Environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) today slammed the decision of the Duterte Administration to withdraw from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), noting that the withdrawal removes any checks and balances in the industry.
“To call the EITI’ subjective, biased and unfair’ only shows that the outgoing Duterte Administration wants to listen to praises from its trolls. The reason the EITI exists is to ensure that stakeholders know how our natural resources are used,” said Leon Dulce, National Coordinator of Kalikasan PNE.
“The withdrawal only makes our mountains a free-for-all game now, especially for the incoming Marcos Administration, poised to use mining as an economic stimulant. All the more environmental defenders will push back versus the possible environmental plunder,” Dulce added.
Membership in the EITI entails a commitment to “disclose information on each member-country’s extractive industry value chain.” This disclosure includes how mining projects are permitted, the revenues generated, and how these projects will benefit the general public. Member-countries must also provide safe spaces for civic engagement in the mining industry.
Under the Duterte Administration, the Philippines is far from complying with the standards set by EITI. With the lifting of the mining moratorium and the open-pit mining ban, the proceeds from mining projects now will be more tedious to scrutinize by civil society, including environmental defender groups.
“Now that the government is leaving the EITI, it will be harder for people’s organizations to demand accountability from the government for any failures to protect natural resources. It can easily whitewash any accidents or ill-effects that result from mining projects,” Dulce noted.
“If the incoming administration is bent on a resurgence in the mining industry, then it must allow scrutiny of all its plans, including the projects it will allow. The people deserve to know how mining companies will use our natural resources and what’s in it for each stakeholder. The lack of transparency measures will only make the mining industry more prone to abuse,” Dulce ended. ###
