Davao del Sur tribal head supports responsible mining

MANILA, Philippines - A chieftain of the Kiblawan Municipal Tribal Council in Davao del Sur has declared the support of his Blaan tribe for the proposed $5.9-billion copper-gold project in nearby South Cotabato.

Kiblawan intends to host some of the mine’s major facilities once it goes into operation.

“We have a national law that allows responsible mining while at the same time this project should abide by the national law on environmental protection,” Blaan chieftain Gideon Salutan said.

Salutan was reacting to the passage of the implementing rules and regulations of the South Cotabato Environment Code which bans open-pit mining in the entire province, which is in contradiction with the 1995 Philippine Mining Act which does not ban the open-pit method.

“Our tribe is for the protection of the environment. But we are also for responsible mining,” Salutan said.

“The tribe has scholarships, health services, and jobs because of the mining project and we need these,” he added.

PhilHealth records show that at least 3,000 households have been enrolled under the health program of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), the government contractor for the Tampakan project. The company is also maintaining at least 14,000 elementary, high school and college scholars.

“We know the law, and we will protect the environment according to national laws,” said Salutan.

“However, we will also invoke the law to ensure that our tribe enjoys the benefits of responsible mining,” he said.

Last year, leaders of the five tribes in the area directly impacted by the proposed Tampakan project asked for a review of the South Cotabato Environment Code. 

Chieftains from the tribal councils of Danleg, Sbangken, Bongmal, Folubato, and Salnaong, in an open letter, formally conveyed their request to the South Cotabato provincial leadership “to carefully review” the Environment Code.

The tribal leaders joined a growing list of petitioners calling for a review of the controversial South Cotabato Environment Code.

The list includes local government officials from neighboring provinces who welcome the Tampakan project, which is seen as the biggest single and direct foreign investment in the country so far.