Manila, Philippines – “Duterte’s lifting of moratorium on mining spells certain doom to the environment and the livelihood it provides to marginalized sector. It should be warned that the reopening of our resources for mining activities could allow foreign firms such as China to proceed with their large-scale mining escapade in the country,” according to the militant fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), lambasting President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 130 lifting the ban on new mining agreements.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA said that the economy should not be used as a “pretext to legalize plunder of our natural resources through mining”.
“The government would let foreign mining firms to exploit and plunder our mountains, forests, and seas with all their might while we beg for alms in the form of taxes and other duties in return. There are many other ways to keep the restore the economy without exposing our natural resources to big mining interests,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
“This is a betrayal against the people who resisted destructive mining and until now continue to fight for their right to livelihood and environment protection,” Hicap, former Anakpawis Party-list added.
PAMALAKAYA calls on green groups, anti-mining advocates, and champions of the environment and natural resources to denounce “this highly detestable order” of President Duterte that would entail sellout of land and marine resources. ###
