declared bankruptcy in December 2008,” says Clemente “Enteng” Bautista Jr., national coordinator of the Kalikasan-PNE in a statement sent to CBCPNews.
While the protests temporarily halt Lafayette’s operations, the threat against the environment is there again as Koreans had resurrected the already dead company, Baustista said.
Rapu-Rapu mining project is one of the 63 priority large-scale mining projects of the Philippine government and the pet project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
It opened in 2005 and incurred two massive mine tailings spills five months after starting operations in this typhoon-stricken and small island.
Previously owned by Australian junior firm Lafayette Mining Limited, the project’s ownership was transferred to a consortium between Korea Resources Corporation, LG International, and Malaysia Smelting Operations in early 2008 after Lafayette declared bankruptcy.
Community residents continue to oppose the project, which resumed operations anew last year.
“These new developments in the anti-mining struggle in Rapu-Rapu are the primary focus of the ISM. New information coming from the communities related to the environmental impacts of continued large-scale mining need to be verified. Also, documenting social issues that confront the residents of the island, including possible violation of human rights need to be looked into,” said Bautista.
A toxic marine pollution cover-up
The ISM is also to probe the alleged direct dumping of toxic wastes to Rapu-Rapu bay which maybe the reason why the tailing dam is not overflowing notwithstanding heavy rains.
Said Tony Casitas of the Sagip Isla, Sagip Kapwa, their group has been receiving reports that a ship was seen getting the tailings from the dam which was suspected to be dumped in the Pacific Ocean.
“This is probably the reason why the tailings dam doesn’t overflow even if it has been raining often for the past six months,” he said.
He also said that residents have seen divers from the mining company as they collect sea urchins and bury them near the coasts.
“Their first concern was that their children might step upon the spikes of the urchins because they are being buried shallowly. Later did they realize the crucial role that sea urchins play as they are good indicators of the level of contamination or pollution in the water,” Casitas explained.
Rapu-Rapu’s lands: all for mining?
Meanwhile, environmentalists suspect that only 10 percent of the Rapu-Rapu’s land area is not yet sold for mining.
“More than 90 percent of the total land area of the island is targeted for expansion. Under the new management, the mining company was reported by residents to be giving away goods such as soap, toothpaste, etc. to woo local residents of approving expansion in their communities. Every household was reportedly given 10 kilos of rice in December and February amounting to P270, 000. This amount however, is just 0.032% (that's 3.2% of 1%) of the total annual revenue of the mining company,” Bautista disclosed.
“They have already invested $40 million to $50 million to upgrade the facilities of the mine site and are targeting annual production to be about 10,000 tons of copper ore; 50,000 ounces of gold; 600,000 ounces of silver and 14,000 tons of zinc,” Bautista added.
DENR: adding insult to injury
Environmentalists and scientist-delegates to the ISM assailed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allowing the sale of the mining project to Korean investors, despite the damage it has already incurred to the soils and waters of Rapu-Rapu.
“Lafayette has run off with millions of profits without paying for its crimes against the local community and the Filipino people. As adding insult to injury, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), backed up by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sold the project to Korean investors. The new Korean owners, which were immediately allowed to resume operations, are feared to continue the destructive and pollution-inducing operation of open-pit mining in the island,” said Bautista. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCP News)
Rapu-Rapu is considered as a haven for marine biologists and diving enthusiasts alike for its rich marine resources.
A three-day International Solidarity Mission (ISM), which has started last May 10, was organized by the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) and the Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines (CEC Phils) along with international and local delegates from the church, health professionals, scientists, youth and members of the media.
“The case of Rapu-Rapu is one of the most popular and dynamic of the mining struggles in the Philippines. The relentless campaign of the local organizations and residents with their supporters from local, national and international organizations has lead to a bittersweet victory when the previous major shareholder of the project Lafayette Philippines, Inc. (LPI) with its wholly foreign-owned joint venture company Lafayette Mining Limited (Australia) caved-in to the protests of the people and declared bankruptcy in December 2008,” says Clemente “Enteng” Bautista Jr., national coordinator of the Kalikasan-PNE in a statement sent to CBCPNews.
While the protests temporarily halt Lafayette’s operations, the threat against the environment is there again as Koreans had resurrected the already dead company, Baustista said.
Rapu-Rapu mining project is one of the 63 priority large-scale mining projects of the Philippine government and the pet project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
It opened in 2005 and incurred two massive mine tailings spills five months after starting operations in this typhoon-stricken and small island.
Previously owned by Australian junior firm Lafayette Mining Limited, the project’s ownership was transferred to a consortium between Korea Resources Corporation, LG International, and Malaysia Smelting Operations in early 2008 after Lafayette declared bankruptcy.
Community residents continue to oppose the project, which resumed operations anew last year.
“These new developments in the anti-mining struggle in Rapu-Rapu are the primary focus of the ISM. New information coming from the communities related to the environmental impacts of continued large-scale mining need to be verified. Also, documenting social issues that confront the residents of the island, including possible violation of human rights need to be looked into,” said Bautista.
A toxic marine pollution cover-up
The ISM is also to probe the alleged direct dumping of toxic wastes to Rapu-Rapu bay which maybe the reason why the tailing dam is not overflowing notwithstanding heavy rains.
Said Tony Casitas of the Sagip Isla, Sagip Kapwa, their group has been receiving reports that a ship was seen getting the tailings from the dam which was suspected to be dumped in the Pacific Ocean.
“This is probably the reason why the tailings dam doesn’t overflow even if it has been raining often for the past six months,” he said.
He also said that residents have seen divers from the mining company as they collect sea urchins and bury them near the coasts.
“Their first concern was that their children might step upon the spikes of the urchins because they are being buried shallowly. Later did they realize the crucial role that sea urchins play as they are good indicators of the level of contamination or pollution in the water,” Casitas explained.
Rapu-Rapu’s lands: all for mining?
Meanwhile, environmentalists suspect that only 10 percent of the Rapu-Rapu’s land area is not yet sold for mining.
“More than 90 percent of the total land area of the island is targeted for expansion. Under the new management, the mining company was reported by residents to be giving away goods such as soap, toothpaste, etc. to woo local residents of approving expansion in their communities. Every household was reportedly given 10 kilos of rice in December and February amounting to P270, 000. This amount however, is just 0.032% (that's 3.2% of 1%) of the total annual revenue of the mining company,” Bautista disclosed.
“They have already invested $40 million to $50 million to upgrade the facilities of the mine site and are targeting annual production to be about 10,000 tons of copper ore; 50,000 ounces of gold; 600,000 ounces of silver and 14,000 tons of zinc,” Bautista added.
DENR: adding insult to injury
Environmentalists and scientist-delegates to the ISM assailed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allowing the sale of the mining project to Korean investors, despite the damage it has already incurred to the soils and waters of Rapu-Rapu.
“Lafayette has run off with millions of profits without paying for its crimes against the local community and the Filipino people. As adding insult to injury, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), backed up by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sold the project to Korean investors. The new Korean owners, which were immediately allowed to resume operations, are feared to continue the destructive and pollution-inducing operation of open-pit mining in the island,” said Bautista. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCP News)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteWe have just added your latest post "Rapu-Rapu probe on marine pollution starts anewto our Directory of Environment . You can check the inclusion of the post here . We are delighted to invite you to submit all your future posts to the directory for getting a huge base of visitors to your website and gaining a valuable backlink to your site.
Warm Regards
greenatmos.com Team
http://www.greenatmos.com