Mining con negates reg’l mines

By Englebert A. Villegas

No to mining in Bicol!

Organized by the Institute of Environment, Conservation and Research (INECAR), the Regional Consultation on Mining in Bicol was structured to embark upon the prevailing concerns in mining; a battle for the environment.

It was held at the Arrupe Convention Hall, Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) last 28 June with funds coming from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

Also, due to the efforts of INECAR Director Emilina G. Regis, ABS-CBN Foundation Executive Director Dr. Gina Lopez, Bantay Kita former National Coordinator Maita Gomez and Atty. Gerthie Anda of Environmental Legal Assistance Center, the said conference had materialized.

From 234 invitations sent to different units or offices, more or less 144 people were able to join the said affair, including the volunteers and organizers.

The attendants were clustered into Academe, Government Agencies, Church, Non-government and Other Organizations, Local Government Units, Media and AdNU community.

“May effect kaya sa iba-ibang sectors, kaya para mayong mawalat ininvite sinda kasi rin regional ang event. Sa workshop, si mga policies na gusto kang sector ninda, mailuluwas ninda…si mga gusto nindang gibuhon ni Pnoy sa Mining Law,” shared INECAR Deputy Director Joanaviva C. Plopenio.

Ateneo Nature Crusaders, Banhi, Ateneo Eagles for Environment, Social Sciences Department, Center for Community Development, Center for Local Governance (CLG), Office of Alumni Affairs, and Office of the President also helped in the event.

The master of ceremonies during the morning gathering was Mr. Karl Llorin while Ms. Rowena Malate took center stage in the afternoon.

Intensified Sunup Session

To tune-up the mindset of participants and as a guide for the subsequent forum, sharers coming from mining communities in the Bicol Region talked about their experiences like their efforts to prevent the commencement of mining operations.

Also, Aquinas University Secretary General Engr. Virgilio S. Perdigon Jr. presented the mining practices in Rapu-Rapu, Albay, now under the management of LG Kores of Korea, Malaysian Smelters Company and Rapu-Rapu Minerals Inc., which according to Dr. Regis is owned by Lafayette.

From his presentation, it was stated there that “Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP) is then not so different from the budul-budol gang,” because RRPP “took so much from the community, but had given back so little” – in contrary to their Social Development Management Plan containing unfulfilled promises.

Included as well in his discussions were the ‘bad’ practices of RRPP such as “paying lip service to environmental protection through token measures; giving back so little, making it appear so much and drawing extensive media mileage; co-opting government agencies in what amounts to a conspiracy of cover-up and distortion or concealment of the truth.”

On one hand, Dr. Regis discoursed about the impacts of mining to the environment like the productivity reduction of terrestrial and aquatic biota, loss of livelihood in farming and fishing, diseases from toxic heavy metals, de-industrialization and depopulation in the mining sites which are all leading to poverty.

From the four stages of mining – exploration, site development, extraction and beneficiation (processing) and mine closure – according to her report, ecological destruction is the main upshot of mining.

Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) Region V Representative did not attend the convention, thus failed to hash out the operating mining sites in the region.

The speakers should have talked over the large-scale mining operations in the region, implemented by the private sector with MGB regulating operations.

These are the Quarry and Cement Plant Project of Goodfound Cement Corporation in Camalig, Albay, a cement manufacturer, RRPP, a copper and zinc producer, and Masbate Gold Project of Filminera Resources Corporation.

Other mining companies like Johson Gold Mining Corporation in Camarines Norte; Orophil Stonecraft Inc. with its Perlite Project in the Municipality of Baao, Camarines Sur; and UBS Marketing Corporation’s Legazpi Perlite – Clay Project were also contained in the compact disc sent by MGB.

Only positive information can be seen there, with all the contributions, permits and certification as well as the environmental and community projects they have, but divergent to other speakers’ individual reports.

Moving to the Mainstream

In the continuation of afternoon assembly, Ms. Gomez tackled the ‘Economics of Mining’.

She expounded on the low inputs of mining to employment, Gross Regional Domestic Product and tax revenues based on the records of MGB – Mining Industry Statistics and Bureau of Internal Revenue; defective policies on mining; data discrepancies like in the mismatch of mine exports and production figures.

