We condemn the Duterte government’s lifting of the open pit mining ban when people are still responding to the plight of millions affected by Super Typhoon Odette. Talk about priorities in these times of crisis.
Adding insult to the injury of many ‘Odette’ victims, open pit mining is actually responsible for the devastation of watersheds in regions heavily afflicted by the typhoon such as Caraga, Negros, and Central Visayas.
The promise that this move will bring in money for economic recovery is nothing but disinformation. Only 12% of mineral resources plundered in the Philippines by big mines trickle back to our economy as taxes, fees, and royalties. For every 10 pesos worth of minerals they will plunder, only a peso will return to the Philippines.
For the past 26 years, our poverty rates have only worsened while mining revenue steadily increased. We are left with areas like the Marcopper open pit mines, forever scarred and polluted, unfit for human life.
This is pretty much an election campaign promise by the evil Duterte-Marcos mafia: that millions of Filipinos will be left to suffer and die amidst disasters fueled by mining and climate change.
We call on all pro-environment Filipinos to unite and defeat the pro-mining Duterte-Marcos alliance. We must challenge all opposition forces to champion the reinstatement of the open pit mining ban and the moratorium on new mining projects.#
