Environmental groups Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and the Sustainable Davao Movement have called on the people of Davao Region to join in the fight against the lifting of the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato.
In a statement, the groups called on the people particularly those in Davao del Sur to participate in the issue, as “we will also be affected by the impacts of this project” it said.
This is concerning the approval of the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of South Cotabato to the proposal to lift the controversial open-pit mining ban on May 16, 2022. The SP members also amended the Environment Code of the province on the second reading that allows all forms of mining, including open-pit, in the province.
The lifting of the ban now allows the operation of the controversial Tampakan Mining Project of the Sagittarius Mines Incorporated.
The groups emphasized that the SP of South Cotabato did not consider the magnitude of the effects their actions have on the people and the environment, not only in South Cotabato. With this action alone, it will affect multiple watersheds of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Davao del Sur. Further, it will also threaten the ecological integrities of Allah Valley (102,000 hectares) in Sultan Kudarat, the watershed of the Padada River (120,000 hectares) in Davao del Sur, and the watershed of the Marbel River (122,000 hectares) in the Province of Cotabato.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Marbel considered the lifting of the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato not only sad but a tragedy that hit the province and remains hopeful and will continue to call on the people of South Cotabato to make their voices of opposition louder against open-pit mining.
On the other hand, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo promised to review the amendment of the Environmental Code.
During the solidarity march of environmental groups to uphold the ban on open-pit mining in South Cotabato on Thursday, Tamayo promised that he will be forming a technical working group (TWG) that will review the process of the amendment of the Environment Code and the effects of this policy change to the people and the environment.
He said his decision will be based on the reports created by the TWG.
“Pag-aralan ko ang lahat ng puwedeng pag-aralan at kausapin lahat ang kausapin para maseguro na ang deissyon ng inyong gobernador ay naayon pa rin sa tama at maayos na desisyon,” he said in his speech.