Meantime, issues related to fees and charges, if sufficient to offset the damage caused by mining, and our responsibilities in promoting environmental protection, for instance the support to Alternative Mining Bill pending in Congress, were also dealt with.

According to Ms. Gomez, she questions the fact that our very own protector of environment, DENR, is the one issuing permits to exploiters of natural resources.

On the other hand, a DENR-Environmental Management Bureau Director or Representative  who was supposed to recount ‘Assessment of Mining Pollution and Penalties’ was not able to be present at the consultation.

Also, Dr. Lopez was not at the meeting, but was represented by Bantay Kalikasan Senior Resource Mobilization Officer Maria Darryn Vernie Castillo.

She imparted about the Alternatives to Mining like eco-educational and agri-tourism schemes, livelihood ventures like micro-small enterprise propagation and organic farming.

Various mining locations all over the nation were also shown like in Surigao del Sur (Marcventures Mining Development Corp.), Manicani, Samar, Compostela Valley, Black Sand Mining in Ilocos Sur and Cagayan, Narra, Palawan (Narra Nickel Mining Corp.), Mt. Bulanjao, Palawan (Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.) and others.

Aside from the alarming poverty incidence related mining industry and absence of responsible mining, one highlight in the duration of her presentation was the united shout of participants uttering “No to Mining in Bicol! No to Mining in Palawan!”

Furthermore, Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon presented the church’s five provisions for responsible mining which were supported by the participants.

Ascent of Policy Reforms

Before the end of consultation, Ms. Michele C. Verdadero of CLG facilitated the last portion of the event, the proposal for policy reforms from the participants.

INECAR summarized the results into Mining Regulation and Rehabilitation, Compliance to Law, Monitoring Policies, Tax Policy (the possibility of raising the excise tax from 2% to 30%) and Sustainable Development Practices.

“Iyong 1995 Mining Act eh open talaga to mining, at iyong new policy close to mining to prevent destruction of biodiversity areas. Doon sa mga nagmimina, anong mas mahalaga – food o ginto? Maaaring sabihin na ipagbibili niyo ang ginto pero anong silbi nun kung masisirira ang mga forests and vegetation,” disclosed Dr. Regis.

She added a suggested action: “to love our country and to protect and care for its resources, the one providing us with everything kasi ang metal naman ay narerecycle, ‘di kailangang magbungkal ng magbungkal.”

For the foreign investors, “Why don’t you mine in your own countries? At walang kwenta ang investment nila kung ‘di igagastos ditto bukod sa labor worth Php200.00 habang ‘yung mga  machinery eh from abroad” was her message to them.

 Meanwhile, Dr. Regis’ statement to all was “to prevent the entry of mining companies in connection to their mining applications at wag magbulag sa mga pangako at offers nila.”

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Movie Review Based on given Guide Questions.

In the movie, I Want to Have a Bicycle; the modernity seen there was the introduction of foreign lifestyle, expensive bicycle and other commodities as well as the emergence of tourists and media. No one can ever prevent the change a scooter can cause to the highlands. For as long as it has a value of its own, it effects some emotions to those who may witness its grandeur most especially if it has been invented flawlessly and from the movie, with a great brake. It would serve as a kind of help to the highlanders in terms of transportation or for playing. Modernization allows those privileged societies to show to other remote areas the greatness of its mechanisms.

The film has some exceptional features like the amalgamation of modernity’s influence to the people of Ifugao and the native inhabitants’ practice of old traditions or believing in superstitious beliefs. There came time wherein the people discovered that what they believed in before were in fact false actions or statements. From here, having doubt on things was evident but asking for valid answers must originate from determined people and valid responses from reliable and educated individuals.

On one hand, the film about Agpansula demonstrated a kind of conflict between two different ethnic relations, that of the Mangyan man and the lowlander woman. It was crystal clear that their lifestyle, practices and status quo were somewhat poles apart. The ways in which marriage and customs were conducted by the two civilizations differ from each other. The Mangyan way was sickening and gross because of the Agpansula ritual (a pig slaughtering; reading on its internal organs) from which the tribe predicts supposed occurrences of the couple’s wedded life.

The story was more on a realistic view. The actuality provided by the movie overshadowed the anticipated romance between the man and woman. The new concept of family or person in this film, however, was the fact that two loving birds even if with varying lifestyles and heritage can be united. Racism is not in the vocabulary of lovers.

