The Defend Patrimony! Movement against Mining TNCs and Plunder of Resources (Defend Patrimony! Alliance) is a broad coalition of people's organizations, NGOs, civic institutions and federations that opposes the liberalization and plunder of our sovereign mineral resources. Kalikasan PNE is the main convenor organization of Defend Patrimony! Alliance.
The 2012 Philippine Mining Situation: Intensified Plunder, Intensified Struggles
In its second year of governance, the administration of Benigno Simeon Aquino III has continuously pursued the path of mining liberalization. Mining transnational corporations (TNCs) and their local Philippine counterparts are now rushing to cash in on rising metal prices after the global financial crisis, aiming to reach their target investment of $1.44 billion in 2011 and $1.22 billion in 2012.
The Aquino administration continues to protect these investments and reinforce the extractive, export-oriented and import-dependent nature of the mining industry. Mining operations were exempted from the current log ban. The practice of using military and paramilitary groups to protect mining firms during the Arroyo administration continues. More mineral areas are being reserved exclusively for mining operations, overriding any pre-existing land uses. The administration is crafting a new mining policy that is superficial at best and essentially similar to the existing policy.
The government vilifies movements and local governments opposing the entry of destructive mining operations in their jurisdictions, dismissing these as anti-mining and therefore anti-development. It favors the liberalization of the industry, blaming small-scale miners for environmental destruction. It projects large-scale mining operations as highly-regulated while downplaying their environmental and social impacts. It remains silent on its crimes against affected grassroots communities.
However, 2011 was also a year of the people's rising struggle against mining plunder. Advocates used the Writ of Kalikasan and other legal remedies against erring companies. Mobilizations were launched and broader alliances were forged to oppose the current mining law and large-scale projects. Proposed alternatives to Republic Act 7942 (Mining Act of 1995) were filed in Congress. Spontaneous and organized
armed resistance to mining has grown more daring and larger in scale.
-- From the executive summary of "2012 Philippine Mining Situation: Intensified PLunder, Intensified Struggles" Publication of Kalikasan PNE, Center for Environmental Concerns - Philippines and the Kalikasan Partylist. For sale at P100.00, proceeds will go to our strategic environmental campaigns. Contact us at kalikasan(dot)pne(at)gmail(dot)com for orders and inquiries.