Keep ban on open-pit mining: Philippines governor Asia News Network (ANN) is the leading regional alliance of news titles striving to bring the region closer, through an active sharing of editorial content on happenings in the region.
The government will honor the outcome of the province of South Cotabato’s public consultations on the proposed lifting of the open-pit mining ban, specifically in the municipality of Tampakan, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Officer-in-Charge Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said the National Government (NG) would respect the outcome of the public hearing called by the Provincial Government of South Cotabato on the proposed amendments to the province’s Environment Code. Specifically, the proposed amendment aims to alter the policy…
TAMPAKAN, Philippines For nearly a decade, Nora Sukal was the public face of Indigenous opposition to the Tampakan project, a planned gold and copper mine on Blaan tribal land in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. “The proposed copper and gold open-pit mining project within our ancestral domains poses serious risks to our survival as […]
The South Cotabato Provincial Capitol Building (Photo courtesy of South Cotabato PIO) KORONADAL CITY - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will be conducting a consultation dialogue on February 18 on the proposed amendments to the Environment Code of the Province of South Cotabato, particularly on the provision lifting the ban on open-pit mining in Tampakan town. In a statement Thursday, Vice Governor Vicente De Jesus, SP presiding officer, said they have invited for the event all the mayors in the province, former board members who framed the ordinance, business and youth sectors, farmers, professionals, and other sectoral representatives. De Jesus said members of the provincial board have unanimously agreed to conduct the public hearing before voting for amendments. "The purpose is to raise the issue and to help the board members to decide either to vote yes or no," De Jesus said. "Hopefully we will be hearing not only the sentiments of the people but also vital technica