★┏━━┓▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂ ★┃┏━┛╲▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂┈▕ ★┃┗┳━┳┓┏┓┏━┳┓┏┓┏┓▕▏▕ ★┃┏┫┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃▕▏▕ ★┃┃┃┃┃┗┫┗┫┃┃┗┛┗┛┃┈╲╱ ★┗┛┗━┻━┻━┻━┻━━━━┛ @englevillegas

Oust the Wastes for Longevity

Foul-smelling air, contaminated water, deteriorated lands – polluted environment. And no one could survive a day with these things that hinder the existence of harmonious living.

            Can you feel the degrading value of Earth? The nature grunts and howls for change. That those deviated from practicing solid waste management (SWM) techniques might someday realize the grandness of doing so. What a wonderful life a person can have if and only if his surrounding seems so pristine and desirable!

            Something must be done! In schools, the basis of parents to enroll their children to a certain one does not solely depend  on the quality of education and formation opportunities, but also on the level of sanitation and picturesqueness of the area.

            Whether calling it as rubbish, dirt, smut, filth, garbage, waste, leachate, sphacelate, skuzz, street sweepings, scraps, junks, refuse or whatever terms you may associate with any chucked out, forsook or waste-like stuffs, solid wastes appear in solid, liquid, semi-solid or even in gaseous forms that scatter everywhere.

            It is but a common problem in Ateneo de Naga University that ten to 20 kilograms of wastes daily are being collected from each building while thrice the amount during special occasions like Intramurals and Orgs Fair wherein the supposed refuses discharge in the labeled storage cans are neglected, causing the collection, source separation, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, or disposal of solid waste to be harder at the point of generation.

            According to the Physical Plant Administration's (PPA) Grounds and Buildings Head Manuel P. Nicolas, whenever there's an activity in school, he and his colleagues coordinate with the different offices and organizations to talk about limiting the use of plastic materials, styrofoams and disposable items.

            Indeed, the whole Ateneo community itself is a good channel that can be tapped to spread ecological cognizance and protection. However, the process must be a collaborative effort of the students, educators, employees and administrators of the Ateneo to secure the most expedient effect.

            The desire of people especially of environmentalists, called for the creation of Republic Act 9003 or Ecological Waste Management Law which states “the integration of SWM, resource conservation and recovery topics into academic curricula of formal and non-formal education in order to promote environmental awareness and action among the citizenry.”

            Fortunately, Ateneo Ecological Solid Waste Management Program has been formulated by PPA. As its other contents are being prepared for implementation, it shall cover the education and public information to be incorporated in the Orientation Seminar or Alternative Class Program, environment-related courses and events. Enforcement of this schemes still account for budget from the PPA, with system-wide dictum to assist the instructors.

            Aside from aiming to improve the Materials Recovery Facility at the second gate, composing of a solid waste transfer station or sorting station, drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility; the reform will also engage in trash receptacle improvement whereas machine shredder was bought to fix paper waste troubles.

            Nurseries were also contained in program to facilitate seedlings, herbals plants and ornaments and where the product of composting can be utilized. The last section includes lobbying ordinance legislation in the case of packaging, eco-labeling and refilling.

            Zero waste, the main target, can be achieved if all would partake, decisions constituted from  a consensus of diverse functional berths in the university, in reducing the overall resource usage and  using retrieved resources.

            Recycling, re-using, source reduction, waste diversion and avoidance, composting, natural farming, proper storage, segregation of wastes and not distorting biological processing  of wastes are just some of the possible things that can be done here in Ateneo.

            Upon reflection, encamp on the prospects to say no against awry habits of littering, combining biodegradable scraps into nonbiodegradable   trash bins or burning waste. The very fact that others lack discipline, like when they just throw their trashes anywhere they love to; a sign of negligence or ignorance? Are they just too lazy not to go to the nearest garbage can and fling the rubbish decorous? Or just too stupid to think that janitors would clean up the mess for them?

            Respect for the Atenean milieu has vanished as students made the domain an arena of battling garbage contributors against ethical standards and territorial tidiness. The way people manage their impurities reflect somehow their own personality. Doing right things for the good of the community must be in habituation.

