Open letter of tribal leader on hunger strike vs Mindoro mining to President Arroyo

Posted on November 25, 2009 by mindorocybermovement

Orignal letter in Hanunuo Mangyan script

(Mangyan)

Mahal nimi Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,

Kawo Kanmi Pangulo sa buong Pilipinas. Atay kami kainda sa harapan opisina ni Secretary Lito Atienza bilang pinuno sa DENR. Kami tay nguna ay tanan yi magkalun-os ag magkagasa yi.

Kanmi kabuhayan ay madaot, kanmi sagradong lugay ay madaot din, kami ay mapapalayas ginan sa kanmi daga, ag ti kalikasan ay madaot. Adok mga buhi ti mamatay no ituloy ti planong pag mina, sa sulod daga ginurang. Buo kanmi paghadlang sa daka pagmimina.

Kanmi paghagadon sa kanmo bilang pinakaabwat lider sa Pilipinas ay bul-on yi kay bisa ti ECC na ipinahintulot sa Intex Resources.

Ti mag hagad mga mangyan sa Silangang Mindoro.

Pirmado ti may surat,

Ponyon Kadlos
Tagapag-ugnay ng Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN)

(Filipino)

Mahal naming Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

Kayo ang aming pangulo sa buong Pilippinas. Nandito kami ngayon sa harapan ng opisina ni Secretary Lito Atienza bilang pinuno sa DENR.

Kami ngayon ay lahat-lahat nagugutom at nanghihina na.

Ang aming kabuhayan ay mawawasak. Masisira ang aming pinahahalagahang sagradong lugar, kami ay mapapalayas sa aming lupain at ang kalikasan ay lubos na masira. Maraming mga buhay ang mamatay dahil sa napipintong planong pagmimina sa loob ng aming lupaing ninuno. Lubos naming tinutulan ang malawakang pagmimina.

Hinihingi namin sa iyo bilang pinakamataas na lider sa Pilipinas na ipawalang bisa na ang iginawad na ECC sa Intex Reources.

Ang humihingi ay mga katutubong Mangyan sa Silangang Mindoro.

Ang sumulat at lumagda,

Ponyong Kadlos
Tagapag-ugnay ng Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN)

(English)

Our beloved President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

You are our president, the chief executive of the entire nation. We are here in front of the office of the head of the DENR Secretary Lito Atienza. We are hungry and weak.

Our “whole life” is at risk. Our sacred grounds will be ruined, we will be displaced from our land and the environment will be devastated. Lives are at risk because of the proposed mining within our ancestral domain. We strongly oppose large-scale mining.

As the highest leader of the Philippines, we ask you to revoke the ECC issued to Intex Resources,

We ask this on behalf of the Mangyans at Oriental Mindoro.

Written and signed by,

Ponyong Kadlos
Coordinator, Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN)

Manila, Philippines - Mangyan tribal leader, Ponyong Kadlos, on hunger strike against mining writes an open letter addressed to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The letter is written in Hanuno Mangyan script, known endangered script in the Philippines. The letter presents the strong opposition of the Mangyans on the Mindoro Nickel Project owned by Norwegian mining company Intex Resources. November 23,2009. Photo by Roslyn Arayata, Policy Officer, Alyansa Tigil Mina

Manila, Philippines - Mangyan tribal leader, Ponyong Kadlos, on hunger strike against mining shows his open letter addressed to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The letter is written in Hanuno Mangyan script, known endangered script in the Philippines. The letter presents the strong opposition of the Mangyans on the Mindoro Nickel Project owned by Norwegian mining company Intex Resources. Photo by Roslyn Arayata, Policy Officer, Alyansa Tigil Mina

Filed under: Press Release | Tagged: Alamin, Alangan, Alyansa Laban sa Mina, Alyansa Tigil Mina, Ancestral domain, Biodiversity, Church, Cimate change, DENR, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ECC, Environmental Compliance Certificate, Environmental issues, food security, Global warming, Hanunuo, Hunger strike, Intex, Intex Resources, Mangyan, Mindoro, Mindoro Nickel Project, Mindoro opposition, Mining moratorium, Nickel, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Press Release, Protest

Sec. Lito Atienza: Ignoramus?

