• Areas covered by valid and existing mining rights and applications;
• Old growth or virgin forests, mossy forests, national parks, provincial/municipal forests, tree parks, greenbelts,game refuge, bird sanctuaries and areas proclaimed as marine reserve/marine parks and sanctuaries and areasproclaimed as marine reserve/marine parks and tourist zones as defined by law and identified initial components of the NIPAS, and such areas as expressly prohibited thereunder, as well as under DENR Administrative Order No. 25, s.1992, and other laws;
• Areas which the Secretary may exclude based, inter alia, or proper assessment of their environmental impacts and implications on sustainable land uses, such as built-up areas and critical watershed with appropriate barangay/municipal/provincial Sanggunian ordinances specifying therein the location and specific boundaries of the concerned area; and
• Areas expressly prohibited by law.
However, as we have notice nowadays, especially in CARAGA region and Compostela Valley in which these regions are considered rich mineral resource areas in Mindanao already experienced heavy deforestation and destruction of dipterocarp forests for commercial logging (legal) and also illegal logging. Another factor that would increase the chance of irreversible destruction of these remaining forest resources is the entry of multinational mining companies. According to Joan Jaime of Kalipunan ng mga katutubong mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Kamp), "This is an issue of life-and-death not only for the indigenous peoples but also for the whole nation. If all of the mining projects will push through, the damage on the environment and on the people’s lives would be irreparable". A national alliance of indigenous peoples’ groups has once again raised the alarm against the effects of foreign-controlled large-scale mining. Jaime said that based on the initial and partial estimation of the approved and renewed mining projects as of October 2010, most of the mining projects are within the ancestral lands of indigenous peoples.
Citing data from the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Jaime said that of the six projects with Financial or Technical Assistance Agreements (FTAA), five are within the ancestral domain of indigenous peoples covering more than 103,000 hectares. The FTAA is a contract between the Philippine government and mining companies allowing the latter to undertake large-scale exploration and development of minerals. It allows up to 100-percent foreign ownership in a mining project.
It is quite clear in the mining act of 1995 that areas considered as protected areas as defined by law and identified initial components of the NIPAS, and such areas as expressly prohibited thereunder, as well as under DENR Administrative Order No. 25, s.1992, and other laws. Indigenous people long before were already associated with the remaining forests in the country as part of their ancestral domain are also in great danger of losing their lands to multinational mining companies. They put havoc and threat to the very existence of our indigenous people's culture and heritage.
In many parts of Mindanao, the situation of indige
nous peoples is almost the same. In Surigao and Agusan provinces, Lumad groups Manobo, Mamanwa, Talaandig, Higaonon are most affected, Jaime said. In Bukidnon, Jaime said a “mining highway” was constructed for easier access of mining TNCs to areas. Dams are also being built to provide electricity for mining operations.Meanwhile, in Davao region, 14 MPSA cover more than 35,000 hectares and 1 EP covers 24,600 hectares. There are five MPSA and two EP in Compostela Valley affecting Lumad tribes. In the quad-boundary of Socsksargen, Western Mining Corporation has taken over almost 100,000 hectares. At least 240,000 Lumads will be displaced by the operations.
In Zamboanga Peninsula, 13 MPSAs cover almost 43,00 hectares. The TVI Resource Development operating the Canatuan mine in Zamboanga del Norte is planning to expand its operations to other parts of Western Mindanao.
In the present Aquino administration, PNOY did not change the mining policy. He reformed it to become more aggressive in enticing mining TNCs,” Jaime said.
Try to see ponder on the pictures regarding the effect of mining to the environment. Then tell me if it is beneficial to the environment and majority of Filipinos....
As a concerned Filipino citizen, I am one who will stand against MINING activities in the country!
ABOLISHED MINING LAW!
PROTECT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RIGHTS!
RAGE AGAINST DESTRUCTION OF REMAINING FORESTS IN THE COUNTRY!
UNITE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION!
MAKE A STAND, NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
BE A RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF GOD'S CREATION!
