NDF-EV is in solidarity with the stand of church leaders in the region against large-scale mining

By NDF-Eastern Visayas
April 3, 2012

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today expressed support for the stand, through the Eastern Visayas Ecumenical Forum, of the leaders of the Catholic Church, United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente against large-scale mining in the region. [ read An ecumenical pledge to condemn and oppose large-scale mining in Eastern Visayas, Masbate province and all over the country ]

“It is truly Christian to love your neighbor as well as to love your country in standing up to large-scale mining and imperialist plunder,” said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. “We support all kinds of struggle against large-scale mining in the country and against imperialist plunder.  The US-Aquino regime is giving free rein to foreign companies to carry out large-scale mining operations. Meanwhile, the country's natural resources are fast disappearing, while human rights violations abound because of militarization under Oplan Bayanihan that target communities where there are already operations or steps towards large-scale mining.”

Fr. Salas added that large-scale mining has no significant contribution to the country's economic development. “According to research by independent think-tank IBON, mining and quarrying contributed only 1.5% to the country's gross domestic product in 2011. Furthermore, IBON cites the laughable fact that in 2011, domestic helpers here and abroad contributed P167.4 billion worth of services and remittances to the economy, compared to the mining industry's P122.1 billion in gross production value or P99.2 billion in gross value added. Other research shows that 89% of the natural resources mined in the country are exported rather used for domestic development. It means that aside from not benefiting the country's economy, our non-renewable natural resources continue to be drained away. There are also the social costs such as rising cases of landgrabbing, militarization, extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations against those who resist large-scale mining, and the effects of widespread environmental destruction.”

Fr. Salas also slammed the Aquino regime for selling out the country, and he called on sympathetic politicians in the region to listen to the people and to resist imperialist plunder. “Those who say they are against mining should show they mean more than words and self-promotion. We challenge them to reject the tokenism of “responsible mining,” which is the line of the large-scale mining companies. If these politicians are really for progress, we challenge them to support and advance pro-people mining that is based on a national development plan anchored on genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization. This will solve the grinding poverty and hardship the people suffer, as well as ensure a sustainable, self-reliant and progressive economy while also protecting the environment.”

Fr. Salas called on the church people, mass media, human rights and environmental advocates, sympathetic officials and other sectors to continue the struggle against large-scale mining and imperialist plunder. “If the reactionary government is selling out the Philippines, on the other hand the revolutionary government remains firm in its policy against large-scale mining and enforces this in areas where there is Red political power.