600 Philex labor unions, local governments, indigenous peoples, cooperatives held Cañao ritual to urge Aquino, DENR to re-open Philex

By TUCP
February 6, 2013

QUEZON CITY – Some 600 members of the Philex labor unions, local government officials, indigenous peoples and non-government organizations performed a cañao ritual in front of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Natural Environment and Resources (MGB-DENR) yesterday in urging government to lift the suspension order following the mine tailings accident more than six months ago.

“We are shedding the blood of a boar right on the steps of the MGB as a petition for the enlightenment of their minds. This is also to signify how urgent and important our cause is. It’s been more than six months since the mines were ordered closed. We are afraid Philex might shutdown and we might eventually lose our jobs if they do not re-open the mine site,” said Renerio Lardizabal, president of the Philex supervisory employees union.

He claimed that all 5,000 employees of Philex could be laid off and 25,000 other members of the community who could be disenfranchised if the company will not be allowed to resume operations.

“We are asking President Aquino and the DENR to lift the suspension order and allow the operation of the mine so that we can continue to work without anxiety of losing our jobs,” said Alex Bedongen, president of Philex rank and file employees union.

Local government and barangay officials, school teachers, non-government organizations joined the rally and expressed support with the unions.

A discharge of sediments at one of the tailing pond of the mine occurred on August 1 last year. Employees and management teams immediately conducted rehabilitation of the environment and clean up of affected areas in Ballog and Agno rivers which connects to San Roque dam.

Philex will be allowed by the government to operate temporarily only after paying the environmental violation penalty which will be used to compensate affected claimants and rehabilitate affected areas and other penalties.

“Now that these obligations have been satisfied, the TUCP see no other obstacles for President Aquino and for Secretary Paje to prolong the agony and uncertainty of the Philex workers and their families and the thousands in communities whose daily subsistence is dependent on the mine’s daily operations,” said Gerard Seno, general-secretary of TUCP.

The Associated Labor Unions president Michael Mendoza said “Philex unions are affiliated, Philex Mining Supervisory Employees Unions-APSOTEU and the Philex Rank and File Employees Union in commending the Philex management by continuing, until today, the full salaries, wages, benefits and privileges of all Philex workers despite of its voluntary stoppage of operations six months ago.”