Official Blog

Sustainable fishing practices are crucial in reversing the ongoing decline of the Philippine seas, Greenpeace said today during a media briefing in the country’s tuna capital.

“We are running out of fish and running out of time. For a country known for marine biodiversity, there are very few fish left to catch,” said Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

“The government’s recent plans to import fish from other Asian countries like China and Taiwan is a clear sign that our seas have now collapsed, with the local fishing industry, particularly the livelihoods of small scale fishermen, at risk,” he added.

Greenpeace is challenging the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and local fishing communities to look into sustainable fishing methods to prevent what could be an imminent fish shortage.

Fish accounts for most of Filipinos’ daily intake of protein, with the average person eating 28 kilos of fish every year. If current destructive fishing practices continue, fish will soon become more expensive, and may even become a luxury. Common species like round scad, or galunggong, has dwindled to the point that it can no longer meet local market demand. Importation will only serve the immediate needs of the population, but will not address the problem of why the sea is no longer self-sufficient.

Greenpeace is offering an alternative and sustainable solution to the country’s fishing woes through Skipjack Pole & Line (P&L) Fishing. Together the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Socksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc. (SFFAI Inc.) the group has organized a 1-day forum at Sidney Hotel tomorrow to discuss the benefits of skipjack pole and line fisheries. Two fishing experts, Bill Holden from the Marine Stewardship Council of the Australia, and Ibrahim Athif Shakoor, Secretary General of the Pole and Line Federation, of the Maldives, were brought in by the group to share their insights on the safe practice and market viability of P&L.



Modern fishing techniques have resulted in unwanted and unsustainable by-catch and over fishing that has wiped out some tuna populations. Pole and line is a traditional method practiced by fishers in coastal communities. It requires the use of a pole, a line, a hook, and a bait boat. A few countries in the South Pacific practice P&L. Both Holden and Shakoor believe that P&L is the best option to revive the seas. They maintain that a well-managed and sustainable fishing is essential for healthy oceans, livelihoods, and economies worldwide.

“There is huge potential for P&L in the Philippines. Not only is it safe for the environment, but it also economically advantageous to fishermen who will continue to engage in it, as we have seen in the fishing economy of the Maldives,” says Shakoor.

Holden adds: “as an archipelago, the Philippines should tap into the vast resources of its seas without harming the ocean’s ecosystems. In order to do that, the fishing industry must practice safe and sustainable methods. A good first step would be to be an MSC certified P&L fishery.”

Greenpeace is calling for a full cooperation between government and fishing industries and communities to work together to develop sustainable and responsible fisheries in order to revive the Philippine seas.

“More than 70% of the world’s fisheries are fully exploited, over-exploited or significantly depleted, and the Philippine situation is a stark reflection of this sad reality. But there is hope: sustainable practices, such as P&L, should be embraced by all stakeholders. This way, our seas can continue to provide food and livelihoods for the millions of Filipinos in the years to come,” said Cinches.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.

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For more information:

Vince Cinches
Oceans Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
+63 917 5363754

Therese Salvador
Media Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
+63 908 660 3444

website: http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/ph/

Anti-mining groups like the PANALIPDAN-Southern Mindanao Region calls for the scrapping of the Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 during a protest rally in San Pedro Street in Davao City. Mindanews photo by Toto Lozano

Calls for urgent promulgation of a new law

Philippine-Misereor Partnership, a national network of around 300 civil society organizations from all over the country laments that the optimism of its members and mining-affected partner communities around the country towards the much anticipated issuance the E.O had been crushed.

Copy of the signed EO which was circulated to the network’s 15 regional clusters for review and discussions has elicited a common feedback. “The new E.O. which cloaks itself with the intention to reform the mining sector and to ensure environmental protection and responsible utilization of mineral resources is but the start of the long drive for a favourable environment for mining investments “ said Paul Paraguya, PMPI Co –Convenor for Mindanao and PMPI CABUSTAM Regional Cluster Point Person.

While the network affirms the EO’s provisions to ensure environmental protection such as expanding the no-go zones to include prime- agricultural lands, tourism development areas and other critical areas and island ecosystems among others, PMPI maintains that these provisions would be rendered useless as the EO is generally confined to the policy framework of RA 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995 which perpetuates mining as an engine for economic growth.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Executive Secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action and PMPI Co-Convenor who had recently won the Goldman Environmental Award said that the overriding framework for reform as claimed by EO 79 seemed to put primacy on the need for effective revenue increase and profit sharing. “Everything else that follows sinks in as mere consuelo de bobo.” Fr. Gariguez quipped.