The people of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro were ENRAGE & CONDEMNS DENR Sec. Lito Atienza's IGNORANCE by saying that he never knew what's really happening in the Island of Mindoro relative to his "railroaded" issuance of ECC to Intex Resouces for the Mindoro Nickel Project. People's convention the Brigada Kontra Mina already sent a letter of appeal to the President of the Republic. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo dated October 28, 2008 and received by the Office of the President on December 23, 2008, enclosed signatures of more or less fifty thousand people of the Municipality of Sablayan who expressed their sentiments against mining in Sablayan and the whole Island of Mindoro, attached also the 25 Year Mining Moratorium of the Municipality! Our letter of appeal was then referred to the Mines & Geoscience Bureau and in response a furnished copy dated April 3, 2009, to the Office of the Secretary of the DENR. How could Secretary Atienza alleged that he never knew whats really happening in the Island of Mindoro, or he just walk away from the truth. From the very beginning the so called environmental impact assessment, consultation of the proponent favored their side, but in a way the very institution created under our Constitution to defend the right and welfare of our people was set aside, or maybe for his self interest!

We CONDEMNED Sec. Lito Atienza by not taking notice of the vulnerability of the Island of Mindoro in terms of geohazards, the critical watershed areas within the mining application, the desecration of the indigenous people, the Mangyans and endangering the remaining numbers of endemic Tamaraws! "Ignorance of the law, excuses no one" according to the old adage and our forefathers said "those who have less in life must have more in law"!

We would like to inform Sec. Atienza that the protest rally held in Manila is NOT PREMATURE, we already do it a long ago, where in fact the mining company started to pose threat to our people and the environment we already prepared for the worse, placing the entire municipality in a 25 years mining moratorium.

We vowed to fight for our people and the environmental dangers that await us all, the Island of Mindoro fed most of the people in Metro Manila, we call for the REVOCATION of the ECC!

We CONDEMNED Sec. Lito Atienza's IGNORANCE, and he's not EXCUSE!

REVOKE THE ECC!

DENR's ECC to Intex Resources Violates Climate Change Act of 2009

Secreatary Lito Atienza of DENR did not understand what Republic Act 9729 stated and talks a lot about sustainable development, future generation, vulnerability and he never understand this concepts. The law clearly states that:

SEC . 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to afford full protection and the advancement of the right of the people to a healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. In this light, the State has adopted the Philippine Agenda 21 framework which espouses sustainable development, to fulfill human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment for current and future generations.

Towards this end, the State adopts the principle of protecting the climate system for the benefit of humankind, on the basis of climate justice or common but differentiated responsibilities and the Precautionary Principle to guide decision-making in climate risk management. As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the State adopts the ultimate objective of the Convention which is the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system which should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner. As a party to the Hyogo Framework for Action, the State likewise adopts the strategic goals in order to build national and local resilience to climate change-related disasters.

Recognizing the vulnerability of the Philippine archipelago and its local communities, particularly the poor, women, and children, to potential dangerous consequences of climate change such as rising seas, changing landscapes, increasing frequency and/or severity of droughts, fires, floods and storms, climate-related illnesses and diseases, damage to ecosystems, biodiversity loss that affect the country’s environment, culture, and economy, the State shall cooperate with the global community in the resolution of climate change issues, including disaster risk reduction. It shall be the policy of the State to enjoin the participation of national and local governments, businesses, nongovernment organizations, local communities and the public to prevent and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and, at the same time, maximize the benefits of climate change. It shall also be the policy of the State to incorporate a gender-sensitive, pro-children and pro-poor perspective in all climate change and renewable energy efforts, plans and programs. In view thereof, the State shall strengthen, integrate, consolidate and institutionalize government initiatives to achieve coordination in the implementation of plans and programs to address climate change in the context of sustainable development.

Further recognizing that climate change and disaster risk reduction are closely interrelated and effective disaster risk reduction will enhance climate change adaptive capacity, the State shall integrate disaster risk reduction into climate change programs and initiatives.

Cognizant of the need to ensure that national and subnational government policies, plans, programs and projects are founded upon sound environmental considerations and the principle of sustainable development, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to systematically integrate the concept of climate change in various phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other development tools and techniques by all agencies and instrumentalities of the government.

And the following section states that:

SEC . 14. Local Climate Change Action Plan. – The LGUs shall be the frontline agencies in the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans in their respective areas, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Code, the Framework, and the National Climate Change Action Plan.

Barangays shall be directly involved with municipal and city governments in prioritizing climate change issues and in identifying and implementing best practices and other solutions. Municipal and city governments shall consider climate change adaptation, as one of their regular functions. Provincial governments shall provide technical assistance, enforcement and information management in support of municipal and city climate change action plans. Inter-local government unit collaboration shall be maximized in the conduct of climate- related activities.

