Call to keep South Cotabato open-pit mining ban widens

KIDAPAWAN CITY—A neighboring locality of South Cotabato has also stood up against the decision by the provincial board to allow open-pit mining in the area.

Recently, the municipal council of M’lang in Cotabato province has unanimously approved a resolution expressing opposition to the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining activities in South Cotabato.

M’lang Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol said he would personally hand over their resolution to South Cotabato Vice Gov. Vicente De Jesus next week.

Piñol explained that they were worried over the adverse effect of large-scale minerals extraction to their town’s 220,000-hectare Ligawasan Marsh, which is fed by rivers and streams coming from potentially affected areas, such as nearby Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat province.

The vice mayor noted that residents in 10 of 37 M’lang villages depended on the marsh for their livelihood, especially fishing bangus, halaan and catfish which are sold in the local market.

“The people of M’lang are one in protecting our environment. We want to preserve life in the delta. I, myself, as a leader, will join the protesters to air our sentiment,” Piñol said.

On Monday, the South Cotabato provincial board agreed to amend a provision in the provincial environment code that banned open-pit mining, which has been a stumbling block to the operation of the Tampakan mining project that has been estimated to produce 13.5 million tons of copper and 15.8 million ounces of gold.

Protests

The lifting of the open-pit mining ban has raised protests from various quarters in South Cotabato and the environmental movement in the country.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo has vowed to review the recent action of the provincial board, which will need his signature in order to become law. He also has the option to veto the measure.

Apart from M’lang, Piñol disclosed that officials of Tulunan town in Cotabato province, whose people also enjoy the bounty of Ligawasan marsh, have also expressed support to calls of not lifting the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato.

Lawyer Mark Peñalver of the Davao City-based group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, said the negative effects of the Tampakan mining project will be felt not only in South Cotabato but also in the provinces of Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato, and in General Santos City.