𝘽𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙣

Bikers and environmental advocates rode to the DENR office in Quezon City today to stop the agency from issuing a reported draft Department Administrative Order lifting the 2017 ban on open-pit mining method of extracting copper, gold, silver and other complex ores. Some bikers plying along Visayas Avenue, where the DENR main office is, also stopped to support the group’s call.

After the issuance of Executive Order 130 in April this year lifting the ban on new mining contracts, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) anticipates that the government will issue a policy that will lift the ban on open-pit mining. This is seen by ATM and its partners and members as another act of betrayal by the Duterte government against the environment and the Filipino people.

“Nandito kami ngayon para ipaabot sa DENR ang mariing na pagtutol ng ATM, sampu ng mga miyembro at alyado nito, lalong lalo na sa mga mining-affected areas, sa napipintong paglabas ng bagong DENR administrative order na magpapapayag muli ng open-pit mining method na ipinagbawal na noong 2017. Para sa amin ito ay isa nanamang kataksilan ng administrasyon Duterte at harapang pagsasantabi ng panawagan ng mga komunidad laban sa mina,” said Malou Verano from ATM Women and Mining Group and community leader from Aroroy Masbate

(We are gathered here to register to the DENR the firm opposition of ATM - together with our members and allies, especially from the mining-affected communities - to the impending issuance of the new DENR administrative order allowing open-pit mining method, which was banned in 2017. For us, this is another betrayal of the Duterte administration and a blatant disregard of the calls of communities against mining.)

Today’s demonstration at the DENR is part of ATM’s Mining Hell Week, where a series of activities and actions are organized to highlight issues surrounding mining and the situation at the sites of struggles (SOS). Public forums, learning sessions and community mobilizations from October 25 to 29 are scheduled with the theme: #NeverForget EO 130 AT MGA DEKADANG MAPANIRANG PAGMIMINA; MAKATAO AT MAKAKALIKASANG PAMAMAHALA NG MINERALES NG BANSA, IPAGLABAN!

For more information, please contact:

Jaybee Garganera

ATM National coordinator

nc@alyansatigilmina.net

Rhoda Viajar

ATM Media Consultant

09178250346

rhoda.viajar@gmail.com