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PRESS RELEASE
September 3, 2010
1,000 petitioners troop vs Diwalwal sell-out anew
Davao City --- Leaders from the Nagkahiusang Katawhan sa Diwalwal (NAGKADIWA) again trooped to the Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC) today reiterated its opposition to Diwalwal sellout through a petition entitled, "Panalipdan ang Mt. Diwata, Pakigbisugan ang Katungod sa Yuta, Panginabuhian, ug Nasudnong Patrimonya."
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Press Release
25 August 2010
Environmental groups to probe into the biggest mining project in the Philippines -- the Tampakan Gold-copper Mining Project
National and local organizations will conduct an environmental investigative mission (EIM) on the Tamapakan Gold-copper Mining Project of foreign transnational corporations- Xstrata and Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) on August 26-28, 2010. The EIM aims to identify and assess the impacts of the large-scale mining project to the livelihood, socio-political conditions, and environment of affected communities.
The said mining project is the biggest in the Philippines so far with a worth of $5.2 billion. It is owned by SMI-XSTRATA which holds a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) that covers a total of 31,599.64 hectares in the quad-boundary of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province and Davao del Sur in South Central Mindanao, believed to contain one of the biggest untapped copper resources in Southeast Asia. The project is currently on development stage and target to commercially operate on 2016.
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Press Release
25 August 2010
Green groups call for the investigation of large-scale mining and corruption practices in the country
Green groups under Defend Patrimony! Alliance, a multi-sectoral network opposing mining transnational corporations (TNCs) and large-scale mining operations in the country are calling for a deeper investigation regarding the corruption cases of government officials from large-scale mining operations in the country.
Four officials of Social Security System (SSS) led by outgoing SSS chairman Thelmo Cunanan, former SSS presidents Romulo Neri and two others received a total of Php 127.4 million monetary compensation from Philex Mining as they represent the Philippine Government in the Board of Directors of the company.
The said compensation was not turned over to the government according to the Senate Committee investigating government-owned corporations and their finances.
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PCWA Press Release
Philippine Climate Watch Alliance
10 August 2010
Green groups mark 65th anniversary of Japan bombing, condemn another crime against humanity by the US
Philippine Climate Watch Alliance and Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment is one with the world in remembering one of the worst terrorist attack in the history of mankind and in condemning the continued militarism of US and its attacks on anyone who disputes its position.
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Press Release
11 August 2010
Groups mark Guimaras Oil Spill anniversary with a protest action at the DENR
Progressive environmental and fisherfolks groups held a protest action in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to commemorate the 4-year anniversary of the Petron Guimaras Oil Spill.
"Four years have passed since Petron and Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation (SMDC) spilled more than two million liters of oil in the Guimaras Sea yet until now justice has not been served. Just compensation has been denied and environmental rehabilitation remain unfinished," stated Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment.
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Press Release
13 July 2010
Green groups back CBCP's call to prosecute President Arroyo's environmental crimes
Progressive environmental groups have expressed high expectations now that other sectors, particularly the Catholic Church, are urging President Noynoy Aquino to form a body similar to the Truth Commission that will look into the long standing charges regarding the Arroyo administration's cases of environmental plunder and destruction.
"Environmental groups and other sectors have long demanded for Gloria Arroyo her cohorts be prosecuted for their environmental crimes. With the church sector reiterating this call, and with PNoy seemingly taking positive steps to address demands relating to justice, we are optimistic that our calls will be heard," said Frances Quimpo, Executive Director of environmental research and education group Center for Environmental Concerns-Phils.
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Water for the People Press Release
23 July 2010
Militant groups rallied in front MWSS to call an end to the current water crisis
Groups headed by Water for the People Network, Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), and other sectoral groups trooped to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS) to urge the agency to immediately address the current water crisis in Metro Manila.
The groups blamed the agency for failure to ensure the provision of clean, adequate, and affordable water supply and services in the region.
"The water scarcity our communities are experiencing is rooted in the water privatization policy of the government. Previous administrations promoted the privatization of our water facilities promising that this will lead to better services and adequate water supply. But the current water crisis is a glaring proof of its failure," said Eleanor de Guzman, BAYAN Deputy Secretary General.
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Press Release
21 July 2010
Water crisis in metropolis caused by watershed degradation, mismanagement, and corporate greed, environmental group says
"Without recognizing their responsibilities, government agencies MWSS, NAPOCOR, NRWB, and private water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water are pinpointing each other as the culprit of worsening water crisis in the metropolis. Primarily blaming Mother Nature for failing to provide adequate rainfall, these institutions try to cover up their record of environmental degradation, mismanagement, and corporate greed as the root cause of the current water crisis," said Clemente Bautista of environmental group Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE).