LGUs shall regularly update their respective action plans to reflect changing social, economic, and environmental conditions and emerging issues. The LGUs shall furnish the Commission with copies of their action plans and all subsequent amendments, modifications and revisions thereof, within one (1) month from their adoption. The LGUs shall mobilize and allocate necessary personnel, resources and logistics to effectively implement their respective action plans.

The local chief executive shall appoint the person responsible for the formulation and implementation of the local action plan.

It shall be the responsibility of the national government to extend technical and financial assistance to LGUs for the accomplishment of their Local Climate Change Action Plans.

The LGU is hereby expressly authorized to appropriate and use the amount from its Internal Revenue Allotment necessary to implement said local plan effectively, any provision in the Local Government Code to the contrary notwithstanding.

Secretary Atienza we urge you to review and internalize the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009!

Shame to you!

Intex Resource's ECC defective and highly irregular!

Intex Resource's ECC defective and highly irregular!
By atm.admin - Posted on October 26th, 2009

October 26,2009

PRESS STATEMENT

Intex Resources's Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by DENR Secretary Atienza, defective and higly irregular!

Intex Resources triumphantly brags in its website that the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) was issued to them by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Joselito Atienza. Erlend Grimstad, CEO of Intex Resources ASA, claims that by having the ECC, “one of the most important milestones for this project has now been achieved.”

The ECC approved by the DENR on October 14, 2009, came amidst the catastrophic flooding and man-made disasters caused by wanton destruction of the environment. And instead of coming to rescue our fragile ecology, the DENR shamelessly pursued the national policy agenda of the Arroyo government to promote mining industry, with utter disregard to the risks posed by the destruction of Mindoro’s critical watershed through the risky large-scale, strip mining operation of Intex Resources ASA.

Governor Arnan Panaligan believes that “The ECC was granted in gross disregard to the strong and categorical opposition of the leaders and people of Mindoro to the nickel mining project. The DENR, in granting the ECC, placed the long term safety of the fragile environment of Mindoro Island in serious danger. Apparently, the DENR has not learned from recent environmental disasters.”

Approved House (Congress) Resolution No. 25, clearly asserts that “the Mindoro Nickel Project of lntex Resources and Aglubang Mining, covers one of the province's watershed areas as duly declared and identified in the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Physical Framework Plan. The mining exploration site encroaches on the Mag-asawang Tubig Watershed, the largest source of irrigation water for the 40,000 hectares of rice lands in Calapan City, and the towns of Naujan, Baco and Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.”

One of the most objectionable issues in the EIA study is that the flood-prone Barangays in the municipalities of Victoria, Naujan and around the city of Calapan, are not included in consideration of impact areas. This is one of the reasons why the ECC should not have been issued!

For several other reasons, the issuance of ECC is deemed highly irregular and patently questionable because the EIA study conducted for the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) did not pass the technical scrutiny of the EIA Review Committee, which refused to give definitive endorsement for the project. However, Secretary Atienza, in complete disregard for the scientists and experts’ evaluation, unilaterally approved the ECC!

As of this writing, the Chairman of the EIA Review Committee for MNP is contemplating on resigning on all his EIA Review engagement labeling the practice as a sham.

Intex Resources, privy to the decision of EIA Review Committee, should instead be ashamed of an ECC obtained spuriously without passing the standard of credible scientific approval. But Intex Resources did not report this information and it again fails to be transparent in disclosing the negative facts about the project by constantly projecting half-truths and contentious claims.

The timing of the ECC issuance is also of particular concern and is considered highly irregular. It comes at precisely the time when an investigation of a complaint before the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Norwegian National Contact Point in relation to Intex's project is about to commence, with a fact finding by the Norwegian Ambassador to Mindoro scheduled soon.

A critical report of prior fact finding trip conducted by the Ambassador in 2007 concluded that ‘The majority of the population on the island of Mindoro is against mining...[They] fear first and foremost destruction of their “watershed” area/flooding/destroyed agricultural land/negative impact on fishing as a result of toxic waste . . .What does seem clear, is that Crew Minerals (now Intex) may have substantial difficulty obtaining an ECC - because of the massive local resistance, not least the resistance in the Mangyan peopleʼs NCIP-registered organizations.'

The issuance of the ECC is an outright insult to the people of Mindoro who have continually expressed their vehement and overwhelming opposition to the project as articulated in the Mining Moratorium of Oriental Mindoro and Municipality of Sablayan, in volumes of Sangguniang Bayan Resolutions, Position Papers of sectoral and civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolks and the Church.

