Local village folks, mainly indigenous peoples in Licuan-Baay, Abra have clashed with government over allowing mining operations in their town as they have shut down their doors to any mining activity.
BY ACE ALEGRE
Contributed to Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 8, March 16-29, 2008
Local village folks, mainly indigenous peoples in Licuan-Baay, Abra have clashed with government over allowing mining operations in their town as they have shut down their doors to any mining activity.
This even as Abra Rep. Cecille Luna said allowing mining operations will spur much-needed development in the province, one of the 20 poorest in the country.
Canadian mining firm Olympus Pacific minerals Inc. is aggressively pursuing its mining interests in Baay-Licuan town. It entered into an agreement with its Philippine partners Abra Mining and Industrial Corporation (AMIC) and Jabel Corporation (Jabel) on Nov. 23, 2006 for the 43-square kilometer Capcapo Project in the Abra town.
The firm reportedly started its drilling operations in February 2007 at Capcapo mountain where seven holes have already been drilled. It has reportedly intersected “significant gold and copper” at Capcapo.
Olympus likens the profile to the Baguio-Mankayan Gold-Copper District, where since the early 1900s several mining firms have been operating.
“Absolute ban”
But local townsfolk are banning Olympus and any other mining firm from doing any mining-related activities in the area.
Some 150 representatives of citizen’s groups who gathered in Poblacion Licuan over the weekend formed the Baay-Licuan Takderan Omnu a Karbengan (Balitok), a multi-sectoral alliance wanting to preserve their ancestral domain.
Balitok is the local term for gold.
“Olympus wants to mine our mountains and our lands…what will become of us if these are mined out?” resident Flordeliza Sannadan said, while questioning the purported improvement of the quality of life with the acceptance of mining in the community. “After years and years of mining in Benguet, are there any improvements in the lives of the people there?”
Engr. Neoman dela Cruz, regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau had time and again reiterated that mining firms must have the consent of the host community before any mining operation could be initiated, otherwise, they will be illegally operating.
Luna also said that as long as safety mechanisms are followed, mining per se is not bad for the province. Allowing mining will certainly bring in progress to the province, she enjoined her constituents.
She said she and Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin support the opening of mining ventures in the province that are meant to benefit the Abreños.
Brewing conflict
But a seeming conflict is brewing.
The role of the military is also being seen as a major component in pacifying the residents’ stance against mining.
The “A” Coy of the Philippine Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion had reportedly “occupied” villages adjacent to Capcapo in Baay-Licuan town since late January this year, purportedly “to drive away armed NPA (New People’s Army) rebels (from) the town and not because of mining operations.”
The Agustin Begnalen Command of the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) however says otherwise. Its spokesman Diego Wadagan said despite being driven away by local townsfolk in 2005 from their patrol base in Sitio (sub-village) Bituen, Brgy. Lenneg, Baay-Licuan because of alleged human rights abuses including killings of villagers, the military unit wants to return to do security for the entry of mining.
