An environmental group in Davao City and the Diocese of Marbel slammed the recent lifting of the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato.
On May 16, 2022 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of South Cotabato approved the proposal to lift the controversial open-pit mining ban. The SP members also amended the Environment Code of the province on 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, which has the biggest open-pit mine projects in the world.
The Diocese of Marbel considered the lifting of open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato not only sad but a tragedy that hit the province.
Bishop Cerilo Casicas of Marbel confirmed in a virtual press conference that there should have been consultation with the people prior to the lifting.
“Una sa tanan hindi man sila obligado na mag-consult sa amon, ang mas importante konsultahon ang mga tao,” Casicas said.
In a statement, the Diocese emphasized that amending the ban welcomes more serious consequences in the near future due to the effects of climate change.
“As many communities within and nearby the province have been experiencing tragedies due to the effects of climate change and global warming. As we face economic uncertainties because of the pandemic, war in Ukraine and other challenges, the least we need at present is to allow open-pit mining in South Cotabato,” it said.
The Diocese of Marbel remains hopeful and will continue to call on the people of South Cotabato to make their own voices of opposition louder against open pit mining.
“Ang priority natin ngayon ay ang laban dito sa local muna kasi sa projection namin puwedeng matapos na ito within this week. Parang reading namin parang minamadali talaga. posibleng pipirmahan na yan ng governor within this week kaya kailangan hindi na tayo maghintay na maglobby o kumatok kay Governor Reynaldo Tamayo,” Casicas said.
Meanwhile, the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) also condemned the amendment of the said environment code specifically the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining.
In a statement, the group stated that the members of the SP did not consider the magnitude of the effects their actions have on the people and the environment, not only in South Cotabato.
The group added that 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.
“Watersheds are geographical ecological units, and what happens in one part of the watershed will influence the whole watershed from forests, agricultural, urban, and coastal to estuarine ecosystems due to its geomorphological characteristics, connected rivers and tributaries at the surface, and including groundwater reserves,” it said
The group also states that the Tampakan open-pit mining will demand and use groundwater resources and transport highly toxic wastewater through a 150-km pipe from the Municipality of Malalag draining to Davao Gulf.
“There is a treatment process presented, however, the risks of overland flow, flooding disasters, or possible collapse of tailings ponds will inevitably impair marine and aquatic biodiversity, fish stocks, and aquaculture in the coastal areas, similar to the incident in Mapagba River in Banaybanay in January this year.
“We call on the people of the Davao Region, particularly Davao del Sur, to participate in this issue, as we will also be affected by the impacts of this project,” it said.
