Mining

Sibuyan’s reminder: People, not profit, should drive the mining industry

March 3, 2023

As long as pro-people policies are non-existent and unenforced, more communities like Sibuyan will be under the gaze of exploitative mining firms that take advantage of the industry, run it for profit, and leave us with nothing for very little.

EO 130: Much fuss about paltry gains

April 26, 2021

The Duterte government with its EO 130 continues to argue for the reckless exploitation of the country’s vast mineral wealth for other countries’ corporate gains and industrial benefits. This makes the projected gains from large-scale mining even paltrier than they already are. We are giving up the non-renewable resource, the Philippines’ huge potential to industrialize, for nothing.

Book: Mining Ills

March 17, 2018

The book Mining Ills probes violations on social determinants of health in a number of Philippine communities upon the entry of mining companies, most of which are transnational corporations (TNCs).

COMP attempting to greenwash dirty mining practices — IBON

September 7, 2017

Research group IBON said that the plan of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) to adopt a Canadian mining organization’s sustainable mining measures indicates that it is trying to greenwash the Philippine mining industry’s negative image. But Canadian mining corporations are notorious for their dirty operations globally, IBON pointed out, which have led […]

Earth Day 2017 | Four towns and an Apple: Mining and environmental plunder

April 22, 2017

By Glenis Balangue A day before Earth Day, technology giant Apple made a bold claim. Blamed time and again for its role in sustaining the highly destructive mining industry, Apple said it plans to stop using minerals and metals for its famed iPhones and Macs. In its 2017 Environmental Responsibility Report, Apple said that to […]

IBON hits big miners over threat of international arbitration

March 28, 2017

  The COMP recently warned that affected mining companies could file arbitration cases should the government not honor mining contracts. It said that a number of these are foreign mining firms that have bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and they could sue the government for compensation. The DENR previously announced the cancellation of 75 mineral production […]

Lumad schools under attack in mineral-rich Mindanao

March 17, 2017

These Lumad schools, most of which are recognized by the Department of Education, have been under attack by State military and paramilitary troops known to secure big mining, logging, coal energy operations and corporate plantations. Thousands of teachers, students, and entire communities are victims of harassment, land grabbing, ransacking, encampment of public facilities, strafing, villification, […]

Regions with biggest mining activities among the poorest–IBON

February 23, 2017

Contrary to claims that closing down mining operations will worsen poverty, research group IBON said that large-scale mining activities impact heavily on marginalized sectors and intensify poverty. The group also said that the mining sector’s export-oriented character further deprives communities by taking away potential resources for local development. The Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) […]

​Duterte admin should stick to mines closure–IBON

February 16, 2017

Research group IBON said that despite strong opposition from mining companies, the Duterte government should stand firm on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) head’s order on mines closure. The group also belied mining companies’ claims that large scale mining has brought development to the country. President Duterte has expressed support for DENR […]