Scrap Mining Act!

January 31, 2005

"Filipinos will gain so much and nothing to lose in scrapping the
Mining Act"

"There is no truth that the foreign mining investment is helping the
economy. The millions of dollars investment poured in mining until now do
not generate income to the government and to the people. Under the
liberalization policies of the government, foreigners are allowed to
exploit our mineral resources at a bargain. What actually happening are the
fast depletion of our mineral resources by foreign transnational mining
companies (mining TNCs) and the looming danger of environmental
tragedies all over the country," said Clemente Bautista of Defend Patrimony.
Defend Patrimony is multi-sectoral alliance campaigning against the
mining liberalization and large-scale mining projects of the government.

Yesterday, Malacanang and big mining business said the repeal of Mining
Act and cancellation of mining permits being called by CBCP will create
economic backlash to the country.

"The statement of Benjamin Romualdez that cancellation of operations
and projects of mining TNC's projects and operations will displace 10
million people is mere hot air. The mining industry up to now dismally
employs less than 1% (120,000) of the labor force and most of these are
from the small scale mining and quarrying. In terms of Gross National
Product (GNP), the contribution of mining industry is just less than
2%," added by Mr. Bautista.

Defend Patrimony said that the real reason why foreign investors are
coming into the mining industry is because the government have granted
them economic privileges and rights such as 100% repatriation of capital
and profit, 5 to 9 years of income tax holidays, duty free
importation, and rights to water and timber.

"These privileges and rights allowed mining TNCs to extract and export
billion dollars worth of minerals annually while the people are left
with pollution, toxic waste and health hazards from mining operations.
The mine tragedies in Marinduque, Negros Oreintal and Samar are some
living proof of this mining devastation. We have so much to gain and
nothing to lose if we cancel the large-scale mining projects of mining TNCs
and scrap the Mining Act."

Defend Patrimony are working with Bayan Muna and Sen. Jamby Madrigal to
repeal the Mining Act of 1995. They are also proposing the formulation
of Alternative People's Mining Policy that will serve as the framework
of mining development for genuine economic progress and environmental
protection.###