SHALL WE STOP $5.9-B MINING IN SOUTH COTABATO?

SHALL WE STOP $5.9-B MINING 

IN SOUTH COTABATO?

By BERTENI "TOTO" CATALUÑA CAUSING

Resident of Koronadal, South Cotabato

              IF A MODERN DAM OF AN OPEN-PIT MINING IN ITALY COLLAPSED AND KILLED ALMOST 300 PEOPLE DOWN THE VALLEY, SHOULD WE STOP THE PROPOSED MINING DAM IN TAMPAKAN, SOUTH COTABATO?

             This is the first issue now boggling the people of South Cotabato, whose town named Tampakan is the host of the present mining exploration being undergone by Sagittarius Mining Inc. (SMI), the subsidiary of Swiss-British Xstrata involved in mining exploration, development and utilization (EDU) in many places on Earth.

            The second issue pricking the curious minds of the province's people, particularly the indigenous tribe of B'Laan, is this: WHY IS IT THAT THIS COMPANY IS CONFIDENT IN MAKING THIS PROPOSAL AND APPLYING FOR LICENSES WHEN THE PROVINCE HAS PASSED AN ORDINANCE BANNING OPEN-PIT MINING?

            Reinforcing this curiousness is the fact that incumbent Governor Dodo Pingoy wants a review of the ordinance banning the open-pit mining.

            The government of President P-Noy, through his Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje, has shown determination to push through with the project considering that the investment that is being proposed to be funneled down by Swiss-British group is $5.9 billion, said to add 1% GDP for the province.

           In an interview, while admitting that he wanted the ordinance reviewed, he expressed so much fear about pushing through with the project and promised that he will not allow the provincial ordinance to be defeated by the national government's desire.

          However, it was apparent in his interview that he is still open provided there is a good answer to the question in his mind saying: "What will happen to us after 25 years of operation of the mining?"

          To answer this, the governor said he has been conducting consultations with mining experts.

          But as shown in the documentary (link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoYTNEli8gA), the mining dams in Strava, Italy collapse killing 239 people in 1985.  But only the lower officials of the mining company were imprisoned and the CEOs and other officials of the corporation that ran the mining remain scot-free.

         Further, it is documented that the proposed open-pit mining in Tampakan is 10 times wider in terms of area than the Strava mining that ended in disaster.

         If the proposed mining dams for Tampakan collapses, it is said that the Marcopper dam collapse in Boac Marinduque would look like a kiddie pool compared to SMI's.

         It is also said that if the the dam breaks after the firm leaves in 20 years, 1.35 billion metric tons of toxic wastes will drain down approximately 200,000 hectares of lush farmlands and affect about 2.4 million people in 4 provinces, the biggest mega-disaster ever.

        The author is from Koronadal City.  The documentary shows that if the Tampakan mining dams would collapse, the rush of mud will reach this city, considering that it is just adjacent.

        It is strongly suggested that the video below be watched after reading the article.

 


INTERVIEW ON SOUTH COTABATO GOVERNOR DODO PINGOY