Is Nonoy supporting mining?
by Jess G. Dureza

The author was  Presidential Adviser for Mindanao during the administrations of President Ramos and President Arroyo. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the thinking of SLT’s management. 

There’s an important court case  now before the Dipolog Regional Trial Court regarding commercial mining.

The court’s decision should help resolve theissue of whether a local legislation can countermand a national law and whether the Provincial Board can pass an ordinance that would ban what the Mining Act of 1995 allows.

It would also show if President ABenigno Aquino is really dead serious in his announced policy supporting mining?

If he is then why are the anti-mining advocates  in his   administration doing their own thing, as if they had their own agenda  and ignoring the president’s own public avowals?

On the other hand, perhaps the president himself is indeed NOT supportive  of open pit  mining. If so this must be clearly spelled out   so everyone, including  investors, will be properly advised. There should be no gray area on the issue of  whether the government is for or against open pit mining.

The controversy started last August when the Provincial Board of of Zamboanga Del Norte quietly passed Ordinance no. ZN-11-128 totally banning open pit mining and giving the provincial governor  “draconian” powers over commercial mining there. TVI Resource Development (Phil) Inc. has been  mining at its tenement and plant in Canatuan, Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte since  2004 although it began mining exploration 10  years earlier.Although it had experienced problems and challenges in the past.  Its trucks were ambushed twice in 2002  killing 15 Subanens and injuring scores of others. But it stayed the course.

I was in charge of Mindanao then for Malacanang and I was directed to help clean up the mess.    The mining company had been doing business there for 17 years when this Ordinance came.

The Zamboanga church hierarchy which opposes mining refused to even  take a look at the site, steadfast in its opposition and perhaps afraid to be confronted with the truth and therefore losing a favorite whipping boy.

I visited the site several times and was impressed by their “detox” plant to clean up wastes before they are dumped elsewhere.

I even saw palay lushly growing in one filled up dam. Their mine tailing dams were among the best by world standards.         

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