Environmental activists staged a demonstration in Manila on Monday, September 28, to protest government plans to re-open mines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The groups said the opening the mines as part of the government’s “economic stimulus” to address the pandemic is “not acceptable” and “irresponsible.”
“History and statistics inform us that the economic benefits of mining are miniscule in terms of employment, tax revenues or contribution to Philippine [gross domestic product],” read a statement from the group Alyansa Tigil Mina.
The Philippines’ mineral resources are currently estimated to be at US$1.4 trillion in value but the mining industry only contributes 0.85 percent to the country’s GDP.
In a report titled “Mining and COVID19,” the anti-mining alliance linked the pandemic to mining.
“Pandemics arise because of deforestation and permanent land-use change brought by mining,” read the group’s statement.
“This in turn fuels climate change and eventually contributes to zoonosis and potentially drives pandemics,” it added.
The alliance particularly expressed opposition to the government’s intention to reopen nine mining companies that were earlier closed.
They lambasted the “equally disturbing” priority of the government of President Rodrigo Duterte who “seem to be more concerned in opening up the economy at the expense of public health considerations.”
The Department of Environment and National Resources announced in July that it is reviewing the operations of the mining companies suspended in 2017.
“The [department’s] recommendation to reopen these mines should be rejected, as [the department] is unwilling to disclose the basis of this decision,” said Jaybee Garganera of the group Alyansa Tigil Mina.
He said mining will not help the country recover from the pandemic because it is part of the problem due to deforestation and climate change, which are both drivers to the evolution of new diseases.
Larry Pascua of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice cited a report from the International Council on Mining and Metals that noted the contribution of the global mining industry to energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Pascua said the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of climate-related disasters. “With COVID-19, the urgency of addressing this threat increased rapidly,” he said.
Rene Pamplona of the Convergence of Initiatives for Environmental Justice questioned the approval of open pit mines in Mindanao despite an existing administrative order for the moratorium of open pit mining.
“There have been a lot of human rights violations and killings already happening and the mining operations haven’t started yet,” he explained.
Rommel Yamzon of rights group iDefend also pointed out that the Philippines has become the second most dangerous country for environmental defenders for speaking against mining.
“It is ironic how this government answers the climate emergency with abuses and threats, the same way it addressed a health crisis with militarization,” said Yamzon.
“Economic activities that lower the resiliency of communities have no place in a pandemic. Mining for recovery is only counterproductive,” said lawyer Aaron Pedrosa of the opposition political party Sanlakas.
“Government has to hold these companies accountable for the livelihood and natural resources they destroyed,” he added.
He said the mining companies continue to operate with impunity “because the government lets them.”
The protest action on Monday was part of activities for Mining Hell Week, a program by the Alyansa Tigil Mina that runs from September 24 to October 2.