Governor Josephine Ramirez-Sato of Occidental Mindoro expressed her total disappointment for the national government’s imposition of pro-mining policy even when it runs contrary to the genuine development thrust of the province: “isang malakas na sampal ito sa autonomy ng lokal na pamahalaan na siyang tunay na nagmamalasakit sa kasasapitan ng ating mga kababayang magiging biktima ng kapahamakan!”

Similarly, Vice Governor Estella Aceron of Oriental Mindoro, is not only mad but infuriated for the ECC issued by the DENR Secretary to Intex Resources, despite the vehement opposition of the people. In a statement published in her blog, she questioned the motive behind questionable ECC issuance: “. . . It is really UNBELIEVABLE! . . . What’s happening??? Is it because he (Secretary Atienza) is running again in 2010 and he needs all the support from mining companies?”

The people of Mindoro are enraged by the brazen act of betrayal of the public trust, the transgression of our local autonomy and the manner by which our fragile island ecology is sacrificed for profit of the transnational mining companies and their local cohorts.

For more information

Contact Person: Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, (Alyansa Laban sa Mina) ALAMIN

Email Address: edugariguez@gmail.com

People of Sablayan Condemned Secretary Atienza's Issuance of ECC to Intex Resources

Secretary Lito Atienza a self-professed environmental advocate and talks a lot about CLIMATE CHANGE & GLOBAL WARMING, is boastful of the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate to Intex Resources to pursue its Mindoro Nickel Project. The people of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro is condemning his insensitivity and irresponsible action and betraying the lives of millions of people of the Island of Mindoro and will eevntually erase in the face of the earth the cultural heritage of the indigenous people, the Mangyans. Sec. Atienza betrayed the people's trust, it could not be denied that he knew what happen at the aftermath of Typhoons Jolina, Ondoy & Pepeng, where all the conscience of Sec. Atienza, gone? Mindoro Island particularly Occidental Mindoro is a geohazard and flood prone area, a major rice producing province and the last remaining rice granary after what had happened to Central Luzon. Sec. Atienza didn't realized that about 10,000 hectares of forested land will be cut and excavated, mined and desecrated and major watershed areas feared to be ruined. To, Secretary Atienza, in behalf of the people of Mindoro Island we send you a warning and a clear message, we will protect our land, this is our home, this is our life! To President GMA, spare the Island of Mindoro or we all get hungry!

Mga Iniwan ng Bagyong Jolina, Ondoy & Pepeng

Portion of National Highway that Collapsed (Kambingan Section, San Agustin, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Resulted to major disruption on food and other basic goods supply flow from Abra Port!

Brigada Kontra Mina sa Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro

Isang malawakang Pagkilos ng mga Mamamayan ng Sablayan Upang Suportahan ang Municipal Ordinance 2008-001 na nagsasaad ng Pagpapatupad ng Twenty Five-(25) Years Moratorium on Large Scale Mining sa Bayan ng Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

Sapagkat, kaming mga mamamayan ng Bayan ng Sablayan ay naniniwala sa maaaring maging epekto ng pag-mimina sa kabundukang nasasakupan ng Bayan ng Sablayan;

Sapagkat, ang pag-mimina sa kabila ng mga pangako at mabuting dulot sa ating ekonomiya at pag-unlad, hindi maaaring itanggi ang kapalit nito ay ang pagsira sa natural at likas yaman ng ating bayan;

Sapagkat, maraming datus ang nagpapakita na mas marami nag napeperwisyo kaysa mga nabibiyayan ng benepisyo ng pag-mimina;

Sapagkat, marami nang mga masamang karanasan ang ating bansa tungkol sa pagmimina, pagsira sa kalikasan, mga pagguho ng lupa, sakit na dulot ng kemikal na ginagamit sa pag-mimina, pagkalbo sa kabundukan, pagpatay sa mga yamang dagat at marami pang iba;

Sapagkat, taliwas sa mga pangako ng mga kumpanyang may interes sa pag-mimina sa ating bayan na sila ay magbibigay ng trabaho, mga inprastraktura, mga gusali, kalsada at iba pa, hindi maipagkakaila na ang kapalit nito ay ang pagkasira at paglalagay sa panganib ng mamamayan ng Sablayan sa anumang sakuna;

Sapagkat, ang mga mamamayan ng Sablayan ay nabubuhay sa pagsasaka at pangingisda, na siya ring pangunahing gumagamit ng tubig na nagmumula sa kabundukan para sa masaganang ani at ang yamang-dagat ay napapanatili ang yaman nito sa pag-agos ng ilog mula sa kabundukan na may dalang sustansya para sa kapakinabangan ng mga lamang-dagat;

