Joint Position Paper on House Bill 6342

INTERFAITH MOVEMENT FOR PEACE, EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, INC.

AND
LUWAS KINAIYAHAN MOVEMENT

JOINT POSITION PAPER ON HOUSE BILL 6342 (ALTERNATIVE MINING BILL)

The Interfaith Movement for Peace, Empowerment and Development, Inc. and Luwas Kinaiyahan Movement, as organizations committed to the promotion of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, strongly support House bill 6342, also known as the alternative Mining Bill.

HB 6342 respects local autonomy and human rights especially of the indigenous peoples and other resident of mining areas. These denote respect for local governance and genuine concern for the welfare of all mining stakeholders who are the most vulnerable to impacts of mining activities.

This Alternative Mining Bill ensures environmental protection and biodiversity conservation that this and the succeeding generations aptly deserve. This will contribute to the reduction of toxic substances being introduced to ecological systems, and mitigation of potential hazards to life and livelihood; therefore guaranteeing a cleaner, sustained supply of resources, and harmonious co-existence among humans and other organisms.

HB 6342 upholds national sovereignty of the filipino people, as stressed in chapters IV and V. The Bill recognizes the Filipino's capability to operate, manage and sustain industries, and deliver results in this endeavor. the Bill provides for the restoration of dignity to the Filipino people, at least in the mining industry.

HB 6342 corrects unjust practices by mining companies in the Philippines. It ensures proper conduct of securing the free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC); the delivery of needs-oriented community development; and the payment of due taxes and royalties to the LGUs and landowners.

HB 6342 embodies a more holistic and equitable approach on mining operations. It doesn't deprive mining operators of profits without prejudice to the environment and basic peopl's welfare as it laid down all the more appropriate methodolgies in carrying out the preparation, extraction and phase-out stages of mining operations. The Bill takes into consideration the well-being of all stakeholders and other mining affected sectors.

HB 6342 gives hope to the people of Macambol and other mining affected communities in DAvao Oriental that the lands and waters which are their current life sources are preserved. It gives hope that somehow the threat of displacement, chaos and divisions among their ranks will be eliminated. It brings opportunity for these people to avail of more viable and prolonged livelihood outside of mining. Mining as it is now leaves off-concession stakeholders in the hanging when operations are either suspended or ceased. The people who are mostly forest and agriculture dependents, were left nothing to go back to as mining areas were mostly abandoned without rehabilitation.

HB 6342 IS AN APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE TO THE FLAWED PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995!

With and because of the foregoing reasons, IMPEDE and Luwas Kinaiyahan strongly endorse for the immediate enactment of House Bill 6342.



(Sgd.) Fr. Medardo A. Salomia (Sgd.) Bonifacio C. Morales
Executive Director Chairman
IMPEDE Luwas Kinaiyahan Movement

Marine Protected Area Project in Governor Generoso

IMPEDE has recently initiated a coastal resource management program in the municipality of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. The project was principally funded by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for a 15-month period starting on March 1, 2009 and technically ending on June 30, 2010. Other major partners are the Local Government Units of Governor Generoso (both municipal and barangay levels); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Region 11; and Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology.

The project area covers the six coastal communities of Magdug, Luzon, Tiblawan, Nangan, Surop and Pundaguitan -- approximately 26 kilometers of coastline. It benefits, directly and indirectly, about 8,000 fishing and farming households. Currently, all of the six beneficiary communities have organized themselves to become stewards of the project.

The core activity of the program is to establish one Marine Protected Area in each of the six barangays (villages). This is in line with the program's goal to address the rapid depletion of marine resources and destruction of marine habitats in the area. Alongside, it also hopes to reverse the people's inactive participation in environmental protection through appropriate information, education and training. This undertaking is expected to help decrease poverty incidence in the barangays by way of augmenting their yield from fishing which will also result in improvement of the residents' health status.

To date, preparations for the actual MPA establishment are underway. All of the concerned barangay councils are already fast tracking the required resolutions. The Municipal Local Government, through the office of Mayor Vicente Orencia, has appointed its Fisheries Management Unit as focal office on the project, and has been constantly providing technical expertise to IMPEDE. Director George Campeon of the BFAR-11, on the other hand, is readying all logistics that his office commits to contribute to the program. Other partners have done the same.

The project, so far, has been relatively consistent with the proposed timeframe. Some variances were experienced but already resolved. August will see the first in the series of Participatory Coastal Resource Assessments which will be undertaken by teams of technicians from the different partner agencies. The concerned community members will also be participating in the assesment, thus, making the activity a hands-on training for them on how to evaluate the status of their fish stock and mangrove, seagrass and coral ecosystems.