Expressing “dismay” over the results of the recent election that was dominated by administration candidates, anti-mining groups vowed to respect the electoral exercise and the will of the people.
According to the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) national coordinator Jaybee Garganera, the dominance of traditional politicians, convicted plunderers and political lackeys of the Duterte administration in the winning list of new senators does not bode well for transformative social change it aspires.
“We see new senators who are compromised by big corporate interests because, either they were financially supported by business enterprises, particularly mining and extractive interests, or they are actually beneficial owners of these corporations,” Garganera said.
The “erratic” performance of Commission on Elections was exemplified when it’s Transparency Server went down for several hours on May 13, which Garganera finds “deeply troublesome.”
“We expect this new Congress to sideline again the Green Bills—the Alternative Minerals Management Bill, the National Land Use Act and the Forestry Management Bill. These bills will never be passed with the newly elected senators who will stop the passage of these bills that will protect our natural resources and ensure that we are able to respond appropriately with the realities of climate change,” he said.
Garganera said their group fears that the bid for Charter
change will be fast-tracked and that foreign ownership of mining companies and
mining operations will be
allowed which will eventually result in more displacement of rural poor
communities and additional deforestations, as more areas will be opened up for
more the extractive industries.
“We anticipate the federalism project will be fast-tracked as well, and we will be vigilant in working with affected communities and other environmental groups to protect our patrimony and natural resources from misplaced economic and industrial projects that threaten our environment,” Garganera said.
According to Garganera, regrouping and assessing the new political landscape they are operating in is in order.
“We shall consolidate our members and work with local governments to resist the entry or expansion of more destructive mining operations,” he said.