"The Angat Watershed Reservation, if properly managed, could provide adequate water to the Angat Dam all year round. Water storage and retention capacity of the Angat watershed is decreasing as a result of poor protection of and continuing environmental degradation, such as widespread deforestation and massive soil erosion, in the watershed," explained Catherine Abon, a hydrologist from University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences and a member of the activist scientist group AGHAM.
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Press Statement
1 July 2010
Press Statement
Kalikasan PNE challenges Pnoy and DENR Secretary to ban on open-pit mining in the country
Hail to South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avanes-Fuentes in her courageous and principled decision to approve the province environment code that bans open-pit mining, a proven ecologically-devastating technology, in her province.
The governor decision is a culmination of more than a decade of struggle of the people in SOCSARGEN region in the protection of the environment and defense of their patrimony. The open-pit mining ban is also a fitting gift to the sacrifices of anti-corporate mining leader Eliezer ‘Ka Boy' Billanes, the most outstanding Gawad ng Bayani ng Kalikasan awardee, who was assassinated in March 9, 2009 because of his staunch opposition against Xstrata mining project in the region.
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Press Release
25 June 2010
P-Noy's retention of Arroyo's DENR honcho dismays environmental groups
Environmental activists and groups expressed alarm on the announcement of President-elect Noynoy Aquino that current Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Horacio Ramos will be retained at the post for one year.
"President Noynoy Aquino's first year in Malacanang is very critical. He is expected to implement fundamental environmental reforms and bring about a government different and opposed to the previous Arroyo administration as he promised. However, his move to retain a known pro-corporate mining DENR Secretary is a clear warning that his environmental policy will just be a continuation of the previous administration," said Clemente Bautista Jr, national coordinator of Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment.
DENR Secretary Horacio Ramos assumed his post last February 2010. He was Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MBG) Director for 13 years since 1996, the year when one of the worst global mining disasters occurred in the province of Marinduque - the Marcopper-Placer Dome mine spill. Until now, no one was held accountable for the said disaster and comprehensive rehabilitation has not been done in the province.
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Press Release
8 June 2010
Environmental and indigenous peoples groups denounce Arroyo's midnight mining deals
Progressive environmental group Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment voiced out worry over a number of mining projects that are being negotiated and given the go signal to operate on the remaining days of President Arroyo in office.
The midnight deals cited by the groups are the Canadian nickel miner MBMI Resources Inc. (MBMI) that has been approved into a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) and the supposedly government-owned Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC) that is set for bidding for rights to the Mt. Diwalwal area.
"These midnight deals exhibit that there is no letting up in the Arroyo government's push for the sell out of our country's mineral resources to foreign bidders before her term ends. The approval of MBMI's mining concession smack out the existing 25-year mining moratorium imposed by the Palawan provincial government since 2009. The Arroyo government is in its last ditch effort to gain kickbacks sacrifices Palawan rich biodiversity, ecological integrity and indigenous people communities," said Clemente Bautista Jr., national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE.
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PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2010
Nun, environmentalists demand a stop to commercial logging operations in Dav Or; challenges Noynoy
Davao City --- Environmental rights network PANALIPDAN Davao Oriental Chapter demanded here today that commercial logging in Davao Oriental be permanently stopped and that PhilYoubang Mining Corporation, a Chineese Mining Firm, be penalized for its brazen logging operations in Brgy Macambol in Mati.
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Press Statement
June 18, 2010
Disaster similar to BP oil spill has a high chance of occurring in Philippine waters - Kalikasan PNE
The sinking of British Pestroleum-leased Deepwater Horizon oil-rig in the Gulf of Mexico last April, dubbed as the worst oil spill in US history, has caused catastrophic damage to the marine environment and to communities in surrounding areas. More damage spreads as millions of gallons of oil leak into the gulf daily and BP remains stalled by lack of emergency plans and safety mechanisms.
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Press Release
June 4, 2010
"Will Noynoy be a 'green' president?"- Groups pose environmental challenges to incoming president Aquino
Progressive green groups challenged incoming President Noynoy Aquino to implement fundamental environmental reforms and actions in his first 100 days in office to reveal if he is indeed sincere in the protection and conservation of our environment and national patrimony.
The groups posed eight challenges a day before the 2010 World Environment Day, an international event that aims to heighten awareness and heighten political and public action on environmental.
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