MANILA, December 10, 2008—The Roman Catholic Church’s social action arm has assailed Wednesday the government’s continuing promotion of mining industry in the country.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) said it is lamentable on how the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) contradicted its mandate to protect the ecosystem.

He said the authorities continue to push the industry on mining despite several cases of environment abuse and an admission from the DENR that they don’t have the capacity to monitor possible abuses.

“Yun ang nakakalungkot… yung bias nila towards mining. DENR pa naman sila e sila pa yung broker ng mga minero. Sila pa yung tumutulak. Sila pa yung nanghihikayat,” Pabillo said.

“Inaamin ng DENR na wala silang kapasidad na mag-monitor ng ganitong pagmimina. Ang tanong namin, kung walang kapasidad, bakit ang daming permits na binibigay? Bakit hinahayaan yan?” he said.

Citing as an example, the bishop said the situation in Palawan demonstrates the massive mining operations taking place in the country.

“Ang Palawan halos 1/3 may permit ng pagmimina… hindi naman pala kaya i-monitor… ang dami tuloy abuso,” he said.

Asked whether this would mean the call for DENR secretary Lito Atienza’s resignation is imperative, Pabillo said the problem really lies in the government’s mining policy.

“Kapag ang polisiya ng gobyerno ay pro-mining na para makakuha ng pera, kahit alisin si Atienza, maglalagay din sila ng katulad niya rin. Kaya hindi lang dapat tao ang palitan kundi ang polisiya na pamahalaan,” he said.

In an earlier statement titled “Upholding the Sanctity of Life”, the CBCP again condemned the continuous “raping” of Mother Nature by “defiling” the land where human beings live.

“The Church joins in the collective and continuous call against the uncontrollable plunder of our natural resources,” the CBCP pastoral statement signed by CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo read.

The CBCP is again calling on the government to move away from their pro-mining policies until it has learned to institute the much-needed safeguards versus abuses to the environment and to the residents living near the site.

“Above all, it calls on a moratorium on mining activities until the government and the mining companies learn to uphold the right of the indigenous peoples, compensate the affected communities for past damages, and ensure responsible mining practices,” the statement said. (CBCPNews)

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