Palawan Bishop Pedro Arigo recently led some 1,000 supporters and parishioners to protest against the plans of two mining firms to operate nickel mines at Ipilan, Brooke’s Point municipality.
The cbcpnews.com, official website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that the two mining companies Ipilan Nickel Mining Corp. and MacroAsia Corp. are reportedly already in their exploration stage.
The companies are allegedly planning to upgrade their mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from exploration permits to operation permits. They would also have to get the approval of the local government unit.
Ipilan Nickel is a subsidiary of Toledo Mining and Development Corp. and a sister company of Berong Nickel Corp., which is already operating a nickel mine under an MPSA in Berong village, Quezon, southern Palawan, while MacroAsia Co. is owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan.
The prelate said the demonstration was supported by anti-mining advocates, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and some local officials in Brooke’s Point.
Brooke’s Point Vice Mayor Jean Feliciano led the petition signing of local residents to oppose the nickel mining projects.
Feliciano said that their municipality is regarded as one of the most progressive towns in the southern part of Palawan because of its agriculture. “Brooke’s Point has learned the lesson from the other towns in southern Palawan that had been ravaged by mining operations and we will never let it happen.”
Local people were seeking the revocation of a village endorsement issued by the previous village council in 2007, a month before their term ended, said Ipilan village chairman Jonathan Lagrada, a local anti-mining activist.
“We want the DENR to respect the real sentiment of the people of Ipilan, that we are against this project because of its effects on our agricultural lands. The endorsement given to the mining companies by the previous barangay council is questionable because it was a midnight resolution and did not even go through council deliberation,” Legrada added.