            Circumstances such as the disposal of trashes at the corners of the classroom or being concealed on chairs or tables and just tossing away impurities in comfort room bowls or lavatories explicitly show the carelessness of those wrongdoers. Or students who might be blinded by extreme educational discussions don't use the trash barrels anymore; in lieu of carrying out good bionomical functions they would stay nescient about it.

            Of course, we don't want those accumulated waste to grow so big in volume that no single strategy is effective and efficient enough to eradicate them. In the worst case, public health, aesthetics and environmental safety will be framed at high risks if inappropriate waste administration procedures like incineration and thermal treatments are will be exercised in the institution.

            The time has arrived to convert the school into a greener hub by adapting a simple lifestyle and ostracizing applying sustainable and economically low-priced but practicable precautions. The university will be serving as a training avenue in forming accountable students that would control or prevent unnecessary wastes, coupled with sound supervision and sustenance.

            In conformity with the best principles of public wellness, finances, applied sciences, technology, livelihood for garbage pickers, preservation and philosophy, solid waste management must be dealt with meticulously, considering various ecologic consequences to achieve the end goal.

            Ateneans, therefore, should commit seriously in the abatement of yielding wastes and toxics as socially responsible individuals to ameliorate the status of enterprises and the community.

186 studes say ‘Yes” to Ateneo

     Ateneo de Naga University - 186 out of 310 high school students from 32 schools around Bicol region said, in accordance with the evaluation result of College Open House (COH) 2012, that they will enroll in Ateneo next academic year 2012-2013.

     Conducted last 27 January, the COH “aimed to introduce to the participants the Ateneo community, to prepare them for college and to inform them about the necessary adjustments.”

     “Ang theme nung Open House [ay] The Golden Knight of the Blue Realm wherein knights si mga students tapos ung blue realm ang Ateneo mismo,” shared University Student Recruitment Office (USRO) Director Moi.

One-of-a-Kind Program

     Sir Moi said that the preparations of USRO, an Ateneo office that assists high school seniors to college, started last September 2011.

     Schools in Naga were visited to notify them about the event while a week before the COH was the time spent in informing other secondary schools. This also served as a backgrounder on the overall profile of prospective partakers of COH.

     Unlike before, this 10^th COH which commenced in 2002 changed the way it was conducted. One inspirational idea was the setting of Y Speak, a television program, wherein there were interactive productions, entertainment and informative discussions.

     A campus tour was held in the morning activity. Different colleges, departments and organizations took part in the programs with their own exhibits and presentations.

    There were 20 facilitating volunteers and 45 members of Ateneo Student Ambassadors. Various committees were also created – program, food, logistics, secretariat, promotions, freebies and giveaways – with Maria Josefa Almares as overall head.

     In the afternoon session, intermission numbers of Ateneo Dance Club, Ateneo Golden Cavalry, University Band and Choir, question and answer, games, raffle, awarding, movie presentation and talks were accomplished.

     Discussion speakers were two students from Manila, one parent, a faculty member, guidance counselor and staff of Admissions and Aids Office

     This year’s batch was participative according to Sir Moi, as seen from the behavior and unanticipated questions from students during the event.

     “Naging successful talaga iyong event. Nakikita naming inaabangan ang Open House… may mga nagtatanong kung kelan… kaya ginawa na itong regular affair. [Pinaplano nga naming] magkaroon ng isang career day for all senior high school students, a festival in one venue for one day,  in cooperation with the City government, Department of Education and other universities pero balak pa lang naman,” Sir Moi uttered.

     He also added that the “very success of the event was the impact it caused to students, that it benefited all – imparting learning, doing one’s responsibility well and dealing with people.”

Overall Upshot

     As an ender segment of the event, evaluation sheets were given to the participants who had casted a 4.3 rating (lowest), 5-score rating (highest assessment provided) and a 4.6 general mark.

    A senior student from University of Nueva Caceres, when asked about the program flow, said that the program was ‘okay lang’, but still undecided whether to enroll in Ateneo next semester. “Depende sa course,” he articulated.

    On one hand, Student Ambassador Loreine Balce expressed that one factor that might have affected the students’ ratings was the delayed arrival of the food while another ambassador said that COH 2012 was better than last year because more participants attended and more program innovations were featured.