According to Atty. Mario Maderazo, Advocacy and Legal Officer of PMPI Anti-mining Campaign, the government’s responsible mining policy direction towards improving the normative behaviour of both government and business on transparency and accountability is right on track with its provisions on competitive bidding for awards of mining contract, review of mining contracts, its intention to join EITI and the development of downstream industry among others. Unceasingly harping on the responsible mining slogan is another thing though and has yet to be proven as the actual conduct of mining corporations spanning years of operations present a glaring spectre which is the exact opposite.

“The existing mining contracts which are deemed valid and binding, under the new mining policy will be subjected to review process according to E.O 79. Although it does not preclude the affected communities to seek remedies under existing laws, there is no parallel mechanism provided for victims of mining-related corporate abuses and complaints for violation of environmental laws, boundary conflicts between mining tenements and government-issued tenurial instruments and even the consent process of the IPs among others. The conflict resolution mechanism provided by RA 7942 is not even sufficient and are not appropriate not to mention the capacity and political will of the regulatory agency such as the MGB to handle and address such conflicts” Atty. Maderazo further added .

Numerous member organizations of PMPI have expressed concern over the new mining policy’s inadvertent failure to include conflict affected areas as closed to mining as consistently and formally laid down in various forums and consultations for the crafting of the executive policy.

Roldan Gonzalez, PMPI DOPIM (Dipolog-Iligan-Pagadian-Marawi) Cluster Point Person expressed dismay over the EO’s deliberate exclusion of the civil society participation and involvement in the Mining Industry Coordinating Council or the MICC, a crucial policy and implementing body detailed in the EO and which relegated civil society sector to a mere stakeholder to be consulted and dialogued with.

“The new EO is the very example of how the views and experiences of the grassroots constituency as represented by the CSOs have been brushed aside if not trashed altogether. We could hardly resonate with the many provisions of the EO. It is business as usual” said Gonzalez.

Members of the PMPI-DOPIM Cluster has pointed out that more than 40% of the region’s total land area mostly consisting of IPs ancestral domains, critical watersheds and agricultural lands are covered by various mining permits. They explained that out of the 21 critical watersheds as identified by the DENR and local communities, only one was proclaimed by the government as a watershed. The rest are within the areas of mining permits granted by the DENR despite strong resistance by the communities. “The EO which only declared proclaimed watersheds as one of the No go zones in effect offers no protection for watersheds defined and identified by communities and stakeholders. Clearly, it only goes to show where the priorities of this government are in our case” mused Gualberto Lagro, Coordinator of the Social Action Ministry of the Prelature of Ipil and one of the convenors of the 2BIG Campaign.

Marilou Llavan, Panay Cluster Point person and the current Chairperson of the PMPI said that Malacanang is quick to deflect criticisms on the new mining policy when it said that it cannot please everyone. “We can only agree. The current EO has only pleased the mining investors and corporations, the parties to the mining contracts that the government has entered into through the various FTAAs, MPSAs already in effect. It is the mining-affected communities that have been rendered invisible under the new mining policy” Llavan stated.

Meanwhile, Rene Pamplona of the Social Action Marbel, whose organization is the designated secretariat of the Dioceses of Kidapawan, Marbel and Digos (KIDMADI) to address its environment concerns and the Tampakan mining issue, bewailed the EO’s subliminal warning to the local government units that passed resolutions declaring moratoriums on mining and adopted a ban on open pit method such as South Cotabato province. “The EO is a bullying policy and legitimizes the political intimidations that the provincial government of South Cotabato have been subjected into” Pamplona said.


“The emergence of this new EO only strengthens our resolve to call for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and the urgent promulgation of the Philippine Mineral Resources Act of 2012 or the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB)” said Yolanda Esguerra, PMPI National Coordinator. “While we take cognizance of PNoy’s bold attempt to come up with an executive policy on mining and in taking time to consult various stakeholders to craft one that in his opinion will most appropriately address contentious issues, we cannot help but become cynical with the outcome of the EO and thus be adamant to renew our call to stamp out for good the current law on mining. AMMB is needed now more than ever” Esguerra added.

“We call on PNoy to become real steward of Filipino people and its bountiful and beautiful resources. A true leader and steward wont sell-out its flock in favour of silver and gold. Money, revenue and profit are not the end and be all of development” Sr. Cres Lucero, SFIC, PMPI Co-convenor for Luzon concluded.

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Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) is a network of around 300 civil society organizations spread across the Philippines and MISEREOR, a germany-based development organization of the German Catholic Church. The network's members composed of non-government organizations, people's organizations, Church-based and church-related organizations are engaged in the advocacy of various development issues and development project implementation in partnership with the communities in the most marginalized and poor areas all over the country.

The Dioceses of Kidapawan, Marbel and Digos (KIDMADI) reiterate their opposition against the Tampakan Copper and Gold Project by the London based XSTRATA/SMI. As pastors of the flock, they are deeply troubled and concerned on the irreversible damage to the environment particularly to the biodiversity and the last remaining forest, livelihood, food security, health and of the poor communities both of the IPs and the down-stream communities. It is the biggest direct foreign investment to the country at present which amounting to $5.6B, but will it augment its critical damage to agriculture and livelihood of the stakeholders and the country's economy.

