‘Protect environment, people from indiscriminate mining’

(By Agapito ‘Peping’ M. Lugay, Head, PDSP Public Information Department, April 15, 2006) -- Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the mining law, the government should institute measures to ensure that the environment and the people are protected from indiscriminate operations.

The Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should see to it that mining companies strictly comply with environmental laws to prevent accidents and abuses that may not only ruin the eco-system but pose hazards to health as well.

While the country would certainly benefit from fresh infusion of foreign and local investments, officials should not forget their paramount responsibility, which is to protect the fragile ecology and people living in mining communities, the PDSP announced.

“The DENR should make sure that the expected mining boom will not doom the environment and the people. They should not sacrifice our natural resources and the people’s health for the promise of gold or nickel,” said PDSP spokesperson Atty. Jose “Nonong” Ricafrente.

The social democratic party noted that aside from strictly implementing environmental laws, officials should warn mining companies to also provide more protection and benefits to miners who face daily peril under the pits of the earth.

With the Supreme Court decision, mining, exploration and expansion projects would go full blast as more foreign and local companies are poised to pour in more investments this year.

Already, four companies are set to expand operations and invest some $1.4 billion. Leading the pack is Coral Bay Mining Corp., which plans to double its nickel production capacity by opening a second plant in Palawan.

Other firms that are set to start or expand operations are Climax-Arimco, Indophil and Sagittarius Mines, Benguet Corp., and Apex Mining.

Ricafrente acknowledged that the huge investments from the mining sector would definitely boost the country’s hobbling economy. However, he warned that mining could open the key to economic progress but at the same time unlock the door to ecological disaster if preventive measures are not drawn and mining companies are allowed to operate beyond the guidelines set by the law.