     Even if the 500-student quota was not achieved, a happening which was only attained three years ago with 536 participants, Sir Moi believed that the number of schools was more important.

    He then pronounced that the plan of USRO to have the 40-60 percent of the total participants next school year was reached.

     “Kahit na isa lang iyong nag-attend sa isang school, pwede na niyang ipagkalat iyong nangyari tapos maka-encourage na mag-enrol sa Ateneo. Sulit ang nagastos na Php40, 000 [para sa event]…na nagkasya man dahil sa creativity and support ng lahat,” Sir Moi ended.

Reverence amidst Hitches

Indeed, God’s existence has been in question for so many years. I never doubt that the extraordinary things that happened in favor of me occurred because of God. However, there were times that I have also minor skepticism in God’s ability and presence. (Writing this composition, fright seems to encapsulate me within its boundaries and I’m faintly petrified that any moment from now, a lightning would thump me to death and overwhelming bereavement.

            For the purpose of ascertaining my skepticism on God’s attendance without rescinding and overlooking my current faith, I just couldn’t take away from my mind the inconsistencies which cover the real characteristics of God. Based from my observations, there are happenings that show no graciousness at all wherein people believe that God is good all the time. Aha! Isn’t this a big query in God’s power to create perfect miracles? Why is it that dreadful incidents come to pass on virtuous and upright citizens of this world? And why does God let appalling populace dodge the right punishments for them? OMG! It sounds so ironic that certain politicians are having all the riches in the world through illegal means, getting all the treasures of this planet yet at the end of the day, being saved from the wrath of God.

On the other hand, poor people are still suffering all the hardships and mistreatment for they are being deprived of their rights and privileges. Every time I think of these ominous milieus in this contemporary epoch, I can help but ask: “Where is God at the midst of corruptions, blunders and misdemeanor?” This omnipotent, supernatural being might just be fantasized in a fiction. When there’s a blessing received, ‘glory and thanks first to the all-powerful God’ where in fact the person who has obtained such recognition, all by himself, endured so much pain for it. Why offer it first to God if the latter didn’t do anything at all?

In my case, I’ve had wished so many things but I guess, only twenty percent of them were granted. In point of truth, I want to make an inquiry: “Is that the best thing you can do, God?” Whenever I acquire illness and subsequently get recuperated, even if I ask God’s help via prayer or attending a mass, it couldn’t be totally God who restored my well-being. The medicine, check-up and good lifestyle can be the bona fide  elucidation behind my abrupt recovery.

Another distrust of mine concerns the existence of different religions. If God is indeed supreme and perfect, why did God assent to the emergence of other gods and goddesses in which other people mull over? It seems that every religion never wants to be beaten by other religions. If God is definitely invincible, why did this divine life-force permit the materialization of idolatry and iconoclasm which have disadvantages to Christian ecumenism? Were all of these events part of God’s plans? Did they float up to situate sugar and spice into God’s religion for it not to become lackluster and mundane?

Moreover, this omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent being must somehow be empirical. However, something that is so much pragmatic is the constant need of the churches of the Lord for riches or donations, making them one of the most moneyed institutions in the world. Many of their members are bathing with coins and bills while other earthlings are enduring too much agony and impoverishment. I prayed to God many times, matters which are unfathomable or just trivial stuffs I’ve waited to acquire from an ideal God. But in the end, I turned to be a bit thwarted occasionally because the utilization of praying has been a remote means if God has already planned for our future. It’s God’s will even if it hurts like a third degree burn. I’m just hoping for the paramount undertakings to come in my life and it will start with my individual deeds for I am the one shaping my personal prospect with God as my guide, I guess.

In addition to those arguments, phenomenal marvels are always being attributed to God like when someone can heal ‘under the weather’ persons or can execute bizarre and exceptional talents. What if he’s really capable of normally performing such splendor given that he underwent training or special education? If God is undeniably associated with it, miracles should happen not just once in awhile. Moreover, when nature summons catastrophes, simply known as ‘acts of God’, to teach people a lesson, why are innocent natives implicated? But above all of these scrutinizes, something so enormous in me thrusts my inner self to muse on God’s role in my fruitful years of living. Indisputably speaking, I'm truly blessed.

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