Bayan Muna today challenged the House Committee on Natural Resources, chaired by presidential brother-in-law Rep. Iggy Arroyo, to take up a proposed measure that would repeal what critics have called “the most environmentally-hazardous law of the land.”
“House Bill No. 1793 that seeks to repeal the Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7942) will be a litmus test for Rep. Arroyo as chair of the natural resources committee,” said Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño, principal author of the bill.
Co-authors of the bill are representatives from the militant bloc in Congress: Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza and Luz Ilagan of Gabriela, and Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis.
Casiño noted that environmental groups, indigenous people’s advocates, entire communities in mining areas and even the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have called for the repeal of the Philippine Mining Act “as an urgent matter of protecting and upholding the national interest.”
On the other hand, the President is hell-bent on selling the country’s mineral resources to foreign mining firms, saying that expected revenues of US$840 billion would come with foreign-backed mining.
“Rep. Arroyo will have to show his objectivity and independence by at least allowing several hearings of this bill in his committee, otherwise he will be suspected of listening only to his sister-in-law and ignoring the popular clamor for the repeal of the Mining Act,” said Casiño.
The Bayan Muna solon added that the Mining Act “guarantees the plunder of our natural finite resources, including our minerals, forests and waters by allowing the unabated, large-scale mining operations of big multinational mining companies.”
He revealed that at least 495,000 hectares of lands are now covered by various mining permits or agreements under the Mining Act.
“As chair of the natural resources committee, Rep. Arroyo cannot ignore the fact that large-scale mining is a threat to our resources and our people. He should treat this bill as a major priority of the committee,” Casiño added.
“Malacañang has never factored-in the irreparable and irreversible environmental damage, displacement and loss of lives as a result of large-scale mining operations in the country. We are hopeful that the presidential brother-in-law can look beyond his political and family ties and faithfully do his duty to protect the nation’s natural wealth,” Casiño said. #
