Activists scale DENR building for mine protest

Activists from environmental group Greenpeace scaled the roof of the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City yesterday and unfurled a giant banner in protest of a mining test-run in Albay.

"Lafayette Mining: Countdown to an Oceans Disaster," read the banner, which was later confiscated by DENR security officers.

The group was protesting the 30-day test-run of Lafayette Philippines in Rapu-Rapu, Albay, dismissing the activity as "a complete charade."

"Lafayette’s 30-day test-run, which ends today (Aug. 10), marks the beginnings of another imminent disaster on the seas around Rapu-Rapu," said Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Beau Baconguis. "In our view, the test-run has now been exposed as nothing more than a charade to pave the way for Lafayette’s untrammeled operations in Rapu-Rapu."

Late last year, Greenpeace activists were arrested for trespassing when they scaled the wall of a power facility in Zambales and unfurled streamers protesting the operation of coal power plants in the country.

A DENR official scored the latest stunt of Greenpeace, which he said "resorted to deception to project to the public what they espouse."

Ramon Ezpeleta, director for administrative services, said a handful of Greenpeace members posed as clients to supposedly follow up on documents at the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) within the DENR central office compound.

They were able to get to the roof through the fire exits.

"The intruders should not resort to deceptive tactics to convey their message. We have been open to dialogues and we welcome issues raised to us by non-government organizations and other stakeholders, who like us, are deeply concerned about the environment," Ezpeleta said.

The Greenpeace members, arrived in two vans and disembarked at the parking lot before entering the building through the fire exit.

The security guards identified a certain Al Baker, reportedly a British national, and Jasper Inventor, as among the members who were able to climb the building.

As this developed, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) clarified that the 30-day test-run of Lafayette has not ended because the firm has yet to start the last installment of the three-stage activity.

Engr. Michael Cabalda , chief of the Mining Environment Division of the MGB, noted that the 30-day test-run granted by the DENR to Lafayette will not automatically lead to a permanent lifting of the suspension of the company’s full mining and milling operation.

"The DENR team at the area recommended that Lafayette first fix its fluctuate treatment of the water and improve the water at its old adit or tunnel, which is included in its comprehensive pollution control program," Cabalda said.

He explained that the water coming out of the mine facility’s adit is still bordering the basic-acidic level, when it should be "neutral."

"Although the improvement of its old adit is not really included in the test -run, the DENR team there wanted all aspects of the mining operation to be improved before advancing to the next stage," he said.

The DENR issued a temporary lifting order (TLO) against the firm on June 16 for the test-run, which would determine the production efficiency of the base metal plant to process copper and zinc, sufficiency and adequacy of remedial measures and environmental safeguards, and receptivity of the mine facility’s emergency response.