By: PAT SAMONTE
BUTUAN CITY – Threats against mineral-extraction companies in the wake of the October 3 New People’s Army attack on three mining firms in Claver, Surigao del Norte will not discourage mining investments, an industry source said.
Amid warnings from the National Democratic Front of renewed assaults on mining projects, the Chamber of Mines said the communist rebels “may not want to see the kind of development that large-scale responsible mining has to offer since they thrive on poverty as it swells their numbers”.
BUTUAN CITY – Threats against mineral-extraction companies in the wake of the October 3 New People’s Army attack on three mining firms in Claver, Surigao del Norte will not discourage mining investments, an industry source said.
Amid warnings from the National Democratic Front of renewed assaults on mining projects, the Chamber of Mines said the communist rebels “may not want to see the kind of development that large-scale responsible mining has to offer since they thrive on poverty as it swells their numbers”.
Following the coordinated raids by some 200 heavily-armed communist rebels on Taganito Mining Corporation, Taganito High-Pressure Acid-Leaching (HPAL-Sumitimo) and Platinum Gold Metals Corp. in Claver town which destroyed an estimated $1.5 million of the firms’ assets, NDF-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge Madlos aka ‘Ka Oris’ warned other big mining firms of suffering the same fate “should they violate revolutionary policies to protect the environment and natural resources as well as the rights of workers, farmers and indigenous people”.
In a press statement dated Oct. 5, Madlos named Eastern Mining Corp. in Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley, Extrata-SMI Mining Corp. in Tampakan, South Cotabato, San Roque Mining, Inc. in Tubay, Agusan del Norte and Toronto Ventures, Inc. in Zamboanga Sibugay would be meted the same “punitive action” as the Claver mining firms should they continue setting aside “revolutionary policies”.
Chamber of Mines vice-president for communications Rocky Dimaculangan said the rebels’ threat to launch attacks on other mining sites were a cause for concern. But he said mining companies would continue to invest in the Philippines given government support.
Dimaculangan added that “Chamber members are determined to pursue their projects as long as we have the support of the government and our host communities.”
Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno acknowledged that the attacks on the Claver mining firms “are causing jitters in the mining industry and sending the message that investments might not be safe without security”.
In a press statement dated Oct. 5, Madlos named Eastern Mining Corp. in Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley, Extrata-SMI Mining Corp. in Tampakan, South Cotabato, San Roque Mining, Inc. in Tubay, Agusan del Norte and Toronto Ventures, Inc. in Zamboanga Sibugay would be meted the same “punitive action” as the Claver mining firms should they continue setting aside “revolutionary policies”.
Chamber of Mines vice-president for communications Rocky Dimaculangan said the rebels’ threat to launch attacks on other mining sites were a cause for concern. But he said mining companies would continue to invest in the Philippines given government support.
Dimaculangan added that “Chamber members are determined to pursue their projects as long as we have the support of the government and our host communities.”
Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno acknowledged that the attacks on the Claver mining firms “are causing jitters in the mining industry and sending the message that investments might not be safe without security”.
“Any assault on a mine is a serious thing. There are investments there. A mining project is capital intensive. If you hear such news of an attack, it is a cause for worry for the industry”, he said.
Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City said soldiers were placed on alert status, especially in areas hosting mines. The command’s operational area includes Caraga, Southern Mindanao, parts of Northern Mindanao and Central Mindanao.
Lieut. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division which has jurisdiction over Southern Mindanao said the military has maintained close coordination with security officials of mining firms in the region.
“Immediately after the incident (in Claver, Surigao del Norte), we alerted out troops and implemented security measures”, he said.
MGB noted that there are 30 metallic mines across the country including 10 in Surigao.
The Philippines is the world’s fifth most mineralized country, with large resources of gold, copper and nickel. However, extraction of these minerals has been slow owing to bureaucratic red tape and opposition from environmental activists.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje revealed that last year’s mining investments reached $956 million to peak to $18 billion in 2016.
Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City said soldiers were placed on alert status, especially in areas hosting mines. The command’s operational area includes Caraga, Southern Mindanao, parts of Northern Mindanao and Central Mindanao.
Lieut. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division which has jurisdiction over Southern Mindanao said the military has maintained close coordination with security officials of mining firms in the region.
“Immediately after the incident (in Claver, Surigao del Norte), we alerted out troops and implemented security measures”, he said.
MGB noted that there are 30 metallic mines across the country including 10 in Surigao.
The Philippines is the world’s fifth most mineralized country, with large resources of gold, copper and nickel. However, extraction of these minerals has been slow owing to bureaucratic red tape and opposition from environmental activists.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje revealed that last year’s mining investments reached $956 million to peak to $18 billion in 2016.
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