Bishop Romulo dela Cruz, D.D., the ordinary of the diocese of Kidapawan in his letter addressed to the SMI said, " I have serious reservations about the humongous scale of the project." And after thorough evaluation and assessment of the EIS he further noted that, "it fails to convince me that the good which can be expected of the project will outweigh the harm that it brings to man and nature alike. As it stands, I cannot support the project."

The present mining policies of the Philippines such as Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942), EO 270 (Revitalization of the Philippine Mining industry) and other statutes are all for the extraction of the countries natural resources. These exploitative and destructive mining activities do not promote neither guarantee Sustainable Development in those communities. Our National Patrimony, our mineral reserves are exploited aggressively favoring the foreign investors, and what would be left to the Filipino people? Hazardous Waste? The 2% excise tax and other local taxes in which the mining companies are boasting are all fictitious because of its very minimal contribution of the mining industry to the Gross National Product (GNP).

The countries metallic minerals will be all gone and our laws only provide pitiful taxes will be provided for but its destruction of the watershed, protected areas and agricultural zones are irreversible. This economic condition pushes the poor to be marginalized. The poor will be the most vulnerable sector. ALL OUR PRECIOUS METALS ARE GONE FOR FREE. The Mining Act of 1995 and the EO 270 are inconsistent to the newly approved National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NCCAP) 2011-2028 signed by President Benigno C. Aquino III last November 22, 2011. The Tampakan Copper and Gold Project will go against P'noys' seven (7) strategic priorities to combat climate change: 1) food security, 2) water sufficiency, 3) ecosystem and environmental stability, 4) human security, 5) climate smart industries and services, 6) sustainable energy, and 7) knowledge and capacity development.

Above all, it goes against the Philippine Constitution which declares as a state policy "to promote healthy and balanced ecology." (Art 2, Sect. 16). One serious emerging condition of the IP communities defending for their ancestral land is the escalation of violence. According to Fr. Rey Ondap, CP of the Catholic Mission on Indigenous Peoples, "because of strong opposition, tension are prevalent." There was an alleged harassment of the military in the IP communities. Bishop Dinualdo of Marbel has urged the concerned parties that "we must avoid the escalation of violence."

After 17 to 20 years SMI/XSTRATA will approximately mine 6.375 million tonnes of copper (375, 000 tonnes per annum) and 6.120 million ounces of gold (360, 000 ounces per annum of gold) in concentrate, who will manage those huge infrastructures? We call for a moratorium to seriously adhere to the voice of the communities.

Bishop Jimmy Afable of Digos shows similar concern since the facilities like fresh water dam and tailings dam will be constracted at the Mal River Catchment, but these huge storage facilities are directly under criss-crossing faultlines. This apprehension was seconded by the reviewer of the EIS of the company that "The Tampakan mine has a high potential for loss of life and high environmental damage if a failure of Dams or Rock Storage facilities occurs." Even if the company argues that putting this huge structures under international standard.

The $76M Environmental Impact Assessment cost of the XSTRATA/SMI is not enough study the impact of mining on this one of the most bio-diverse area comprehensively. It still leaves five general impacts that are not adequately answered: 1) the displacement and resettlement of onsite households, 2) the loss of onsite forest lands and biodiversity resources, 3) the diversion of surface and groundwater for the use of the mine and the displacement of existing in-stream and off stream users, 4) the acid drainage, spillage, leakages, overflows and the pollution of natural water source; 5) the risks of a tailings dam failure or collapse.

The letter of request for a meeting with the president sent by the 3 bishops, Bp. Dinualdo D. Guttierrez, Bp. Jimmy Afable and Bp. Romulo dela Cruz was received in Malacañang last Nov. 9, 2011 tend to discuss with the president some serious concern on XSTRATA/SMI Copper and Gold Project. It pertains to the open pit mining that is very destructive and the location of the mine is in the heart of Quezon Mountain Range and at the same time, at the heart of our forest and watershed. Up to the present no reply was heard concerning the request.

The three (3) dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church gathered the strong 108, 424 signatures that signify the validity of the issues and will be submitted to Malacañang on Dec. 14, 2011 through the National Social Action Secretariat (NASSA-CBCP).


PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF GOD'S CREATION!
PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES!
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF HER PEOPLE!
RESPECT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION!

KIDMADI BISHOPS

(Sgd) Most. Rev. Romulo dela Cruz, D.D.
(Diocese of Kidapawan)

(Sgd) Most Rev. Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, D.D.
(Diocese of Marbel)

(Sgd) Most Rev. Jimmy Affable, D.D.
(Diocese of Digos)