Sustainable benefits to outweigh mining impact, says tribal chief

MANILA, Philippines - A Davao del Sur tribal chieftain said the sustainable benefits from the mining project in their area will outweigh the impact that anti-mining groups are claiming.

“Socially and economically, we are far better now that an investor has shown interest to our community,” said tribal chieftain Dot Capion.

Capion is tribal chief of Sitio Bong Mal in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, an ancestral domain claimed by the B’laan tribe.

The area reportedly gained notoriety for large marijuana plantations and cattle-rustling activities many years ago.

Sagitarrius Mines Inc., government contractor for the proposed Tampakan mine project, is eyeing Bong Mal as site for some key operational infrastructure and facilities.

“Socially, we did not want to go down the town center and we did not want anyone going up to our area, but with better roads things changed,” Capion said.

He said members of his tribe “are now more open to education and legitimate means of livelihood.”

“The road built from our tribal community going to the nearest municipality which is Kiblawan has given us livelihood opportunities and at the same time has improve our social relationship with people from the town,” he said.

“We are enjoying scholarship programs right now for our tribe, but what we really need is a school,” he said.

“With the presence of an investor, the possibility of a school right in our tribal community is very high,” he added. “This is a big project for us because we know that these scholarship programs, roads, and livelihood projects will give us sustainable benefits.”