Sapagkat, ang higit na manganganib sa na maaring maapektuhan ang ang mayamang samu't saring halaman at hayop na matatagpuan lamang sa Mindoro partikular sa Bayan ng Sablayan, ang Tamaraw na naninirahan sa mga kagubatang sakop ng aplikasyon ng mga mining companies. Kasama ang masamang epekto ng pagmimina sa pinakakaiingatang Apo Reef Natural Park, ang pangalawang pinakamalaking atoll-like reef sa buong mundo,

Sapagkat, sa usapin ng problema sa pagkain mas higit nating kailangan at pag-ibayuhin ang sektor ng pagsasaka at pangisdaan na maaaring manganib dahil sa masamang dulot ng pag-mimina;

Sapagkat, sa usapin ng climate change at global warming,kung saan isinusulong n gating Pagulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at kailangan ang maigting na pangalagaan ang ating mga kagubatan kung saan narito sa ating bayan ang pinakamalawak na lowland forest sa buong lalawigan at mga karatig lugar na kagubatan na maaaring maglaho dahil sa pag-mimina;

Sapagkat, ang pgsusulong ng pamahalaang nasyonal sa pagmimina bilang economic policy ay taliwas sa pagsusulong ng pamahalaan sa paglaban sa climate change at global warming;

Sapagkat, ang mga mineral gaya ng ginto, nickel at iba pa ay di maaring makuha kung hindi gagamitan ng nakakalasong kemikal gaya ng mercury at cyanide, kung saan ay humahalo sa tubig na ating maiinom, patubig at sa mga lamang dagat na ating makakain sa hinaharap;

Sapagkat, ang lason gaya ng mercury at cyanide ay lasong niipon sa katawan ng tao at unti unting pumapatay dito;

Sapagkat, ang pagbabawal at pagtutol ng mamamayan ng bayan ng Sablayan sa pag-mimina ay hindi usapin ng pag-unlad at paglago ng ating bayan, kabuhayan at ekonomiya, ito ay hindi isyu ng kung sino ang nakikinabang at makikinabang, bagkos ito ay usapin ng ating survival o pagpapatuloy ng ating buhay sa isang malinis at ligtas na kapaligiran at mapangalagaan ang karapatan nga mga lupang ninuno ng ating mga kabababayang katutubong Mangyan;

Sapagkat, bagamat hindi tinututulan ang pag-unlad, ang mga mamamayan ng Sablayan ay naniniwala sa sustenabling pag-unlad kung saan ang kalikasan at pag-unlad sa aspetong social, economics, cultural at iba pa;

Sapagkat, bilang mga mamamayan may takot sa lumikha, kay Bathala, sa Diyos, kay Allah, iba iba man ang pananampalataya tayo ay pinagkakatiwalaang pangalagaan ang lahat ng kanyang nilikha sa ibabaw ng mundo ito ay tungkuling moral na iniatang sa atin

Sapagkat, sa simpleng kaisipan ng mga mamamayan, hindi kailangan ang siyentipikong basehan at paliwanag upang hindi maunawaan ang panganib ng pag-mimina dahil higit naming nararanasan at nararamdaman ang masamang epekto nito na hindi maaaring maramdaman ng mga dayuhan at mga mamumuhunan na nakatira sa palasyong tahanan;

Sapagkat, bilang isang responsabling mamamayan ng Bayan ng Sablayan, kami ay sama sama at buong layang lumalagda sa ibaba upang ipahayag ang aming damdamin sa pagtutol sa malawakang pag-mimina sa bayan ng Sablayan, at buong lakas na pagsuporta sa General Ordinance No. 2007-GO03B an Ordinance Declaring a 25 Year Moratorium on Large Scale Mining activities in the Municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

Sapagkat, ang lahat ng mga nanunungkulan ay may sinumpaang tungkulin sa diyos, sa bayan at mamamayan, ang ito ay paglingkuran at ipagsasanggalang mula sa banta ng kapahamakan;

Kung kayat dahil dito, ipinababatid ng mamamayan ng Sablayan sa lahat ng sangay ng Pamahalaan ang nag-iisang damdamin sa pagtutol sa pag-mimina sa aming bayan, dapat mabigyang sipi ng pahayag na ito ang ating Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, mga Senador mga mambabatas at mga non-govermental organization na may kahalintulad na pahayag at damdamin ang nakikiisa sa pahayag na ito.

(Kalakip ng pahayag na ito ang libo-libong lagda ng mga mamamaya ng Bayan ng Sablayan, Kanluraning Mindoro).