Marinduque Legislators Reiterate 50-year Mining Moratorium

Published by MAC on 2007-07-19
Source: MACEC News and Information Service

Marinduque Legislators Reiterate 50-Year Mining Moratorium

MACEC News and Information Service

19th July 2007

BOAC, MARINDUQUE – At exactly 2:00 o'clock this afternoon, July 19, 2007, the nine (9) members of the 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque who were present during their Third Regular Session unanimously reiterated DECLARATION OF A FIFTY- (50) YEAR LARGE-SCALE MINING MORATORIUM in the whole Island-Province of Marinduque.

The Declaration was arrived at by the provincial Board after it summoned MACEC Executive Secretary Myke Magalang to speak before the august Body and enlighten them on the issues that MACEC Resolution No.2007-36 that requested for the same declaration cited.

The request of MACEC was sponsored on the floor of the legislative body by its Environmental Protection Committee Chairperson Hon. Allan. H. Nepomuceno. Other Board Members who concurred in and approved the Resolution include: Hon. Leticia A. Monte, Eleuterio R. Raza, Jr., Jose F. Alvarez, Ildefonso P. de los Santos, Cesaria G. Zoleta, Yolando R. Querubin, Nancy A. Iturralde, and Juan Carlos R. Pizarro. The 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan is Presided by Vice-Governor Tomas N. Pizarro.

Magalang, in introducing his piece, reminded the legislators of the gallantry of the Marinduqueño revolutionists who toppled the American invaders during the Philippine-American War in Marinduque in 1900, as he read the various newspaper accounts from the United States of the American defeat. He challenged the legislators to display the same zeal and determination by not allowing foreign transnational mining companies to do their business and plunder the patrimony of the Marinduque Island.

The legislators confirmed that their position is also consistent with the policy of the current Governor Jose Antonio N. Carrion who will not allow the operation of any large-scale mining company in the province.

The 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan also supported MACEC's opposition and objection to the application for exploration and mineral production sharing agreement by the Consolidated Mines, Inc., and the organization's request to the Department of Justice to expedite the prosecution of the criminal cases filed by the people against Marcopper executive officers in relation to the March 24, 1996 Boac River Disaster.

Magalang calls on the ATM network and partners to "please send messages of commendation and recognition to the 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque for their historic display of political will and in heeding the voices of the people" to motivate them further in their commitment for the cause of Marinduque's already fragile environment.