FYI: Letter sent to PNoy tonight. Hon. Benigno Simeon Aquino III President, Republic of the Philippines ATTN: Sec Neric Acosta (YOUR URGENT ACTION IS BADLY NEEDED) Dear Pres Aquino: Greetings from the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales (CCOS)! The environmental destruction of our province due to mining operations, particularly in the towns of Sta. Cruz and Candelaria in Zambales and the neighboring town of Infanta in Pangasinan is already irreparable. You have told us two years ago in your SONA that if mining operations are destructive to the environment, this should be STOPPED. The destruction already reached the sea and the corals are beginning to die if not yet dead. We have filed complaint to Sec Paje of the DENR two years ago when the corals are not yet affected, but mining operations continued, our corals are now damaged. Last February 25, Director Leo Jasareno of MGB, after seeing with his own eyes the destruction of our town by mining operations and dialogue with the mining companies, he promised that he will decide on our complaints within a month, it is four months overdue. The MGB regional director of Central Luzon, Atty Uykieng, in spite of the massive environmental destruction due to mining operations has not done any decisive much less urgent actions to stop the bleeding of our environment. He is perceived as the protector of the mining companies responsible for the destruction of our environment. He did not even visit our towns like what Directors Jasareno and Claudio did. With the destruction of our environment, the decision of the MGB to allow the extraction of 8.5 million metric tons of nickel ore simultaneously per annum by four mining companies and the failure of the concerned government agencies and officials to monitor correctly the mining operations is gravely irresponsible. The decision to allow the extraction of 8.5 million metric tons per annum, in itself is irresponsible, thus government officials who decided on this and those who failed to correctly monitor the mining operations should be held liable. Yesterday, during the meeting of the CCOS, a fisherfolk relayed that the corals of Sta. Cruz are now covered with nickel laterite according to deep sea fisherfolks (mga mamamana). This is a very disturbing information calling for an urgent action. Suspension if not cancellation of all mining permits should be done ASAP. This must be followed by investigation of the status of the corals of Sta. Cruz. If confirmed, cancellation of all mining permits should be done ASAP and responsible mining companies penalized, required them to conduct immediate rehabilitation of the destroyed corals and should be charged accordingly. The destruction of the environment v.a.v. mining operations is more than enough evidence that responsible government officials are remiss in their functions at the very least. They destroyed the livelihood of the fisherfolks and have violated their human rights. Their lifestyles must be investigated and if necessary sued in the proper court at the very least for dereliction of duty. If found liable to other crimes, they should be charged accordingly. Thank you very much for your prompt action. Respectfully, Benito E. Molino, MD Chairperson, CCOS
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 14:12:00 +0000
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