LAMBIGIT (Centrist Democratic Movement Federation of the Philippines)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—While much hype and publicity accompanied the filing by Rep.  Gloria Arroyo of a bill calling for a Constitutional Convention to revise the 1987 Constitution, not much fanfare accompanied the re-filing of the  Alternative Mining Bill (AMB) by Rep. Erin Tañada.

“We welcome the refiling of the bill,” said the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Philippines  (LRC-KSK/FoE), one of the groups leading the multi-sectoral campaign for the  scrapping of the 1995 Mining Act, authored by the former President during her  term as senator.

The AMB repeals the Mining Act, which “has been a long-standing call of our partner-communities, as well as our organization,” the LRC-KSK/FoE said in a statement.

According to LRC-KSK/FoE’s Judy Pasimio, AMB adv ocates and environmentalists are hopeful that “with the current climate of change ushered in by the new administration, the bill will be passed before the 15th Congress ends.”

“We congratulate Cong. Erin Tañada for his courage in filing the bill despite pressures from the rich and influential mining lobby. The filing of  the Alternative Mining Bill on the very first day of filing in Congress demonstrates our resolve to continue the fight we started in the 14th Congress and the importance we attach to its enactment by the current Congress,” Pasimio said.

The AMB was first filed in the 14th Congress by former congresswoman Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan. Baraquel ran, but lost, in the senatorial race in the last elections.

Signatories to the AMB included Tañada and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the Second District of Cagayan de Oro City.

Rodriguez said he is “very happy” with the refiling of the AMB, because it will strengthen his bill calling for the banning of all mining activities in Cagayan de Oro City.

Rodriguez’s bill declaring Cagayan de Oro as a “mining-free city” was approved by the House of Representatives during the 14th Congress, but failed to pass muster in the Senate. He is now set in refiling the same bill and a host of others designed to conserve, protect, preserve and rehabilitate the environment of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental province.

He said he will add his signature to the AMB as soon as he is able. A minor accident at his home in Manila rendered the environmentalist-lawmaker of Cagayan de Oro incapacitated for a while.

Ka Peter Duyapat of Desama, based in Nueva Vizcaya, welcomed the refiling by Tañada as a “crucial step to overturn the promining policies of the past administration, which proved disastrous for our community and culture, the environment and human rights.”

Desama is an organization of Ifugao residents in Nueva Vizcaya whose community filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights for abuses committed by Australian mining company Oceana Gold Philippines.

Pasimio also urged President Aquino to certify the AMB as urgent.

“We call on President Aquino, Tañada’s partymate, to immediately certify the bill as urgent,” she said.

“We are optimistic given the potential space under the new administration, since President Aquino claims that the people are his boss. The  recent adoption of the environment code by the local government of South  Cotabato and similar initiatives by the LGUs like Mindoro Oriental, Occidental and Puerto Princesa, has been moving in this direction and he should take his  cue from these,” Mario Maderazo of the Philippine Miserior Partnership, also  part of AMB campaign, said.

The 1995 Mining Act, principally authored in the Senate by then-Sen. Gloria Arroyo, was passed during the presidency of Fidel Ramos, but was aggressively promoted by the Arroyo administration.

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma also welcomed Tañada’s move of refiling the AMB.

Ledesma will be attending the “Bishops-Legislators Forum on the Mineral Management Policy” on Thursday at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, which was specifically called by the Social Action Secretariat of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to initiate a consensus and create a better understanding on the AMB.

Lawyer Rhia Muhi of LRC-KSK/FoE will present the AMB and its pertinent provisions vis-à-vis the environment and economy of mining communities.

Aside from Ledesma, also expected in attendance are Tony Abuso from the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Indigenous People; Dr. Angelina Galang, executive director of the Environmental Institute of Miriam College; Environment Secretary Ramon Paje; and NASSA national director and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Tañada, from the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, from the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, are also expected to attend.

Rodriguez said he was personally invited by Bishop Pabillo to attend the forum, but declined because he can hardly walk, as his leg is still in cast following a minor accident in his house in Manila.

Pabillio said the forum “intends to explore initial strategies and partnership between the Church, legislators, affected communities and CSOs campaigning against mining to advance the agenda of the AMB in the 15th Congress.” Written by Bong D. Fabe / Correspondent  , Business Mirror