PRESS RELEASE
Environmental and indigenous peoples’ groups today marked the 27th anniversary of the Mining Act of 1995 with protest action at the Central Office of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City.
“This law has paved the way for unprecedented plunder of mineral resources in ancestral lands. We are here to make sure that future generations will inherit what we fight for,” said Kim Falyao, Deputy Secretary-General of Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino (KATRIBU).
Since its enactment, Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the Mining Act has been heavily criticized by a broad spectrum of civil society organizations with how the industry became a free-for-all game. In effect, the Ming Act allowed the massive plunder of natural resources, destruction of biodiversity, displacement of communities, and violations of the collective rights of indigenous peoples over their ancestral domains.
“The Mining Act has worsened mining disasters coupled with climate change. If we want climate and environmental justice, then it is high time for a progressive people’s mining bill — one that is appropriate to work with for a just and green recovery”, said Alab Ayroso, spokesperson of youth environmental organization Saribuhay.
In February 2022, the Committee of Natural Resources of the House of Representatives(HOR) recently released House Bill (HB) 254, or the People’s Mining Bill, a consolidated version of alternative bills to the Mining Act. The proposed bill has a framework which upholds social justice, respect for people’s rights and welfare, environmental conservation, and the defense of national sovereignty and patrimony.
“We cannot take anymore the lies of the thieves who say that they support the Mining Act and pretend that they are pro-environment. We call on the people to elect leaders who will champion the People’s Mining Bill against pro-mining politics this 2022,” said Leon Dulce, National Coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE). #
